Questions III - 2016

How do we reconcile the violence demanded by God in the Old Testament with Jesus' message of "love thy neighbor," "love your enemies," etc.?

This question is a "popular" one, and a good example of why it is important that the Bible be interpreted "in community" and not just by individuals. If one were to read certain passages in the Hebrew Bible--for example, this from II Chronicles 25:12--The sons of Judah also captured 10,000 alive and brought them to the top of the cliff and threw them down from the top of the cliff, so that they were all dashed to pieces--it sure sounds like this was a violent bunch, and you can even find verses where it sounds like God "orders" it. What we really have, though, are primitive texts, written about people who lived hundreds and hundreds of years ago, who did violent things, and sometimes they "blame" it on God. As strict monotheists, these ancient peoples had to locate all authority within their understanding of deity. Hence, when they went into battle, or had to deal with the spoils of war, they often stated that God "told them" to commit violent and selfish acts. This is exactly what is happening with modern-day terrorism. Violent people, from largely lawless lands, commit heinous, violent acts to advance their "power" or political agenda, and "hang" it on a religion, whether it is Islam, Judaism, or some tribal belief. The media would often have us believe that all terrorism is carried out by "Muslim extremists," but this just isn't so. In fact, the desecration and burning of an historic church in Israel was actually done by an extremist group that claims to be representing God and Judaism. The genocide in the Sudan is the result of a tribal conflict. And let us not forget that both the Crusades, which killed thousands, and the Ku Klux Klan, which murdered men, woman and children of color in this country, "hung" their violent acts on the Christian faith! Incidentally, Jesus' commands to "love God with all your heart..." and "love your neighbor as yourself," both come from the Old Testament! (Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:17)

Why did Jesus have to go to hell after all the suffering he did on the cross?

There are only a couple of obscure scriptural references to this idea, such as Ephesians 4:8-10: Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives and he give gifts to people." In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions of the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens that he might fulfill all things. In the tradition of the church, most of the idea that Jesus "descended into hell" comes from The Apostles' Creed, that ancient statement of faith recited during worship in many churches (although not all include the line, "He descended into hell," when they do. United Methodists don't). In this tradition, Jesus makes a "field trip" into the bowels of the earth (hell), during the interval between his own death on the cross and the resurrection, to release "the captives," whoever they are. Some would say they are those who died before, and who are now "freed" by the redemptive power of Christ, the Messiah. Again, the scriptures don't give us much to go on, so if we try to explain or expand the idea beyond this, we are offering merely conjecture. One thing is for sure, if Jesus did, indeed, "descend into hell," it wasn't any kind of punishment for him, but a mission of mercy.

What is the real value of prayer? I don't expect God to alter his ultimate plan based on my opinion of how things should be...

This question gets us into an interesting theological quagmire! Some branches of theology (Calvinism) leans in the direction of God having an "ultimate will," or some kind of divine master plan, and humans are pawns in the game. Other theologies (Wesleyan) rather believe that people and our redemption are God's plan. Both allow for the agency of prayer. For those who lean toward the "God's will" side, prayer becomes that which draws believers into focus on the needs of another (or oneself), and begins the process of aligning that person with what God is up to. Calvinists presuppose that God's will may be active in guiding their prayers. Wesleyans believe that prayer does the same thing, although we have less of an emphasis on some "ultimate will" of God as governing the nature of affairs, and more the idea that God, in God's desire to redeem us and fashion humanity into a caring, inclusive, and grace-filled community we often label "the Kingdom of God," responds to our prayers and uses our concerns to help shape and form this new reality. Regardless of which view one holds, prayer is important! I find that prayer probably changes me before anything else happens.

Questions 2016 - Part II

How do you know when God is talking to you?

First of all, don't expect a big, booming voice or a blinding light. The Apostle Paul got those, and maybe a few others throughout biblical history, but most of us have to learn to "culture" hearing God's voice. For most of us, God speaks in the quiet of our soul, in a restful, meditative moment, or in the advice or counsel of someone we love and respect. So, if you have been praying about something for which you need an answer, get yourself to a quite place more regularly, and "listen to your life." Any positive, caring "word" you hear within yourself may indeed be God's voice for you. Frankly, when I've been praying for guidance or for a specific answer to something, I find it hits me in the shower--a sudden, serendipitous thought, or "ah-HA" moment just arrives and stares me in the face as the water is "waking me up." Sometimes, when I am driving a long distance, I turn off XM radio and just do a little pondering and listening, and in the rumination of those moments, ideas occur, which I know to be God's voice, often in retrospect. If you are seeking God's guidance, go talk to a person of faith you respect. Let them know what's on your mind, or what's troubling you. In their thoughts and counsel, you may get your answer. Most of all, spend some regular time with God, through prayer, meditating on a passage of scripture, or in worship with your faith community! How better to "get to know" someone's voice than by spending time with them. This is most likely what Jesus meant when he said, "I am the Good Shepherd," and "My sheep know my voice."


As a pastor, why is working for inclusion of LGBTQ persons so important to you, when some other pastors I know say that it is our job to bring them to repentance?

LGBTQ people need to repent, but no more than any of the rest of us. And since science, medicine, and modern psychology tell us that our sexual orientation is on a "spectrum," and that persons who have same gender attraction or who believe their "true self" resides in a body that was gendered differently at birth, then this is not a "lifestyle choice," and I think faith communities must come to grips with this and include these persons without prejudice. Besides, if our sexual identity is on a continuum, and we take the Bible literally to mean "a man is a man" and "a woman is a woman," then most of us are probably guilty of being "too manly or womanly," or "not manly or womanly" enough, depending on the level of our testosterone or estrogen! Extremes are almost always bad for us. Theologically, throughout the centuries of the Judeo-Christian faith, we have reinterpreted scripture many, many times as our knowledge and experience grew. Is it fair to assume that what was written to primitive peoples centuries or even millennia ago would apply exactly the same to people in 2016? I don't think so. The basic principles are true. For example: prohibitions against "homosexuality" in the Bible historically appeared in ages when exploitive sexual practices were being carried out against children, especially young boys, and when "sex" was considered a "male rite," while the partners were just the "objects." Writers of scripture began to speak out against this in the early church, and they targeted some of the worst practices of this in the Roman and Greek cultures (exploitive homosexuality). What still works about these texts are the truths that: sex should not be exploitive; sex should not be a punishment or a weapon; sex should be an expression of love between two consenting persons who wish to have a relationship "covenant" of some sort; and sex should not just be a form of "jolly recreation," but be a wonderful creation of God designed to bond two persons together in love. Unfortunately, the "clobber passages" in the Bible have been used to exclude faithful persons who wish to live a life of love, faith, and service to God and others. I think that makes this a justice issue, and one I believe is worthy of my efforts as a pastor to help redeem.

Questions for the Pastor 2016 - First Installment

The Sunday after Easter, Pastor Karen Slusser and I take questions from our congregation at St. Paul's UMC. Unfortunately, due to the limited time during the worship service, a number of "surplus" questions are generated, so in the next couple of blogs, I shall attempt to answer them. Here goes...

Since this is a Communion Sunday (April 3), explain to me one more time why we only have Communion once a month, on the first Sunday.

Actually, we offer weekly Communion at St. Paul's, but only at our 8:30AM service, although this is available year-round. Why don't we offer Holy Communion at each service, as is the practice of our Episcopal, Lutheran, and Catholic friends? Some of our United Methodist congregations have gone to doing this. We don't at St. Paul's, partly because our services, for the most part, are less "liturgical" in church-speak, less "formal" in street language. While the sacrament of Holy Communion is a most important "means of grace" for Methodists, in the theological tradition of John Wesley, our church's founder, so were preaching and teaching God's Word, worship (in general), prayer, acts of mercy, and "Christian conferencing." Given that a great majority of our members primarily attend worship services, we feel that preaching and teaching the scriptures and corporate prayer times are high priorities for what we do in worship. Worship, for many, is the largest block of time spent on spiritual development in a given week, and instruction in the faith, therefore, becomes an essential part of the worship service. Roman Catholic Christians often refer to Communion as "food for the journey." Protestant Christians have more often focused on God's Word as illumination for the pathways of our lives and our spiritual journey.

After musical "performances" during worship, should we applaud? Or should we just say "Amen!"?

Over 30 years in ministry, in five different churches (and my two "home" churches I attended before becoming a pastor), this question is a stumper. The older tradition held that one shouldn't "clap" in church in the manner of "the theater". However, modern gatherings of people find it a natural expression of appreciation for talent shared, musical or otherwise, and in this cultural "shift," applause in church has become more commonplace. Even in the Psalms of the Bible we read things like, "Clap you hands, all people!" Here's what I think: if you are blessed by a piece of music shared by the choir, bell choir, instrumentalist/organist, or a soloist, and are moved to applaud, do so, knowing that God appreciates our appreciation for one of God's children sharing a talent in praise! However, go with your "spirit," not just the urge to be "socially correct," meaning that if the song is soft and meditative, respectful or awe-inspired silence may be the better praise. Feel the Spirit, and let her inform your spirit as to how to show appreciation and/or enter into the "praise moment." I do have one rule, though: Always applaud for children or youth who are sharing in worship leadership through song, recitation, skit, or speech! We should loudly affirm them!

Why are we having a Muslim speak in church? (Asim Kokan, Community Relations Coordinator for the Muslim Association of Pittsburgh North will speak at our 9:30 and 10:30 services on Sunday, April 17)

While I did answer this question in our April 3 Q & A time, I thought the "blog audience" should hear my answer, too. One of the greatest sins that divides people is ignorance, and the media is guilty of spreading a lot of ignorance about what Islam IS and ISN'T. What better way to provide accurate information than to have a Muslim leader speak at our church? And what better way is there to promote cooperation and understanding between these two major biblical faiths? Besides, Asim Kokan has become a dear friend of this congregation through our common social justice work through the N.O.R.T.H. organization in which we both participate (N.O.R.T.H. stands for "Neighboring Organizations Responding Together for Hope").  Our 9:30AM "Grace Cafe" service is inherently a dialogical format, and Asim will answer some questions during our 10:30 worship, but will also entertain "random" questions at a reception time immediately after the service in Wesley Hall. Come and be informed! [By the way many have asked, "Why aren't Muslim leaders speaking out against terrorism?" In fact, they ARE. Unfortunately, this doesn't make the news. Recently, the lead "letter to the editor" of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was from a Muslim Association leader speaking STRONGLY against terrorism, proclaiming that it is against the tenets of Islam. AND, if you visit MAP North's website (www.mapitt.org), you will see a banner across the top of their home page condemning terroristic actions.]

Compact...

A few years ago, Dara and I took our first cruise. It was a "Bible Lands Cruise" with 600 other United Methodists, and hosted by Educational Opportunities, a group that pretty much caters to Christian pastors and church people. It was a a superb trip, indeed. The actual cruise part was with Norwegian Cruise Lines, and was quite deluxe. The boat--The Norwegian Jade--had originally been outfitted for the South Pacific, but since it was capable of handling around 5,000 passengers, it was eventually deemed too large for that venue. Hence, The Norwegian Jade sailed us around the Mediterranean Sea.

What did I like about the cruise? I like boats, and have never had even close to seasickness that was, unfortunately, experienced by many on the choppy seas. Thankfully, this immunity applies to Dara as well (we've been on some of the choppiest seas on a small boat in the North Atlantic, when everyone on board got deathly sick except for the crew and the Sterlings). Norwegian offered "freestyle" dining, meaning we could take our meals in any of several different styles of restaurants for the ticket price, and for $10 extra, could dine at more exotic cuisine venues. We did not overeat, which is a common mistake, since cruises typically have food 24/7. And we were good about walking the decks to get some exercise. (I confess that late at night, we'd sneak off to some secluded little onboard bar for a glass of wine (Dara) and a really smooth 18-year Glenlivet on the rocks (guess).

OK, enough for the cruising. The trip was really about the "Bible Lands." We had ports-of-call on Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt and Israel. This was the real learning-for-a-lifetime stuff! (We did purchase a handmade Turkish rug at one of those places where you dicker, think you are getting a great deal, and probably pay at least twice it is worth; it adorns our town home living room to this day.) How interesting it was to walk some of the places where Bible characters like Paul and Barnabas, the Disciples and Jesus, and amazing Bible women like Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Mary and Martha, Lazarus's sisters, walked! We gazed out at the Sea of Galilee at the very spot where we believe Jesus fed the 5,000 and where he told Peter, "Feed my Sheep." They try so hard in these places to not be just "touristy," but it's pretty hard, considering the millions of visitors they get, and ones with fat wallets. Again, the Sterlings were pretty frugal about the stuff we bought--the rug, a few pieces of small olive wood sculpture, and a bit of pottery--mostly just to remind us of the experience.

Now to the reason this column is called "Compact..." When we arrived to the Mount of Olives and disembarked from the tour bus, there in front of us was the "Old City" of Jerusalem. We were standing on the place where Jesus departed the Earth for Heaven, gazing across the Kidron Valley, to the great walled city where it all happened. And, after all the requisite photographs with us in the foreground and the ancient city with its stone walls and the gleaming, gold "Dome of the Rock" of Islam, we began our walk down the "mountain" along the winding path that Jesus took on "Palm Sunday." Down the mountain, suddenly arriving in the Garden of Gethsemane (about halfway down) and then into the Kieron Valley, which hosts the above-ground tombs. It was interesting to note that each crypt had stones sitting on them--the number of stones marked the number of visitors who had been at the grave). And in about an hour, which included time to stop and sightsee, we arrived at the Damascus Gate of the old, walled city and entered.

I was struck by how "compact" this timeless chunk of world and religious history was! From the top of the Mount of Olives, down through the Garden of Gethsemane, through the Kidron Valley and into the city was really not a long walk! Every feature mentioned--all great Bible venues--is much, much smaller than what I ever visualized. I guess growing up in America, with its "amber waves of grain, fruited plains, and purple mountains majesty," we think big when we read those Bible stories. The winding road we walked down from the Mount of Olives (really just a small hill) was the "road" Jesus took into Jerusalem on what we commemorate as "Palm Sunday." It was hard to imagine "throngs" of people lining it and waving branches (or actually placing them on the path before him as he rode the donkey). The Kidron Valley is not much larger than the small valley along Kaufman Run in the Adams Ridge development in which I live! While this was a huge surprise to me, I must say that it made the stories of the Bible come to life, and they actually became BIGGER than life, despite the compact geographical context.

One good lesson to take away: the stories are the precious things. Whether they are the great biblical stories of the faith, or the stories of our families, our children, and our personal journeys, the stories really are what count. And the stories will live forever, long after our neighborhoods, our childhood homes, or even the City of Jerusalem are long gone. In Eternity, we will be telling the stories and meeting the characters. That is what will make Heaven HEAVEN. And that is what makes this life so rich, entertaining, fulfilling, and so worth living! May you have a "compact" life filled with Eternal stories, Yinz. Shalom!

Show the Dove!

If you click over to our church website: www.stpaulsumc.com, you will see our "Peace Blog" and information about our Lenten emphasis on Peace, keyed by the Prayer of St. Francis, and especially the opening line: "O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace." Our "slogan," if you will, comes from a Henri Nouwen writing, and it is "Show the Dove!" Obviously, we are hoping folk realize that the dove is the biblical symbol for peace.

Take a moment to click on the "Peace Blog" and share some of your thoughts on peace with us! Or, if you join us for worship, stop at the "Dove board" outside of the sanctuary and write a word of peace, or a brief prayer for peace. Oh, and be watching for the "big dove" that is to show up, too.

"Show the dove" is a way of challenging us all to be peacemakers, following the example of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. It is not always easy to be a peacemaker in these rapidly changing and often acerbic times. What may be a "peacemaking" statement or attempt to reconcile two positions today could well be an incendiary word by the end of next week. With the polarization of our politics, it is almost impossible to "talk politics" with friends or relatives without someone freaking out. But the Gospel compels us to try to make peace, and one of the ways we can do that is to focus on people rather than just positions, problems, or parties.

John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, is credited with the following statement (said in my words, not Wesley's 18th Century ones): In the essentials of the faith, UNITY; in the non-essentials of the faith, LIBERTY--we think and let think; and in all things, CHARITY (love). For Wesley, the "essentials" were the "faith basics" of Christianity: recognition of Jesus Christ as the Son of God; the Bible as the Word of God; and the church as the Body of Christ, active in the world. If we ascribe to these essentials, Wesley would declare us fellow Christians. Note, however, that the "non-essentials" would include A LOT of stuff we fight over--politics, hot-button social issues, race, economic class, which team is the better team, etc. He called them "non-essential" because your views about these things do not qualify or disqualify you from being a child of God. By "think and let think," Wesley meant we could have spirited debate about these, even seeking to persuade the other to see our view, but at the end of the day (or the conversation), we should be able to find our way back to the essentials and be sisters and brothers together. Peace does not have to be disrupted by our politics or loyalties. (In the political spectrum, consider that James Carville, a sharp-tongued, Democratic strategist and spokesman, is married to Mary Matalin, an outspoken Republican strategist, and from every evidence, they have a wonderful and loving marriage!)

Peace does not have to be impossible because of someone's religion, or their skin color, or their personal interests. Jesus seemed to do quite well with all kinds of people, although we have to admit that religious leaders gave him the most fits.

Ask yourself: when DO I have a problem being at peace or being peaceful around others? The answer to this question sets the agenda for your next personal and spiritual "homework assignment." (My answer to this question is easy: DRIVING--I am not a patient driver. I only wish I could do better with the peacemaking part of this! I'm trying, but it's going to take a whole lot of God and lot less of me to bring peace to this situation.)

Here's a peace of Good News linked to my last "driving" confession: We're not alone in this pursuit. The Prince of Peace is on our side. May God's presence and God's Spirit help us all in our pursuit of peace, our work for peace, and our efforts to be peacemakers! Remember, "Show the Dove," my friends! Shalom...

Drifting Left...

I was chatting with a church member recently, and as we discussed my first year-plus experience as Lead Pastor here at St. Paul's, he made the observation, "You seem to be drifting left in your rhetoric when going beyond the essentials," (meaning in my sermons, I assumed). An interesting discussion ensued, and frankly, I've been thinking about this for several days since.

"Drifting left" was his way of saying away from a "conservative" and more toward a "liberal" direction. While we were not directly discussing politics, obviously, this was at least one small elephant in the room. As I stated earlier, I continued to ponder our conversation, and here are a few thoughts that have emerged:

I am a United Methodist Elder, and as such, I am called to support the views of this denomination, generally. Of course, we are free to disagree on some things. I, for one, do not agree with our current disciplinary statement, "homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teachings." I disagree, for many reasons, including that I believe it is a bad extrapolation of Bible verses that are not addressing covenantal, monogamous relationships, but a kind of sexual perversion that is also condemned among heterosexuals. I disagree because the Bible is not a book of science or medicine, and those fields--with great support from psychology--today say that our sexual orientation, like so many other things, is on a "spectrum," and "normal" may fall at different places on that spectrum. I also disagree with our exclusionary statement because we now know that there are no longer just those two "poles" of heterosexuality and homosexuality. This is why we now use the term LGBTQIA to at describe sexual orientation. We need to add an "S" for straight, too. However, this post is NOT predominantly about sexual orientation, so I digress.

As a United Methodist leader, I do support our position on a variety of social issues. Since its inception, for example, United Methodists have been in favor of universal healthcare. And as such, our Board of Church and Society lobbied on behalf of the Affordable Care Act, which, though FAR from perfect, was at least a move toward insuring more people and getting rid of the "pre-existing conditions" rule that often left people with chronic illnesses without coverage when they changed jobs, or lost a job and had to find their own healthcare coverage. I like our views on abortion. The "official position" of The United Methodist Church is that we oppose the use of abortion as a means of birth control or for gender selection. We do affirm a woman's right "to choose," in consultation with her family and physician, and we support abortion as an alternative when a woman is raped or is a victim of incest. We believe in working for peace, and reluctantly accept military action as a means to achieve this. Pastors are encouraged to help young people discern very carefully before choosing military service. United Methodists have historically been viewed as "pluralistic," meaning we are tolerant of different viewpoints theologically--there is no rigid doctrinal statement or confession to which we swear allegiance beyond the core beliefs of the Christian faith, which Mr. Wesley called "the essentials." Another term for this intellectual headroom is called "Big Tent." We are a "big tent" people.

Our resolutions on social issues like those listed above, as well as others such as gun safety, ministering with those in poverty, and the role of government, make us "drift left" in the minds of my conservative friends. Is it a fair indictment? Yes, if you compare how we apply our religious values to how Jerry Falwell, Jr. does! But not all of our positions on issues are "liberal," and most could be summarized as "moderate." In terms of social issues, our founder--meaning Jesus, not Wesley--certainly "drifted left," and was considered a downright liberal by the powers that be of his day.

And now, here is the BIG HOWEVER: As biblically sound Christian people, we preach personal responsibility and community engagement. We are called to be ethical, moral people by the teachings of Jesus as most especially seen in the Sermon on the Mount and in his famous parables. We are not "liberal" when it comes to understanding this responsibility, either. While we work for worldwide justice, Mr. Wesley believed that "each individual is endued with a sense of dignity and moral responsibility." We don't "drift left" here. When we are given opportunities to make a positive contribution to our society and the world, we are to do it! Self-centered choices are eschewed in favor of fairness and sharing with the wider community and the community of faith. However, each of us must relate to (as well as answer to) our God and Savior individually, and be responsible stewards of our time, talents, and treasures. Just because my pew neighbor can put a big check in the offering plate doesn't mean that I am absolved of giving. And while my abilities, skills, and expertise are mine to use to make a living and carve out a decent existence, they are not mine alone. God's wants some of that, too, for how else will the Realm of God unfold?

So, while our belief in the Gospel as instituted and preached by Jesus Christ often DOES cause us to "drift left" by loving our neighbor as ourselves, caring for the poor, and visiting the sick, the widows and the orphans, this same Gospel calls us into a personally accountable relationship with Christ, and to a life that reflects the grace and love of Christ. Politically, we are Democrats, Republicans, Socialists, Independents, and on and on, depending upon which scriptures you are interpreting and which ministries to which we feel called.

Finally, I leave you with this thought: The dove can only fly when it beats both the left and right wings, synchronously. As United Methodists, we will not adequately reflect the "whole counsel of God," the Holy Spirit, and the Prince of Peace unless we coordinate that "big tent" stuff and keep both "wings" moving. Drifting too far "left" or "right" will take us off course. Shalom, Yinz.

Worriless...

During the Advent cycle, pastor Karen Slusser and I preached a series of sermons on "less," which included "listless," "worriless," "timeless" and "limitless." Several folk have suggested I revisit some of the elements of the "Worriless" message in this blog, so here goes...

The key text was Philippians 4:6-7: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

On first read, we are tempted to respond, "That's easy for HIM to say..." I read about a church sign that accidentally juxtaposed two sentences: "Don't let worry ruin your life. Let the church help." With a few yucks, it does awkwardly get at the question, what is the role of our faith in helping curb or sooth our worrisome anxieties?

Paul says Don't worry about anything. Humans are born worriers. Our intellect, and the ability to assess a situation and formulate actions and responses naturally also paves the way for worry.

We tend to lump worry and fear together, yet an interesting article I read in a psychology periodical provides these pairings and definitions:

Worry and Anxiety - A set of responses to an unknown, imprecise or ill-defined threat; often anticipatory in nature and created by the imagination. It's more associated with the need to be prepared. Worry leads to feeling anxious.

Fear and Panic - A set of responses to a known, precise, well-defined threat, which can be real or vividly imagined. It's mainly about avoidance and escape. In its extreme form, fear becomes panic.

Makes sense, doesn't it? This "worrisome" thinking can easily create the conditions that make a person feel anxious. The article listed four scenarios that lead to this:

• Helplessness - Insufficient information to handle the situation
• Over-stimulation - Too much information, or information overload
• Incongruity - Conflicting information
• Unpredictability - Having an uncertain outcome

In our current political environment--especially the run-up to this year's presidential election, the "over-stimulation" and "incongruity" factors are huge. We are bombarded with stuff from all directions of the media universe, and the "incongruity" of what we hear is unbelievable. I have learned that when a political candidate says "the fact is," or "Frankly..." doubt everything that comes next!

In another "worrisome" arena, some wag had posted on FaceBook a picture of a doctor's coffee mug which read: "My medical degree trumps your Google search!" How true it is that when we receive a diagnosis, we so often go right to the Internet to research it, or the meds prescribed. AND that brings on the worry and anxiety. I remember being given a prescription several years ago, and when I read about it--and its side-effects--on the Internet, I was scared to death to take it. Thankfully, I called a former parishioner who was head of pharmacy for all of UPMC Health Systems at that time, and he gave me a good scolding: "TAKE the drug--you need it! Besides the side-effects mentioned only occurred in a small population of teenage females from a mid-eastern country, so I think you're safe." It is so true that we drive ourselves to worry much of the time.

Passing through life's challenges--and related worry--is similar to a spacecraft coming back to earth, re-entering the earth's atmosphere:

1. It can just hit the atmosphere and burn up. When we don't plan ahead and prepare ourselves for some of the contingencies, this "crash and burn" may happen to our psyche. This is where the fear and panic come in.

2. The spacecraft may have an "ablative" heat shield. This is designed to slowly burn away as it enters the atmosphere, carrying the dangerous heat away from the vehicle. Might we be able to use this "gradual burn" as a way to keep from the "heat" building up to a dangerous level in our personal situations? A "controlled burn" sometimes works as a coping skill when facing trials.

3. The spacecraft may have "tiles" like the space shuttle did. These special ceramic tiles were able to "take the heat" and then dissipate it internally. I once saw a demonstration of these tiles whereby one was held by a pair of long forceps in a very hot flame until the center of the tile was literally glowing red. The person doing the demonstration then suddenly pulled the tile out of the flame and literally grabbed it in his bare hand. In that short period of time, the unique properties of the tile "snatched" the heat away from the surface, and even though it was still glowing hot at its center, the outside was already cool to the touch. Amazing. In terms of our worries and anxieties, being surrounded by a strong supportive community--family, friends, church--can act like those tiles in a time of crisis or challenge. I have observed that people who have little "supportive community," or friends who are affirming, comforting, or willing to walk along side of them during difficulties, often fall prey to the "crash and burn" scenario.

4. Finally, a spacecraft can avoid the destructive forces of friction in the upper atmosphere by a "powered descent." If it has an engine capable of balancing the force of gravity and descending slowly, no heat is generated. However, this requires a lot of power, and we haven't yet built a spacecraft that can do this. From a psychological and spiritual perspective, this is what Paul is talking about when he says--...but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Prayer and trusting in God can provide that extra power and "lift" to allow us to descend to the low points slowly, and then to begin to rise above them.

Two additional things Paul mentions here are also keys to navigating life without giving undo way to worry, anxiety, fear or panic:

Peace - he says it can "guard our hearts and minds". Learning how to practice peace, work for peace, and benefit from peace is a good assignment. The first item on this agenda is avoid being a contentious, angry or unpleasant person. Hotheads rarely experience--or can create--peace.

Thanksgiving - that "with thanksgiving" part of Paul's sentence is huge. Living with and regularly dispensing gratitude goes a long way in helping us avoid worry and anxiety!

Epilogue...at the conclusion of this particular message, we invited parishioners at St. Paul's to write their worries, fears, and anxieties on a peace of paper we provided when then arrived. Then, as they left, we had paper shredders at each door, and they were urged to drop these papers into the shredders. What they didn't know was that when they arrived for worship on Christmas Eve, their shredded worries had become the "straw" in the chancel manger bearing the Christ Child. Play with that image a bit, won't you? God cares. God really cares. And many of God's people care about you, too. Find some of them and engage a journey of faith and healthy psychological values, coping skills, and affirmations. You will be so much happier for it. And stop listening to all of the politicians...