In the Loop; In the Spirit

I play hockey. It’s great exercise. It’s a fun sport. I play in a no check league but it doesn’t always mean that there will be no checking. When I’m the recipient of an illegal check I confront the offender. The offender told me that I’m old and shouldn’t be playing, I would just get hurt. I told him to think about that while he was serving a two minute penalty. If he followed the rules no one would get hurt. Unfortunately, we all are free willed. While hockey has a no checking from behind rule, especially along the boards (the lower part surrounding the rink), it still happens. This month it has happened to two high school students. The consequences are more than a two minute penalty or even a major penalty. Two young people are trying to find feeling in their body. The verdict isn’t in on Jenna but the prognosis for Jack is that he’ll never walk again. As “officials” and others try to get a “handle” on it, there are so many thoughts that it seems nothing can be done. But that’s wrong something can be done. While I think about Jack and Jenna, I also think about the ones who put them there. How long will they serve their penalties? Just like Jack and Jenna, they will probably live with it the rest of their lives.
When the International Olympic committee changed the rules for hockey, there was an outcry. Yet, hockey during the Olympics was some of the best hockey you will ever see.
It’s time for some changes. For those of you playing the game of life, stay out of the penalty box!

It’s not easy being the responsible party. The person that we are responsible for often questions our actions and even our motives. Why do I have to leave my house? Why do I have to move here? Why can’t you let me..? The one often most responsible is often the one family member liked the least by the one they care for. While you hear, “I hate this place!” Other visitors hear this is a nice place. It would be easy to ignore the signs of problems and just let conditions deteriorate until there are no other choices. Often, this is exactly what the church and government have done. Life lived unresponsively is seemingly better than living as one responsible. Yet, we can’t be unresponsive, because Christ has urged us not to be. He pierces our lives with the words “as you have done it to the least”. So we struggle emotionally, physically, mentally and even spiritually to be the responsible one to those who we see as “the least” wherever they appear in our life.

I’m not a political junkie. I have been an independent voter all my life. I have voted for Democrats, Reublicans and Independents. I am quick to contact my representatives when I am alarmed by any legislation that I think will negatively impact children and families. I send letters, e-mails, have phone conversations, and even attend forums. I am clearly disappointed in the attitudes that I see paraded across my television and computer screen. It isn’t just the candidates, it is everyday common citizens. I am even more distraught by the religious community and their responses. It’s easy to make religion the butt of many jokes. But religion, at least mine is no joke. For years the church has tried to fill the gaps tending to the less fortunate here in our own neighborhood but also far beyond. Many of our agencies rely on us to help them in their outreach to needy desperate people. Our church (and others) has responded sometimes way beyond what is conceivable in one’s mind. Lives have been changed and impacted. When will those who call themselves religious followers actually become true followers? I hope it’s soon because I don’t see it as laughing matter but a matter of grave importance in our world today.

There is a watchful eye on Iowa today. Who will go on to be the nominee for the GOP? The underlying question we have of all the candidates is who they will represent when elected. Will they represent the rich of America, the poor of America or themselves? We are bombarded by the media. There are factions that daily throw out their message, right, wrong or deliberate lie. Political news junkies eat this stuff on a daily basis. Not too long ago the hockey locker room was filled with talk about hockey and life in general. Now it never fails to involve political talk. Even handed thoughtful consideration has disappeared into a mix of my way or the highway. Can any candidate unite America at this point? It’s time that more is demanded from our elected officials to achieve truthful fairness rather than hypocrisy.

I served in North Minneapolis as a pastor. I have a bullet on my desk as a souvenir. The youngest person shot while there was 5 years old. He was on his way to see his mom at the convenience store down the block when hit and killed by a bullet. The latest victim was just three. A child killed while inside the house heading for cover. What is it that has brought us to Saturday night throw away guns? Young men shooting at whatever is out there like a young person with their first BB gun. Only the objects aren’t door knobs, cans or even worse windows. No it’s just shooting for the fun, thrill, or whatever. No regard for consequences, even less for life. While we may be sad for the mother, the real question is what consequences will come out of this? What will the community and the churches do about this? 15 years between the death of a 5 year old and a three year old. Has anything changed?

Human relationships are complex. We definitely have an inner need for more than what we are. In fully recognizing and practicing our togetherness as people we should gain an appreciation for the coveted relationship of unity with God. We cannot be dwellers in God without being in union with him. This wonderful aspect of life will continue to have its influence upon us.
When a man recently stood under the stars, exclaiming as he gazed at the myriad constellations, “I know there is a God,” he was realizing his relationship and union with the Creator. This declaration has been repeated countless times. When Abraham stood beneath the stars and believed God’s promise, he realized himself as one living his life in God.
Consequently when we stand in awe at all the wonders of God we continue to grow in a positive and spiritually creative direction. We grow with a conscious awareness of abiding in God. We are aware of our life in him and his life in us.
Our worship under this awareness becomes more consecrated. And our devotion grows into experiences of new heights and joys. In the midst our relationships to others become more than momentary self-serving flings, they take on significance. They take on the significance given us by God’s relationship to us. In this there is no eminent divorce in the future, at least on God’s behalf.

Life is a puzzle. Life is a mystery. Life is confusing. Often we wonder if we can make sense of it. There is an unqualified conviction that Christ can be the key. Christ can and does make sense out of it. He accomplishes this by his life and the giving of that life. Led to slaughter but wait a minute, he’s back! Life should be seen through the lens that there’s more to life than this world. Life is larger than what appears before us. It is so much larger through Christ. In the midst of life’s quandary, Hello Jesus!

The gospel writers recorded the comings and goings of the burial routine. Joseph of Arimathea, undoubtedly using his influence, secures custody of the body. Presumably with the help of a few others (John mentions Nicodemus) the corpse is wrapped in a linen shroud and placed in the tomb. The great stone that served as a door is heaved into place and the men depart. Nothing is said. There is nothing to say.
From a little distance the whole procedure is watched by two silent women. Night will fall and dawn will come with nothing changed. Is there any hint of more to come? Is there any suggestion of expectation in their stunned, silent grief? What were they thinking: “How that man trusted God!” and “Where is God at a time like this?”?
This sweetheart trusted God and God was there for her. Now she is with God. What seemed like the end was only the beginning in Christ.

Bethany was the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Jesus often visited in their home. Bethany was where Lazarus was raised from the dead. It was the place where Mary and Martha “crossed over” from sorrow and sadness to comfort, strength, and understanding.
Our “Bethany” may well be the church where overcoming and renewal in body, mind, and soul takes place in baptism and repentance. The experience of church is where we “cross over” from the old to the new. It is actually the forsaking of the old life and making entrance into the new. The crossing over is the renewing of our inner self.
Church is where we can “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” Here we seek the abundant life in Christ who makes a better makes way for us. Here we cross over into the new life.

The fact is that we often are perplexed by today’s world. One word that is used so commonly in church is the word Amen. It is actually an exclamation point, a reinforcing sound that means, “It is really so!” It is a word that helps questions galore. In the church and in the mystery of life it sets us out to explore, questions are to be found in abundance. But Christ is “the Amen.” Christ takes our perplexities and keeps us from despair, even using them as digging tools into the acres of truth which are in him. Life can never be what it is intended to be unless we find the “Amen” in a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ.