Last night, I received Holy Communion in the Pittsburgh Hard Rock Cafe. It was part of a U2charist worship led by United Methodists in the Pittsburgh area, a service that doubled as an Imagine No Malaria event. It was a night in which the Holy Spirit was flowing more strongly than the spirits on the shelf behind the bar.
I can't say that I've ever received Communion in a bar before last night, and now I'm wondering why not. Why aren't we holding worship and administering sacraments in bars and restaurants? Why do we limit these acts to our sanctuaries? Jesus didn't. John Wesley didn't. And we shouldn't.
Recently I preached on Matthew 5:13-20, in which Jesus declares that we are the light of the world. But how can anyone see our light shine when we're hiding under the bushel baskets of our sanctuaries? Last night, the light of Western Pennsylvania United Methodists radiated through Hard Rock. We placed ourselves in the world, and let our light shine as we received Christ's body and fought to eradicate malaria. We need to be doing these things more often.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
SB XLV Devotion 7: Super Prayer
This is my prayer as we Christians who also happen to be Steeler fans gather for worship this morning. We are excited for the big game, but let us be excited as well about all the things God has done, is doing, and will do for us.
Almighty God, we greet you this morning with football games and parties on our mind. As Western Pennsylvanians, we are at the height of Steeler fever today. But we know better than to make that the focus of this day. We know that a silly football game is far less important than taking the time to worship you. And so we gather in your house to worship you and you alone. Help us to set aside the concerns of this world, to ignore the temptation to worship false idols, so that we are completely focused on you today. Center us, O God. Bring our wills into accordance with your will as we seek to live and worship you this hour. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns in us, Amen.
Almighty God, we greet you this morning with football games and parties on our mind. As Western Pennsylvanians, we are at the height of Steeler fever today. But we know better than to make that the focus of this day. We know that a silly football game is far less important than taking the time to worship you. And so we gather in your house to worship you and you alone. Help us to set aside the concerns of this world, to ignore the temptation to worship false idols, so that we are completely focused on you today. Center us, O God. Bring our wills into accordance with your will as we seek to live and worship you this hour. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns in us, Amen.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
SB XLV Devotion 6: Heroes
Read Joshua 4:1-8
“So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever.” – Joshua 4:7
Tonight, the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame class will be announced. It’s a perfect Super Bowl Eve activity: remembering the heroes of the past as a precursor to the birth of new heroes on the grandest stage. The new enshrines are all persons who have made their mark within the historical narrative of the NFL, and we must tell our children and grandchildren about their significant acts someday.
We have heroes of the faith, too. They are the ones who forded the River Jordan into God’s promise. They are Abraham and Moses, David and Samuel, and others who are listed in Hebrews 11 as “so great a cloud of witnesses.” They are our Sunday School teachers, our pastors, Mrs. Johnson sneaking us candy in the back pew, Mr. Jones telling us how proud we made him when we were home visiting from college. They are our parents who taught us to pray, and the choir director that taught us to sing.
We all have our own “heroes” of the faith. They are the persons without whom we could not tell our own story of faith. Today, as we remember the heroes of sport, let us also remember those who have helped us along the faith journey as well. Think of those people, and offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God for placing them in your life.
“So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever.” – Joshua 4:7
Tonight, the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame class will be announced. It’s a perfect Super Bowl Eve activity: remembering the heroes of the past as a precursor to the birth of new heroes on the grandest stage. The new enshrines are all persons who have made their mark within the historical narrative of the NFL, and we must tell our children and grandchildren about their significant acts someday.
We have heroes of the faith, too. They are the ones who forded the River Jordan into God’s promise. They are Abraham and Moses, David and Samuel, and others who are listed in Hebrews 11 as “so great a cloud of witnesses.” They are our Sunday School teachers, our pastors, Mrs. Johnson sneaking us candy in the back pew, Mr. Jones telling us how proud we made him when we were home visiting from college. They are our parents who taught us to pray, and the choir director that taught us to sing.
We all have our own “heroes” of the faith. They are the persons without whom we could not tell our own story of faith. Today, as we remember the heroes of sport, let us also remember those who have helped us along the faith journey as well. Think of those people, and offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God for placing them in your life.
Friday, February 4, 2011
SB XLV Devotion 5: On the Road
Read Psalm 34
“O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.” – Psalm 34:3
Whenever Lisa and I are away from home and the Steelers are playing a game, we do everything we can to rearrange our schedule and find a place to watch. This year, we saw one game in Myrtle Beach, rushed back to Pittsburgh for another, and were disappointed when our New Year’s cruise did not televise the Steelers game. We love watching our Steelers every week, and really hate missing even one game every season.
Three members of our congregation are traveling to Texas this weekend to attend the Super Bowl. I wonder if they’ll put forth the same effort to seek out a church for worship on Sunday. I wonder if I’d put forth the effort, or whether I’d skip a week of worship too.
When we travel, we alter our schedule to make sure we still have time for what’s important to us. Is worship one of those things? I’ll admit that sometimes it isn’t part of my travel plans when I’m away over a Sunday. But it should be – not because God will punish me if I don’t attend, but because I’m called to worship God on a regular basis. It’s not about whether we want to worship or whether we’ll enjoy it. Surely those things will be regularly present as well, but not always. Sometimes, on vacation, when the evening plans are the only thing on our mind, we ought to take an hour to attend to our worship life first.
No matter where you’re reading this, in North Texas or elsewhere, and wish to find a United Methodist Church in which to worship, remember that you can always visit www.find-a-church.org.
“O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.” – Psalm 34:3
Whenever Lisa and I are away from home and the Steelers are playing a game, we do everything we can to rearrange our schedule and find a place to watch. This year, we saw one game in Myrtle Beach, rushed back to Pittsburgh for another, and were disappointed when our New Year’s cruise did not televise the Steelers game. We love watching our Steelers every week, and really hate missing even one game every season.
Three members of our congregation are traveling to Texas this weekend to attend the Super Bowl. I wonder if they’ll put forth the same effort to seek out a church for worship on Sunday. I wonder if I’d put forth the effort, or whether I’d skip a week of worship too.
When we travel, we alter our schedule to make sure we still have time for what’s important to us. Is worship one of those things? I’ll admit that sometimes it isn’t part of my travel plans when I’m away over a Sunday. But it should be – not because God will punish me if I don’t attend, but because I’m called to worship God on a regular basis. It’s not about whether we want to worship or whether we’ll enjoy it. Surely those things will be regularly present as well, but not always. Sometimes, on vacation, when the evening plans are the only thing on our mind, we ought to take an hour to attend to our worship life first.
No matter where you’re reading this, in North Texas or elsewhere, and wish to find a United Methodist Church in which to worship, remember that you can always visit www.find-a-church.org.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
SB XLV Devotion 4: Practice
Read 1 Peter 1:13-16
“Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves.” – 1 Peter 1:13
That’s right Allen Iverson, we talkin bout practice. For the last 6 months, the Steelers and Packers have spent 6 days a week preparing to play, and 1 day a week playing. This week is no different. Film study. Conditioning. Drills. Walk-throughs. Why? So their bodies and minds are prepared for action. If they were to spend an entire week playing video games and eating Cheetos, they would not be ready to play on Sunday. But they’d probably be ready for a video game tournament.
Anything we do well, we do because we disciplined ourselves to practice it. Whether it’s athletics, music, baking, or preaching, we need to practice if we want to be prepared to excel at something. And practice takes a lot of discipline.
It’s the same way with the Christian faith. Being a disciple requires discipline – that shouldn’t be any surprise since they come from the same root word. If we want follow Christ, we must discipline ourselves to daily practices that help shape us in the way of Christ. We must be disciplined in how we use our time, how we manage our finances, and how we relate with others.
If we do not discipline ourselves to regular spiritual practices – prayer, study of scripture, worship, communion, meditation, and others – then we cannot expect to be prepared to encounter God on Sunday. If we do not prepare, then we will not be ready for the things God has called us to in this life and the next.
Some translations of 1 Peter 1:13 read, “Gird up the loins of your mind.” That’s some pretty strong language of preparation. Get ready! Discipline yourself to prepare so that when Christ calls you, you are ready to respond!
“Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves.” – 1 Peter 1:13
That’s right Allen Iverson, we talkin bout practice. For the last 6 months, the Steelers and Packers have spent 6 days a week preparing to play, and 1 day a week playing. This week is no different. Film study. Conditioning. Drills. Walk-throughs. Why? So their bodies and minds are prepared for action. If they were to spend an entire week playing video games and eating Cheetos, they would not be ready to play on Sunday. But they’d probably be ready for a video game tournament.
Anything we do well, we do because we disciplined ourselves to practice it. Whether it’s athletics, music, baking, or preaching, we need to practice if we want to be prepared to excel at something. And practice takes a lot of discipline.
It’s the same way with the Christian faith. Being a disciple requires discipline – that shouldn’t be any surprise since they come from the same root word. If we want follow Christ, we must discipline ourselves to daily practices that help shape us in the way of Christ. We must be disciplined in how we use our time, how we manage our finances, and how we relate with others.
If we do not discipline ourselves to regular spiritual practices – prayer, study of scripture, worship, communion, meditation, and others – then we cannot expect to be prepared to encounter God on Sunday. If we do not prepare, then we will not be ready for the things God has called us to in this life and the next.
Some translations of 1 Peter 1:13 read, “Gird up the loins of your mind.” That’s some pretty strong language of preparation. Get ready! Discipline yourself to prepare so that when Christ calls you, you are ready to respond!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
SB XLV Devotion 3: Tradition
Read Joshua 24:1-28
“…but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” – Josh. 24:15
Beginning at my birth, my parents formed me in a great tradition. They taught me the old stories, sang the old songs to me, and when it was time for me to claim membership in the tradition for myself at age 14, I was handed the one thing every Steelers fan needs: a Terrible Towel.
That’s how we raise ‘em in Western PA. You’re born into a tradition that dates back to 1933, one that includes stories of struggle, pain, and loss as well as stories of triumph and great joy. An Immaculate Reception signaled the beginning of a new era, a sign that despite all the miserable history of the first 39 years, God still cares about the Steelers.
Meet anyone who grew up in Pittsburgh, and chances are they own a Terrible Towel, wear a jersey on game day, and know every last word to the Pittsburgh Steelers Polka. We not only teach our young ones about the Steelers tradition, but we allow that family tradition to shape them as well. By the time they are adults, they will be able to practice their fandom anywhere, as the Steeler Nation is connectional in nature – Steeler bars exist in all 50 states and many foreign countries.
What if we had the same fervor for passing on the Christian tradition? My parents did. Sure, you couldn’t “skip” watching the Steelers games in my house, but you couldn’t skip church either. By the time I was a teenager, I could sing many hymns by heart, just as I could with the Steelers Polka. And just as I was taught to follow the Steelers year-round with daily reading of the newspaper, I was taught to study scripture with even greater devotion.
I don’t mean to say that we should indoctrinate our children, with football rooting interests or religion. But we do have a responsibility in Christian communities to collectively form children in the Christian tradition. We’ve been given a great gift from our ancestors, which we now pass on to those in the community who will follow. That promise is one we make in the sacrament of baptism – that the child will be taught the Christian faith until he or she is old enough to make their own decision. And if they choose to be a 49ers fan or a Buddhist, then so be it, even if it disappoints us that they did not choose the tradition we handed down.
The same hospital in which I was born now drapes a Terrible Towel over every newborn baby. Are we draping our little ones in Christ as well? Are we singing them the songs, teaching them the stories, and encouraging them to develop a passion for following Jesus Christ? Handing down a tradition and encouraging a passion for anything in life takes a lot of work. But it is what we are called to do, both as Steelers fans and Christians.
“…but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” – Josh. 24:15
Beginning at my birth, my parents formed me in a great tradition. They taught me the old stories, sang the old songs to me, and when it was time for me to claim membership in the tradition for myself at age 14, I was handed the one thing every Steelers fan needs: a Terrible Towel.
That’s how we raise ‘em in Western PA. You’re born into a tradition that dates back to 1933, one that includes stories of struggle, pain, and loss as well as stories of triumph and great joy. An Immaculate Reception signaled the beginning of a new era, a sign that despite all the miserable history of the first 39 years, God still cares about the Steelers.
Meet anyone who grew up in Pittsburgh, and chances are they own a Terrible Towel, wear a jersey on game day, and know every last word to the Pittsburgh Steelers Polka. We not only teach our young ones about the Steelers tradition, but we allow that family tradition to shape them as well. By the time they are adults, they will be able to practice their fandom anywhere, as the Steeler Nation is connectional in nature – Steeler bars exist in all 50 states and many foreign countries.
What if we had the same fervor for passing on the Christian tradition? My parents did. Sure, you couldn’t “skip” watching the Steelers games in my house, but you couldn’t skip church either. By the time I was a teenager, I could sing many hymns by heart, just as I could with the Steelers Polka. And just as I was taught to follow the Steelers year-round with daily reading of the newspaper, I was taught to study scripture with even greater devotion.
I don’t mean to say that we should indoctrinate our children, with football rooting interests or religion. But we do have a responsibility in Christian communities to collectively form children in the Christian tradition. We’ve been given a great gift from our ancestors, which we now pass on to those in the community who will follow. That promise is one we make in the sacrament of baptism – that the child will be taught the Christian faith until he or she is old enough to make their own decision. And if they choose to be a 49ers fan or a Buddhist, then so be it, even if it disappoints us that they did not choose the tradition we handed down.
The same hospital in which I was born now drapes a Terrible Towel over every newborn baby. Are we draping our little ones in Christ as well? Are we singing them the songs, teaching them the stories, and encouraging them to develop a passion for following Jesus Christ? Handing down a tradition and encouraging a passion for anything in life takes a lot of work. But it is what we are called to do, both as Steelers fans and Christians.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
SB XLV Devotion 2: Media Day
Read Mark 7:24-37
“He entered a house and did not want anyone to notice he was there.” – Mark 7:24
The zoo-like atmosphere of media day is a product of our obsession with celebrity. Most of the year, football press conferences go largely unnoticed by non-sports media. But on Super Bowl Media Day, journalists and television clowns of all types show up to get precious sound bites from players and coaches. All to feed the public’s desire to “know” and even worship celebrities.
Many of the players will be prepared to answer questions in a particular way. Everything they say and do today will be for the purpose of shaping public perception of themselves. Usually, we are able to tell whether someone is being genuine, or if they’re trying to hard to be well-liked.
What are our motivations for following Christ? Is it because we want to be viewed as “good Christian folk”? Is it to attract the attention of television cameras and newspaper reporters? Or do we follow the example of Jesus, who engaged in ministry for a much greater reason?
In these two healing accounts, Jesus tried to keep news of his ministry on the DL. He was not in ministry for the attention. He was not worried about the public perception of what he was doing. Instead, he concerned himself with meeting the needs of hurting people. He tried to escape media attention, but word got out anyway. And that’s how people knew he was different from the street magicians of the day, who performed healings for their entertainment value. This man named Jesus didn’t want attention, but the things he was doing were so great that despite his best efforts, people took notice.
Are we seeking to entertain? Are we in ministry to be noticed at a public press conference? Or are we doing God’s work in privacy, caring not whether we attract any attention at all? When the lights are off and the cameras are pointed at someone else, what are we doing that will make a true difference in this world?
“He entered a house and did not want anyone to notice he was there.” – Mark 7:24
The zoo-like atmosphere of media day is a product of our obsession with celebrity. Most of the year, football press conferences go largely unnoticed by non-sports media. But on Super Bowl Media Day, journalists and television clowns of all types show up to get precious sound bites from players and coaches. All to feed the public’s desire to “know” and even worship celebrities.
Many of the players will be prepared to answer questions in a particular way. Everything they say and do today will be for the purpose of shaping public perception of themselves. Usually, we are able to tell whether someone is being genuine, or if they’re trying to hard to be well-liked.
What are our motivations for following Christ? Is it because we want to be viewed as “good Christian folk”? Is it to attract the attention of television cameras and newspaper reporters? Or do we follow the example of Jesus, who engaged in ministry for a much greater reason?
In these two healing accounts, Jesus tried to keep news of his ministry on the DL. He was not in ministry for the attention. He was not worried about the public perception of what he was doing. Instead, he concerned himself with meeting the needs of hurting people. He tried to escape media attention, but word got out anyway. And that’s how people knew he was different from the street magicians of the day, who performed healings for their entertainment value. This man named Jesus didn’t want attention, but the things he was doing were so great that despite his best efforts, people took notice.
Are we seeking to entertain? Are we in ministry to be noticed at a public press conference? Or are we doing God’s work in privacy, caring not whether we attract any attention at all? When the lights are off and the cameras are pointed at someone else, what are we doing that will make a true difference in this world?
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