Quadrennial Training--Like General Conference Without the Legislation!

Why have I never heard of this event before? Here we are, in "sunny" Jacksonville (it's actually been raining all day), for a quadrennial training event for The United Methodist Church. Conference leaders from around the country have gathered to hear about the four new foci for The UMC for the next for years. The object, I suppose, is that we will return to our respective conferences and tell everyone we know about these four areas of focus and work.

So far, it's working on me.

Tonight, we heard from two bishops and a seminarian. Guess which one got the biggest response from the crowd? (Hint--he doesn't have a crozier or a red shield pin)

Jay Williams (not the mayor of Youngstown--the seminarian), talked about what he sees as the crux of our leadership issue in The UMC--too many of us are married to our ideas of what it means to be properly "Methodist," and we've missed the point on what it means to be gifted followers of Christ. He also pointed out that not everyone has the spiritual gift of leadership, and that just because someone has years of service (or happens to be the next young hotshot on the block), he/she may not be qualified for leadership. One of my favorite lines, "Many young people are frustrated because we cannot get a seat at the table, because there are some who have stayed for too many courses of the meal." (Paraphrase)

The bishops were good, too.

But, it's nice to see a 27-year old being recognized as having a valid perspective on the world, and especially on the church. This year at General Conference, with the first-ever Young People's Address, someone from my generation finally spoke for me at the general church level. Tonight, that trend continued, and the pride that comes from hearing such wisdom from a person so young is overwhelming and encouraging.

Tomorrow's a busy day, but it should be good. More speakers and workshops to attend, more networking to do. Pray for sun in Jacksonville.

--David

2009 Urban/Town & Country January Event.

It's the first full week of January, which means that it must be time for the January Event! This is an opportunity for people practicing in Urban and Town & Country (Rural) ministries in the North Central Jurisdiction to come together for a time of learning and networking. Right now, I'm listening to Gwen Roberts, the Director of Metro Ministries in W. Ohio. She is talking to us about what Metro ministry is--connecting the giftedness of urban and suburban congregations for ministry in a wider metropolitan area. Gwen has some really good ideas about how we can connect in these ways.

Next year's event will be in East Saint Louis, Illinois, January 5-7, with the theme of "Accepting the Gifts of Others in a Multicultural World." I know all these details becuase I've been asked to chair the event! I look forward to hearing from all my friends who are in urban ministry as I help facilitate this learning opportunity.

Well, I've got to get back to listening to the speaker. I've got a long drive home today on some nasty roads.

In the Grace of God,

David

Here is a link sent to me by Denise Seman, one of our members at First UMC, Niles:

If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com ,you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and send it to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services. It would be great if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! This is a great site. Please send a card. It is FREE and it only takes a second. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Our guys and gals over there need to know we are behind them..

Peace,

David

Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a good eat!

We are spending time at Granny's house for Thanksgiving this year--followed by our usual 4 a.m. foray into the fray of the frenetic holiday shopping that is the day after Turkey Day. We have not bought a piece of electronic equipment in the last 8 years unless it was purchased on the day after Thanksgiving!

I can smell the turkey cooking now--mostly because it's my job to baste the beast every quarter hour or so. CNN recommended not basting the turkey this year (something about saving gas in a difficult economy), but I figure, "What does Wolf Blitzer know about cooking a bird?" So, I'm bastin'!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone--look out for turkeys wielding axes! (Rebecca wrote a story today about a turkey's revenge this morning--very cute, but also a bit disturbing!)

God Bless us, Everyone,

David

Sermon--November 9, 2008

“Be Prepared”Matthew 25:1-13
By: David E. MacDonald
November 9, 2008 (26th Sunday after Pentecost)
Niles First United Methodist Church

Prayer

--Scout motto: “Be Prepared” (Baden-Powell, “Why, for any old thing, of course!”)

(We taught scouts to be prepared by having them pack their bags, and do the grocery shopping. . .there was one boy who always forgot something, like the salad dressing, and that boy grew up to be a preacher. . .)

--Jesus tells this story of 10 bridesmaids. (In those days, a wedding was a week-long event! The groom would collect the bridesmaids, and they would process by lamplight to the bride's home, where they would greet her in song, and the groom would take the bride to his family home. Then the ceremony would take place the next day, then there would be music and dancing and partying for the rest of the week----this is why the wine ran out in Cana.)

--This whole section of Scripture, beginning in Chapter 24, is all about being prepared.

--For what? (The persecutions to come, and for the time when Jesus would return.)

--After this, Jesus tells his disciples exactly what he expects will happen (“The Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”)

So, let's place these bridesmaids into that context—Jesus is about to be crucified, and he's preparing his disciples for what is to come.

--That why I call this a “Parable of the Kingdom,” because Jesus is telling his disciples (and us) what to expect in the new community that he is building.

--Let's begin by looking at those bridesmaids who were prepared.

--Most of us would put ourselves in that category, right? (Remember the salad dressing. . .)

--To be prepared in this context means to have enough for yourself, but not enough for others—doesn't that sound a bit cruel?

Think about it this way: we can only fill our own lamps. As much as we try, we cannot force others to come to Christ, nor can we learn their lessons for them. The bridesmaids who remembered their oil knew the lesson that every lifeguard learns; you cannot save a drowning person if they pull you under first.





--Are we then to be selfish? (Grab all the grace I can and leave nothing for others?) No, but we are to do like they tell you on the airplane-- “In the event of a sudden drop in cabin pressure, oxygen masks will fall from the compartments in the ceiling above your seat. If you need to help a child or another passenger with their oxygen, please put your own oxygen mask on first.”)

--We are to be grounded enough in our faith that we can fill up our own lamps before we can be of use to anyone else.

The lesson of the wise bridesmaids is simple: Fill up your lamp, and be prepared for any eventuality. (God often surprises us-- these stories all take place in the middle of the night—a time when unexpected things happen.)

--Now, to the foolish bridesmaids. They didn't have enough oil for their lamps. Pardon the blatant stereotype, but these are the sisters of the Gamma Gamma Phi sorority, the party girls, who don't study and hope that they'll get by on their charms and family connections. These are the bridesmaids who show up at the rehearsal an hour late because they had to get their nails done, who demand that everyone listen to them and pay attention to them instead of the bride and groom, and who show up on the wedding day and talk about how their wedding will be so much nicer. (I don't have anything against weddings, really, it's just that I've seen too much of what goes on behind the scenes to have a fairytale outlook on them any more.)

--The foolish bridesmaids are the ones who think that it's all about the wedding day, and not about the important task at hand—the wedding of two people together for a lifetime of days, spent caring for and loving one another and those around them.

--So the foolish bridesmaids don't have enough oil. Ever felt like that? Ever known anyone who was perpetually like that? (We had a guy at camp, whenever we went out for wings, who always wanted to go “halvsies” with someone, and then mysteriously never had his full half!)

--These bridesmaids expect everything to be handed to them on a platter. They don't want to think about what's coming up in the future—they want to party now! And living in the now moment becomes such a high for them that they forget that tomorrow there will be a new 'now' that needs their attention, and that they will be left out in the cold if they don't act in the now now.

--But in this case, when they ask for some oil from the wise bridesmaids, they get denied.
(What? But I've always had someone who would help me out!)

--Ever felt like that? (Ever known anyone like that?)

Oh, so that's what responsibility is all about! Oh, I didn't know that if I took a high risk variable rate mortgage that my rates would go up! Oh, I didn't realize that student loans had to be paid off! Oh, you mean to tell me that credit cards aren't free money? (Wow, this is like my college days all over again!) Or, in the case of Wall Street-- Oh, you mean that we can't just keep offering people cheap loans and huge lines of credit? What? The market for that kind of stuff will eventually implode and cause a financial crisis?

Help! Bail me out! Just this one time, I swear it won't happen again! Just go halvsies with me, won't ya? Just this one time!

The lesson of the foolish bridesmaids is this: sometimes, we have to learn from our own stupid mistakes. Sometimes, there are certain lessons in life that can only be learned the hard way. (I see some nodding of heads—am I breaking through here? Are we finding common ground in our experiences? I think so.)

But—and this is a biggie—God is a God of grace.

--Forget for a moment what the groom says at the end of the story, about the other bridesmaids being shut out of the wedding banquet, and look at this from a different perspective.

--Some of us are like the wise bridesmaids, and some of us are like the foolish bridesmaids, but I would venture to guess that at one time or another, most of us have been both of these characters.

--When we are the wise, prepared virgins, God reminds us of this simple lesson: Don't forget who gave you the oil for your lamp to begin with. Don't get ahead of yourself. You remember what it was like when you didn't have enough oil. Get out there and remind others how to get it, too. But remember, if the foolish ones need to learn the hard way, the best thing you can do is let them do just that.

--When we are the foolish, unprepared virgins, God gives us this message: Wake up, get out there, and go get yourself some oil. Ain't nobody gonna do it for you. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, and don't expect anyone else to hoe your row for you. But remember, when you hit rock bottom, someone who has enough oil will help light your way so that you can come back and get filled again.


--So, how do we get our lamps filled with oil? (Spent this weekend with the E.Ohio Clergy Spouse Retreat—talked about prayer—I can’t help you with your hang-ups; I can’t teach you to pray; I can’t fill your lamp, and you can’t fill mine; some preachers might end with a five point plan on how to fill your lamp; others might preach a whole series, with a visual of a lamp being filled with oil each week; as you know, I’m not a gimmicky kind of preacher)

That’s the lesson of the bridesmaids—no one can find out how to fill your lamp but you.


Story—“Why I Make Sam Go to Church” by Anne Lamott (Traveling Mercies, pg. 99-100)

Well, maybe no one can fill your lamp but you, but it sure helps to have a community of faith like the one in the story, and this one here, to help you out when you need it.

Thanks be to God.
Amen.

Sermon--October 26, 2008

“Toward the Promised Land”
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
By: David E. MacDonald
October 26, 2008 (Reformation Sunday)
Niles First United Methodist Church

Moses ben Amram, aged 120, formerly of Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula, died yesterday somewhere in the mountains just outside the Promised Land. He was the eldest son of Amram of Jochebed, slaves in Egypt. He was a member of the Tribe of Levi, rescued during the days of the Egyptian troubles by his birth mother, and raised in the Palace of Pharaoh, just outside Cairo. After an unfortunate incident, during which an Egyptian guard was killed, Moses wandered in the wilderness for a while, tending the sheep of his father in law, Jethro, the priest of Midian; this experience would serve him well in later years. After returning to Egypt to free the people of Israel, he led them through the wilderness of Zin for 40 years, beseeching God on their behalf, and bringing laws and messages to them on God’s behalf. Moses died after his last encounter with the LORD, and his body was secretly buried somewhere in the valley of Moab. Place of Interment is not known. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, his brother, Aaron, and his sister Miriam. He is survived by Joshua, his chosen successor, and all the people of Israel. Memorial donations may be made to the “Moses ben Amram Settlement of the Promised Land Trust,” care of Joshua ben Nun.

That might be one way to write Moses’ obituary—at least if it had been written today. But here’s what the writers of Deuteronomy chose to put as the last words on the great prophet Moses:

10Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. 11He was unequaled for all the signs and wonders that the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, 12and for all the mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.

(How’d you like to be the pastor to follow that guy?)

--The mysterious circumstances of his death and burial aside, the story of Moses’ final encounter with God, and his death just before the people of Israel entered the Promised Land is an intriguing story.

--Having said that, it also seems an odd biblical account for Reformation Sunday, the day when we remember our heritage as Protestant Christians.

--But, I think that Moses and the great reformers of our faith are not that dissimilar, save for the fact that we pretty much know where Luther, Wesley, Calvin, and others are buried . . . and none of them had the good fortune to live for one hundred and twenty years!

In Jude, v. 9, the author refers to a battle over Moses’ body between Michael and Satan. (There may have been a book called “The Assumption of Moses” that survived until the 6th century, and then disappeared.)

Just as the legacy of Moses was tangled over and pored over for centuries, so the lives of the Reformers of the faith have been fought over for many a year. Today, we can find ways to use Wesley’s words to “prove” almost any point. (BTW, the same is done with the Bible)

But great reformers and leaders of the faith, like Moses and Martin Luther and John Wesley, provide us with some lessons that are important for us to learn.

God has a plan.

It’s not all about us.

Reformation is about moving forward, not turning back.

Training up those who will follow us in leadership is the most important thing that we can do as church leaders today.

--God has a plan

--God’s plan for Israel began well before the story of Moses. In a way, the first five books of the Bible, called the Pentateuch, form a story “arc” that begins with creation, follows the story of Abraham and his descendants, through the sojourn of the Israelites in Egypt, and then back out of Egypt and back to the land promised to their ancestors. It is a story about a people who deeply and painfully experienced the loss of intimacy with God (symbolized by the abundance of the Garden of Paradise), and try desperately for generations to get back to something akin to that intimacy of relationship again.

--I believe that God has a plan for all people: that we have all lost that intimate connection to the Divine, and we are all on a quest to somehow get back to Eden, to experience what it means to live as God’s people.





--The story of the Reformation is all about people who wanted to “Get with the Plan,” who tried to steer the people of God back onto the right track.

--Martin Luther (Indulgences, Scripture)
--John Calvin (Preaching, Heaven/Hell)
--William Tyndale (Bringing the Bible to the people in English)
--Count Von Zinzendorf (Moravians; Holiness of Heart and Life)
--Wesley (Care for the poor; Evangelism; Zeal for the whole Gospel)

--God has a plan, and the plan is hard for us to know sometimes. We get sidetracked with our own issues and dilemmas, our own pains and losses, and we forget to keep searching for the Plan. The Plan is not always clear, sometimes God deliberately wants us to wander for a bit, just like the Israelites did, so that we learn some important lessons.

--A word of caution: When I say “WE” here, I’m referring to the General “WE,” not each of us specifically.

(e.g. , the notion that “God has a plan” can apply to every person’s individual situation is not a valid Biblical statement; God has intentions for us, God wants what is best for us, but it is by no means part of God’s plan that some individuals should suffer, and others should have disease, and others should die too young. That’s not what I’m talking about. What I’m talking about is the Plan that God has for each of us [as a part of the whole] to be connected with God!)

Perhaps this can be better explained by my second point:

--It’s not all about us. (Individually)

--One reason that some scholars believe Moses’ burial place is not known to us is that God may have wanted to avoid a sort of “spiritual tourism” racket that could have built up around Moses’ remains; a “cult of personality” that might develop as the people of Israel might want to return to the sight of the burial of their founder and chief prophet, perhaps to remember the anniversary of his birth or death. To avoid such quasi-idolatrousness, God chose instead to make the transition into the Promised Land not about Moses, but about the People. So, it came time for Moses to meet his end and go gently into the night, while his people thrived for centuries.

--That’s why I have a problem with preachers who name their ministries after themselves, because my question is, “What happens when you die?” Unless you’ve named your son or daughter after you and have named that person as your successor (which is what Robert Schuler did), you are basically setting yourself (and your ministry) up for immediate crisis and potential failure at the moment of your demise.

--So, nothing against the Lutherans or the Wesleyans, but that’s why I’m glad to be called a “Methodist,” because that is a term that applied to all the people who followed Wesley, not just a few of them. (Explain the term)

--So sometimes we are like Moses: we have to leave everything on the mountain top, and allow another person, perhaps one who is more capable of carrying on what we have begun, to carry on the work.

(Paul struggled with this: “some plant, some water, some tend, some harvest”)

--Recognizing that we may not be the ones to reap the harvest that we sow is perhaps the most difficult lesson for us to grasp today.

But do you imagine that Luther, nailing his 95 theses to the door of the Wittenberg church in 1517 believed that he would see the end result of all that he had done?

Do you think that John Wesley, preaching the in the fields and coal mines and town squares of England ever though he would see the day when the people called Methodist would number in the millions around the world?

Do you think, even for a moment, that the seasick pilgrims of the Mayflower thought they would see an independent nation on the North American continent, or that the slaves carried over the Atlantic in the bows of ships knew that someday their people would see freedom, and the same opportunities offered to the descendents of their slave owners?

Never! That which we begin may not have an immediate impact. The programs and ministries we start now may take lots of time to come to fruition, but every good thing worth doing has always been this way.

Archbishop Oscar Romero, himself a kind of Moses figure for the poor and oppressed of El Salvador, once wrote:

It helps now and then, to step back and take the long view. The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work. Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us. No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession brings perfection, no pastoral visit brings wholeness. No program accomplishes the church's mission. No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about: We plant seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capability.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the lord's grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.
(When Moses died, the people mourned for 30 days, and then moved on. This is the story not only of Moses, but of the whole people of God!)
Sometimes we are Moses, and the best thing we can do for the betterment of the world, the improvement of the Church, and the reformation of our society is to plant seeds and then get out of the way and let others reap the benefits.
--On the other hand, sometimes we may be called upon to be Joshua, to take up the mantle of those who have gone before us, and to carry on the good work of God’s plan. Reformation is about moving forward, not turning back.
Image of a ship on the wrong course:
Common response is to “turn the ship around.”
Do we really want to “turn the ship around”? Or, do we want to “correct course”? That’s what Joshua did for the Israelites—he didn’t take them back to the so-called “comforts” of Egypt, but corrected their course (improved their vision) towards the Promised Land.
Perhaps the better image for this Reformation process is that of a train; if it goes off the track, our goal is to get it back on track so that we can reach our destination.
Today, the Church is in need of a new kind of Reformation. We live in a very different world from that of our ancestors in the faith. We live in a time that is beset with fear and misunderstanding—between cultures, governments, and religions.


For some, the answer is to go back—to become Fundamentalists, unmoving and unchanging our beliefs and practices. But this is the very antithesis of Reformation! This is the opposite of what Joshua did when the people lost their beloved leader, Moses. He took them onward, moving toward the goal of getting closer to the plan God had for them. He knew that what lay ahead was infinitely more promising than a return to what was a familiar, but by no means more comfortable position as the slaves of Egypt. Fundamentalism, of any variety, is a dangerous distortion of the Divine plan of getting human beings closer to God.
Psalm 90:1-6; 13-17 (Superscript: “A Prayer of Moses, the man of God”)

--God is constant (“in all generations”; “everlasting”; “a thousand years . . . like yesterday”)

God is constant, but continues to bless. Our best days are not behind us, but before us, and God’s work is not accomplished because of us, but most often in spite of us! So we need to also be like Joshua, and move forward in advancing our knowledge of and connection to the divine.

--But, again, we also need to be like Moses. Training up leaders to follow us is the most important thing we can do as church leaders today.

--And we’re all church leaders! (Just ask the new members’ class. . .spiritual gifts)

--Moses recognized that he wasn’t going to live forever—120 years is a long time, but let’s face it, even the best of us succumb to old age at some point.

--Is the Church facing that today? Are we as a movement facing institutional “old age,” and needing to pass on the mantle to others?

--Majority of students entering seminary now are not training to become Pastors. (Yet, 40% of our active clergy will be eligible for retirement in the next 10 years, while we take in classes of new ordinands in the single digits.)

Moses’ death was seen as a “turning point in the history of Israel.”
John Wesley was a “turning point” in Anglican/Reformation history.
Are we at a “turning point” today? And what are we going to do about it?

--Start new ministries to reach new generations.
--Hand over responsibility and leadership to others (and accept that they may do things “the wrong way,” translated—differently)
--Be prepared to be mentors and advisors to a new generation of Christians. They are not going to be able to make it on their own. They’ll need experienced folks like we have here to help them understand the basics of the faith, and how to ground yourself enough to do the work that God calls you to do.

--So are you ready for a Reformation? Are you ready to see the Church enter the Promised Land—or at least get a little closer to it?

Rev. Clarence W. Davis is pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and he spoke these very powerful words at the funeral of a faithful member of his congregation not too long ago:

“So then, in this life, the best that we can do is to make a steady, joyful, determined, Godly march to Canaan’s edge. There at Canaan’s edge, we go home to be with God; and God comes to be with those who yet remain here on earth, on their own journey to Canaan’s edge.”

We march on—toward the Promised Land—and we must—we must—take the hands of others to come along with us—Joshua’s and Moses’ alike, so that we will get there someday together.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Casinos in Ohio? (I don't think so!)

Once again, someone is trying to convince Ohioans that we need our very own "casino resort," in order to prevent all those precious gambling dollars from leaving our state to go to Michigan, West Virginia, or any of the other crime-ridden states that currently support such types of gambling.

Casino gambling is a zero-sum game--it benefits the richest (a.k.a., the owners of the casinos), and penalizes the poorest (a.k.a., the working folk who waste their hard-earned money on a fleetingly "good time.") Meanwhile, the casino owners (many of whom don't live in Ohio anyway), benefit from the lowest taxes on earth for any business, a virtual monopoly on gambling (guaranteed by the constitution, if this issue passes), and a morally-ambiguous mission that doesn't create as many jobs as it promises, brings down property values, and causes other, even more insidious types of crime and decay in its wake.

Let me make this clear: No one--not you, not me, not this state--will benefit from casino gambling, except for the casino owners themselves.

VOTE NO ON ISSUE 6!

(And yes, in case anyone is wondering, this is an official, and legal, position of The United Methodist Church, and a letter about this from the two Ohio bishops can be found here. In fact, the East and West Ohio conferences have a goal of 5,000 signs in church yards opposing gambling before election day--churches can advocate for/against issues, just not candidates.)

Yours most politically,

David

Famous for Fifteen Minutes

Here is a link to my claim-to-fame (from the East Ohio Conference website, an article about my call to ministry and ordination).

Link

Hope you enjoy! (Those who haven't seen it a bazillion times by now!)

--David

Back Home Again

I have been on the move recently--a week in Indianapolis and Dayton for Urban Ministry things, and then a week away on vacation with the family. We spent a great week at Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, which we really enjoyed! I will post pics when we get them downloaded off the camera.

I'm mostly posting this today so my Mom won't call me and say "You haven't posted in a while!"
I'll write more later.

--David

The Senator's Prayer

Senator Obama has been on the move lately--traveling throughout the Middle East and Europe over the last few weeks. Kind of makes me sad, actually--we have heard a lot "about" him, but not much "from" him, since he's been on a whirlwind tour of photo-ops with the world's leaders. I respect what he's doing, though, trying to shore up his foreign relations credentials ahead of the fall debates, when his lack of experience will be a sure target for Senator McCain.

What dismayed me, though, was this article, and others like it, which reported that someone intercepted Mr. Obama's prayer to God (placed in the Western Wall in Jerusalem), and printed it in a newspaper. Now, I regularly pray prayers that lots of people hear, and even sometimes print out prayers for others to use, but the prayers in the Western Wall are meant as direct intercessions to God, not as public fodder. What I pray on Sunday mornings out loud from the pulpit and what I pray privately on Monday mornings in my office are two different prayers altogether. We can be thankful that the Senator seems to have almost been mindful of the fact that his prayer might have been intercepted, because he actually kept the contents pretty genuine and general (No mention of "please help make me President in '08").

This incident, and all the hullabaloo about Mr. Obama's church in Chicago have gotten me thinking--to what extent do we want our politicians in this country to be genuinely religious? We want them to have the outward appearance of religion--to say the right words ("God bless the United States of America" at the end of every speech), but not to use challenging words of faith, or to be challenged by prophetic preaching (witness the Rev. Wright incident). We have what is called a "civil religion" in America, that is about 80% America, 10% Religion and 10% superstition (more on that breakdown another time), and Senator Obama is not the only victim of this. Though I do not see eye to eye with President Bush on almost anything, I can sympathize with him for facing persecution in some quarters when he talks about what I believe is a genuine faith in God's salvation. And, I felt sorry for John Kerry in '04, when he faced being evicted from his church's communion because of some of the positions he holds.

What we should be doing in this country is praying for our leaders--all of them, not just the ones we agree with--asking that God will give them the wisdom that they need, and that they will have the courage to do what is right for this country and for the good of all humanity.

So, let's spend less time worrying about what's in Obama's prayer, and more time worrying about what's in our own.

Prayerfully yours,

David

Tuesday @ the Mall

I spent my first Tuesday afternoon at the mall this week. It was a bit uneventful--I talked to about a dozen families about VBS, got two prayer requests, and had one man ask me where the restrooms were! All in all, I think it's going to take time to build up a "presence" for our congregation at the mall, so I'm going to try to keep up the program for a while.

Next week starts VBS, so it will be pretty busy around here. I am playing the part of Flame, the Flamingo (he's a puppet with an outrageous French accent!), and the Bible storyteller. Looking forward to the fun!

I've posted a new picture of me in my ordination gear here, and I also posted some ordination pics on my MySpace page: www.myspace.com/macdonde.

That's all for now,

David

Post Ordination Wrap-up

I know, it's been a long time since ordination!

Problem is, I usually blog at the office, and my ordination pictures are all on the computer at home--sometimes that can be the longest hundred yards in the world when it comes to getting something from over there over here, and vice versa.

Here are some pics from the conference website. Check out the Retirement and Commissioning Service to see me receiving the mantle from Liz Spiker. The ordination service pictures have some nice shots, including several angles where you can see my bald spot prominently. And, the Wednesday afternoon business session has one picture of me doing a report for the Urban Ministry Team. As Aunt Sara has wisely stated, "Why not just cut down the whole tree. . ."

Ordination was a very moving experience for me. To be surrounded by so many who love and care for me, who have supported me through these many years, and who continue to support me in ministry was truly an honor. It was also very moving to have the Bishop place his hands on my head and call down the Holy Spirit to enable me to do the work I do. "Take authority" are the words the Bishop speaks to every Elder, while placing the stole around the neck. Those words--and that garment--come with some heavy-duty responsibility. I pray that I will continue to have the strength, by the grace of God, to fulfill those obligations.

As soon as Kelly e-mails me some pictures, I'll post them here.

In the meantime, I am gearing up for a week of vacation next week--just the kids and me, since Kelly will be going to "The Promised Land" (also known as the Usborne home office in Tulsa, Oklahoma) for her national convention.

While I've got the attention of about three people in the world, let me ask a favor: Please keep my friend, David Rittgers, and his family in your prayers. David is the pastor of one of our new church starts, "The Orchard Path." He just started on July 1, has no congregation, and his wife is serving as the church secretary. Keep them in your prayers, that they might be able to reach many people with the message of Jesus' love.

In Christ,

David

Ordination Thoughts

Thinking about ordination (again), and what it all means.

Heavy stuff.

"Vito's Ordination Song" by Sufjan Stevens has been swirling through my head for several days now. It's a beautiful song (I need to get the CD):

I always knew you in your mothers arms
I have called your name
I've an idea placed in your mind
to be a better man
I've made a crown for you
put it in your room
and when the bride groom comes
there will be noise
there will be glad
and a perfect bed

and when you write a poem
I know the words
I know the sounds
before you write it down
when you wear your clothes
I wear them too
I wear your shoes
and your jacket too

Ialways knew you
in your mothers arms
I have called you son
I've made amends between father and son
or if you haven't one
rest in my arms
sleep in my bed
there is a design
to what i did and said

I don't know who Vito was/is, and I don't know what his circumstances were when he was ordained, but I sure do know that these words speak to me. . ."I always knew you/in your mother's arms," "I know the words, I know the sounds, before you write them down." God's relationship to us--all of us--is so close that he knows us better than we know ourselves.

God calls all of us to special ministries--within the Church and in the World. As I near the taking of my ordination vows, I begin to feel the weight of my call bearing down on me, but I also feel God's protection, and the rest that God promises to the faithful. I also know what it means to lay aside my "heavy burden," and take up the lighter yoke of service in Jesus' name. I only pray that I can be faithful to that call, as God has been faithful to me.

Here's a YouTube video of Sufjan singing his song live (the quality isn't great, but the song is!)

"I always knew you. . ."
"Before you knit me together in my mother's womb"
"In your mother's arms."

Thanks be to God.

--David

Class of 2008

Today, I gave the baccalaureate address for the Niles McKinley High School class of 2008. Boy do I feel old! When I was graduating high school, these kids were still in pre-school! O.K., I am not that old, but thinking about that fact makes you pause for a moment.

As I spoke this afternoon, I wondered, 'What are we accomplishing here?' Another milestone on their way to the cap and gown, another step on the way to bigger and better things. What could I possibly say that could inspire these kids? Not much. But I hope that this service was an opportunity for them to hear that their community loves and honors them, and that we're all behind them in their achievements. I hope they saw a young(er) pastor, and thought, 'Hmm, maybe I could do that some day--though not in as geeky a way, for sure.'

The phrase that I began my sermon with was the quotation by Abe Lincoln that was carved into the Summit county sandstone in my high school auditorium-- "I will study and get ready, and perhaps some day my chance will come." Prophetic words from a young Lincoln, unsure of what to do with his education, and not sure how he could ever make a difference in this world as a gangly lawyer from Illinois. Now, another gangly lawyer from Illinois (by way of Hawaii and Indonesia) is poised to make just as much history, thanks in no small part to Mr. Lincoln's leadership.

I think I'm going to go outside now and get my bike ready for the riding season. Our church is taking a bike ride (gulp--22 miles round trip!) at the end of June, and I am pretty sure I am not in any shape to attempt that without any buildup.

See you on the road,

David

It's Over! (For me, anyway)

Well, my 2008 General Conference experience has officially come to an end. The delegates are still in session, but our shift as marshals and pages has ended, so we are all back at our hotel rooms, relaxing and packing for the journey home. I'm tired, but it has been a good two weeks, and I have learned a lot. This will be a short blog post, because, frankly, I need to get away from General Conference for a while before I can fully digest all the information and experiences that I have racked up while here. Watch this space for future reflections. For now, I'm going to bed.



Pray for safe travels for all of us returning home in the next 24 hours.



--David

At the Crossroads

Today, I found new hope for The United Methodist Church in the form of Bishop Hee-Soo Jung. Bishop Jung, the preacher at this morning's worship, spoke of the need for our denomination to recognize that we are at a crossroads--what he called "the intersection between holiness and hospitality." Holiness describes our connection to God, a deep relationship that gives us strength. Hospitality describes our connection to others--a wide embrace of all people, created in God's image. Bishop Jung also spoke of the need to "re-member" the Body of Christ--meaning that we need to be able to see a way to put ourselves back together. Too much focus on either holiness or hospitality creates a false idolatry--one that we all too often fall prey to in the Church. Bishop Jung closed by reminding us that, ultimately, it is not we who save ourselves through having the right opinion about Jesus, but Jesus who saves us by his love--stretched out on the cross.

This sermon gave me courage. It gave me hope (there's that word again!). It gave me a reason to believe that The United Methodist Church does have a future, despite our differences, and despite the idolatries that sometimes get in our way.

It's really late, and I'm going to bed. Only one more day of General Conference left, and miles more to go. . .

Traveling on to perfection,

David

P.S.-- I finally got to connect up with Aunt Sara's pastor, Rev. Jim Winkler. He said that he thinks very highly of her and Carl Henry, and believes that Carl would "eat this up" if he were at General Conference.

A Word For Those Who Are Discouraged. . .

Tonight was not a good night for justice in The United Methodist Church. Once again, our denomination's top legislative body voted to keep the exclusionary language that defines homosexuality as "incompatible with Christian teaching," and to deny even the possibility of ordination to gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered persons. It hurts. I know, I felt it too, and I cried along with the delegates and visitors as hundreds sang "Jesus Loves Me" in a tribute to those left behind by our denomination. But I also have hope.

I have hope because of a few simple words spoken by Bishop Judy Craig in the summer of 2007. She said, (I am paraphrasing) "General Conference is one thousand delegates in one big room for ten days. But it is not the Church. The church is out there, in your communities, where people meet God every day, and all are welcome." That's why I have hope, because I know that the people I serve back in Niles are loving, caring, committed Christians, who would welcome anyone who came to their doors, and would love any person who truly wanted to be a part of their community. I also know that there are many more people out there like that, in communities all across the globe. Our United Methodist Church is bigger than the one thousand people in that arena, many of whom were elected either through name recognition or their position on this very issue.

Ultimately, my faith in God and in Jesus Christ is not dependent on the words and actions of General Conference. My faith is based on the love of God, which I have experienced through the sacrificial love modeled by Jesus, and lived out by the people around me--gay and straight, conservative and liberal, Methodist or not.

Now, for my friends Mary K., Bob, Jane, and Tim, here's the story I told you all at breakfast this morning. For everyone else, it may be useful for you, too.

What I Learned from the Labyrinth:

Once, when I was walking and praying the labyrinth at Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio, I encountered a man who was walking the opposite direction. That is to say that as I was walking in toward the center of the labyrinth, he was walking from the center out. But, for a short time, we were on paths that were directly next to each other, and we were walking in the same direction. Even though we had different goals, we were both on the same journey. It is this way for us in life also.

I hope it helps. I know that I joke and get a little silly at times, but I really do care about these issues, and about all the wonderful people I have come to meet because of this General Conference. No matter what decisions are made here in Fort Worth, I will have discovered a new part of my Christian family tree, and that is worth the price of admission.

God Bless, and Pray for the Delegates and Staff,
David

Thanks to All Who Voted

The caption poll has closed, but I want to thank all those (all ten of you) who voted. It looks like "Bishop Palmer as Al Roker" has won the clear majority, with 70%. There will be a new poll up shortly. Please vote early and often.

By the way, I saw Bishop Palmer up close last night (I was a "stage page" again), and he really doesn't look all that much like Al Roker in person--in fact, he has mustache, which I had not noticed before, that makes him look distinctly un-Roker like. Oh well, it was still pretty funny!

Yours photogenically,

David

A Visit From the President (of Liberia)

Today, we heard from the President of Liberia, Her Excellency, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Bishop John Innis, the bishop of Liberia, introduced the President by telling the remarkable story of how she came to be president and how she came to speak to us. She has had a fascinating journey, even having been put under arrest once for speaking out against the government of the time. In 2006, she became the first woman to ever serve as president of an African country.

The president has a distinguished, almost regal, air about her, and speaks with the careful consideration of a person who is well acquainted with speaking to crowds as large as this. She was greeted by a thunderous standing ovation, accompanied by the ululations of several African women in the hall.

I found it particularly touching that Mrs. Johnson Sirleaf was also welcomed by the children of the “Hope for Africa” children’s choir, about whom I have already blogged. What a message of hope for these children—not only that a person from their continent is addressing the General Conference, but that a woman—the first woman president in African history—has proven that a child from Africa can become whatever he or she desires to be.

Some comments from the speech:

Poverty:
-- 3 billion people (nearly half the population of the world) live on less than $2.00 a day.

-- 270 million children around the world have no access to health services.

--1 child dies every three seconds from preventable causes.

Children:
--Many children in Liberia were “drafted” to become soldiers in the civil war that took place in that country.

--44% of children in Liberia are enrolled in schools, the majority of whom are girls.

--Incentives are now being offered to talented people who will serve as teachers in rural Liberia.

Democracy:
--Development cannot succeed, unless the citizens are involved in conception and implementation of the development plans.

--The United Methodist Church has stood with the people of Liberia for over 175 years, since we sent the first missionaries to that country (the country’s first president, and the longest serving president, were both United Methodists).

The United Methodist Church owns and runs schools, hospitals, clinics, and rural outposts throughout Liberia.

The people of Liberia are thankful for the Church’s assistance in the past, but the people of Africa need the Church more now than ever before.

--Mrs. Johnson Sirleaf urged the delegates to consider establishing a Western Africa campus for Africa University.

--Children and Youth in Africa are truly our hope for the future; once, when the Presidential security team came through Liberia to prepare the way for the President’s convoy, children ran away. Now, when they know the President is coming, they flock the convoy and encourage her to get out and greet them.

“Liberia is on the way back. Africa is on the way back. There is indeed light at the end of the tunnel.”

“Our world can indeed be made a future of hope and peace.”

After her speech, the president was greeted by the Council of Bishops, one by one. One bishop even paused to take a picture of her with his cell phone! I guess even bishops get a little star-struck now and then.

Once again, we are shown that there is a “future with hope” in another part of our world.

Peace,

David

Hope for the Future of Africa. . .And, a little slice of Cowtown

Today, I sat in the plenary hall as the "Hope for the Children of Africa" Choir from Uganda practiced for a "celebration moment." Just a year ago, these twenty four children were orphaned and in extreme poverty. Now, they have been given food, clothing, a safe place to live, and a quality education. And, they have been able to travel to this country, to share their beautiful voices and smiling faces with all of us. I cried as I listened to them, both during their rehearsal and during their performance. Their beautiful faith in Jesus Christ, who has meant freedom and a new life for them, touched me in a way I have not been touched in a long time. As I listened, I imagined my own two children, and how lucky they are to have a mother and a father, a home and a school nearby, and safety, food, and love in abundance. How lucky we all are in the U.S., and how complacent we become, when we take for granted all the blessings that God has given us. How blessed we are when we can realize the gifts God gives us--the simple things in life. I pray that the delegates got as much hope from this experience as I did. Maybe the memory of that moment will help them to make the wise decisions that are needed from them at this time in our church history.

A clip of the choir can be found by clicking here (The video is about halfway down the page).

On a different note, a group of us from the Marshal and Page corps went to the Fort Worth Stockyards tonight for some "Cowtown Culture" and a good steak. We accomplished both of these, first by taking a look-see around (I'm hoping that Mary K sends me a copy of the picture of all of us in front of the cattle pens--if she does, I'll post it), and then by going to dinner at Riscky's Steakhouse. Gooooooood eats! Everyone at the MacDonald house (barring the dogs and the cat) now has a souvenir, and I'm happy to have gotten the chance to see this interesting part of Texas.

Long day ahead tomorrow. The President of Liberia is coming to Conference, and there will be lots of work to do to welcome her.

Y'all take care,

David