The Da Vinci Code Intrigue

Although I have never read the Da Vinci Code, the current conversation that surrounds it intrigues me. Two different persons have asked me if we are going to teach it. While I don't plan to "teach" it, I do believe that there is value in exploring the questions that are being asked. However, debate and a defensive posture are of little value in this offering. I think it is a good opportunity for us to have conversation about early Church history and the divinity of Jesus. Questions surrounding The Da Vinci Code could offer clues to the Jesus for which people are searching. I am pondering how we can best use this book/movie as an appropriate teachable moment.

Go Forth...

According to Bishop Michael Coyner, 43 percent of United Methodist churches in America did not receive a member by profession of faith in 2004. He said that existing congregations need to be transformed in a variety of ways, but at the heart of the transformation is "simply to have a passion that we are all about making disciples for Jesus Christ."

When the UM Board of Discipleship heard this at their March meeting, they were not surprised. Nor should this be news to us. Many of us are part of churches that spend more energy taking care of who we are than reaching out to those beyond our steeple who need to know Jesus in their lives. According to census data, 30-40% of the persons in the main part of Myrtle Beach do not name themselves as part of a religious faith. Yet, we struggle at First UMC to receive a couple of new members each month and most of these are churched folks from other places. This is more than a numbers game, we must renew our commitment to making disciples who are willing to go forth and claim others in the name of Jesus the Christ.

Grandparenting

What a busy and wonderful week I have had. First, I made a quick trip to Columbia to meet my new grandson, Ethan, and cuddle with his brother, William. Then, Annaka and Jack came to visit while their dad was at a conference at the beach. Their mother was in New Orleans with a mission team from Clemson Wesley Foundation. And, as another sign of the times, Ron was the grandparent-in-charge. However, we both enjoyed having individual time with Jack and Annaka and I trust they enjoyed getting to know their grandparents a little bit better. My memories of grandparents are special and I wish the same for our grandchildren. As I read and read to Annaka I felt the presence of Grandma Eva.

Precious Picture

Daniel, William and Ethan. Will be interesting to see what William thinks of his little brother in a few weeks. His parents have done all the right things to prepare him, but I predict that there will be those sibling moments. I can't wait to rock Ethan and read William more stories. Some days Columbia is just too far away.

Family News

Ethan Cyr Osborne was born this afternoon in Columbia. I arrived just in time to hold him before he was taken to the nursery for the weigh in and clean up. Our fourth grandchild weighed 8 lbs and 11 oz. and appears to be quite healthy. Tonight Ron and I get to take care of big brother, William, all by ourselves. Mama did leave us detailed instructions about what we are to do. Ron will be on grandpa duty for the next few days while this grandma works. Times have changed.

Yesterday, I learned that my brother-in-law's first set of chemo treatments have been quite effective. They will continue, but have been adjusted to allow John and Mary to visit us the last week of March. I pray that we will have some warm, sunny days while they are here. They need them.

What a blessed week!

Change

As previously noted, one of my favorite blogs is Perspectives by Larry Hollon, Chief Executive of United Methodist Communications. Several of his recent posts have cited change as it relates to communication - Changes in Media, Changing Relationships, Changing with the Times and Change or Perish. Hollon asks the important question, "How does an organization or a corporation formed under older values and management structure adapt to the new realities?" This is not only the challenge of the United Methodist Church in general, but also to the local church as well. I think I will continue to ponder his reflections.

Temple Emanu-el

Last evening our confirmands and mentors worshiped at Temple Emanu-el. Rabbi Avi Perets welcomed us warmly and spent time with us after the service answering questions. As usual, our youth found much about this service to be fascinating, but hard to comprehend. We reminded them that this is probably how the non-churched feel when they visit our church. The language and the meaning of what we do have to be explained for participants to truly worship.

Each year I include this synagogue experience in the confirmation preparation. It is important for us to understand our Jewish roots. Also, interfaith awareness and dialogue invite us to establish an environment for bridge building. May this generation be open to new possibilities of peace by working together more closely with the other religions.

Mary's Birthday

Today is Mary’s (my sister) birthday. I think of her a lot these days. This past fall her husband, John, was diagnosed with colon cancer. He is one of those persons who should have had a colonoscopy before he did. Now he is undergoing treatment for cancer that has spread to the liver and lymph nodes. John's body is broken; Mary's heart is wounded. This was not in their plan for this time in their lives. Fortunately, they are surrounded by family and a wonderful church family. Their faith is strong, but being tested. Fear and frustration, tears and tension, anger and anxiety intrude into their days. However, John's determination to do all the right things - physically, mentally, and spiritually - has given us, his cheerleading team, courage to face the days ahead. So family events, like birthdays, become very important. They become the milestones on the journey. Tonight, as Mary enjoys a nice dinner at a favorite restaurant, my prayer is that they can live in the moment with laughter and love. Happy Birthday, Mary, and I love you, John.

Companions in Ministry

Today, Scarlett and I were in Lexington to be a part of the Gathering of the Fellowship of Clergy. The orders of elders, deacons, and local pastors convene several times of year to explore topics that impact our ministry and to be in fellowship with one another. As always I enjoyed being with some folks that have been very important to me through the years and meeting others who now will be part of my continuing journey. Our focus today was clergy companionship and friendship. Many of us know the feeling of isolation in our ministry. While we have important relationships with other clergy and laity, we miss those special friendships that support and affirm us as individuals. As we discussed, the intineant system discourages the opportunity to develop these friendships. It was good to recognize this as an important issue among clergy and their families and to sense that we need to make this a priority for healthy living.

Coincidentally, Lexington is the place of many long time friends. We moved to Lexington in 1982 and joined Lexington UMC soon thereafter. Many friendships were formed in that congregation that we continue to enjoy. Fred Reese was one of the ministers during this time. He and others encouraged me to answer the call to ministry. Yes, friendships are important to our well-being.

Jim Williams - Part 2

I continue to think about several of the comments made by Jim Williams, our guest parenting specialist including the following:

By the age of 14 - 80-90% of a child's value system is complete.

Kids need 3-4 positive adult role models plus parents.

A child receives on average 15 minutes a day individual attention by parent. Only 3 minutes of that could be named as positive.

A child is influenced 5-7 hours a day from entertainment-television, video games, Ipod, internet, etc.

By the age of 13 - 75% of kids no longer play organized sports.

Children need to learn from mistakes. This doesn't happen when their parents follow the drill sergeant or helicopter (hovering) models of parenting.

All families need to name their core values and continually point to them in all that they do.

Jim Williams

Through the vision of Jeanne Voltz Loomis and Cindy Cooper and the generosity of a church member, First UMC was able to provide an outstanding speaker, Jim Williams, to the community during the last few days. On Friday, Jim spoke to nearly 1400 tweens about choices, drugs, bullying and other issues that are so important to them. Much of the effectiveness of this came through his ability to share stories from his own experiences including the powerful story of his son’s death.

On Saturday, fifty parents and other adults attended a seminar at the church based on Jim’s book, Parenting on Point. He has processed and distilled some of the best parenting and tween information available and created a simple methodology for effective parenting. The response of those attending was very positive and I am so pleased that we were able to provide this important program. However, there is a sadness in my being that more parents did not make this a priority and choose to attend. Our children are living in a world that bombards them with many messages. We have to help them interpret their meaning and most of us need help doing this. Jim would like to return to Myrtle Beach. How can we convince our parents that they are being given a second chance?

Ash Wednesday

I need Lent. I need once again to journey into the desert to see if my life reflects the life of Jesus. My intellectual understandings of faith need more direction by the heart, a heart that needs to reveal its fear, anger, hurt and doubt to God. I need to know God's grace as I bow at the cross. So, I enter into Lent with expectations, but also knowing that I must wrestle with my sinful humanity if I am truly to know the risen Christ.