Number 6

Recently, I asked my almost 6-year-old son to name his favorite Atlanta Brave. I knew what the answer would be, of course. I was fully prepared for "Chipper!" (what 6 year old could resist that name?), but instead, I got an entirely different answer.

"Number 6," he said, "because that guy CONTROLS CHIPPER JONES!!"

Clearly, the baseball "force" is strong with this one. Somehow, he'd managed to see past the obvious choice and named the real power that drives the team's success. Although I'd never really thought of it before, I had to admit that "Number 6" is my favorite Brave, too.

You know the old question: "if you could have dinner with anyone living or dead, who would it be?" Gandhi? Lincoln? Einstein? Shakespeare? Too much pressure.

Bobby Cox? Perfect. If any of you out there have a line to making this happen for me, I promise to put in a very good word for you with regard to your eternal benefits package.

Sit down to dinner with "Number 6" and you just know that you'd have a great time talking baseball and life (after that, what else is there, really?) over a nice, juicy steak. I'd ask questions, and listen, and see what I could learn about how he's done what he's done.

You know what he's done, right? If not, you're been pretty confused by what I’ve written to this point, but thanks for hanging in there. Bobby Cox is the manager of the Atlanta Braves, and they finished in first place in the N.L. east this season. Oh yeah, and they've done the very same thing every single season since 1991*.

1991 was a different lifetime ago for all of us. If you're a teenager and reading this (does that happen?), you have no memory of the Braves except as winners. That fact is nearly too much for me to comprehend.

The Braves of my childhood were just plain terrible. My dad taught me to love the Braves from the time that we got TBS on cable when I was 7. We suffered through some bad, bad times. Georgia comedian Lewis Grizzard said back then, "do you know what Michael Jackson and the Atlanta Braves have in common? They both wear one glove for no apparent reason.”

Times change. Now, Michael Jackson jokes just aren’t that funny, and nobody’s making fun of the Braves. The Braves have been a first-place team since Bill Clinton was just the Governor of Arkansas and George W. Bush was helping run the Texas Rangers.

They’re winners. How did that come to be?

Well, that’s the first “dinner with Bobby” question that I’d want to ask. How did you do it? When the Braves went from last place in 1990 to first place in 1991, we were all amazed. What we didn’t know was that we were only watching the first act of a cultural revolution.

The team has undergone a fundamental shift in culture and identity. There was a time when you could see defeat in the eyes of Braves’ players before the first pitch was thrown. Now opposing teams walk onto the diamond at Turner Field with hints of intimidation and doubt peeking through. The entire Braves’ organization, from top to bottom now radiates something that can only be called --- confidence.

Number 6 has had a whole lot to do with this. I think that he’s only operated with one assumption since taking the helm. “We’re going to win.”

In a real sense, his job is to “control Chipper Jones” and all the other guys who fill out the team roster. This year was particularly challenging. The Braves haven’t won because they have the most expensive players. In fact, just the opposite has been true for the last few years. In 2005, they fielded 18 rookies during the course of the season, which is generally a recipe for finishing anywhere other than first place.

In April and May, things were getting ugly. The team was not doing well, and many of the fans were beginning to doubt. Bobby was just like a wise old pastor reassuring his church as it goes through a troubled time, if your image of a pastor can include a cigar-chomping, cantankerous old man who likes to pepper his language with well-placed expletives while wearing a ball cap kicked way back on his head --- and don’t forget the nylon baseball pants. Why not?

He never panicked. He simply reminded us all to remember who the Braves are. Winners. It would be o.k., and it turns out that it was. He knew it all along.

The very same unflappable attitude which allows for success in the long-haul of a 162 game season has also been blamed for the Braves’ historically quick exits from the playoffs. The Braves, it’s been said, are built for the marathon, not the sprint.

Maybe. But that’s why the lessons Number 6 teaches us could be so directly applicable to our lives. At its core, the Christian life is more like a marathon than a sprint. Faith in the saving grace of Jesus Christ causes nothing like than a change in identity. That new identity allows us to run.

Some folks have trouble watching baseball for the very reason that the season is so long. If you play 162 games, how can any one of them really matter? And that’s exactly the point. The trick of the game is to learn the importance of perspective and perseverance. When the Braves lose 5 in a row, or 8 out of 10, or even most of the month of April, Bobby Cox never waivers in his faith.

We’ll all hit some bad streaks in our lives, as well. There will be days, or even strings of days, when things don’t go just like we’d planned. There will be times when the wind will blow and we’ll be tempted to doubt whether the anchor will hold. That’s when we have to remember who we are. That’s when we dig deeply into the culture of church --- the resources of that group of people who are committed to one another through a common faith.

We are a people who live in confidence. Through Christ, victory is assured. There are times when we will sprint, but most often, faith feels like a marathon (not that I’ve run one, but I can imagine). The good news is, we can run that race with assurance, peace and joy.

The playoffs start today. Come on Bobby, get them boys to sprint to the finish!

Peace,
Adam

*Note to the baseball purists – the only exception was 1994, which was shortened by a player strike. The Braves were 6 games behind when the strike happened, but we all know they would have finished first. Trust me on this.

LIFE AT SOTH:

Even though the Braves’ game does start at 4:00 this afternoon, we’ll still begin our Bible Study at 7pm in our worship space. Read chapter 5 in our book, God is Closer Than You Think. I’ll see you there, and pay no attention to the tiny headphone in my right ear.

Charge Conference: Remember that our charge conference will be held at our 8:30 worship service this Sunday. Our new District Superintendent, Rev. Jacqui Rose-Tucker will be present to preside. This is an important time of business for our church, but it will happen in the context of worship and celebration. Don’t miss this chance to participate and learn about the life of your church.

The Pumpkins are Coming, The Pumpkins are Coming!!!

October 14^th, our pumpkins will arrive in the afternoon and all available hands are needed to help with unloading. This is an awesome event, a lot of fun, and serves as the primary annual fundraiser for our youth. If you have any questions, contact our Youth Director, Cindi Bartlett at cindi@sothumc.net

Night

"When it's dark and night takes over, all the forest creatures come out.

The young lions roar for their prey, clamoring to God for their supper.

When the sun comes up, they vanish, lazily stretched out in their dens.

Meanwhile, men and women go out to work, busy at their jobs until evening.

What a wildly wonderful world, GOD!

You made it all, with Wisdom at your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations."

Psalm 104:20-24, as paraphrased by Eugene Peterson in The Message

Last night as we sat together in our living room, Holly and I heard the almost forgotten sound of falling rain. As it drummed away on the metallic casing of the a.c. unit in our backyard, we listened to the noise and asked each other, "what is that?"

Rain. Remember rain? The liquid stuff that falls out of the sky and keeps us all alive. It's hard to believe that in a summer that saw Douglasville get 14 inches of rain in one 48 hour period, it's now been dry enough for long enough that the green things of our world have actually started turning brown.

Fall is on its way, but the baby-rooted sod in our front yard hasn't lost its color because of oncoming cold. It has simply dried out, and this grass-owner has grown too busy and stingy to keep turning on the sprinklers. New Orleans is underwater, but my grass has dehydrated in Douglasville. Who can figure it out?

Early this morning, when I opened our back door so that our groggy dog could run free into the grass and complete her "to do" list for the day, I swear the world looked greener. Even in my artificially-planted, mostly-treeless piece of suburban frontier, the tint had been adjusted from dingy green-brown to an almost-normal green, overnight. Newly energized chlorophyll was doing its thing, and God's ancient promise of life was fulfilled again, for one more day. God is to creation what Oil of Olay promises to be to "mature" skin, a form of nightly renewal.

In his book, God is Closer Than You Think, and in the chapters that we're studying this week at Shepherd of the Hills, John Ortberg says:

"Actually, the first task of the day is to go to sleep...we think of a day beginning when the sun comes up or when the alarm clock goes off or when Starbucks opens. But the ancient rhythm of days is different. In the creation account, the order is always the same: 'And there was evening and there was morning -- the first day.' Each day in creation begins with evening. In Jewish life, the Sabbath begins not at sunup, but sundown. Eugene Peterson notes that in this way the biblical writers help us to remember: Everything doesn't depend on me. I go to sleep, God goes to work. It's his day. The world keeps spinning, tides ebb and flow, lives begin and end even though I am not there to superintend any of it. God is present when I sleep" (Ortberg 72-73).

You know, he's got a point. From 11:00 pm last night until about 6:30 this morning, I slept. Like a baby. And you know, the world went right on without me. I was not "there to superintend any of it." No doubt, if I'd stayed up and worried hard enough, I could have changed all the bad things that happened, right? I could claim credit for all the good things that happened, too, I'm sure. Instead, I slept --- and the grass still got greener.

Perspective is a wonderful thing. It's not always the thing we want, but I find that it's almost always the thing that we often need most in our lives. Psalm 104 is a wonderful piece of spiritual perspective. There are moments when I need to understand my relative size in this world. There are times when I need to remember that there is more than what's right in front of me. All of us need to make sure that from time to time we open our doors and walk outside, just to have a look around.

We should never let a year pass without standing beside the vastness of the ocean, or gazing up from the foot of an awesome mountain. The next time that you fly into Atlanta, especially if your flight home arrives after dark, make sure you get a window seat. Savor the moment when you see the city's various skylines unfold before you, into the distance. Ponder the sheer magnitude of the city lights that spread as far as you can see in all directions.

Sometimes we resist such experiences because they make us question our own sense of validity and purpose. The undeniable power of an ocean that could so easily swallow and destroy us makes the fragile nature of our weak, tiny bodies all too readily apparent. The sight of a teeming city makes us wonder how the single story of our own life could matter when it's simply one among millions.

And yet, it's this very kind of perspective, brought by such moments of uncomfortable knowledge that makes our faith real, strong and useful.

In the depths of our hearts, we must acknowledge that God is in control and we are not. We must accept the reality of our dependence on God, even when it means giving up our finely crafted self-deceptions.

Many nights came and went in this world before I was ever on the scene. Many more will come and go without me. God will renew and sustain and keep his promises. Like me, God seems to have a thing for lawns, and he gives them what they need. And also like me, God loves his children a whole lot more than his yard. He promises to renew and sustain us, too, if we'll let him.

When it's "dark and night takes over," God is in control. It's gotten dark nearly 40,000 times since my great-grandfather was born 107 years ago. Nearly 8,000 have passed since his death. My youngest son has seen the sunset only 802 times. Hopefully, I've got a good 20 or 30 thousand sunsets left myself (come on, medical technology!).

But no matter how many remain, it's good to know that God is in charge of them all. The tides will keep up their work of ebb and flow, the world will rotate, grass will grow, rain will fall, and none of it will depend on me. A little at a time, I'm learning that lesson, and it's a powerful place of peace.

May God grant us evenings and mornings filled with activity, rest, love and perspective. What a wildly wonderful world.

I'll see you this Sunday,
Adam

LIFE AT SOTH:
Many thanks are owed to John Sheffield for our awesome new newsletter format. Thanks to Kelly Smith for technical assistance, and to Jim Canup for posting on our website. You'll get a hard copy in the next few days (if you're on our mailing list), but if you want to preview now, you can download the .pdf file at www.sothumc.net

Friday night, we'll have our third installment of "Generation on Fire." This is such a great event --- with live music, food and coffee, and lots of great conversation. It is an awesome time and the perfect thing to invite a SOTH first-timer to attend.

This evening at 7pm, we'll continue our book study, God is Closer Than You Think. Over 60 adults were in attendance last week, which is incredible. If you haven't been and will need childcare tonight, please give us a call and let us know at 770-920-1551.

SOTH has invited the community to worship through our "God Is Closer" mailer that we sent last week. A great follow-up might be a personal invitation from you to your friends and neighbors.

Green Light

"It looks like EVERYBODY'S going to be on green light today," said the little child in the back seat, with great enthusiasm. "Get it? ...Green Light?" He laughed heartily at his own joke, a most endearing characteristic inherited from his old man.

Sure enough, the light was green. It wasn't the funniest joke I'd ever heard, but for a 5 year old at 7:50 a.m., it wasn't a bad attempt. And I was definitely a "tough crowd," running on too little sleep, too little coffee, and a mind consumed by the day's list of tasks that were yet to be completed.

As our turn came to swing out onto Chapel Hill Road, the boy continued. He would further his discussion of Kindergarten crowd-control tactics. "Do you know where we keep the clips? Behind the door. That's where you have to go to move your clip." Having heard about this before, I wasn't completely lost. "That's when you get in trouble, huh," I said.

"Right," he said, affirming that my statement was correct, yet indicating that he would have to give me yet another remedial lesson in the ways of education. "You start on blue light, then green. That's a warning. Then, yellow. I guess that's like a DOUBLE WARNING."

I had to play along, heightening the dramatic build up to the final stage of traffic light lessons in right and wrong, good and evil. "Then," he said, "you go to RED light." A moment of silence. "_______ went to red light yesterday." Two moments of silence, a show of respect for the awesome power that is "red light."

"That means you have to stand at the fence (during recess, no less) for TEN WHOLE MINUTES!!" "Wow," I said, "that sounds like a long time." "Yeah," he said.

What more was there to say?

There are kindergarten lessons of action and consequence that would probably help us old folks, too. Can't you just hear the water cooler talk on Thursday morning? "Hey Bob, did you stay on blue light so far this week?" Bob, disgusted, says, "No. Man, I was talking during the meeting and went straight to green." "Too bad, dude, I guess you'll have to wait until next week to get something out of the prize bag. But, looks like I'm gonna make it, and I hear that this week there are hot wheels in there."

My boy is beginning to learn the lessons of life. Actions have consequences. Cooperation is a good thing. Life together is possible, if we all learn to share and get along. Some folks push the rules further than others, but the rules will push back. Ten minutes on the fence is a long time.

As we pulled up to the drop-off at his school, my little paratrooper put on his pack, pushed out the door and bailed free, into the great wide open. His mission: maintain status "blue light" through Friday at 15:00, and obtain hot wheels vehicle from the prize bag. Resolute, he spotted his comrades-in-arms and immediately accelerated to a trot. Soon, he was beyond my sight and I drove away, leaving him to all that his day would hold.

He may or may not accomplish the mission. So far, we haven't seen "yellow," though green is not an uncommon occurrence. Either way, lessons will be learned, and tomorrow will be another new beginning. That little boy can rest assured that whatever happens, on any of his days, his father's love will never change.

Somehow that sounds familiar.

Matthew 7:7-11 7 "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? 10 Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

May the Father who loves us give us those good gifts, even if the gift is a much-needed trip to green light.

Grace and Peace,
Adam

POEM FOR THE DAY:
(Because poetry is like spinach, it can be tough going, but you know it's really good for you)

"Changing Diapers" by Gary Snyder, from Axe Handles © Shoemaker & Hoard, Washington D.C.

Changing Diapers

How intelligent he looks!
on his back
both feet caught in my one hand
his glance set sideways,
on a giant poster of Geronimo
with a Sharp's repeating rifle by his knee.

I open, wipe, he doesn't even notice
nor do I.
Baby legs and knees
toes like little peas
little wrinkles, good-to-eat,
eyes bright, shiny ears
chest swelling drawing air,

No trouble, friend,
you and me and Geronimo
are men.

LIFE AT SOTH:
Tonight is our monthly dinner at the church, followed by the second installment of the God is Closer Than You Think study at 7pm. Thanks to everyone for all the great feedback and for the awesome attendance last week --- nearly 50 adults were present. Our dinner will follow the same plan as usual and we'll just make the transition from supper right into the study in our worship space. It'll be loud and a little messy, but we can make it work. If you can't make it until 7:00 or later, please come on in anyway, get your supper and feel free to eat while you listen.

Kanye

"George Bush does not care about black people."

This stark statement hung in the air as a stunned Mike Meyers (think "Austin Powers") heard his own chin hit the floor in disbelief. He and rapper / producer Kanye West were paired together to read scripted comments about the levee breaches in New Orleans. They were taking part in the live, musical fundraiser broadcast on NBC last Friday, and were supplying the celebrity segue between performers.

Kanye, however, had no intention of staying on script. Given the opportunity to speak live and direct to the American people, he seized the moment and spoke his mind. The wonderful thing about our nation, of course, is that each of us are allowed to do this. Freedom of speech rules the day. The not-so-wonderful thing is that when it comes to certain issues --- race being chief among them --- we're not really supposed to exercise that right.

For whatever reason, this often seems especially true in church. Folks don't like it when we talk about money, especially at church. Never are we to mention sex, and this is especially true at church, even though so much teaching on Christian perspectives on human sexuality is needed. But most of all, perhaps, we don't talk about race or class, and the role that those things play in our society. Especially at church!

Maybe this is because we want to leave church feeling "good," and when we get into addressing issues like these that are very personal and difficult to resolve, we just leave feeling all "unresolved" instead. Or worse yet, somebody might get mad, which is always the last thing anybody wants to see and we all know "getting mad" is the greatest church trump card of them all.

So, do we never talk in our faith community about the uncomfortable specifics of the stuff that really matters? Whatever you think about Kanye West, I'm glad he said what he did, because at least we're starting to talk to each other. Maybe. My fear, however, is that we're not talking to each other so much as being "talked to" by the media. So, I hope to start a conversation today that transcends hype and makes us reflect on the motives of our hearts.

First, let me say that Kanye's comments have drawn some fair criticism. His statement passes judgment on the inner-workings of the President's heart and questions his personal morality. This is not something that any of us can fairly judge about another person, and I think that we always need to use some caution when it comes to painting anyone with such a broad brush. To place total blame for the massive failings of our disaster response system on the back of one person is an oversimplification of a series of complex failures. Those failures seem to have happened across every level of government.

George W. Bush also professes Christian faith, and moreover, he is a United Methodist. Now, membership in our great denomination certainly does not immunize a person against racism. I would often be the last to defend some of his policy positions, and I have the feeling that he and I might disagree a good bit theologically. But still, he is our President, and a Christian, and so I want to believe with all my heart that he does care about people, regardless of race, and that his faith compels him toward compassion for everyone.

We would make a huge mistake if we interpreted the events of Hurricane Katrina solely on the basis of race. Kanye West is wrong, as we would be, if we believe that the needed rescue was so long in coming solely because the vast majority of those caught in New Orleans were black. I really think that view is too simplistic and is motivated primarily, though understandably, by emotion.

All of us should be more concerned about the gross incompetence that was demonstrated at every level of government and consider the fact that we could all be at risk in a time of disaster. Our government simply did not do its best job in protecting and aiding its citizens, especially those citizens who were poorest and most vulnerable. In New Orleans, those citizens were mostly black.

But, there is another, even more dangerous mistake that we could make. Many white people that I've talked to, seen on tv and heard on the radio want to believe that race played no role in the days after Katrina. Even more than this, they generally demand that there should be no talk about racism, and talking about such issues is nothing less than "race-baiting." For these people, West's remarks border on unpatriotic and subversive.

My feeling is that if Kanye West's statement was an oversimplification of the facts and across the line of judgmentalism, then believing that race played no factor is simply a head-in-the-sand trip through a white person's dreamworld.

When we all began to see the pictures of people crowding outside the Superdome and Civic Center in New Orleans, only the most hard-hearted among us did not feel a sympathy for the people who suffered. But, I simply can't help wondering whether the depth of emotion that each of us felt wasn't directly proportional to how much the people in the pictures looked like us.

What I mean is this. I believe that white Americans (including the President) were sympathetic to what was happening, but what Kanye West expressed was not merely sympathy. It was empathy. Empathy doesn't mean simply feeling sorry for someone -- it means identifying with their suffering, and feeling that suffering as though it were your very own.

There are ugly realities of racism still at work within each of us and within our nation that have to be acknowledged if they're ever to be overcome. When any of us see suffering children who look like they could be our own sons or daughters, our hearts are moved past sympathy to empathy. Often, whether we're white or black, we fail to see people of other races with that same depth of connection.

As much as I wish that I could believe something else, in my heart I agree with a part of the sentiment expressed by Mr. West. If the images coming from New Orleans had been of my white wife carrying our little white boys through floodwater, or if the image had been my white face crying over my dead white child, something would have happened more quickly.

As Americans, we are of divided minds on this issue. As a Christian and a pastor, my role is to call all of us to deeper relationship with God and one another. There's simply no way I can do that task effectively without calling each person prayer and reflection, no matter how painful. Each of us need to ask God to show us ways that we can become more aware of the latent racism in our hearts and lives. Each of us has great room for much growth and improvement.

I am so proud of Shepherd of the Hills for being a place that white and black people love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. My prayer is that we will see our congregation lead the way for our community and for the United Methodist churches of our area with regard to the living of a real, powerful diversity. Some would say that we're "color blind," or that at least we're heading that direction. I'd challenge that assertion, as to whether it's even possible, or whether such as idea would really be good in the first place. You see, we really are all different.

The strength of our country and of our church is in that very fact -- we are all different. We are of different races, different political persuasions, different theologically and economically. We have different talents, gifts and graces. The miracle of the church, and of Shepherd of the Hills is that we don't have to all be the same. God calls us to embrace difference, and to celebrate those differences, while holding fast to our greater unity in Christ.

If being "color blind" means we all come out gray, I choose to see all the colors. What I pray is that God will give me a heart transformed beyond the culture in which I've been formed. I want to see the colors, and feel a real empathy for anyone who suffers. Whether a person looks like me or not, I pray that God will help me each day to feel another's suffering as though it were my own.

As people of Christ, I believe that God can use us to show the world what that kind of community is all about. We will love each other. We will struggle together. We will disagree and remain united. We will even transform our world. May God forgive us, and heal us and always use us for the making of something better than the things we find today.

Grace and Peace,
Adam

LIFE AT SOTH:

Tonight -- Tonight -- Tonight!!! 7 PM, Our first study on the book, God is Closer Than You Think. It looks like we're going to have huge attendance and this is really exciting for me and in the life of our church. If you didn't sign up, come on anyway and we'll get you in. Our study will continue these next 6 Wednesday nights. Childcare is available, but if you haven't reserved that yet, please give us a call in the office to let us know (770) 920-1551.

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER: President Bush has asked Americans to observe a national day of prayer for hurricane victims this Friday. SOTH will create a "prayer chapel" at the far end of "the ranch," our ministry house/office located next to the church. Come in the far-end, carport entrance and you'll find seating, an altar, cross, some good quiet and materials to help focus your thoughts and prayers. The space will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Blessed

In the days since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, we’ve all had plenty of difficult images to absorb. The stories have been so plentiful, so full of tragedy and heartbreak that at times I feel as though I’ve reached the limit of what I can take in. If I’m being honest, and knowing how truly calloused this sounds, I must admit that I need a hurricane break. Just for a day, even just for a couple of hours, I’d love to have something else to think about.

And then this morning I had to go and encounter the words of Christ in scripture. This morning’s text on sacred space was from Luke 6:20-23. Jesus tells us that the poor, the hungry, the weeping --- these are the people most blessed by God.

Now, while that may sound great in theory, out there in a “sermon on the mount” or “plain” depending which Gospel you’re reading, we’ve now seen what poverty and desperation look like in real life, up close and personal. We all know that in any society, it’s the poor who are at the most risk. Our instincts are to work and scratch and save, so that we can insure that we and our families are protected from that risk.

Blessed are the poor, Jesus says, but they’re also the ones who wind up at the Superdome and the New Orleans Convention Center, waiting for buses that just don’t come. They’re the ones that watch their infants and elderly die of dehydration, the ones who become victims of violence and anger, the ones who perpetrate that violence on others.

Of all the words that come to mind for describing the pictures of those suffering Americans, “blessed” just really isn’t one of them. And yet, Jesus looked at his disciples and said, in effect, “those poor people, hungry and weeping, those who are hated and excluded and defamed, those are my people. The Kingdom is theirs, and they are blessed” (my paraphrase).

In my world, that just doesn’t make good sense. The last time I checked, 2 + 2 still equals 4, but what if…what if Jesus’ concept of mathematics is just a little different than mine? What if it’s altogether different?

Yesterday I had the privilege of driving a recently relocated citizen of Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Lifepoint Ministries. “Kevin” (real name withheld) wanted to attend the job fair being held there for hurricane victims who are now living in our county, but he had no means of transportation. As Katrina bore down upon him, he caught a ride with some neighbors who were heading to Atlanta. They dropped him in our town, where he is now staying with some old friends.

By any American standard, Kevin is poor. The Hattiesburg apartment he managed to rent on his minimum wage salary was mostly destroyed by the high winds and rain. He doesn’t know what remains of his personal possessions. He left his car behind because he didn’t know if his tires were adequate to make the trip. He wants to go back and get it, but doesn’t know how he would get back, or whether his car even made it through the storm undamaged. He now has no job in Hattiesburg, because the gas station where he worked as a cashier has been destroyed. He plans to stay in Douglasville long-term, and he’s starting with little more than the clothes on his back.

Do you know what he told me? “All my family got out. Thank God, I got out and I still have my life. You know, I am really (you guessed it)…blessed.” That word rang in my head this morning as I heard Jesus use it to describe people in a similar situation two millennia ago.

Blessed. Am I blessed because my closet is full, because my house is intact, because there is food in my refrigerator, or because the tires on my vehicles still have a little tread on them? Or does real blessing run a little deeper than our “stuff?”

Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful for all that I have, but sometimes even the way we express that sentiment of thanksgiving comes to sound as though we value those things more than our relationship with the one who gives them.

A few years ago I encountered a doctor in Augusta who was leaving his very successful and lucrative practice to return to a career of full-time medical missionary service in Africa. He said, “you know, when I’m here, it’s so much harder to see God.” I pressed him further to understand exactly what he meant. “Here,” he said, “I don’t see God so easily, because I see the grocery store, and the highway system, the bank, and my house my office and my church building. I see the “things” of life and become dependent on them for my security, rather than dependent upon God.” And then he said this, "when I'm in the mission field, I'm clear that it's God who keeps me alive."

That moment has stayed with me. Maybe 2 + 2 for Jesus really does equal something unexpected. If there is no other way for us to see through the false reality of our world and stay focused on real relationship with God, then let us become poor and hungry. Let's weep, and be hated. Let's become defamed and excluded because of Jesus. All of it is worth the blessing of real relationship with him.

Remember, Jesus made big points, in big ways. “If your eye causes you to sin,” he said, “pluck it out.” Be clear, I neither advocate the plucking of eyes, nor the practice of self-inflicted poverty. But I do advocate, and struggle daily to practice, the honest and frequent self-inspection of the soul that we all need so badly.

The events of recent days invite us to respond. In the coming weeks, months and years, we will have many opportunities to stand among the poor, which means standing among the very ones that Jesus called “blessed.” Our current partnership with Lifepoint and the other churches of our community reveal a tiny window on that “Kingdom” Jesus described.

That kingdom-picture may not look much like you thought it would. It may be scattered and disorganized, chaotic and at times disheartening. There will be no diaper-clad angels plinking harps or inspiring shafts of light cascading down from heaven. When crowded with volunteers and those who have come for help, there is a real physical and mental discomfort in that place. Rarely in our world do we see the veil of our seeming independence so brutally torn away. Frustration and confusion often result from the overwhelming nature of the task at hand.

But if we can manage to look and enter, we might just catch a glimpse of what is there, underneath it all. There is faith. Perspective. Relationship. Dependence on God and each other. Community. A word to those who weep today --- Jesus promises a future full of laughter. For those who laugh, let us weep a while until the laughter returns for everyone. These are God’s promises, and may God’s blessings be upon us all.

Grace and Peace,
Adam

LIFE AT SOTH

Hopefully our chain of e-mails has helped with any confusion around how to volunteer at Lifepoint. At this time, we're in good shape for drivers, and we're still encouraging those who want to volunteer to simply go to Lifepoint at 2990 Bright Star Rd., anytime between 9 a.m and 10 p.m., 7 days a week. Thank you SOTH for your wonderful contribution of over $1600 this week for the cooperative response happening through the churches of our county! This Sunday, we'll have a special offering for UMCOR with 100% of funds going directly into affected areas.

Don't forget, "God is Closer Than You Think" starts next Wedneday night, 9/14/5 at 7pm in our worship space. We're going to start right on time, so plesae make it on time if at all possible. If you still need a book, make payment this Sunday and we'll have one there for you at the first session.

A WORD FROM OUR BISHOP, G. LINDSEY DAVIS

Dear North Georgia Conference family:

The news about the destruction and devastation of Hurricane Katrina is
everywhere. You can't turn on the television or radio without
receiving more information about those who have been deeply affected
by this tragedy.

The thread of truth that travels through these stories is that we are
witnessing the worst natural disaster in United States history. As we
watch this catastrophe continue to unfold right before our eyes,
desperate cries for basic needs and financial assistance continues to
be heard from the people of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and
Georgia.

Friends, I am proud to say that United Methodists of North Georgia
have been actively supporting and loving the people of these
devastated states since day one of this tragedy. You have heard these
cries from the needy, and have responded well. I am overwhelmed by
the humble compassion, kindness, and generosity that you have shown
your brothers and sisters in need, and I heartily thank you.

There is, in fact, so much assistance being offered by our churches we
can barely keep up with all that you are doing! In the midst of your
ministry over the weeks ahead I ask that you please take a few moments
to email me (bishop@ngumc.org) with some specific information about
how your congregation is reaching out to those touched by this natural
disaster over the next few months:

How many displaced persons have been helped with support or housing;
How many flood buckets, health kits, etc. have you constructed;
How many loads of supplies have been sent from your church;
How many volunteers from your church have been active in these efforts

The after-effects of hurricane Katrina have only just begun. The
recovery and rejuvenation of people's homes and hearts will take
months - even years. The floodwaters may have begun to subside;
however, I'm afraid to say that we are in store for some pretty
gruesome and disturbing news to come.

As we will continue to hear these updates it is important to remember
the word Emmanuel, and hold true to the promise that God never leaves
us. Even while we are in the midst of the worst US natural disaster,
God is here with all of us- kindly loving us, benevolently supporting
us, and gently comforting us.

As your Bishop, and as a fellow Christian, I thank you for the care
you are offering Christ's people.

In Christ,
Bishop G. Lindsey Davis

Katrina

I find it so interesting that we come to know hurricanes on a first-name basis. Camille, Floyd, Hazel and Hugo were all terrible storms, but their names sound like they came directly from the roster of residents who live down at the local retirement center. Maybe putting a name on the devastation gives us some little hand-hold on the face of a situation too dire to understand.

There are all sorts of real, practical reasons that hurricanes get human names. It keeps down confusion and makes communication between agencies and all the folks involved more clear. But the naming of a storm does something else, as well. It does something unexpected, non-scientific and perhaps even irrational. Perhaps the name gives voice to something we feel, but don't know how to express. A name is personal, just like the devastation experienced by all those in the path of this storm.

You see, it wasn't just "a storm" that did this to New Orleans, Biloxi, Gulfport and all the many other places that now lay in waste. "Katrina" did it. For those without electricity, food or water this morning, for those who wait anxiously to hear from family and friends, there must be some strong sense that Katrina's violence was aimed, very personally, at them. I doubt that those currently in the disaster area are doing much theological reflection about their situation this morning. I can imagine that they are finding more urgent issues of day-to-day survival much closer at hand.

But one day they will surely ask the question that many of us may be asking even now. Where is God in the midst of Katrina, or the tsunami, or tornado, or earthquake? Where is God as looters ravage what little remains of value in the midst of this catastrophe? I think it all depends on where and how you choose to look.

Remember, God has a name, too. Actually, God has lots of names. Redeemer. Comforter. Savior. Messiah. Emmanuel, "God with us." In the book we'll be studying this September, God is Closer Than You Think, John Ortberg says that it's easy to see God on some days. These are the "rainbow days" when we can see signs of God's covenant to be with us everywhere we look. Other days are much, much, tougher. There are moments when we don't see God at all. Even then, he is still with us, closer than we think, and his presence, too, is something we should take very personally.

I believe that God has been present in the rescues, in the outpouring of support and supplies, and in the survival stories. Somehow, maybe even in ways that I can't easily understand or articulate, I even believe that God has especially been present with those who have been lost in this tragedy. God will be present through the many acts of kindness and love that are done in his name. God will be present as his people respond, and are moved to help.

I know that many of you, like me, are frustrated by seeing all of this on television and then feeling unable to respond. While we may not be able to do much physically to help where the damage is the worst, we can give financial aid and support in ways that will help the most. One way that your church offers for you to get involved is through UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Our own Bishop, Lindsey Davis, is deeply involved with UMCOR, and I can tell you personally that 100% of all money given to relief through UMCOR will go directly into helping those in need. None of your gift will be used to support UMCOR's administrative costs, as these are supported through our denominational budget.

We will collect a special offering for hurricane relief this Sunday, but you can click here to give online right now.

Thank you for being a people of faith, a people of prayer, a sign of God's presence, and a real means of help for those who are hurting. God is with us all.

Grace & Peace,
Adam

LIFE AT SOTH:

Don't forget, we'll have dinner together here at the church, tonight, 6:30 pm. Folks' is doing the catering, and already almost 100 of you have signed up to be here. Come on out and join the party.

God is Closer Than You Think will begin at 7 pm on September 14. Books will be available at the church tonight.

Uncle Pat

The trend so far with this blog is that whatever "big" thing happens on Tuesday (and makes the TV news, of course) will become the subject of my Wednesday morning ramblings. Maybe we've just had a good run of Tuesdays so far. Either that or I should get out more.

At any rate, it is difficult to write this morning without addressing yesterday's comments from former Presidential candidate/televangelist/pundit Pat Robertson. Now, I woke up this morning determined to write about anything other than "Rev." Pat. Then, I clicked on my TV set while drinking my morning coffee. What I saw there was the morning programing of Turner South, home to The Braves, re-runs of The Andy Griffith Show, and all things Southern. It's also the channel I'd been watching the night before when the Cubs scored their 8th run against the Braves and I turned off the set to go to sleep.

There, on the theological academy that is Turner South, I got to hear the musings of "Rick and Bubba," as they debated the fine points of Pat Robertson's comments. The Rick and Bubba Show is broadcast on country radio stations around the nation every morning, and their listenership is especially strong here in the Southeast. Mostly, their audience is made up of thirty-something, southern, white guys like me. Listening to them go at it, it became obvious that Pat Robertson would have to be my topic for this day, whether I liked it or not.

It amazes me that his comments could get so much media coverage. Personally, I tend to think of Pat Robertson much as I would an old, eccentric (which is always a nice way of saying "nutty") uncle that you only see at family reunions every few years. For the most part he's harmless, and nobody really listens to what he's got to say because they know that he's liable to say anything, anytime. Such outbursts are especially likely to happen when "Uncle Pat" hasn't been getting enough attention. Generally, you just have to hope that most people will overlook the stuff he comes up with, and be kind to a doddering old man. And, for the most part, that's what happens. We forget he's out there.

But this time, his comments have been all over the place, picked up by most every cable news outlet. Granted, what he said on this occasion did have to do with his advocacy for the government-sanctioned, illegal execution of a foreign head of state and all, but who's really listening to him anyway? Honestly, I figure that some other sensational thing will happen soon (it may have already) and by tomorrow, our crazy Uncle Pat will again be relegated to a far corner of the Christian family table, surrounded only by those few folks who think his odd stories and irate spoutings are cute.

But, maybe I'm wrong. Either Rick and Bubba are two of "those few" who agree with him, or they represent a section of the Christian faith that I struggle to comprehend. It was fascinating to hear them as they defended Robertson on their morning show. Now, who knows if any of what they said is really what they believe. I'm certainly cynical enough to believe that what they were doing was pandering to their demographic and looking for higher ratings. But, the fact that they could even make that decision perhaps does betray something that they think they know about the people who listen to their show.

Most of the time, entertainment programs don't go looking to anger and isolate their target audience. If what they were preaching was hitting home with their listeners, the most frightening point is that the "defense" they were making wasn't a political one (Hugo Chavez is a threat), or a practical one (Pat's right after all, assassination is cheaper than a war), it was a theological one.

Rarely do we get to witness a real, live, Christian debate happening in our media, and I relished the opportunity to hear "real people," like Rick and Bubba's callers, talk theology. For that matter, ol' Rick and Bubba were pretty "real" themselves. Their first caller said, "I say let the pastor without sin throw the first stone. Pat Robertson was wrong, and Jesus would never have said something like that." Alright, I thought, there's a pretty good start. "Oh Yeah," replied Bubba, "how would you prove that with scripture?" I sat up and took notice. Now this was getting really good.

"Well, how about, 'love your enemies, and pray for them,'" the caller responded. He continued, "or what about, 'turn the other cheek?'" The caller then went on to outline how Jesus consistently loved the unloveable and risked himself for others, even those who would mean to do him harm. "That's great and all," Rick said, "but Jesus was just talking about how we treat each other. It's different when we're talking about nations and countries. The God of the Bible has lots to say about how right it is to fight and destroy evil countries."

Admittedly, this show is an offbeat place to jump into discussions of Christian theology and "just war" theory, but the basic conflict outlined in those few moments forms the core of a debate among Christians that is as old as the faith itself, and continues still today. In fact, even the disciples had disagreements over the way that a Christian should seek to affect change in his or her world. Remember Simon "the zealot?" He and others like him advocated the overthrow of the Roman oppressors by force, and they must have been sorely disappointed in the plan that Jesus hatched. You see, it didn't have anything to do with assassinating Caesar.

Can there really be one set of Jesus' teaching that applies to how we treat the person next door, in the office, or at the busy intersection, but another that applies to the conduct of nations and conflict that happens on the world stage? Rick & Bubba seem to think so, maybe Pat Robertson does too, and so do we if we're not paying close attention to the way we think and act everyday.

The practice of picking and choosing which part of Jesus we allow to impact our lives (individually and collelctively) is a losing proposition. And yet, even with that knowledge, we all still do it. We know that we can't just take the part of him that we like, and that we shouldn't just invite him into the conversations that we choose.

I'm not a pacifist, and I painfully acknowledge that there are times when there is no reasonable choice but to fight. Even so, I just can't see how any follower of Jesus can read his words, experience his grace, or take him at all seriously and still believe that bloodshed (no matter to whom the blood belongs, or how much they deserve to have it shed) is the easy or obvious answer.

The challenge that I face today is one of really trying to live with all of Jesus' words. I have to let them push me into uncomfortable places. Above all, I have to entertain the strong possibility that the words of Jesus which I find most difficult, scandalous or offensive are the ones that most likely touch the very places in my heart that need the greatest healing.

Discipleship isn't easy. Love isn't for sissies. Hitting first, hitting back, or even hitting at all almost always seems like a good plan at first, but it's the hardest and most damaging path in the end. The miracle of Jesus' teachings is that they always offer us that which we most need. He never fails to be a source of comfort for the afflicted, and deep affliction for the comfortable. Which ones are we? When I read his words with an open heart, I always seem to know.

Jesus said, among many things, "blessed are the peacemakers." May his disciples always strive to be makers of the peace.

USEFUL STUFF UPDATE:

Last week I asked everybody to contribute any helpful links or resources that they have used in their own devotional lives and found helpful. Thanks to Baeh Reid, who points us toward http://www.bibleplayer.org/ a really helpful tool if you're an ipod or MP3 user.

Also, thanks to all of you who gave feedback on the sacred space site. I'm very glad it was helpful.

And, if this article has piqued your interest in working more with what "just war" theory is all about, check out http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/war/ This is the best synopsis of this very old philosophical/religious school of thought that I've seen. If you've got some time, and really enjoy wading in deep water, this might be for you.

LIFE AT SOTH:

Remember, God Is Closer Than You Think study will begin on Wednesday night, September 14th, 7 pm up at "The Ranch." This will be the first time we've put one of our newly renovated spaces to a big test, and I think we'll be able to hold everybody. The big room that was formerly Sandi's office on the end of the house is now an open classroom space, and we'll set it up for our use on Wednesday nights. Books are now on sale for $10, payable at the church office, or on Sunday mornings.

SOTH has a wonderful tradition of Wednesday night dinners together, once every month. We'll continue that tradition next Wednesday night, August 31, down at the main church building. Everybody is welcome and the food will be ready to go at 6:30 pm. After that, look forward to food and fellowship every 3rd Wednesday night in September, October and November.

"A Picture of Jesus" worship series will conclude this Sunday in all services. We'll look at the story of Lazarus, brought back to life by Jesus, and "Life" will be the theme of the day.

Know that I always appreciate your feedback and conversation. You can e-mail me by viewing my profile and following the e-mail link. Also, the letter icon below this column will allow you to forward this blog on to any friends (and hope they've got plenty of time to read!).

Grace & Peace,

Adam

Worm

Yesterday afternoon when I got home from the office, I turned on the tv, which is my habit. What a bad habit. Even worse is that my first instinct upon turning on the tv is to cruise by the 24-hour news channels to see what's up in the world. Truly, I've got to stop.

I was greeted by Wolf Blitzer (what a great name) in "The Situation Room" on CNN www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/situation.room/. "The Situation Room" is without a doubt, hands-down, THE most scary news program I have ever seen. I can almost imagine the programming meeting at CNN when they sat around the table to discuss ways to pump up the ratings. The demographic studies in our post-9/11 world must show that nothing, and I mean nothing, can draw a crowd like some good old fashioned fear-mongering. I guess CNN decided that if they can't be the loudest, the most righteous, or the hippest, they can at least be the scariest. They're doing an awesome job.

Wolf Blitzer has really been working on his end-of-the-world, imminent-doom, massive-destruction-is-coming-to-your-neighborhood, news anchorman voice. Do you know the feeling you get in your stomach when you hear the "breaking news update" music interrupt your favorite evening tv show? For me, especially since 9/11, there is a moment when adrenaline and foreboding rush together right before the talking head delivers the story, whatever it may be. Somehow, the folks at CNN have managed to stretch that moment from 3 minutes to the entire 3 hours of Wolf's new show.

Yesterday's life-threatening emergency of the day was "the worm" called zotob http://news.ft.com/cms/s/112bcc04-0f0d-11da-8b31-00000e2511c8.html. Where had I been? I hadn't heard anything about this "worm" that was ravaging computers around the world. Already, Blitzer reported, computers at CNN, in the very room where he stood, were shutting down and refusing to operate. The worm was spreading from server to server, computer to computer. If someone didn't stop the madness soon, clearly, all would be lost! "A technological catastrophe of this magnitude could costs hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars in lost productivity and damaged equipment," we were told.

With great speed and intensity, CNN cut to the panel of experts they had gathered. "Microsoft says this is a 'low impact' threat," one man dared to say. Undaunted, Blitzer continued to whip up the frenzy. But then, another expert added, "This worm should only have potential to impact computers running Windows 2000, which is only 15% or so of all PC's out there." "And," he continued, "microsoft has already posted a security patch, and people can go download it right now." Blitzer remained grim, determined not to be softened by this unexpected outbreak of good news. "Still," he said, "we're talking about millions of computers that could be destroyed." I could take it no longer. What operating system did we run in the office? XP, I was sure....but still...it wouldn't hurt to do what I could to stop the menace. I got up, went back to work, and made sure our computers were safe for The Kingdom.

Fear really is a powerful motivator. Not much could have put me back in my car, heading back to the office once I was home with my family, but The Wolf and The Worm managed to do it. I went to microsoft.com and followed their instructions for locking SOTH's computers safely away from zotob. Before downloading the security patch, you're instructed to search all the files on your computer, to make sure that zotob isn't already lurking. With a few clicks, I was able to rest assured that all was well. A few more, and we were safely protected from the threat, even though we probably weren't at any risk from this particular worm in the first place. Even so, I could now go home in peace, at least for the moment.

TV news isn't the only place where fear is used to get ratings, response and reaction. Lots of churches and Christians fall prey to using it in the very same way. Fear of hell, fear of failure, fear of condemnation, fear of God...all of these are used to get people out of the doors and into the pews. Even worse, some people let fear become the primary foundation of their relationship with God. The problem, of course, is that you can't really have much of a relationship with someone (or some God) when you're convinced that they're just looking for all the ways you don't measure up, so that they can smash you, burn you up, or otherwise throw you out into eternity's landfill.

So what does a positive experience of Christian faith in God look like? Maybe it looks more like a microsoft security patch than a doom-and-gloom news anchor. What I mean is --- maybe a little piece of God's love is already out there, just waiting to be downloaded. Maybe the worms of jealousy, low self-worth, hatred, bigotry, dishonesty and greed really can be stopped before they infect us all. It will take more than a few mouse clicks of work before we begin to see the results of God's healing in our lives, but it really can happen. Growth, healing and maturity happen moment by moment, day by day, as we become disciples of the one who loves us completely.

If you haven't done it yet today, take a moment to pray. If you've had a moment to read this article, maybe there's another moment to tell God where you hurt, to name the battles you're facing, to ask forgiveness for the times that pain and confusion have caused you to hurt other people. Maybe there's just a moment to find some scripture, and to listen closely for the strength and wisdom it seeks to give. Bill Gates is great and all, but God's security patch is even better.

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love." 1 John 4:18
http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=1+John+4&vnum=yes&version=nrsvae

USEFUL STUFF:

From time to time, I hope that we can share ideas and tools that are helpful for developing our walk with Christ. If you happen to have that "moment" I talked about to spend a little time in prayer, give this site a try -- www.sacredspace.ie/.

This is a prayer site run by Irish Jesuits, and uses an age-old method of devotion called Lectio Divina, a process of thoughtful reflection on scripture. You can follow the prompts and go at your own pace. It's something that I've found helpful in my own life, and I thought you might find it useful too. The site changes every day and it's a great way to read more scripture.

Do you have sites, tools or methods that help your faith grow stronger? Send me an e-mail and let me know if you've got something you want to share. I'll put everything together and post it for next week.

LIFE AT SOTH:

Don't forget, we'll have our first big Wednesday night dinner on August 31, 6:30 pm. No agenda, except to have a great time together. More specifics to come next week.

Also, don't forget God Is Closer Than You Think, the book study that we'll begin on Wednesday night, September 14. Sign-up will begin this Sunday at church, and we'll take orders for the book.

See you this Sunday --- Adam

Circle

I read an amazing thing this week that really got my attention. In his new book, God is Closer Than You Think, John Ortberg says, “The central promise in the Bible is not ‘I will forgive you,’ although of course that promise is there. It is not the promise of life after death, although we are offered that as well. The most frequent promise in the Bible is, ‘I will be with you’” (16).

Pretty revolutionary idea, huh? I know, it doesn’t seem very dramatic to hear that a Christian writer might assert that God loves us and promises to be with us. And yet, for all my years of life in the church, I don’t know that I’ve ever heard a single pastor (including yours truly), talk about the primary and fundamental importance of God’s presence in exactly these terms.

Let’s try to be honest, because I'm pretty sure it's mostly honesty that makes up the fertile, and yes, sometimes stinky, kind of soil that we need for our spiritual lives to take root and grow. Even though we talk about it at church a lot, and we claim it as one of the great goals of a Christian life, I’m not altogether sure how much any of us simply desire God's presence. What we all really want from God is action. Results. Quality you can count on. Quick, friendly and reliable. God is standing by, waiting on your call. Or, maybe that’s just me.

There are reasons we long for action. The world is not right, and we can see it. Surely God must see it, too. There are times that we legitimately long for rescue. Last week the space shuttle operation made me think about the times in our lives that we try to fix a billion dollar soul problem with whatever improvised "hacksaw" we can make. Yesterday was one of those times that I got to live the theory in real life. I learned that a friend finds himself facing immediate, major surgery and then will wait to see what treatment and recovery will come next. When we know someone else’s deep hurt and struggle, we often find ourselves longing to “do” something to make the situation better. I longed to say that "right" thing. It just didn't seem that there was that much "right" to be said.

In seminary (that’s “preacher school”) they taught us that the best and most important way to care for someone in need was not to “do,” but just to “be.” A “ministry of presence,” as it’s called, was held up as a model of caregiving. Our presence with them was to serve as a sign of God's unfailing presence -- or something like that. Somehow this always felt a little hollow to me, or at least not very satisfying. If all I can offer is presence, surely I'm failing my responsibilities. If I was a better Christian/pastor/person, I’d know what to “do.” But, if I can't do something, surely God can.

Sometimes, what God "does" looks a whole lot like "being." Last night, a group of 13 men gathered here at SOTH for their monthly Men's Group meeting. We laughed, ate, talked about the group’s work and projects, and then an amazing thing took place. One by one, our stories moved around the circle, and we talked about more than the Braves and Bulldogs. Those guys talked about their lives, their joys and their struggles -- and then joined hands together in prayer.

Generally speaking, this is not something guys do. We just don’t. But we did. I was able to tell them of the news I had learned, of my concern for my friend and for the great weight that he and his family must be carrying.

I can simply tell you this. God’s promise to be present was fulfilled in that room. God really will forgive and save and love us, but all of those things are simply manifestations of his first promise. Presence. It’s all we need. Really, it’s all there is. And it is enough.

Life at Soth:

Great things continue to happen up at “the ranch.” Tonight, new flooring will go in the renovated kitchen/workroom and we’ll spend the rest of the week cleaning and organizing our new multi-purpose room on the end of the house facing the driveway. This Saturday we’ll be putting together some great new office furniture in Sandi’s office and getting her up and running. Many thanks to a great lady named Jane Hibbard who attends The Church of the Apostles in Atlanta. We found each other through Craig’s List, and rather than sell us her furniture as she’d planned, she simply donated it to the cause. It’s good to find a sister in Christ (with office furniture)!

Look forward to a big Wednesday night meal together on August 31. Starting September 14th, we hope to offer a weekly Wednesday night meal with a study on God is Closer Than You Think (the book I mentioned above). Also, Sue Goldsmith will begin teaching Youth Disciple for high school and college age students, Wednesday night August 17th.

May you all have a great rest of the week --- and see you this Sunday!

Grace & Peace,
Adam

What This Thing Is All About

Welcome to the "SOTHBLOG." Really, this page is nothing more than a good ol' weekly "pastor's column" -- the kind that's been done in church newsletters for years. But, by virtue of its presence on the internet, this becomes a "blog," which sounds so much cooler, so much more 21st century, and does allow for a little more interaction. From here, you should be able to e-mail me comments and questions, and I'm glad to be in touch with all of you. In fact, that's really the reason for my writing. Our newsletter only comes out once a month, so this blog gives us a chance to check in mid-week, and gives me another opportunity to take steps toward becoming your pastor. In my mind, pastors are those people whose job it is to help folks make the realities of their life experience come into conversation with the Christian story. That's what I want to try to do here.

Yes, I am unabashedly a "Jesus person." But, I seek to be the kind of Jesus-follower who asks tough questions and struggles along with those who are trying to work out their faith. I want to learn something new about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, life, people and this whole world every day. I believe with all my heart that the lessons are always there. Whether I learn them has to do with how well I keep my eyes and ears open, how well I can listen instead of speak, and how well I can let God go to work on my heart.

Now, all that said, a blog is sort of an exercise in irony. Even while I say that I want to learn to listen, writing a blog is really a way to speak. At their cores, blogs are pretty narcissistic. People write them because they believe that somebody wants to read what they've got to say. A lot of bloggers seem fascinated with the inane details of their own lives, and they're convinced that you will be, too. Hopefully, I'll be fascinated in this weekly column with God, the world, and a Christian's attempt to bring the two together. I do know my own experiences better than anyone else's, so trust me, they're sure to come up. But, I promise not to make this a page all about sharing pictures of my kids, dog, and my latest slow-pitch softball stats. I just hope that something you see here will deepen your faith, build our relationship, and give you a little more strength and grace for your journey.

OUT THERE IN THE WORLD: This morning before sunrise I did a little channel surfing and found out that my cable system has a "NASA" channel. With what's going on right now with the shuttle "Discovery," what I saw there was really amazing. There on the tv in my living room was live video of two astronauts tethered to the shuttle, working on attaching a new addition to the space station. In about an hour, they'll be attempting to remove the two pieces of "gap filler" that are protruding from the shuttle's belly, threatening to cause another disaster on re-entry. By the time you read this, we'll know how they did.

I guess I always thought that things like the shuttle were so technically complex that non-astronaut folks like us couldn't possibly understand the procedures or the lingo. That's really not the case. Yesterday, when a reporter asked Steve Robinson, the astronaut who will do the "gap filler" removal how he planned to do it, he said, (this is my paraphrase, but it's close), "I'm going to grab it, and very gently pull it out. If that doesn't work, I've got some forceps, and I'll give it a pull with those, and then if that doesn't work, I'm going to take a hacksaw and cut them off." Wow. That sounds exactly like my approach to more repairs: pull on it firmly a couple times, then just say the heck with it and cut it off.

Now believe me, I trust that NASA has worked through this in a much more complex way than my description sounds, but as I listened to the astronauts' communication this morning while they tried to secure a "latch arm" on a certain piece of the space station, they sounded for all the world like two guys hitching their boat up to their truck. "Hold on, wait, come on back, almost ---- ok, got it." When everything's over today, they'll go back inside the shuttle and then pretty soon, ride it back into the earth's atmosphere. What other choice do they really have but to do their best, carry out the plan, and then -- trust?

Life and faith are more like this for all of us than we might like to admit. The trick of our culture, education and society is that we're made to believe that for the most part, we really are in control. We're really not. What I know as my wife, kids and I leave our home and go our various ways today is that we'll do our best, we'll follow the "plan" as well as we can, and ultimately we, too, have to trust. We may find ourselves in tough situations, feeling inadequate to fix the problems we face. There are moments when we feel for all the world that we've been sent out to work on a billion dollar machine with a homemade hacksaw. In those moments, I encourage you not to give up.

I have met people who've been scarred by such moments, and become convinced that such realities prove that there is no God. For me, nothing could be further from the truth. It's only in times of uncertainty that the best lessons of faith lie just around the corner. As individuals, as a congregation, as mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, employers and employees, students and teachers, let's learn to trust. That's ultimately what faith is all about. At the bottom of it all, trusting God really is the right choice. I don't know what the future holds, except that it holds God's love and presence, no matter what.

Please say many prayers in the next few days for the Discovery astronauts, for their family, friends and loved ones, and for their safe return.

LIFE AT SOTH: This evening we'll have our mid-week work session, cutting grass and taking care of all our landscaping, as well as working more on the re-model happening up at "the ranch." It may seem crazy to think that coming out and volunteering to work in the heat and humidity could be a good time, but we always have a good turnout, and I swear we have a blast.

"The ranch" is the brick ranch house adjacent to the church that houses our offices and some future educational space. We're doing work throughout the building to get the most out of every square foot and to make it a welcoming and inviting place for ministry. Come by and see the re-finished hardwood in what will soon be Sandi's office and reception area, and we'll show you the plans for what's coming in the next few weeks. Lots of painting and scrubbing to be done today if you want to work inside in the a/c.

Sunday will begin an August sermon series called, "Picture of Jesus," and we'll take a look at four scenes from the gospels that get to the heart of who Jesus is. If you've got questions about who Jesus is, why he matters, and how his life might change yours, come join us at 8:30, 10:00 or 11:30 this month and see what we find out.

August 17th will begin new Wednesday night programming, and each week we'll be offering a community meal followed by Bible study for all ages. More details coming very soon.

Thanks for hanging in there with this incredibly long post. They'll be much shorter in future weeks. See you this Sunday, if not before.

Grace and Peace,
Adam