Never underestimate the power of prayer

SC Annual Conference closed on Wednesday with a worship service to set appointments.  In the "old days" the bishop read out where each minister in the Conference would be appointed.  Sometimes this reading was the first indication pastorss had that they would be moving and where they would be going.  Ministers changing churches would then go home, pack up their houses and their families, say goodbye to their churches, and be in the new place within two weeks.  My mom grew up as a preacher's kid in Louisiana.  She said this practice kept ministers from leaving Conference early.  Her dad would call before he started home to let my grandmother know whether she had to start packing or not.  High anxiety, to be sure.

Nowadays, the list is finalized before conference and handed out in printed form.  Only a few changes are recorded at the session as we all read along.  As each district has its appointments set, clergy and lay members from each stand and prayers of blessing are raised.  It's not a time of high anxiety for most, but for some a time of change is about to occur, and those prayers are especially appreciated.

But it was not that time of prayer that I remember most about last Wednesday.  Instead, it was a prayer offered during our time of business and voting.  Each Annual Conference presents on the first day a budget to be approved and resolutions to be voted on before the Conference closes.  These activities can also be a source of high anxiety, especially in these times of financial uncertainty and political division.

I thought that this year's Conference was especially congenial.  Every session ended on time or early, and there were no moments of high drama or uncertainty, at least not from my perspective.  But on Wednesday morning, the possibility existed that our good fortune would run out. Resolutions about education, health care, and gun control had the potential to derail our course.  People were passionate about their positions, and debate became heated.  As we prepared to cast a written ballot for one of the votes, the Bishop asked everyone to be still, sit in a seat, and to be in an attitude of prayer.  And he prepared us to pray, reminding us that no matter which way the voting went, the outcome would not be about winning or losing, but about loving and supporting even those who had different perspectives that ours.  So when the results were announced, there would be no clapping or celebrating from one side or the other.  We would just go on and be about the business we were called to do as the people called United Methodist in South Carolina.

I felt the attitude of the body change in that moment.  The Bishop's prayer was a centering moment.  He was loving, kind, and firm in his leadership.  In the end, we made a choice, went on to the next item, and ended the business session, once again on time and ready to move ahead.

It was a holy moment, a prayer in the midst of the business of the Conference, and it reminded me that no moment in time, no issue or position, no gathering of Christian people, where an earnest, compassionate prayer is prayed in vain.  In spite of the other great experiences of the week (renewed friendships, inspired preaching and missional service), this is the moment that made the biggest impression on me.  And in a decade when we United Methodists have not always been kind to one another, it gave me great hope.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

Peace, Deb

It's like a college reunion, only lots better...

Methodists are "meeting" people.  Early in our history, we had class meetings as a way to model discipleship.  People met, read scripture, shared their joys and concerns, and their struggles and successes in living for Jesus Christ.  In America, the people called Methodists gathered once a year for camp meeting, revivals often lasting for a week, where people lived and ate, studied and worshiped, together.  Some camp meetings still occur on a regular basis, and if you ever get invited to attend, you should go - it's an amazing experience of how God works through the lives of regular people who appreciate their historical roots.  A Methodist's first response to a problem might be to form a committee and have a meeting... we're working on this, but sometimes old habits are hard to break.

And every year, each geographical area comes together for Annual Conference, where we worship and study together, and do the business of the church.  Sometimes this all goes very well.  Other times there are bumps in the road.  So far this year, it has all gone VERY smoothly.  We have gotten out on time or early from every worship and business session, and we're getting along amazingly well.  Social resolutions and budget approval are saved for tomorrow - we're hopeful it can all continue to be so amicable that we don't get mired down in the midst of what has been a delightful experience so far. 

We have a new bishop, Jonathon Holston, who is awesome in every way I can see.  He is gentle, but firm in his leadership.  And when he's preaching, if he steps out from behind the pulpit, watch out. You will not be able to resist answering back when he calls out.  He has inspired us to new dreams and plans, and given us permission to think outside the box.

There have also been some great quotes from reports and sermons.  Some are real head-nodders.  Others I'll be thinking about for quite some time.

Bishop Holston:

• We are called to make disciples, not members.
• May the business of the church never become so important that it overlooks the beauty of the church.
• 3 best sounds in church: Unfolding of extra chairs; Babies crying; and Sound of checks being ripped out of checkbooks.
• Mark Twain said the scriptures he had the most trouble with are not the ones he didn't understand, but the ones he did and didn't like.
• Do not pray for lighter burdens but for stronger backs.
• 90% of "I can't" is really "I don't wasn't to."
• How do you put a giraffe in a refrigerator?  First, you have to open the door and take the elephant out.
• There comes a time when you're in the "way down yonder" with nobody else... Walking through the valley of the shadow... Take up you're cross, because with it, you will never be separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  Knowing all of this, are you up for the challenge for being God's people?

Others:

• While we think of all the things going against us in ministry, we must be reminded that we all have these three gifts for ministry: 1) Place in time, 2) Point on the map, 3) Good news of Jesus Christ. With them we can do anything. -  Susan Leonard Ray
• When asked why he made a change in funding motion today instead of waiting until the budget discussion tomorrow, Rev John Culp responded, "Because God told me, 'Don't wait.  Make it today.'"

Conference Highlights:

• Reconnecting with clergy and laity who saw gifts for ministry in me before I saw them in myself.
• Sharing memories with members of my first church, including three of former youth who are now in full-time ministry in our Conference.
• Having a realization that even though I have spent many years outside of the bounds of my conference, I am still one of them.
• Today (Tuesday 6/11), 287,000 meals were packaged and over $135,000 was raised to meet the hunger needs of people in Haiti and South Carolina.  Click here to learn more about this amazing project to relieve hunger worldwide. 7000 pounds of food were also donated for the local food bank.  (I spent the afternoon shaking rice out of my shoes.  The whole experience was very fun.)

Often Methodists think of Annual Conference as something they have to do, as in "required."  Our hope is that Annual Conference could be come something we have to do, as in "helping us understand who we are."  

May we all have the opportunity to refocus on what's important and what gives our lives real meaning.

Peace, Deb

Travel musings

I got up at O-dark thirty this morning for the day long trip back to South Carolina to visit my family and

attend Methodist Annual Conference for the first time in three years. I do have a good excuse for being absent these last few years... It's the first time since 2009 that I haven't had packers preparing us for a journey to a new part of life. And since we'll move again next year, I knew I had to make the trip while I could.

I also am excited to see my parents for the first time since my dad completed his chemo in March. He's doing well and I can't wait to explore the garden they have been working on all spring.

Since I've had a lot of time to think, maybe you know the answers to some of these questions.

• What are the rules regarding the sharing of airplane armrests?
• Why don't more airports carry Perrier?
• Why do airports advertise free Wifi, except they want you to pay $4.95 to access anything more than the airport's website?
• "Cheese Nips has real cheese. Original CHEEZ-IT doesn't." But I like CHEEZ-ITs better... I wonder why?
• I get flying in yoga pants and flip flops, but what's the deal with jean miniskirts and 6 inch platform heels?
• How airport laps will I have to do to work off the Auntie Anne's pretzel I had with (not for) lunch?
• Where else but Nashville do you get live music at the airport food court?

Other observations:

• I never want to read a real book more than when I see them displayed at an airport bookstore.
• I love airports that have kid play areas... It seems that everyone is happier.
• I just had my first coffee of the day (3:45pm) and I'm feeling much better.

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I know these are first world questions and observations and that there are different places to focus my energy. But sometimes you just have to get them out of your system before you can go on. The trick is not wallowing in your own "stuff", instead moving on to the life God is calling you to live.

I was listening to a song by King and Country. It's words sum up how I understand God is calling us to live.

So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love.

God has been good to me today, with lots more in store, I'm sure. 

Peace, Deb

My favorite moment of the day:  When I came out of the bathroom a few minutes ago, I saw a couple sporting bright orange T-shirts proclaiming "Clemson Mom" and "Clemson Dad". When I went to speak to them, the mom showed me a picture of the daughter, they just settled in to begin her PhD program there. She asked me to take their picture, then she asked to take mine. The American dream is still alive for that family.

Days of Infamy

I got up in the middle of the night on Thursday to write this post.  It had been rolling around in my head for a couple of days and I just couldn't sleep until I put my hands to keys.

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"December 7, 1941... a day that will live in infamy."  These words were spoken by Franklin Roosevelt before a joint session of Congress to formally announce the attack on Pearl Harbor, and signaled our full participation in World War II.  But more that entering the war, that day changed something about the American experience. After that day, we thought differently about ourselves and one another.

I have thought of those words and their sentiment a lot in the last four weeks.  I looked back over my life and remembered other days of infamy.  Some of them have become memorable only in retrospect, like my baptismal day - August 29, 1959.  Others are shared events which seem to change everything.  September 11, 2001 is one of those days. I looked at the world differently after that morning.  And I saw myself in a new way, too.  For the first time, I understood that my calling was not just about serving churches and bringing home a pay check.  Instead, it was about being a representative for Christ in a world that could barely process what it had experienced and seen.  It was about meeting people where they were... proclaiming a word of hope... and using my gifts and training in ways I had never expected.

Since then, there have been seven more Air Force moves... seven moving vans... seven trips back and forth across the country and the ocean... seven sets of goodbyes and hellos... seven churches and chapels and communities of faith in which to put my trust and service.

And just when I thought I had it mostly figured out, here came another day.  May 3, 2013... that is the date when the world changed again for me.  I have been a pastor for twenty-two years, and a military spouse for over eighteen.  But on this day, the unthinkable happened.  A KC-135 air refueling aircraft crashed overseas, killing all three airmen aboard.  In your mind, you know that this can happen.  As a command spouse, you go to training so that you know what to expect.  But when the call comes, it's almost paralyzing.  All those lessons are momentarily forgotten as you ask the question, "What now?"

Just two days earlier, I had wrapped up a study on the book of Romans at the base chapel.  In our last night's discussion, we talked at length about the passages in Romans 8.  So I knew in my head and in my heart that even though the darkness seemed to be crowding in, that we were not abandoned by God.  "Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, our Lord" (Romans 8:39). That became my mantra, and I shared that message with everyone who could hear it.

And just this week, I heard these verses with fresh ears, "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?'  And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" (Isaiah 6:8).

Military members die.  They know that is a possibility when they commit to this life of service.  As their spouses, we also know it is a possibility.  But I did not fully appreciate the sacrifice that these members and their families make until I stood on the flight line beside my husband and watched our airmen come home for a final time.  I felt the burden of war and service most acutely in that moment.  And I cried silent tears for the loss of amazing young leaders, two sons and a daughter, a husband and a wife, a father and a mother, and for all the hopes and dreams that can no longer be fulfilled in the ways originally imagined.

And now I understand something my Methodist minister grandfather used to say: "It's times like these that will either drive you to the bottle or to your knees."  Thank goodness I have found out that my arthritic knees are a whole lot stronger than I had imagined them to be.

The funerals and memorial services are complete.  The extended families will be returning home soon.  And we will still be here, caring for our surviving families and for one another.  And all I ask is that God will give us the strength and courage to run the race before us as a marathon and not a sprint.  We have a long way to go.  Pray for us.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  (Romans 8:27-29)

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The original post ended here, and I wrestled back and forth on whether to even post or not.  My friend Meredith read it and said yes, but still I hesitated.  But then my friend Shelly posted an update from her first annual conference meeting.  This quote from the bishop there echoes the swirl of emotions that we all experience in the midst of struggles and disappointments. His challenge is exactly what I needed to hear... God works through the pain to show us a bigger world and a better plan that we can make for ourselves. 

There’s no way around it. Real life’s really tough. You do things you regret, suffer for no apparent reason and have to deal with bad people who do horrible things. No wonder you yearn for God to give you what you can never get on your own – peace, security and sanctuary from all those things that threaten to overwhelm you. But don’t look for God to wave a heavenly magic wand that makes all of your troubles go away. In fact, sometimes God actually wants your life to be more difficult because God needs you to do some things that are risky, scary and, frankly, may seem impossible. Like not hiding from others’ suffering, but reaching out to share God’s transforming love. Not running away from problems, but getting involved to make a difference. And not turning your back on people who make you uncomfortable, but reaching out to them as sisters and brothers. But something amazing happens every single time you do God’s difficult things – you discover more purpose, meaning and, even, joy than you can possibly imagine. So step out boldly in faith today. Don’t ask God to make your life easy. Instead, ask God to show you how you can share God’s love – even if it is exceedingly difficult. - Bishop Gary Mueller, Great New Jersey Annual Conference United Methodist Church. 

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.   Micah 6:8

Peace, Deb