God in the middle of the mess with us

I recently asked a kindergartener where God was when she was at school. She told me God was in heaven. I gently reminded her that God was with her at kindergarten. Then, I asked her, “When you go to McDonald’s, where is God then?” She caught on, and said, “McDonalds!”

Advent is the season where we prepare our hearts for God to birth something new in our lives. Advent is also a glorious reminder of Emmanuel, God is with us. And boy, do we need reminding!

Many of us deal with the messiness of life. Some of us are walking through Christmas without that loved one at our side. The loss is painful, and our hearts are empty. Some can hardly participate in Christmas festivities because the income just won’t stretch that far. The pressure from the culture to make Christmas be about presents is strong. Some have received news that just won’t allow any sort of celebration to occur. The weight of their pain is tremendous.

Yet, even as Mary was told of her upcoming parenthood, there had to be some uneasiness. Women who were perceived to be caught in the act of adultery, could face execution by their neighbors and community members volunteering to pelt them to death with stones. And then there was Joseph, who might not have taken the news well, even after his vision ensuring him it was right and good to marry Mary. Joseph, like all of us, have the option to turn away from God, right?

In some ways, Mary’s scenario was a bit of a mess. Mary could very well have had moments of despair, concern or doubt even after her wonderful embrace of being God’s person as she said “yes” to serving God’s purposes in the world. Even as the birth story moves along, circumstances are not perfect and God seems to have forgotten to make hotel reservations for the impending birth.

And yet, it was into this less-than-perfect scenario that Jesus was born. Jesus arrived right in the middle of the mess. This is one of the central messages of Christmas. God is right there in the middle of the mess with us, waiting for us to seek out God’s presence so we can encounter God’s love for us wherever we are.

What is true about people is that we typically do not seek out God when life is going well. (I hate that.) We are those needing to embrace our inability to change circumstances, and cling to the One who will walk with us through them. May you encounter God right in the middle of whatever mess you face! Have a blessed Christmas!

The Joy of Stickers

I am waiting for the election official to know my line and say it with me, “I vote so I can have a sticker.” This year I was brazen enough to ask for two, knowing there was an outfit change later that day. I wanted to be able to wear it proudly throughout the day. It is a symbol of my participation.

Now, lest you think I’m waxing political here, I’m not. I’m just here to say “I like stickers.” Even as an adult I am fascinated by my own excitement over getting a sticker as a prize. (I need to let my dentist in on this secret.)

I discovered the pleasure of stickers most vividly while doing Weight Watchers. I hit the first weight loss goal of five percent and at the end of the meeting I not only got applause, but I got a sticker for my book. Then, they passed around a roll of stickers and you could take another if you exercised that week. Or, if you got in the right amount of fruits and veggies. This went on week after week. I own a booklet full of stickers, symbols of my participation in something I knew I could not do on my own. They are a comical collection of stars, teddy bears, and happy faces pointing to the fact that, step-by-step, I was learning how to be successful in the program right along with everyone else in the journey.

As followers of the Lord Jesus, I wonder about the symbols of participation we carry. If we claim our identity as a follower, or a servant of Jesus, then this means we care about the things that Jesus would care about. But, we can care at a distance. We can be moved to the core of our being by the plight of people around us, but do we participate in being the hands and feet of Jesus for them? Do we, by our actions, say to them, “God sees, God knows, and God cares”?

Participation is where rubber meets the road for those who follow Jesus. It is also where we are changed, where our hearts are trained, and our inward concern becomes outward reality for someone else. I think back to my friend, Cindy, who mirrored Jesus for me in her life and actions toward me as I was in deep hurt and desperate need. I think of the year she showed up with a Christmas tree cut from her property, the time she painted my dog hot pink to distract me from my troubles (topic for a future blog), and when she took me and my family into her home for three month. She didn’t do any of it for stickers; she did to serve the interests of Jesus. But, if I had my way, I’d buy her a gazillion stickers for her participation in bringing God’s kingdom to light in my life. She not only pointed me to Jesus, but she showed me what it looks like to be God’s person in action! May it be so in our lives!

Be blessed… and be a blessing to someone today!

Here are some thoughts and commentary for the Election Day: I sincerely hope you vote today. This is a privilege we too often take for granted. It is also a responsibility, so take it seriously. For the Christian, we ought to participate prayerfully, as we do in all of life.

If you vote, you earn the right to make commentary on the state of affairs in the post-election world. If you do not vote, you do NOT get to comment. (This ought to further add an incentive to vote.)

For the record, I try to be a-political. Politics (the grab for power) gets on my nerves. Watching an overdose of election commercials on cable makes me thankful for the DVR and EXTRA thankful for the fast-forward button.

This one concern strikes me as I consider how the evening will divide the map of the United States into states designated red or blue: just how divisive our election process seems to have become. The Apostle Paul repeatedly brought up the issue of unity within communities of faith. It's then a fair jump to say unity is better for humanity. So, however you vote, keep in mind that it is pointless to slice and dice each other. But, I think John Wesley says it best:

Be a blessing today!!  -- Pastor Margie

Step away from those wimpy bags, M'am.

I finally figured out that the fabric bags people keep handing out… the ones with their logos on them… are supposed to be grocery bags. Not sure what took me so long to get “with it” but better late than never. So, in an attempt to stop hoarding those lame and wimpy plastic bags, I decided to really use those fabric bags when going to the store. I have never done this before. I was so dedicated to this idea that I put several fabric bags in the back seat of the car to be sure I had them. Great idea, in theory, that is. I was hoping this would operate like the giant freezer storage bag that’s in my trunk for when I go to Sam’s Club and have frozen food or meat and I am not able to make it home right away; keep the bag in the car and you’ll have it to use when you need it. Right?

Thus far, the score is about 7 to 0. That is, out of seven trips to the grocery store I have yet to use a single fabric bag. And this occurs to me when I put my groceries, in the lame and wimpy plastic bags, into the back seat of the car right on top of the pile of fabric bags. How effective is this?

At the same time it has occurred to me that this could become a study in that dreaded word: change. I am now walking in lock-step with the way I’ve always done it for years and years. I have, at the same time, attempted to set myself up to behave in a different way (fabric bags in car), seeing the wisdom of the “new thing,” but I continue my lock-step march toward hoarding more and more wimpy plastic bags. This is just absurd.

Using those wimpy plastic bags will not be the death of anyone. But making the change sure seems smarter, and it also guarantees I won’t end up on the show Hoarders because I have A LOT of those bags hanging around here. And even though I’ve gotten good at “re-using” those, I still see the wisdom in the next logical step: fabric bags.

It makes me think of the church and a favorite excuse for not making changes we know will be for our own good (and hopefully the good of others): We’ve never done it that way before. Some say those are the seven last words of a dying church. This is a lot more serious than my issue with fabric grocery bags.

But it reminds me that change can be tricky. Change can be resisted even unintentionally. Which brings to mind my final point: the fabric bags need to be moved from the back seat to the front seat. Perhaps when the intended change is front and center… I’ll remember to seize the day and grab the fabric bag before heading into the store.

Confession of a Negligent Blogger... and news....

By definition, I think blogging in the blog-o-sphere means you post really regularly because time online goes event fast than time in the real world, right?  That makes about as much sense as how times goes fast the older we get. That, I finally nailed down. You see, if you are 10 years old, one year is one-tenth of your life; whereas if you are 40 years old, one year is 1/40^th of your life. It is a much smaller slice of life and therefore it “feels” quicker. Get it?

So, in reality, it really hasn’t “FELT” like I haven’t blogged in a while because I am more than 10 years old. But, I apologize none-the-less.

Now, to reward you for reading through this nonsense… I will offer this:

On the Threshold of Soup Kitchen

Attica United Methodist is just a step or two away from Soup Kitchen final approval from the Health Department. That being said, I say, “For such a time as this, Lord?” With the State of Michigan poised to cut families off from support on October 1, our group of faithful servants hopes to be offering a community meal right around that time. We probably will start out two times a month, on the second and fourth Tuesdays… details will be announced once we pass final inspection and we etch more items in stone.

In asking the question “If your church left town, would you even be noticed,” I am pleased to reflect and remember the people who attend our Food Bank. I am excited for the faithful followers of Jesus who come regularly and serve there. And, I’m excited for the new volunteers who will take part in this new Soup Kitchen adventure. 

Steps of Faith... in food ministry

The disciples at Attica United Methodist Church are on a new adventure… an adventure to expand our food ministry.

We began about two years ago by hosting a food truck. The need is great: 19 percent unemployment. So, we started out by hosting a Food Bank two times per month, serving about 60 people per month. That grew; and during our peak months about 140 people are served. And this is amazing in our township of under 5,000 people.

Other needs continue to challenge us and we respond. Two of our disciples are now ready, willing and able to help a client sign up online for a Bridge Card (aka food stamps). Other connections are made in our community and during this past November/December the Vocational/Technical Center provided us with whole chickens to give away. Financial support has come from both far and near. Rep. Kevin Daley, an Attica guy at heart, donated funds to help us. Even our friends at the Lapeer Meijer’s helped by featuring our Food Bank and granting us funds.

And, most importantly, our clients know we are generous.

Meanwhile, one of our disciples working at the Food Bank, felt pressed by God to research what it would mean for us to take on serving a hot meal one day per week. Approved by our board to do this, she set out to connect with the local Health Department to begin a list of what it would take.  

Frankly, I thought we would end up needing to do fund raisers for a few years to even get the commercial equipment required. But, God has a way of making me smile and letting me know I ought not to take myself too blasted seriously. God also has a way of reminding me WHO is in charge. (And it certainly is NOT the Pastor at Attica United Methodist!)

Lo and behold our list of what is needed is short and attainable. And, in talking about our Dinner at Attica Methodist project, volunteer workers are starting emerge both from our congregation and even from other congregations!

By far, we are not the largest congregation in Lapeer County, but we certainly can do BIG THINGS, when God is in it! And perhaps part of our work is to offer to others to come alongside us and serve God’s people… and through THAT even more disciples will be made!

God has indeed cleared the way for us to begin this work and by the time all our ducks are in a row, we expect to be serving hot plates of food for dinner well before Easter!  

 Be blessed! 

Use what you have!

Yesterday, servants at Attica Methodist worked together to help 462 people at our food truck giveaway. For those who may not know, we do have a regular Food Bank for Attica Township resident that operates twice a month. But, we decided to sponsor a Food Truck this time. And, when you do a Food Truck, you don't get a say about what kind of food arrives in the truck. 

One of our regular food bank patrons called me afterward to ask about the kinds of things he got because they seemed a bit unusual. He told me typically, with what we give him, he is able to go home and make a couple of meals. What he got from the Food Truck seemed more miscellaneous. (That was a nice way to put it!) I was glad he feels so taken care of by our Food Bank.

I have to admit, I had to scratch my head about a couple of items we got. First, there was the pallet (translate: many cases) of collard greens. One client asked what that was. When others were told what it was, they looked like nine years olds who were forced fed spinach. (You know the face.) Then, there was the pallet (translate: many cases) of crème cheese frosting. And, last but not least, were these crepe things that tasted like peanut butter and had sesame sprinkled all over them and I’m sure they go for big bucks at Trader Joe’s (fancy supermarket), but…

So, as the pastor, what do you do? And here’s where a sense of humor comes in handy… I made mention of combining the collards and the crème cheese frosting to make it all palatable? Never underestimate the power of the pastor’s words: Pat went into gear and made something as a tribute to all three unusual items – a collard, frosting wrap using the sesame crepe things. In case you think I’m making this up... 

Despite the odd items, the day went well. We were blessed with some teenagers that came to help us help others. Bill showed up with a bobcat to help unload the truck. Others in the community let us borrow extra tables.

We gave what we had, and we gave almost all…  collard leftovers went to some appreciative cows, and we still have a few crepes and frosting. Anyone in need of those?

Meanwhile, we are learning to be faithful with what we have… and that is what pleases God. It’s also a much healthier way to do your faith walk than sitting around lamenting what you don’t…  even if some of what you have is an overabundance of collard greens, frosting and sesame crepe things.

Be blessed!