Lent Makes Me Weary: A Good Friday Reflection

Lent makes me weary.  As I was preparing for this sermon, I just wanted to say, “I can’t take one more day.”  Why?  The reasons abound. Some reasons are trivial…like I prefer hymns with the upbeat melodies and prefer red or blue instead of purple linens.  The Lenten hours are long, there are more services and extra bible studies.  Yet, perhaps the reason it makes me most weary, is that you can’t ignore Jesus. You have to look at Jesus full on…and while looking at Jesus, you see yourself. 

Theologian and writer, Barbara Brown Taylor writes about our Lenten encounter of Jesus, “He offered himself as a mirror they could see themselves in, and they were so appalled by what they saw that they smashed it. They smashed him, every way they could.”

When we hear quotes like this, we find ourselves nodding in agreement. Yes, Pilate smashed him. Yes, the Jewish elders smashed him. Yes, the Roman soldiers smashed him.  The truth is, that this isn’t a story of Roman and Jewish villains.  It isn’t a story of nails and methods of torture. It is our Lenten story.  We look upon Jesus and are appalled by what he shows us.  And we smash him too. 

Lent makes me weary because as I look at Jesus on the cross, and see the reflection of myself mirrored back, I am reminded of how imperfect, how sinful, how full of bitterness, self-righteousness and even hate I am.  When I look at the Jesus on the cross, who despite his weariness and failing flesh, is still extending forgiveness and grace, I am reminded of how many conditions I put on love. I am reminded of how many times I judge others as unworthy placing boundaries and limits on where God’s love can go and who it may redeem.  When I look at Jesus on the cross and see the real me reflected in its light, I want to smash it. 

You see, during the rest of the church year, we find ways to justify and rationalize away our sinfulness.  We talk in relative terms.  We think, “Well, at least I’m not like them.  Our my sin isn’t as bad as my neighbor.” During the rest of the church year we find ourselves able to escape the gaze of Christ from the cross talking about empty tombs and new creation, Pentecost and arrival of the holy spirit, and even the baby Jesus.  Who is going to is going to be intimidated by infant baby Jesus?  Yet, Lent doesn’t let us go. It doesn’t let us off the hook so easily. Lent says, “Look Jesus in the face.  See who you are really are.” 

Barbara Brown Taylor continued her reflection saying, “In the presence of his integrity, our own pretense is exposed.  In the presence of his constancy, our cowardice is brought to light. In the presence of his fierce love for God and for us, our own hardness of heart is revealed. Take him out of the room and things become relative. I am not that much worse than you are nor you than I, but leave him in the room and there is no place to hide. He is light of the world.  In his presence, people either fall down to worship him or do everything they can do to extinguish his light.” 

And on this night, in a darkened sanctuary, we are reminded of the night when all of humanity—including us and our sin—made its best attempt to extinguish the light, to smash the mirror.  Resist the urge to shout, “I can’t take one more day.” And instead look upon the cross…and listen.  In the midst of horrendous torture, hear God say, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”  Hanging between criminals and mocked by soldiers, hear him whisper, “It is finished.”  Look at the cross, don’t turn away or turn to quickly to the empty tomb.  Our own reflection is bitter and unbecoming…but soon and very soon, it will be transfigured in the blood of Christ and the beauty of the cross, and the grace and goodness of God will be revealed. 

Amen. 

Do This In Remembrance for For Me

On the day of the church in which we celebrate the last supper, here are some great interpretations of the event. 

This is made out of dryer lint! 

Six Year Olds and Pinatas

The audio version of Palm Sunday sermon isn't up yet on the website, so here is the written version. Enjoy! 

Six Year Olds and Piñatas: A Palm Sunday Reflection 

Imagine the day.  You’re six years old. For the last month you have been asking, “Is it my birthday yet?”  When mom says, “next week” you wonder, “how long can that possibly be because it feels like forever.”  The day, however, has arrived. You wake up and know that the house will soon be filled with your other six year old friends. The house is perfectly decked out in the chosen theme—superheroes. The you spot it—there is even an piñata.  

Mom had suggested a piñata and Dad told you that you get so swing a bat and hit things—you were convinced!  It was going to be the highlight of the party.   Later that night, while you were sleeping Dad was given instructions to purchase the candy for inside the piñata.  “We need ten pounds.”  It is a big piñata and we don’t want any disappointed kids.

Dad took to the task heading off to the equivalent of BJ’’s for where else would you go to buy ten pounds of candy.  And then he saw it. The display bin $5.99 for 5 lbs.”  A smile came across his face.  “My wife is going to think I am brilliant!” And for $12.00 he filled the piñata secure in the knowledge that he had done exactly what as asked—and did it for a bargain. 

Your six year old friends file in dressed as their favorite superheroes. You run around in the backyard, play party games, eat cake and ice cream and open gifts. You save the piñata for last.  Mom said it was because she wanted to save the best for last.  We know better—she was getting them all sugar’d up and sending them home with a bag of piñata candy in hand.  She is a smart momma.

Dad put the blindfold over your eyes and spun you three times and led you to the piñata.  You swing with all your might. “Boom.”  Your friends followed suit.  With each hit, the piñata ripped and tore.  The excitement was growing—when would it burst.  Dad decided to take a turn.  Mom spun him five times and walked him to the piñata. He swung and “Pow.”  The piñata burst, leaving  the  broken pieces of cardboard dangling from the string and igniting a spray of sugar.  There was such glee as the candy shot through the sky.  You and your six-year old friends frantically ran to collect all that they could, stockpiling it in their party bags.  Soon the excitement of the sugar spray was halted by a six year old voice, “What is this?” 

The young six year old holds up a small white round candy, marked with red around the edges and then wrapped in clear plastic.  All the six year olds who where captivated by the promise of candy began to realize that every single piece looked like this. The entire piñata had been filled with peppermints.  No tootsie rolls, or skittles, or gummi bears.  They did not stand beneath a spray of sugary goodness but ten pounds of bargain peppermints. 

The kids picked up the remaining pieces, the joy of the moment having passed them by.  You said goodbye and for years to come whenever you look at a peppermint you remember the great peppermint piñata fiasco.

I came across this story several years ago and have been waiting for a sermon to use it in. You may remember that I tried several years ago every printing the title Peppermints and Pinatas in the bulletin. The illustration didn’t make it into that sermon but I have hung on to it.  

This week as I was preparing for Palm Sunday, I kept thinking about the shift that the people gathered on Palm Sunday to Good Friday.  How are they so ready to throw a parade on Sunday and crucify him a mere five days later? I hadn’t made much progress on that and it hit me…the same way that a six year old birthday party goes from exhilarating to disappointing in a matter of moments.  Granted it is on a much smaller scale but the principle is the same. There is such expectation attached to the piñata has it hangs on the tree—what is inside? What will it yield?

Jesus enters Jerusalem with the same wonder and excitement.  Some had heard of his miracles, others of his teaching, still others had met him and seen him work wonders.  Some didn’t know anything but had seen a crowd gather and asked, “Who is this?”  The answer, “Jesus, the prophet form Nazareth in Galilee.” 

Jesus is headed to Jerusalem for Passover. At the time of Jesus, Jewish where called to journey to Jerusalem, to the temple to celebrate the Passover. The city was packed, mobbed with people on pilgrimage to the temple. Remember at the time of Jesus’ arrival, there was much hope that this very talked about human being, might be the savior of the world.  The savior of the world that had come with armies and earthly power to restore Israel to its greatness, to its proper place as a chosen and prosperous city of God.

You have your palms ready, you have brought your cloak so to set on the road and practice you best, “Hosannah.”  The man who you had heard about shows up on a donkey and you would likely think, “this is weird.”  Today we would wonder why he wasn’t accompanied by a large motorcade full of fanciful cars.  But Jesus comes on a donkey. 

I imagine if I were in the crowd, I would be filled with excitement---where is he going first? To take on Pilate? To preach an inspirational sermon in the temple? Do any of you know what follows according to Matthew’s gospel?  The turning over the tables in the temple.  Remember that scene. You can imagine the crowds thinking, “Seriously. We have been giving this guy on a donkey the royal treatment and the first thing he does is turn over tables in the temple and yell at us?”  I’m out of here!” 

The disappointment in Jesus continues and begins to turn toward anger.  He is met the in cover of night by Judas and the chief priests. Instead of putting up a huge fight like you would expected from the-so-called savior of the world, he simply says to his betrayer, “Friend, do what you came for.”

It is clear from our text that even Jesus’ followers didn’t quite get it.  Perhaps they were even sad that what was “coming out of the piñata” was not what they had hoped.  A companion draws a sword and slices off an ear.  Jesus stops the violence, reminding the crowd gathered that violence only yields more violence.  Jesus has come to save the world from itself.  Jesus reminds them, I could be exactly what you wanted—my father could send down legions of angels, but I have bigger plans. 

What unfolds is the most well known story of our faith…Jesus is taken.  He is questioned.  He is beaten, He is mocked. He is spat on.  When the crowds are given the opportunity to release him, they choose to release a common criminal and send Jesus up the hill to be crucified.  The crowds hosannas were filled with such hope just five days earlier.  Now, they are filled with anger at hope disappointed.  Filled with contempt as they realize what will never be.  This so-called-savior of the world walked up a hill, carrying a heavy burden—physically a cross beam, spiritually our sin. Bruised, broken and beat down, he was nailed to a the tree of torture, the cross.  Even as he is dying, taking his last breath, he is mocked by criminals and soldiers.  He hangs on the cross, a dead man, of no more worth—to the human eye—than the scraps of cardboard left from the busted piñata.  There was such hope that he would be something, that from inside him would come salvation, redemption, exceeding joy.  Yet, at the foot of the cross, as darkness covered the sky, he seemed the symbol of hope lost, disappointment.  He is speared by a solider in the side, almost as if to see—“was there really goodness inside?” 

And this is where the church waits.  Acknowledging the ways that we are disappointed, the places where we look at Jesus and say, “I thought you were supposed to be this or that.”  “I thought you were supposed to heal, to redeem, to save, to fight…”  We journeying this holy week as one of the crowd, as one of those that was so excited and yet has also experienced disappointment.  We journeying knowing too often, we want Jesus to give us the quick fixes, the victorious revenge, the prosperous partnership.  We want. We want… 

Yet, church, we acknowledge our hopes and disappointments, knowing the ending, knowing that this body, hanging from a tree is just what we need.  He may not be, act and do what we expected, but he is the savior of the world, the savior of you, the savior of me.

So on this palm Sunday, let us gather with palms shouting hosanna filled with the wonder and excitement of a six year olds birthday party.  And know that unexpected peppermints might just be the sweetest surprise. 

Triangle Flight of Honor

Tuesday night I had the privilege of joining others in the triangle area at the Triangle Flight of Honor Homecoming.  Lots of people gathered around the moving sidewalk (which had been turned off) in the parking garage.  Tons of people filled the spaced decked out like it was 4th of July.  There were posters, flags and pictures of the veterans who traveled on the flight.  


I had a nostalgic moment when they sang Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA. I can remember being in Mrs. Pederson's third grade class and singing it every morning.  My favorite part was standing up at the appropriate part of the song, "I'll stand up next you."  And making the fake cymbols!  


Back to the flight of honor. Here is a news story about the flight: http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/9463980/  I was there to see Mamie, a 91 vet, in our congregation. She signed up for the army to see the world, was trained in Georgia and the day she was to be deployed the war ended.  This flight to DC was her first flight.  She got to fly first class and sit by the window.  Another vet, Roger, was also on the flight.  Here are pictures from the homecoming.  

Mike, Mamie, Roger

Mike, our church organist, served as Mamie's guardian on the flight.  He was the one who helped Mamie apply to be part of the flight as well.

Kaylee made signs for the veterans and passed out handwritten notes saying thank you! 

Speaking Up for Our Homeless Neighbors in Wake County

If someone where to ask you to picture a homeless person, what comes to mind?  Likely it is the person on the street corner with a small sign.  The reality is that homelessness can take any shape—any color, any gender, any age. 

I have been thinking about the homeless in Wake County a significant amount over the last few weeks especially since our homeless neighbors and the agencies that serve them are facing some significant cuts for the 2011-12 fiscal year. Wake County Human Services department has proposed at 23% budget cut to the nine agency partners that provide services for homeless individuals and families. These

agencies include: CASA, Haven House, Interact, Passage Home, PLM Families Together, Triangle Family Services, Urban Ministries, WIHN and The Women's Center. The total contract amount for these nine  agencies is $911,156. The proposed 23% cut totals $211,156. 

In full disclosure, I serve on the board of directors for PLM-Families Together, one of the agencies that will be severely affected by the cuts.  PLM-FT would be looking at a $75,000 cut in funding on top of funding cuts already taking place at the federal level.  The potential to cost the county in The $211,000 in proposed cuts will result in costs to mainstream and other services in the community of a conservative estimate of $2,547,425.

I fully understand that county budget, like many of our own, are strapped.  Cuts have to be made.  However, I believe deeply—rooted in my faith as Jesus as lover of the most vulnerable—that this cut is not the answer.  It drastically affects organizations that are serving on our most vulnerable populations.  

I keep thinking about MLK Jr’s interpretation of the Good Samaritan.  He says that the priest and levite didn’t stop because they were consumed with the question, “what will happen to me if I do?”  The Samaritan stopped because he dared to ask the question, “What will happen to him I don’t stop?” What will happen to our homeless neighbors if we allow these budget cuts to proceed?  Keeping this $211,00 in the budget will mean another group—even potentially us—will be affected.  Are will willing to make the sacrifice for another?  For someone that may not look like us? Dress or think like us? May not spend their money like us?  Do we dare as people of faith to overcome our self-preserving instinct and instead ask, “What will happen to these children of God if I don’t?”  

How can you help? Contact the County Commissioners.  http://www.wakegov.com/commissioners/default.htm.  Send emails, write letters, join us at the County Commissioners meetings and speak up!  The budget will be officially passed in on May 16^th.  If you would like a sample letter or talking points, email me and I would be happy to send them to you!  Get involved. 

PS: Homelessness is more than just laziness.  Many of our homeless neighbors are making tough choices daily to get by.  Without the luxury of savings or large networks of financial support, they are left with few choices. Urban Ministries of Durham created an interactive game to help us explore these difficult decisions.  Check it out: http://www.playspent.org/

Palm Sunday Preview

I can't wait for Palm Sunday at CTK.  Lent has been long this year.  We worship tomorrow, reflecting on how the shouts of Hosannas soon become shouts of violence, voices filled with hope of a messiah are filled with disappoint and even anger a mere five days later.  

Here is how tomorrow's sermon begins...

"Imagine the day.  You’re six years old. For the last month you have been asking, “Is it my birthday yet?”  When mom says, “next week” you wonder, “how long can that possibly be because it feels like forever.”  The day, however, has arrived. You wake up and know that the house will soon be filled with your other six year old friends. The house is perfectly decked out in the chosen theme—superheroes. The you spot it—there is even an piñata."

Come hear what piñatas have to do with Jesus!  I'll post on the blog the audio of the sermon this week.  

Welcome to Holy Week! 

danielle

Great News from Alaska

Last summer, I spent two weeks in Nenana, Alaska with some of the most amazing young people.  The team served the community doing everything from cleaning up a dog park, working with the elderly and I think they pulled every weed in the community J   The team was invited by the tribal council with the expectation that we would also work on a house while we where there of a man named Jeff.  Jeff’s house was close to being condemned.  The team worked in his kitchen and the bathroom and removed much trash especially alcohol bottles.   I got a call from the ministry we worked with the summer.  They met with the tribal council to set-up a potential trip again this summer.  The tribal council invited them back saying, “When the group left last summer, Jeff stopped drinking.  He hasn’t touched alcohol since August.  He stops by every morning to get a cup of coffee from the tribal council.”  How exciting.  The team didn’t spend much time with Jeff himself, but with each piece we removed, we prayed that God would remove the things that bind Jeff and as new wood and appliances were added, we prayed that new life and transformation would come.  And it has!  What blessing.  What a gift to know that services speaks volumes.  Crazy Love Team, I am so proud of you!  Thank you for your servant hearts and love. 

Kitchen Before 

Junk Removal

Kitchen after paneling and sink added.

Team Leaders and Missionary Advisors 

Ministry Group: Timmons, Derek, Christina, Kelsey, Samantha

Heading back to Chile

We are headed back to Chile! I am so excited as CTK plans to take a trip back to Chile in the fall.  As I was preparing for the informational meeting for those interested, I was reminded how much I love that place and those people.  In Chile, I have experienced Norma’s fresh baked bread, laughed about king crabs and inappropriate statues.  In Chile, I have met strangers who have become family and sang Justin Bieber with school kids.  In Chile, I learned that justice doesn’t have to steal your joy and that making space for people to share their story is the most important part of the journey.  

See pictures from our August 2010 trip here: http://www.christthekingcary.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=d_EajEk6YFY%3d&tabid=238

After my meeting, we had worship and sang, “Lord You Give the Great Commission.”  It is my prayer for the church as it seeks to partner in life-giving ways with people in our own communities and around the world. 

Lord, You give the great commission: “Heal the sick and preach the Word.”
Lest the Church neglect its mission, and the Gospel go unheard,
Help us witness to Your purpose with renewed integrity,
With the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Lord, You call us to Your service: “In My Name baptize and teach.”
That the world may trust Your promise, life abundant meant for each,
Give us all new fervor, draw us closer in community.
With the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.


Lord, You make the common holy: “This My body, this My blood.”
Let us all, for earth’s true glory, daily lift life heavenward,
Asking that the world around us share your children’s liberty
With the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.


Lord, You show us love’s true measure: “Father, what they do, forgive.”
Yet we hoard as private treasure all that You so freely give.
May Your care and mercy lead us to a just society.
With the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.


Lord, you bless with words assuring: “I am with you to the end.”
Faith and hope and love restoring, may we serve as you intend
And, amid the cares that claim us, hold in mind eternity.
With the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Aunt Times Two!

I am happy share that I am going to be an aunt again.  Matt and Erin are pregnant and expecting in October.  I am so happy for them and praying daily for them and for their baby as it continues to grow.  I think that one of the perks of a large-ish family is getting to celebrate in these births and welcome new life into our family. 

Matt & Erin—You will make amazing parents.  I love you both and am so happy that God has given you this child. Can't wait to see him or her grow up and be little pieces of you in this world.  I love you! 

What I Didn't Know about Billy Donovan

Tonight as I was watching the Final Four Show on CBS before the Butler-VCU game. CBS did an absolutely amazing piece on Billy Donovan, Anthony Grant and John Pelphrey and a unique bond that ties them—and it isn’t basketball. Despite all being coaches in the SEC, they all experienced the death of a child during pregnancy. All three couples talked with strength and authenticity. What a beautifully done piece.

If you can track down the video or DVR'd the pre-game show, make sure you watched it. If not, you can at least read about it here: http://www.thepostgame.com/features/201101/billy-donovans-secret-sorrow.

UPDATE:  I did want to add that I don't think that the theology expressed is entirely helpful but wanted to highlight what community can do and be for one another.  In worship this morning, our pastor said, "Jesus doesn't offer reasons, he offers his presence."  I don't think any reason is entirely helpful in times of deep grief, but God does offer God's presence faithful and unending.