Finding Your Voice

"And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability."  [Acts 1:2-4, NRSV] 

     Does this sound like a dignified, orderly event to you?  Not a chance!  The story of Pentecost is filled with power, motion and even confusion.  The Holy Spirit was busting out all over the place.  Those first disciples could not have contained it even if they tried.

     This is the description of the beginning of the church.  So what happened?  When did we decide to douse the fire of the Holy Spirit and only allow it to blow though committees, task-forces and the like?  

     Don't get me wrong, I whole-heartedly believe God uses religious institutions and governing bodies for good.  However, it is also true that we Lutherans are sometimes afraid to let the spirit wind blow freely in our midst.  We are afraid to try something new, to move in a new direction or to speak with prophetic power against the injustices of our society.

     Perhaps the story of Pentecost challenges us to find our "language," to speak our truth so that world may know the love and compassion of Christ in all of its forms.  Have you found your voice, yet?  Do you feel the Holy Spirit flowing freely in your life?

     This week, it is my prayer that the Pentecost story will empower all of God's people to speak a word of grace to those who need it the most.  Don't be silent.  Find your voice.  Embody love, hope, mercy, forgiveness, joy, and peace.  The world really needs to receive what you have to offer so don't be an smoldering ember.  Be a raging wildfire!

Happy Pentecost!

Pentecost Story remixed

As we get ready to celebrate my favorite Sunday of the church year, Pentecost, here is my paraphrase of the Pentecost story from Acts 2:1-18.  Feel free to use it in your church as long as you give me credit for the work. [Written by David Eck ©2012. http://jesuslovesgays.blogspot.com]

When the festival of Pentecost had arrived, the disciples of Jesus were gathered together in one place.  Then, unexpectedly, the Spirit/wind/breath of God began blowing like a hurricane and it filled the temple.  Like a roaring wildfire out of control, the Holy Spirit was spreading everywhere. God’s breath began to reside in each of the disciples and they began to speak in languages they had not known before. 

[Spanish] Todos fueron llenos del Espíritu Santo y comenzaron a hablar en otras lenguas

[Swahili] Wo-te wal-i-jaz-wa Ro-ho Mta-ka-ti-fu wa-kaam-za ku-se-ma kwa lu-gha nyin-gi-ne

[German] Und sie wurden alle mit Heiligem Geist erfüllt und fingen an, in anderen Sprachen zu reden

The Spirit enabled them to do this. 

There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem at that time, from every country in the known world.  The noise attracted a big crowd.  They were bewildered because they each heard the disciples speaking in their own language. The crowd was amazed and said, "They're ordinary working people from Galilee!  How can they communicate with us?  We can understand every word they are saying even though we are from countries around the Persian Gulf and further east, from the Celtic lands, from North Africa, Arabia, Crete and Rome, as well as from districts nearby."

But others made fun of the disciples and said, "It looks like they've had a few too many drinks!"

This was the cue for Peter to stand up where he could be seen.  He shouted to the crowd, "My Jewish brothers and sisters and everyone living here in Jerusalem, if you listen carefully, I'll explain to you what's going in.  We haven't been drinking: it's only nine in the morning!  What the prophet Joel said is coming true:

"In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.  Your sons and daughters will be moved to speak for me.  Your elders will envision a bright, new future.  Even those who are oppressed and enslaved, will be filled with my Spirit and speak my words."

What Does "One" Look Like?

"I’m praying not only for them but also for those who will believe in me because of them and their witness about me.  The goal is for all of them to be

come one heart and mind—just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so they might be one heart and mind with us.  Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me." [John 17:20-21]

     One of the dictionary definitions for the word "one" is "of the same kind or quality, forming a single entity of two or more components."  This definition tells us that oneness means a number of different components coming together to form a single entity.  They may seem dissimilar but there is something that links them together.

     If we think about it, we see this in nature all the time  There are many different kinds of trees but we know a tree when we see one.  There are many different kinds of birds but we know a bird when we see one.  Likewise, no two snowflakes are alike and everyone has their own set of unique fingerprints.

     What this is telling us is that God loves diversity.  It is written into the fabric of creation.  If being one in Christ means everyone has to believe the same thing about God and behave the same way....Good luck!  Nature proclaims the opposite.  Even identical twins have distinguishing marks that help us to tell them apart.

     God's people are a diverse lot indeed.  There is no way everyone is going to act the same way and believe the same things about ourselves and about God.  It's simply not possible.  Therefore, if we spent more time celebrating what unites us instead of arguing  over what divides us, the world might actually want to hear the message we are trying to proclaim.

Paraphrase of John 17:20-26

   Our gospel lesson for this coming Sunday is a beautiful prayer for us to become one.  Here is my paraphrase of this passage that is based on the Greek text as well as multiple English translations.  I hope it will help us to enter more deeply into this powerful prayer:

     Jesus said, "I pray for my disciples who are with me now as well as those who will come to believe in me through their testimony, that they may all be one.  May they be united in mind and heart and spirit like I am united with you, God.  When they are united with each other and with us, then the world will know that you have sent me .

     I have shown them the praise and honor you have shown me, that they may be one as we are one.  I in them and you in me, all together as one.  Then the world will know that you have sent me and love them just as much as you love me.

     God, I want all of my followers to be with me where I am.  Then they will see firsthand the praise and honor you have shown me; for you loved me even before the world began.   

     Holy and Just God, the world does not know you, but I know you; and my followers know that you have sent me.  I have told them who you are.  I will remind them again and again and again.  Then they will love each other as much as you have loved me.  And I will live in them."

Amen.  May it be so!

It's a Wonderful World?

     Wayne Dyer, an American self-help advocate, author and lecturer, once said, "Loving people live in a loving world. Hostile people live in a hostile world. Same world." I find his words to be rather profound because I find myself with a foot in both of these worlds. The first world includes my partner, my family, my friends and my church. It is a place where I am surrounded by love and acceptance. It is a world where I feel like I can reach my fullest potential and make a difference in the lives of others. I never grow tired of living in this world.

     The second world is a world of seemingly endless violence. A world of war and retaliation. A world of hate crimes and intolerance. A world of blind ambition, greed and power. A world that seems intent on destroying itself. It is a world that makes me very anxious and worried. I grow tired of living in this world!

     The challenge for us, as people of faith, is to make sure we surround ourselves with the first world. We are called to create communities of justice, equality, love and mutual respect that will help to shelter us from the other world. Too often, LGBT Christians feel isolated and vulnerable. It is imperative that we strive to be loving people in a loving world and refuse to become hostile people in a hostile world.

     What does your world look like today? What one thing can you do this week to help create a loving community that will shelter you from the hostile world?

The Advocate

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.  This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him.  You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you."―John 14:15-17 NRSV

This coming Sunday's gospel  lesson is a portion of Jesus' "final discourse" to his disciples.  During this extended conversation, Jesus promises his followers that he will give them the gift of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit.  This word in Greek paints five different images for how the Holy Spirit functions in our lives:

• Advocate - This brings to mind the image of a lawyer.  It reminds us that the Holy Spirit testifies to the truth about who God is and how God works in our lives.
• Counselor - This brings to mind the image of a teacher.  It reminds us that the Holy Spirit is a source of wisdom and guidance for our lives.
• Comforter - This brings to mind the image of a nurse.  It reminds us that the Holy Spirit is there to heal our wounds and give us peace.
• Helper - This brings to mind the image of a rescue squad.  It reminds us that the Holy Spirit give us all the tools we need to be healthy and successful in life.
• Intercessor - This brings to mind the image of a nun.  It reminds us that the Holy Spirit  goes before God and prays on our behalf.

What aspect of the Holy Spirit do you need most in your life right this moment?  Let us give thanks to God for the wonderful gift of the Spirit that flows through our lives in so many wonderful ways.

LGBT Couples Retreat gets press

My congregation, Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Fairview, NC will be hosting an LGBT Couples Retreat on Saturday, May 11, 9:00am-4:30pm.  This one day retreat offers a time apart for LGBT couples to work on their communication skills and meet other couples who value spirituality as an important part of their relationship.  There will be time for worship, relationship building, Bible study, and fellowship.  The cost of this retreat is $40 per couple which includes a light breakfast and lunch.  To download the brochure and register for this event, please go to www.abidingsaviorlutheranchurch.org

We just got some nice press this week in the local newspaper, Mountain Express.  There's a picture in the hard copy of the paper but not in the electronic version which you can find HERE.

Pray we have a successful retreat.  This is the first of its kind in our area that I'm aware of.