Jesus Wept, Lazarus Laughed, Megan Died, and as for me...

This Sunday's lectionary reading was the raising of Lazarus from the dead. This passage has many wonderful pieces and images, but the most famous is found in the King James Bible at John 11:35. You know it too, "Jesus wept."

Pastor Kemper Huber at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Longview, Texas preached a wonderful sermon using the Eugene O'Neill play "Lazarus Laughed". The link provides a synopsis of the show, but here are some highlights from the sermon:

• Lazarus returned
• People asked what it was like to have died
• Lazarus laughed
• He told them death was like life, but fuller, more bountiful
• He continued to laugh.

That became the hallmark of the show, Lazarus laughed in the face of all danger. He had died, what could scare him next? Nothing! In the face of overwhelming odds, in the face of certain death; there was nothing to worry about anymore. This caught on in the household of Lazarus and all throughout Bethany. "Death, where is thy sting?" Yeah, it's all gone.

This wouldn't do for the Roman Prelate. When death and fear of death are your weapons and suddenly there is no more fear of death, your biggest weapon is gone. Lazarus was sent to Rome to go before Caesar.Caesar threatened to have Lazarus killed. You can guess what happened next. Caesar burned Lazarus at the stake. You know what happened the whole time. The show ends with the "most important man in the world" bested by a laughing Jew.

Jesus wept, Lazarus laughed.

Kemper tied the theme of the show, Lazarus laughing at death with Jesus telling the world "Fear not." Christ conquered death. Lazarus shows us in John 11 and Eugene O'Niell shows us in the dramatized version of what happened next. In all of these situations, death is powerless. Christ saves us from mundane death. It's gone, hallelujah!

There was one problem with this. I have a the problem with the sermon, and a problem with the show. It's not a problem with Kemper's theology or even with the play, it's a problem with sin.

There is (at least in some circles) fate worse than death. There are times in the life of some people when "it" (whatever "it" may be) becomes so overwhelming that these people see the sweet release of death preferable to the cold hard existence of life. The people who say "Life's a bitch and then you die," yeah, those people.

Some people decide to get off the train early. The ones who get off before the final stop commit suicide. Death, the bountiful life after this painful life is so very seductive.

Jesus wept, Lazarus laughed, Megan died.

Those of you who have followed this blog know who Megan is. If you don't this link tells more about her and about a much younger me. I remember wondering how horrible Megan felt that she would take her own life. I gave thanks that I never felt that way and prayed I never would. Then six months ago, my world fell apart and I had an idea of how bad she felt. I did not want to feel like I felt another day, another minute, another moment. I knew this was a permanent solution. For those who would add "to a temporary problem," I would invite you to "enjoy the freefall" and tell me it doesn't seem like an idea worth considering.

This is the suicide issue when it comes to the "bountiful life" of death, it's seductive. The pain of life, pain which is too much to carry, is gone. All that's left is new life. Laughter. Yes, Jesus weeps, but Lazarus laughs. It's not healthy. It's not right. It's pretty bad for everyone left behind... but that guilt trip isn't your problem.

While considering all of this another Bible story came to mind, Job. Job's wife, after witnessing the calamity of their life together, suffering the same losses except for the physical boils, finally said "Curse God and die." She told him to commit suicide by use of the Lord. But Job was faithful.

Job's wife chose the sweet release of death for her husband. Job chose a  life to a faithful God despite the horrors of the moment.

Jesus wept, Lazarus laughed, Megan died, and as for me...

As for me, I've gotten a better medical diagnosis. I'm working hard to stay healthy. I'm eating better, exercising and working. I see a counselor and I see a Psychiatrist. I do the medical therapy and I do the talk therapy. I have good days and bad days. I have more good days and my bad days aren't anywhere as bad as they were even six months ago.

Life is far from perfect, but it is better than it was a year ago, far better. Getting better is a process, getting well is a dream, maybe even a pipe dream. Better is a goal. And I do all of this praising my savior who makes it all possible.

Jesus wept, Lazarus laughed, Megan died, and as for me... I am a better man than I was before I knew all of these things. Praise God!

I Do Not Think That Means What They Think That Means...

I know that Egg Whites are a healthy alternative. McDonalds has an egg white option and so does Subway. But you know...

I just don't think this is what they meant when they were talking about egg whites being a healthy alternative. Just sayin'...

Reflections on Ash Wednesday

Last night, the Interim Pastor at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church asked if I would assist with the imposition of ashes at the Ash Wednesday service. It wasn't the first time. For the past ten years I have made the sign of the cross with palm ash and said "From ashes you came and to ashes you will return." Not very cheery, but coming straight out of Genesis 3:19, where the Lord teaches Adam and Eve the fallout of the fall, it's at least the truth. But this year, the interim pastor asked me to add something I never said before.

This year, as before imposing the ashes, I said "You are a child of God." The amazing power of these words are two fold. First is their utter truth. There is nothing false in these words. From Adam and Eve to the newest of all newborns, we are all children of God. This is the plain and simple truth. Second is how rarely this is said. How would our live improve if we looked at people we had disagreements with and said, "You are a child of God?" Imagine cable news if at commercial these words were exchanged between pundits? Imagine fights between parents or parents and children if we began with saying "You are a child of God."

Then remember, Adam and Eve were shut out of the garden. Discipline happens. Yet as discipline happens it happens with love and without scorn or anger or abuse. It comes measured and with love. Yes, from ashes we came and to ashes we will return, but in between--and in every moment that we are more than just the elements in an Organic Chemistry experiment--we are children of God.

Pastor Kemper Huber at St. Andrew spoke on mortality and preparation, and it made me think. It made me think on the ones I know who have left before me. Some left in old age. Some left in tragic accidents. Some left in disease before their time. Others left on their own accord. It was those I spent the most time thinking about that evening because of my thoughts on joining their ranks several months ago.

This is where I am, glad that I am so much better. I thank God for a wonderful wife, good counseling, great medicine, and the loving Lord whose child I am. Yes, I am mortal, but I'm in no rush. There is much to do on this side of the dirt. One day I will return to ash--but on every day before that and on every day after I am a child of God.

Thank the Lord.

Editing

Welcome to our bedroom...

You mean this is what he looks at when
he could be petting me? I don't get it.

One of the things Marie has done for as long as I have been preaching is reading the sermons. She makes sure my grammar and syntax are good. She makes sure the prose flows. And she makes sure I don't say anything stupid. Thanks be to God for that last one.

The other day she was looking over a sermon and went to get something and when she did, O'Neill, the cat whose curiosity will one day introduce him to doom, was found like this. Marie had her phone and the results speak for themselves, what a great shot!

I think this would be perfect for a caption contest... you can see mine.  Marie thinks he was editing along with her, and gave it three paws up. Add your comment and be sure to share with your friends. No prizes unless you think a good laugh is a prize.

The Relaunch of "Rock and Roll Devotional"

I am happy, overjoyed to announce the relaunch of Rock and Roll Devotional.

It's a blog I started about five or so years ago. Over the years I have had at it in fits and starts. To date, I have about 250 posts written, so I need only about another 115 more to complete the year. Over the past week or so I have actually written four new posts to debut over the year. Some will make an appearance soon, one will debut Christmas Eve!

Another important addition is that this is the first time I will update the blog since my new diagnosis. It will be a chance to compare how I wrote before my new diagnosis and now. You may not notice the difference because you may not remember the older posts... as for me, well I'll see the old and the new; and it excites me.

So, I hope you take the time to check it out. The updates are scheduled to come online at 12:30 Central Time daily. If you like it, take the time to make a note. If you don't take the time to make a note, because that's the only way I can make it better.

If you like it, please click your favorite share button on the social media site of your choice.

God bless y'all, and enjoy!

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 Vanilla Accent

A long time ago I heard that telemarketers often headquartered in Omaha because compared to the rest of America people in Omaha had a vanilla accent, or rather a plain speaking voice, no accent at all. Forgive me for saying after trying to get my AT&T DSL hooked up with Reggie in Bangalore three years ago that I wished companies stayed with vanilla.

The New York Times Opinion Page published an interactive quiz called "How Y’all, Youse and You Guys Talk. What does the way you speak say about where you’re from?" This is the link to my accent map. It shows my accent is most like Omaha, Lincoln, and Des Moines. My accent is least like New York City, which ironically is where my father was born and raised. If you have 10 minutes it's good fun.