I am by no means an expert when it comes to college basketball, I enjoy the game but I do not have enough time to devote to know who the back up Point Guard is for Belmont University and even know their jersey number and favorite candy.  But I am sports fan and in lieu of regular season baseball starting I watch the madness that takes place during the month of March.

While in seminary I was afforded the opportunity to see the beast that is the University of Kentucky basketball.  The city of Lexington and quite frankly the entire state of Kentucky every fall and spring makes their pilgrimage to the hall that Rupp built to see the Cats in action… to some people it is their religion… They take it quite seriously and rightfully so… there is not a close professional basketball team to Lexington so UK is it.  UK has a storied history of 7 championships, 2000+ wins and numerous players to go and enter the NBA draft.

Below is bracket and I will be happy with 50% correct picks… ok maybe 40….

In Christ,

Rev. Evan

(This is an actual picture from my a car… no I wasn’t driving when I snapped this photo.)

We have all seen it before, we have all panicked when it came on… the dreaded “low fuel” light on our car’s dashboard.  This indicator light tells us that we only have a limited time before the vehicle we are currently operating will no long function properly.  You only have to experience being stranded on the side of the road once to take the warning seriously.

There are times in our life where we can have “low fuel.”  We can over work ourselves, we can over-extend ourselves, over-stress ourselves.  We can just simply run out of steam.   Trying to do too much can be taxing on our bodies as well as our relationships.  Doctors and health experts can give medication or prescribe forms of relaxation or stress relief to reduce blood pressures and other problems that can occur.

But what about when we are low in our spiritual tank?  Sometimes we do not have a handy light that comes on when we are low spirituality, it just begins to decline gradually.  You might not notice it at first but along the way you will notice that something is not “right” or sometimes seems a bit “off.”  Worship is just going through the motions, scripture is just words on a page, songs are just old tunes with old words…What are we to do when we our tanks are low?  Is there a spiritual ‘fillin’ station?’  Where is the spiritual food that we can put in our tanks?

Some would argue that worship is such a place; worship should be the place where we encounter the divine, where we hear the word proclaimed, where we are ‘recharged’ for the week ahead.  Others would say that the Bible, the word of God is a place where one can find renewal.  Others would say that community is the best way to “air out” one’s feelings and concerns about life, to have a support group, a ‘safety net’ of sorts.

When you are sick (as I recently was), your energy level is zapped to almost zero.  Even when you are better it days to built back up your energy stamina back to the level it was prior to you being ill.  It takes time and care, there is no ‘quick fix.’

Lent reminds us that sometimes our tanks get low, even to the point of almost empty.  The holy times in the church are make us aware of our spiritual lives and to make a commitment to strengthen them, to refill our tanks, whether that is through prayer, reading the Bible, attending worship or communing with others, we have an opportunity to be more intentional about our spiritual well being.

Lent is 40 days to remind us of the journey but also to give us time to recharge, to reboot, to become revitalized– so that we will be spiritually ready for the blessed day of Easter.

Spiritual renewal and rebirth takes time.

Figuring out what refills your tank might take some time and may not be the same thing it has been in the past.  But I believe that your tank will one day be back on the ‘full’ line.

What you are doing or not doing to ‘fill up’ your spiritual tank?

 

Rev. Evan

Early in our marriage, my wife and I ‘adopted’ a child from Uganda via World Vision International.  We wanted a unique and special way to help someone on the other side of the world.  The child we chose was a cute girl named J(not real name).  Over the years we have watched a small girl transform unto a beautiful 12 year old.  Every year we get an update from World Vision about her health, grades in school and even favorite activities.  Throughout the year we have received dozens of letter and we have sent her cards and stickers and little games.

We knew nothing of Uganda and the struggles that were going on there… the war, the killing, the kidnapped children, the invisible children…  I have seen the documentary “Invisible Children” a couple of times; it documents how there are bands of children all throughout Uganda hiding from the “Lord’s Resistance Army” and their cruel and inhumane ways of fighting.  Children are kidnapped and forced to fight, forced to kill and forced to into a life no human should ever have to endure.  Each time I see the film I think of J.  I am thankful that she is in an area of Uganda that is not in the direct path of “Lord’s Resistance Army” that has mercilessly kidnapped children for the sake of fighting an senseless war.  Thousands upon thousands of men, women and children have been killed, mutilated, maimed and scared for life because of one man and one man only… Joseph Kony.

The film makers that did “Invisible Children” have been working with lawmakers, key leaders government and with the help of people from around the world they have been trying to make an impact for those children in Uganda.  They helped build schools, industry and  a better life for those in Uganda.  But the fighting is not over and 2012 is the year it has to stop.

Below is video about Kony 2012… the goal is find and arrest Joseph Kony for crimes against humanity.  The way that happens?  Make Joseph Kony famous. It might sound backwards to make a ruthless murderer famous, but the more people who know about him and are outraged about what has happened across the globe then maybe, just maybe something will be done.  Kony is just one of many people who are in charge of the hatred that is going on around the globe.

The movie is 30 minutes long, but it is important that you watch it. If you are so moved, check out more info on http://www.kony2012.com and see how you can help.  Also check out http://www.worldvision.com and see how you can help the life of a child(ren) around the world.

I believe that followers of Christ are called to serve the other, to be the voice of the voiceless and bring wholeness where there is brokenness.

I pray that the violence that has plauged Uganda and Sudan will soon be over and that the wholeness of God will be restored.

May it be so.

In Christ,

Rev. Evan

KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

(I do not know what “right-wing watch” is and thereby do not endorse the contents of their site or their message, I am just happy they posted this video)

As storms raged throughout the Mid-West, people were hunkering down for the ‘ride of their life’; families huddled in basements and closets holding on to each other and more than likely hoping and praying to God that they would come away from this storm unscathed.  In the end, 40+ people lost their life due the tornadoes and hundreds if not thousands of people lost their homes, belongings, possessions, their sense of security.  People across many states at this very hour are picking up the pieces, they are trying to mind back together some sort of meaning and normality.

In any major event be it the Tsunami in Japan (which is coming up on its one year anniversary), the earthquake in Haiti or last year’s tornadoes that ravished Joplin, MO and parts of Alabama, it is easy to question, ‘why did this happen?  why did God allow such a thing to take place?’ I almost guarantee that there are 10s if not 100s more questions that could be asked to God…

Enter, Stage Right, Pat Robertson and The 700 Club.

Pat Robertson has had his fair share of mis-speaks and fair share of sharing a message that make some other followers of Christ cringe.  I have heard his clips and excerpts on YouTube and around the media outlets, but this one for me was too far.  You can watch the video and see for yourself.

I have a few issues with Robertson’s message:

1. He blames the victim– He first says that God has created the world in such a way that it is practically inevitable that tornadoes are going to happen.  Next, he says that is part of God’s design and that is how heat is re-circulated around the world.  But then he gets to his message which is two-fold, people shouldn’t build houses in areas that have tornadoes and if you do you better make sure people are praying for you (and a lot of them) because God’s didn’t stop the storm because not enough people weren’t praying.
2. Double Speak– is it God as the Watch Maker, where God sets up the world and doesn’t interfere and humanity is left up to its own devices or is God actively present in the world but chooses at times not to intervene?
3. How does this answer help those effected by the storm?– Are you saying Mr. Robertson that the people of the Mid-West are stupid for having their homes, raising their families, having their jobs in area in which tornadoes might (or might not) happen?  And because of this stupid move they did not have enough faith or enough faithful people did not pray in unison?  Where is the message of love or the compassion?  To return to an old and yet cliché phrase, is this the answer Jesus would have given?  Instead of boldly proclaiming that God did not send the storm or blame the victim, how much more would your audience (and other fellow followers of Christ) love to hear you proclaim that you do not know.   While it is hard to hear or even harder to say, the fact still remains we do not know.

I wish there was an answer and if there was I am not sure it would be adequate enough for those who lost family members and their entire home.  What I do know is that Christ has called all of his followers to emulate his compassion for the those hurting and in need.  Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 25?

“Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”– Matthew 25:34b-40 (NRSV)

No judgment, no blaming the victim, just good and simple service to others and when we do, we are serving Christ. Therefore it is the opinion of this minister, that Mr. Robertson has missed the point in this situation. Jesus calls us to love in all circumstances, not because we have to but because it reflects the character of God.

I do not believe that God was absent from this tragedy, rather God is present now and forevermore and we are called to witness to that love to bring a sense of comfort where possible to the hurting and lost.

In Christ,

Rev. Evan

I have recently made another step into the 21 st century. I’m not bragging by any stretch of the imagination but I saved up some gift cards from
Christmas and bought a Blu-Ray player. A bluray player (and subsequent blu-ray discs) plays movies and TV shows at the highest rate of definition and clarity. I was surprised by how clear my movies were being played.

A short time ago I found an old VHS and I watched. It was interesting to see the difference of the picture quality. What was even more amazing was the fact that when I watched this film for the first time several years ago I thought the picture was stunning, now it just looks outdated.

People try to get a similar experience at home as they do in the movie theatre. In fact, many movie theatres now are shown in digital formats not the traditional film reel. In recent years the technology of televisions and disc players has dramatically increased that some sport fans believe that their own home theater has a better picture and experience than actually being at the game.

We are all looking for clarity, not just in our favorite programming or even the Super Bowl, but in life in general. We look for the clearest answer in a difficult situation, but the answer is not as clear as we would like. We rack our brains and even seek out advice to no avail.

Where are the unclear areas of our lives?  I am certain that we all have them, that place where its just a little hazy, a little unclear for our liking.  If our God is a God that can make all things new then God can provide clarity for us. It takes patience, time and understanding. Sure the Bible
sometimes can be unclear but the communion of others and fellowship of friends can sometimes allow the fog to be lifted. Not in the sense that all of our questions will be answered, but that God’s power, mystique and presence in our lives will be just that much clearer.

There are times throughout our relationship with God and Christ that we are overwhelmed by the presence of God, the power of God, the warmth of God.  God’s love for us is clear, God’s accessablity is clear, God’s touch is clear.  Its like looking at Blu-Ray verses a VHS….

As we journey through life we are searching for those clear moments and struggle when we do not find them.  But it has been my experience (and maybe yours too) that in a unexpected moment, God reveals Godself in a way that transforms our understanding of God.  Now dont feel like a ‘less than Christian’ if can not pin-point the exact moment when this happened.  For some the build up is gradual and over time, but the fact still remains we are seeking clarity in our lives and our relationship with God.

I pray that throughout this week God is made a little bit clearer for you.

In Christ,

Rev. Evan

Below is the audio from a sermon a gave on March 4, 2012 at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Orange, Texas

Click here to listen.

Also, you can find more sermons by clicking on the Sermon tab at the top of the page.

 

In Christ,

Rev. Evan