MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH

Patty's Aunt Mary died earlier this month. She was an interesting, eighty-something woman who lived a rich, full life. Until the end that is: the last six weeks of her life were in a sense, a nightmare. Throw in a unclear diagnosis, medical and nursing home staff, power of attorney, family tension and strife, and no clear communication and documentation from the patient and what do you have: a living (and dying) nightmare.

I'm pro-life and believe that a true pro-life position is like a seamless garment of life, valuing life from conception to death. This is a complex issue with no simplistic answers and Christ followers must grapple with matters of life and death in and with faith.

I'd encourage you to take a look at Julie Polter's article on "End of Life Ethics"

http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&issue=soj0408&article=040841c

Take some time this week to speak with loved ones about matters of life and death. And do so prayerfully with sensitivity, to both the Spirit of God and to another as sisters and brothers in Christ.

TWIST OF FAITH: EMERGENT CHURCHES ATTRACT WORSHIPPERS WITH ALTERNATIVE RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES

Check out the article in Sunday's Pittsburgh Post Gazette on the emerging church movement in Pittsburgh. I know all of the pastors referenced in the story (including BJ Woodworth who has been a guest speaker at Christ Community Church) and I think you will find it informative and inspiring. Leave a comment - I'd love to hear your thoughts and reactions.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05086/477120.stm

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

One of the treasures from the ancient practices of the church that has caught the attention of the people in the emerging church movement is the Stations of the Cross. This most likely is new to those of us from the protestant tradition, but the stations of the cross have helped men and women of faith throughout the generations draw closer to the amazing events that transpired in Jerusalem some two thousand years ago that fully revealed the Father's love for sinners. In a sense, Mel Gibson's, "The Passion of the Christ" is a two hour film on the stations.

Last evening at our Holy Thursday worship gathering we viewed a short piece created by Sally Morganthaler entitled "Stations." You can view it here:

http://sermonspice.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=50

On this day we call Good Friday, I'll be spending time reflecting on the passion of the Christ. A compelling website that features the Stations of the Cross is

http://communiquejournal.org/081203_stationsgallery/index.html

At this site you will discover creative renderings of the final hours of Christ's life, along with commentary that will draw your heart deeper into the amazing love of God displayed in Christ's sacrifice.

For those of you who prefer music, take a listen to Jars of Clay's powerful version of "What Wondrous Love." You can download from a number of sites including iTunes and

http://musicdownloads.walmart.com/catalog/servlet/AlbumServlet?id=76944.

May you encounter Christ's passion and love for you afresh this day.

A DAY WITH TIM SANDERS

Yesterday I had the unique opportunity of spending a day with Tim Sanders. For those of you not familiar with Tim, he is the Chief Solutions Officer and Leadership Coach at Yahoo! and the author of a pretty amazing book,” Love is the Killer App" (here's a link to a great summary of the book, http://www.fastcompany.com/online/55/love.html)

Tim was in Pittsburgh yesterday to film a 90 minute program for PBS (it will air here in Pittsburgh on April 21 - look for me, I am the guy in the red sweater) based upon his new book "The Likeability Factor." His thesis is not rocket science that's for sure: people who are well liked are more apt to get what they want out of life than those who are disliked. Duh!

Sanders described the four building blocks of likeability:

•Friendliness: your ability to communicate openness to others
•Relevance: your capacity to connect with others' interests, wants, and needs
•Empathy: your ability to recognize, acknowledge, and experience other people's feelings
•Realness: the integrity that stands behind your likeability and guarantees its authenticity

Just imagine for a moment what a community of faith might look like if we took these four foundational relationship skills seriously.

Not only did I glean some good stuff from Tim (and let me say upfront I don't agree with everything Tim presents; although he does come from a Christian faith perspective, there were a couple of moments when I wanted to stop the cameras and do a bit of biblical and theological work with him) - but the beauty of experience was connecting with others in the studio audience. There were about 40 of us from all walks of life (business, the non-profits sector, and even the church), some who traveled as far as Wisconsin and Alabama to be a part of the event - who are seriously interested in making a real difference in their world. The 93 year old man who generously gives of his time and love, marketplace leaders who are shaping and nurturing environments of love and grace in their organizations, people who are investing their lives in others for the sake of Jesus Christ, couples and individuals who simply want to bring some joy and goodness to a world that is hopelessly spiraling downward in a doom loop.

God gave us a special gift: a community that had a limited lifespan of about 8 hours, but it was a true gift indeed. And at various times throughout the day, Tim reminded us that what we were involved in has the potential to change the world. That's a pretty bold statement, but one that has a lot of truth in it. When men and women, boys and girls, who have a high likeability factor, leverage that for the sake of Christ, I believe this world can be turned right side up.

PALM SUNDAY 2005

One man come in the name of love
One man come and go
One man come he to justify
One man to overthrow
In the name of love

What more in the name of love?

Pride (In the Name of Love), U2

Today was Palm Sunday. Our community of faith is in the early weeks of a series entitled Rediscovering Jesus (Who He Was and Is) and this morning I spoke on Jesus the King. For Christ followers, Palm Sunday marks the beginning of a week long journey with Jesus through a variety of experiences that reflect the full spectrum of emotions: the joy of his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the physical, emotional, and spiritual fatigue of the garden, the betrayal by a friend, the horror of the cross, the sadness and despair of the disciples, and the exhilaration of His resurrection.

It all begins with Palm Sunday when Jesus declares that He is indeed the long awaited King. The crowds immediately embraced Him with shouts of Hosanna (Salvation now!) And yet they quickly turned on him when they realized Jesus was not the kind of King they envisioned.

Jesus was the King of love. Every fiber of His being cried out love. In light of His mission of love listen again to U2's lyric:

One man come in the name of love
One man come and go
One man come he to justify
One man to overthrow
In the name of love
What more in the name of love?

I recently read a sermon by Mike Kinman entitled "An Army of One" by Mike Kinman. He closes with these words and I leave them with you as well:

"This week let us claim our pride in the name of love, let us walk with Christ and see what love has already done. Let us sit in awe and wonder and contemplate what love is doing right now. And as Easter dawns and we breathe in the air of the resurrected life, let us look back at where we've been. Let us look forward, too at the world that is set before us. And let us ask what more Christ calls this army of one, and each of our armies of one, to do and be."

What more in the name of love?

SCORE!

No, I'm not talking about March Madness (although I just watched Texas Tech upset Gonzaga). This morning I scored tickets to U2's concert in Pittsburgh on October 22.

I have to confess I am pumped. Over the past 30 years I have had the opportunity to see just about every major musical act - from my very first concert in 1972 (Elton John) - to celebrating a birthday with Paul McCartney a few years ago in Cleveland. U2 is the one super band I have never seen live, but in October a musical dream will come true.

7 months but who's counting...

SHARE THE WELL

Yesterday, I downloaded from iTunes (I am trying to say goodbye to CDs), Share the Well, the latest release from Caedmon's Call. The heart for the project and the songs that flowed forth were birthed through the band's visit to a number of different countries and cultures (India, Brazil among others). God enlarged their vision and gave them eyes to see His work all around them as well as a deep compassion to share the well and to leverage their music as a means of helping meet people's real needs.

This project is personally challenging. For the past eighteen months I have been focusing my energies (along with many others) on getting a new church off the ground. We express our mission at Christ Community Church through the following words: "helping people connect with God, one another and our world." And God is calling us to enlarge our vision of "our world."

If that vision resonates with you at all I'd encourage you to check out the band website:
http://www.caedmonscall.com/ns/sharethewell/

Share the well
Share with your brother
Share the well, my friend
It takes a deeper well
To love one another
Share the well, my friend...

You know I've heard good people say
There's nothing I can do
That's half a world away
Well maybe you've got money
Maybe you've got time
Maybe you've got the Living Well
That ain't ever running dry.

Share the well...

BLINK

I'm delving into the latest book by Malcolm Gladwell entitled Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking. Now there's a book title you have to love. Who wouldn't want more thinking power without having to think about it?

Gladwell is one of my favorite authors. A couple of years ago he wrote the best-selling The Tipping Point, a study in idea, thought, and social epidemics (that book has huge implications for a social movement like the Christian faith - I highly recommend it. BTW: Blink came into my hands through the kindness of my friend Laurel. She happened to be in Boston a few weeks ago and noticed in the local paper that Gladwell was giving a talk at Harvard. Knowing that I loved his previous work, Laurel found a way to obtain a personally inscribed copy of the book for me. What a great gift. Thanks Laurel!)

Here's a summary of the book:

"Don’t think - blink. Blink is a book about how we think without thinking, about choices that seem to be made in an instant - in the blink of an eye - that actually aren't as simple as they seem. Why are some people brilliant decision makers, while others are consistently inept? Why do some people follow their instincts and win, while others end up stumbling into error? How do our brains really work -in the office, in the classroom, in the kitchen, in the bedroom? And why are the best decisions often those that are impossible to explain to others?"

I'm pretty pumped to discover the power of thinking without thinking. I love practical stuff that will add value to my life (especially if I don't have to think much about it). And I've certainly want to grow in my ability to make good sound decisions (sometimes I make decisions by listening to my gut and then doing the opposite - I'm pretty sure that's not what Gladwell has in mind).

I'll keep you posted on my discoveries. If you want to explore for yourself, follow the link in my Stuff I’m Reading, Watching, and Listening To section.

FREEDOM

Last night I watched a woman walk (actually fly) into freedom. It was a big night outside the prison gates in Alderson, WV and at the Greenbrier Community Airport. Martha Stewart was released from prison after serving the first phase of her sentence for her conviction on charges connected to the sale of her shares in ImClone Systems.

My wife Patty has been a fan of Martha for quite some time. Over the years, I have to admit I have grown to respect Martha and have actually watched a few episodes of her TV show with Patty.

I was interested to see what Martha looked like last night upon her release from prison. I realize it was a highly choreographed event, but Martha looked really good. There was lightness in her step, warmth in her smile, and a sense of genuine joy on her face. Being released from prison can do that to a person. Although Martha did not speak to the reporters and well-wishers gathered, she did release a statement on her website that read:

"The experience of the last five months in Alderson, West Virginia has been life altering and life affirming. Someday, I hope to have the chance to talk more about all that has happened, the extraordinary people I have met here and all that I have learned. I can tell you now that I feel very fortunate to have had a family that nurtured me, the advantage of an excellent education, and the opportunity to pursue the American dream. You can be sure that I will never forget the friends that I met here, all that they have done to help me over these five months, their children, and the stories they have told me. Right now, as you can imagine, I am thrilled to be returning to my more familiar life. My heart is filled with joy at the prospect of the warm embraces of my family, friends and colleagues. Certainly, there is no place like home."

I pray that these words are true and that Martha's experience in prison has been and will continue to be, a life altering and life affirming one.

Although most of us have not had the kind of prison experience Martha Stewart had, we do know what it's like to be held captive. A number of years ago the band Creed burst onto the musical scene with the song, "My Own Prison."

"A court is in session, a verdict is in,
no appeal on the docket today, just my own sin.
The walls are cold and pale, the cage made of steel
Screams fill the room alone I drop and kneel.
Silence now the sound, my breath the only motion around.
Demons cluttering around, my face showing no emotion
Shackled by my sentence, expecting no return.
Here there is no penance, my skin begins to burn.

I cry out to God, seeking only his decision
Gabriel stands and confirms
I've created my own prison."

We all create our own prisons - prisons of anger, denial, addiction, hurt, fear, pain, sin. One of my own personal prisons is the cell of resentment. One conversation this week with a friend reminded me that my anger toward a particular person is still enslaving me. It's imprisoned me and I need to get out.

As well, others seek to enslave us through their own sinfulness words, intentions, and actions. And yet the truth of the Jesus story is that Jesus came to set the captives free. In one of Jesus' first public appearances He said,

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” [Luke 4:19-20]

What enslaves you? What does your prison cell look like? And what have you learned about yourself, others, and God in the midst of that place? And although there won't be any TV cameras or private jets to whisk you off to the next season of life, Jesus is there - He holds the key, and He wants us to walk into His freedom.