For the World is Changing

About three months before what would have been his 90th birthday, my grandfather warned me that I had best be paying attention to life because the years pass ever more swiftly as you get older. I knew his statement to be true then and I am even more keenly aware of its veracity today. Suddenly, it seems, we face a new year, 2014, a new year filled with hope and promise for the optimistic, a new year filled with peril and fear for the less optimistic among us. No doubt it will be a year that passes all too quickly and one year from now we will be scratching our heads wondering where the 365 days have gone.

This past November, we marked the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. With everyone else who can remember 50 years ago, I recalled where I was when I heard the tragic news. The images of that day and the solemn days that followed came back to my mind easily and perhaps more horrifyingly due to the enhancements of digital technology. I briefly immersed myself in his words and wondered how many of those words he himself had written and how many had been offered by his speechwriters, especially wordsmith Ted Sorensen.

Among the speeches that I read last month was John F. Kennedy's acceptance speech from July 15, 1960, as he accepted his party's nomination for the presidency of the United States.  In it he said something that I feel is appropriate for us as we close out one year and enter another.  He said,

We are not here to curse the darkness, but to light the candle that can guide us through the darkness to a safe and sane future. As Winston Churchill said on taking office some twenty years ago: if we open a quarrel between the present and the past, we shall be in danger of losing the future. Today our concern must be with that future.  For the world is changing.  The old era is ending.  The old ways will not do.

The old ways will not do.  In the church, that is, in our ELCA, in our synod and in our congregations, let us make 2014 a year of innovation, creativity, hope, celebration and joy.  Yes, of course, there will be days and circumstances that frighten us.  There will be perilous days.  But, let's not be paralyzed by them.  Let us proclaim Christ in new ways so that we do not lose the future.

Go ahead, light a candle for 2014!  Happy new year!  The peace of Christ be with you all!

Comments?  Go to the blog site or comment on Facebook.  --JC

On This Holy Night

I will readily admit that I am better at preaching sermons than I am at listening to them, so I may not quote the words exactly as Pastor Andy spoke them. He told the story of another pastor's five year old daughter, who was able to put Christmas into bleak but accurate perspective.  She said, as heard by her mother, preached by Pastor Andy and heard then later recalled by me, "Why so much fun at Christmas when he's just going to die?"

Yes, sometimes a PK's (preacher's kid's) theology develops early in life.  Pastor Andy said this is not the message he would choose to share on Christmas Eve.  Neither would I, at least not this blatantly.  But, when you stop to give it a moment's thought, this child is onto something.

What was the news that the shepherds received?  "Don't be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you--wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David's city. He is Christ the Lord."

A savior. Our savior. And yes, as we are reminded by a five year old, to be our savior, Jesus had to die.  But, on this holy night we celebrate, with joy and gusto. We celebrate a birth. We celebrate our savior.  We celebrate good news.  Good Friday can wait.

My prayer is that no matter where you find yourself tonight, no matter what your circumstances in life are, you will hear the news of the Savior's birth and receive the news with joy.  The magnitude of God's gift must not be underestimated.  God's love for us knew no limit.

Merry Christmas!  --JC