First Communion

I preached and led in communion for the first time in a full church service this Sunday. I have served communion to students many, many times, as well as in the contemporary service at FBC. I have even helped deacons distribute the elements in church services and at nursing homes, but Sunday was historic for me. As I prepared what to say, I continually thought about the first time Martin Luther celebrated Mass as an ordained priest. According to the story, Luther was so nervous that he trembled so much the wine in the goblet spilled out all over the floor. Thankfully we don't use goblets and that didn't happen Sunday. It was a wonderful time for me, to get to gather around the Lord's Table to celebrate together. As I was preparing last week, I reread Henri Nouwen's book Can You Drink The Cup?. It is a wonderful book that asks the question that Jesus posed to James and John when they wanted to know if they could sit at Jesus' right hand. In his characteristic style Nouwen weaves the gospel with life to make one see with fresh eyes the way of the Savior. This quote stuck out in my mind, "We need to remind each other that the cup of joy, that precisely what causes us sadness can become the fertile ground for gladness." So often we forget this truth, but the cross is a living reminder of the source of our sadness, the death of our Lord and Savior becoming the source of gladness as we experience new life and walk with him daily. Perhaps as you approach Holy Week you can be encouraged that the difficulty you are going through will eventually turn to praise to God.

What Does the Cross mean to You?

I actually scribbled this down in one of my notebooks a few weeks ago as I was preparing to preach on the sayings of Christ from the cross and leading the Lord's Supper service this coming Sunday, but it has been a little crazy so I haven't had a chance to get it posted till now.

I read something today that asked the question "What comes to your mind when you hear the word cross?" I immediately thought of several song lyrics. "Girl with crimson nails, Jesus round her neck" (U2). "It's not my cross to bear" (Allman Brothers). "Yeah, you cross yourself those three times and step into this skin" (Bill Mallonee). "The Southern Cross" (Crosby, Stills, and Nash).

What does the cross really mean to me? Is it a theological explanation for a major world religion? Is it a piece of jewelry? Is it a metaphor for a burden or a difficult task? Is it a sign of blessing and peace? Is it an empty piece of wood that bore the mangled body of the savior? For me the cross is that symbol that reminds me of the love of God. It is the length to which a loving God went to redeem a stubborn, rebellious sinner like me. The cross has the power to humble me when I become prideful, cheer me when I become downcast, and boost my hope that God's love is bigger than my sin.

The Importance of Story

I am preaching and leading in the Lord's Supper service this Sunday in 2 of our morning services. In preparation I was doing some reading and studying and came across this quote that stuck out in my mind. For Christian faith, what happens in history is important; we believe that God acts in history to provide revelation and salvation. History is not important in all religions. What is important about the Buddha is his teachings, not his story. With Christ it is different. His story, the events of his life, are important to Christians. In fact, they are indispensable for Christian faith. (Fisher Humphreys in Proclaiming the Baptist Vision: Baptism and the Lord's Supper)

Seeing things for the First Time

I am a huge fan of The Black Crowes! I would argue that they are one of the greatest rock bands of the last 2 decades. There mix of gritty rock,laid-back blues, and southern sound are magical. They have a song that says, "Seeing things for the first time, in my life..." Don't you have moments like that when it feels as if you are seeing things for the first time, even though you probably have looked at it several times. I do that a lot with scripture. I will read a passage that I have read dozens of times and then all of a sudden something clicks, something connects with me that didn't before and it is as if I am seeing things for the first time. I think our faith is full of moments that are like that perhaps because it is through our faith that we view everything else. I'm not talking about rose-colored spectacles to put on when the world is dark and gloomy! I'm talking about looking at people around us, situations we encounter, and the world at large through the lens of the cross. Everything we see, do, and experience is because of our faith. Our belief in God shapes everything about our lives not just Sunday mornings. C.S. Lewis wrote, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else" (The Weight of Glory p.140). Do we agree with Lewis? Is our relationship with the Living God something we set to the side or is it the very foundation of our lives?

Bunny Pictures

Charlotte's 1st St. Patrick's Day

It's almost 11pm on St. Patrick's Day 2009 and we have both girls in bed and Cyd is asleep in the den. What an exhausting day, but we had a blast! We got to see family old and new, as well as catch up with some old friends at the parade. Claire isn't a big fan of the loud bands and the swarm of people though, I think she gets that from Papa Ted. Mamanon's was the usual hotbed of excitement this year. My cousin, Brad brought his girlfriend, let's hope they don't break up after she saw his family:) Mamanon's friends are getting older and several regulars for this day have passed away in recent years. In fact, several commented that it was the first year in a while that the young crowd out-numbered the old crowd. By the way, 5 kids all under the age of 4 at 40th Street makes life very interesting! Cyd and I especially enjoyed getting to share in the revelry of the day with Ricky and Susan Allen, evidently we didn't scare them away last year when they joined us. I have lots of pictures but it may be a few days before they get uploaded. It certainly was a wonderful day for Charlotte's 1st Saint Patrick's Day! Charlotte turns 1 on Sunday, WOW!!

St. Patrick

This is an inscription from the breastplate of St. Patrick.
May Christ protect me today;
against poison and burning,
against drowning and wounding,
so that I may have abundant reward;
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me;
Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me;
Christ to the right of me; Christ to the left of me;
Christ in my lying, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising;
Christ in the heart of all who think of me,
Christ on the tongue of all who speak to me,
Christ in the eye of all who see me,
Christ in the ear of all who hear me,

I rise today:
in power's strength, invoking the Trinity,
believing in threeness,
confessing the oneness,
of Creation's Creator.

For to the Lord belongs salvation
and to the Lord belongs salvation
and to Christ belongs salvation.

May your salvation, Lord, be with us always.

We head off to Savannah later today for all of the St. Patrick's Day festivities. We can't wait. Green grits, green bread, corned beef, cabbage, and everything else. This is Charlotte's first St. Patrick's Day so we are excited to see how she takes it all in. Here's hoping that your St. Patrick's Day is as wonderful as ours hopes to be.