Pain, Plants, and Planting Seeds

I am finally wearing a shoe on my left foot (albeit with gel soles). Although the foot is painful to walk on for any length of time, it is still progress – being less painful than before.

While that is not something you really need to know, without it the following would make little sense. Particularly to those who are reading this blog for the first time.

In the past couple of months I have gone through situations, feelings, and emotions that, while in many ways making me mentally and spiritually stronger, I could certainly just as well have done without – in my limited view. Some of the problems I have shared here from time to time. Posting here was one of the things that took a hit – it’s hard to post when you are in pain and trying not to feel sorry for yourself. Misery may love company, but the company will get tired of misery. I certainly grew a little tired of myself.

Granted, I only broke my heel – as opposed to something more damaging and permanent. But that did not make it any more palatable to me. Regardless of the severity or permanence of my injury, my normal routine was turned upside down and I was forced to depend on other members of the family for help. Having three teenage boys meant help when Cyndy was not here would seldom be forthcoming.

The physical changes I got around as best I could. The mental and emotional effects were the most difficult – mostly because knowing better did not keep me from being affected by dreary thoughts and feelings. Feeling sorry for myself, while it repulsed me, relentlessly pursued my subconscious, avoiding all reason. But I am now getting back to business as usual – as it was before the broken heel ordeal. Sitting at my desk is once again a refuge – not a cage from which exit is pain.

The subject of this post, however, is not my foot or my perceived misery, but those infrequent pleasant occasions during detrimental circumstances that cause an epiphany – or, at the very least, casual insights. I spent a lot of time in the past three months looking out the back door of my home office at our garden, rose bushes, and wild flowers. I say “our” but it is actually Cyndy who does the gardening. I water the plants some, take pictures, and share in the proceeds. I also get to watch their growth and evolution.

Which I had time to do, not being able to do chores and even simpler things around the house when taking breaks from writing. It is natural, when past the age of fifty with an injury, to reflect somewhat on one’s mortality. Though it might be natural, it can be disturbing, bringing thoughts that one would rather avoid, but are necessary to eventually come to grips with mortality.

So, while I was reflecting on my mortality in the midst of an episode of writer’s block – a rather disturbing combination, I observed the day to day growth of the plants and flowers. The daily activity of the plants reminded me that my heel, while constantly hurting, was also changing and heeling daily – even if it was hard for me to tell. The plants and flowers would begin to show the effects from the heat of the Texas summer at the end of the day. The next morning, after receiving water and sunlight, they were vibrant again – the sun once again bringing out the bright colors of the flowers.

Thinking about the intricacies of nature, I was impressed by the potatoes. Before some potatoes we had not eaten became completely unusable, Cyndy had planted them in compost, mulch, and so forth in the plastic bin you see in the picture. As a result, we now have healthy potato plants from potatoes we would have thrown away in the past. Likewise, parts of the plants and flowers are blown away, or fall off, landing randomly, facilitating new growth. Death becomes life.

In my mortality contemplation, this fascinated me while calming me down somewhat at the same time. Some parts of, and people in, our lives get blown to other places, planting seeds we never see or are aware of. After we are gone, they continue to grow and continue the process we began. If we strive to live a life fashioned after Christ, we live on in the effects we have on those who live on after us. Likewise, part of what we instill in them gets blown away and the effects of our lives continue to touch future generations.

Whether all of the effects of my life on others gets attributed to me is irrelevant. The point is that very seldom do we die alone. There are those people, of course, who do – although I think even they affect others in some way. For good or bad, we affect others both before and after our death. Which, while we may never be aware of it, is a comforting thought if we are trying to live as we should. As for myself, I am working on it.

Peace be with you.

Tweeting in Church?

I was reading an article in the June 1^st issue of Time magazine about “tweeting” at church – during the service no less. Truthfully, there may be some people who are posting messages to Twitter during our worship services. But I doubt they are tweeting about church, or even religion for that matter, and it is not incorporated into the liturgy or service. If anyone does tweet in our church, most likely they are teenagers. But at the church in Jackson, Michigan, the pastors went so far as to display the tweets on a giant screen behind the pulpit.

I see the validity in a church being on Twitter. I said as much to the communication team of our church when I was reporting what I had learned and discussed at the 2009 United Methodist Reporter (UMR) Communicator’s Conference in April. It was agreed that it was a necessary marketing outlet for the church in order to post upcoming events, activities, and prayers, etc. Church members have recently begun to gather on Facebook as a means of welcoming others into our congregation and communicating with the church family.

However, something bothered me about churches incorporating tweeting into the worship services. This feeling gnawed at me without a clear clue as to why. Having those in the congregation on Twitter respond to the service after it is over makes absolute sense. Although a chance is taken that there may be negative reactions. But encouraging the congregation to tweet during the service – even if it is not every week – seems over the top.

While I was mulling this over in the back of my mind – trying to ascertain the particular reason for my gnawing feeling – I attended the annual conference of the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. The emailing back and forth between department heads and their assistants and fellow workers as ideas were presented or came to them as a result of a presentation, made sense to me. That fits the concept of the conference. [For information on the conference, see my Lay Speakers blog - with links to others' writing about the conference.]

One of those writing about the conference is my fellow lay speaker, Cynthia Astle, on examiner.com. She posted an article during the conference with the headline “Tweet, tweet: United Methodists report on Conference.” The tweets are flying fast and furiously from the floor of the North Texas Annual Conference this morning, as clergy and laity consider how they can better “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. I was thinking about this part of the article one evening when the reason for the gnawing feeling came to me.

I seldom have a real, justifiable need for the hottest new gadgets. Which does not mean they would not be nice to own. I also seldom regret not having them. But there are times when – as a writer – I think I might be missing out. As in the case of Blackberrys, iPhones, and the like. Then I remember that I am a writer, not a journalist. My purpose is not to be the first to tell someone what happened – although it is enjoyable and fulfilling when it happens to me occasionally. My purpose is to absorb the occasion and describe it, perhaps examining it somewhat.

The gnawing feeling was caused by the slow realization that twittering, posting, and texting during events would not keep me from achieving my goal. More importantly, I think, is that a person who constantly tweets or posts cannot enjoy the full experience of the occasion. It is not possible to write and send a message while paying complete attention to what is going on around you. It is also easy to get distracted on your way to posting, wandering even farther away.

Paying attention and absorbing the atmosphere of the occasion allows me to have an overall view that the tweeters miss. Not that what they send is not relevant or worthy of note. On the contrary, many tweeters serve a unique purpose. But you may have to go through a lot of nonsense to find them.

As far as tweeting in church is concerned, missing a part of the service while tweeting is counterproductive to the purpose for attending the worship service. I understand a large number of the changes in ways of worship, but they all involve worship with one another in a holy place to feel God’s presence and praise him. But tweeting or posting takes a person out of that experience without feeling the fullness of God’s presence.  Perhaps he/she missed it while informing the online world that “the [praise] band rocks.”

Peace be with you.

Nelson’s Illustrated Guide to Religions – Book Review

Nelson’s Illustrated Guide to Religions, written by James A. Beverley and published by Thomas Nelson is the ultimate comprehensive guide on religions of the world – particularly for Christians. It is the most thorough book on the numerous religions I have ever encountered. The UPS driver dropped off the book at one o’clock in the afternoon. Twenty-four hours later, I had skimmed through the 740 page volume page by page, reading much of it. I kept working on other activities and projects, but I kept coming back to the book. It is a book I will keep close at hand for future reference and referral.

It would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to come up with a religion or cult that Beverley does not identify. That includes denominations, factions, and the like. The value for Christians is not that Beverley views the religions with a Christian perspective – quite the opposite. The author is commendably objective in his reporting on the many religions and cults of the world, past and present. The discussion of each religion, denomination, or cult, ends with a chart of facts and resource locations (including websites) for those who wish to inquire further. A question and answer session often follows which resembles a frequently asked questions (FAQ) page on a website.

Following the sections on religions or cults that are contrary, if not entirely in opposition to, Christian worldview and way of thought, Beverley includes ideas for Christians to respond, or witness to, members of the particular religion or cult. As Professor of Christian Thought and Ethics at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, Ontario and Associate Director at the Institute for the Study of American Religion in Santa Barbara, California, Beverley is extremely knowledgeable on the subject and presents a thorough overview – with depth – of religions of the world. The overall quality of the book itself is superior with beautiful photographs and illustrations – combined with the text in an eye-catching layout.

Nelson’s Illustrated Guide to Religions should be on the shelf of every Christian seeking to know more about other religions in order to dialogue with people of other faiths. It is arguably the only book a Christian needs on the subject of other religions. It is, without a doubt, the book to suggest to anyone who only wants to buy or read one book on the subject.

Peace be with you.

A Hibachi, a Prank, and Silent Sin

When I was a single father, and my daughter was at her grandparent’s house, I fixed a steak on the small hibachi on the front porch. It was a covered wooden porch but the roof was ten feet high and, like I say, it was a small hibachi. The steak I was cooking covered a majority of its surface area. When the steak was ready, I ate it along with the vegetables I had fixed, then put the dishes in the sink. All the while the front door was wide open.

I laid down on the couch, the left two feet of which faced the front door, and fell asleep watching television. At some point, I was awoken from a deep sleep to the foggy place in between deep sleep and fully awake. I heard a sound, some running steps, and doors slamming. I got on my feet, clawing through the fog, and headed for the open door. I watched the car pull away.

The hibachi was gone. Which was not a tragic loss – I had not paid much for it. But there had been burning coals and ashes in it! I looked around on the porch and over the side where I figured they would dump it. There were, however, no ashes to be found. Not even between the porch and the middle of the street. The two young men had just shoved a grill with a burning fire in their car.

As I stood there looking in the direction in which they had driven and shaking my head, I had a vision of these two guys driving around with steaks, looking for a grill to cook them on. In my mind I saw them driving to a park, pulling out the hibachi and blowing on the coals to cook their steaks. Why else would they take a cheap hibachi costing less than fifteen dollars – with a fire in it no less? It is doubtful they were looking for a grill for their family.

Most likely they were just stealing it for a prank. When they realized it had burning embers in it they did not have time to dump them out before escaping, as it were, in their car. But did they dare each other? Remember, I had the front door open and was laying on the couch facing the door (albeit asleep). What about the hibachi was worth taking the chances they took? Had I thought fast enough, and cared about the hibachi enough, I could have read the number on their license plate.

Thinking back on the occasion, the situation calls to mind those times when we commit sins and think that no one knows or we “got away with it.” Getting too much money in change from an inexperienced or overworked employee at the store, for example. Or being charged less than the actual price and keeping silent. Parking in a handicapped parking space when not at all disabled would be another example. There are many other examples.

We inwardly dare ourselves to not say anything, while at the same time we know it is morally wrong. We think no one notices. We tell ourselves that makes it “okay.” But God is standing on the front porch, shaking his head, watching as we walk or drive away – wondering why we think we have “gotten away” with anything.

Peace be with you.

Uncompromised Faith – Book Review

Finishing and reviewing Uncompromised Faith, written by S. Michael Craven, president of the Center for Christ and Culture, and published by Navpress, has taken me longer than usual. Not because it was difficult to read or any reason of that nature, but because there is so much there that honing a review down to a few hundred words is difficult. The subject of religion and culture has been increasingly covered recently, edging toward a time when it seems there is little new left to say on the subject.

Uncompromised Faith, however, comes closer than most to intelligently and theologically dissecting the problems and implications of concepts such as modernism, postmodernism and cultural engagement, among others, in regard to the Christian church. Craven does not, as many writers do, bow to postmodernism as a concept we must embrace to move forward. Rather, he points out the flaws that arise from misconceptions about what modernism and postmodernism are.

The author correctly points out the mistake in considering the emerging church and church going habits – or lack thereof – of the younger generation by stamping on the label of postmodernism and sealing the envelope. He also reveals the problems caused by the misinterpretation of postmodernism, its implications, and applications to the church. Postmodernism assumes facts not in immediate evidence and cannot be generally applied to all aspects of the church – or the younger generations for that matter.

For example, strict adherents to postmodernism at face value assume that young people no longer want or need apologetics or theological depths to their faith. As Josh McDowell, who wrote the forward for Uncompromising Faith, and his son Sean, have argued – and Craven demonstrates – that is not the case. The new contemporary services may be dramatic and spiritual ways to worship, but they do not answer the tough questions. And young people today have many questions. But we need to be able to help answer those questions on their terms.

But before we answer those questions – or in order to answer those questions – we must understand our relationship with the cultures around us. Which is where Craven shines. Beginning with the state of the church today and how it is affected by culture, the author moves through chapters discussing the challenges and problems of modernity, modernism, and postmodernism, to the clashes between religion and culture. Which he illustrates in the second, and final, section, “social ideas that hinder belief and adversely influence the Christian life and witness.” The social ideas he considers are those based around the “sexualized” culture, homosexuality, marriage, feminism, and new age spirituality.

Craven wraps it all up with a fitting epilogue in which he sums up the struggle between Christianity and culture, discusses the church’s weaknesses and challenges, and finishes with ideas on how to move forward. Engaging with the culture with a Christian worldview and the flexibility that comes with understanding. Uncompromised Faith is a must read for anyone interested or concerned with moving the church forward in seemingly compromising times and understanding the influence of cultures that surround us.

Faith and Pop Culture – Book Review

Faith and Pop Culture is the eighth installment of the Christianity Today Current Issues Bible Study Series, published by Thomas Nelson. As stated in the Introduction, “[t]his Current Issues Bible Study is designed to facilitate lively and engaging discussion on various facets of entertainment and how it connects to our lives as Jesus’ followers.” The Faith and Pop Culture study examines the compatibility of our faith with the current culture as it pertains to the various parts of the entertainment industry. The book includes observations of movies, books, sports, television, and violence in entertainment media.

The study also takes a look at how entertainment affects Christians and vice versa. Must all entertainment Christians enjoy be “family friendly?” Can Christians influence the entertainment industry? With “entertain me” as the cry of our culture, is it compatible with a life of faith? These are questions to be discussed during the eight weeks of this study.

The Current Issues Bibles Studies are designed to be small group studies. Each session of the Faith and Pop Culture study begins with a Scripture Focus which provides the passages pertaining the lesson. After a brief introduction, a relevant article from Christianity Today magazine and ChristianityToday.com. The study guide of each session following the article are Open Up – discussion activities, The Issue – focusing on the main issues with which the session is concerned, Reflect – sharing thoughts and observations on the Scripture Focus passages, Let’s Explore – discussion questions, and Going Forward – taking what is learned and discussed and putting thought into action within our culture.

Each study guide includes ample questions and activities. Which allows for flexibility within the small groups using the study. If the group meets for two hours, they have plenty of questions, scripture reading, and activities. A group that meets for a shorter time has many options to choose from. Some sessions have “bonus” ideas or extra activities which could also be done outside of the regular group time.

In a time when many books and articles are written about modernism, post-modernism, and, indeed, faith and culture, Faith and Pop Culture is an intriguing Bible study that allows Christians as a group to actively apply their faith to the culture in which we live. I am considering leading the study myself, but I will certainly suggest it to other group leaders I am in contact with on a regular basis.

Peace be with you.

Driving Rain, Flash Floods, and Prayer

As I mentioned on my Lay Speaker blog, I found myself driving in driving rain through flash floods on Saturday. I left a friend’s house about 2 p.m. and it was not raining very much. It had been overcast all day, but it was not raining at all until just before I arrived at Randy’s, when it began raining just slightly harder than a drizzle. When I left it was raining steadily, but it was a soft rain.

Before I had gone half a mile, the bottom dropped out. Within minutes it was pitch black, visibility was difficult, and the rain was coming down with a vengeance. The drivers of the cars in front of me -as well as myself – moved into the center lane, not only to take the highest ground possible, but also to enable us to follow each other’s taillights. No doubt the drivers following behind me did the same thing, but I was too nervous and was not about to take the time to check until the time came to stop.

I was driving down a particular stretch of the road that lacked substantial streetlights. In almost solid darkness with hard driving rain, my eyes were glued to the halo-surrounded taillights of the car in front of me and the car in front of it if I could see them. When the rain let up slightly, I took the chance to change lanes and get in front of other cars to lessen the chances that I would have to stop quickly when someone in front of me did. Which only helped my situation temporarily.

Not long after I took the lead in the line of cars I realized I may have acted hastily. Taking the lead, I had changed back to the center lane. Within a few minutes I found myself in a situation I would have paid money to avoid. As far as I knew I was coming upon an extremely large puddle. I was wrong.

When I realized that the water I was driving through stretched for a good quarter of a mile while continually rising, I began praying fervently. If I stopped I could cause a pile-up – at the very least being stuck without power in a dangerous situation. The gas gauge was low, the battery power gauge dipped far enough to dim the lights and was close to red-lining, and the oil gauge announced that it was also low. I had no choice but to keep driving.

The water flying up from the rear of my car made the mirrors useless. All of my focus was on the taillights ahead. In tense situations such as I found myself in at the time, I talk to myself out loud. I was thinking ahead past the water I was in, praying I would be able to put my thoughts into action. Were there any more low spots in the road between where I was and my home? If so, what evasive route should I take?

What frightened me the most, should I be stranded, was that I was on crutches – a uniquely new experience for me. Our home phone was off due to the storm so I would not be able to contact my family. I was going through a list of people I could possibly call for help. What bothered me most was that I would be literally stuck. Getting through the storm in the dark on crutches was simply not an option.

I often say that I get in the car and drive to get away from everything. I do not understand having to be in contact with someone all the time. Before cell phones, driving was a peaceful time with just myself and my thoughts. No phone to interrupt me for any reason. But in the situation I found myself on Saturday, I was glad to have the cell phone. I only hoped I could get service in the storm.

All of these thoughts were coming to me in a span of about five minutes – ten at the outside. Then I was out of the flooded area, headed for higher ground, and the gauges began to head in the right direction. But my pulse was still pounding, my mind still racing, and my senses on red alert. I was determined to get home without further incident – at least that which was under my control. I took the route with the highest ground and the brightest streetlights.

Having driven through the core of that particular storm front, I arrived at home to light rain (albeit with evidence that a storm had passed). I calmed down after a few minutes. More storms were to come, almost as fierce as the one I had driven through. As short as the experience was, the outcome could have been significantly different. But I was safe at home with my family. And I thanked God for that.

Peace be with you.

Challenges, Experiences, and Spiritual Journeys

My heel is finally beginning to heal enough that the pain has drastically subsided. I can finally sit at the computer (albeit in an odd position) and concentrate for long enough to get some substantial work done. I can finally get back to my Bible studies – both my Disciple class study and the one I am writing. I’m beginning to adjust to how life is going to have to be for the next four or five weeks.

I’m sore in places I did not know I had, due to hopping around and walking on crutches. Simply fixing something for lunch is an arduous and possibly quite comical event. Hopping from counter to pantry to counter to refrigerator to counter, and balancing on one leg while I put lunch in a microwave container. Then hopping to the microwave, then retracing my hops to return everything to its place, hopping back to the microwave, putting the container in a plastic bag, getting the crutches and going back in to the desk to eat while I try to continue working.

Life is certainly different than it was a couple of weeks ago. I am having to figure out how to do the things I never really gave a second thought on one leg, balancing on crutches. Like cooking, cleaning, or just going up and down the stairs. Driving is not so bad, but getting in and out is a pain. Hobbling around the grocery store is physically draining. Just fixing a cold lunch, getting it back to the desk, eating it, and working for a bit calls for a short nap.

As I’ve crossed these hurdles, I’ve thought of my friend, Randy, who had his leg amputated when he was in high school. His foot had never been as it should have. His prosthesis is of an old style and he cannot afford to get a new one. The amputation was above the knee, further limiting the options.

When doing what I normally do without thinking is difficult and a nuisance, I think of what Randy has been going through for years. I now know what it feels like to go through what I have seen him go through for years. I have said to myself that I did not see how Randy did it, but that did not keep from feeling sorry for myself for what I had to go through. At times, however, I take time to think about the one big difference between Randy and myself. I will get my leg back – so to speak. Randy’s situation is permanent.

For that I thank God. I appreciate opportunities to understand how other people feel. And the fact that I have to be on crutches for six to eight weeks gives me plenty of time to experience how someone else feels. But that does not make it any easier to accept and deal with. I will be glad when this journey comes to an end. In the meantime, though, I intend to make it a point to learn all I can from the experience and use it to advance my life and spiritual journey to other levels. We should all view life’s many journeys as challenges and question how we can use the experiences to learn and move forward, rather than wasting time feeling sorry for ourselves, asking why, and remaining stagnant.

Peace be with you.

The Noticer – Book Review

The Noticer, by Andy Andrews, published by Thomas Nelson and released tomorrow, is an interestingly quick read. Yet I found myself not able to read it in one sitting. The plot was rather predictable. Jones (no Mr., just Jones) is the noticer, a seemingly ageless old man who appears in the life of people who are at a major crossroads in their life. Jones appears without warning and talks them through their situation and helps them to get a new perspective, after which they are forever changed.

The old man appears to be a charismatic person who not only quietly demands the listener’s attention through his steady voice and calm demeanor, but also renders the person incapable of hearing anything but his voice. His listeners pay rapt attention to what he is saying without knowing why. After talking to him the listener not only has a new perspective on his/her life, but actually feels refreshed.

Despite the predictability, I kept reading, hoping there would be a change in the plot or a surprise. The way in which Jones adjusted his vocabulary and conversational style to each listener was interesting and well done. The Christian overtones were subtle yet solidly present. Some of the dialogue though, seemed as if Jones was approaching Christ-like status, and was rather tame and too obvious. Which preceded a reading break.

The ending, while also rather predictable, and drawn out more than necessary, was still successful enough to leave the reader with a warm feeling. Although it was not the desired effect that Jones had on his listeners throughout the book. All in all, however, The Noticer is a pleasant and heartwarming story despite occasional straying and the predictability aspect. While I wouldn’t recommend The Noticer to everyone, I would certainly recommend it to many people. The book contains a reader’s guide and thoughts for further reflection. The book would make an appropriate gift for someone going through any type of crisis in their life. 

Peace be with you.

Pain, Boots, and Faith

“And the hits just keep on coming.” Yesterday was my seventh day of pain since breaking my heel. The constant pain made simple concentration difficult, much less trying to write a post. It was Monday – three days after the accident on Thursday – before I could get an appointment with the doctor. After having an x-ray taken, the doctor informed me that I had broken my heel. The next step was to have a ct-scan of my foot. I went to the outpatient clinic for the cat-scan after the doctor’s appointment, only to discover that the price of being basically healthy was – after not having paid any deductible this year – is the full deductible.

The cat-scan results required a visit to the orthopedist. Which was yesterday. According to our doctor, after seeing the x-rays and the ct-scan results, my heel would require surgery. During the two days between the appointments, I was praying that the orthopedist would come to a slightly different conclusion. Either way, I knew I would be on crutches for some time to come.

As to the accident, I will only say that our boys would not repair something that one of them broke. Then, Thursday morning, it began to rain – which made action imperative. I decided I would have to take it upon myself to avoid further damage. After I had re-covered the area I found that the action that resulted in my breaking my heel was the best available option to return to the ground.

Regardless of my choice, the result is the same. I am forced to look at life a little differently. Rather than taking care of my family and being the person they can depend on, I am not able to fulfill quite a few of those duties, and I am dependent on them. By the grace of God it will only be temporary. When I went to the orthopedist, I found that I did not require surgery. I have to wear a boot (as you can see) for about 8 weeks and, having not chosen surgery, will walk on the left side of the bottom of my foot – an adjustment I can live with.

Through all the pain of the past week I have been wondering what God is wanting me to do with the situation. I am working on a Bible study concerning journeys, but it was not necessary for me to embark on another one. Certainly not one this severe. Notice that I ask what God wants me to with the situation, not asking why he caused it to, or let it, happen. Unfortunately, any blame is with me – or with why I had to be there in the first place.

While I watched the physician’s assistant put the boot on my foot, the thought crossed my mind that it would be nice to have a “boot” for our faith. Something to hold it in place so it does not shift. Keeping us protected until our soul can heal. Hopefully when the boot comes off the soul will be healed completely.

But then again, we do have a “boot” for our faith – God’s gracious love, present in us through the Holy Spirit. His love is there to keep us focused. To hold our faith in place and protected while our soul heals.

Peace be with you.