Folk, Rock n Roll, and Crossing the Line

Psalm 146

The dawning of music that spoke a message. Music that had a justice thought behind it, or even if it seemed silly, hinted at a quiet protest. We might think that music is from the late 50s through the 60s, as the dawn of a genre, but it actually is eternal... music has always been a way to pour out a song of protest or a message of justice. The psalms ring true of such messages over and over again. Words of protest and justice.

"Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help."

 "Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob...who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free"

Folk music and rock and roll have their roots in young rebellion.  Folk music is the music of the working class, told in oral histories, stories about the struggles of everyday people trying to make it in the world. Woody Guthrie's music is indicative of this genre's message... bluegrass music also fits into the same mold... the message of the struggle of the working class.

Rock-n-roll music is a complicated genre with a complicated history. The combination of many kinds of music, mostly rhythm and blues and country; the blend of music that appealed to both African-Americans and Caucasians created the tension and sway that led to at least a part of the Civil Rights movement. The appeal to the younger generation had a way of creating music that had a touch of rebellion in the early years of 'rockabilly' and 'doowop' that became blatantly obvious in the Vietnam era of the late 60s to early 70s.

How do we look at both of these genres and see how they gave generations of young people a sort of permission to cross the line and challenge the established order?  What parallels do they share with the music of the psalms?

Thoughts?  Memories of your favorite folk or rock-n-roll songs and how they impacted your life? Email me or comment below.

Lost in the '50s

Luke 15:1-10

We are remembering in nostalgic ways the era of the 1950s this month as a part of our Feast of Beginnings.  But it is also important to remember the struggle of the 1950s.

Here at home:

1951:  On November 1, 1951, fire completely destroys the Evangelical United Brethren church building. While the building is a complete loss, the new organ, a piano, the pews, and some chancel furniture are spared. Damaged but not destroyed, these items will be renewed and reused in the new church building. Once again, the Left Hand Grange makes its hall available for worship services while the church is rebuilding.

And on a national level: 

When Rosa Parks refused on the afternoon of Dec. 1, 1955, to give up her bus seat so that a white man could sit, it is unlikely that she fully realized the forces she had set into motion and the controversy that would soon swirl around her. Other black women had similarly refused to give up their seats on public buses and had even been arrested, including two young women earlier that same year in Montgomery, Ala. But this time the outcome was different. 

(from Montgomeryboycott.com)

We sometimes idolize the eras of bygone years.  We see them through a lens that has faded into more myth than reality.  Have you ever seen the movie "Midnight in Paris" by Woody Allen? The lead character, played by Owen Wison, does that. He is infatuated with the era of the 1920s in Paris and he falls in love with someone that is infatuated with the 1890s.  They don't see any charm at all in their present era and also fail to see the dark and difficult times in the era they idealize.

The 1950s are not "Grease." They are not "Happy Days" although many of us had some happy days back then. They are just like now... some really great things happening and some really somber things happening.  Let us not get so idealized about an era gone by that we miss the beauty of this present moment.

The scripture this week reminds us of the joy in finding what was lost.  The lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost soul.  We are in the midst of searching for what we might have lost along the way in the faith journey. But we might also remember to be joyous with what we have found... or kept... the church alive and well here  and now.

You won't want to miss church this week. We will be looking at a glorious slide show with many images of the 1950s... if you were around then, you might be in a couple.

If you have any thoughts on the 1950s, please email me or comment below.

   

Finding Your Inner Elvis

Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
O LORD, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O LORD, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.



Take a look and listen at Elvis in the 1950s.
Elvis had talent that was obviously God-given. He never took formal music lessons, could not even read music, but his unique, velvety voice was one that even the strongest Elvis critic cannot deny made a big impact in music history.

Elvis did not have a privileged upbringing. He did not have many of the opportunities many of us have been sure we gave our children.  He struggled with lots of problems, personal and public. His drug addiction likely was the result of some of his inner struggles and eventually led to his premature death.

So, what do I mean by "find your inner Elvis?" Find your inner struggle and attack it with pills? Of course not.  What I mean is, find the complex, talented, blow-it-off-the charts rock star that is lurking around in your everyday life and project it forward in an amazing way.

In September, we celebrate our annual "Feast of Beginnings" fall kickoff all month long with a look back at the 1950s, in song, in word, in theatrics, in pictures. Elvis begins that for us this week. Our choir is focusing on the gospel music that Elvis recorded in the 1950s.  Elvis loved gospel music and the music of the faith was very close to his heart.

How is it that someone who obviously felt close to the church ended up with such isolating personal struggles?  Happens every day. Right?  Among us right now is any number of persons who struggle with all of the complexities of life, some in debilitating and harmful ways. Others in more productive ways.  Why is it that Elvis, or others like him, probably knew well the words to psalms like Psalm 139 above and heard the power of God always being a part of their created being, and yet fail to feel God's love in so many times of struggle.

You see, here in the body of Christ, we all have a little inner Elvis. The magical and explosive talent that is either nurtured and fed in positive ways throughout life, or the magical and explosive talent that lets the worries of the world overtake the gospel message. We are all Elvis on any given day. The talented superstar Elvis. And the lonely, desperate Elvis.

What is your inner strength or talent?  What is your personal struggle?  How do you keep them both in balance.  Email me or comment below.

Labor Day Picnic

Luke 14:1, 7-14

But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.  And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. . .


I guess with the third biggest picnic day of the summer coming up on Monday next week, the traditional end- of-summer picnic day, this scripture hit me in a gut-punch kind of way.  Like, at what point do we invest in our broken infrastructure and social/emotional structure in the church and in society, as much as we invest in what we do to plan for a big family gathering like a Labor Day Picnic?

I have been out-of-sorts lately and it isn't just because I took my only begotten son and laid him at the manger of Marymount Manhattan College. I have been a little off kilter because I can't seem to find meaning and purpose in the Christian movement sometimes. I can't seem to figure out why we are here doing what we are doing on any given day. I love everyone in my congregation and consider my work sacred and divinely-ordered, but I am seeking more than what is before me. And yet, I fall into the trap of not seeking it at all, myself.

I spent an enormous amount of energy and time lately planning and organizing Jake's going away New York, New York Party. I researched foods, party decorations, you name it. Pinterest was my best friend.  And now I wonder what would happen if I actually spent half that amount of time preparing a banquet to which I invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind, as Jesus mentions in this week's text? Would I then feel like I had discovered the Christian movement's purpose? Is that the real purpose after all? Is it not about buildings and all the niceties we call the 'church,' but actually about being God's helpers in the world of need?

And if that is the case, someone tell me how we take the next step.  

Email me  or comment below.

Connected to Our God, Our Earth, and Each Other

Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalm 8

Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy." But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a boy'; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you, Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD." --from Jeremiah 1

When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?-- from Psalm 8


One of my most pronounced camping memories is not of my camping at all. During the height of the Hayman Fire in 2002, Jake was scheduled to go to his first ever church camp. A two-night camp for kids ages 5-7 at Templed Hills near Woodland Park (and very near the fire). The camp had been evacuated at some point before that, but fire officials had given the all clear for campers to return and future camps to continue. I had secretly hoped his camp would be cancelled so I wouldn't have to worry about him being near the fire.

When we found out the camp was "on," we packed him up and headed west on I-70 then south on Highway 24 from our home in Stratton, CO. I stayed uneasy because you could still see the smoke and still smell it, even from far away.  As we approached the camp, I saw two signs. One said "Forest Fire... Danger... Do not enter."  The sign right beside of it said, "Welcome to camp!"

I will never forget that image. Danger and Welcome, side by side.

That is what camping is, a welcome respite from the frills of everyday life and a place to encounter nature up close in ways that can sometimes be dangerous... wildlife, weather, insect bites, the list goes on.

This Sunday, we worship outside, in the unpredictable space we call nature. Some of us will have camped out overnight in our church yard. Many of us will have enjoyed the all-church picnic and s'mores, skits and songs on Saturday evening.  Sunday, we will slow down and consider the space we find ourselves in.. God's space, given to us to protect and care for and love.

Some of our congregation will share their most significant camping stories with the rest of us. Perhaps you have one you might like to share, too.  Come join us for worship and join in a time of witness to the power of camping in our lives.  Comments? Email me or comment below.

DETAILS FOR ALL CHURCH PICNIC AND CAMPOUT

Aug 24^th Camp-Out Dinner: Ad Council & the Fun Committee will host our annual picnic this year as part of the All-Church Campout on August 24th. We welcome those of you who will not be spending the night to join us for a potluck dinner that night anyway. You may, of course, stay for the Campfire sing! The main dish will be brats and hot dogs. Hope to see all of you there!
Campout Schedule:
4:30 pm - Registration, Games, Activities
6:00 pm - All-Church Picnic/Potluck
7:00 pm - Skits and games
8:00 pm - S'mores and Songs around the campfire
9:00 pm - Stargazing
10:00 pm - Bed
Sunday 8:30 am - Breakfast
9:30 am - Worship Service
You are welcome to join us in ANY or ALL of these activities!

Campout Forecast

Luke 12:49-56

"I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!"

He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'It is going to rain'; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

Tough talk time.  There is no turning back for the church. We can either change or die. We can either grab a vision or die. We can either find a passion for something besides ourselves and our projects or die.  And if we choose to die, we need to begin, like it or not, to plan what that death looks like.

Jesus is warning the people about what it means not to understand what is happening right under their noses. He is telling them that if they don't open their eyes and interpret the events happening around them, they will suffer.  He is laughing about how they understand the weather patterns, how they know exactly when it going to rain or when it is going to storm or when the sun will rise or set, but have no clue about what is really happening to them.

We have been in a decline as a denomination and as a church for a long time.  We have a great place, a great congregation and we love being together. I love coming to work. I never dread being here, always look forward to being with each of you, in good times and in bad ones. And yet, it isn't what is being asked of us, just to enjoy one another. What is being asked of us is to kindle our fire for long-lasting passion and burning for God. We have become complacent with how good it feels to be together and never developed a  passion for how good it might feel to connect, viscerally, literally to a world outside of here.

"I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!"

It is so hard to kindle the flame of passion, of exuberance for God, especially in a pretty non-religious community. And it is hard to do when you don't have the passion yourself.  And how do you get it? How does your leadership get it? How do *I* get it?

I know that life as we know it is changing in dramatic ways in the religious community. I know that we cannot continue just to come on Sundays and hope that things will stay the same. I know that, even though we are having a good year financially, we are not having a good year in attendance.  And I know that the fire must be kindled, or we need to figure out how to let it die for good.

I don't mean to sound harsh. I love the church and I love God. But I do see that we have to quit looking at the  actual weather forecast so much and start looking into our hearts and into the future at the life forecast for the church and its people.

It's like when you go camping and something unpredictable happens. When the snow comes overnight and you didn't expect it. When that happened to me one June in Estes, as I told you before,  I packed and ran home. How noble. How brave. Unexpected camping weather that wasn't forecast and I bail.  

I really don't want to continue in that tradition. I don't want to bail because it's cold and harsh out there. If you read the part of the scripture just before this text, you see these words, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

THAT's a context for you to ponder.  We have been given so much, and yet so little has ever been demanded of us. Is it time to give much?...  or is it time to give up?

Questions, comments? Email me or comment below.

Destination-Free Camping Trip

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Ever headed out on a road trip with no destination in mind? Remember the days of the Sunday afternoon drive?  I remember our family taking a few Sunday afternoon drives with no particular destination in mind, but just driving around looking at things.  Those are fun memories. I have also mentioned here before the road trip my family took when I was a kid with one place in mind (Dallas, to visit friends), but no other destination and how fun it was to roam all over Texas, and even into Laredo and all over the Gulf coast region before heading home two weeks later.

But destination-free camping? That's a little different.  Not knowing whether where you are headed is hot or cold, rainy or windy, dry or humid. How do you know what to pack? What sleeping bags to take? Whether you need rain gear or lots of sunscreen? Maybe some of you have done it, but it is hard for me to imagine myself going on a destination-free camping trip. Weathering the elements, I think I would like to know what to prepare for, who to prepare for, etc.

Abraham's story has a big destination-free camping element. The scripture from Hebrews 11 says: By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going.

We believe that Abraham believe God will fulfill God's promises and so he was willing to head out into the unknown, but imagine the faith and courage it must have taken to actually just set out with his spouse and his animals in search of a totally unknown tomorrow.

And yet, in many ways that is what all of us do everyday. We never know what is around the next bend, the next chapter of this book called life.  Think about how different some of our lives will be by the time we take another trip around the sun. By the time another year goes by, we will be different people in many respects. Some of us will have gotten healed from various ailments, some of us will have moved to far away cities, some of us will have been diagnosed with chronic conditions, some of us will add family members, or lose family members, or add or lose pets, and so on, and so on.

In a lot of ways we are always out on a destination unknown camping experience. In a lot of ways it is our own faith that allows us to go day by day and obey the call of God in our lives.  What happens in the in between days between yesterday and tomorrow are part of a destination that we can plan and plan and plan for, but in the end, still remains relatively unknown.  

Are we willing to step out in faith that our church community will be in a different place a year from now, or even six months from now than it is today? Not a physical move, but an emotional, spiritual and (dare I say, religious) move to something different, even though we, like Abraham, don't know where we are going?

 If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return.
But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

Thoughts? Email me or comment below.