Dear Friends,

            So, I'm chilling at my computer one night, catching up on emails and absent-mindedly munching on a leftover package of green Christmas tree Peeps.  Before I know it, I've eaten the entire package of 9 Peeps.

            When I couldn't asleep that night, I was stymied.  The only thing that usually prevents me from falling asleep when my head hits the pillow is the caffeine in chocolate, which I had not eaten that day.  As I lay in my bed, wide awake, it finally dawned on me that I might have eaten too many Peep "sugar bombs."  At 34 grams of sugar per serving, I was wired! 

            I've learned my lesson about all things in moderation, but it hasn't lessened my love of the iconic marshmallow candy called Peeps.  I was a fan of Peeps way before they became a cultural phenomenon.  Maybe it's because Peeps are made by the company, Just Born, which is located in Bethlehem, PA, not too far from my hometown. 

            Peeps are all the rage now.  The yellow Easter chick is the original and most popular Peep.  In recent years, Peeps have expanded to other holidays, shapes, and flavors, such as Halloween chocolate mousse cats, white Christmas "joy" Peeps, red Valentine heart Peeps, and blue star Peeps for the Fourth of July.  The newest Peep color is orange (I'm eager to try it), and the newest Peep product is milk and dark chocolate covered Peeps. 

            I've hidden my passion for Peeps from all but my closest friends for fear of being labeled the "Peep Pastor."  However, when I heard 2 of my clergy colleagues discuss the possibility of doing a post-Easter "Peep" sermon series, I decided it was time to go public.

Peep Facts

• When Just Born acquired Rodda Candy Company in 1953, they automated the process of making marshmallow chicks, which were originally formed by hand. 
• Next to chocolate, Peeps constitute the biggest niche in the Easter candy business.
• In the early 1950's it took 27 hours to make one Peep.  Today it takes 6 minutes.
• Each Peep has 28 calories and 0 grams of fat, never mind the sugar.
• The number of Peep chicks and bunnies eaten this Easter will more than circle the circumference of the earth.
• For those who want to sleep at night and still eat Peeps for dessert after dinner, there are sugar-free Peeps.
• There are dozens of unofficial Peep sites on the Internet. 

Characteristics of Peeps

• Peeps last forever.  They are good soft, semi-soft, and hard.  You can even leave them in a package (open or closed) for days or months, and they'll still taste good, especially if you like them chewy or crispy.
• Peeps are indestructible.  10 years ago a group of scientists at Emory University performed experiments on batches of Peeps to see if they could be easily dissolved, burned, or disintegrated.  They discovered that the eyes of Peeps "wouldn't dissolve in anything," and the Peeps themselves are insoluble in acetone, water, sulfuric acid, and sodium hydroxide.  No wonder I couldn't sleep!
• They make for a fun but sticky game of Hide and Peep.  A few years ago I hid 50 Peeps in the office of a friend for her 50th birthday.  Even if she hasn't discovered them all yet, I'm sure the Peeps will still be good to eat when found. 
• Peeps evoke latent creativity.  Put a Peep in a cup of hot cocoa, or use it as a cappuccino topping.  Add it to a grilled cheese sandwich or pizza.  Chop it up into a fruit parfait.  Eat a Peeps chocolate-dipped pretzel.

            The most fascinating use of Peeps comes from the Washington Post newspaper, which has sponsored a Peeps Diorama Contest during Lent for the past 4 years.  The newspaper invites people to create a diorama of a famous occurrence or scene.  The one rule is that the all the characters in the diorama must be Peeps. 

            The first year the Post expected a dozen submissions and received 350.  Last year there were 1,100 submissions.  I was especially fascinated by the 32nd place winner, "A Very Peeps Passover," which was intended to demonstrate that Peeps are not just for Christians.  Sorry, the deadline for submissions this year was March 1.  Click here to see this year's Washington Post Peeps contest winner.

            What can we learn from the phenomenal success of Peeps?  Why have Peeps captured our national imagination?

• Just Born focuses on what it does best - produce Peeps. They don't have thousands of products. They make Peeps and Peep-related products. That's it.

            So, in our local churches, we need to keep the main thing the main thing. Don't get distracted by programs and activities that take energy away from your vision and mission.  Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:23, "For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified... the power of God and the wisdom God."  That's it. 

• Just Born's vision statement is: "Peeps: Always in Season." The company realized that by limiting themselves to Easter, Peeps could not reach their full potential. As a result, Just Born is continually innovating by producing new colors, shapes, and sizes of Peeps for different holiday seasons.

            Are you constantly looking for new ways to make disciples of Jesus Christ?  The instructions from the Washington Post Peep contest say, "Melt, mold and manipulate those fluffy chicks and bunnies to bring your creative vision to life."  In the same way, our churches are called to create an environment where the Spirit of the living God can melt, mold, fill, and use us to transform our world and its people.  Have you tried something new this Lent: creative worship, small groups, a Bible study, a mission trip, a servant evangelism project?  How about a contest where church members create Bible stories from Peeps and ask congregation members to guess the Scripture passage?

• Just Born has capitalized on effective marketing. In 2003 Peeps celebrated its 50th anniversary with a Peeps float in the Macy's parade and by creating new advertising for all 5 Peep seasons. In 2006 Just Born re-launched its Peeps web site. In 2010 Peeps formed a new partnership with Rita's Ice, the nation's largest Italian ice company. Peeps Ice will be introduced on March 20.

            How are you visible in your community, communicating the good news of Jesus Christ in compelling ways?  If your community never hears a peep from you, it's time to change that.  Have you taken the time to know your community's needs, hopes, and dreams?  Do you have a float in your local parade?  Have you ever sponsored a billboard?  Do you have radio spots or put an ad in the high school football program?  Has your congregation started a Facebook Fan Club?  (I've just signed up for the Peeps Fan Club.)

• The genius of Peeps is the product itself: simple, sweet, resilient, and indestructible.

            Does your congregation stand on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, the grace of God, and the sweet, sweet Holy Spirit, which provide steadiness in all seasons and circumstances?  If Peeps can circle the globe this Easter, so can the good news of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

          When you are preparing Easter baskets for your children, grandchildren, or spouse, don't forget the Peeps.  They're fun, tasty, and all the rage.  If you have some Peeps laying around from last year, you can probably resurrect them as well.  As for me, if I don't answer my phone, you'll know where I am - I'm chilling with my Peeps.

Blessings, Laurie

P.S. Got any Peep stories?

 Dear Friends,

            "Pick it up!  Pick it up!"  If you have ever participated in sports, you've no doubt heard those words.  Your coach is telling you to move a little faster, to pick up the pace.

               Did you follow the Winter Olympics?  What a treat to watch the best athletes in the world ski, snowboard, skate, slide, and curl.  I am always intrigued to learn how athletes train because the will to prepare well is a huge determining factor in how the race goes.  And the key to preparing well is pacing. 

• In downhill skiing, setting too fast a pace may cause the skier to lose control and crash.
• Figure skaters have to determine just the right pace as they get ready to do a jump.
• In cross country skiing, athletes have to find a pace that they can sustain for the entire race rather than accelerate right away and stick with the leader.
• In short track skating, did you notice how Apolo Ohno usually hung at the back of the pack and waited until just the right time to pick up the pace and pass others?

            At the Grand Rapids Marathon last October I made a last minute decision at the start line to run with a pace group.  In some marathons runners are given the opportunity to follow a designated person who will keep a certain pace throughout the entire race.  It's often easier to run when someone else leads by setting the pace: you only have to follow.  This was a new experiment for me, and I wanted to see if I could maintain a consistent pace for the entire race.  

            Why is pacing important in athletic competitions?  Because if we start out too fast, we'll tire quickly and fizzle out at the end of the race.  And if we start out too slow, we may never be able to make up lost time.  In addition, the best way to conserve energy is to perform at a steady pace rather than allow one's heart rate to fluctuate by erratically going faster and slower.  

How do athletes determine a pace for their race?

• Set a goal.  The time in which we hope to finish the race determines the pace at which we will need to perform.  Serious athletes set specific, challenging, and realistic goals before training even begins. 
• Include race pace workouts in our training.  In order to perform well, our body has to know what it feels like to perform at our race pace.  It's called muscle memory.  Eventually, the goal pace becomes instinctual. 

• Discipline ourselves to train well.  We can't do twists and turns on a snowboard if we get up in the morning and decide that that we don't feel like practicing that day.  Each workout counts.  Stick with the plan.
• Everyone has their own pace.  More than once I heard athletes at the Winter Olympics say, "I don't worry about the other competitors.  I have to ski (skate, snowboard) my own race."  When all is said and done, we do not compete against others.  We compete against ourselves.   

What are important components of a good pace?

• Heart rate monitor: Many world class athletes use heart rate monitors, which tell them exactly how hard their heart is working.  The goal is to perform at a pace that pushes them to their limits but is also sustainable for the entire race. 
• Water: "Drink before you are thirsty" is the motto for athletes.  Dehydration can quickly develop into a serious medical condition.
• Food: Endurance athletes need to eat every 45 minutes during a race in order to keep up their energy.  The quality of an athlete's general diet also plays a big role in conditioning and performance.
• Companionship: It was interesting to hear the 3 primary US women's halfpipe snowboarders talk about the importance of their friendship.  Even as they compete against each other, they also support, encourage, challenge, and pace each other. 

            We have a lot to learn from athletes about performing to our potential, for I am convinced that pacing is the key to living well, no matter the circumstances.   Have you ever thought about the pace that Jesus kept in his life?  None of us know as much about the historical Jesus as we would like.  However, we do know this.  Jesus had a vision, mission, and goals for his ministry, and he followed his own pace. 

           When Jesus was 12, he stayed behind in the temple instead of walking back home with his parents and the other travelers.  When the time was right, Jesus began his ministry in Galilee by reading the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue of his hometown Nazareth, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor." (Luke 4:18)  Jesus knew when it was time to set his face toward Jerusalem and certain death, even when Peter protested mightily.

            Jesus set a pace that eventually led him to the cross.  It was a journey that had all the components of a good pace.  Jesus was always in touch with and led with his heart.  He was baptized in the waters of the Jordan and relied on the living water of God's word.  He said, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work." (John 4:34).  And he received strength from the companionship of his disciples.  "You are those who have stood by me in my trials."  (Luke 22:28)  

How are you pacing yourself so that you can live and serve well?

• How healthy is your heart?  ("Blessed are the pure in heart."  Matthew 5:8)
• Do you come to the waters to drink when thirsty?  (Isaiah 55:1)
• Do you feed on God's word? (Matthew 4:4)
• Do you have spiritual friends to accompany you on the journey? (Phil. 4:10)

             Pacing is especially critical for anyone who is in ministry, clergy and laity alike.  Some of us are so eager to share our faith with others and build up the kingdom of God that we neglect our own health.  By following a plan that has extremely challenging goals, we over-function and soon burn out.  We need to slow down the pace. 

           Others of us discover that over time we've lost our passion for ministry.  We become bored, discouraged, and even depressed.  Too often we say with resignation, "good enough," and remain content with mediocrity rather excellence.  We need to pick up the pace.

           Churches have their own pace as well.  I suspect that each one of our congregations has had times in its history when the pace was brisk, growth was the norm, and lives inside and outside the church were transformed because of many vital ministries.  Yet there have been other times when the congregation was stagnant, complacent, and lost track of its vision.  Because there were no goals or discipline, there was no pace.

           My prayer for our churches, clergy, and laity is that we will each find our own pace: that unique, natural, and God-given rhythm which enables us to live and serve well.  An African American spiritual comes to mind. 

1. "Jesus walked this lonesome valley; he had to walk it by himself.  Oh, nobody else could walk it for him; he had to walk it by himself."
2. "We must walk this lonesome valley; we have to walk it by ourselves.  Oh, nobody else can walk it for us; we have to walk it by ourselves."

            In the end, just like Jesus, and just like the athletes at the Winter Olympics, we all have to dig deep inside ourselves to walk through our own lonesome valleys and run our own race.  No one can do it for us.  But with our heart leading the way, physical and spiritual food giving us energy, and friends to cheer us on, we can do all things through Him who strengthens us.   

            How are you and/or your church pacing yourself?  I'd love to hear your thoughts by responding on the blog. 

Blessings,

Laurie

Dear Friends,

            "Thank God, Tiger now realizes that he is human, just like the rest of us." 

That was my initial thought last Friday after watching Tiger Wood's first public statement since going underground in mid-November.  Woods is arguably the most famous athlete in the world.  His golfing skills have delighted millions of people around the globe.  We've admired his dedication to his wife, Elin, and his two young children.  And we've given thanks for the children and youth who have benefitted from the Tiger Woods Foundation. 

            I was as disappointed and angry as anyone else when Tiger's double life unraveled.  Tiger wasn't who he portrayed himself to be, which is perhaps the ultimate betrayal.  Of course, Tiger is not unique, for this is the human condition.  "For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)  "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."  (I John 1:8)  Try as we might, you and I cannot live healthy, integrated lives that reflect the goodness of God by our own effort.  The only difference between us and Tiger is that our sins, shortcomings, and failures are not played out on an international stage. 

            I was deeply moved by Tiger's statement on Friday, which was an important milestone in his transformation. 

• Tiger accepted full responsibility for his behavior.  He took the courageous step of acknowledging to the world that he was unfaithful to his wife, hurt his children, and let down his fans.  He blamed no one but himself and admitted that he had a lot to atone for.
• In searching his heart, Tiger came to the realization that his actions were partly the result of a sense of entitlement, the belief that the rules didn't apply to one of the richest and most admired persons in the world.  Tiger took advantage of his fame to satisfy his own selfish desires.
• Tiger realized that his disintegration ("to destroy the integrity of") was partly the result of falling away from Buddhism, the faith which he was taught by his mother, who is from Thailand.  Tiger said, "Buddhism teaches that a craving for things outside ourselves causes an unhappy and pointless search for security.  It teaches me to stop following every impulse and to learn restraint.  Obviously, I lost track of what I was taught." 
• Tiger has sought help for his problems.  He has already received 45 days of inpatient therapy and is returning to therapy this week.  Tiger said that he is learning the importance of cultivating his spirituality and keeping a good balance between his professional and personal life.
• Tiger knows that he is the one who has to change and that it is not his words but his behavior over time that will confirm his deep desire to change.

            Was it a coincidence that Tiger made his statement just 2 days after Ash Wednesday?  Probably, since Tiger was raised as a Buddhist.  However, for those of us who claim Jesus as our Savior, the beginning of Lent should occasion a confession that is very similar to Tiger's. 

            I received the imposition ashes two times last Wednesday, once with the cabinet in the morning and again in the evening at a local church.  I suspect God knew that I needed a double dose of both confession and pardon.  Ash Wednesday is the one of the most profound days in the Christian year, as we pray the words of David in Psalm 51,

            "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me."

            You and I are no different than Tiger Woods.  We, too, continually turn away from the One who created us and loves us.  We, too, follow our own thoughtless desires and do not lead with our heart.  We, too, act out of entitlement.  How might our lives be strengthened and our worship experience deepened if we prayed this prayer every Sunday, "Merciful God, we have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy.  Forgive us, we pray.  Free us for joyful obedience."

            Hearing and praying the liturgy of the church is a vital part of our spiritual formation, just as Tiger Woods understood that his disconnection from the teachings of Buddhism contributed to his difficulties.  "Liturgy" comes from the Greek word leitourgia, which means "public work" or "work of the people."  Liturgy originally referred to the "work" of the Hebrews in the Temple.  The early Christian church added a new dimension to liturgy by viewing it as a structured worship ritual centering around the themes of praise, covenant, fellowship, and servanthood. 

            In my Sunday morning travels around the district, I've discovered that many of our churches are moving away from formal liturgy to a more informal worship structure.  Some pastors and congregations believe that by simplifying worship, they are better able to attract the unchurched.  However, I am convinced that what people long for more than anything else is a deeper connection with God and each other, which is precisely the gift that liturgy offers.

            Where has the Lord's Prayer gone in Sunday morning worship?  Where have the confession and assurance of pardon gone?  Where have congregational litanies and responsive prayers gone?  Where have the great hymns of our faith gone?  Could it be that recovering the "work of the people" is a key to regaining the richness of our Christian history and tradition?  Could it be that people don't want to be entertained in worship but rather desire to cultivate a personal and corporate spirituality that will help them lead a grounded, balanced, and integrated life?  This is a key aspect of the Emergent Church movement.  That's also what I heard Tiger say on Friday when I read between the lines. 

            I have no illusions that change will be easy for Tiger.  Any addiction, including sexual addiction, demands humility, perseverance, honesty, commitment, and a willingness to seek help.  There will be short and long term consequences to his behavior, but with forgiveness comes redemption, freedom, and strength to accept those consequences.  On Friday Tiger was clear about what he needs for transformation to take place in his life.  It's what we need as well. 

• We need to recover our own spirituality, which is vividly lived out as we participate in Lenten disciplines.  "Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come."  (1 Timothy 4:6  New Living Translation)
• We need to be honest about our sins at the same time as we claim God's unconditional grace.
• We need the help of others not to protect us but to encourage us and hold us accountable.  The greatest gift that I receive when I am out of balance or disconnected from my heart is gentle admonishment from those I love and respect.
• We need for our words and actions to be congruent.
• We need to participate in the "work of the people," where God gives us room in our hearts to believe in others and for others believe in us. 

            After Tiger made his statement, he embraced his mother, who whispered in his ear, "I'm so proud of you.  Never think you stand alone.  Mom will always be there for you, and I love you." 

            Tiger Woods hasn't announced when he will rejoin the PGA Tour.  I love to watch Tiger compete, but I don't care when he returns to golf.  I care more about Tiger taking the time he needs to rediscover his true self.  Some things are more important than golf.

Blessings,

Laurie

Dear Friends,

            I found a seat in the sanctuary on a recent Sunday morning and was reading the bulletin when I overhead 2 couples extolling their pastor.  "Don't you just love Pastor Joe?  He officiated at my brother's wedding recently and made it so personal."  "We have such a large congregation, yet he knows my name."  "And don't you think his sermons are amazing?  Every time he preaches it seems as if he is speaking just to me."

            This is appointment season in the West Michigan Conference.  Bishop Keaton and the 6 district superintendents spend much time in prayer and discernment as we determine the appointment of pastors to churches.  As part of the consultation process, I meet with Staff Parish Relations Committees of district churches whose current pastor is retiring, seeking another status, or has been reappointed.  My primary question is, "What kind of pastor does your congregation need in order to fulfill its mission and vision?  What skills are you are looking for in your new pastor?" 

            You can probably guess the top answers, which usually include preaching, administration, pastoral care, teaching, and empowering laity to use their spiritual gifts.  However, many SPRC's mention another quality which undergirds all the others, "Our new pastor needs to be able to relate to people of all ages.  It is critical for our pastor to connect with us and for us to connect with him/her."

            Clergy may be among the most intelligent and well read people in their congregations.  However, if they are not able to build trusting relationships or comfortably interact with a wide variety of people, they may not be able to lead effectively or communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ in ways that are compelling, transformative, and speak to the heart.  After all, the essence of Christianity is found in relationship: our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  It is painful to hear Staff Parish Relations Committees lament pastors who:

• retreat to their office after church rather than greet people at coffee hour, which is arguably the most important hour of the week for connecting with parishioners
• are uncomfortable visiting people in hospitals and nursing homes
• don't know how to interface with children and youth in the congregation
• talk about themselves constantly and don't listen well
• seem so withdrawn that parishioners cannot get to know them through their preaching or personal conversations
• are not able to pick up on social cues

            Sometimes we confuse social skills with introversion and extroversion. 

Studies have shown that most churches view their ideal pastor as an extrovert, someone with wit, charm, charisma, and a magnetic personality.  The perfect pastor not only takes the initiative to talk with every person in the congregation every Sunday but stops and chats for 10 minutes with every parishioner he/she meets in the grocery, school or post office.  He/she will even twitter the congregation at least once a day! 

            After all, don't pastors represent churches, which by their very nature should be extroverted?  We are called to reach out beyond the walls of the church to minister to the needs of our communities.  We constantly remind people to greet visitors, display gracious hospitality, and participate in group activities.  Our churches claim to be the body of Christ, which is not a private club just for some but a place for all to belong.

            Here's the rub.  While most people may prefer their pastor to be an extrovert, studies have also shown that most clergy are introverts.  This does not have to be discouraging news, however, if we understand the nature of introversion and extroversion.  Simply put, introverts gain energy by being alone, and extroverts gain energy by being with other people. 

            Introverts are usually good listeners, are reflective, think before they speak, and do not seek to be the center of attention.  They are often more comfortable with one on one rather than large group interactions.  On the other hand, extroverts are often the first to speak, think things through out loud, love being around groups of people, and can be the life of the party. 

            After mingling with dozens of people for 30 minutes in the fellowship hall after worship, the introvert says, "Why are you still here?  It's time to go home!"   The extrovert says, "Hey, why is everybody going home?  We're just getting started!"  Introverts are reluctant to share details of their personal life in group settings, whereas extroverts are more outwardly expressive.  An introvert prefers to use the time before worship to be quiet and meditate, while the extrovert is busy greeting his/her friends in the pews. 

            It's no secret that I am a classic introvert.  To restore my energy, I need to spend time alone.  At the same time, over the years I have learned the importance of making myself available, connecting with people, and taking the initiative in conversations.  I can be an extrovert when I need to be.  However, by the time Friday comes around (my day off), I am usually so depleted from a week of non-stop interaction with individuals and groups that I love to simply hole up and be quiet.

            The reality is that both introverts and extroverts can be outstanding pastors if they have highly developed relational skills.  We do a disservice to ourselves and others when we assume that all introverts are shy and have a low social IQ, and that only extroverts can successfully lead.  Most introverts are well aware of social nuances, customs, and mannerisms when relating to people of vastly different personalities.  In fact, Jim Collins claims in his bestseller Good to Great that it's not the flashy, charismatic people who can best lead their companies to greatness.  It's humble, low key leaders who do not let their ego needs get in the way of the mission of the organization.

            Was Jesus an extrovert or an introvert?  In his 2009 book, Introverts in the Church: Finding our Place in an Extroverted Culture, Adam McHugh writes that when  students at a Christian college were asked to rate Jesus according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, 97% rated Jesus as an extrovert, although only half the class were extroverts. 

            On the other hand, the gospels give us clues that Jesus may have been an introvert.  I can just imagine Jesus giving himself totally to his ministry: teaching, preaching, healing, consoling, challenging, and listening.  He felt comfortable around all kinds of people in many different situations.  At the same time, Jesus was quite aware of his own energy level and would withdraw to a quiet place when he felt the need to reconnect with himself and God.  In the lectionary gospel lesson for the upcoming first Sunday of Lent (the temptation of Jesus in Luke 4:1-13), did you notice who sent Jesus into the wilderness?  It was the Spirit, not the devil.  Jesus needed to spend that time alone with God in order to wrestle with his call, discern the course of his ministry, and prepare himself for the journey ahead. 

            The key to social skills is self-awareness.  We need to know who we are, what makes our personality tick, and how we can best relate to our congregation.  We have to constantly check ourselves to determine if we are acting out of our own needs or the needs of others. 

If we are an introvert, we have to learn how to actively engage individuals and groups.  Rather than sit in our office all day, we have to be intentional about socializing and interact with others.  If we are an extrovert, we have to be careful to listen to others rather than always share our view, our opinions, and our story.  We also have to recognize when we are seeking attention from others rather than offering our attention to others.

            I wholeheartedly agree with Staff Parish Relations Committees who understand the importance of relational skills in their pastoral and lay leadership. 

• What matters for any leader in the church is not where we get our energy.  What matters is that we love people. 
• What matters is not that we are a warm fuzzy but simply that we are warm. 
• What matters is not that we have a bubbly personality but that we are authentic, put others at ease, listen well, and connect with others heart to heart.
• What matters is not that the church is pastor-dependent and revolves around our personality.  What matters is that we know our parishioners well enough to help them discover and use their gifts to further the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the church and make a positive difference in the world. 

            Now, about that coffee hour.  Which side of the room is for the introverts?

Blessings, Laurie

P.S. I'd love to hear your thoughts about introverts, extroverts, and relational skills in the church. 

Dear Friends,

• Have you ever lamented that only a slight number of church members seem to do the lion's share of ministry in your local church? 
• Have you ever thought about the fact that in virtually every church a small percentage of givers contribute a large part of the church budget? 
• Have you ever wondered why district superintendents seem to spend an inordinate amount of time with a small number of churches?

            Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto gave us a clue a hundred years ago.  It's now called the Pareto Principle, but we know it better as the "80 20 Rule."  In 1906, after observing that 20% of the people in Italy owned 80% of the land, Pareto created a mathematical formula to describe the unequal distribution of wealth.  He then tested his thesis by carrying out surveys in other countries and found that a similar distribution applied.

            In the 1930's and 40's quality management guru Dr. Joseph H. Juran recognized a similar universal principle which he named the "vital few and trivial many."  It was Juran who first named this phenomenon the Pareto Principle, that 20% of something is always responsible for 80% of the results. 

            The actual mathematical principle is that "where something is shared among a sufficiently large set of participants, there must be a number k between 50 and 100 such that k% is taken by (100 - k)% of the participants.  K may vary from 50 (in the case of equal distribution) to nearly 100 (when a tiny number of participants accounts for almost all of the resource). There is nothing special about the number 80% mathematically, but many real systems have k somewhere around this region of intermediate imbalance in distribution."  (Wikipedia)

            The Pareto Principle can be found in many and varied places. 

• Marketing experts tell us that 20% of ads give 80% of results.
• Diet gurus tell us that we should eat until we are 80% full and 20% empty. Also, 20% of what we eat puts on 80% of the pounds we gain.
• During a defined period of time, 20% of horses will win 80% of races.
• Business leaders tell us that 20% of their customers account for 80% of their sales, and 20% of their sales account for 80% of their profits.
• Microsoft noted in 2002 that by fixing the top 20% of the most reported bugs, 80% percent of the errors and crashes would be eliminated.
• Come to think of it, I probably wear my 20% most favorite clothes about 80% of the time!

            The Pareto Principle can also help us understand our local churches and manage our ministry effectively.   

20% of the people in our local churches do 80% of the ministry.

            Because a relatively few people seem to do most of the work in our churches, pastors, especially in larger churches, have to be very intentional about the use of their time.  According to the Pareto Principle, it makes great sense for pastors to focus their energy on training, equipping, and preparing the 20% to lead, which will produce 80% of congregational growth. 

            On the other hand, is it more beneficial to help the good become better (the 80%) or the great to become superstars (the 20%)?  With a little TLC, attention and Holy Spirit nudging, can we nurture the trivial many (80%) into the vital few (20%) category rather than write them off?  After all, we are people of hope who never give up on anyone.  Is it possible to move the "trivial many" to the "useful many?"  Apply the Pareto Principle to all you do, but use it wisely.

20% of what we do every day produces 80% of the results.

            A classic principle of time management is that we should focus primarily on those tasks that will give us the greatest benefit.  If we have 20 things on our to-do list for today, 4 of them (20%) will be worth 5 or 10 times more than the other 16 items put together (80%).  That's why it is critical to prioritize the tasks that will reap the greatest results.  Maybe it's sermon preparation.  Perhaps it's calling the church member who won't talk with you after an open disagreement at a church meeting.  Or it could be sitting at the bedside of a member who is in Hospice. 

            The goal of time management is not efficiency but effectiveness, and effective people discipline themselves to start on the most important and often most daunting task first.  In Brian Tracy's book, Eat That Frog; 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time, he writes, "Mark Twain once said that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that that is probably the worst thing that is going to happen to you all day long."    

20% of time spent in mission opens 80 new doors, whereas 80% of time spent in maintenance only leaves 20 doors open and closes the rest.

            Unfortunately, United Methodists have been really good at surviving rather than thriving.  Rather than boldly open new doors to outreach, evangelism, and disciple-making, as the vital few would have us do, we too often bow to the trivial many by performing the same things over and over in the vain hope that new results will emerge. 

            Another way to put it is that for a church to grow, we need 80% evangelism and 20% maintenance.  Entrepreneurialism plus leadership equals evangelism.  That, of course, will mean reallocation of resources, cooperation rather than competition, innovation, creativity, bold risk-taking initiatives, adaptability, change, and nimbleness.  The "same old, same old" no longer works.

            I observe the Pareto Principle at all levels of our connection, from local churches, to districts, conferences, and general church agencies.  Too often we are satisfied with the status quo and are afraid or simply unwilling to unleash an entrepreneurial (Holy) spirit in our denomination.  When 80% are satisfied with the status quo, the 20% become discouraged and leave.  This is perhaps THE most critical challenge facing our church.

            There is great value in understanding the 80 20 Rule.  Perhaps 20% of the people will always produce 80% of the results.  But I am also convinced that our calling as disciples of Jesus Christ is to transform the trivial many to the useful many so that all of God's children can fulfill their potential and do their part to bring in God's kingdom on this earth.  Let's just call it the "Jesus Rule." 

Blessings, Laurie

Dear Friends,

           The Super Bowl captures the imagination of our country like no other athletic event.  Football is our national sport.  I am continually amazed at how passionate people are about their favorite football teams as well as other sports teams. (Go, Phillies!). 

          Last week 296 people participated in our January district training events in Grand Rapids and Muskegon.  Imagine my dismay when I was informed on Tuesday afternoon that our training event that night conflicted with the Michigan-Michigan State basketball game.  Fortunately, we still had a great turnout. 

           I confess that I was not immediately aware of another slight conflict this coming Sunday.  Our Grand Rapids District Conference will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 7, at Faith UMC in Grand Rapids.  Silly me.  I thought the Super Bowl was always on the last Sunday in January.

          Pregame Super Bowl entertainment begins at 4 p.m. on network TV.  However, our Team GR District Conference has a Super Bowl theme as well, and our entertainment begins at 3:00 p.m.  You won't want to miss our pre-game tailgate with subs and chips, motivational pep talk, special half-time worship (no wardrobe malfunctions, promise!), district business plays, and special cheers.

          The start time for the Super Bowl is officially 6:00 p.m., but the game usually begins around 6:30 p.m.  That gives enough time for anyone in the Grand Rapids District to drive home, pull out some snacks, and get comfortable for the game.  What a great day it will be: morning worship, afternoon Team GR district conference, and evening football. 

            What interests me more than the actual Super Bowl game is observing the various ways in which coaches motivate teams to perform at their highest level.  That's because one of my roles as a district superintendent is to be a coach.   One of my responsibilities is motivating, inspiring, guiding, equipping, and providing tools for pastors and churches to effectively live out their mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. 

            If the Grand Rapids District were participating in the United Methodist Super Bowl tonight, here are 5 principles I would share for excellence in ministry.

1.         Excellence in ministry happens when we set goals.    

           Studies have shown that only 3% of adults have formulated specific goals for their life.  Could it be the same for our churches?  I fervently hope not.  What goals do you think the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints set for themselves last year?  I can pretty much guarantee that they both had one primary goal - to make it to and then win the Super Bowl.   

           We can all get by in life as individuals or churches without setting goals.  But without goals, we settle for much less than we can become if we take the time to dream big, develop specific objectives, and risk failure.  Not having goals is a good way to guarantee disappointment, for without goals, we drift aimlessly, don't push ourselves, and aren't willing to claim the best that is in us. 

• What goals have you set for 2010?  Are they aligned with your vision and mission?

2.         Excellence in ministry happens when we develop a game plan.

           You can bet that Jim Caldwell, Sean Payton and their assistant coaches have been working tirelessly the last several weeks to formulate a specific game plan for Sunday's Super Bowl.  They have watched endless game videos, have analyzed the playing style of each individual on the opposing team, and have come up with special strategies for counteracting the strengths and attacking the weaknesses of their opponents. 

           The success of a game plan often comes down to one key strategy, one main drive which will make or break the success of this goal.  It could be blitz Peyton Manning, double team Indy's young receivers, or shut down the Saints Pierre Thomas.

           Let's say your church's primary goal this year is to begin a new community outreach ministry.  The success of this ministry will depend heavily on your main strategy for achieving that goal.  Is it finding a champion, someone who will lead this ministry with passion and vision?  Is it partnering with other churches and non-profit organizations?  Or is it asking key donors to underwrite the expenses of the first year?

• What is your key strategy for fulfilling for your goals for 2010?

3.         Excellence in ministry happens when we work together as a team.

           It's common knowledge that a team with one star who selfishly hogs the ball will not consistently defeat an opposing team that is made up of ordinary players who are more committed to team play than personal glory.  A great coach is constantly building team spirit by showing affirmation, valuing the contributions of all players, communicating clear expectations, and receiving feedback from the players.

• How are the various groups in your church working as teams? Are you united around a common purpose and vision? 

4.         Excellence happens in ministry when we demonstrate perseverance and flexibility.

           Great teams never give up, even when they are behind.  Did you know that the half-time score of a football game is not a reliable indicator of who will ultimately win the game?  About 50% of the time, the team that is ahead at half-time wins, and 50% of the time, the team that is behind wins.

           The great football coach Lou Holtz once said, "How you respond to the challenge in the second half will determine what you become after the game, whether you are a winner or a loser."  Judging a game by the first 30 minutes is not helpful.  That's why the coach's locker room talk at half-time is so important.  Have you ever seen a team that is behind come out for the second half with a revised game plan, renewed effort, and a great will to catch up?  It's not over till it's over.      

• Are you willing to periodically evaluate your goals and strategies and even make changes mid-stream in order for your ministries to be more effective?  How might God surprise your church in the second half?

Excellence happens in ministry when we finish strong.

           New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees is spearheading an effort to raise $250,000 for local charities by encouraging football fans to buy 75,000 T-shirts with the words, "Finish Strong" on the back and "Our City, Our Home" on the front. 

           Brees has written, "Every member of our team received Dan Green's book 'Finish Strong' at the beginning of the off-season," Brees said.  The inspirational book is filled with stories of people overcoming adversity with courage.  It then became a mantra for our team throughout the off-season program, preseason and regular season.  We recognized that if we could indeed finish strong in everything we did, we could achieve the lofty goals we had set for ourselves."  Look for the black T-shirts on Sunday night.

           Finish strong.  It's a cry for people the world over to claim the power they have to respond to the challenges before them with determination and compassion.

• How can we channel our Holy Spirit energy and deep faith in Jesus Christ to run the race that is before us?

           It doesn't really matter to me which team wins the Super Bowl on Sunday.  What matters is that 2 teams will have offered their very best in the game.  I suspect I'll be relaxing after the joy of coaching Team Grand Rapids through a wonderful district conference in the afternoon.  It will be a day of celebration because dozens of churches and thousands of United Methodists in our district are committed to excellence in ministry by setting goals, creating key strategies, working together, exercising perseverance and flexibility, and finishing strong.  We do it not for the glory of winning but simply to follow our call to bring glory to God and make a positive difference in our world. 

Blessings,

Laurie

P.S. In case you didn't know, you are all invited to the Team GR District Conference: 3:00 p.m. this Sunday at Faith UMC, Grand Rapids. 

Dear Friends,

            Flying back to Michigan a few weeks ago, I discovered that one of the primary means of entertainment on a 12 hour flight is climbing over others in order to use the restroom.  Shortly after the flight took off, I made my way to one of 2 banks of 4 restrooms each and stood in line.  There were 2 restrooms on either side of the plane, but nothing was moving on our side.  Not one person came out of these 2 restrooms in 10 minutes.  Eventually, the people waiting on the other side motioned for us to join their line, and I forgot about it.

            3½ half hours later, after I'd watched a movie, ate dinner, and took a nap, I got up to stretch and use the bathroom again.  Once more, no one was coming out of the restrooms on our side, and the line grew bigger by the minute.  It really makes a difference when 400 passengers only have the use of 6 restrooms instead of 8!  Hmm, I thought.  This is very strange.  So I approached a flight attendant and said, "I'm wondering what's up with these restrooms.  3½ hours ago I couldn't get in, and I still can't get in.  Could you check it out?"  She could and did. 

            Sheepishly, the flight attendant admitted that she had locked the restrooms before take-off, which is standard operating procedure.  But she forgot to unlock them.  Dozens of people, including me, waited in line for up to 20 minutes, and not one person was bold enough to voice a simple question.  I suspect they were all waiting for someone else to do it, so I finally did.  At least I had a very clean restroom to use.

            It reminds me of 17 years ago, when Gary and I first moved to Grand Rapids.  We drove through Allendale one day on the way to Lake Michigan, and I asked Gary, "Why isn't there a United Methodist Church in Allendale?  There are no other UM churches nearby, and it's a growing community with a great university."  I kept asking myself the question periodically for years as I watched one new church after another locate in Allendale.  But I never did anything more than wonder.  

            I was ecstatic when the Cabinet, upon recommendation of the New Church Committee, finally took the plunge last year and appointed Matt Bistayi as the new church start pastor at Valley Church in Allendale.  As I walked into Valley Church yesterday for their first morning worship service, I didn't see a bank building, I saw a sacred space that was friendly, welcoming, and ready for visitors.

            Rev. Joe Bistayi, Matt's father, opened the door for me with a great big smile.  Can you imagine how proud Joe and Cheryl are of their son?  The welcoming area was filled with young families registering their children for child care in Valley Kids, a fun room complete with a tree house and slide!  I was even given the opportunity to sign up to make chili for the community chili cook-off next Saturday at Allendale High School.

            I was definitely among the oldest people there and was probably the most overdressed, although I really did try to tone it down.  103 adults and 29 children packed the space as Matt opened worship by saying, "We're gonna rock and roll this morning and talk about spending time with God."  An edgy band brought us to our feet, and the Allendale new church became a worshipping community.

            Yesterday was the first of 4 "exhibition" worship services.  They are designed for Matt, the musicians, and the tech people to become accustomed to the worship space, the greeters to practice their hospitality, and the kids ministry volunteers to refine their procedures.  In the coming weeks, a marketing and advertising blitz will invite the community to check out Valley Church when it officially goes public. 

            Here are a few things you should know about Valley Church.

• Change is part of the DNA of Valley Church.  The vision of Valley Church is: "for God.  for People.  for a Change."  Valley Church is all about change:  change of heart, change of attitudes, change of habits, change of priorities. 

                o What might happen in our established churches if we could risk asking the question, "Is God calling us to change?" and then be willing to listen to God's answer.   

• Valley Church is all about inviting others into relationship with Christ and into a community of faith.  Matt was upfront during worship by challenging the congregation, "Are we for others?  Will we invite others to join us, or will we just settle in as we are?" 

                o Does your local church put those who are not yet part of the church first? Or do you insist, "We're   happy just as we are."

• The heart of Valley Church is found in house churches, which could also be called small groups.  Valley Church literature states, "A house church is simply a group of 8-10 people who get together once a week to talk about life, hang out together, and be a part of mission and outreach activities."  Matt announced yesterday that 10% of every offering taken at Valley Church will go toward the outreach and mission of the house churches.  He's already teaching tithing!

                o How does your local church provide opportunities for people to be part of a small group for Bible study, service, and mutual support?

• For Valley Church, spiritual growth begins with our relationship with God.  It's no coincidence that Matt's first official sermon at Valley Church was about spending consistent and devoted time with God.  Claiming that the point of our life is to simply and powerfully point it to God, Matt challenged us to practice the presence of God in our everyday life.

                o How does intentional spiritual formation take place in your local church?

            Valley Church is a sign of hope for the West Michigan Conference as well as for the town of Allendale.  Countless studies have shown that the best way to grow The United Methodist Church is to start new churches.   

• Matt Bistayi asked the question, "God, will you send me?" and took a risk to make known his call to start a new church.
• The New Church Committee asked the question, "Is this the place, God?" and took a risk to start Valley Church.
• The West Michigan Conference asked the question, "Is now the time, God?" and voted to direct financial resources to Valley Church.
• 100 adults have already asked the question, "God, are you calling me to make a commitment to be a part of a church that is for God. for People. for a Change?" They responded with their presence yesterday.

            What questions might you need to ask as you take a fresh look at your own commitment to Christ and to the church?  Will you risk voicing those questions even if it means change - on your part or on the part of the church?  And if the answers aren't yet clear, are you willing to hold the questions close to your heart as you journey?

            "Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue.  Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them.  And the point is, to live everything.  Live the questions now.  Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer."  Ranier Maria Rilke

Blessings, Laurie

P.S.  The restrooms at Valley Church were not locked.  I checked.

Dear Friends,

            No words can describe our heavy hearts as we witness from afar the unimaginable destruction of the earthquake in Haiti.  Our grief is compounded by the fact that the West Michigan Conference has a covenant relationship with Haiti.  Hundreds of United Methodists in West Michigan have traveled to Haiti on mission trips over the years.  One group is in Haiti right now, awaiting evacuation, and our district mission team led by Paul Doherty, which was supposed to leave on Feb. 1, is on hold. 

             The catastrophe in Haiti has been exacerbated by political instability and violence over the past 50 years, with corruption and oppression plaguing much of the country's history.  The resulting poor infrastructure has been stretched way beyond its ability to care for wounded, dying, hungry, thirsty, homeless, and grieving Haitians.  Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, where 80% of the population lives under the poverty line, 54% live in abject poverty, and less than half of the population has access to clean drinking water.  Even in the best of times, there are fewer than 3 doctors for every 10,000 people.

             The newspapers, TV, and Internet have been filled with images of the destruction.  We feel so helpless, yet we whisper a prayer of thanks whenever one more survivor is miraculously pulled from the rubble, including several General Board of Global Ministries executives, who were in Port-au-Prince for a meeting.  Tragically, Sam Dixon, the Executive Director of UMCOR (The United Methodist Committee on Relief), died shortly before he could be rescued, and Clinton Rabb, director of Mission Volunteers in the UMC, died of his injuries on Sunday. 

             Prayer services were held at Faith UMC in Grand Rapids on Saturday and in places of worship across the country.  I trust that you had the opportunity to make a donation to UMCOR in worship on Sunday, or you are assembling health kits.  What has particularly touched me is the special impact this disaster has had among West Michigan United Methodists because Haiti has a human face for many of us.  One pastor had tears in his eyes when he said to me last week, "You know, 9-11 did not affect me nearly as much as the Haiti earthquake.  I think it's because I've never been to New York City and don't know anyone there.  But I've been to Haiti a number of times with my family.  2 of the people we know well were killed in the earthquake.  It hurts so much."

             One of the most fulfilling ways to be a disciple of Jesus Christ as well as a world citizen is to go on a mission trip.  Everywhere I travel in the district, churches are sending adults, youth, and children on mission trips.  At times people ask me, "Why do we spend all that money to travel to faraway places when we could just send money? Wouldn't that help more?"

            Why mission trips?  Why travel at all?  And by travel, I don't just mean to other countries.   Anytime we step outside the doors of our homes and churches to journey to another part of the city, county, or state, we engage other cultures.  I am reminded of a famous quote of the prophet Mohammed, "Don't tell me how educated you are; tell me how much you've traveled."

• Travel, including mission trips, enables us to shed stereotypes about people who are not like us.  Maya Angelou has written, "Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends."  Oddly enough, the more different a place is, the more we can see our common humanity.
• Travel gives us the opportunity to move beyond ourselves to thoughtfully connect with our world.  Travel writer Rick Steves' new book, Travel as a Political Act, refers to "hard power" and "soft power."  The proverbial "ugly American" with insensitive displays of hard power doesn't work in today's world, as if it ever did.  Americans who expect foreign travel to be as comfortable as their life in the United States are in for a rude awakening.  Relationship-building is damaged when we do not respect local traditions and won't attempt to speak at least few words in a foreign language.  Being ambassadors of the "soft power" of goodwill is the key to creating a just and whole world.  
• Travel enlarges the borders of our faith.  Wonders await us when we are open to learning about other religions and participating in spiritual practices that stretch us.  We discover that Christians are not the only "children of God," but all people everywhere are children of God, whether they express it in those terms or not.  On the other hand, I have personally witnessed Christian travelers who blatantly and offensively attempt to convert people to their religion, even as they are guests in other countries.  Why is it that people of faith are so reluctant to honor those with different beliefs who also have deep faith?
• Travel is a spiritual act.  Through travel we marvel at the tapestry of our world, experience the longing of all people for fullness of life, observe how other governments care for their citizens, and reflect on how all nations struggle with diversity and change, not just ours.  We also become more aware of the impact that our decisions at home have on the lives of people around the globe, from the environment, to consumerism, to imperialist attitudes.  Most of all, we travel as servant leaders, eager to model grace and be little Christs wherever we go.
• Travel changes us.  Many times I have heard people who have returned from mission trips or other travel say, "This was a life-changing experience.  I am not the same person as I was before I left."  The most important part of any trip is applying the deep richness of humanity that we have experienced through travel to our everyday life.

            The tragedy in Haiti haunts us continually, as our hearts bleed profusely for our brothers and sisters who are suffering.  Why Haiti?  Why a country that is already so poor?  Why a city whose buildings are so ill equipped to withstand such an earthquake?

           The most shocking reason I've heard was the evangelist Pat Robertson's statement last week that Haiti's earthquake was caused because of the country's "pact with the devil."  I cannot fathom what he was possibly thinking.  But I do know this.  Pat Robertson has never been to Haiti.  Pat Robertson has never walked to school hand in hand with a Haitian child, or be overcome with joy during worship in this overwhelmingly Christian country.  Pat Robertson must not have seen the thousands of survivors huddling in the streets, pulling out rubble by hand, or burying their dead while praying and singing, "God will help us."     

           I also know this.  The God I know does not cause evil.  The God I know is not vengeful or vindictive.  The God I know is suffering with those who are suffering.  The Jesus I know is sitting right now in the streets of Port-au-Prince comforting the dying, caring for the injured, and wrapping his arms around those who have suffered more loss than we will ever be able to imagine.  The Holy Spirit I know is hovering over the country, overseeing relief efforts, glowing with holy light, speaking the language of pure love, and breathing hope into a country for a new tomorrow. 

            If you feel called to go on a mission trip, I am certain that when the time is right, the Grand Rapids District will be sending many teams to Haiti to help rebuild lives, towns, cities, and the country.  You will be invited to accompany us. 

One more thing I guarantee: this trip will be a spiritual act.

Blessings, Laurie

Dear Friends,

            My first lesson of 2010 may be the most important one of the year: God is always waiting to be encountered.  When we set aside our personal agenda, move beyond our schedule and open ourselves to surprise, unusual and transformative experiences await us.  As our guide in Thailand continually reminded us, the world is our classroom, and our itinerary is subject to change at a moment's notice when a new discovery beckons.  

            ● It was pitch black at 6 a.m. in a downtown Bangkok park, but thousands of Thai men and women were already outside exercising when I began my workout.  They were walking, running, lifting weights, engaging in yoga, tai chi, kick boxing, and doing aerobics to the music of "I Wish You a Merry Christmas."

            ● Never have I eaten so many different varieties of exotic and luscious fruit: pomelos, dragonfruit, mangosteen, rambutan, egg bananas, tamarind, ju jube, jack fruit and durian.

            ● Riding in a "James Bond" boat down the River Kwai, I wondered: for how many centuries have people traveled this river, caught fish for dinner, and been sustained by its water?  And how much darkness has been experienced on this river, especially when almost 100,000 Allied POW's and Asian laborers died in World War 2 while building the "Death Railway" from Burma to Thailand?

            ● They came out of nowhere.  At least 50 wild monkeys, from alpha males to babies on their mothers' backs, delighted us with their antics.

            ● Most of the world's people shop every day at open air markets, which not only provide social contact but also showcase the incredible diversity of food on this planet.  The 3 layer bacon (skin, meat and fat), three toed claws, and fermented fish took my appetite away at the same time as I marveled that most of the world doesn't have my taste in food.

            ● Hundreds of Thai families were picnicking and splashing in a waterfall on New Years Day, just as families in West Michigan were sledding, ice skating, or watching football together.

            ● The primitive Akha hill tribe in the mountains of northern Thailand, known for their elaborate headdresses, could not be more different than me.  Yet when I saw an Akha father bathing his toddler son, just as I had bathed my one year old grandson a few weeks ago, our hearts were linked.

            ● Riding on a rice barge on the Uthaithani River, a Thai teenager swimming in front of her floating shack shouted to us in English with great enthusiasm and joy, "Happy New Year!" 

            "Amazing" Thailand lived up to its nickname in a myriad of ways, but I was unprepared for the richness of the 2 weeks that Gary and I spent in this extraordinary country.  Our first experience in Thailand was a walk through the flower market in Bangkok, which sells wholesale and retail flowers 24 hours a day.  Virtually every home and building has fresh flowers, which communicates welcome and a splash of beauty.  30 roses or other elaborate arrangements sell for a dollar: who can resist?  Imagine the flowers we could provide in our churches at those prices! 

            Beauty embraces you in Thailand.  "We have fish in the water, fruit on the trees, and rice in the fields.  The people are happy."   (Ayutthaya saying found on a stone pillar in the former capital of Siam)  Thailand is best known for some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, but even more beautiful are the Thai people.  Graciousness abounds.  Thais are always smiling.  They love having fun, celebrating, dressing well, and taking good care of themselves and others.  They show tremendous respect for their elders, are very flexible, maintain a calm demeanor, and live each day to the fullest.

            When Thais greet each other, they do not shake hands.  In fact, touching is not part of their public culture, especially the head.  Rather, they practice the "Wai," where they put both hands together at the fingertips and bow the head.  Our small group of travelers had several opportunities to eat meals with local villagers, had a cooking demonstration at one home, and spent a morning visiting an elementary school.  The graciousness and kindness of our hosts made an indelible impression on us.

            The Thai people do not judge others or accentuate differences.  They honor all people and maintain social harmony by keeping their cool, which is characteristic of Buddhism.  93% of the population of Thailand is Buddhist, 5% is Muslim, and less than 1% is Christian.  Although Buddhism is considered a world religion, Buddhism is more a way of life or a philosophy rather than a religion.  Buddha, an Indian prince who lived from 563 to 483 B.C., renounced his rank and became a hermit.  Through meditating on the suffering he saw around him, Buddha attained enlightenment.  Buddha is not revered as a God, despite the 40,000 Buddhist temples in Thailand.

            ● Buddhism teaches that we all have character defects and impurities, which appear so that we can reach the inner state of beauty.  Through meditation and mindfulness we are able to let go of everything negative and live a life of compassion and love.   

            ● Buddhists respect life, and the temple is a safe place for all people and living creatures.  When we passed by a temple while riding in a boat, our guide said there was no fishing allowed in the canal in front of the temple.

            ● Buddhism discourages extremes and advocates taking a middle way. 

            ● Buddhists believe that all religions can co-exist and are comfortable with Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu concepts.  They seek to learn from other religions, which only enhances their own lives. 

            ● Many Thai males become Buddhist monks for as little as several months or for a lifetime.  Monks are required to follow 1,227 precepts, but our guide, a former monk, told us that these precepts all boil down to one admonition: reduce suffering by doing good and avoiding harm.  Sounds a little like John Wesley, doesn't it?  

            ● We had the unexpected privilege of meeting the world famous Thai painter of Buddhist art, Chalermachai Kositpipat, who is designing and funding a spectacular renovation of his hometown temple.  A unique mural in the temple depicts the 2001 bombing of the World Trade Center, included because of Kositpipat's belief that, "To reach heaven, you need to pass suffering."     

            ● There are many different sizes and shapes of Buddha, all of which teach us.  My favorites are the reclining Buddha, which symbolizes impermanence; the walking Buddha, which represents advancement; the Buddha with eyes half closed, which reminds us to look inside ourselves before blaming others; and the Buddha using the "OK" hand position, which symbolizes the first sermon.

            The sweetest surprise was New Year's Eve.  We stayed in a hotel in the jungle of west central Thailand.  A more beautiful setting I could not imagine.  After dinner, our guide said it was time for discovery.  Under a full moon, and following a 700 year old Thai tradition, each person lit and released a hot air balloon while making a wish.  As we followed each balloon into the sky until the tiny points of light disappeared, I breathed my wish, that this year I would become more completely who God created me to be, so that our world will more completely experience shalom. 

   What is your wish for yourself in 2010?

            ● Will you welcome surprise and discover that around every corner, God is waiting for you? 

            ● Can your heart become a sacred place where, as Buddhism teaches, calmness is happiness?

            ● Can you enlarge your vision and be fascinated by the people who surround you?

            ● Can you be more mindful of your thoughts, motives and actions, knowing that unlike Buddhists, who seek to earn merit for a future life, there is no way that we can earn merit other than the grace of Jesus Christ?

            ● Like Buddha, are you willing to withdraw to the margins of society in order to better observe and identify with the despairing?  At the same time, can you live in the midst of society to understand, enjoy and celebrate this beautiful world?  And will you be open to discern the world of the spirit in order to speak for God to a hurting and hopeful world?

            In 1968 former Trappist monk and author, Thomas Merton, wrote these a few months before his tragic death in Bangkok, where he was presenting a paper on monasticism in all the world's religions, "Our real journey in life is interior; it is a matter of growth, deepening, and of an ever greater surrender to the creative action of love and grace in our hearts.  Never was it more necessary for us to respond to that action." 

            48 years later, that creative action is still necessary.  Will you be faithful to the search, guided by the Star, so that you, too, can shine like stars in our often dark world (Philippians 2:15).
   How will you walk as a child of the light in 2010?

Blessings,

Laurie

Dear Friends,

"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it."

           What if this were our guiding principle in the new decade?  The quote comes from William Arthur Ward (1921-1994), one of America's most cited authors of inspirational saying.  Ward was a United Methodist, having served as Assistant to the President of Texas Wesleyan University.  He was also the teacher of the 140 member Sigler Bible Class at Polytechnic United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, where he served as Sunday School Superintendent and Lay Leader as well.

          Did you ever experience the original Journey into Imagination with Figment at Epcot Center in Orlando?  We were just starting our family when the attraction opened in 1983, and since Gary's family lived in Florida, we visited Disney World fairly often.  Even as an adult, I was fascinated by the Dreamfinder, the pilot of a blimp of sorts.  He claimed to use the vehicle to collect dreams and ideas and conjured up Figment, a small purple dragon.  The Dreamfinder and Figment filled up the Dreamport with ideas, which are "never far away when you use your imagination."

          One of the most important gifts of a great leader is imagination, the ability to form mental images of what is not actually present.  Throughout history our world has been changed by people who imagined what could be and then found a way to make it happen.  We are all born with active imaginations.  One of the best things we can do for our children is to encourage their imagination rather than stifle it as mere "make believe."  The motivational writer Harvey Mackay related how a mother once asked Albert Einstein how to raise a child to become a genius.  Einstein advised her to read fairy tales to the child.  "And after that?" the mother asked.  "Read the child more fairy tales," Einstein replied, adding that what a scientist needs most is a curious imagination.

           I am just learning about a concept of leadership called "positive deviance."

Positive deviance is based on the idea that every group of people has a few individuals who function at a much higher level than their peers.  They work under the same conditions with the same resources, yet they are much more effective.  The Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan has a Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship, whose purpose is "energizing and transforming organizations through research on the theory and practice of positive organizing and leadership."

          The very word "positive deviant" implies going against the grain, leading from a different perspective, and imagining things no one else can see.  What are characteristics of positive deviants?

• Positive deviants build a positive personal identity that reflects how others see them at their best. 
• Positive deviants don't impose change but give up power and create space for the community to find its own solutions and choose to change.  
• Positive deviants empower themselves to higher levels of leadership, which, in turn, inspires others to higher levels of performance. 
• Positive deviants move toward success rather than away from failure.  They are not afraid to stumble along the way.
• Positive deviants are curious, imaginative, reflective, observant, and willing to live with ambiguity until the way becomes clear.  At the same time, they are willing to risk and move into unknown territory.
• Positive deviants see possibilities that others don't.  They have a passion to enroll others in a vision and are driven by their mission to make a positive difference in the world. 

           What if The United Methodist Church were to become the positive deviants of our world in the next decade?  

• What if we were not only to imagine but actually become servants of the gospel of Jesus Christ "according to the gift of God's grace that was given us by the working of his power." (Eph. 3:7, epistle for Epiphany, Jan. 6)
• What if we were not only to imagine our dream of making disciples and transforming the world, but create specific goals and plans on the local church, district, conference and general church level and work to bring them to reality?

           We have a dream on the Grand Rapids District to create a partnership with Africa University (AU) in Zimbabwe.  That partnership will involve developing a manufacturing incubator, creating sustainable energy projects, endowing student scholarships and professorships, and constructing a "Fellowship House" to host mission trips and educational exchanges.

          Our first project in this vision is Fellowship House, which we will promote in conjunction with a 3 week tour of the Africa University Choir in West Michigan in June.  We have received the blessing of the Annual Conference Program Committee and the Conference Council on Finance and Administration to ask all churches in the conference to take an offering this winter or spring for Fellowship House.  Each local church lay member will then bring this offering to our West Michigan Annual Conference in June and present it at a time when the Africa University Choir is singing.  Watch for a schedule of when the AU choir will be singing in your area!

          What an incredible opportunity for the West Michigan Conference to be a part of strengthening the premier educational institution on the continent of Africa!  Some people may think that our imagination has run wild to believe that we can raise $5 million for AU in 4 years.  In addition, we have to raise approximately $35,000 to bring the AU choir here this summer.  Our AU task force believes, however, that there are many "positive deviants" in our conference and in the business, non-profit, and educational community who will feel compelled to be a part of this vision. 

           After all, as Figment reminds us, a little spark of imagination is at the heart of creation.  Imagination is not only the province of child's play.  Imagination belongs to all of us and is at the core of our Christian faith. 

          Imagine a world where "the wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them." (Isaiah 11:6).  Imagine a world where no one goes to bed hungry, everyone has shelter over their heads at night, war, disease and oppression are a thing of the past, and every child receives a good education and has the opportunity to become who God created them to be. 

           "So I believe that dreams - daydreams, you know, with your eyes wide open and your brain machinery whizzing - are likely to lead to the betterment of the world. The imaginative child will become the imaginative man or woman most apt to invent, and therefore to foster civilization."

           - L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

          It only takes one spark to light up our world, and every sparkling idea can lead to more.  What will spark your imagination and ignite that fire in your heart in 2010? 

"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it."

Blessings, Laurie

P.S. The next Leading From the Heart will be published on Tuesday, January 12, rather than Monday, January 11.

Dear Friends,

            Last week I heard about a woman who recently picked up a prescription at her local pharmacy.  She couldn't help but overhear the conversation of the worker at the pharmacy counter with the man in front of her, who was picking up prescriptions for each of his 4 sick children.  This man was unemployed and had Medicaid for his family, but the co-pay for each prescription was $2.00.  Unfortunately, he did not have $8.00.  There he stood, agonizing over which of his children was the sickest so that he could at least purchase one antibiotic.  The young woman stepped forward and paid the $8.00 so that all of the children could have their meds.

             I don't know the name of that woman, but I do know this.  She was an angel.  I like to think of angels as intermediaries between heaven and earth - celestial or human messengers who witness to God's love.  As people of faith, we believe that God watches over us and sends people to help and guide us, especially when we are in need.  How many times do we say to another, "You're an angel!"

            The invisible dimension of heaven becomes real when we minister to one another.  At the same time, there is a spirit world beyond this physical world.  I have Christian friends whose spiritual gift is the ability to perceive the world of the Holy Spirit and tap into its power.  They teach me that if we are open, we, too, may experience times when a voice speaks to us, an invisible hand guides us, or we feel a spiritual presence walking beside us.  This is the realm of angels.

            Angelology, the study of angels, was all the rage a few years back.  People still collect angels (my aunt has 250 angels!), read and write books about angels (Angels and Demons) and even produce TV shows about angels (Touched by an Angel).  One of the most comforting aspects of traditional Catholic piety is the belief in guardian angels, that each person has a heavenly being assigned by God to watch over them, protect them from danger, and represent them to God.  Psalm 91:11 says, "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."  Since the 17th century the Catholic Church has celebrated a yearly feast (currently October 2) honoring guardian angels. 

           Advent, more than any other time of the year, gives us the opportunity to marvel at angelic activity, for the Christmas stories are full of references to angels.  Would there even be a Christmas story without angels?

• In Luke 1, an angel named Gabriel appears to Zechariah and announces that that his wife, Elizabeth, will give birth to a son who will prepare the way for Jesus.

• Later in Luke 1, the same angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her that she will bear a son who will be called the Son of the Most High. 
• In Matthew 1 an angel appears to Joseph, encouraging him to take Mary as his wife and to name the child Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
• In Luke 2 an angel appears to shepherds watching over their flocks by night.   Then a multitude of angels cries out, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors." 
• Finally, in Matthew 2, an angel appears to Joseph and tells him flee to Egypt with Mary and the baby Jesus in order to escape Herod's wrath.

           Have you ever been touched by an angel?  I dare say that most of us have experienced the presence of an angel in our life, human or divine - leading us, protecting us, and giving us strength during the most difficult of times.  Have you ever heard of the "The Third Man Factor", which is also the title of a new book by John Geiger?  Geiger's thesis is that there is a common experience that happens to people who confront life's extremes: an unseen presence or "third man" that guides them and plays a role in their survival. 

           The origin of this concept came from the British explorer Ernest Shackleton, who set sail for Antarctica in August, 1914, in order to cross the continent by foot.  Before Shackleton and his men could even begin their adventure, their expedition ship The Endurance broke apart in ice 1,000 miles from the nearest human settlement.  Enduring unspeakable terrors during 5 months of walking and 680 miles in a small boat, Shackleton reached an island.  After a last desperate hike over glaciers and mountains, he and 2 men reached help at a whaling town, and the entire party was eventually saved. 

           Ernest Shackleton wrote in his book, South, published in 1919, "We had pierced the veneer of outside things.  We had 'suffered, starved and triumphed, groveled down yet grasped at glory, grown bigger in the bigness of the whole'...  We had reached the naked soul of man."     What Shackleton purposely left out of his original draft was that he experienced the presence of another person during his ordeal, "I know that during that long and racking march of 36 hours over the unnamed mountains and glaciers of South Georgia it seemed to me often that we were four, not three."   In his final draft, Shackleton decided to include this strange story and admitted, "One couldn't write this sort of thing ... about the mystery of that Fourth in our journey; but it was the heart of it, all the same."  The extra unseen presence, which Shackleton felt was a spiritual manifestation of Divine Providence, gave him the will to survive.

            Shackleton's experience was immortalized in one of the most famous poems of the 20th century, The Wasteland, by T.S. Eliot, written in 1922.

"Who is the third who walks always beside you?

When I count, there are only you and I together

But when I look ahead up the white road

There is always another one walking beside you..."

            This phenomenon of the extra person, changed by Eliot from Shackleton's "fourth man" to the "third man," has been verified by dozens of people who have endured amazing physical challenges and extreme danger under the most grueling conditions.  Mountain climbers, divers, astronauts, ultra distance runners, soldiers, and sailors have all spoken of the unseen and positive presence of a companion who joined them at a critical point to guide, encourage, offer courage, comfort, and hope, and even the show the way out of danger. 

            What can we say about angels, or the "Third Man Factor?" 

• Angels often come alongside us when we are at the edge of the abyss, at the point of extreme need.

• Those who experience this unseen presence are imaginative, unconventional, and are willing to suspend disbelief, consider things beyond their knowledge, and "pierce the veneer of outside things."
• Believing that a divine companion stands with us when we desperately need one can give us the strength to endure. 
• Is it any coincidence that in 4 of the 5 appearances of angels in the Christmas story, the angel says, "Do not be afraid"?

Have you ever experienced the "third man (or woman) factor?" 

Are your eyes, ears and heart open to the one walking beside you?

Are you in tune with the fundamental principle of human existence that we are social animals and need each other in order to survive and thrive?

Are you willing to allow human and divine angels to guide you to the goodness of God?

Are you willing to incarnate the angelic spirit this Christmas and always?

Work in a soup kitchen, donate to your church's Christmas offering, sit with a cancer patient, visit your elderly neighbor.  The list is endless. 

To whom will you be an angel this week?

Blessings, Laurie

P.S. I'd love to hear of your experiences with angels by responding on the blog or individually.

P.S. The next Leading From the Heart will be published on January 4.  May you know the deep joy of Christmas now and always.

Dear Friends,

            Imagine your congregation yesterday.  A teenager in the balcony is contemplating suicide, unable to cope with the memories of sexual abuse as a young child.  A couple sitting near the front made the painful decision the night before to end their 30 year marriage.  A young man in the back row, a first time visitor, wonders whether this congregation might be a place where he can feel comfortable worshipping as a gay man.  An elderly woman sitting alone is consumed by grief because this is her first Christmas without her beloved husband.  A recent college graduate, unable to find a job, feels lost and questions where God is leading her.  How do you proclaim the good news in a way that reaches people with a variety of hopes, dreams, and needs?

            Who is your audience as a preacher?  As you stand in front of your congregation week after week, who are your listeners?  Most commonly, an audience is defined as "the group of spectators at a public event."  Therefore, it is natural to look at the congregation as the audience in preaching.  As preachers, we present the word of God to our congregations by "re-presenting God." 

            Preaching always begins with our relationship with God.  In order to preach well, we need to be intentional about cultivating our own spirituality.  We cannot offer to others what we have not experienced ourselves.  Preaching becomes most effective, however, when we know our parishioners and our world as well.  We do not preach in a vacuum.  Lives are transformed when we make connections between the biblical text and the hopes and dreams of the body of Christ.

Preaching begins with building relationships.

• Preaching is about far more than selecting a text, reading, studying, praying, and writing. Our preparation actually begins by leaving the office and being out and about with our parishioners. We meet people where they are: in homes, hospitals, nursing homes, workplaces, sporting events, and schools. We could call it an exegesis of the congregation.
• Our congregations want to develop a coherent Christian world view, understand their own struggles in the light of their faith, and be able to share their faith with others. We cannot preach on real issues that affect real people unless we are conversant with current events in our community, nation and world.
• As you begin sermon preparation, imagine 5 people who will likely be sitting in the congregation on Sunday. What are their joys? What challenges do they face? How can you represent God to them? How can you feed the mature disciple and at the same time make the gospel simple enough for the new Christians? Once you can see the faces of those 5 people, then begin by writing down the purpose of the sermon and what response you hope to elicit.
• Use the biblical text as a springboard to speak to specific needs of your parishioners. When we never address the deep questions: unanswered prayer, forgiveness, financial stress, suffering, or ethical dilemmas, we are perceived as being out of touch. Great sermons are not generic sermons - they are preached to a specific congregation on a specific day for a specific reason.
• If you spend 15 hours each week on preaching and 15 hours on pastoral care and building relationships, you will be a far more effective preacher than if you spent 30 hours in your office just on your sermon.

Great preaching is not entertainment but seeks a transformative response.

            Sometimes we forget that worship is not a "service" for which we pay.  Nor is it a spectator sport where we passively watch a performer amuse or please.  Because of the influence of the big business of TV evangelism, many Christians come to worship with the idea that they will be entertained.  They expect the latest technology gimmicks, professional musicians, and polished preachers who can speak eloquently without notes, are comedians, and don't have even one hair out of place.

• Somewhere along the way, we have forgotten that each person in the congregation is an active participant in the experience of worship.
• Our preaching must issue a challenge for a specific response. Now that we have encountered the Word, how is God calling us to live out this Word during the coming week?
• When we know our congregations intimately, we become aware of what they will receive gladly and what will "push their buttons" and cause them to be restless and uncomfortable. Great preachers are willing to speak truth boldly.
• Publishing sermon titles and scriptures well in advance enables people to come to worship prepared to engage both the biblical text and the sermon content and be open to transformation.

So who is the audience, anyway?

            Is the congregation the audience, merely listening and going home unchanged?  Or are they actors in the divine drama of worship?  By our preaching, can we create attentive and expectant listeners who not only hear the gospel but actively create meaning from what they have heard?

            Is the preacher the audience, listening to God and the needs of the congregation?  Or is the preacher a catalyst, a channel of the Holy Spirit?  Is the preacher called to tell God's story in relation to our human story, then inspire, train, and equip the congregation to be God's people as they go out into the world to make disciples?  Can the preacher give up the authority of his/her own conclusions to allow the Holy Spirit to move as it wills, empowering the congregation to think for themselves, make their own connections, and respond to God's call? 

            Is God the audience, joyfully receiving the praise and prayers of both preacher and congregation as we freely offer our very selves through worship?  God cheers us on but never forces the heart.  Can you feel the gentle nudging?  Are you aware of the quiet knocking?  Can you hear the still small voice of God encouraging you through worship, "You are a great actor in my drama!  Well done, good and faithful servant.  I have created you to be a witness to my love.  Now go." 

The Assignment

            Read Luke 2:1-20.  Who are the actors and who is the audience?  God?  The Emperor Augustus?  Joseph and Mary?  The innkeeper?  The shepherds?  The angels?  The baby Jesus?  The animals?  You?

            How will you preach and receive the story this Advent?   May the days ahead be a time of pondering, treasuring, glorifying and praising God, and, yes, ... acting.

Blessings, Laurie

Dear Friends,

            "The Decade From Hell ... and how the next one can be better."  I did a double take when I saw the cover of the Dec. 7 issue of Time magazine.  My first reaction was, "Wow!  Are we really at the end of a decade?  How did the last ten years fly by so quickly?"  My next thought was, "Wait a minute!  What was so bad about the last 10 years?"  The author, Andy Serwer, wrote, "This decade was as awful as any peacetime decade in the nation's entire history."

             9/11 started off the first decade of the 21st century, and an economic meltdown is closing it out.  In between we've experienced our nation's struggle with radical Islamic militants and a war in Afghanistan, then Iraq and back to Afghanistan.  There was Hurricane Katrina, the fall of the Big Three automakers, concerns about climate change, and the remaking of America to compete in a burgeoning global economy where BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) will lead the way.  The Internet has forever changed the fabric of the way we live, resulting in the closing of countless small businesses that were unable to compete with huge conglomerates.  Unemployment, corporate scandals, personal bankruptcies, foreclosures, and loss of health care have crossed societal boundaries.  The median household income is lower now than it was in 2000.

            To top it off, General Motors announced last week the replacement of yet another CEO, the third in one year.  And Tiger Woods, the richest and most well known athlete in history, raking in $900 million of his 1$ billion career earnings from endorsements, admitted to "transgressions" and has been implicated in more than one extramarital affair.

            Of course, we ourselves have contributed our share toward the making of this decade from hell.  We've forgotten that the world no longer bows down to us simply because we are Americans.  We've lost our competitive edge because of our unwillingness to change old patterns of doing things and our refusal to share and be partners with other countries.  We have become preoccupied with our image, neglected our infrastructure, ignored the poor, and succumbed to plain old greed.  To sum it up: having been inattentive to our collective soul, we suddenly awoke from our national stupor and asked, "What happened?"

            Hmm.  This sounds disturbingly familiar.  Has this been the decade from hell for the church as well?  The institutional church, including The United Methodist Church, has been in crisis for the past decade.  Membership, attendance, and finances continue a slow decline, not to mention slippage in the church's respect and influence in our culture.  In addition, internal conflict over issues such as homosexuality, has diverted energy away from the church's vision and mission.  A friend emailed me last week, "I think the institutional church is in huge turmoil right now - dying in many ways, in fact - and we don't know what will be birthed in the process.  The old is dying, and the new has not yet been born.  We are living in a pregnant moment!"

            All of this is terribly disappointing for church folks.  We've finally realized that we're not leading the way but are lagging behind.  We don't have a vision for who God is calling us to be.  We're not acting proactively but always seem to be reactive.  We've been unable to engage the culture in ways that touch, inspire, and invite others into relationship with Christ.  We've gotten stuck in old guard/new guard battles that siphon away Holy Spirit energy.  We simply don't understand our changing world.  Almost sounds like hell. 

            John the Baptist would probably agree.  In the lectionary passage for this coming Sunday, he says to the Pharisees and Sadducees who come to him for baptism, "You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bear fruit worthy of repentance...  Every tree therefore that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."  (Matthew 3:7-10). 

            Could this be the heart of our "issues" in the church?  We are not bearing fruit.  Jesus, the true vine, calls us, the branches, to "bear much fruit and become my disciples." (John 15:8)  Faith is inherently fruit-bearing, not just verbal assent to doctrines.  Faith is a process of transformation which leads to concrete expressions of love.  The Greek word for repentance, metanoia, means turning "from" something "to" something else.  To be baptized into Christ's death and resurrection means that we move from simply wanting to love to developing new ways of acting, listening and being attentive to the holy in our midst.

• What will it take for the United States to bear fruit so that the next decade will be the decade of peace, justice and charity rather than another decade from hell? 
• What will it take for The United Methodist Church to bear fruit so that the next decade will be the decade from heaven rather than another decade of slow death? 
• What will it take for your local church to bear fruit so that the next decade can be a decade of health and vitality instead of mere survival and hanging on?

            How will you bear fruit worthy of repentance this Advent season?  How will you turn from consuming to self-giving?  The choice we face is as clear as the inescapable holiday advertising that surrounds us. 

            Consider the contrast.  Since 1959 the "last word in luxury" department store, Neiman Marcus, has published a holiday catalog filled with outrageous gifts.  Unlike the $20 million submarine offered in 2000 and the $10 million stable of racehorses in 2008,  the most expensive fantasy item advertised in this year's toned down catalog is a $250,000 "his and hers" two-seater Icon aircraft, which comes with pilot training for two.  If that's too much, how about the $25,000 cupcake car or the $8,500 African Flower Beetle insect lab specimen transfixed in glass? 

            The United Methodist Church has another shopping option, a countercultural and prophetic way to give.  Our denominational Rethink media campaign is currently airing Christmas commercials on CNN Headline News, one of which shows a homeless person.  The caption is, "This Christmas, remember those who are shopping for hope, acceptance, and love.  Find out how you can give of your self.  Rethink Church this Christmas."  (http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=2454759&ct=7682757)

            As a new decade begins, we are, indeed, living in a pregnant moment.  It's a moment filled with incredible possibility and opportunity to bear fruit worthy of the transformation which must take place if we are to grow in grace and hope. 10 years from now, I hope we will say,

• This is the decade that the church reclaimed leadership in the world by doing justice, showing mercy, making peace, and saving the environment. 
• This is the decade when our decision to share and live out the good news of Jesus Christ in our communities made 3 million new disciples of Jesus Christ in our country.
• This is the decade when we were able to partner with schools, universities, businesses, non-profits, and foundations to eradicate disease, poverty and hunger around the world. 

            I don't think for a minute that the last decade was the decade from hell for The United Methodist Church.  Rather, I see it as the decade of awakening, preparation and seed planting for the fruit that we will bear in the next 10 years.  What needs to die in your local church in order for the new to be born?  How will you tell - and live out - the old, old story in new and compelling ways this Christmas and into a new decade?  I am convinced that, 10 years from now, I'll be writing about a decade of hope, acceptance, love and fruit-bearing. 

            Will you join me on the journey?  I encourage you to share your hopes for the next decade by visiting the blog.

Blessings, Laurie

Dear Friends,

• Jane insisted that the pastor visit her mother (not a member) in Hospice care every few days, even late into a Saturday night when the pastor's sermon wasn't yet done.  Jane was extremely picky about the memorial service, and when it was all over, there was not one word of appreciation, not one expression of gratitude for the pastor's ministry. 
• A visitor began attending the church, and it soon become clear that Jim had extreme emotional and physical needs.  His demands for attention bordered on abuse, sucking all the energy out of those providing pastoral care.  Realizing that they were being used, the pastor and lay caregivers finally began to say "no."
• Andrew was an early riser and was accustomed to calling the pastor at 6:30 a.m. to chat.  It wasn't until the pastor's wife began sleeping in another room that the pastor put a stop to the calls.
• A family left the church after Jacob did not come to the hospital on his day off to be with them after a car accident seriously injured their teenage son. 

Like most pastors, I learned the hard way that no one but me can control my life.  Placing appropriate boundaries around our ministry and not over-functioning or under-functioning is one of the most challenging tasks as a pastor.  This past summer a therapist I highly respect said to me, "Laurie, if there is any book a new pastor should read, it's Boundaries: When to Say Yes, When to Say No, to Take Control of Your Life by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend.  It will set the stage for their ministry and give them the tools to stay healthy."   

What are Boundaries?

A boundary is a limit - it defines who I am and who I am not.  Healthy human beings, including pastors, have good boundaries.  They know that taking care of their own life and needs is not only their responsibility, it is also good stewardship. 

Unfortunately, many Christians often confuse servanthood and discipleship with not setting limits.  The result is that we respond to any and all requests, give up control over our own schedule, and are run ragged.  Eventually, we become sick or burned-out and are forced to rest. 

On the other hand, boundaries are not rigid walls that keep people away from us.  For a pastor to refuse to respond to a critical situation simply because we've already put in our hours for the week can also greatly damage our ministry.  Boundaries are more like fences with gates in them.  Gates enable us to be flexible, to choose healthy interactions as well as keep out those who seek to control our lives.  In addition, gates empower us to always stay in relationship with others whether we say "yes" or "no." 

What do the scriptures say about boundaries?

      It would be easy to live without boundaries if we focused simply on Jesus' commands to give ourselves away, go the second mile, lose our life in order to save it, and practice servanthood.  If we dig deeper, we find lots of wisdom for when to say "yes," when to say "no," and for taking care of self by setting limits.

• Galatians 6:2-5 asks us to bear one another's burdens.  "Burdens" refers to excess pressures or suffering.  Yes, we need to care for others in times of crisis.  However, a few verses later, we are told that each person must carry their own load, "load" referring to everyday tasks.  It is not healthy for us or others when we attempt to be responsible for every aspect of their lives.
• Matthew 5:37 and James 5:12 emphasize that we need to let our "yes" be "yes" and our "no" be "no."  "Yes" is sometimes appropriate, but so is "no."  Having the wisdom to know the difference is a mark of maturity. 
• In Mark 6:31 Jesus and the disciples leave the desperate needs of the people and go away by themselves to relax, rest and be renewed.  Even Jesus placed boundaries around his ministry.   

• Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:7 that we should give freely and not reluctantly or out of compulsion.  It is not appropriate to force others to do things they don't want to do.  Nor should we feel pressured to say "yes" when to do so would not be healthy. 

• Galatians 6:7-8 says that we reap what we sow.  As human beings, we are called to take responsibility for our own attitudes, resources, talents and actions.  Just as we can't tell others what to do, nor should we blame others for our poor decisions.

The 4 types of boundary problems

• The person who can't say "no" because of guilt, fear of rejection, or a disconnection from one's own desires and needs
• The person who can't say "yes" because of extreme narcissism or boundaries that are too rigid 
• The person who guilt trips and controls others into saying "yes" or "no"
• The person who needs help but avoids asking for it for fear of bothering others

Boundaries Problems in Churches

Healthy churches have boundaries.  Because churches can't do everything, their vision and mission statements and strategic plan must define their limits.  Unfortunately, many churches haven't yet figured out how to say "yes" to good decision-making and "no" to individual and collective bad behavior.     

• Churches live beyond their means.  They overbuild and cannot pay their mortgage or run a deficit and decide that ministry shares are expendable.  They do not act responsibly, then expect the conference or someone else to bail them out.
• Lay Leadership Committees do not prayerfully recommend emotionally, mentally, and spiritually healthy people for positions of leadership, thus setting churches up for conflict. 
• Churches that see boundaries as walls rather than gates refuse to change and then wonder why they are not growing.
• Churches expend all of their time developing programs to serve themselves, then wonder why there is no energy left to reach out in mission to the community.  
• Churches neglect to practice good communication skills and allow certain people to cross boundaries and hold the church hostage by their dysfunctional behavior.
• Churches become experts at guilt-tripping others into filling empty slots.  Arm twisting does not ultimately work because people are resentful even as they serve reluctantly. 

The heart of Advent is contained in the prophet Isaiah's plea in chapter 64:1, "O that you would tear open the heavens and come down."  The course of our world changed when God decided that the boundary separating God and humans needed to be transformed from a wall to a gate.  Jesus even referred to himself as a gate in John 10:9, "I am the gate.  Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture."  In Jesus we not only experience the essence of God's character and claim the promise of salvation, but we are also empowered to take control of our own life after the example of Christ.   

There may be no more important time than Advent think about boundaries as we to attempt to set appropriate limits around our gift-giving and Christmas celebrations.  Here are a few simple suggestions:

1. Realize that you are not responsible "for" others but "to" others.
2. Understand your motivations.  Take time to think and consult before saying "yes" or "no."
3. Since Christmas is a family time, look at your own family history and how you developed certain patterns of behavior and decision-making.
4. Stay connected with others, especially if you have to say "no."  Keep the gate open!
5. Reread Boundaries or put it on your Christmas list: it will provide the foundation for a healthy life in 2010.

Blessings,

Laurie

Dear Friends,

            A cell phone went off in the middle of the Salem and Bradley Indian Missions church conference last week.  Normally, we would just smile and move on, but retired local pastor Joe Sprague was inspired to tell a story about a time before cell phones, the Internet and even land lines.  He said that many years ago the Bradley church itself used to be the telephone.  

When there was important information to share, someone would ring the church bell at Bradley Indian Mission.  Hearing the bell, people dropped whatever they were doing and began a journey from all directions - from Shelbyville, Gun Lake, Bradley and Hopkins.  Because there were few roads, they would make their way to the church, creating paths through woods, fields, and meadows.  Even after the fields had been plowed, new paths would continually appear as the people of God walked.  After reaching the church, they not only heard the information but were fed with spiritual food as well.  It was that food which nourished them to return by the same paths to spread both the news they heard and the Good News of Jesus Christ.     

As people of faith, we have a bell to ring and important information to share this week as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because gratefulness lies at the very core of my being.  Perhaps it's because I was born on Thanksgiving Day, and gratefulness is literally in my DNA. 

            Over the past few weeks I have been pondering the difference between thanksgiving and gratefulness.  On Thanksgiving Day our family has a tradition of going around the table before we eat and sharing those things for which we are thankful.  Every year we give thanks for specific blessings such as family, good health, a job, leads on jobs, COBRA health insurance, a car that still runs, supportive friends, a wonderful church family, and opportunities to serve. 

            Gratefulness, on the other hand, is a state of being that springs from deep in the heart.  I am grateful.  Gratefulness is a disposition to express gratitude by giving thanks.  What is gratefulness?  I am standing outside in the driveway at 5:30 a.m., about to go for a run.  It's pitch black except for a sky dotted with bright, glittering stars.  I can't tear my eyes away from the wonder of the universe.  I am taking my evening walk and am mesmerized by the swirl of intricate cloud patterns, a sunset palette of red, orange and yellow, and the jet streams of 2 planes forming a perfect cross in the sky.  I am scrambling up a steep mountain trail in Arizona and am awestruck by the stark beauty of the desert.  A cardinal sits quietly in the backyard and stares at me as I work at the dining room table.  I am grateful.

"Gratitude is the memory of the heart." (St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier)  Gratefulness is the bell calling us to a deep awareness of God's presence in our heart.  Just as a bell summons us and then sends us back home transformed, so the heart gives life by taking in and then pumping out blood.  In the silence of our hearts, we breathe in the gift of life: gratefulness.  Then we breathe out hope for our world: thankfulness.  Whereas gratefulness has to do with being fully alive and attentive, thankfulness has to do with cultivating gratitude in a social context. 

Gratefulness without thanksgiving is incomplete and empty.  Conversely, thanksgiving without gratefulness is disconnected from the Giver.  Because I am grateful, I can be thankful.  How ironic.  At the very time when our nation is called to gratefulness by expressing thankfulness to God and others, we are poised to respond the very next day to the bell of Black Friday.  The insidious message that gratefulness is best expressed through the rituals of purchasing and giving things often crowds out the rituals of spiritual practices, family time, and the cultivating of relationships. 

What is it that inhibits gratefulness?

• We have too much stuff and too few life-giving friendships.
• We have too many distractions and too little silence.
• We are over-committed (too much doing) and under-rested (not enough being).
• We believe that we can only be grateful when we are happy.    
• We'd rather ask God for what we want than thank God for what we have.
• We focus on the small stuff rather than look to the stars.
• We overeat at the Thanksgiving feast while starving ourselves of the Bread of life.

Joanna Macy has written, "Gratitude for the gift of life is the primary wellspring of all religions, the hallmark of the mystic, the source of all true art....  It is a privilege to be alive in this time when we can choose to take part in the self-healing of our world."   I encourage you to participate in the self-healing of our world, which is nothing more than doing our part to bring in the kingdom of God on this earth. 

• Nurture mystic gratefulness in the depths of your heart. 
• Believe in, support, walk with, show grace to, forgive, and invest your energy in others.
• Give tender care to the world and its creatures by changing some of your habits. 
• Right size Christmas this year by giving gifts to those who least expect them and most need them. 
• Shuffle through a pile of leaves, make a pot of turkey noodle soup, and read a book to your grandchild.
• Breathe in the goodness of God, breathe out light and love, and be open to the possibility of transformation. 
• Share a word of comfort and courage to someone living in despair or fear.
• Ring the bell - walk the path - share the good news. 

            The bell is ringing.  Can you hear it?  If Thanksgiving is, indeed, in our DNA, then walk, skip, hop, and run to the bell!  Become one with the steady pumping of God's grace into your heart and the rhythmic pumping out of acts of justice and mercy.  We cannot be too grateful.

"A single grateful thought toward heaven is the most complete prayer."

                 Gotthold Ephraim Lessing

            Here are 3 suggestions for focusing on gratefulness this week. 

1.         A Thanksgiving poem by Brother David Steindl-Rast (External attachment #1)

2.         "Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart" The Faith We Sing  #2036

3.         www.gratefulness.org. 

Blessings, Laurie