Happy New Year

I have been thinking that, instead of making some New Year's resolution, I would take this post of The Shiloh Insider to share some simple dreams for what 2014 could and may look like. I call them the Top Ten Dreams for 2014:

10. Name Calling: I wish that people would stop using name calling as a means of solution to disagreements. I wish people would learn to respect varying opinions, even or especially when they do not agree with our own.

9. Sharing: I wish that people would relearn the simple kindergarten curriculum on sharing. The simple task of sharing what we have makes us better people, and makes others, particularly those with whom we share, happier.

8. Helpfulness: I wish that people would take the time and make the effort to do one thing daily simply to help someone else. Whether that helpfulness comes in the form of Random Acts of Kindness (RAK's), or is the intentionally planned assistance that so many of our brothers and sisters rely upon, acts of helpfulness unite us as a community and a family.

7. Open-Mindedness: I wish that people would be less motivated to protect their own ways of thinking and behaving and more accepting of those who think and act in different ways. I often witness true intelligence in the form of accepting others, despite differences, instead of in forcing others to believe and act "rightly," according to some imagined, non-established orthodoxy.

6. Compassion: I wish people would make the effort of seeing the suffering and challenges that others might be facing instead of holding others to some advantaged standard of behavior. Persons never know what goes on with those around them, unless they are willing to invest themselves in them. I wish that we were more compassionate.

5. Unity: I wish that people could be more invested in working toward the unity of all types, kinds, clans, origins and life-styles instead of protecting sectarian groups, kinds, clans, ilks and tastes. Even the Church would be better served if we worked toward the unity of all people instead of laboring for the advantage of some.

4. Kindness: I wish that people were nicer. Where I was raised, people waved at one another and said "Hello." It is simple kindness to allow those around us to believe that they are worthy of out attention and greeting. There is no reason that I can think of why we shouldn't be more than just polite.

3. Giving of Time: I wish that people were more generous with their time, outside of their own immediate family units. It is easy to take care of "our own." To invest time and energy in those outside of our own families is the greatest gift that we can give, especially in a culture wherein time is the chief commodity.

2. Constructive: I wish that people spent as much time and energy being constructive as they do being destructive. It takes no more effort to build someone up than it does to tear down that same person. It simply requires that we be conscious and mindful of the difference.

1. Positive: I wish that people could see that we live in a beautiful world, nation, community, church and neighborhood. There is far less wrong with us than people imagine. If we switched our attitudes from negative to positive, we could overcome together the challenges that we face. Positive energy gives and feeds while negative energy takes and needs. Which will we be in 2014?

I urge readers of The Shiloh Insider to pick each, or one, of these wishes for 2014 and make it true in the lives of those around you. Be a source of goodness, generosity, grace and love. I promise that the world around us will change if we do.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

I was asked if I might be willing to share this story in my weekly blog. While normally hesitant to try worship material in a blog, I will give it a shot.

Christmas was very difficult in 1989. I was in the second year of professional, ordained ministry, serving a church in Junction City, Kansas. Christmas has always been difficult in the Church, since many C&E (Christmas and Easter) Christians judge the entire life of the Church on the power and impact of the Christmas Eve and Easter services. The pressure on musical and pastoral is unlike any other time of year.

Lisa, my spouse, was pregnant. We were expecting a child in late January/early February. Unfortunately, she developed a problem with her pregnancy that had required her to remain in bed until delivery. Coupled with the stress of new ministry at Christmas, the pregnancy added to the difficulty of the season.

I was already troubled by the death of my father, which had taken place about a month earlier. He was 53 when he died, as a result of a medical error that occurred during a heart catheterization. My father died without life insurance or any retirement planning. There was nothing, except the family home in which my mother continued to live. Because I was living hundreds of miles away from the family home in Bremen, Indiana, I felt helpless and out of touch.

It was just another problem for us when the ladies of the congregation scheduled a baby shower. I had to get my sick wife up and over to the church, overcome my sense of loss and isolation, and continue to deal with the immense pressures of ministry. Who needed a baby shower?

The women of the church must have known something that we did not, however. The shower was a tremendous event, one of the memories that I treasure from my five years in Kansas. The people of the congregation and community were wildly supportive and extremely generous. But that is not what really made the difference as we approached Christmas in 1989.

The difference was made when Janice Hornbostle, who, with her husband Marvin, had unofficially adopted us as their own family, put her arm around my shoulder and whispered to me, "Remember that, from here on out, it's all about the child."

Despite my father's death, and the resulting financial troubles, the child would make it all alright. Despite the stress of the holiday season, and the extreme expectations of the church, the child was coming. Despite my wife's fragile health, the baby would solve everything.

I learned to place my hope in the baby. I learned to put my hope in the child. Janice's words have come true, of course. Since the child was born, nothing has been the same. Everything has been different. And what a blessing it has been.

I hope for everyone who reads these words a Christmas that is about the child. Let it be about the baby. It will change everything. Nothing will ever be the same. And it will be a truly blessed celebration!

Merry Christmas!  

Nine Shopping Days...

What? There are just nine shopping days left until Christmas? How in the world did this happen?

I have not bought a single gift.

We decorated the house, inside and out, on Thanksgiving day. Despite the fact that our back fence lights work only intermittently, and although we rarely turn on all the inside decorations, we had a good start to the Christmas season. We had chosen a design theme for the tree and each room (a necessity that I had never paid attention to before marrying and having a daughter). Matching wrapping paper was bought and lies at the ready, one design specified for each of the core persons in the family. Christmas lists were written and distributed (except mine, of course, because I can't think of anything that I really need). Everything was going so well!

I was sidetracked by writing the Bible @ Boston's curriculum and assisting in preparations for Shiloh's annual Christmas musical, by planning worship and organizing the annual staff Christmas party. Did I mention that I had an office under an inch or so of sewer backup?

Okay. Honestly, I have no excuse. I could have gone shopping and gotten the gifts that I know that I am getting the people in my life. I have procrastinated. I have spent too much time idly enjoying the season, soaking in the holiday spirit.

Time to pull the proverbial trigger and get to the stores. But the weather... I have so much to do... I have so many places to be and so much to plan... I hate shopping.

In the Children's Time in yesterday's 10:25 service, Jay McMillen told the children that the gifts that we purchase or make for others share the joy of the season. They share the good news of Christ's coming.

Okay, I am resolved to get it done today! I want to share the joy of Christmas with those to whom I am closest. Now, just how does and automobile auto-start represent the birth of Jesus?

See You Sunday!
Remember that Christmas Eve service begins with a concert at 7:00 p.m. and a candlelight ceremony at 7:30. Plan to join us!  

The Power of Shiloh's Christmas Musical

I sit in the lone chair in an empty office. When I write of my office as empty, I am using no metaphor. There is no carpet, no telephone, no equipment and no connection to the church's network. There is no place to sit and no place to meet with those who might otherwise come to see me. My office equipment and belongings, whether professional or personal, are stacked in another room, located elsewhere in the facility. To make matters worse, there is an aroma that ranges somewhere between bleach and cat urine. This, the result of another sewer drain backup into my office space, the second in less that five years.

Despite the fact that I am unable to accomplish much of my usual Monday morning work, I am feeling particularly "in the mood." The mood is of Christmas. Its source is yesterday's annual Christmas Musical, "Christmas Together." 

"Christmas Together" was a tremendous celebration of the Christmas season. Participants included our joint choirs, Sanctuary Choir, Shiloh's Youth Choir, and our Discovery Team. Those in attendance heard from our ringing choirs, both Youth Bells and Voices in Bronze, our adult bell group. Attendees were treated to the sounds of an all-volunteer orchestra, percussion, guitars, pipe organ, prayers and several dramatic readings. A few of my favorite features were an a Capella rendition of "Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne," and the Fellowship Four (men's quartet), singing "Sing We Now of Christmas." The highlight of the evening, for me, was the prayer for peace and the singing of "Let There Be Peace on Earth." The program brought tears to many an eye and standing ovations at both performances.

The power of Shiloh's Christmas Musical lies in precisely this: I sit in an empty office, facing the uncertainty of new carpeting this week and the tedium of having to move back in, yet I am in the Christmas mood. I can't complete much of my work, yet my spirit is light.

Thank you to all who participated in an absolutely splendid musical. Special appreciation goes to our media crew, directed by John Rabius, and to out Hospitality Staff, managed ably by Joanne Orihood. Despite the inclement weather, more people stayed for the reception on Sunday night than stayed after the 10:30 celebration.

It was not just music that filled the air, but a spirit of celebration and joy. If you attended, I hope that you feel it too. If you were unable to attend, copies of the program may soon be available for check out from the Church Library.

Merry Christmas, everyone!    

Crap Happens...But Jesus Comes

It has been one of THOSE weeks. While the workweek schedule is pretty well managed, with Bible studies and Bible @ Boston's being set, with the Christmas Musical on Sunday (10:30 and 7:00), it could not be a busier time. I have begun to shop for Christmas. We have arranged for the staff Christmas party. Decorations are up, the house and tree are lit. I was feeling quite prepared for the season.

Then...

Then...during 10:25 worship service on Sunday morning, the main sewer drain decided to back up into Shiloh's facility.

As many know, the facility sewer drainage is divided into two main trunks, one that drains from the northern side of the building and the other that runs from the east end of the Christian education wing. It was the north trunk that was effected. Some may surmise that the lowest point on the north side of the facility is actually my office. In my office bathroom, there is a cleanout that leads to the main trunk line.

That cleanout was the major source of sewer water backing up into the facility, via my bathroom and office. The carpet and laminent flooring were destroyed. Some of the furnishings were in need of serious cleaning, as some sat in sewer water for at least a few hours.

Jay McMillen led a small crew of volunteers on Sunday afternoon to remove the worst of the sodden carpet, bleaching the floors, and cleaning up the mess. Thanks to Dawn McMillen, Terry Neff and Lisa Neff for helping out. There may have been others involved, and I appreciate your efforts as well.

On Monday, we tore out the remainder of the carpet. Today (Wednesday), we will remove the flooring and clean out my office (no small feat, by the way). The insurance adjuster came this morning. This afternoon and tomorrow, we will be transporting my office furnishings, books, and assorted decor,  to the Large Conference Room. New carpet is scheduled to be installed on Monday.Of course, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week will likely be spent in moving back into my office space.

It is not fun work, especially for persons, like me, who are allergic to mold. It could be worse, however. Things are being removed, repaired and handled. The carpet is being replaced (and partially donated), and the smell of bleach is diminishing. Ministry will go on. Our mission will continue.

What's a little sewer water to the ongoing kingdom ministry of Jesus Christ? The momentary annoyance of human waste floating in my office, and settling in my carpeting, is overcome with the purpose for which we gather as a community of faith, especially this season.

So, crap happens. But Jesus still comes. (Perhaps a new bumper sticker craze...)

Have a good week!