Easter Sunday

Easter Morning

Wow. I woke up this morning in California and share Easter with my son's family. After breakfast we took part in an Easter Egg Hunt. Little Julie came out side and found easter eggs all over the ground. She was so excited as raced around picking up the plastic eggs with a chocolate surprise on the inside. Where does she get all of the energy?

While I am not against any of the secular celebrations of easter, I much prefer the religious understanding. This is the easter equivilent of "Keep Christ in Christmas." Easter should be a celebration of the risen Christ. It the story of those who went in great sorrow to finish a task they began the day before. Getting the spices ready and giving Jesus' body his final perparations for burial. A long hike to the tomb to finish the work and it would be done.

However, when the women arrived at the tomb they were greeted with a surprise. Jesus was not there. They found instead an empty tomb with angels that told them Jesus was alive. "He is Risen!" they are told.
They run with excitement to tell the disciples. On the road to Emmas, two disciples meet the risen Jesus. When They discover it, they run all the way back to the city of Jerusalem to tell the other disciples.

Maybe we have more in common with this early celebration of easter than I originally though. Both celebrations consist of a surprise and boundless energy and excitement. Lord God, Thank you for the surprise and excitement of Easter. Amen.

Maundy Thursday - T minus 6 weeks and counting down

It is Thursday of Holy Week, the celebration we call the Last Supper. It is written about in Mark 14:12-26.  The theme I want to pick out is that of betrayal.  We all know what it feels like to be betrayed.  We have trust in something or someone and that trust is broken.  As an avid backpacker, I know all about betrayal. My feet have betrayed me.  After several weeks on the trail of contitioning they suddenly develop blister for no apparent reason other than to cause me pain.  I have been betrayed by my backpack which in a rain storm developed a whole allowing all me gear to get soaking wet.  I have been betrayed by my own memory, leaving a well loved water bottle at a shelter and not discovering it until well down the trail.  Maybe you've been betrayed by a car that suddenly will not run and of course it always at the most inconvienent time. 

All of these betrayals pale in comparison to the betrayal of a loved one.  We know that equipment and memories fail but friends make choices.  Friends and loved ones who betray us make to choice to do so.  It is that choice to betray us that hurts the most.  On the night, Jesus is betrayed.  However, Judas is not the only one guilty of betrayal on this night.  Peter on three different occasions, denies even knowing who Jesus is.  All the disciples, flee in panic as Jesus is arrested in the secrecy of darkness.

Which bring me to that question the disciples ask Jesus, "Is it I?"  And the answer is a resounding, "Yes."
What are the ways I betray Jesus today?  I betray Jesus when I respond in kind to the disrespect shown be by those who cut me off on the freeway.  I betray Jesus when I choose to remain blind to the injustices of those around me to live with prejudice and powerlessness.  I betray Jesus when I think that church attendance is a substitute for "Christian Living."

Yet, knowing that he is in the presence of those who would betray him, in fact he is dipping bread with these very folk, Jesus takes bread and gives thanks and gives it to his betrayers.  He give it to me and says, "Take, this is my Body."  He takes the cup and gives thanks and shares it with those who are to leave him abandonded.  To them and me, he give this cup and explains, "This is my blood of the covenant poured out for many."  Even while I am a betrayer, Jesus offers himself to me, to bring healing in my inmost spirit. 

God, on this day of remembrance, help me to see clearly the love you have not just for me, but for all humanity.  Guide me to live a life worthy of being called after Christ's name: Christian.  Amen

Sabbath Treker

In my lifetime I have had "Showers of Blessings."  In 2003 while serving the Hocking Valley Parish near Athens, OH, I received the blessing of a 3 month Sabbatical. After 10 years of ministry to the same community, I was out of ideas and I was completly exhausted.   These special people allowed me this opportunity for rest and renewal and I took it.  I came back a different person.  I returned with renewed energy, new insights, and a greater sense of calling. I served them for another 2 years.

Now almost 6 years into my new position as a Regional Associate Pastor for the Christian Church in Ohio I am once again looking at a 3 month sabbatical.  I know from past experience that I will be blessed by this time of rest and renewal.  I want this sabbatical to also be a blessing to the Christian Church in Ohio which I love and serve.  After thinking and praying about this, I have found a way that my sabbatical might be a blessing to both me and the regional church.  I am looking for people who will  sponsor me per mile on my trip. I am hoping to walk between 500 and 600 miles (ok sing the song, "Lord I'm  1, Lord I'm 2, Lord I'm 3, Lord, I'm 4, Lord I'm 500 miles away from home . . .") along the Appalachian Trail and with enough pledges, I will raise $5000.00.  This money will be split equally between five of my favorite ministries:  The Hocking Valley Parish, the Youth Scholarship Fund, the Leadership Fund of the Christian Church in Ohio, the Reconcilation Fund, and the Week of Compassion.  If I reach my goal, each of these ministries would receive $1000.00 to support their work.  (Please NOTE: Absolutely none of this money will in any way be used toward my sabbatical but 100% will be donated to these five ministries.)  If you would like to make a pledge please go to:   Pledge Form.