*

Did you stand?  What?  You saw the asterisk and you didn't stand?  I'm beginning to question your commitment to Christ.  Who doesn't stand in church when they see an asterisk?

Answer: A lot of people.

It's fun to watch the church wave as people realize they're supposed to stand to sing this song or hear that reading.  Some wait to be the last one sitting.  That's probably an ego thing.

Now, instead of making fun of criticizing people for not knowing when to stand, even though you've inserted the canonical *indicates stand admonition, how about you help them out a little more.  I've done a lot of things I'm proud of in the last two churches I've served.  I'd hate to say it, but one of my most daring accomplishments has been that I have Xed the *.

Okay, I've done some more important things.

Instead of hoping that asking people to, "Please stand" will work or remind them of the great and powerful *, we insert that phrase in the bulletin each time we want them to stand.  So, it looks like this:

Greatest Sermon You've Ever Heard^{Please Stand}

We don't actually make people stand during the sermon, but that's just an example.  Amazing, right?  Maybe not, but I think it's helped us a little.  And any little bit we can help, we're on our way.  So, be a rebel; ditch the *.

Stay blessed...john

I will be disappointed if I find out Space Jam is not on Netflix because I think it's time to raise my children right.  Now, of all movies in the world to think about, why would I be worried about this film right now?

I just learned that the website for Space Jam has not been changed since 1996.  That's the year I graduated high school and got married.  If you visit the website right now you'll remember what late 90's websites looked like.  You'll also be thankful we've learned a few web tricks since then.

Still, it was kind of bomb (90's lingo, baby!) to be reminded that fluff can get in the way.  Word!  If I'm interested in Space Jam, that site has what I need.  As a preacher and a communicator that's a good lesson to remember. Give the message before anything else.  Don't get overly involved with the fluff that might take away from the message, or, maybe more dangerous, become more important than the message.

What are you trying to communicate?

Stay blessed...john

The Movie

It's based on a true story about a husband and wife who learn their estranged son has been found to have a brain tumor.  The tumor is removed, but their son is left with no ability to form new memories.  The last memories they have of their son is from 20 years earlier when he stormed out of the house after a heated argument. He was a teenager then in the 60’s. He questioned everything and wasn't sure he wanted the life they thought he should have. Since then they have wanted to find out how he was doing, and maybe even make sense of that night.

Now, even though they have him back, communicating with their son is next to impossible because of his condition.

The father, Simmons' character, begins his own research and finds a doctor that has had positive results from music therapy. This has a personal connection because he and his son once shared a love for music. So, they used some of the classics they both enjoyed when the boy was a child. The result?  Nothing really.

Something amazing happened, though, when they experimented with music the boy loved as a teenager like the Grateful Dead, the Rolling Stones, Cream, the Beatles.  The music triggered the son's mind into action; he and his parents were able to share conversation and even talk about their past.

There's more that can be said about the movie.  I'd recommend it to you.

I'm writing about it, though, because it's been on my mind ever since I watched it.  Gloria even stayed awake for it.  I felt like God was saying, "Here's something worth repeating."

The father and son once shared in the joy of naming composers and tunes they loved.  Many of their selections came with stories about when they first heard them.  As music is introduced as a possible post-op therapy, they begin with music he and his son loved.  The father is a bit outraged to eventually learn that music is not having an effect.  Instead, it's the God-forsaken rock music that is making the impossible happen.  The father has to come to terms with that.

He can continually force the issue about what music his son should like or respond to, or he can use what music is now meaningful to his son, if he wants this new-found interaction with him.  Once dad understands this is the only way he can have a meaningful relationship with his son, he goes all in.  He buys the records, learns the songs and even attends a Grateful Dead concert.  Believe me, it plays out more emotionally on film than it does on blog.

The Point

But it made me think about the church.  I cannot tell you how often I hear people who so desperately want their church to grow.  Specifically, they want their church to be open to young people and their families.  Ask those people what they're willing to do to reach those young families and they'll tell you, "Whatever it takes."

That is until you start talking music.  But don't think this is all about music.  That just happens to be the topic of the movie.

What about worship styles?  Or the need to have childcare workers, or cry rooms.  Or the willingness to refuse to turn your head if you hear a baby cry in church.  Or this ministry.  Or that ministry. Or [Input your sacred cow here].

Those families and people your church has been praying for?  If you and I were to get over ourselves and learn to live with a little more change and become a little more flexible, more of them might show up.  Be careful because your flexibility might come across as caring.  It might be that because they think you care they want to be a part of whatever good work you're doing at your, maybe their, church.

Jesus did not greatly commission us to go and teach traditions for traditions' sake.  God forgive us when we have let what is comfortable for us get in the way of what Jesus really wanted us to do.

So, what is it you may need to cool your jets about?  What in your church do you see as a potential new-life stumbling block for new families and people of faith?  Do we care more about the people or our supposed tradition?

By the way, you've probably forgotten about it by now, but there never was an extra-biblical book about people who hated music.

Stay blessed...john

Most people like O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing.  Until you tell them we're going to sing the whole thing!


Stay blessed...john

You've seen the "You are here" maps in public places. You've looked at that red dot and tried to make sense of where it was locating you, wondering if you understood where you really were. It's important information to have in case of an emergency situation.

And it's good to have in life, too.

I'm thinking this next song speaks to that a bit. How insignificant we feel sometimes. How hopeless our future seems. Consequently, our life reflects such feelings. That quickly wears a person down. Have a listen to Ben Howard's "The Fear" and see what you take from it.

Here are the lyrics:

Mama, cold-hearted child, tell me how you feel
Just a blade in the grass, spoke unto the wheel
Mama, cold-hearted child, tell me where it's all gone
The luster of your bones, those arms that held you strong

 
I been worryin' that my time is a little unclear
I been worryin' that I'm losing the one's I hold dear
I been worryin' that we all live our lives in the confines of fear

 
Mama, cold-hearted child, tell me how you feel
Just a grain in the morning air, dark shadow on the hill
Mama, cold-hearted child, tell me where it all falls
Oh this apathy you feel will make a fool of us all 

I been worryin' that my time is a little unclear
I been worryin' that I'm losing the ones I hold dear
I been worryin' that we all live our lives in the confines of fear 

Oh I will become what I deserve 

I been worryin',
I been worryin',
I will become what I deserve 

I been worryin' that my time is a little unclear
I been worryin' that I'm losing the one's I hold dear
I been worryin' that we all live our lives in the confines of fear

 ++If you're reading by email or news reader, click here to watch the video.++


What's your take on this Music Monday's selection?
Stay blessed...john

I say that I will scream if I hear another sermon, clergy retreat, district meeting  or conference presentation that mentions church membership decline.  And if they include numbers and percentages I will walk out.  Now, if I did that my throat would constantly be hoarse and I would never attend another meeting because it's mentioned quite a bit.

And how two-faced am I?  Church membership decline came up in my sermon this past Sunday; I even slipped in a statistic.  I neither raised my voice beyond my usual bellowing and was the last person to the leave the sanctuary.

I think it was God.

It seemed right, and a good and joyful thing to mention it as we thought about Peter's miraculous work with Tabitha and how so many believed in the Lord because of it. It's agreed by many that the church has lost some of it's prophetic voice.  Maybe she's been yelling too loud at other things, but many do not think the Christian church has much to contribute to the livelihood of the world.  That hurts when part of your church's mission statement is to "transform the world."  And it reeks of unfaithfulness when we remember that Jesus said we would do greater things than he did.

All that said, it seems somewhat impossible to do anything about where we are as a church.  Good because, as Walt Disney once said, it's kind of fun doing the impossible.

I guess that's the point of this sermon.  You listen, scream and let me know what you think.

++If you are reading by email or news reader, click here to listen to the sermon.++



Stay blessed...john

We have been chosen by God. But what does that mean? How are we chosen? And for what are we chosen? You can use the mini sermon player below or click on the sermon title to hear each file.

1. Chosen to Be


2. Chosen for More


3. Chosen to Know

   A small act of kindness goes a long way. Do you believe that? I do because it seems God is able to do much with very little. It is often said God formed Creation ex nihilo, meaning “out of nothing”—talk about not having much to work with. And what about 2John & 3John? These are two of the shortest books in the Bible, 13 and 15 verses respectively. You could read both in minutes. Quickly, these letters express Christian love, teaching and fellowship. I can imagine the joy and excitement as these were first read to their faith communities.



Stay blessed...john

Gloria told me I should change the title of this sermon.  So, I did.  You can thank her for not hearing a sermon entitled A Big But.

Instead, I went with This Changes Everything, hoping I could still get the point across.  The point?  Easter is the biggest "But" of all!  It's called a coordinating conjunction.  Look it up or have a quick listen to this Easter sermon.  And don't be jealous that your church didn't talk about buts on Easter.

That's a pretty big but(t)

++If you are reading by email or news reader, click here to listen to the sermon.++
Stay blessed...john