A love letter from God

So, when I sermonize, I listen to music...all kinds, genres, and styles. this one came across the mix and instantly said, "This is God speaking to us." So I share what may be words God is writing and speaking to you. Oh and shout out to Katy Perry. 

Oh no, did I get too close?

Oh, did I almost see what's really on the inside?
All your insecurities
All the dirty laundry
Never made me blink one time

Unconditional, unconditionally
I will love you unconditionally
There is no fear now
Let go and just be free
I will love you unconditionally

Come just as you are to me
Don't need apologies
Know that you are worthy
I'll take your bad days with your good
Walk through the storm I would
I do it all because I love you, I love you

Unconditional, unconditionally
I will love you unconditionally
There is no fear now
Let go and just be free
I will love you unconditionally

So open up your heart and just let it begin
Open up your heart and just let it begin
Open up your heart and just let it begin
Open up your heart

Acceptance is the key to be
To be truly free
Will you do the same for me?

Unconditional, unconditionally
I will love you unconditionally
And there is no fear now
Let go and just be free
'Cause I will love you unconditionally (oh yeah)
I will love you (unconditionally)
I will love you
I will love you unconditionally

Grace & Peace,

Lindsey

A New Classroom: Sermon sharing

Hey friends,
 I haven't blogged in a while, but wanted to share the sermon from this past week for Christ the King. It was also UM Student Sunday, which I didn't really dwell on but an interesing combo. I look forward to this Advent season, where we are waiting with great expectation for the King of Kings who comes to the world as a baby.

Peace,
RevLB

Teachers make us work for the answer.  Teachers make us work for the answers. Now you all may be thinking, what in the world, but think about it. Some of the best teachers, whether they are teachers you had, have or the great teachers from movies- they all leave room, leave space for us to figure out the answers. Think about it. Mr. Miyagi teaches Daniel how to defend himself by first washing a car: wax on, wax off.  Yoda frustrates the young Luke Skywalker by his backwards talking-lessons. And Rafiki teaches Simba through experience, to reveal a deeper knowing. Besides what fun would it be if we always just got the answers?  No contemplation necessary, no need for hard work, the answer is just given to us.

 

As I think of my different teachers and schooling, maybe the hard work isn’t looking so bad, because there is a sense of accomplishment. We receive a sense of ownership for our studies, for the lessons learned. And if you’re still in school, you’re ready for the next step, the next grade. And for those of you not in school, the lessons never end; there are always new things to experience and learn, sorry. J   

But I want to dwell on the fact that teachers, for the sake of their students, sometimes make the arrival at the answer a long and winding road. A good teacher, I believe gently nudges the student in the right direction, forces the questions to be asked and at the end there’s a new truth revealed.

Or at least until the student posing the question is a professional in their field. Then the questions come from a place of aggression or frustration at the fact that a person has come and challenged all that they know. And yet in our gospel lesson today, Jesus remains calm with Pilate’s aggravated tone in wanting to know who this Jesus of Nazareth was.

In John’s gospel account, read this morning, Jesus has just been betrayed by one of his disciples and is being run through the judicial system. When Jesus finally arrives at the praetorium or Pilate’s headquarters, he is facing the best in the field. Pilate is a city official and Jesus is brought to him because he has the power to decide Jesus’ fate. So what seems to be any other day for trials, Jesus is brought into the headquarters and Pilate asks what Jesus is being accused of. When Pilate is not given a straightforward answer from the crowd, he attempts to wash his hands of the situation. “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law”. Realizing that they could not put anyone to death, according to their law, Pilate headed inside to get a better idea of what Jesus had done.

Here we see the expert in judicial law and policies, Pilate and the expert in God’s law, Jesus enter into an interesting debate. Little did Pilate know that Jesus was the teacher in the situation. Pilate asks, “Are you the king of the Jews?” And Jesus quickly responds with another question, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Or “Do you want to know for yourself, do you seek who I am on your own accord or are you going off of what the angry crowd says?” Pilate, seemingly annoyed answers “I’m not a Jew am I? Your people brought you hear, just tell me what you did.”

Jesus’ response will turn the situation on its head, centering the entire interrogation on God, on the purpose of Jesus himself. Jesus answers, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me form being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here”.

We get a Yoda-like  answer from Jesus. But what’s happening here is a gentle prod for Pilate to receive information about who Jesus is. This response from Christ allows Pilate to move into a deeper knowledge of what Jesus has done. And what Jesus did was bear witness to a different kingdom, one that didn’t line up with the world of the angry crowd, the chief priests of even Pilate. Jesus was in a sense putting the ball in Pilate’s hands, but playing on his own court.   

And Pilate is beginning to get it, “So you are a king?” And I imagine Jesus smiling with approval of Pilate’s recognition. Jesus says, “You say that I am king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice”.

Now we know how this story ends. Pilate sends Jesus into the hands of an angry crowd who will crucify the King of kings. But for a moment, in the privacy of Pilate’s headquarters, Jesus is recognized as King, Jesus has been able to do what he was sent to do, and that is share of the kingdom of God, one that is not of this world. Jesus has been able to testify to the truth and that is God has come to earth in him.

And it is this interaction between Pilate and Jesus that shows Jesus can reign over this earth as well as the heavenly Kingdom. Because there is a intimacy, there is a feeling that the same Jesus that came to the world as an infant can reign in glory with all the hosts of heaven. And somewhere in the middle is the every day experiences that teach us something new.

The chapel at Duke Divinity, Goodson Chapel, has a very basic design. Unlike the University’s chapel next door with it’s stained glass and gothic architecture, Goodson’s walls are all the same color stone. The rafters are a dark wood and every window in the chapel is clear glass. When you sit in worship or during morning prayer, you’re able to see all of creation around you. There aren’t many decorations but on either side of the chapel there is a piece of art. On your right there is a sculpture of Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan, one of Christ’s first acts in his ministry. Then on your left, there is an ornate painting of Christ enthroned in glory- bits of gold, reds, blues create an icon of Jesus with Alpha and Omega on the painting. And there in between these two very different, pieces of art, are rows and rows of seats where a variety of people gather to worship, lament, rejoice and learn something new about God.

It’s in this middle place between the humanity of Jesus, and the Christ enthroned in glory that we find ourselves. In this place we find new revelations about who Christ is and who we are because of Christ. We learn about this new kingdom, a new place where the truth lives, because of the truth that was born in Jesus Christ. Christ comes from, and brings a knowledge of both this world, and a world that is beyond our imagination, where Christ is both alpha and omega, beginning and end. And we, by God’s grace are invited into this kingdom.

May we ever learn the truth, participate in the truth, and experience the truth of God’s kingdom, a different kingdom that Jesus proclaims to the world.

Amen.

 

 

Things learned down in the holler.

I returned Saturday from a week -long mission trip in Frakes, Kentucky at the Henderson Settlement. I was thinking about what I would share in the blog when I got back, but decided there was too much so I'm going to give a running list of lessons learned, funny moments, etc.

1. I think first and foremost it is important to understand what a holler is. When someone says holler- they mean hollow. It wasn't clear to me, just sayin.

2. I used to love riding in the church van/bus but riding in the back of the church bus on curvy roads is a recipe for motion sickness.

3. Once you're down in the holler say goodbye to cell reception and hello to person-to-person communication.

4. We were alarmed on Tuesday morning when there were more than 2 cars on the road.

5. The dining facilities reminded me fondly of Estes dining hall. Don't worry Macon friends, I didn't use a tray.

6. Vegetarian isn't in the vocabulary in Kentucky.

7. I thought I could get away with wearing my Duke stuff because it's a very similar blue to UK. Nope. This was not successful.

8. I still wore my Duke stuff.

9. Playing the 80's version of Trivial Pursuit with people 20 years your senior does not a winner make. Let's just say I only got one pie piece because it was about Romeo and Juliet. [answers learned will make an appearance in the list].

10. The blue whale is the fastest growing animal.

11. There were two Gerry's - little Gerry and big Gerry. Big Gerry was trying to get me to switch with their pastor. The Pastor was not too fond of this idea.

12. I got to read fiction books, winning.

13. We rode an open air train to one of the coal mines and when we stopped at one of the mines, the announcement as we exited the train was "We have a snake in the gift shop for you to see". You found a snake and now it's an attraction? oh my.

14. Cows are funny animals. Bulls are scary animals.

15. We often confuse byson for buffalos.

16. We saved a goat from being drowned by two dogs.

17. Square is square, level is level, and a secure ladder is a secure ladder.

18. When I tried to be crafty and take one of the old windows home to make a table, I was shot down. I blame pinterest.

19. If you need windows replaced, just call me.

20. I didn't miss my electronics.

21. A lady on the trip kept saying Boom shaka laka. I'm bringing it back.

22. There were a bunch of porch swings.

23. Watching sunsets is one of the quietest activities ever.

24. If you see a Fatz cafe off the innerstate, trust your instincts, or don't. It's actually good.

25. The Settlement is one of the amazing ministries supported by the United Methodist Church.

These aren't all the lessons but just a few for you to take with you:)

Peace,
LB

A memory lane of sorts.

So I went on vacation last week. You may be saying to yourself "Ten weeks in and shes already going on vacation?" Well to my defense, I was advised to do so and it turned out to be the perfect week to get out of town and see people, celebrate life and of course see my Momma.

So I would call my week a mini memory lane. It began with a Baptism at Meyers Park UMC in Charlotte and ended in celebrating the life of Ira Andrews who exuded a life bathed in Christ. Here's the recap and a few photos of the lovely people I met up with along the way.

I left for Charlotte Saturday morning at 6 am to avoid the insanity that is D.C. traffic and wouldn't you know that 66 was a ghost town. That was fine with me- more time to belt out some songs and dance in the car without stank-eye stares.

6 1/2 hours later I was in front of the RevErind's house in Charlotte- and she wasn't there so, while waiting for her I just waved to people as they drove by and took in the peaceful neighborhood. After the intial freak out of not seeing Erin for 3 months, we got to catch up and talk Pastor talk for a bit. And I can't leave out that I was reunited with Margot [you pronounce the "T"] her cat. She was acting like she wasn't excited to see me, but please I could see straight through her whole act.

Later on we went to a Church in SC where some people I had met at a conference attended. After getting lost and pulling up to someone's house we finally made it. On the way home we grabbed some cookout, watched Soul Surfer and called it a night because, well Erin is a Pastor and had to be up for her J.O.B.

Meyers Park UMC is right in front of a Presbyterian church that has the same stone. After parking near the Presbyterian church and almost going in I realized that I needed to go to the other side [a minor blooper]. I went to the "contemporary" service and a "traditional" service and it was weird to sit in a service and not have any responsibilities. Well besides worshipping.

After church I said farewell to the RevErind and headed to the BULL CITYYYY. Durham, 919, Dirty D, Go Duke...etc. etc. I won't go into the details of my Durham visit but will list some activities:
Bulls Game [with RLD] vs. Norfolk tides [peeps from 757 we lost hah]
Walk around Downtown, walk around Duke Gardens
Trip to Div. school where I ran into EVERYONE
Elmos [duh]
Peony's sushi [duh]
Hung out with B-rad
Saw my Wesley peeps, internxpress was reunited and saw my fav seniors [shh...] and Courtney who will always be a freshmen to me.






With much sadness I left Durham and headed to see Brenda in Newport News. When I finally got there I realized I had left my house key in Fiarfax so I went to Mom's school got the key and crashed. My oldest bro was in town so we got to catch up and just rag on Mom/make her laugh which was good times. I beached it up with Kyla Miller for a bit and can't wait for her and Emerson to come see me:)  Momma and I went to Cheesburger yummmm. Then again with much sadness I had to go.

Saturday morning I joined many alum, Duncan UMC church members, current R-MC students and faculty to celebrate the life of Ira Lee Andrews III. Ira was a teacher, dean, and ordained Elder in the UMC. I took New Testament with him the last semester he was teaching and I thought I knew all there was to know...come to find out by mid semester I was failing but Ira took the time to sit down with me and get my grade up. He sparked my decision to take more Religious studies courses and I would later travel to Brazil simply because he was teaching the course.

It was great to see friends, sing [which Ira loved to do] and hear about his accomplishments, his spirit and his hope for the church as well as the college.

On the drive home I was so thankful for a week that covered a wide range of emotions but ultimately was a time of being with friends and family from all parts of my life.

Until the next post, peace.

 Pastor LB

Words Matter

Recently I was listening to some people describe the area that I'm from. It was one of those situations where, you can talk about your family but if anyone else does, them fightin' words! So as I sat there, I immediately wanted to become defensive. For all my people in the 757- the word used to describe our neck of the woods...ghetto.

I think there are other issues with using this term, that I will save for another rant on another day. But I don't think it's too much of a coincidence that the following day I would be preaching about how much our words matter. The text I preached from was Ephesians 4 beginning with verse 25. The writer of the letter had just reminded the church at Ephesus about how their new life in Christ had transformed them in body in spirit. And the "So then..." in verse 25 explains how to live this new way. The first thing to go is lying, then holding on to anger, robbing that takes away from building up the body and evil talk.

 I related these guidelines for the church to Jesus' invitational statement, "I am the bread of life". We speak differently, we react differently because we have been made new in Christ. We speak differently because the fragrant taste is still on our tongues, the fragrance of Jesus Christ who we encounter at the communion table as one body in Christ.

It was a difficult sermon- I couldn't just preach out and away from myself. Those are always the scariest sermons where you have to preach inwardly as well. You have to be transparent to the congregation in a way that shows you are all a part of the body.

My favorite part of the Ephesians passage was verse 29 where we are not to allow evil talk to leave our mouths SO THAT our words may give grace to others. So that our words can convey the very presence and being of God to others. And that my friends is good news and words to fight for!

So, although I wasn't to thrilled with having my stomping grounds be called "ghetto", we're always given an opportunity to speak truth with our lips, to speak love and to speak Grace, SO THAT we may build up the body.

Be well and speak words that build up!

Peace,
LB

p.s. If being from the 757 is wrong, I don't wanna be right ;)

Hold up, Rewind.

"Joy rises in my heart until I burst out in songs of praise to Him." Psalm 28:7

 I have the joy and privilege to marry a couple this coming October. How did I get to this point so fast? How exciting and terrifying at the same time. The past few months have been an interesting series of events. So, lets rewind for a moment.

You graduate from Divinity School- the place where you've spent the last three years. I remember my first weekend in Durham and I had to GPS everything. I only visited a mile radius around my home, not even aware of the farmers market, downtown, Walltown [where I would later move] and that students actually lived in neighborhoods instead of gated apartment communities. Needless to say the past three years were much needed in terms of spiritual and personal growth. I love Durham, I miss it already and although the third years were chomping at the bit to get out- a part of me will always miss both the Div school and the Bull City.

I walked out of the Chapel doors and packed up my home in Durham. A few days later I would set off on the Beezus and Baynham adventure to the northeast. For those who don't know, Beezus is Katie B. Anthony. The "B" stands for Beezus:)  First stop DC. A bike tour around the monuments, a Nats game and good food. Next stop Philadelphia where we would only exit the car to get a new iphone for Katie but we actually didn't then we would spend the next hour getting lost only to pass where we had originally stopped. Ay de mi. Then New York City! Crazy drivers, loud noises, tons of people and a cute little apartment on the Upper east side. We stayed with Katie's cousin who is quite possibly one of the funnies people I have ever met. So we wandered around the city for a few days and then headed for Rehoboth Beach, Del. It involved a ferry ride which mean nap timeeee. We camped in Rehoboth until we made the final trek to Newport News Virginia thru the Eastern Shore.

In two days time we would begin a nine day school. Yes, more school. Licensing School is required for those being appointed to churches through the Conference. Katie and I were placed on the first floor with Beth Downs. Winning. The school was to teach s about conducting various services, finances, Pensions, preaching, teaching and much more. It was a great time to meet clergy from all over and begin our connection as colleagues. We would conclude the nine days with a test. Ew. From there I would jump in my car for Nags Head, NC.

Best friend is getting married. I arrived at the beach house only to be shuffled to make bouquets. I was officially on THE itinerary. We practiced the ceremony on the beach, had a great time at the rehearsal dinner and would spend the next day primping, dancing and laughing before the big moment. Then by 5:30 Sam and Shawn were married!

For the next couple of weeks, I hung around good ole Newport News VA. Hanging out with friends. Wishing my best Emily didn't have to go to school every day. Chilling with Brenda- making her reorganize the whole garage with me that was full of my stuff. Oh yeah in 100+ degree weather. Making final arrangements for my move in July and beginning to get nervous. Really nervous.

June 22nd I left for Annual Conference in Roanoke Virginia. For those who haven't driven down 460 in  a while. I would put it on the list of things to do...beautiful! Once in Roanoke we were approved by the clergy session to be commissioned or approved as local license pastors. We went to various dinners for Young Clergy, Duke Alum, and New Clergy. I am about to admit something. I am a Methodist nerd. I love holy conferencing, when it is holy. I love seeing old friends. I love the wit of our beloved Bishop Charlene Kammerer. I rejoice in the triumphs of our Conference and pray for those ways in which we need to grow. I love Annual Conference. Ok. Saturday night was the commissioning service and I admittedly cried during the whole thing. My favorite part of AC.

The next two weeks were filled by my life planner Emily Claire Sturk. Rascal Flatts Concert, Darius Rucker, Little Big Town, Lady Antebellum, Eli Young Band in concert. Busch Gardens adventure with Kyla and Matt, dinners and other hang out times. The movers were all in place, I was packed and oh yeah I got a new dog.

CHARLES DUKE BAYNHAM. Because Charles Wesley is legit. Because I love Duke and Baynham, well just because. He's a lab/husky mix and the sweetest dog everrrr.

And then....IT'S MOVING DAY. My aunt came to help my mom and I unpack and begin to get settled. The house is huge so plenty of space to store the very little I own, hah. Picks on the facebook. It's weird and cool living alone. Although Charles is basically my bestie. So in the midst of unpacking I was writing a sermon for my first Sunday at Fairfax UMC.

Sunday is upon us. I have never preached four services in my life- exhausting! So many names, people and more people but AHHH this is what I have been preparing for! Whew, its wild and wonderous as someone once put.

And here I am today speaking with a couple about performing their wedding. How did I get here? Yep, wild and wonderous. Thanks be to God!

Until next time,
Peace,

Pastor LB

Hot office, warm welcome.

This coming Tuesday will mark three weeks of being a Fairfaxian. Or Fairfaxite? Either way it seems like I just got here but already I'm in the mix of the ministries going on at Fairfax UMC.

For those who don't know, I'm serving as Associate Pastor with responsibilities ranging from Welcome Committees, Visitors and Membership to Worship Planning. I'm still getting all the details on my responsibilities but I must say, so far so good. I'll give you a recap on my first full week in the office.

What better way to say, "hey, I'm the new Pastor!" than preaching! I was blessed to share with the congregation on my first Sunday. After the first service, I walked to the back to greet people and I didn't think the receiving line was ever going to end! But the people were so kind and welcoming that I didn't think anything of it. After that it was time to get ready for the next service. Praise be to God that both went well and the Spirit spoke! After the 11:00 service there was a reception where my Mom and I got to meet everyone and hear the different tid bits of the church. Here are the ones that have stuck with me.

There are way too many Tarheel fans here. I'm going to have to scrounge to find people to watch games with. And flash forward in the week- I walk in Monday morning and Tim is drinking out of a UNC mug...needless to say I hid the mug.
The congregation is very open. About there love for Fairfax, the church, and one another.
Four services is a lot and I think I need to create a Pastor bootcamp for such a thing.
It was surreal to be called Pastor Lindsey but cool.
And finally Monday morning, I walked into an office with no air!

So the week jumped off and what better way to start your first week than with 100 kids stomping, laughing, and yelling through the halls. VBS! I was pumped. So with the children filling the church throughout the week, I began setting up the office, learning my way around and getting to know the staff. Everyone except Mike was in for the week- he had just taken the Senior high on a mission trip. More details to come! I would say there were some key things that helped me my first week:

Libby. Libby has been working at Fairfax for 36 years in a variety of positions and she knows the history, the people and of course the logistical things. She is very organized [which for those who know me, thrills me to no end!] and so assuring. Even when I was sitting in the office making sure I understood the computer, Libby was checking in and welcoming me every day.

Sue. Sue has knowledge beyond my years of all things technical. Fax machine, phone, Shelby [some data base that is endless] and the copier. She has a great spirit and is full of life. Always laughing.

Jason. Jason is the previous Associate and has been SO helpful in this transition. I may have worn out my "call me anytime" card but I am so thankful for his assistance and glad to call him a colleague!

These are just a snapshot of the many ways people were welcoming and helpful this past week. I look forward to getting to know the staff better as well as the congregation.

Well as I sit in my now cool office on this Sunday morning. It's hard to believe that a week as passed by, but this is what God has been preparing me for and that is a blessing. So thanks Fairfax UMC for a warm welcome!

Peace!
Pastor Lindsey