Enough Said

I experienced a different Father's Day this year. My wife Cindy and son Clayton were both out of town, so I spent a rather quiet day with Max and Freddie, our two Schnauzers. I had received my Father's Day cards and gifts before Cindy and Clayton left town...even Max and Freddie had presented me with cards the day before, so there was really little to do but enjoy what turned out to be a beautiful Sunday afternoon. There was an invitation to play golf late in the afternoon so I took advantage of the quiet around the house, with Max and Freddie's permission of course, and got in a late round of golf.

My thoughts turned occasionally as I made my way around the course to the blessings of family. I consoled myself after a bad shot, and there were several, with the reminder of all that I had to be grateful for. I thought of my own dad several times, particularly how much I missed him. Though he died nearly eight years ago, his impact on my life is still felt and his influence still very real. It was a bittersweet day...content in the realization of blessing, a bit sad in the context of my grief.

In reality, the mixture of peace and an aching heart, is the compilation of human emotion and experience that marks every day for many. We are confronted with all we have and with all we have lost or are in fear of losing. How do we cope with such paradox? As a follower of Christ, perspective is gained in the promises of God that have been tested and proven true. "Do not let your hearts be troubled," Jesus said. Trust in God, trust also in me." The writer of Hebrews quotes Jesus, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Faith in Christ empowers my living in the midst of life's paradoxes. He is the rock upon which I build my foundation, even in all that changes around me.

For life's blessings and challenges, Christ is enough, and that is enough said!

Jim

I have just returned from Atlanta, Georgia where I attended the annual Festival of Homiletics. The conference was a part of my sabbatical continuing education and a great opportunity to hear from preachers around the world. One of those preachers was Archbishop Desmond Tutu, whose faithful, compassionate service to the people of South Africa helped bring down the tyranny of apartheid. In his remarks, Bishop Tutu spoke about the role of the church in reaching across geographic, social, and ethnic barriers to love, encourage, and support those who are isolated by oppression. In the early days of Jesus' ministry he spoke of preaching good news to the poor, proclaiming freedom to the captive, and release for the oppressed. These defining characteristics of Jesus' ministry are to be markers of our lives as we live for Christ. Archbishop Tutu's courage, and that of so many others, points to the call of Christ upon all of our lives. Let us be faithful to preach good news, proclaim freedom, and bring release in the name of Jesus Christ.

Jim

A Pathway Worth Wandering

Gary Collins, Christian psychologist and author, wrote a book several years ago whose title grabbed my attention. The book, "Easy Believism," challenged the reader not to take for granted the journey of faith, nor to embrace without genuine consideration the truths of faith that many accept without question. I found the book to be a refreshing challenge in a religious environment that was all too often a stagnant sea of compliance.

When the apostle Paul wrote about working out one's salvation, I don't believe that he meant it was to be done in a vacuum. The tenets of faith are little more than formulaic patterns, unless they become real, thus empowering one to truly live. Jesus spoke of freedom in the context of knowing truth. ("You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.") Paul wrote of his burning desire to "know Christ and the power of his resurrection." Faith is a personal journey: to know and be known...to be transformed and to be used of God to transform.

Moving therefore, from easy believism to a thoughtful, thought-provoking faith, is a perilous, but oh-so-rewarding journey. It begins with an open heart and mind, a willingness to listen and learn, and the courage to ask uncomfortable questions...to live in that prickly place between absolute certainty and nagging question. Faith, after all, as the writer of Hebrews says, is "the essence of things not seen."

To struggle and strive toward an authentic faith is to wonder as you wander, to step into the unknown believing that God is there, and that together, you walk toward the "knowing" relationship that Paul desired to attain. That is a journey worth taking...a pathway worth wandering.

Jim Abernathy

Nothing But the Bretz!!!

Bernard and Emilie Bretz, faithful members of the Westwood family, will celebrate seventy years of marriage this month. These days, that is a rare accomplishment indeed! Now Bernie and Emilie are careful to credit the faithfulness of the Lord when they talk about this anniversary, for they believe that God has sustained them through these many years and empowered them to face the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges that have come their way. Theirs has not been a life of ease, free from heartache and disappointment, but it has been a journey of faith that has placed Christ at the center of their home, and through seventy years, that has been enough. Their example serves to remind us all of the significance of placing Christ at the heart of everything we do. In a world where success is often measured by the tangible treasures of wealth, position, and prestige, Bernie and Emilie remind us that when it comes to the relationships that are so vital to our lives, nothing but the best will do...that is, trusting ourselves and those we love into the very best hands, the hands of God. With Emilie and Bernie as our examples, perhaps a better turn of the phrase might be, nothing but the Bretz!

Congratulations Bernie and Emilie! God bless you.

Jim Abernathy

An Ounce of Mother...

There is an old Spanish proverb that says, "An ounce of mother is worth a ton of priest." The sentiment speaks volumes to the power of a mother's influence. Many of us are indeed debtors to the women whose love, patience, and wisdom have made such a difference in our lives. We were scrambling at our house this week to purchase and then mail the appropriate gifts for our mothers so they would receive these remembrances in time for Mother's Day. Every year we ponder the particular gift that will arrive in our place since we live so far from our mothers. At best, though always appreciated, these gifts are simple reminders of a love and gratitude too deep to be expressed only by material means. There is no substitute for a loving embrace, a hand held tightly, or the saying of those words that bless a mother's soul..."I love you, mom." So, along with the gift of perfume this year, my mom will receive a card, some flowers, and more important to her and to me, a phone call on Mother's Day. We will review her day, talk about the good time she had at my sister's house with her family in Chattanooga, and then I will try to sum up the blessing that she is to me...but words won't truly tell the story. However, the last thing I will say to her as our Mother's Day conversation comes to a close is, "I love you, mom," and that will be enough for her.

Jim Abernathy

More Than We Need to Know

There was a picture on the front page of the Post a few days ago of a little boy in Mexico that some believe may have been among the first to contract the Swine Flu, and therefore initiate what appears to be a world-wide pandemic. The article noted that it was impossible to know with certainty exactly where and within whom the virus first attacked a human being. As I read that disclaimer and then looked again at the picture of the little boy, I could not help but wonder at the disservice done to him by the voyeurism of the American media. As the article continued, the boy's mother lamented the attention being given to her son and the stigma she feared might be placed upon him as a result. "'I don't have words, I don't have answers,' said (the boy's mother) as she cried under a portrait of Jesus in her living room. 'I feel terrible about all of this, because the people are thinking that this was all my son's fault. I don't think it is anyone's fault.'"{Washington Post, April 29, Sec. A1} This story is a tragic reminder of the disservice done to others when they are exploited by stories based on partial or unproven facts. It is shameful in a Mexican village thousands of miles away and it is shameful in the stories we often tell or listen to in our own circles of influence. Yes, we need to know important facts about this illness and all that can be done to treat it and prevent its spread. However, this knowledge does not need to come forward through human exploitation and degradation. Your thoughts???

Jim Abernathy

April 24, 2009

This has been a beautiful day, and tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer, perhaps even in the 80's!!! Can summer be far behind??? The changing seasons are but one reminder of the wonder of God's creation. The dark and dreary days of winter are giving way to the glory of spring. I played golf today, and though my score was not what I would have liked, I couldn't be too unhappy, for to spend several hours with friends in the midst of God's greening earth was therapy indeed!

What are you doing to enjoy these days? Some are busy with schedules that have you running nearly every moment...but take a few minutes to step outside, breathe deeply, and look around you. There is more to experience than your calendar. Some of you are struggling with health issues, or with caring for a sick family member. These are difficult days, but look out a window or open an outside door to see and hear how God is at work. Birds, unlike humans, often sign their most beautiful songs in the morning, and sunsets sometimes color our perspectives with new light. Some are hesitant about the future and its uncertainties. But think for a moment as you consider God's beautiful world around you...if God could create such wonders, including yourself, shouldn't you trust that creation, including yourself, into God's hands?

I hope my golf game will get better as the year progresses, but who knows. The wonder of all that God has made, however, will continue to bless and inspire, regardless of my limitations.

So, enjoy all that God has made and take a moment to let me know what you are enjoying about God's creation during these blessed days of spring.

Pastor Jim