Blessings, Pastor Mike

Jack Gilbert ~ In memory (Kelly Monroe Kullberg reflection, April 12, 2012)

It was the 1970s.  We seemed an average bunch of teenagers from a normal Midwestern town, Columbus, Ohio.  We liked dances and slumber parties and TP’ing houses.  Some of us liked James Taylor and Dan Fogelberg.  Others disco, lava lamps, shag carpet and waterbeds.  Alas. 

And there was this OLD GUY -- in his 20s -- who hung around our high school. His name was Jack.  It seemed as though students liked going to Burger King and Tommy’s Pizza in his VW bug with a license plate that read, Yoda.

I was then a sophomore when an senior and the captain of our volleyball team, Kim Stone, asked if I would come to the passion play she was in. 

I asked, What’s a passion play? 

She said it was about Jesus and Easter. 

Though honored that she was talking to me, I said, Thanks but I’m really busy.

Kim responded:  It runs for 10 straight nights.  How busy are you?

I said:  Well, I’m 15 and I don’t drive.  I’m busy -- and immobile. 

She said:  It’s in the Lutheran church 200 yards from your house.  (pause) Would you like a ride?

I responded vaguely, No thank you.

I later learned that the mysterious Jack encouraged older students to care about younger ones.  As well as to do secret acts of kindness for near strangers.

Without telling Kim, I hid in the balcony of this sanctuary 4 of 10 nights.  Not only was I gripped by the story and person of Jesus, I also saw the love of the students in the play for God, and for one another.  For the first time in a long time, I felt joy. 

So I began coming to Luther League and saw Jack among those who made things happen.  Skits. Singing. Laughter. Volleyball. And this thing called Bible study that we all began to love. I remember how he looked at us, and paid attention. I didn’t know then that he would go through high school yearbooks to pray for students, and remember our names. 

My parents had divorced three years before this, caught in traps of relativism and the sexual revolution.  The questions of truth, and the soul, were important to all of us.  Jack and other League staff welcomed those questions with thoughtful answers, and, again, with joy.

Jack organized a bunch of us to go to Young Life camp, Saranac. 1975.  Many of us came back as new believers, and he introduced us to Scripture as well as books by John Stott, J.I. Packer, and C.S. Lewis. Fortunately we weren’t smart enough to say, we’re not smart enough! We’re just teenagers!

Leaders took us to Cedar Campus and to the Urbana Mission conference.  They imparted to us a sense of wonder and mission.  It helped that all this was punctuated by mud fights, hundred mile bike rides, retreats and bizarre games like Trapper and Hurtle-the-Turtle  –  a cynic would say “bonding rituals” that often involved the shedding of blood.  I still have a few road and carpet scars that make me smile. 

Jack moved to L.A. where he would mentor younger writers -- for three decades.  In about 1977 we sent Jack off with a large pool party at my house that that had begun to feel alive again, like a large extended family of our church.  We made a slide show to the song, A Place in the World for A Gambler.

Jack was not saying Goodbye.  Out of sight was not out of mind and heart, for him.  He encouraged many Ohioans for the next 37 years.  Not just with his famous Christmas letters that ended with Tiny Tim’s, God bless us, everyone, and contained his favorite films and wild adventure of the year (running with bulls in Pamplona, or his 50^th birthday Casablanca party in Vegas with Batchlers, Nagys and many).  But also by his calls and Thanksgiving visits and prayers.  

Many of us left Ohio. In the late 80s, I went to Boston for grad school where it seemed scary but not unprecedented to hang signs up all around campus for Christian fellowships in the Yard and grad schools, and to later begin the Veritas Forum at Harvard to talk about the Truth (Veritas) of Jesus in relation to the hardest questions of the world. Within two decades Veritas Forums are in 120 universities involving hundreds of presenters, and about ½ million students throughout American and Europe. Why?  Because Jack Gilbert and a few of his crazy friends noticed a hurting teenager.   And made the wonders of God, and life, and purposeful friendship, seem normal.    

In the 90s, Jack joined some of our Harvard fellowship ski trips in New Mexico where he also loved to fish and see his family. He would listen to our woes and talk about the art of story until we realized he was helping us see our own lives as the story worth living into. That the Author could be trusted. That there really are orcs, and risks. That we have heroic notions because there is are actual battles for the Shire and the race of men.

I was just one of hundreds of kids from Ohio. Others did greater things:  married young and raised children to keep the good Story going into more generations of VBS and youth ministry, church and Tetelestai.  Longs. Nagys. Bruns.  Fullens.– 37 years now.

Looking out at you, people so loved by Jack, you became healers and missionaries.  The Manns, Whites, Camerons, Steph Woods, many.

Some became artists and musicians, Jim Zangmeister with Billy Graham, Nagys, Fullens, Delcamps, many. Business people, engineers, teachers and lawyers. Civic leaders like Joe. Every inch is God’s world.  Ministers like Mike Stone, Andy Jones, Delashmutts, Chilcoats, so many sharing good news that I shouldn’t begin to name you. 

Jack never married or bore a child, yet in Ohio and in Hollywood he showed us what romance is.  Chivalry.  Honor. He was a brother, and a father.  We sensed his covering love.  We are still growing into whatever he saw in us.  Average kids -- but, thankfully, not in Jack’s eyes. 

Jack chose story and humor and beauty to change the world. He chose kindness. Imagine the hundreds of writers he’s encouraged in L.A.  Hollywood industry papers wrote glowingly of this kind wise Christian man. 

One mutual friend, Bobette, teaches film at USC.  Today she said, at the first of several L.A. memorials for Jack, a former Warner Bros executive, explained that he was Jewish, and that as a little boy he'd seen the actor, William Warfield play "God" in the old movie, Green Pastures. Thereafter, his image of God was always William Warfield, with his great bass voice. But when this man worked with Jack - over years - he said that Jack became, for him, the very example of a true Christian.  And then this man wept. 

This same friend, Bobette, wrote to me on the day of Jack’s passing:

I awoke today deeply aware of God's grace moving in Jack.  It has taken this very quiet man -- so full of dignity and constancy -- to draw the Christian Hollywood community together in a way I've never witnessed in all my years here. 

How like Jack.  Drawing us together, and drawing us to the best Story, to the Gospel, in his dying -- as in his living.  A good Author would script it thus, even if – for the time being – the absurdity of death gets a part in the plot.  And so we grieve, but not as those without hope.  

The friend who invited me to the passion play, Kim, wrote this week from New York, "Now life will be a little less sweet, death a little less bitter." As we wait to see Jack again. 

For now we borrow from Jack the wisdom to live forwardly into the Story, giving glory to the Author in all things -- and sharing in Jack’s courage to play our parts, fully, now, in the time that is given us.  

God bless us, everyone. 

Our natural inclination towards revenge, retribution and justice must have died on the cross with Him.  We who put Him on the cross, should not take this act of generous forgiving love for us for granted, anymore than we should take His setting His face towards Jerusalem lightly.  

Both were premeditated acts of love against all human compulsion to do otherwise.  Can you imagine having all the power in the world at your fingertips and not using it before or during the ordeal of the cross!  Or can you imagine after death on a cross, then descending to the dead and then rising again to pleasantly share the peace with those who left you to in the dust to save their own skin.  Easter, like Good Friday, exemplifies a love this world has never known.  After being betrayed; denied; left in the Garden and left at the cross utterly abandoned by those closest to Him is it any wonder that the Risen Lord's triune question of Peter stung to the heart when Jesus justifiably asked, "Peter, do you love me?"  

At the end of this season of Lent that, I suppose, is our Lord's question to each of us.  If we truly have been touched by His amazing love we too responsively break out in sharing Bernard of Claineux's old but fresh word, "what language shall I borrow to thank Thee dearest friend; Lord let me never, never outlive my love to Thee"

Amen

HEREIN IS LOVE

God, who needs nothing, loves into existence wholly superfluous creatures in order that He may love and perfect them.  He creates the universe, already foreseeing....the buzzing cloud of flies about the cross, the flayed back pressed against the uneven stake, the nails driven through the mesial nerves, the repeated incipient suffocation as the body droops, the repeated torture of back and arms as it is time after time, for breath's sake, hitched up.  If I may dare the biological image, God is a "host" who deliberately creates His own parasites, causes us to be that we may exploit and "take advantage of" Him.  Herein is love.  This is the diagram of Love Himself, the inventor of all loves.

                                                                                                 ---from the Four Loves

For reflection----Matthew 27:27-50

This is a time when we often speak of giving up something up as a way of acknowledging God giving Himself up for us in Christ.

I hope our time each Wednesday night in worship throughout this season will be one thing we give up in his honor and name. From a spiritual stand point what God invites and encourages us to give up more than anything else is ourselves, to relinquish control of our lives so He truly can be Lord.

The following devotion is one I have found quite meaningful:

When I met Christ

it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride,

but it was a tandem bike,

and I noticed that Christ

was in the back helping me pedal.

I don't know just when it was

that He suggested we change places,

but life has not been the same since.

When I had control, I knew the way,

It was rather boring, but predictable....

It was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead,

He knew delightful long cuts,

up mountains, and through rocky places

at breakneck speeds,

it was all I could do to hang on!

Even though it looked like madness,

He said, “Pedal!”

I worried and was anxious and asked,

“Where are you taking me?”

He laughed and didn't answer,

and I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life

and entered into the adventure.

And when I'd say, “I'm scared,”

He'd lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed,

gifts of healing,acceptance, and joy.

He said, “Give the gifts away;

they're extra baggage, too much weight.”

So I did, to the people we met,

and I found that in giving I received,

and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him, at first,

in control of my life.

I thought He'd wreck it;

but He knows bike secrets,

knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners,

knows how to jump to clear high rocks,

know how to fly to shorten scary passages.

And I am learning to shut up and pedal

in the strangest places,

and I'm beginning to enjoy the view

and the cool breeze on my face

with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.

And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore,

He just smiles and says …. “Pedal.”

~Author unknown

Lenten Blessings to you all

As we surrender to the only One worthy to be in control..and steering our lives

God Bless,

Pastor Mike

At our church picnic I shared some special blessings we have at Mt. Pisgah: 

Joy

—We know how to laugh and we know that the “Joy of the Lord truly is our strength.” 

Fellowship 

—We enjoy getting together whether for Worship, Bible Study and even the most menial of tasks.  We enjoy knowing the promise of our Lord's presence when 2 or 3 gathered.  I practically have to blow a whistle to bring us back together after the passing of the Peace on Sunday mornings.

Children &Youth

– What a joy to have 50 + children come forward for children's sermon—I can't wait until Fall Festival and our Christmas Program!

- Our young people are such a Blessing to lead us in worship and to help in so many ways. 

Outreach

—With our church and Food Pantry—we touch many lives and would be missed if we were not here.  Close to 20% of our budget goes outside the doors of this place to help so many in need in our community and world.

 Food

—Every new member class has someone who comments “you sure like to eat!”  Well, we know that where 2 or 3 Lutherans are gathered there will always be a covered dish.:)

There are so many blessings we have at Mt. Pisgah; which I never want to take for granted. We serve a Great and Faithful God whose presence in Jesus is revealed to all.

Isaiah 43 is a scripture that lifts this up. I hope our youth will lead us in singing this on Youth Sunday October 23rd.  

Here are the words:

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through fire, you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give you life. 

Do not be afraid, for I am with you. 

How can you say anything but thanks to that?  

God Bless,

Pastor Mike

So, ponder with me for a moment all the history made in those three buildings which were called Mt. Pisgah, and more importantly with the people of Mt. Pisgah.  The thousands of gatherings to celebrate Word and Sacrament and the countless covered dish fellowship times—second to none!  In my brief snapshot of time within this history of Mt. Pisgah, I think of many things, but primarily that this is a place of grace and warmth.

To walk into the sancturary is to see the shape of a wooden boat—reminding us of God

• who saves from the flood;
• who calms the rough seas with an outstretched arm; and
• who left the crowd on the shores to proclaim a word of grace.

To walk into the sancturary is to see wood carvings of mountain top journeys.  It is on the mountain tops that God has always showed up to His people in a big way.  To all who come here it is easy to see that the God of yesterday and today has “shown up” in amazing ways.

He has revealed Himself in the past faithful planting of a church by Abraham Boliek and in the present by God's faithful people building an addition in respone to Patriarch Abraham's call that we are “Blessed to be a Blessing.” (Genesis 12)

It is impossible in this Grace-place called Mt. Pisgah, not to be inspired by the gifts shared by all seen in: wood working, furniture, stained glass, mosaic, memorials and landscaping.  The people here have left their mark and most importantly realize that they are gifted in order to share their gifts.

So how, in quick summary, would you share what it means to be part of this special church?

Would it be …..

•  the sense of generosity in outreach?
•  the sense of pride in our facility?
•  the sense of gracious warmth in fellowship?
•  the sense of expectancy in our worship?

It is hard to say what one would highlight and treasure the most.  But there is not doubt that we are the sum total today of all that has preceded us in the past.  The faithful pioneers of yesterday have given us a legacy of hope to move forward into the unknown frontier of the future.  What motivated and inspired them is identical to what gives us encouragement today.  That is, finally, that we are of all things most grateful to the One that we can always count on, whose changeless grace and love is truly the same yesterday, today and forever.

Soli Deo Gloria

To Him be the glory,

Pastor Mike

What a blessing it has been to take our youth to work-camp again.  They worked hard in building, mulching and putting on V.B.S. for migrant worker families.  The daily trip to the work site from Eckerd College was about 40 minutes each day. Every afternoon my car was packed with noisy kids competing with the loud music heard even outside their ear buds.  But without fail, after about 10 minutes on the return trip, their hard work under the Florida sun had taken its toll.  Every one of those highly animated teens collapsed like deflated rag dolls construed in all kinds of positions in the welcome silence of sleep. In my rearview mirror, it  was a sight to behold,  and one to savor for the moment since this stillness would not last long.   The radio could be heard in this quiet moment  and this was the song I heard.  

                                “Word of God Speak” 

                   I'm finding myself at a loss for words

                   And the funny thing is it's okay

                   the last thing I need is to be heard

                   but to hear what You would say 

                   {Chorus}

                   Word of God speak

                   Would You pour down like rain

                   Washing my eyes to see

                   Your majesty

                   to be still and know

                   That You're in this place

                   Please let me stay and rest

                   In Your holiness

                   Word of God speak 

                   I'm finding myself in the midst of You

                   Beyond the music, beyond the noise

                   All that I need is to be with You 

                   And in the quiet hear Your voice. 

As someone has said we live in “noisy times” when everyone has much to say about everything.

We have political pundits on all sides ranting and raving.

We have righteous indignation expressed over what seems to be jilted justice in the Anthony case.

We have frustration and disappointment over senators, governors, sports figures and coaches who let us down over and over.

Much can and is said about all of this but in truth there is usually more fire then light.  Sometimes there is no word appropriately able to capture and express all that we think or feel.

In my own life I have regretted many words emotively and hastily spoken but I have never regretted the choice of silence.  

It is precisely in the cacophony of noise vying for our attention that we really can appreciate God's silence.  The One who tells us that it is in the stillness that we can best find and hear Him.

In all my frustrated desires for God to have an audible voice and a verbal  answer  to my every plea, it is true that what I  really need is His silent listening.  It is far more precious to have our Father's undivided attention when we speak than to be interrupted by one more loud voice.  And it is so often in His silent response that we hear the real answer. 

Our God is like that—a still small voice which can easily be drowned out by this loud and noisy world which thinks it has more important things to say.  It is no wonder that Daniel characterized God at the end of times as the Ancient of Days who waits quietly as the Anti Christ verbally accosts in rants and raves.  Our Lord modeled this same quiet confidence before both the Jewish and Romans authorities at His Passion, as they mistakenly assumed that they would have the last loud word against our Lord's persistent silence. 

So in this noisy hurried world and particularly  this summer, I hope you can find some great quiet space and time to listen for God's still small voice.  And in His silence to know that true love - truly listens. 

                   from all wavelengths

                          “Be Still and Know.....

                   Surround sound,

                   bombarded by

                   chatter and clatter

                   clamoring for attention

                   unworthy

                   to open a soul

                   or lend an ear to.

                   If that verbiage

                   of selfish agendas, political nuances

                   and subtle labels,

                   would be expunged

                    and exorcised from all sound.

                   Quiet

                   would fill up space

                   and empty noises would be swallowed with silence.

                   And in that haunting but refreshing stillness

                   we would know

                   that then and only then is

                   there room to

                   hear.....

                   God” 

                                                      Amen

(We invite you to join with us Sunday for Sunday School as we dig into the Psalms together in Phillip Yancey book “The Bible Jesus Read.”)

Though we do not think of it much, The Old Testament  was the only scripture that Jesus had to read or reference.  Even the Apostle Paul's early admonition to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God—breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuilding, correcting and training in righteousness,” was referring first to the Old Testament.

In many ways we need to unlock some of the mysteries in the Old Testament to fully understand all to the truths in the New.  In Yancey's book we will look in depth at 5 particular Old Testament books.  Oswald Chambers commented on each of these books—The Psalms teach us how to pray; Job teaches us how to suffer,  Song of Solomon teaches you how to love, Proverbs teaches you how to live and Ecclesiastes teaches one how to enjoy life.

More than anything else  the Old Testament is a reminder of God's grace.  He chose a people and a nation (Israel) not because of their worthiness but most often in spite of their  weakness and challenges.

Just look at the leaders he picked, “Abraham pimped for his wife, Jacob cheated his brother, Moses murdered, David murdered and committed adultery both—yet all of these ended up on God's list of favorites. Jacob got his new name Israel (God-struggler) after an all-night wrestling match with God, and ever since the name of God's people has harkened back to that contest. God's people are, literally, the children of struggle.  God has it out with loud complainers like Job, Jeremiah, and Jonah.  He engages Abraham and Moses in lengthy arguments—and sometimes lets them win!  In his wrestling match with Jacob, God waits until daybreak to inflict the wound; till then Jacob holds his own.  Quite obviously, God prefers honest disagreement to dishonest submission.  He takes human beings seriously, conducts dialogues with them, includes them in his plans, listen to them”

That is a grace we should never take for granted and a grace we all need

Lord,

We thank you for wanting an authentic real relationship with us. Thank you for loving us and being gracious to us so much that we can be true and honest about all of our feelings and struggles. There is no other way you would want us to speak to You than as to our Best Friend.

In Jesus name we pray

Amen

The Holy Spirit warms the cold and brings the distant close.  Recently I ran across a parable that makes that point: 

Once upon a time there was a piece of iron, which was very strong and very hard.  Many attempts had been made to break it, but all had failed.

“I'll master it,” said the axe.....and his blows fell heavily upon the piece of iron, but every blow only made the axe's edge more blunt, until it finally ceased to strike and gave up in frustration.

“Leave it to me,” said the saw....and it worked back and forth on the iron's surface until its jagged teeth were all worn and broken.  Then in despair, the saw quit trying and fell to the side.

“Ah!” said the hammer, “I knew you two wouldn't succeed.  I'll show you how to do this!”  But at the first fierce blow, off flew its head and the piece of iron remained just as before, proud and hard and unchanged.

“Shall I try?” asked the small soft flame.  “Forget it,” everyone else said.  “What can you do? You're too small and you have no strength.”  But the small soft flame curled around the piece of iron, embraced it....and never left it's side until it melted under its warm irresistible influence.

God's way is not our way of harsh coercion and force but of soft warmth and love. 

“Come Holy Spirit melt our hearts anew under the irresistible warmth of your gracious love.” In Jesus name we pray

John 17

I have always wondered about the day after Pentecost.  After the wind died down and the flames of fire ceased; surely not everyone’s life was changed by the event. There were probably some who went on as business as usual even in the aftermath of such an extraordinary event.

It is an interesting thing about the Holy Spirit that it is often referred to as the “Silent Partner ” of the Trinity.  The dramatic action on Pentecost was an uncharacteristic display of power; namely to mark a new beginning –The Birthday of the Church. As Jesus said usually the Spirit is, like the Wind that you cannot see but can only notice the effects of its presence.

The Spirit is most often behind the scenes, as the marvelous hymn “Spirit of Gentleness” alludes.  The Spirit blows through our lives filling us with a restlessness and a void that only God can satisfy and fill. The Spirit does not force Itself on us anymore than the Father or Son do, they simply try to win us over by their love and grace.

Every encounter of our Lord is marked by this gentle loving Spirit at work.  He gives total freedom of acceptance or denial to the individuals involved, whether it is Nicodemus or the rich young ruler. Without exception there is not one encounter in which Jesus does not invite change but it is not always well received. You cannot make one love you or graciously accept a gift.  The Jewish Talmud puts it this way:  the Spirit of God gently surrounds a hardened heart so that when it cracks there is room for the Spirit to seep in.

Lord,

Take my hard heart and soften it by your Spirit.  Make me always open to your Spirit of gentleness and love.  Fill me up with Yourself so that I may be an overflowing vessel spilling grace and love to all those around me. Amen

The Cost of Freedom

God has made it a rule for Himself that He won’t alter people’s character by force. He can and will alter them—but only if the people will let Him.  In that way He has really and truly limited His power. Sometimes we wonder why He has done so, or even wish that He hadn’t.  But apparently He thinks it worth doing.  He would rather have a world of free beings, with all its risks, than a world of people who did right like machines because they couldn’t do anything else.  The more we succeed in imagining what a world of perfect automatic beings would be like, the more, I think, we shall see His wisdom,

C.S. Lewis -from “The trouble with “X,” “God in the Dock”