Men (and Women) in Albs

Reformation Day has passed, but before it did, I remembered this bit from the movie Men in Black when Tommy Lee Jones as K is talking to Will Smith as James Edwards before he became J:

Edwards: Why the big secret? People are smart. They can handle it.

Kay: A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it. Fifteen hundred years ago everybody knew the Earth was the center of the universe. Five hundred years ago, everybody knew the Earth was flat, and fifteen minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll know tomorrow.

So how does this apply to Reformation Day? Imagine if you will, as I did, a conversation between Martin Luther as he is putting his Ninety-Nine Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Church door and a fellow cleric...

Cleric: Whatcha doing Martin?

Luther: I've got some problems with our theology, some big problems. You know that. And it's high time everybody knows, not just the bishops.

Cleric: What do you mean Bishops, you're the Father of Lutheranism, you're not Roman Catholic! Your reformation started the whole Lutheran Church thing!

Luther: Stupid! Don't you know anything about church history! I'm Roman Catholic and so are you! So is most of Europe in 1517! Dumbkopf!

Cleric: So what is this about?

Luther: The Church needs to be reformed if...

Cleric: There's that word!

Luther: Yes, and do you know what it means? Reform, change, big change, very big change, maybe even change in italics! It doesn't mean schism, it means change. What comes of it after my death, well, we'll see where it goes from there, but what I want is for the Church Universal to change.

Cleric: What do you mean by Church Universal?

Luther: That's all catholic with a lower case c means, universal. When you read it in the creeds it doesn't mean Roman Catholic or even the Eastern Orthodox, it means the universal church. Do I have to explain everything to you?

Cleric: Looks that way...

Luther: What's causing you problems here?

Cleric: Well, here it says you want us to stop selling plenary indulgences. Why would we ever do that?

Luther: Insert eye roll here! With these indulgences we sell, with cash money we sell the holiness of good people to bad people so that they can get into heaven, right.

Cleric: Sure, that's the only way my Uncle Stugotz will even sniff heaven!

Luther: That's what I mean! You can't sell holiness! Where is that even found in scripture?

Cleric: Er, in the book of...

Luther: Yeah, don't bother. It's not found in scripture. We soil ourselves to believe this is even possible and for what, a few coins in the treasury?

Cleric: Hey, don't knock it. Giving is down. We gotta do something to put butts in the pews. We gotta get giving up Martin. The Sistine Chapel Ceiling didn't paint itself. Pope needs cash to do the work of the church.

Luther: How is another fresco going to serve the poor and the widowed and the travelers and the...

Cleric: Well Pope Trump is going to build a wall across the Rubicon so...

Luther: There is so much wrong with that statement I'm not even going to try to correct you. The point is the work of the church is not nice things. The work of the church is outside the walls, not inside the walls.

Cleric: So why put this stuff up on the door? You want the biships and doctors of the church to discuss this stuff right?

Luther: Surely yes I do. But I've been neglected in small groups. Maybe posting this on All Saints Day when we all come to Wittenberg will cause us to act.

Cleric: If you mean your trial, excommunication, and death sentence, then yes, your call to action will be met.

Luther: Yes, I suspect you're right. And do you know why, because a person is smart. We're having a decent conversation, except for your lapses in church history and that "Pope Trump" crack. A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, superstitious animals and you know it. Fifteen hundred years ago everybody thought Jesus was a poser and a Jewish heretic. Five hundred years ago the bow was the latest in war technology, and fifteen minutes ago, you thought money could take holiness from the treasury of merit to help your Uncle Stugotz. Imagine what you'll know tomorrow.

Well, that isn't what happened, but as Kurt Vonnegut once said during a Palm Sunday sermon, you can always count on a crowd to look at the wrong end of a miracle. A person is smart. Two people can have a conversation, we can have coffee and a streusel. We can discuss and if we can keep a calm head we can discuss the matters of the day.

If our day and time has shown us one thing for sure, if it's the church or politics, and let us remember a secular government is an American invention, people are dumb, panicky, superstitious animals. And you know it.

Pastor Paul's September 13 Newsletter Article

Here's my article for the Federated Flash, the newsletter of The Federated Church in Weatherford, Oklahoma!

Paul’s Letter to the Church at Weatherford

Reading the announcements in last Sunday’s bulletin, you saw this…

Monday, September 19
6:00 pm Preliminary Budget Meeting—If you have anything for the 2017 Budget, please get it to Pastor Paul, Bruce Magill, or Suzy Maness by Sunday September 18.

First off, don’t let the image put you off, it’s true, budget work is God’s work, Christ’s work, the work of the church. I would tell people I loved statistics because it took numbers and translated them into English. “Yes, based on all of this gobbled-gook there is a 20% chance of rain.” That’s just statistics and weather and the percent chance your picnic will be rained out. (We’ll leave the statistics on how trustworthy the meteorologist is for another day.)

Budgets are just how we translate how we do the work of the church into dollars and cents. How much did it cost to heat and cool the church building and parsonage last year and how much do we estimate it will cost this year? How much do we send to the three denominations so they can do their work? How much money do we send to missions? Do we tithe? How much does it actually cost to have a pastor? Is there more than salary? What does it cost to run Positive Pathways? How much does Ronda make? Do we even pay Ronda? (The answer to that one is “not this year,” she volunteers and puts money into the program.) What do we get from… well, what do we get?

These are all good questions, and deserve good answers, so here’s the Board’s tentative time frame:

Monday, September 19—Pastor Paul, Treasurer Bruce Magill, and Board Chair Suzy Maness will review the budget from 2016 with an eye to 2017. If you have any suggestions of things you want to do in 2017, let’s say a yoga class in the Fellowship Hall, a Music Program in the Sanctuary, or a Bible Study, put something in writing and share it with one or all of us! This is a closed meeting, we’re going over numbers and not making any hard decisions.

Monday, October 3—Board Meeting This is the meeting where the Board will review the budget. All Committee Chairs are board members so they have voice and vote. Make sure your suggestions are in so considerations can be made! If you have a suggestion that falls outside of the normal structure, find an advocate on the board, it’s the best way!

Sunday in late October or early November to be decided: The board has not decided on what day the budget will be presented.  

Sunday November 20—Consecration Sunday That’s the day we put ourselves in the offering. That’s the day we pledge to offer what we have of our time, talent, and treasure to make this ministry plan happen. Because the budget is a ministry plan the way an accountant sees it.

So like the statue says, Church budgets are Christ’s work too. We must treat them like they are the work of God to do the work of the Church to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, because if it’s not, we’re just a Sunday Social Club and there are better ways to spend a Sunday morning if that’s all we are. But I say we’re more than a social club, we’re the Body of Christ, so…

See you in Church, Paul

Pastor Paul's September 6 Newsletter Article

Here's my September 6 article for the Federated Flash, with lots of clipart!

Pastor Paul’s Letter to the Church at Weatherford

So, what in the world is Rally Day? It’s the Sunday School equivalent of “Back to School Night.” It’s a chance to meet new teachers, get into new classes, and find out what’s going on with Christian Education at The Federated Church. That’s really pretty easy, isn’t it? No big secrets. Nothing mystical. No big to-do’s.

What makes this Rally Day special is the many offerings this year. The Seeker’s Class will be studying “Grace” by Max Lucado. A new class for adults will be doing a video study in the Library. Of course there will be youth classes, and for the first time in years we have a confirmation class! Yes, this is a thrilling time at Federated!

This Rally Day will also feature Ashlyn Dillon presenting information about her Mission Trip to Africa during worship. She will be bringing a multimedia presentation so come ready to see and hear about the work the Lord is doing there.

Finally, that evening at 5:30, we will have a Potluck Supper! Bring your favorite covered dish or try something new and see how we like it. And please bring some school supplies for the school teachers here at Federated. It is estimated teachers spend over $500.00 per year out of pocket annually out of pocket for their classrooms. Let’s help make a dent in that. Then we’ll see what we can do about having the Cowboy’s game playing here so nobody has to worry about that either.

The weather forecast right now looks sunny and mild, so let’s get together Sunday and have a bang up time! This week’s gospel reading will be the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-10). Don’t make me come looking for you…

See you in Church, Paul

Pastor Paul's August 30 Newsletter Article

Here's my article for the August 30 Federated Flash

Pastor Paul’s Letter to the Church at Weatherford

I must have discovered the music of Jim Croce the day he died; but when I did, it was with a vengeance. One of my favorites is from his last album, released a little more than two months after his death. The song is called “Recently” and warns about having a long memory. The bridge and last verse go like this:

'Cause mem'ries can be friends
Or they can take you to a place
The you never thought you'd be again
And take you to a place
That you never ever thought
That you would see again

Doesn't matter now who was wrong
The future is tomorrow 'cause the past is gone
And I'm findin' that I'm not as strong
As I thought that I used to be
'Cause recently it seems
I've been lettin' your mem'ry get to me

Remembering the future is nice, but when our memories get to us, it hurts our ability to live in the present. The Church (Capital “C” Church) is getting itself into trouble, it’s letting its mem’ries get the better of it. The Church, like so much of America, likes to remember “The Good Ol’ Days.” Those days when everything was better and we were on top and things were the way “they were supposed to be.” There are two problems with this though. The first is that nostalgia is always better than the real thing. The second is like the first, were the good times really that good?

As for the church, these were the days when women couldn’t hold congregational or denominational leadership roles. These were the days when children were herded and not seen, wait, that’s seen and not heard. If you weren’t wearing a suit or a dress, you were seated in the back. If your skin was the “wrong” color, you wouldn’t be seated at all.

Those days are gone, thanks be to God! So here’s our problem, when we mourn the past, we leave no room for the future. When we let our memories get to us, we choke the ability to live in the present. Neither of these will do.

Matthew’s gospel teaches Jesus saying, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:25-27)

I’m not saying “don’t worry, be happy,” I’m saying there’s work to do in the Kingdom of God and we are called to do it. If we sing laments about the past all day long it won’t be long before that’s all we know. Share those memories, remember the Saints fondly, but if we do not train the next generation of Saints up then we will leave a church that is dedicated to the dead when it should be pointing to the Living God. So ask a question! Take someone under your wing! There is no such thing as a stupid question, only answers that give glory to God… or not… and remember, today’s youth are going to be leaders before we know it.

See you in Worship, Paul

Pastor Paul's August 16 Newsletter Article

Pastor Paul’s Letter to the Church at Weatherford

You didn’t know this, but I’ve been known to abuse ink. In fact, every pastor is an ink junkie. Have you ever seen an empty bookshelf in the Pastor’s Study? Haven’t there always been more books at the parsonage? Yes, we’re all hooked on the fresh smell of ink and paper. The younger ones among us hide it better with eBooks, but they still go to the Library or a bookstore occasionally just to get that “smell of ink” fix.

Right now I’m getting some books I’ve been lacking for a while. There are some prayer books I’ve missed out on that I picked up. I also got the books for the Confirmation Class, even though I do hate that half of the copies are on back order. I even received the books for the Advent Study I’ll be teaching when the temperature makes us long for the days we’re cursing now... at 40% off thank you very much!

Currently I’m reading “Peaceful Neighbor, Discovering the Countercultural Mister Rogers” by Michael G. Long. His basic premise is that just because “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” was targeted at 3 and 4-year old’s, doesn’t mean it’s as deep as a puddle. The show’s pace is slow. The tone is soothing. But that may be all that’s benign in the neighborhood.

Fred Rogers’ is a Presbyterian Minister and it informed everything he did. One of his professors at Western Theological Seminary (Now Pittsburgh Theological Seminary) was Dr. William Orr. Orr taught him the most basic tenet of the faith that “Jesus reveals the character of God. Not altogether unconventional in his theology, Rogers believed Jesus is the second person in the Holy Trinity, the one who reveals the innermost character of God the creator. But far from conventional, Rogers also held that God, as revealed by Jesus, affirms exactly what the advocate embodies (and the accuser rejects); that every human is good, valuable and lovable.” (page 30)

I must admit, this is not at the core of most theological understandings of sin. Luther and Calvin emphasized the sin of humanity. Reinhold Niebuhr emphasized the sin of the society and structures humans develop. But while saying every human is good, valuable, and lovable, Rogers isn’t saying people misbehave, people act badly, even cruelly.

Instead he often said, “There’s a good guy and a bad guy in all of us.” One of his songs went like this, “the very same people who are good sometimes / are the very same people who are bad sometimes.”

Jesus teaches us to inherit eternal life we must, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27) Mr. Rogers wants us to take that a step further. He knows that not only do we treat one another badly sometimes; we treat ourselves badly too. He wants us to love our neighbor as we love God. God already loves us no matter what.

Let’s face it, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood never seemed very realistic to adults. This is probably one reason why. Nobody loves anybody like they love God… but wouldn’t it be nice to live in that neighborhood? There’s one place to start…

See you in church, Paul

Pastor Paul's Letter to the Church at Weatherford, August 9th

Here is my newsletter article from August 9th, I pray you find it enlightening and amusing.

Pastor Paul’s Letter to the Church at Weatherford

Have you ever been told you had a bad idea? I mean a really bad idea, the kind of idea that, in the words of George Carlin, will “rot your mind, curve your spine, and lose the war for the allies?” I say “Fear not!” Admittedly I can’t offer this with the promises of Christ, but I offer it as a follower of Christ.

Recently I have disliked my Facebook feed because of the political content, but this picture has made it worthwhile. I don’t know where it originated. Several fellow pastors posted it. And it is worthy.

Don’t you agree? If “Sharknado” isn’t a dumb idea, then nothing is.

We have to remember this, not every suggestion is right for every time and place. If a bride and groom were to sit down with me and ask when it’s appropriate to send in the clowns I would consider that improper for a worship service. For a Spring Festival, that would be different. Clowns would make better sense… unless you believe there is no good time for clowns in which case… yada, yada, yada.

Some ask why we are sending out cards to people on the prayer list. It’s because a member of the congregation asked why we aren’t doing something like sending cards to people on the prayer list. “We pray for them, let’s let them know they are in our prayers and on our hearts.” I said “let’s do it!” So we are.

So, is there something on your heart? It could well be the Holy Spirit gnawing at you to get something started in the congregation or the community. Come to me, come to a board member and remember, there are no dumb ideas, there are only Sharknadoes waiting to happen.

See you in church, Pastor Paul

Pastor Paul's Newsletter Article for August 1

The name I have given my newsletter article may seem a little cutesy, or maybe offensive, but then again, that is one of the lessons that can be taken from this newsletter article. The fact that what is "evangelistic" to some or "cute" to me is offensive to others. Either way, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen

Paul’s Letter to the Church at Weatherford...

Dear Friends in Christ,

Have you ever seen something that you thought was in such bad taste, so offensive that you want to shake your head and run? If not, check out this artwork from a revival held here in Weatherford a month or so ago. There was song. There were talks. There was even a raffle where they gave away a new hunting rifle with scope, yes a “Rifle Raffle.”

I have nothing against hunting but I’m not a hunter. I love venison sausage! I have a friend who makes a good venison chili. This is a hunter who uses every bit of the animals he harvests. The animals he takes give their lives for the man’s family and the families of the people who receives gifts of meat and hide.

The opposite of this is the man who buys a ticket to a far off land, buys the services of a Sherpa or safari leader, and is taken where animals gather to create the illusion of a hunt. You’ve seen the pictures, uber rich guys over a leopard or some such animal. Even worse are places like bird farms that lure birds for “hunters” to shoot. These birds are often funneled into small areas to make it even easier for hunters.

One takes life to sustain life, the other hunts for the power and vanity of taking a life. And that’s the difference, isn’t it? Christ came and gave his life to sustain life. The gospels tell us, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

Still, there’s something about the visual of the “Cross in the Cross-Hairs” that makes me uncomfortable.

Yet, the image of Christ giving his life, voluntarily upon the cross, is the image we have. Christ gave his life not so we can survive, but so we can thrive living in relationship with God and with one another. That image should be disturbing too, but we’re used to it. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to “Rifle Raffle.”

God bless, see you in church--Paul

Remembering Our Baptism-Pastor Paul's July 5 Newsletter

Dear Friends in Christ,

Not the first time this picture has appeared

on this blog!

I’m guessing you have wondered why I spend so much time talking about the waters of our baptism. You’d have a point. I do spend a lot of time in the water. With the permission of the Worship Committee I have moved the font front and center. Looking down the aisle you see the font then the table then the cross as you enter the sanctuary. I want the kids to splash in the water, whether they have been baptized or not. Especially the ones who have yet to be baptized.

This is the stole I wear every Sunday in Ordinary Time. Those are the weeks between Baptism of the Lord Sunday and Transfiguration Sunday and between Trinity Sunday and Christ the King Sunday. It bears symbols of the two sacraments. On the left is the font symbolizing baptism and on the right is a chalice symbolizing the supper. It was a gift that I was asked to design. I asked for this design so that most of the year I would be able to wear the symbols of the sacramental gifts Jesus gave us.

One of the great joys of serving The Federated Church is weekly celebration of The Lord’s Supper. The congregations I previously served did not, one was downright hostile to celebrating it more than monthly. I think it is important to celebrate this meal often. I’m glad you do too. But what about our baptism?

Baptism is a once in a lifetime event. I have told you I was about four or five months old when I was baptized. I have no means to remember it. In Presbyterian circles this is fine. I like what it says too. It reminds us that God chooses us before we choose God. I like that. I like the UCC and Disciples believer’s baptism too. It says I know what I’m doing. I make this decision. That’s glorious too.

Either way, remembering our baptism is important. This is why I pour the pitcher into the font weekly. This is why we are reminded of the event whether it has happened or is yet to happen. So let us remember the waters of our baptism. Let’s remember what it is like to live wet. Let’s remember what it is like to live a little sloppy. Let’s remember what it is like to bathe in the waters Jesus bathed in before we receive the meal he gave us.

See you in Church!
Pastor Paul

Pastor Paul's June 28 Newsletter

Dear Friends in Christ,

On Sunday, I consecrated the new pitcher that is used to put water into the font on Sunday mornings. During the Children’s Sermon I taught them what consecrated means. The Oxford Dictionary defines consecrated this way: make or declare (something, typically a church) sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose.

By now you know that I love words. But as a word lover I know that often words become jargon. The last thing I want to do is load worship with jargon to the point that I’m glorified instead of our Lord Jesus. Oh my, look at the pastor using those wonderful words again… That can be said with dripping sarcasm or not, neither way brings glory to God.

Yes, we sanctified that pitcher. It was made holy. All that means is the pitcher was set aside for water for the font. It won’t ever be used for iced tea, or whatever its previous use, ever again. That’s all. So much for $5.00 words.

In fact, through God in Christ, in the waters of our baptism, we have all been made for a holy purpose, to be the people of God. We have been called to be a blessing to the people of Weatherford, Oklahoma, America, and the world. We can only do this through the Spirit who strengthens us.

In worship we recharge those batteries. We remember our baptism, the water we shared with Jesus. We are fed by Jesus at the table he set for all believers. We are nourished by his word heard and shared. Let’s worship God together this Sunday!

In Christ, Paul

Federated Flash, June 21

The newsletter of the Federated Church is the Federated Flash and it is published every Tuesday. This is my first newsletter article, though my last blog entry could have been a wonderful first entry.

After I finished seminary, Marie and I went to visit my parents in Mexico, MO, a small town between Paris and Columbia. While we were there we went to visit my grandmother’s cleaning lady. Now my grandmother passed about ten years prior making her cleaning lady, Miss Fannie Lucas, near about 100 years old. She welcomed us into her home, sat us down and asked, “Now Paul, do I have to call you Reverend Andresen?” I looked at her with a shy smile and said, “Now Miss Fannie, if I asked you to call me anything but Paul you know my grandmother would leave her grave to have a word with me!”

I have been asked several times, “How do you want to be addressed?” It’s a great question, Miss Lucas knew me all my life, but we hardly know each other. As for parents, I’ll leave this up to you for your children, but I think “Pastor Paul” is fine. As for the rest of us, please call me Paul.

I don’t say this to be informal, I say this because it was the name I was called at my baptism. Since it is good enough for God in the waters, it’s good enough for me. Having worked at the University of Arkansas I like to think calling me by some honorary is like putting a tuxedo on a pig. It doesn’t seem right on the pig and ruins the tux.

Our baptismal identity is very important. We celebrate two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The first identifies us with Christians everywhere and with Christ himself. The other feeds, nourishes the body of Christ, taking the meal remembering Jesus until he comes again.

So please, call me Paul.

Two Weeks

Updated sign outside The Federated Church in

Weatherford, Oklahoma

When this post goes online, it will be the exact two week anniversary of our arrival in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Thanks be to God.

I sit here in the living room of the parsonage, listening to Elton John's Tumbleweed Connection, Elton and Bernie Taupin's au mage to the American West, while I contemplate the blessings we have received since coming to this community in Western Oklahoma.

In a way, I first came to this community when I found the Federated Church online at the Presbyterian Church (USA) Church Leadership Connection (CLC) Website. For those who don't speak Presbese, CLC is the Presbyterian Church "Help Wanted/Pastors Available" website.

When I saw that the congregation was a federation of three different congregations, the United Church of Christ, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and the Presbyterian Church (USA) under one roof, I was interested, and amazed.

I saw this and thought this was very interesting, sure; but more than that I thought that these people must be very interesting, very adaptable, and very in tune to the Holy Spirit for this to not only work but to thrive. I won't tell you I was right, that's giving myself credit I don't deserve. These people deserve all of the credit for being their own trinity: three denominations, one congregation. It's three faith traditions, but only one faith. These people are Christians first and foremost, disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Arriving, Marie and I were overcome with wonder! The city isn't huge, but a University, on the Interstate, about an hour from the state capital makes a city of 10,000 more like a community of 25,000. The services, the people, the vibe of this town are a welcome change for us.

There is new hope here. I have a sense of hope and joy I haven't had in a long, long time. This is a hope and joy in doing what I have been called to do in a place I have been called to do it.

Tonight I've been reading some of my old blog posts. Many of these posts have an element of David's Psalms of Lament. (Others would say they are the rants of a man with depression... be that as it may, let's stay theological here.) I share my woes, I shake a fist at God and man, and I give thanks and praise God. Because God is God and I am not.

I feel like a Heisman winner right now. I want to thank God, because no one can do what God has done or what God will do. To God alone goes the glory. We also thank Jody and Suzy and the Search and Call Committee of the Federated Church who brought us here in the first place. I not only thank the congregation for voting to call us, but I thank the three who voted against us for taking the pressure off of me "to please everybody."

Being a perfectionist and a middle child, I want to please everybody. Not a good thing to do for theological and pastoral reasons. Since I haven't pleased everybody from the start, that actually takes a lot of pressure off of me! It doesn't stop hard work, it just kills my perfectionistic streak. Let's face it my perfectionist streak needs to be killed everyday.

Well, we're half unpacked. I need to go to the ETC Shop and Craig's List to look for book cases. Lots of book cases. Murphy's asleep on the floor. And Joe Jackson's playing right now. It's a good night and time to say good night.

God bless you all. God bless Weatherford. God bless The Federated Church. God bless you my wonderful wife Marie. God please bless me too. Amen!

Word and Sacrament

This picture was taken on a lovely, sunny Oklahoma afternoon. The way the light explodes through the rose window into a spray of colors delights and amazes me. Earlier in the week, the Worship Committee and the Board of the Federated Church in Weatherford approved the move of this baptismal font from under the pulpit (not pictured, but on the left in this picture) to this place where it will be seen by all who come to worship.

There is something else wonderfully special about this font, specifically the stand. Under the runner is a small plaque noting that this is not a font stand, this is the original pulpit.

The Federated Church was founded in 1901 as a United Church of Christ congregation. Years later, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) entered into communion forming the Federation and later the Presbyterian Church (USA) joined the Federation.

Of course, the UCC and DOC Churches baptize by immersion. That main baptistery is in the basement of the building. While Presbyterians can celebrate baptism by immersion, it is not usually done that way, thus the font.

Not so long ago, Presbyterian Ministers were called "Ministers of Word and Sacrament" (forgive us, we Presby's get a little wordy), we now call our pastors "Teaching Elders." When I was told that the font sets upon the original pulpit, I thought how glorious it was that this congregation brings these symbols of Word and Sacrament together so wonderfully and so gloriously. It makes me wonder if someone created this symbolic symbiosis intentionally.

Either way, it is glorious. The late Rev. Dr. Stan Hall, Professor of Worship and Liturgics at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary would be delighted.

Church Advertisements on the Radio

Recently I have been thinking of church ads playing on local radio out of Marshall, Texas. Two in particular come to mind. One from an unnamed church (for reasons to come) and the other from Trinity Episcopal Church in Marshall.

Both ads feature the voice of the pastor offering a word and an invitation. As for the unnamed church the ad ends with the pastor saying "Follow me as I follow God." That has always made me a little queasy. It's just the reformed nature of my soul, but I would rather follow God. I would rather have a pastor who would have us all follow God together. In this case I get a sense that the pastor is a Sergeant in the Army of the Lord and we are buck privates.



By the way, this analogy allows me to post this video, Love it!

As for Trinity Episcopal, Father George begins his ad with this question: "Do you know that you are the beloved of God?"

Now I 've heard this ad thousands of times, literally. But one day, after an especially difficult day in the field, I heard this and it hit me in a brand new way.

So, based on 60 seconds of radio advertising where would I go? Honestly I'd go with the one who reminds me I am loved and makes me know I follow the Lord and not another man like me. I know Father George and have never met the other man. I judge the ministry they present based only on what they share on the radio here, what I share with you. Then I go with Isaiah, as for me and mine we will serve the Lord.

So when you're in Marshall, Texas tune in to ESPN 96.9 and judge for yourself.

Updating the Pastor Information Form

I decided it was time to do some updating on my Pastor Information Form. For those of you who are indoctrinated to such things, Presbyterians call it a PIF for short. For those of you who aren't, think of it as a kind of Presbyterian version of a Minister's resume.

In the past few years there have been some revisions to the form and format. One of the things that was removed is a section formerly known as Key Theological Issues. This is where the Pastoral Candidate defines, explains, or dances around an issue in 1,500 characters or less. (Gotta love forms, but when a church gets several hundred PIF's for a single ministerial opportunity you can imagine they might hope people can get it down to 500.)

I decided to redo my "Key Theological Issue" section, with the song lyric it comes to a bit more than the basic 1,500 characters. I do believe this is an important issue and I hope you can see where I'm coming from.

In a time when knowledge is expanding exponentially and when the speed of communication threatens to overwhelm the message, I see the key theological issue of our time to be something Texans call the Gospel of Luckenbach, maybe it's time we get back to the basics of love.

For those of you who don't know the chorus, it goes like this:

Maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love

Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas
With Waylon and Willie and the boys
This successful life we're livin'
Got us feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys
Between Hank Williams' pain songs and
Newberry's train songs and Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain
Out in Luckenbach, Texas ain't nobody feelin' no pain

 ("Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love) by Chips Moman and Bobby Emmons. As for “feelin' no pain,” I would propose that in the church that should have more to do with joy in the outstretched arms of God than one too many Shiner Bock's.)

For the church this is our first love, God.

As Presbyterians we have a long tradition of seeking guidance from our three sources of governance, in order: Holy Scripture, the Book of Confessions, and the Book of Order. Unfortunately too often we tend to move from Grace to Law, from the Living Torah to the Book of Order. Jesus did not teach divorce or define marriage. He demonstrated love and taught us to love God and neighbor. When others tried to force Jesus into constructs like government and taxes, he shows that the Lord God is not bound by such. As people try to force God to be one way, the Triune God-Father, Son, and Spirit-shows The Way.

The issue of our time is that we must seek and follow God's mysterious and gracious way. God never acts out of character but always in sovereignty. God moves in ways that we can't often anticipate and less frequently understand. Jesus ministered to and with those on the society’s fringe, including Zealots and Roman collaborators; lepers and harlots. Yet to be the Body of Christ the church must seek and follow-especially when this direction takes us from our comfortable places. The church must start again. God is love, and it's time we get back to the basics of love.

To God be the Glory. Amen

RefuJesus-The Commentary

There's an old saying, if at first you don't succeed... I put it to the test today at Broadmoor Presbyterian Church in Shreveport. The sermon I preached today, "RefuJesus" is a version 2.0. I preached it three years ago at First-Marshall after having learned several lessons. Let me tell you what I learned and what I changed.

This time, I was certain to tell the congregation in no uncertain terms that this concept, the refugee status of Jesus and the Holy Family in Egypt was new to me too. At least twice I said this was new, different, and not the most orthodox way of looking at the flight to Egypt. I also mentioned it was still biblical.

By the way, as a version 2.0 I was not being dishonest saying this was new because the first time it was new and it did freak me out as much as it did and should freak out anybody who read this for the first time. I was sharing my honest first impressions.

The reader and listener will also notice that when I gave my version of the Nativity/Wise Man/First Part of Today's Reading, I used some emotionally charged language. I did this because I wanted people to react to the word of God and how it would look if it were happening today. I wanted us to be uncomfortable.

And that's why I used the Fosdick quote: "The purpose of the gospel is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."

In short, I don't think the purpose of the gospel is to always make us feel better about ourselves. But I do believe that it should always make us know that our hope is in the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's not in our stuff. It's not in our skill. It's in our Lord.

That's the purpose behind sharing the Isaiah quote. Isaiah was sharing a reflection of God's mercy remembered while foreshadowing the work of Christ to come. How great is that?

In the end, there seemed to be two reactions. Those who said it was nice to have me back and those who said they really, really loved the sermon. I must admit, when a pastor lays it all out, and in my opinion that sermon is a one not everyone is ready (or maybe even willing?) to hear (can I refer you back to the congregation that heard a lesser version?).

But then again, Preaching and Worship professors constantly reminded us that the pulpit should always be approached with fear and trepidation. Yet, it should always be approached in the confidence of Christ.

There is no better tightrope in the world. Thanks to the good people of Broadmoor Presbyterian for walking it with me this morning. Thank you and God bless.

The Presbyterian Food Stamp Challenge

The Presbyterian Church (USA) recently did a food stamp challenge (view Outlook link here) to show how difficult it is to feed a family using the SNAP program's dietary guidelines. I commend everyone of the 300 Presbyterians who signed up to see how the other half lives. Unfortunately, they really didn't get a full view of how the other half lives, not from someone on this side of the poverty line.

You see, as you know, I am an ordained minister (Teaching Elder, whatever) in the Presbyterian Church (USA). The congregation I served chose to quit meeting together at the end of January this year. While I received a generous severance package, all things come to an end. To an end they came at the end of June. I was able to stretch the cash part of the severance out for a while longer, but the insurance ended promptly on June 30, 2013. That $711.25 has been coming out of my pocket ever since.

On a side note, the reason we kept this insurance is that we did not want to start our deductibles and copays over again. That would not have been cost effective.

As I was unable to secure any employment in my small East Texas town so I relied on God's generous blessings. Through friends, churches, and the SNAP program my wife and I were able to keep our heads above water. We are housed. Our car was paid off one month after I lost my job and some rather pricey repairs were covered--as was car insurance. Monthly expenses like gas and phone, because you gotta have a phone if you're looking for work, were covered for a while by several churches where I preached as pulpit supply, a real blessing.

Then it happened, our SNAP benefits were around $340 per month for two adults, one with special dietary needs. When it came time to reapply our benefits were cut, they were cut to $15 per month. Not by $15 per month but to $15 per month. This wasn't because of any political posturing as both my Republican and Democratic friends were so quick to point out.

The reason our benefits were cut were because I reported we got help and I reported I spent it on health insurance. You see, the State of Texas, the state of my residence, believes I should be spending my money on food and not on health.

So I have looked for jobs in the church, sending Pastor Information Forms to over 160 congregations where God has not called me. I have sent applications to banks, colleges, restaurants, tutoring services, pawn shops, and more places than I can remember. I finally have an interview and God willing will have incoming income soon.

You have been patient with me but now I imagine you would like me to come to the point. Years ago I worked in a Student Support Services TRIO program serving low income students. I thought this gave me a better idea of what it was like to be poor in America and I wasn't really wrong. Then I became a seminary student and a pastor in two different very small rural churches. While the blessings are wonderful they aren't monetary, I got a better idea of what living in poverty looked like. My wife's health began to deteriorate and she has been unable to work for five years--between loss of income and increase of medical expenses we are getting a real first hand view of poverty.

The point of my story is that nobody who took The Presbyterian Food Stamp Challenge unknowingly choose between health insurance and food stamps. Who would ever make that choice knowingly. Who would have ever thought that would be a forced choice.

In the end we're not that far from sleeping in the car. Only the Grace of God and the help of good friends has kept us out of it so far. So thanks to anyone who has spared us a room. Thanks to everyone who has sent us a check--and some of you have been quite generous. Blessings to all who have prayed for us because we have had some very rough patches too. And thanks to the 300 of you who tried to see how the other half lived. God bless us all.

Snark, my Sense of Humor, and American Politics

Dear Friends,
Those of you who know me at all know I have a tremendous and vast sense of humor. I find all sorts of things funny and look to find humor in every situation, usually successfully. Those of you who know me well know that from time to time my sense of humor can be snarky. Or sarcastic. Or downright dark. I try to keep those down to a minimum. I tend to keep that part of my sense of humor out of my professional life.

Side note: Those who know me socially are asking "That's a minimum?" My best answer is "Yes, now imagine what I self edit... Now imagine what I only share with my wife... " This is when we all nominate the wonderful Marie for sainthood.

The reason I haven't updated this blog recently is because I haven't had much to say, and the things that I thought I might share were best self edited. Readers who have experienced recent postings, especially the "Lies my father/mother told me" series, are wiping their brows in gladness. This is one of the few times the phrase "thank you for not sharing" is appropriate. It's not a proud moment, but still.

I will never lose my sense of humor. Nor will I lose every element of my sense of humor, but here's something very important-- I am sick of the level of snark I have seen in the past ten years. Let me make this very clear, if I've had it up to here with snark it's probably drowning mortals. What pushed me over the edge? The current debate on the Affordable Healthcare Act.

I find much of it disingenuous. Before President Obama was inaugurated Congressional Republicans publicly declared their goal over "the next four years is to make President Obama a one-term president." While the strategy didn't work that doesn't prevent its continuation.

But don't let Congressional Democrats off the hook. They're just as bad, nobody has cornered the market on "disingenuous." The party of my inclination is just as able to brew a tempest in a teapot. The reason I don't list any is that I have read so many Facebook posts and memes about how Democrats impede government sending America into poverty that I don't need to. If you disagree with my politics you have your own laundry list.

Important point! I don't hate the people who disagree with me! I need the people who disagree with me! People who challenge me and what I believe give me perspectives that challenge what I believe and make my beliefs stronger. You may make me either affirm or change what I believe, and either way it still makes me stronger, not weaker!

But the level of snark from both sides of the Congressional aisle don't challenge me. They now disgust me. As for me, on this day, I believe there's enough blame to go around. Again, enough blame to go around. As Shakespeare said, "a pox on both of your houses. Both of your houses!"

About fifteen years ago my father had an epiphany in Missouri state races. All of the men running for office, Democrats and Republicans both, were acting like idiot blowhards. The women on the other hand were measured and constructive. Today I look at Michelle Bachman and Hillary Clinton and wonder what happens once you reach a certain point. It's the Peter Principle of American Politics. I despair this once workable solution is now improbable.

If you want to accuse me of being snarky right now I want to plead "not guilty" but will probably settle for "no contest." I'm trying to express myself without going over the edge right now (and on a second reading too out things that were too close to the edge of snark for my comfort), but that is the tight rope I now choose to walk. That's the abyss I'm not going to throw myself into anymore, God help me.

So friends, please know that my sense of humor will remain sharp. My stories will still be funny. My puns will still be flowing like a river. And I seek to quit wasting my time and yours on snark, especially political snark. Now that's a load off my chest.

Love you all,
Paul

Affirmation

There are days when it seems that nothing I say or do matters a lick in this world. Sometimes, on those days, I yell at the universe to see if anybody is listening. In the internet age this usually saying something or sharing something on Facebook or on my blogs.

Some days the universe answers and some days it doesn't. That's just the way it is. Then there are the days when the universe yells back at you. I've never had one of those days, but I have friends and acquaintances who know that feeling way too well. One friend wrote a blog post asking the world why private citizens need automatic and assault weapons at all. Believe me, the universe yelled back that day.

But sometimes, sometimes it's not a scream but a whisper that makes it worth while.

I preached at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church on July 14th. St. Andrew recently lost their pastor and until recently were seeking an interim pastor. I was among a number of local pastors who filled the pulpit during the process. So walking down the hallway on that Sunday morning, a teenager came up to me, gave me a big hug around the neck, and said, "Oh good, you're my favorite."

I posted the girl's comment on Facebook and a friend from Junior High wrote, "It was like God sent someone to let you know He knows." This made me smile almost as much. No yelling at the universe, just a simple word from a teenager, and the love of God welcomes me saying, "You're doing what I want you to do. Keep it up. You don't need to shout."

Thanks Megan. Thanks Debbie. Some days I don't think anything I do matters. Other days I find out that it does matter. God bless you all.

Lies My Father Told Me, Volume 1

Let's face it, parents lie. Often it's because kids aren't at a developmental stage where the truth would make any sense. This is why there are so many different versions of "The Birds and the Bees." So not all lies are bad, per se, but then again, every lie is a step further away from the truth. One of the first lies my father told me is that people don't care what you look like, who you are trumps what you look like. Such a lie.

We live in a society where appearance is all important, and in my many job searches since 1984 I have found this to be true.

Here's a nice story: A member of the congregation in Marshall once told me a story about my first day in the pulpit. She said when I entered the sanctuary for the first time, coming in behind the acolyte, she thought "That is a whole bunch of man." Then I opened my arms and said, "May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all." That was when she told  me I could be her pastor.

So, in a way my dad was right, once I got in the door, I was judged for who I was. The difficulty now is finding another part of the Body of Christ, where the people will judge me for who I am, not how I look. Now that wasn't something my dad ever warned me about.

So what's this all about? Here's something I know: One day I will be judged for not being a good steward of my body. I am a fat man. This is a truth.

But I will not be judged  as someone who chose not to consider a possible pastor because of appearance. Those people are living my father's lies.

Several Ways to Vote "Yes"

First-Marshall has been under stress for a long time, some of it financial. On Sunday December 16 the congregation chose to end the suffering and stress by deciding to close the doors. It was a surprise to find our woes in the local paper though, if you want to you can find it at this link.

The way the motion was worded, a "Yes" vote meant being in favor of closing the congregation. A "No" vote was a vote to continue. The congregation knew that voting no wouldn't end our troubles, it would just end the Session's time line.

Now, I saw a "No" vote as a vote of confidence that the Holy Spirit wasn't done with us yet. I saw the "Yes" vote as "nope, this is done." In the last 24 hours I have learned that there was more than one kind of "Yes" vote.

• I'm sure there was a group of folks who just wanted to see the church close. They think ministry is done in this place. They might also think I am done here too.
• Then there is a group who thought "If we go now we can leave a the pastor and the secretary with a generous severance." I know for a fact some of these people voted yes.
• Then there is the yes vote that was cast saying "Pastor Paul would give this a try and work himself to death doing this. I'm voting 'Yes' so this doesn't happen."

So as you see, I have discovered that two out of three ways to vote against my continued work in this city and congregation are actually a vote for me as a pastor and as a human being. 

I believe a PC(USA) presence is still viable in Marshall, but here is what I do know--It is unlikely to continue at this location. Also, with praise to God, Pastor Paul needs to seek a new call.

I was upset at the yes vote, I won't lie. What this vote does is offer freedom to a whole lot of people to seek where God is calling them to be next. For that I praise God.

"Advent" means "waiting." Lord God of heaven and earth, I wait for you, I wait upon you.