I Don't Read Everything

As much as I like to keep up with things, I can't read every newspaper and magazine on the planet. Fortunately some tools on the web do a great job of leading me to the cool stuff. There are websites like Drudge Report that collect stories from across the web. The problem with sites like that is that what gets posted is up to the one who runs the site. Much cooler are sights like Technorati which collect data on the most linked to sites, weblogs, stories and topics. Basically, if a weblog like mine posts a link like the ones I just posted for Drudge Report and Technorati, sites are able to take notice and compile the data. So what you end up with is a sort of collective intelligence pointing you to the cool stuff on the web.

All that is a long way of getting to something cool that I missed in the New York Times that I found at the top of the most popular news list at Technorati. This is a really long article from the New York Times Magazine, but it is totally worth the read. (Especially if you took my suggestion and read American Gospel.) It talks about the changing relationship of Christian Evangelicals and politics, particularly a change in their lockstep endorsement of the Republican party, which , the article reminds us, is still a fairly recent development. It is a really well researched and written article and gives a lot of insight into the current state of the odd relationship between the Gospel and politics.

The Evangelical Crackup
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
Published: October 28, 2007
After the 2004 election, evangelical Christians looked like one of the most powerful and cohesive voting blocs in America. Three years later their leadership is split along generational and theological lines. How did it all come apart?

peace,

will

Christ and Coffee

Ok… I am a coffee junkie and a coffee snob. I drink a ton of coffee and I consider it bad day if any of it comes out of can. I am often saddened by the lack of Starbucks within reasonable driving distance of my home and office. But these are not the reasons I read The Gospel According to Starbucks by Leonard Sweet. It had been in my cart on Amazon.com for some time but I didn’t buy it until someone recommended to me. (Someone other than Amazon.com who always tells me what I should be reading and is usually right.) One of our newest District Superintendents (the United Methodist equivalent of a regional manager, sort of) recommended to me. I think United Methodist District Superintendents have one of the hardest, sometimes most soul-crushing jobs in the world of religion. So, when one of them is really excited about something, I take a lot of notice.

People in my present community may not totally get the idea behind this book because they don’t experience Starbucks unless they work in town. But Starbucks raises an amazing question that church people should be asking, “Why are young people perfectly willing to spend four dollars for a cup of coffee?” The answer has more to do with church than you would think. Leonard Sweet uses Starbucks as both a allegory and a practical example to show what people are searching for that the church used to provide: a spiritual experience that is experiential, participatory, image-rich and connecting (EPIC).

This book is so rich that I can’t write any more about it without feeling like I am doing it a disservice. If you are truly interested in how the church can regain its role of being a relevant force in society and how it can reach a new generation of human beings with the critical message of the Gospel, read this book. Read it, give it to someone else to read, start a study group around it. In other words, I recommend it.

peace,

will

Finally... and well worth it

I just don't know why this book took me so long to read, but it was definitely worth reading. Last night I finished Jon Meacham's American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation. This is a fantastic book and it should be required reading for anyone who wants to enter into the debate about the "separation of church and state." Whenever discussions arise around the issues of prayer in schools (or at football games), Ten Commandment displays on courthouse lawns and nativity scenes in public parks, the arguments are usually most loudly stated by those on the extremes, those extreme secularists who insist on a complete absence of any god from any public arena and the extreme religionists who insist that America is a Christian nation and that there should be no barrier at all to religion in the public sphere. This book helps us to understand the complexity and history of the argument. As with most modern arguments of this scale, this one is much more nuanced and much less black and white than some would suggest.

Meachum is a news guy, the managing editor of Newsweek and a historian, he also wrote Franklin and Winston: an Intimate Portrait of an Epic Relationship. His news and historical background make his take on the issue just detached enough that it would probably annoy people on either extreme end of the debate. But for those who are interested in understanding the history of this issue, his insight is fascinating.

I want to share one quote from the book that captures the importance of the entire work.

A grasp of history is essential for Americans of the center who struggle to decide how much weight to assign religious consideration in a public matter. To fail to consult the past consigns us to what might be called the tyranny of the present - the mistaken idea that the crises of our own time are unprecedented and that we have to solve them without experience to guide us. Subject to such a tyranny, we are likely to take a narrow or simplistic view, or to let our passions get the better of our reason. If we know, however, how those who came before us found the ways and means to surmount the difficulties of their age, we stand a far better chance of acting in the moment with perspective and measured judgement. Light can neither enter into nor emanate from a closed mind. (p. 232)

peace,

will

Welcome Newsletter Readers

In the Grace UMC newsletter this week, I printed a pastor's column that was originally posted here on the weblog. I invited people to come here and read the comments and post their own. If you are looking for that original post, you can find it here:

Can You See Through the Eyes of a Seeker?

If you are new to the weblog, you are welcome to post comments. Just click the comments link at the bottom of the post. You don't need a blogger I.D. to post, you can post anonymously.

peace,

will

Another Busy Week

I always forget exactly how busy fall is. Last night it was my turn to teach the confirmation class. I teach two sessions each year. Last night was on worship and later in the year I will teach on the United Methodist Social Principles. Tonight is the first night of Bible 101. This has taken a lot of energy to prepare for because I have completely rewritten the course. I always spend a little time updating courses I teach, but I rewrote this one from scratch and I am still playing with it. I also have a team helping me for the first time. This should be fun.

peace,

will

Much More Inspired

I don't know about you, but the cool weather has given me a new surge of energy. Enough hot days in a row and I don't feel like doing anything. A little cool air and I feel like I have woken up from some heat induced trance. I just hope it stays this way.

peace,

will

This Week's Sermon

If anyone is looking for last week's sermon, sorry. I just don't have it in a publishable written form. If you really want a copy, email me and I will send you the rough form.

Here is this week's sermon. It is still in fairly rough form, but good enough for now:

Sermon #51 - Running for the Goal Line

peace,

will

Loving the cold front and trying to finish a book

When I sat down to write this post, it was called, Waiting for the cold front and trying to finish a book. However, I walked away for a little while and the cool air blew in! I am in heaven.

If you pay a lot of attention to the weblog, you may have noticed that a certain book has been sitting on the top of my "What Will is Reading Now List" for some time. I have been reading Jon Meachum's American Gospel seemingly forever now. I haven't really given it my full effort especially with all the ordination stuff I have been doing. For me, if I read a book over too long of a time, it really starts to get disconnected and then it gets ever harder to read. I have to either set aside some time and finish it or just give up. I don't think I am going to give up on this one. It is an amazing historic look at the relationship between church and state in our nation. It gives a fascinating glimpse into how the founders and early leaders of our country understood God and religion and how they felt that should relate to the government of the young United States. I will write more... if I ever finish it.

peace,

will

Can you see through the eyes of a seeker?

I have been thinking a lot about the 9:45 service and the proposed move to the gym. I have heard from a couple of people who disagree with the premise that that service is full. Some people look around and see a number of empty seats and think that there is plenty of room. As I am thinking about that it raises the question for me, “Can you see through the eyes of a seeker?”

I read recently of a hospital that was trying to drastically improve their patient care by focusing on how it felt to be a patient. Here is what they did: They put someone on a gurney with a video camera and had them record what it felt like to be a patient. Doctors and nurses and technicians were a bit startled to see that perspective. Lying down, looking straight up, all the patient could see was lights and ceiling ties. Winding around corners, down halls, and up and down elevators was amazingly discombobulating. Often the patient was left in place while unknown people moved by. All around were disembodied voices talking in technical jargon. Occasionally, a head would pop into view to ask a question. People who saw this video become much more intentional about what the patient was experiencing. They were clearer to the patient about where they were going and what was going on and more regular about getting into the patients field of view.

This reminded me very much of my first few times in a church. What we forget is that people who are not Christians do not know what to expect and do not know what is going on. There is a lot of fear and anxiety. For me, everything moved a little too fast and I felt incredible self-conscious and out of place. From where I sit on Sunday morning, I see that look all the time from new people. They walk through the doors of the sanctuary and they look confused and trapped. There is no clear indication of where they should sit. Often they have to look around to find a seat and then fight their way to it. Too often, that seat is not on the end of an isle. Only a person who has gone to church many years would think that it is ok for a new person to have to ask someone to move. Had that been me the first time, I would have left.

Our mission as a church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Part of that mission includes inviting and welcoming people who have had no previous relationship with Christ. I invite you, the next time you are in church, to ask yourself, “Can I see through the eyes of a seeker?” Look at the church from the parking lot to the sanctuary and back out again as though you knew nothing about Christianity and nothing about the people of our church. Pretend you don’t know where we worship or what a narthex is. Walk into the sanctuary as though you know no one and nothing about the service that was about to take place. Pretend you don’t know that you need a bulletin or that our songs are in something called a hymnal. Pretend you have never “passed the peace” or sung a doxology or had an offering plate placed in your hands. Pretend you have never even heard of communion. Would you feel safe? Would you feel welcome? Would you be clear about what was expected of you? Would you come back again?

Can you see through the eyes of a seeker?

peace,

will

Off to Taft?

I am off to Taft this morning for something we call a District Professionals Meeting. About once a month, the United Methodist Pastors of the Corpus Christi District get together for fellowship, worship, some sort of program, and lunch. It is a wonderful part of our connectional system. Some pastors from other denominations often feel very alone and isolated without much support from their peers and colleagues. I get to see my pastor friends quite often and it really helps my ministry.

peace,

will

The Small Victories

You might suppose that I, as a pastor, find joy mostly in things like movement in the internal quest of growing in constant communion with God. However, there is a lot of joy in the small stuff too. For instance, I finally restored my ability to receive email on my Palm Pilot. For the past two weeks for some uncertain reason, I was unable to send and receive email from the wonderful tiny device that rides around in my pocket. Through a wonderful combination of consultation with Palm, Google and the Holy Spirit, life is back as it should be.

peace,

will

Is it Fall yet?

Fall is teasing me. We have had a couple mornings lately when I have walked out and felt the cool breeze that tells me that fall is creeping in. However, I am realizing that it is just a trick. It is still hot and sticky and I think the mosquitoes are finally waking up. But, I guess after a fairly cool and rainy summer, I need to be patient. In the words of Franklin Roosevelt, at least "We are stricken by no plague of locusts."

peace,

will

Getting Back in the Groove Part II

Sometimes I wonder about what to write on the blog. Sometime the day to day stuff is more interesting than when I try to be profound. I have lots of good stuff going on this week. Last night I had a meeting with the leaders who are going to help me present Bible 101 starting next week. We have a really great team for this one. This team teaching idea came out of our Adult Council. They figured that we could offer more courses if we could create teams to lead them instead of totally relying on a pastor or a few lay people. This worked out really well with Prayer 101. The team that led that with me last time will take it over entirely for the next offering. I am looking forward to Bible 101. I have re-written the curriculum around the team teaching model. You can still sign up for this class. The deadline is Friday. Just email me.

Tonight I meet with my small group called Genesis. This is a seed group for a new small group ministry program we will launch at Grace in January. It is a really great group and I just enjoy being with them.

Thursday night I will be leading an orientation class for people who wish to serve communion to the homebound. This is a great ministry for folks who can't come to worship but wish to receive the sacraments. Homebound communion ministers take the consecrated elements from worship into people's homes. Anyone can do this and it is a wonderful ministry. If you are interested, feel free to drop by the meeting Thursday evening at 6:30 here at Grace. (You won't commit yourself just by showing up if you just want to know more.

Sunday is the next session of Why Grace, our intro to church membership "class." If you are already a member of the church you are still welcome to come. Most members who do say they learned or relearned a lot. No reservation required, just stop by room 143 Sunday at 1:30.

After that on Sunday, I have a meeting with our Staff Parish Relations Committee. We are required to have a yearly conversation about how the pastor and the church are working together. They also have to complete an evaluation for my Covenant Connection Committee. It is the last one they have to do before the final decision about my ordination is made.

Oh, and I have a sermon to write and three worship services to plan! Whew!

peace,

will

Getting Back in the Groove

It always takes me a few days to get back in the groove after being on vacation. However, this last vacation has some built in reentry time. I was off from Friday until Wednesday, when I had a fairly short meeting in Austin. I then had an all day meeting in San Antonio on Thursday. I had a wedding rehearsal on Friday evening and then a wedding Saturday. Then Sunday, I was back in full swing. So, coming back on a Monday, it feels like my vacation has already been over for a week, yet there is still a pile of stuff on my desk that I am behind on. The world moves pretty fast.

peace,

will

Bible 101

Don't forget to sign up for Bible 101. The registration deadline is this Thursday. You can register be emailing me at pastorwillrice@gmail.com.

Here is all the info:


We base our faith and Christian life on the words of scripture. However, some of us are not as familiar with scripture as we would like. Sometimes the Bible can overwhelm us and we need help getting started in the discipline of Bible reading and study. Join Pastor Will Rice and the Bible 101 team for this four week class specially designed for people who have never engaged in an adult Bible study. It is even great for those who have never picked up a copy of the Bible. The fee for the course is $30 and covers the cost of one of the best study Bibles available, The New Interpreter’s Study Bible. During the four weeks you will get an overview of the Bible and you will be introduced to the skills and resources that will help you engage the Bible on your own. The class will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 for four Thursday nights beginning Thursday, October 25th. Because of the need to order materials, there will be a firm registration deadline of Thursday, October 18th.

Notice: If you have joined Grace UMC within the last year, the Adult Ministries Team would like to offer this course to you free of charge.

The Survival of the World

I stumbled across this article on a London Newspaper's website:

Muslims tell Christians: 'Make peace with us or survival of world is at stake'

There is another article referring to the same subject in the Washington Post:

Muslims Call for Interfaith Peace

I would love to hear your comments.

peace,

will

Back at Work, But Not Back in Corpus

I have been on vacation this week, travelling throughout Texas. My vacation is over today, although I am not back yet. I had to stop in San Antonio for a meeting of the Conference Futures Committee. This is a nice way to ease back into the flow of work. I will be back in my normal office tomorrow.

peace,

will

Big Things at Grace

Are you keeping track of all the big things going on at Grace?

We voted as a congregation this past Sunday to accept the gift of 20 acres of land on 624. The gift came with two conditions: that we not subdivide the land but use it all for ministry and we begin construction in two years.

We voted as a Church Council last Monday to move our 9:45 worship service into the fellowship hall so that we would have more room for more people.

These are both amazing decisions that will open up the doors of grace to more people who may have never experienced the power of a relationship with God. Both decisions are also going to create an enormous amount of work but I am getting used to that.

peace,

will

Monday Update

As I have written (or whined) about, I have quite overwhelmed lately especially with work for my ordination. Lately, I have been waiting anxiously for the first draft of my doctrinal questions to come back. I finally got one copy back yesterday. The first drafts go to two or three ordained elders who read them and provide feedback. The good news is the one I got back so far had mostly positive comments! The elder who reviewed the questions had some good insights that will make for some improvements but didn't think I needed any major revisions. That is good news! Now I just have to wait and see what the others say.

peace,

will