“They Ignore Me”

You really need to have this song on while you read!

Recently, my family – the one with which I share a house – and I sat down to watch a movie from the 1980’s. Erin and Allie had seen a spoof on this particular movie that was done on a television show that they watch, Victorious. Although they thought the spoof was funny, they really didn’t get all the jokes. So, Pam and I found this as a good excuse to relive some of our high school days by showing them the movie.

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Four Bishops and a Baby

Yesterday morning I sat with my arm around one of my “babies.” Okay, Erin is sixteen now, and much older than that in her mind and actions but when Daddy is around, well, she is still one of my babies. Besides, when I am giving her driving lessons, I can’t sit that close and can only barely remember the days that she used to fidget on my lap when we went to special worship services.

We participated in worship as three new bishops were consecrated into service in The United Methodist Church. She had been with the NEJ all week and got to see the whole process unfold in their selection and was just bursting to tell me so many things. However, we were in worship and she decided it would be best to contain herself. (I gotta say, the drive home was information overload for any Dad!)

Even though she participated and was quiet through most of the service there were four times she couldn’t help but speak to me.

When we began singing a song written by Bishop Grove, she pointed to his name and then said, “He was so very encouraging to me this week AGAIN. I just love the way he treats me.” I smiled and went back to being the good, quiet worshiper a Dad is supposed to be.

When Bishop Steiner Ball – our soon to be new Resident Bishop in the WVAC – was being prayed over by the College of Bishops, Erin said, “I did get to meet her as well and she was also very encouraging to me.” I noticed the tearing up in her eyes and did my best to keep my eyes dry as well.

When Bishop Bickerton joined those who were praying for the new Bishops, Erin leaned over and said, “I didn’t realize till this week that he used to be your mentor! He is such a kind man!” This time I fidgeted a little, and told her that yes, he was my mentor and he is a very kind man.

And finally, she just couldn’t stop talking about Bishop Webb, another one of our new Bishops. She told me how he was so excited about a few little words of encouragement she offered to him that he brought his whole family over to meet her and really made her feel accepted and loved. By this point, I know I had quit worshiping on “my own” and had somehow got caught up in the Spirit moving in this sixteen year old and I saw everything around me differently.

Four bishops and MY baby.

I am glad we have women and men like these in leadership in our church. Leaders who do not overlook the youth that are around them and who I trust will be praying and working with these youth to bring the Kingdom news to their friends.

Robbed

Every week here in Princeton, ministers from many different churches get together and share in breakfast and fellowship. In some ways, I thought I might be cheating the church or my family out of some time by attending these gatherings. They are not mandatory and I doubt that anyone would complain whether I attend or not. (However, I have a feeling that if I was less than dedicated to the group I would have to put up with some well intended ribbing.)

This morning I was especially glad to be among my colleagues as we shared a meal and conversation. Although the time of confession about speeding tickets made me a bit uncomfortable there was a bit of advice from one of my colleagues that I don’t think that I will soon forget.

Funny thing is, I don’t know how we got around to talking about enjoying our day and even enjoying every moment when one of my colleagues said, “I used to work with someone who got upset about the way people behaved all the time. One day I asked him, ‘Where do you get your joy in life?’ Of course, they gave the first response people usually give when a pastor asks a question but this time it was right – ‘God,’ they said. ’Well, if God has given you the gift of joy, why would you let any person or situation rob you of that?’”

I don’t remember the rest of the story from there mainly because I began to think of all the times I have let someone rob me of the joy Christ has given me. I think back to times in churches…times in dealing with my colleagues in ministry…times in public places or even on the telephone…and even, I hate to admit, times at home when I let something or someone rob me of the gift of joy that Jesus gave.

One time, when we lived in Parkersburg, I left the garage door open for a couple of days in a row. Then when the weekend rolled around and I wanted to use something that I stored in the garage I found that it (and a whole lot of other stuff) was missing. We had been robbed. But the main reason we were robbed was because I left door open and kind of said, “Come on in! Help yourself!!”

I guess I am writing this today simply because I want to hold myself accountable about not leaving any more doors opens that will allow me to be robbed again – this time of the joy Christ has given me. Who knew breakfast at Bob Evans could be so enlightening! Thanks friends…