I wouldn’t believe for a moment that the readers of this blog are many in number, nor that those who dovisit wait eagerly for each new post. Still, I feel badly that it has been so long since the blog was last updated…especially since it has been my intention to keep it ‘at-least-somewhat-current’ with the messages that are being preached at my wonderful little church in Marshville, NC. Sadly, I am having some problems with the way that I access the audio from each week’s worship gatherings and then convert it into a format suitable for posting on-line.
I continue to work on a solution to this dilemma (if you have any suggestions, please drop me a line); however, I don’t foresee any immediate resolution. I’d like to say that–in place of sermons–I would post more reflections on life and ministry. But (for better or worse) my work as a “rural Rev” (read: “sole full-time staff member of a small but busy congregation”) seems to leave precious little opportunity for the kind of written reflection that would be of value in this space.
As a result, I can’t predict how long it will be until my next post (and the time until I start posting regularly may be even further removed). I don’t want to turn away any who may drop by this site just to see what’s up, but that’s the way things stand. Please feel free, however, to connect with me directly. To the best of my ability, I’d be happy to share whatever information you might be seeking.
Rev,
Too often I find myself questioning my apparent lack of compassion for those around me that show no signs of “Christianity”. Is the lack of zeal a behavior pattern? Personality? A DNA characteristic? Is my cross stuck in the mud? Why do I seem to loose “it” between the altar and the door? To quote another SCC song, “Where are the signs of life”?
Or does it stem from too many years in “church”? — Doing “church” where perfect attendance, reverence, not losing your SS book, and giving to L Moon and A Armstrong was the main focus.
Is it possible to have “deep shifts” where Christianity is taken to the streets by the local church or will we always use the church as our personal haven?
Sorry for rambling and thanks for the challenge.
Dear Skeptic,
No need to apologize for rambling…and thank YOU for the challenge. You’ve actually verbalized some sentiments of my own–sentiments that only get partially expressed in sermons and blog posts. Although the way that I would respond to your musings would probably vary based on my own energy levels at any given moment, today I’m inclined to put it like this…
I don’t think that the ‘lack of zeal’ that you describe is caused by a bad behavior pattern or character flaw. The very fact that you bother to ask such questions suggests that it matters to you ‘where those signs of life’ are.
No, I’m inclined to think that our disillusionment (with ourselves, with others) often stems from the fact that God has blessed us with a glimpse of something more. We know from experience what deep community can be and what being ‘bowled over’ by God’s presence can do to a person. [Of course, it could be that one of the weaknesses of our evangelical approach to spirituality is that we’re told to expect that level of intimacy all the time. From what I’ve read of the spiritual classics, such moments of wonder are actually rare gifts–not the stuff of everyday life. But that’s a musing for another time…)
I wonder if…because we sense what ‘could be’…we ache inside when our own lives and the life of our community fall so far short of the ideal. But perhaps the ache itself is a kind of grace–a refusal to settle for less than all God offers. And perhaps if we keep aching, we contribute to the ‘deep shift’ that needs to happen in order for Christianity and our individual church (and ourselves) to get out of the way enough for the kingdom to be born in an through us.