Simple Thoughts...October 8

"Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb! Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy."

                                     (Psalm 126:4-5)

Praise is a harbinger of hope, even in tears.  By faith, our tears become shouts of joy!

Prayer: Gracious God, in desert and plentiful times, may our praise bring shouts of joy!

Jim Abernathy

Simple Thoughts...October 7

(During our Simple Gifts emphasis in the month of October, I will post a simple thought with a brief text for each day, Monday through Friday, as reminder of our theme.)

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God."

                                         (I Corinthians 10:31)

C.S. Lewis writes,  "I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment."  Whatever you do today, complete the enjoyment by giving praise to God!

Prayer: Eternal God, In everything...glory to God! Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Challenging Times

These are challenging times.  The government shutdown, debt ceiling deadlines looming on the horizon, and the seeming unwillingness of our elected leaders to find meaningful ways to move our nation forward in these perilous times are creating an atmosphere of mistrust and uneasiness that  is permeating nearly every aspect of our society.  Fingers are easily pointed from all sides of the political spectrum, yet few seem to be able to overcome their ideological or pragmatic perspectives to find ways to work together.  We seem to be less willing these days to look for ways to work together for fear that some might think us weak or unfaithful to the cause, whatever that cause may be. Many are still struggling to find work while the economy seems to teeter on the brink of another serious downturn with each political standoff.  Our conversations ultimately turn to these topics, often fed by the hyperbole that is rampant in the media outlets we selectively allow to reinforce further the divisions among us.

 

These are challenging times.  It seems that nearly every aspect of our lives have been captured by our frustrations in the present and our fears for the future.  The church has not escaped these fears and frustrations.  Trends in attendance, giving, and participation in a wide variety of church involvement are down according to a number of national studies.  In the May edition of Christianity Today, David Baker argues that statistics are not the most telling indicator of church health as he writes, "For Jesus, the vocabulary of following him revolves not around statistics, or attendance – but around whole-life discipleship." While I find agreement with his assessment, I cannot ignore the impact that these "statistics" have on the life and operation of the church.

 

These are challenging times. The trends that are impacting the church across this nation are also having an impact at Westwood.  Nowhere is this more telling than in our giving patterns.  Through the first eight months of the year, our expenses have exceeded our income.  It is not uncommon at Westwood for there to be a deficit of spending at this time of year as we have routinely spent more through the first eight to nine months of the year, only to greatly reduce or overcome that deficit of spending during the last quarter of the year.  What has made our financial leadership more nervous this year is that the deficits are stronger and the giving weaker than in years past.  Their concerns are understandable and have been reflected in recent Westwood World articles.  These trends will likely have an impact on the budgeting process for 2014 and spending patterns for the remainder of the year.

 

These are hopeful times.  Westwood is preparing to celebrate her fiftieth anniversary in 2014.  There is a rich heritage of faith in this body of believers that has spanned the ups and downs of church life over those five decades.  I have heard stories of bounty and hardship over these fifty years, but the constant through it all has been the presence of God's Spirit and the faithfulness of God's people.  In the midst of changing demographics, expectations, and a variety of other indicators, I believe these constants have remained. The simple truths of loving God and loving others have been and continue to be reflected in this body of believers and therefore, I am hopeful. I am grateful for the faithfulness of God's people in this community of faith known as Westwood.  Together we can work to address the challenges before us, recognizing the significance, as Dave Baker cited, of "whole-life discipleship." 

 

During the month of October, the theme of our worship will be "Simple Gifts."  Though stewardship is at the heart of this emphasis, we will consider how the simple gifts of praise, gratitude, humility, and service empower our faithfulness in every area of our lives.  These simple gifts call us to a way of living that reflects Kingdom priorities. I know there are many distractions as you approach each Sunday, but I encourage you to be present if at all possible during this emphasis as we refocus on simple truths from God's word that will help us to face the many challenges that are before us.

 

Jim Abernathy

A Family Affair

Tomorrow (Friday) is a travel day for Cindy and me as we head to a family wedding. So, my pastor's notes are coming to you a bit early this week.  It's interesting, but at this stage of life, it is often weddings or funerals that bring our families together.  The busyness of our lives and the distance between us make it very difficult to get together.  Phone calls are punctuated with "I love you's," birthdays are remembered with cards and presents, and holidays are celebrated with good memories that almost make the miles disappear.  Now, some of you may think this a sad commentary on the rush and distraction of twenty-first century living, and I suppose there is truth there.  But though our families are miles away and we rarely get to see each other, the connection is still strong, the love still present, the hope for future time together still shared.

 

We love our families and would like to be around them more often, but for now, that is not possible.  So phone calls, emails, cards will have to do...along with the occasional wedding.  But I must say, we are not lonely, for extended family impact our lives weekly, even daily.  We are grateful for the blessing of community we share with our Westwood family, with neighbors, and with colleagues in the area.  Our lives are made richer by relationships with friends who were once strangers that have now welcomed us into their lives.    Take a moment to look around you...perhaps family members who were once very close, are no longer near.  And yet, there are still treasures of relationship to be found.  Look next door, down the street, around the sanctuary this Sunday, or in your work place or school next week.  You and I are blessed to be in community with many brothers and sisters.   Celebrate these relationships and give thanks to God for family members, near and far.

 

One special blessing of the weekend is that we will get to see Clayton for a few days.  He's a groomsman, Cindy is playing the piano, and I am one of the officiants at the wedding.  Yes, it is a family affair.

 

With gratitude for all of our families,

 

Jim Abernathy

Where Will It All End?

"Where will it end?" That is the question of frustration that often comes in the aftermath of destructive patterns of behavior that are often repetitive.  Shock and outrage are familiar companions in these moments, and yet, as someone asked following the shootings at the Navy Yard this week, "Are we becoming accustomed to these horrific events?" I would hope the answer to these questions is "no," but I can't help but wonder...

 

The inability to agree on meaningful legislation that could have an impact, as well as our unwillingness to confront and deal redemptively and accountably with mental health issues might be seen by some as evidence of a sense of complacency in response to these terrible incidents. Please understand, I do not believe there is one simple solution that will bring these mass shootings to an end.  In a free society where access cannot always be controlled and purposefully harmful intent always known, opportunities are obviously there for an individual or group to take advantage.  Various entities connected to the Navy Yard shootings this week have announced reviews of their personnel and security policies and practices, vowing to do what they can to make the installations safer.  They are doing the right thing by such evaluation if it is followed by meaningful change.

 

But where will it all end?  I cannot say with certainty that I have an answer to that question.  It is easy to point fingers, and easier still to expect that someone else will fix the problem.  But where does that leave you and me?  What is our role here?  The electoral process gives us some opportunity to affect decision making and we must participate in it.  Some will choose a more vocal role through involvement in groups or organizations that push forward a particular political or social perspective and that is a privilege of the freedom of expression we have as citizens of this nation.  But what about the day to day experience of the great majority of Americans that perhaps have the greatest impact on everyday living?  What about the way we treat others or the realistic expectations we have for relationships between ourselves and others?  It appears to me that we assume less and less responsibility in these areas as we become more and more polarized by and entrenched in our own particular perspectives.  Are we willing to dialogue about the things that divide us and that threaten our society and personal safety with open minds and civil tongues?  We complain about the lack of substantive action and effective leadership, but what are you and I doing to have an impact in our neighborhoods, work places, and schools?

 

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I profess a faith that is to have an impact on the way I view the world, beginning right here where I live.  That doesn't mean that I can fix every problem or overcome ever act of irrational fear or anger that is meant for harm.  But my view of the world must begin more intentionally right where I live and work and play, reflecting the kind of love that isn't dependent on another's racial, ethnic, political, or theological persuasion.  The love of Christ is a gift that I am called to offer, regardless. Unless I am mistaken, that is what the cross of Christ calls us all as Christians to do...sacrifice, service, forgiveness, mercy, restoration. 

 

Where will it all end?  I cannot tell you.  I will, however, ultimately trust that God is at work, not in the initiation of these terrible events, but in and through people who will take seriously the claims of faith and work together to bring light to an often dark and dangerous world.  I will also pray for our nations leader's, for those who establish policies that impact our lives, for first responders and other persons who bravely answer when called, and yes, for those whose violent actions devalue human life for that is what scripture calls us to do.  And I will pray for the families of those who have lost loved ones in this most recent mass shooting as well as those injured, those who waited under desks, hid in closets, and ran down stairwells and across parking lots seeking safety. Their lives have been irrevocably changed by what they have seen and heard.

 

John writes of the light of Christ, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." 

 

Dear friends, let your light shine!

 

Jim Abernathy

Facing Challenges

I spent an hour in the dentist's chair yesterday afternoon.  I told the dentist I had been looking forward to seeing him all day, but I think he quickly saw through my sarcasm.  Most of us don't look forward to going to the dentist or any of a number of other necessary experiences that are either physically, emotionally, or even socially uncomfortable. We are tempted to avoid these uncomfortable experiences altogether, and yet, to do so is not best for ourselves or others.  Facing these challenges contributes to our physical, emotional, and even spiritual health.  Yes, courage is necessary to sit patiently while the drill is whirring and the dentist is asking you questions that the instruments in your mouth won't let you intelligibly answer.  But in the end, your dental health outweighs your momentary discomfort and good things usually happen as a result.

 

There are certainly greater challenges than visiting the dentist.  Though we each face these challenges in our own way, the uncomfortable moments of life that come to us all are often doors that must be stepped through to achieve better health, emotional stability, or growing relationships. In a community of faith, at any given time, there are folks around us experiencing these challenges.  Sometimes they are small ones that are unknown to others and quickly overcome.  Sometimes we share in the pain and struggle so that together our strength, encouragement, and prayers empower others to face their challenges.

 

There are many who make up our weekly prayer list that is found in the Westwood Express, and others in our church and community that you are aware of as well.  You see, together, we walk through these "uncomfortable" moments, loving, encouraging, and listening to each other and most importantly, sharing out faith in the One who loves, encourages, and listens to us all.

 

Thank you for being a part of our Westwood family!

 

Jim Abernathy

 

Routine

Routine... A prescribed, detailed course of action to be followed regularly; a standard procedure.   Routine is a familiar and often welcome partner in this journey of life.  At every life stage there are routines that guide us, empowering action, measuring progress through the twists and turns of every day.  From the alarm clock`s persistent beep, to the route one takes to work, to that must-have cup of coffee and on and on, there are rituals that mark our days, months, and years that help us get things done.  That is routine at its best.

 

There is another dictionary definition of routine that shows a darker side of that which can become all too familiar...A set of customary and often mechanically performed procedures or activities.  Routine, by this definition, becomes a mindless, sometimes thoughtless repetition that loses its challenge.  In this context we might say we are going through the motions.  Yes, the task is done, but the enthusiasm, the investment of heart and mind are perhaps lacking.  We talk about someone in this context as being in a rut.  This slavish loyalty to routine can diminish one's effectiveness in many areas of life.  Mired in such mediocrity one can take things, even people for granted as faithfulness to routine trumps faithfulness to the quality of one's work and relationships.  Such mechanical performance manifests itself vocationally, personally, and yes, even spiritually.

 

The writer of the Old Testament book of Lamentations speaks of the mercies of God as being new every morning.  God spoke through the prophet Isaiah of desiring to do a new thing in the midst of well-worn routines.  Paul challenged the early church to recognize that faith in Christ was an exercise in newness, for in Christ, old things have passed away, behold all has been made new.  Truly, we see ritual and routine in the worship of God that connects us with the ancient traditions of our faith, but one cannot view the ministry of Jesus and not see that he called those who followed him to live lives of transformation, guided not by comfortable routine, but ever open to next-step living, guided by the Holy Spirit.

 

I fear that too many of us, myself included, live in the perceived safety of our routines.  It is much more comfortable to embrace the familiar than it is to step out and take risks.  "There is too much at stake," we may think to ourselves.  "There just isn't enough energy to try something new," we complain.  I understand that fear.  I also understand that our unwillingness to open ourselves to the possibilities of what God may have before us sets the stage for the kind of mechanically performed procedures or activities the dictionary definition prescribes. 

 

What do our routines say about us?  Most likely they communicate some good things about the way we get things done and our commitment to persons and things that are truly important to us.  And yet, an honest evaluation of these routines will most likely reveal a need to rediscover a fresh approach to relationships and commitments that may have become stale. This is a topic I will be exploring more and more in the coming days.  I hope you will join the dialogue with me.

 

Well, as I bring this Friday routine to a close, perhaps the encouragement of the writer of the book of Hebrews is appropriate for us to hear.  Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what he promised. (Hebrews 10:23, NCV)

 

Jim Abernathy