The Heat Is On!

The heat is on!  I believe that was the title of an old Eagle's song from the 70's. It's also the warning meteorologists are offering to millions of folks across the country this weekend. Air temperatures in our area are expected to be in the high nineties with heat indices from 105 to 110 degrees.  Seems like not that long ago we were complaining about the lingering cold temperatures of late spring.  I suppose the extremes command our attention, often challenging perspectives about convention.

The same could be said about the everyday experiences of life. Things happen along the way that we take for granted, but occasionally, something happens that grabs our attention...the ordinary becomes extraordinary. The result can bring a wide range of emotional reaction...anger, sorrow, joy, even fear. Some will play on these emotions for their own purposes and for their own gain. Keeping proper perspective is important if one is to deal with the ordinary and the extraordinary.

Jesus spoke in Matthew 6 about overcoming the emotions that often flare at the extremes of life. He said, "strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." The Message Translation puts it this way, "Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met." It would seem then, in the extremes of life, as well as the mundane, that focus is vital for the follower of Christ. Distractions are constant in this twenty-first century. So too is the promise of God's love. So, steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Everything else will take care of itself...even when the heat is on!

Our youth and adults will give their Impact report in morning worship this Sunday. So you will want to be present to hear their report and to encourage them. Hannah He will share special music, and I will bring a message entitled, "Road Construction...A Righteous Path," based on Psalm 85. Dress coolly, invite a friend, and let us steep our lives in meaningful worship and praise.

Jim Abernathy 

A Call to Prayer for Our Nation

The images are haunting...violent death becomes a familiar observance as cell phone cameras capture and transmit the carnage. In the past we have seen only the remnants, the aftermath of such violence in the form of a blanket-draped body, a blood-stained sidewalk, a discarded weapon. In the last 72 hours we have seen shots fired, bloody wounds, and death as they happen. From Louisiana to Minnesota to Texas, from cellphones to tablets to television screens, we have witnessed, almost as if we were standing beside or riding along with the principals involved as the violence and death played out. This is the reality of 21st century communication...access to the moment, wherever, whenever, whatever.  

How do we respond to what we see...to what we now witness? Some of us will turn away as if ignoring such brutality makes it disappear. Some of us will rush to judgement as if the narrow slice of what we see tells the whole story. Some of us will allow the anger and frustration to feed our already prejudiced perspectives, confirming what we believe we already know. What will you do with what you have seen?

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." This isn't a hedge against the world that frees us from social and cultural responsibility. Rather, it is the empowerment of the Spirit of God that prepares us to engage this world with a strength and purpose beyond ourselves. 

It is easy to become desensitized to the violence and angry rhetoric that bombard us in many forms on a daily basis. It is tempting to give in to the fear and hatred that seems to sanction such violence. It is the calling of discipleship, however, to faithfully follow the way of Christ in reacting to such violence, anger, and devaluation of life. All lives matter, at least that is the message of incarnation. If we believe that to be true, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or political perspective should not devalue another in our eyes. Jesus defined "neighbor" in the broadest of terms, unbounded by prejudicial perspectives. Discipleship calls us to do the same.

Will you join me in a time of prayer for our nation? I would invite you to join me this Sunday morning at 9 in the sanctuary to ask for God's guidance and wisdom in these challenging days. We will pray for our leaders, the families and communities broken by this violence, and this nation, made up of many faces and perspectives. I ask you to vary your Sunday morning routine a bit, and in doing so, join brothers and sisters in Christ in this redemptive work of prayer. Our prayer time will conclude in time for Sunday School.

I believe that prayer is word and action. It is seeking God and then walking in the Christ way. Hatred and violence will not be impacted by people of faith unless we pray and live within the sound of God's voice. Let us, as Christ-followers, be faithful to the task. 

Jim Abernathy

P.S. If you are unable to join us at 9 a.m. Sunday morning, will you pause wherever you are and pray for our nation? Thanks for your consideration.

Freedom's Call

A blessed Saturday morning to you! Cindy and I just returned last night from Kentucky where we spent time helping Clayton get settled into his new apartment in Louisville. As often is the case in such things, it was an adventure, but we had a good and productive time! A new season of life has begun for our family and we are truly blessed.

This Independence Day weekend is a mixture of celebration and anxiety. We celebrate the 240th birthday of our nation, giving thanks for the privilege of living in this land of freedom, established through the faithfulness and perseverance of men and women, some, known to us through the stories of history, but so many more whose identities are unknown to us. Our citizenship bears the marks of their sacrifice and service, calling us today to be faithful stewards of liberty for generations to come. Indeed, there is much to celebrate.

But these are also anxious times in our nation and world. Social and political upheaval, threats of violence from within and without, and a growing intolerance for dialogue and respect for those whose opinions and beliefs are different than our own have positioned us in a most challenging place this Independence Day weekend.  There are no quick fixes or easy answers to these challenges. Like those gone before us, perseverance and faithfulness are necessary qualities in working toward meaningful change. There are voices of hatred and expedience, however, that call us to mindlessly react in kind to the violence and devaluation of life we are witnessing around the world. I appreciate and affirm the role of those who seek to defend and protect in the midst of such senseless violence and hate, but genuine and effective change will not come at the barrel of a gun, but only in the willingness of the human heart to acknowledge and respect our differences and to walk together in meaningful ways of mutual respect.

I am an American citizen, blessed to stand on the shoulders of generations of men and women gone before me who have persevered in the midst of great challenge. More importantly, I am a follower of Jesus Christ who calls me to a greater freedom that must not be limited by short-sighted intolerance and fear...mine or others. 

The apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 5:13, "My brothers and sisters, God called you to be free, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful self. Serve each other with love." To take seriously the call of Christ, I believe freedom calls me as an individual, to begin right where I am to bridge those gaps of intolerance and hatred where I can...to serve others with the love of Christ. I need to do a much better job of that. The persistent love of Christ would have me do nothing less.

As we gather for worship tomorrow, we will express gratitude for our nation. There will be special music, a testimony from one of our church family who has a different perspective on citizenship as one who immigrated to this country several years ago, and I will bring a message from Galatians 5 which I referenced earlier in this article. We will also be observing the Lord's Supper. On this holiday weekend, dress casually, invite a friend or bring visiting family members along with you, and let us gather to worship and give thanks.

Jim Abernathy

Unexpected Detours

Cindy and I attended a concert at Ft. Myer last night.  We have attended a number of functions there over the years from concerts, to funerals, to receptions.  Driving onto the grounds, my memories were stirred by thoughts of previous trips, particularly as I looked over the walls to see the seemingly endless rows of headstones in the adjacent Arlington National Cemetery. We parked near the Old Chapel, where again, I have officiated at several funeral services, then walked or driven through the gate behind the horse-drawn carriage conveying the casket to the gravesite. My purpose in being on the grounds of that old fort last night was for entertainment, but I could not escape the solemn history and significance of that hallowed ground.

My experience last night was not necessarily uncommon, for often we find ourselves focused for a particular purpose, only to be distracted by something more significant.  The concert was great, but as I drove away last night, my thoughts were less on the music and more on the sacrificial service of others.

In some respects, that is the story of our lives, or at least a significant chapter along the way. One thing leads to another, and another, and another, and...  We go in a particular direction, only to find a detour, sometimes of our choosing, and sometimes, chosen for us. I believe that God is at work in these detours, not necessarily causing them, but working in the midst of them.  The prophet Isaiah encourages an often rebellious people to recognize God's hand at work in the experiences of life as he writes in Isaiah 30:21,  "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it." I can't say that I have heard an audible voice in these moments, but I can say that there certainly have been times when I have identified God's guiding hand in these detours.  The key seems to be a willingness to listen, to be aware of God's presence...to be open at the juxtaposition of life's signposts and allow the Spirit to lead.    

Speaking of unexpected detours, Max inadvertently sent my notes before I finished them as he jumped into my lap, accidentally hitting "send" before I completed the message.  He sends his apologies and in doing so reminds us all that even in the smallest of details, there is often the unexpected. Whatever changes, distractions, or surprises await you today, trust God to be at work.  I hope to see you Sunday.

Jim Abernathy

The Murky Waters of Human Confusion

I am often asked to help navigate the murky waters of human confusion.  When questions of "why" and "how" are found in the same sentence with the Almighty, I rarely offer an answer that is completely satisfying, either to the one who inquires, or to myself. There is obviously something empowering in the confidence of an indisputable answer, but the complexity of our modern world, and the relationship we share by faith with the Creator God, often positions us in a place of mystery. This doesn't imply that truth is negotiable nor does it ultimately threaten faith.  The writer of the book of Hebrews defines faith as, "...the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don't see." (Hebrews 11:1, CEB)   That's not exactly the irrefutable endorsement for the certainty we crave, that black and white answer that sets everything in its proper place...or is it?

Perhaps one by-product of the ever-changing landscape of human experience for the maturing Christian is the realization that finding answers may not be the greatest quest of this life's journey. Such a statement should not be seen as anti-intellectual or resignedly fatalistic. Wisdom, maturity, and persistence in personal and corporate learning are laudable traits in scripture, bestowed by the Creator. Questions stirred by frustration, wonder, or confusion are therefore sparks that enable conversation that move us along this pathway of faith. Embracing the incarnate love of God at work in Jesus, the Christ, whose death and resurrection are the centerpiece of that "reality...we hope for," mentioned in Hebrews 11:1, allows us to wander through difficult questions that are ever before us.

Closely associated with the questions of "why" and "how" is the question of, "where," as in, "Where was God during...9/11, or the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, or Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, or the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, or when my father or mother or child, or grandchild died?" Perhaps the "where" is as important as the "why" or "how."  Here again is the assurance of what we do not see. The record of scripture is replete with assurances of God's presence, often in the midst of uncertainty. The promise of Deuteronomy 31:6, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you," is echoed in the words of God in Hebrews 13:5, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." The promise then is not deliverance from every heartache or threat, but presence in the midst of heartache and threat, God's presence.

I readily admit the challenge presented us in the great mysteries of faith. The questions of "why," "how," and "where" are legitimate in the context of our human stories. They cannot be easily explained or simply brushed over with the shallow axioms of religious-speak. But hope, the reality of the unseen, the example of God's love in the incarnation of Christ, and the promised presence of God empower next step living, even in the murky waters of human confusion. For today, that is enough.

I look forward to sharing together with you in worship this Sunday.

Jim Abernathy 

"Where Have You Been, Young Man?"

"Where have you been, young man?" she said.  "We've been waiting for you a long time."  No, this wasn't the exasperated tone of a mother upset because her child was late for dinner again, nor was it the impatient complaint of a teacher, standing in the hallway just outside the bathroom waiting for rowdy boys to join the rest of the class. This was the voice of a delivery nurse wrapping our newborn son, Clayton, in a blanket moments after his birth.  She knew our story of delayed hopes and set-aside dreams in trying to have a child.  Most couples don't wait thirteen years to have a baby after marriage, but our journey was a bit different.  We had wanted a child for some time, had worked with specialists for several years, and struggled through the heartbreaking loss of a child a few years before, so by the time he arrived, just after 2 p.m. on June 9, 1994, it seemed to anxious parents, and one labor and delivery nurse, that he was long overdue.

Though we had been waiting a long time to be parents, Clayton actually arrived on his due date, a fact that Cindy takes pride in since being on time is a character trait she reveres. From that moment on, however, our lives changed. Now, twenty-two years later, through ups and downs, accomplishments and struggles, it all seems as if it happened just yesterday...the long years of waiting have given way to the blur of quickly passing years.  We were warned about such things.  We smiled and quietly scoffed at those "veteran" parents and grandparents who warned us to enjoy every moment because each day and month and year would rapidly accelerate, leaving us wondering how we, and he, could change so quickly. From blankets and a bassinette, to toy trains and a basketball, to a university diploma and now a job in a distant city, I cant figure out where these 8,036 days have gone. I do know that in those nearly 193,000 hours, the blessings have far outweighed the challenges and I find myself humbly acknowledging my unworthiness to have shared in such a gift. The time, but so much more so, the relationship, has taught me great lessons of life I may not have learned any other way. Yet again, a role I was called to embrace and bring blessing to, has embraced and brought blessing to me.  Isn't it funny how life often seems to work that way...anticipation gives way to reality, and calling gives way to blessing.

And so, pardon me if my mind returns today across twenty-two years of memories to the words of a young woman I'd never met before that June afternoon.  "Where have you been young man? We've been waiting for you a long time."   Yes, we had been...now, we still are...with great appreciation for what has been and great anticipation for what will yet be.  Happy birthday, Clayton!   Thanks be to God! 

Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Ministry Fair

Last year, a study group looking at the structure of Westwood recommended that we participate in a ministry fair to highlight the various ministries of Westwood. The purpose was two-fold, to focus attention on the many and varied ways we minister to church and community, and to make folks aware of particular opportunities of service they might want to be involved in.  Becca Larson, and a team appointed by the Visioning Council, has led our efforts in preparation for this event to occur this Sunday morning. We will begin with coffee, doughnuts, and fellowship in the narthex at 9:30, then move to the sanctuary at 9:50 where I will share a few words about our shared commitment to service and ministry in Jesus' name, then move to Whitten Hall at 10 to walk among the various ministry displays. The ministry fair will take the place of adult and youth Sunday School for this week and provide an opportunity for us to consider together the way we minister and the opportunities before us to serve and share as part of the Westwood family.  Preschool and children's Sunday School will be held at its regular place and time. Please join us for this time of fellowship and ministry as we celebrate God's hand at work in the many and varied ministry opportunities at Westwood.

In addition to the Ministry Fair this Sunday, the handbells will be playing in worship, we will observe communion, and I will bring a message based on Galatians 1:11-24, entitled, "Because of Me." I look forward to sharing with you in the ministry fair and the worship of our Lord.

Jim Abernathy