Happy Fathers's Day.

This past week I had the sad occasion of my Dad's funeral. The visitation/wake was Wednesday night and the funeral was Thursday afternoon.

Dad was a twenty year veteran-the first four years of his military career were with the United States Air Force. The next 16 were with the United States Navy. He was an "Airdale"-a plane mechanic on an aircraft carrier-the U.S.S. Bonham Richard I believe.

I had some special friends who traveled over six hours to be with me at his wake. Marshall Lively, Joel Trinidad, and David Frazier along with Dave's father John Frazier. It felt good to have my friends of 30 years (18 in Joel's case) by my side as I along with my family grieved dad's death.

It was a good service with an old time revival preacher-Diamond Willis. His name was Diamond honest to God. He was Pentecostal and the worship was lively.

I'll miss dad and wish I could phone him today to wish him Happy Father's Day-but he knows my love along with my sisters' love because of his enduring presence of spirit in union with God's Holy Spirit.

I pray that if you're a dad, of if your dad is still living that you get to tell him how much you love him-or that your kids tell you how much they love you.

My dad taught me to laugh at the absurdity of life. We were frequently watching farce comedies like the Three Stooges, or things like Don Knotts on the Andy Griffith show or in the movie with "Mr. Chicken" in the title. The ghosts and Mr. Chicken maybe.

One of dad's favorite sayings still makes me laugh to this day. "Her teeth we like the stars...they came out at night." I love it.

Dad was far from perfect-as am I. We had our arguments and major disagreements. Time had separated us from one another as well as my parents' divorce. But dad was always good to reach out to me even if I wasn't reaching out to him-he visited me during seminary, he called me frequently, and especially over the last ten or so years would say "You'll never know how much I love you. I'm so proud of you son."

Those words hold life. The live in my heart and mind. I hope you have someone in your life who tells you how much you are loved. God says these words to you even if you have no one physically present to say to you such words of affirmation and encouragement. God says "I love you and I'm proud of you."

Dad's words remind me of God's words to Jesus-"You are my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." That saying holds true of daughters as well-no gender specific love from God. All of us are God's children and as Scripture calls us in Colossians I believe we are "Joint heirs with Christ". This means we inherit the riches of Grace in our lives and the relationships that are shaped by Grace as well. So we can thank our heavenly Father today for loving us so much and for being proud of who we are-and also who we can become because of the transformative power of the Grace of God through Jesus Christ.

So Happy Father's day to all of us-the children of the Creator God also called our Father in Heaven, hallowed be God's name, God's kingdom come, God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven, God give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors for truly yours is the power and the glory and the power forever. Amen.

Gratitude

Having a truck nearly crush you gives you a different perspective on life. It mixes a serious sense of being grateful for even being able to walk and breathe with an underlying uneasiness that comes along with having been through a violent collision.

I imagine I'll be working on both in therapy for days to come. And surely I will be on the other side of this event better equipped and having been transformed.

For now-I'm sore and shaky. And grateful.

My left shoulder may have a tear in the rotator cuff. The alternatives of being severely maimed or dead are worse-so I'll take it and smile.

The humor I've found at this point is in imagining that I became like one of the Wonder Twins in the old Justice League cartoons from the seventies. In the moments before the collision God said on my behalf "Form of.......silly putty." Then I bounced around the cabin of the car until it came to rest.

Instead of newsprint that rubbed off on the silly putty when you put it onto the funny papers-the impression of Grace was left upon me. I don't necessarily ascribe to theology that names "everything happening for a reason", or "God doesn't give us more than we can handle". I think those are not the most helpful approach to any event.

Instead I think of John chapter 9 where Jesus and his disciples encounter a man who had been blind from birth. The disciples are in a hurry to answer the question "Why?". They ask Jesus-"Who sinned? This man or his parents that he should be born blind?" Why is he blind in other words.

Jesus answered that this man had been born blind so that God might be glorified. Then he proceeds to spit in the dirt to make mud, rubs it on the mans eyes and he is then able to see. So the healing of the man is a response not to "Why?" so much as it is an answer to the question "Now what?" as in we see that this man is hurting and disabled-now what are we going to do about it? The answer Jesus would seem to suggest in the text is that we respond to the person in need to glorify God and don't ask why-we just seek to fill the need that a person exhibits given what we have at hand to do so.

So I ask this question of myself-one I alluded to in my last blog-Now what? What will I be able to do in response to this event? How will I be able to do it? How might I glorify God through this experience? I know I've already been given opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with several people as a result. Would I have done so otherwise? Maybe in a different way but probably I would have.

So even as I show signs of anxiety when in the car, and even as my shoulder aches-I say to God. Thank you Jesus. And ask God "Will you please help me to bring you glory-and shape this silly putty of a man into a servant in whom you can be well pleased? Thanks."

Grace to you and Peace in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Dwight

Spared

I was returning home to Springfield OH heading north on I-65. I was about 60 miles south of Louisville Kentucky near a town called Horse Cave Kentucky.

My car hydroplaned after some standing water on the interstate lifted me into the median. The car turned around 180 degrees and slid into the median and then into oncoming southbound I-65 traffic where I was hit by a semi seconds later. The impact sent me back into the median where the car came to rest and where I miraculously (I believe) walked away from the wreck. The pictures demonstrate the extent of damage. Call it luck or blessed (which I call it) but whatever you call it I am grateful to God. I was wearing my seat belt and both airbags deployed.

The tractor trailer truck that struck me ended up in the median about fifty yards from me. An additional tractor trailer drove off the side of the road to land on its side just over the guard rail. None of the drivers were injured. The car is as you can see was crushed. It used to be a 2003 Honda Civic.

The injuries I received are not commiserate with the damage to the car thankfully. It was totaled-I was not. For that I am grateful.

In looking at the car you may not believe that a person could have survived.

My thoughts are that it is difficult to address a question like "Why did God spare me and not the innocent child who has suffered harm? Or why me and not someone else?" That question is not helpful or answerable. I can only say that I survived and that I plan to continue ministry with a renewed gratitude.

I'm sore and recovering-the alternative is much less appealing.

I hope God can help you who read this and me find a sense of gratitude whether it comes from something dramatic or overwhelming or something as taken for granted as a smile from someone. I count myself blessed and lucky, and grateful to be among the living.

I pray that you find your gratitude-and that you are able to do so easily each day.

The love of God is present for you and for me and all of humanity-and it always will be-in life and in death we belong to God. Know you are precious in God's sight and that you are loved.

Grace,
Dwight

Here comes de judge

Obama has presented Sonia Sotomayor as a Supreme Court Justice Nominee and has already met with lots of criticism. As some of my family members who would describe themselves as "conservative" like to say "The way to control the government is to control the Supreme Court". So I think that having someone who doesn't blame global warming on the AIDS quilt is threatening to those who find themselves on the right side of the political spectrum.

The argument that's taking place helped me begin to think once again about whether there actually is a middle ground. Not just in politics but in general. In terms of our faith and politics we often make issues black and white-as though to have any in between, or any gray areas is somehow being lukewarm, or wishy washy, or even worse-demonic.

Because I think God gave us brains as well as hearts (spiritually and literally) I believe to find ourselves in places without certainty, and without proof is precisely where we encounter our Christian faith. When we have to think to apply that which has been presented to us as the gospel we are living a Christian life. Sadly though just as in politics with Supreme Court Nominees we find ourselves wanting to classify people based on whether we think "They" are on "Our" side. If not are "they" our enemy so we can determine how it is we're supposed to relate to "them". I did it myself in my comments about some of my family above. It's unavoidable really.

It's easier and even more pleasurable to judge others than it is to take the time to relate to them and try to find common ground.

For instance if I had my way I'd bring back Smiting. In fact I've invented a product called the Smite-a-matic 3000. It's a tool Christians can use to punish those with whom they disagree and who they deem is in need of repentance. It comes with several attachments: a patented leather stripped cat-a-nine tails with fine stainless steel shards on each strip, A Bible shaped mallet for ending arguments quickly, and of course a Revelation themed White Horse with an un-named rider with sword attachment jutting out of his mouth.

It can be conveniently used when we encounter a fellow Christian in a disagreement over a theological point-BOOM Smite-a-Matic ends the argument decisively. If we want to thwart a difficult discussion say about same sex marriage and just can't handle the thought that God loves all people and would bless a gay couple-THWACK! Argument over.

Finally if we find that beating up ourselves is our favorite use of self righteous vengeance there is a special self flagellation attachment. It's for those who feel as though mercy from God just isn't enough to cover over their particular dirtiest sins and therefore require punishment-the Smite-A-Matic calms that guilt ridden void with as little as two applications.

If only I could use this on the politicians who are caricatures of themselves. Sometimes I think they are like Pro Wrestlers shouting the familiar arguments taking on the role of villain or hero depending on where you place your particular political leanings. All the while as the show rages on we miss out on the complicated nature of real life that takes place in between the extremes.

If you like me are weary of it-call now-1-888-SMITE-EM. or visit our website at www.vengeanceismine.com Operators are standing by.

All major credit cards are accepted.

D

American Idol (atry)

We like to put things, people, possessions, anything that is not imbued with life or capable of relationship as the focus of our awareness (or our lack of awareness as the case may be). One focus we place front and center is television programming.

I confess too much of my time is spent huddled at the altar of satellite television and DVR of the programs I can't watch live. I count myself as chief among sinners in this form of self medication.

Twice a week for the past several months my oldest daughter and I have watched with fascination the show that has millions upon millions of folks glued to the TV-American Idol. We're waiting now for the final show of the season-to see who will be voted the next entertainer to emerge as the most beloved according to phone in votes.

The show is a juggernaut in terms of ratings and revenue. The formula works. Amateur entertainers vying to be the most loved and getting both instant and delayed gratification of their performance in the form of feedback from the judges and the voice of the viewers who spend hours texting, and phoning in votes.

I think there are often over 30 million who vote a night. The sheer volume of calls and votes makes me begin to think "I wonder what it would be like for 30 million people to all organize their energy to feed hungry people twice a week?". Or "What might happen if twice a week 10-60 million people gave a dollar to the same charitable organization-just one dollar? How many lives would be changed?" or "What if the time we spent on the couch consuming the ads, the entertainment, instead was dedicated to conversations with our family, working out, or cooking meals ahead?" My guilt at watching is apparent as you see.

I also think "I'm glad that after every sermon I deliver I don't have to stand up in the front of the church on Sundays and have four judges give me their honest opinions about what I've just said. I'm also glad that in the background I'd also hear the congregation cheering or jeering after the sermon." In some ways maybe that would be a good motivator to combat mediocre preaching. Have an Emcee to start the service "This is American Preacher". Maybe I could get a show together and sell it to the religious broadcasting networks with the permission of Simon Fuller.

I can hear the hip Urban judge saying "Yo dog, I was feelin' what you were sayin' about Jesus and his love for humanity-but I gotta tell ya in spots I was really bored with it." The glowing unconditional positive regard from the two glamorous women judges "You were AMAZING. The level of emotion you exhibit moves my soul and anyone who watches you preach who isn't moved there is something wrong with them." Finally the snotty English judge who would say "You know this is a competition and for me it seemed a little too karaoke-ish to me-like a group of friends sitting around in their basement doing a Bible study-not at all that entertaining really."

While the pressure or the direct accountability and publicity may heighten the level of preaching and the time spent preparing what how we're going to present the gospel on Sunday mornings, we have to know that preaching is not a competitive sport. Christianity isn't a competitive sport. Too often the Christian faith shows itself to be about judging who is "the best" Christian. We do this so that we can put ourselves over and above the next person thinking "I am more faithful than THEM because I do ________________." (fill in the blank).

To engage in this behavior is to do what so often we preachers do-we begin to think that Christianity, or life in general is either MOSTLY about us, or even about ONLY us. Dr. Phil while a bit hokie sometimes has that phrase that helps us remember what is true for relationships of all sorts and is particularly important to remember as Christians "IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU!" It's about Jesus. Jesus is to be our object of worship-our focus of adoration, and is one who doesn't make us stand on a stage to judge whether we're worthy to move on to the next round.

Jesus is one to join with us in singing, laughing, living, and loving without piling on unrealistic expectations and assigning value based on works. We are loved by, and saved by the Grace of Jesus Christ-something given by God because God chooses to love us. We don't have to try to be "good enough to be loved"-God has already loved us before a judgment can be made about us. In return we're asked to live a life shaped by the gratitude we have for the love God. This life is one marked by loving in return. So our actions or our "works" begin from the place of a grateful heart and mind-grateful for God's love and forgiveness. If we begin at that place then comparing our works with others begins to seem like what it is ludicrous and dare I say it-a form of idolatry.

Even in the midst of our guilty pleasures God is there with us to encourage us and teach us about our worth as it pertains to the immeasurable love God has for all of us. You and I are and each human being is a beloved child of God in whom God is well pleased.

That being said I hope Adam Lambert wins because he's way cool and is SO much better than Kris.

;-)
Pastor Dwight

Yahoo Mountain Dew!

YAHOO MOUNTAIN DEW! My Dad would shout this loudly anytime we were close to home on our way back from a trip.

See dad and mom used to own a produce store in Bluefield WV called Gateway Country Store and Produce. I often think it would've been cool for Gateway Computers to have to pay my parents for the name Gateway-it was after all a corporation. But that's off topic.

The store was like a min-Kroger that mated with a Cracker Barrel-before there was a Cracker Barrel. They went under in 1985 during the last "economic downturn" during the 80's.

Dad drove a truck to go get produce from all over the south east. As a little boy I often went with him. The truck was a white International Harvester with a 16ft bed. The truck kind not the kind you sleep in.

We'd go to Mt. Airy and Hillsville North Carolina to pick up loads of various kinds of produce. Then we'd haul it back over the mountains back to the market to sell it.

We'd travel to the docks at wholesale places in Winston Salem North Carolina where I would get to ride on these cool automatic palate jacks while they loaded our truck.

We'd go to the farmer's market just outside of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks football stadium. It was there that I learned to throw watermelons. We loaded them from the back of an open trailer attached to a semi and formed a line to throw them from the back of that truck to the back of our truck. It was hot, dirty, and itchy work. I loved it. I was thirteen and honestly thought that being part of the line of throwers was a right of passage into manhood. Dad was proud of me when that happened too. Good memory.

We'd travel to Georgia to get peaches right from the orchard, and Virginia to get Apples from the orchards, and strawberries from Florida.

I remember being small enough to stand up on the seat in the old International Harvester and my head touched the ceiling of the cab. I remember the smell of the vinyl seat and the faint hint of axle grease mixed in with my dad's Old Spice and coffee.

We'd be traveling for sometimes eight hours at a time back from these different states. When we'd get through the tunnel at East River Mountain we could feel the cooler air of "Nature's air conditioned City-Bluefield West Virginia" and dad would shout and I would shout with him YAHOO MOUNTAIN DEW WE'RE ALMOST HOME!"

My dad's almost home now. His spiritual home. He's dying in a nursing home. I can't help but smile as I imagine him feeling the grace of Jesus enfolding him with the familiarity of the mountains and the comforting presence of the One who created all of life. I imagine Jesus saying "Come on in Bud, I've prepared a place for you," and dad saying YAHOO! MOUNTAIN DEW!

Dwight

It's been a long time since I rock and roll

It stinks that Cadillac took that song from Zepplin-but I guess everything is becoming a commercial. See Jennifer's blog at http://jennfrancesca.blogspot.com on her January 22, 2009 post to read about her same concern of advertisers high jacking classic songs. I think for me the Taco Bell taking "I'll Stop the world and melt with you." is one of the most upsetting. Probably because I find myself craving tacos whenever I'm listening to the 80's station on Sirius satellite radio.

Advertising seems so out of hand.

I'm grateful it hasn't crept into worship. Wouldn't it be awkward if during the prayer of confession we had as part of the unison prayer:

"...forgive us we pray for all of our sins of things we've done and left undone. This prayer brought to you by Franklin Covey who helps you plan ahead and get more done in less time-that's Franklin Covey."

or even worse how about: "Our Father who art in Heaven...speaking of heaven have you tried the new Godiva chocolate truffles available now at Godiva.com?"

or: "The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God-not only for the Lord's word but for the word you can trust in car insurance-Geico".

Call to worship

"This is the day that the Lord has made

Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Glad brings you quality home storage and disposal products as well as portability for your foodstuffs."

I think you get the point.

Just to be clear if I can interest anyone I am selling ad space on my bald spot. Rogaine would seem the obvious choice-HOWEVER if it was a working product then that would actually be counter-intuitive. So bald spot advertising-maybe the other choice for advertising on bald spots would be "Corvette-it's what makes you able to face your mortality." but the spots not that big yet-so maybe just "Corvette" within a Chevy Logo would be enough.

I think in order to drive a Corvette though you also have to grow a mustache-that's what Colin Cowherd said on his radio show-The Herd on ESPN radio.

By the way-this blog that's sort of about advertisement has made reference to many different products and services that will show up in searches on Google thus will hopefully promote this blog indirectly. We're all part of the madness...resistance is futile.

I'm so ashamed. Maybe there's a pharmaceutical product we can all use called "Shameitol. Relieves those pesky feelings self flagellation brought on by years of religious upbringing."

Dwight