Latest piece picked up by Sojourners

I have a confession to make. I have not always been very fair with the church, and for that I apologize.

In an effort to share my love and passion for my faith, I have picked and poked and criticized the church, and maybe that is a bit unfair. I have been a minister going on six years, and during that time, I have been the best and the worst that the church can offer.

I have a certain understanding of the way a church should operate, and when I do not see that being played out in the communities around me, it makes me upset: upset about the way God is presented, upset about the droves of people who will miss out on a life-changing relationship with God, and upset that I cannot change everything.

It’s difficult for me as a young minister to slow down and be reflective in the face of impending decline and danger of closures for many of our congregations.

It’s not easy being a minister today, and I guess it’s easier to take out my frustrations on the church instead looking for that ‘silver lining.’

But I have a come to the conclusion that maybe all is not lost.

The church is that place where people can come with all of their faults, insecurities, and even doubts about the world, themselves, Jesus, the Bible, and God, and find a place of acceptance, warmth, welcoming, and peace.

Every day, the church serves countless people around the world through hospitals, hospices, medical missions, homeless shelters, food pantries, and so much more.

These fly under the radar of popular culture, but they are vitally important. I was wrong to look over these things.

The church today is at a crossroads, and there is no denying that. We have a long way to go in a lot of different areas, but for right now the gospel is being preached, the love of God is being shared, and the grace of Jesus the Christ is being given.

The sky is not falling, the boat is not sinking, the end is not near. If we go looking for the bad things, we will find them. If we focus on what we are doing for the Kingdom, then we will see the movement of God in our midst.

Let’s focus on what we do right not what we do wrong. This does not mean that we allow atrocities and injustices slip past us in an effort to be more positive, but it does mean that we slow down, be a bit more reflective and intentional about the ways the church is still here with us even after 2,000+ years of human intervention.

The church’s core foundation of love, joy, hope, peace, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation are still there and they will never go away. The ministries that we promote, the gospel that is proclaimed, and the mission of the church must not change. We can change its transmission or function, but the core ideals and tenets are still in place.

Let’s hold on to these foundational tenets as we venture out into this world that is in desperate need of a Savior. We might not agree on theology, doctrine, or even ways to have communion, but at our core the church is still trying to serve the same God and the same Christ.

There is so much work to be done, and its time to do it.

I’ll do my best to continue showcasing the good and as well as the not so good in the days and years to come. It’s only right that we, as the body of Christ, become one in the Spirit of justice and trust and come around our commonalities not those which drive us apart.

Until then, I will strive to do better in my own ministry and my own walk with God.

I’ll keep the faith.

I’ll share the faith.

I’ll love the faith.

I’ll serve the risen Christ.

I’m not going to wave a white flag yet; there is too much to do.

In Christ,

Rev. Evan

Photo Credit: “play of light santhome church” by Vinoth Chandar via Flickr. Used under the Creative Commons License 2.0.

For the residents of the other 49 states in the Union, today is just another Monday. For the residents of the great state (and former country) of Texas today is more important.  On March 2, 1836, the Republic of Texas was born.

Happy Texas Independence Day!

In Christ,

Rev. Evan

Photo Credit: “Texas Flag” by Calebthinks via Flickr. All Rights Reserved.

I am excited to give my first guest lecture tomorrow at Lamar State Collage in Port Arthur, Texas tomorrow.  I will be speaking on the role and function of the chaplain in health care settings to nursing students.

I have been going over my notes and tweaking my PowerPoint presentation and I remembered this gem from The Office.

May it brighten your day as you strive toward the prize that is the weekend.

Happy Thursday!

Photo Credit: Fig Tree Christian

This Lent I decided on top of my Lenten Devotional I would take time to a read a book.  The book had to have a practical application to my ministry and life.

After searching the internet I settled on Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now by Walter Brueggemann.  I look forward to reading it and will post a review when I am finished.

In Christ,

Rev. Evan

My Ash Wednesday devotion for the Scandal at the Cross Lenten Series by Fig Tree Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Download the devotional now!

Read Psalm 51:1-17

“Have mercy on me, God, according to your faithful love! Wipe away my wrongdoings according to your great compassion!” Psalm 51:1 CEB

Repent.

Mourn.

Reflect.

Pray.

Ashes.

Lent.

Why does the Church take time out of its busy schedule to stop, slow down, pray and reflect?  What is it about the human condition that we have to make sure we are constantly happy?  The slightest amount of sadness, mourning, remorse in our day to day lives are generally not “accepted.”  This however is a lie that our society and possibly the church has been propagating.

I’ll admit that Lent is not the most anticipated times of the Christian calendar but it is one where we have the opportunity to hear the story of Christ’s journey toward the cross once again.  We join him on the road, we struggle when he struggles, we find ourselves almost as outsiders looking in to a movie that we cannot stop watching.

But today our journey begins with a reminder that humanity even the best of us are still fallible, sinful creatures.

I love the Psalms for the way that almost every human emotion is found within their sacred words.  Love, joy, anger, repentance, forgiveness, acceptance and grief.  All are the culmination of the human experience.  Why are we conditioned to limit ourselves to just one?

As we read the 51st Psalm, we are compelled to hear the struggle and strain in the voice of the author.  There is an sense of urgency, a pleading taking place; we can hear the quiver of the Psalmist’s voice, visualize him/her holding back tears; this is no ordinary prayer, no ordinary call to God.

There is something more that is plaguing the soul, the spirit, the mind of the author.  God is seen as a God of justice and mercy, but only to those who follow in the ways of the Lord and keep the commandments…. right?

Could the God of all Creation care about little ol’ me?  We are about to find out.

As followers of Christ we have chosen this day to begin a journey that begins in sorrow, a journey that will test our faith, a journey that will remind us of our unworthiness of God’s grace, mercy and reconciliation and ultimately a journey that will end with the overwhelming grace that is afforded to everyone.

So come along we have a journey to take.

PRAYER:  God of Lent and of the journey, make your presence know to us this Lenten season that we are renewed by your Spirit as we travel a long and dusty road.  May your abiding presence compel us to stay the course and focus our eyes on the scandalous cross in Jerusalem.  In Christ’s Holy and Loving name, Amen.