HDTV & HDXTY (HD Christianity)

This past fall, my wife (Debbie) and I became empty nesters. We have three children, all of which are living outside of our home. Two are in college and one is recently graduated. Our children negotiated with Debbie (or Debbie negotiated with them), and the children ended up taking all of our television sets, living room and their bedroom furniture. Wow! What a setback to our pitiful home furnishings, but we love them to death and are helping them live independently.

We have put off buying a new television for years, surmising that there is not much worth watching on television anyway. However, in our newfound living conditions, we broke down and bought a new TV (plasma screen HD – high definition). The brilliant colors and the clarity of picture are amazing. It is incredible to watch a football game and see the blades of grass, the sweat on player’s faces, and actually be able to keep up with the ball during a televised tennis match. Just watching TV is amazing! Things that were previously not visible are now jumping off the screen at us.

It is time for churches to offer HD (high definition) faith in Christ. We need to give better clarification of the details of Jesus’ life and how that translates into Christlike living during this day and time. God gave us the highest HD vision we could get by taking flesh, becoming Emmanuel, God with us – clearly showing the Godlife available to all humanity. The writer of Hebrews puts it like this in 1:1-3a:
“Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son,* whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains* all things by his powerful word…”

Many people today can only describe their faith by stating what they do not believe in, what they are against, and who the “bad” people are. It is time for us to grow up, to mature, and to literally grow into the full maturity of Christ. Paul puts it this way in Ephesians 4:13 when describing the desired outcome of using God’s spiritual gifts to us:
“until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.”

When we describe our faith clearly, being highly defined (HD), then others are quietly challenged to become more clearly defined in what they believe. This is a great method of nonmanipulative evangelism. Enabling and challenging other(s) to define themselves is inviting and makes space for them to define their faith and beliefs in their own terms (usually different than what we would have imagined). Only when we clearly define ourselves can we engage in constructive conversation without becoming defensive.
Is your faith HD? Try it out! Others may find your clarity something truly beautiful, something worth taking the time to admire, observe and thereby seek higher definition for themselves. Only Christ offers the Highest Definition available!
Merry Christmas,
Dr. Fitzgerald

The Butterfly Effect

Here is a copy from our home page related to my sermon today, The Butterfly Effect. The essence of my sermon was that one small act of faith, one simple and simplistic movement in tandem with God's word and will has cosmic consequences. Here is a copy of the info from the FBC, New Bern home page:
Click here for link to better understanding of how matter works on the quantum level of electrons. Click here to view a demonstration of how prayer/focused concentration on a single drop of water can literally change the structure of that drop of water. Biblical connection? Click here to listen to a video describing Chaos Theory that illustrates the sensitivity and unpredictability of our weather systems, and how a simple small act, even by that of a butterfly flapping its wings, can have major consequences in another part of the world some time later. Click here for a great short demonstration of the inability of science to figure it all out.
Be honest, let me know what you think about all of this!

Panic Attacks

It is amazing how many folks are having panic attacks these days. I never even knew what a panic attack was until the mid 1990’s when one of my family members experienced this. We rushed to the hospital sure that one was experiencing a heart attack. Heart was racing. Chest and arm was hurting. Mouth was dry and face taught! This sure looked like a possible heart attack to me and the one experiencing this. This was accompanied by nausea and an upset stomach. Simply put, this is a horrible experience, but one that has more and more people becoming familiar with in this day and time.
Why? I am not a medical doctor, so I will not attempt to explain why good people of post adolescent age are experiencing these attacks in ever increasing numbers. What I do know is that these experiences are debilitating. I even know of one person who had three of these in one day. I know that some people will not ride across bridges because they know they will have a panic attack, and some will not even go out to eat in a public restaurant because they may experience one. I do not want to confuse this with agoraphobia, which I also know someone who suffers from this (and she cannot drive outside a fifteen mile radius of her home).
God seeks to heal us through both faith and science. God uses medical doctors, medicine and technology, as well as faith and prayer to deliver us from the land of slavery, the house of bondage. The word, “panic,” as used in the Bible (NRSV), is only found in the Old Testament. The first context of panic describes God’s infliction of panic upon the Egyptian army as they pursue Moses and the Israelites who are leaving Egypt. In all of the Old Testament contexts panic is used as a tool of God against unbelievers, even against the Israelites themselves when they turned away from God to pursue worthless idols. Panic is not God’s intention for humanity. Peace is! But how attuned are we to God today? Do we spend as much time in relationship with God as we do the secular news and concerns?
Our country suffered a sort of panic attack on 9/11/01. Wall Street experienced many days of panic during October 2008. Review the downward panic drops of the Dow Jones Industrial Average during the month of October. Consider how the media reacted to the Senate’s rejection of the first bailout bill – panic from the newsroom into your living room!
November is a time for us to focus on Thanksgiving. Spend time daily giving thanks to God for all that God has done, and all that God has promised! As God’s children, let us not be like the unbelievers who panic based on who wins this election, or what happens to Wall Street, or the banking industry, or the price of gas. Let us be the children of God we are called to be and relax because we know who we are and whose we are and who is in control of our lives. God has covered our past, taken care of our future, and seeks to fill us with his Presence in the present. Stay focused on the Good News and let that dictate your peace, not the nightly news!
In Christ,
Dr. Fitzgerald

At Home Anywhere

Matthew 8:24, "A wind storm (literally a great earthquake) arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he [Jesus] was asleep."
The sea in the Bible was symbolic of chaos. So this story, which in some variation is also in Mark and Luke's gospels, indicates that waves of chaos were threatening the disciples. We can surely resonate with them today. Undoubtedly we feel as if our country, and the global economy, has experienced a great earthquake of seismic proportion. After shocks continue (waves continue to slap the sides of our boats/homes and destabilize our comfortable journey from one place to another).
Jesus, the Son of God who has no where to lay his head, is strangely able to sleep in the midst of certain terror and calamity. His actions relate to faith in all three gospel accounts of this story. Our God, Christ, is at home everywhere! He needs no earthly security to enable him to "feel" safe and "secure." We must cling to Him and to his faith during all times, but especially at a time like this. Some of our neighbors, friends and acquaintances are going to lose their "stuff." Stuff is not just the value of their savings and investments, but also their jobs and ability to feel productive and of value to others. We must recognize that Christ is in this boat with us! Christ enables us and challenges us to have great faith when great earthquakes hit us hard.
We will survive this. This can deepen our faith. We may need to wake up and realize that all of us have too much "stuff," and need to jettison some of it overboard as the sailors did in the story of Jonah when they were threatened by the storm at sea due to Jonah's disobedience. There is much corruption in corporate America, in government, and in humanity (you and me). We need to take responsibility for our part in this crisis and grow in faith and share the faith with those who will be, and are, looking for someone to awaken and save them. Christ is here! Christ is Savior! Call him! He'll be there for us in ways that will deepen our connection to God in ways that move us onto right paths, for his name sake.
Amen

Somebody Cares!

I watched the lady leave the K-Mart parking lot with several hot meals in her front passenger seat. As I directed her around the corner and out of the parking lot, she threw her hands up in the air and emphatically proclaimed, "Somebody cares!!!"
I wondered what kind of frustrations she had already encountered in the immediate first 14 days since Hurricane Ike had ravaged her home and community. Who had she sought help from and found only frustration? Ours was only a meal. Our gift was only a warm offering to carry her through the immediate present to the next day. However, surviving one day because "someone cares" can be enough to get one past deep and destructive thoughts and behaviors when one thinks that "no one cares."
We care because God cares. What a great opportunity it was for our team to serve and average of 38,000 meals per day in Baytown, Texas. We did not ask people any questions about their morals, ethics, faith backgrounds or political beliefs. They were hungry, physically for sure; some mentally and spiritually. We offered to feed all three of these through our work with feeding teams, chaplains and Red Cross helpers, including mental health professionals.
It was great to see First Baptist Church, Baytown, Texas, Red Cross and NC Baptist Disaster Relief all work together so well! As the pastor of First Church, Baytown illustrated it on upcoming t-shirts, we are three cords of love and care woven together to help neighbor!
Three strands, God who is above and sees all, Son who is with us and comes to us as friend and Redeemer, and Holy Spirit who is inside us to guide us onto right paths for His name sake (paths of peace, hope, grace and mercy).
The lady got it right, "Someone cares!" God cares and we care as God's disciples!

Nothing Lasts Forever?

Gen. 6:3; John 17:20-21

Lord, you have created this world according to seasons and cycles. Change is a part of that system of seasons and cycles. As the popular cliché goes, “Nothing lasts forever.” Is it good or bad that nothing lasts forever? Is it even true?
Surely there are many times in my life when I have been so graced by your presence and love that it has permeated all creation and relationships around me. I feel that even now as I sit on my deck having eaten a hearty breakfast followed by a great Quiet Time with you while my black lab, Mamie, sis at my feet. I encounter your presence and love through the sights and sounds of birds, dogs, trees creaking and leaves shuffling in the 65 degree morning breeze. Home builders work nearby in the neighborhood hammering and cutting as they repair and improve homes filled with life and imagination. Planes maneuver overhead as I breathe in your presence and love. I sip my Kona coffee flavored with Splenda and Caramel Vanilla creamer. The leaves dance and sway again with the passing of your Spirit, wind, breath. Surely I wish this feeling and this moment could last forever, but that would be narrow-minded and selfish!
I leave tomorrow for Baytown, Texas where I will serve in disaster relief helping prepare between 70,000 – 80,000 meals per day for folks who lost all material possessions in Hurricane Ike. I know of many others who live in acute or chronic pain and they pray for this time, moment, season or cycle of life to pass quickly! To freeze any moment of time would inevitably lock someone, somewhere in the world, in a circumstance and condition of permanent horror, pain and despair (especially some in developing nations)! I do not pray for time to stand still!
In Genesis 6:3 you clarified, after humanity sinned and became one with good and evil, that your Spirit would not dwell with humanity forever. We are sinful and broken. We suffer and cause suffering for creation, neighbor and self. In your divine mercy you set limits, seasons and cycles to govern life in time, space and matter on earth. Thank you, Lord, for you know what is right and best. I do not! We do not!
Jesus reveals your true and deepest desire for humanity in John 17:20-21 as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane for his apostles and those who would come to know him through their word,
“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may know that your have sent me.”
Lord, your desire is for humanity to be one with you, as Christ is one with you; perfect communion between you and us in body, mind and spirit. This is why we cannot remain in broken flesh forever. Broken flesh must be put aside in order to put on immortality and become one with utter and complete holiness. Here we know in part, speak and preach in part, but when the complete comes the partial will come to an end (1 Cor. 13:9-10). Sin will be destroyed. Praise be to You, O Lord of love, grace and mercy. Jesus said,
“I will come again and take you to myself so that where I am, you may be also.” (John 14:3)
Lord, may your Word last forever. May your love in creation and the church last forever (1 Cor. 13:8a) through Christ,
Amen!

What's in a tear?

The Gift of a Tear
Eph. 4:11-13

Last week I visited with a wonderful man whose heart was failing. He has a beautiful family and his wife had requested my visits and prayers over the past month after meeting them in the hospital where I work once per month as a volunteer chaplain. I received a call from his wife that he was dying about 10 am one morning. I traveled to the nursing home where he resided and where he kept himself cheered up as the self-appointed “door greeter.” I had prayer with him and his family, always presuming that he could hear me, even though he was unresponsive. I left about 10:30 am.
I went back after lunch to see if he was still alive. I asked the nurse at the main nursing station (who was as sweet and compassionate as she could be) and she indicated that there was really no change. I opened the door to find the number of family and friends had grown. I indicated that I had spoken to the nurse and that she had told me that there was not much change. His wife indicated that his breathing had become much less labored. I spoke to him. I watched him take two short breaths and then I said that there was a long pause between breaths. He took no more. As he died a tear ran down out of his right eye onto his cheek where his wife collected that tear with her finger and placed it on her tongue. She then began to weep.
I met with the family two days later to plan the funeral. One final question I posed to them was this, “What did that tear mean to you?” Immediately one said, “That my daddy is no longer in pain.” (He had been battling heart attacks and mini-strokes for about twelve years). Another said, “That he didn’t want to leave us! I know how much he loved us all!” Then I asked his wife. She proceeded to get up and go to the refrigerator where she removed a small postcard sized poem written around a tear. The poem was given to her and her husband by the friend/lady who had introduced them to each other (for both a second marriage). The essence of the poem was a prayer that their union would be so complete and that when one cried the other could taste the salt. Wow! The wife said, as soon as I saw that tear I knew that I had to taste the salt!” There’s was a wonderful marriage of unbelievable communion and love, in spite of the health battles.
God brought his presence through the gift of that tear to each of us differently. To me, it was a tear of joy when he saw the kingdom of heaven open up before him – sheer ecstasy. That was God’s love and presence to me. To another it was God’s gift of love through a word of freedom from pain; to another it was God’s gift of love through a parting farewell, as tough as it may be to physically part until they meet again. Each interpretation was valid and each brought the love of God, the gift of God, the “building up” of the body of Christ.
I think of Michael Phelps, who just won eight gold medals swimming at the summer Olympics in Beijing. In particular, the IM (individual medley). It was nothing compared to this tear: this tear did the backstroke from heaven, releasing its grip from its Creator, dropping into the canal that would lead to a breast stroke to the exit of a tear duct in a dying eye, where it did the freestyle down the cheek of a father, brother, husband of love. Then it finished with the fly, the butterfly stroke, where it went through a metamorphosis of meaning to each gathered in that room. God’s love poured out in an event that Olympic Games and television just cannot capture. I’m glad I was there. I hope I have taken you there. God has an event that you are invited to today. Pay close attention to the IM’s that God participates in every day to build us up into the body of Christ. We are meant for relationship with God and other. What a blessing of love.
Dr. Fitz

How not to turn over in a narrow sea kayak...

This afternoon & evening I went on a short kayak trip with my youngest daughter. She paddled the sit-on-top the first half of the trip. Then I asked her if she would like to paddle my 17 ft. narrow sea kayak. I warned her that it was easy to turn over, but that it also is easier to paddle and much faster than the wide plastic sit-on-top one. Here's how you keep from turning over, "Don't lean too far to the right or left!"
The same is true for walking steady with Christ. When we begin to lean too far to the extreme edges of our faith, or culture, then we begin to be defined by issues rather than relationships. Focusing on our call to be a relational blessing to God and neighbor keeps us upright as we journey through the seas (chaos) of life. I have learned how to balance my kayak better through practice -- paddling it for 3 to 5 hours at a time on many outings. I find that steady consistent strokes make the journey more enjoyable. I have also learned to take my nifty little 12 ounce parachute nylon hammock that I can quickly string up between two trees and take a brief rest at the midpoint of a long day of paddling. So too must I do in long days of service to church and community. I can just get tired out listening, learning and trying to link in ways that lift others into God's love, grace and mercy. I need a bit of a rest every once in a while. Steady consistent witnessing make the journey more enjoyable.
How's your journey going? Turned over lately and felt all washed up? Get back in the boat and practice with patience. Remember to take rest breaks and talk to God, pray to God, read God's word, before heading back into the deep water!
Happy kayaking!

Praising God...

Wow! I'm in a state of bliss as my wife got word today that a course she took about 30 years ago (now I'm giving her age away) counted toward her last requirement for lateral entry into the teaching position at New Bern High School. That save us from losing her benefits (& our health insurance) for two months, not to mention that she would have gone to substitute pay for two months and had to pay $825 to take a six week online course.
God is faithful all the time. God would have been faithful no matter how this turned out and I praise God for the peace that comes from walking with Him through life. His beauty is what I seek to behold in all the ordinary experience of daily living. I surely do not deserve the blessings that I have received, the great love of God, of my wife, my children and an awesome church and church staff. Are you so blessed?
Steve

Peace

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." (John 14:27 NRSV)
I have had an incredible peace since late last week when I discovered the news about my wife, Debbie's, job. She did go find out that the worst scenario is that she must take one more course that is six weeks and doesn't end until mid September. She would be changed to substitute status, pay dropped substantially, and would lose benefits for that period of time. Our whole family is covered under her health insurance.
She has a number of advocates working for her to keep this from happening, but no matter what happens, God will carry us through this (even with one child moving and just starting college and the other returning for a second year, but in apartment living). God is good! God is great! Let us thank God for God's grace! Ultimate matters are not at risk here, only temporary setbacks and challenges.
How has God delivered you from times such as these?
Dr. Fitz

WYA2TM

Gen. 28:15 was God's word to me this morning. Jacob has a dream where he sees a ladder between heaven and earth with the angels of God ascending and descending upon it. God stands beside him and says that He will bless Jacob with offspring that will populate the earth and be a blessing to the entire earth. He then says in v. 15, "Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

Wow, I was so tired yesterday, and God had to remind me again what He said to me when He was calling me into ministry back in 1991. I sat in my car outside Ruby Tuesday's with one remaining week of employment as summer youth minister in Chesapeake, VA. I had no job lined up in Richmond, VA where I was called by God to attend seminary and no way to pay for seminary. You might say, "that was just poor planning!" and you would be right. But as I left Ruby Tuesday's, my parking brake was engaged and broken. I was late leaving the restaurant and was not sure how to find the seminary campus. I finally figured out how to disengage the parking brake and it hit me in the thumb causing me to think with expletives. I leaned forward, looked through the front windshield heavenward and cried out loud to God, "God, do you know who I am? Do you remember me?" I then inserted the key into the ignition and cranked the car. The radio came on and these words from the radio, "Goodbye Ruby Tuesday!" I immediately heard clearly in my heart and mind God say to me, "I know who you are and where you are! Trust me!" I began to cry! I received a new calling from a church in Richmond within the next couple of weeks and I received grants to cover all of my seminary expenses.

God has continued to remind me of this promise through the years since 1991. I wish I did not have to be reminded, but each crisis in life takes me back to the beginning, to the foundation of my calling and my life. I have a God, we have a God, who wants us to know that "God knows who we are and where we are. We are to trust God absolutely and completely!" (WYA2TM) As I sit here today, at this minute I do not know how things will turn out for my wife's career, or for our finances. We cannot live without this income and she may be done, according to someone at the school board yesterday. I place my faith in God. I'll let you know how this turns out. I have turned it over to God!! No matter what happens, God will be with me/us to complete the good work that He began. Phlipp. 1:6, "I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ."

Dr. Fitzgerald

I'm tired...

That is what I hear from some individuals in the hospital when they have just had all they can take. Sometimes, after extending their lives far beyond what their length of life would have been, they just say, "Enough! I'm tired!"

This week has been tiring for me! Our three ministers, Richard, Barry and Sharon are out of town and our administrative secretary was out Monday, and Friday is her last day with us. We have received close to 100 resumes that I have to sort through, teach Wednesday morning and night, prepare a sermon for Sunday, visit the ill and infirmed, and be spunky for my family when at home (my wife found out that she is one course short of required course load to stay a teacher in NC public education system & there is no course offered between now and deadline -- meaning she has one more paycheck!). I'm tired right now. Does this sound like whining? Perhaps! Sometimes we pastors need prayer too! I encourage you to pray for Richard, Sharon, Barry and me, as well as our support staff here at First Baptist.

I am most blessed to have this awesome calling and to be surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses and faithful, obedient servants. I pray for you! Here's a picture of some of our group while in Germany. Some of them have not been able to sleep more than a couple of hours each night, and they have been there for four nights now!

Steve

Ten Flaws of Legalism

I mentioned in my sermon yesterday that legalism was the cause of making the people of Israel feel harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Here are ten flaws related to a legalistic approach to the Christian faith and Bible:
(1) New laws continually need to be invented for new situations. (2) Accountability to God is replaced by accountability to men. (3) It reduces a person's ability to personally discern. (4) It creates a judgmental spirit. (5) The Pharisees confused personal preferences with divine law. (6) It produces inconsistencies. (7) It created a false standard of righteousness. (8) It became a burden to the Jews. (9) It was strictly external. (10) It was rejected by Christ. Outlined from Fan The Flame, J. Stowell, Moody, 1986, p. 52.
I would challenge each of us not to fall into the legalism trap. At times we can do that if rules become more important than relationships, if we live on tradition rather than out of tradition. Legalism is a major factor for the lack of church involvement from young folks who seek spiritual guidance today. Too many on the outside seeus as hard, cold, fixed and closed-minded. That is not true of all of us, but is true for some of us. It is time for us to repent and not let the legalists ruin the Chritian faith or church. We must remain steadfast in our absolute commitment to love of God and love of neighbor.
Dr. Fitzgerald

Softening the harsh impact

Jesus came to absorb the harsh impact of a sinful and broken world on us. He took the burden of our sin, and its painful consequences, in order to bring us into communion with God, God's love, grace and salvation in body, mind and soul. We are to follow Christ in word and deed. How do you soften the impact of others as they journey through this harsh world, those close to you and those you don't even know? Click here to link to one web-story of Robert Cook (far left in picture), who harnessed himself to a first time jumper in order to soften her impact through the use of his body as he realized their plane was crashing. What Scriptures come to your mind as you consider this awesome story and act of personal self-sacrifice?

Bicentennial Kick-off

We had a great start to our Bicentennial kick-off. Dr. Roy Smith (his wonderful wife, Charlotte Cook Smith was here with him) preached and gave us a wonderful historical message with the utmost contemporary relevance. He spoke of the heritage of our church with regard to pursuing religious freedom, the desire for an educated clergy and congregation, and the desire to participate in local and global missions. These have all been sustaining goals of First Baptist New Bern throughout the years. It is no less evident today with four full-time ministers, all of which are par-excellence. As senior pastor, I consider it the greatest blessing to serve with three godly men and women who are second to none in our country, Richard, Sharon and Barry. All of us are committed to religious freedom, theological depth and the sharing of the Good News of the Gospel with a hurting and hungry world.

As we wind our way through the coming year with multiple events, ask yourself how you promote religious freedom for all people. Ask yourself how committed you are to growing in theological depth. Ask yourself how you are participating in the mandate Christ gave us all to share the Good News of Jesus' saving love and grace with the entire world around us. This is not just a time to celebrate the past, but to live out of the rich tradition that a great cloud of witnesses left for us to carry on and enhance.

God be with you as you respond to the great task set before you by Jesus and His church.

Dr. Fitz

My cup runneth over?

Ps. 23:5; Acts 6:3,5,8; 7:55-60

Lord, it is only when we are "full" that our lives can be totally transformed. When I invite you into my mind, body and spirit each morning I do so with the faith that Your Word and Love will fill me to the point that my thoughts, worries and concerns and even worldly desires will be lifted higher and higher into your presence until finally they spill out of my cognition. This only happens when they are replaced by your glory, your presence, your agape/unconditional love for me.

This is clearly possible, surely desirable, and greatly beneficial, not just to me, but to those who will be around me during the course of a day (my wife can tell you if I've had my Quiet Time with God or not by my disposition during the day). As your glory fills my mind, body and spirit, I have your glory to share with all the world around me, primarily by my mere presence, surely by my actions, and occasionally with my words which have been bathed in the glory of Your Word. As Stephen discovered, your glory spilling out of our lives will either bless those around us or horrify them. This depends on their relationship with you.

Consider the image of the new Kohler overflowing bathtub. This is a new item that you can have in your luxurious bathroom. The cost of one of these begins around $6,000 to $10,000. They sure are beautiful, but I guarantee this overflowing tub will not give you the results that you can get from inviting God into your life each morning and allowing God's loving Spirit and Word to fill you completely up, even until your own agendas spill out and are replaced with God's glory!

Steve

Desperation!

I was awakened this morning at 6:30 a.m. by a collect call. The person on the other end of the phone was desperate. He mentioned the fact that Rev. Barry Templeton introduced him to me a few weeks ago when he visited our church. He had now been through West Virginia with his wife and children for a family funeral when his car broke down (likely story, but I just got through spending close to $5,000 on car repairs in the past few months, so I know it can happen with a used car).
He indicated that he was stuck in a tiny little town, Roseville, WV where a man, Mr. White, repaired his car. He needed less than $100 for repair fees that were over and beyond what had been estimated and Mr. White wouldn't accept payment by credit or debit cards (little mom & pop shop). This man, I'll call him the "traveler," indicated that from the beginning he and his family were called "colored people." Very soon thereafter, they were being called, "niggers." Finally, as he was trying to secure his car and get his family on the road he had supposedly been surrounded by 40 to 50 people calling them the "n" word and he had called the sheriff's department for protection. I supposedly talked to a sheriff this morning and wired the man $90 (cost me a bit more). The story gets a bit more bizarre, but here's my reflection and question:
Legitimate or not, the traveler sounded sober and desperate. I have only heard that kind of desperation a few times. He sure sold me (or scammed me). Whether or not it was 100% legitimate I don't know, but I know he was desperate for money for something.
Question: Should I have helped this man, that I don't know?
Does it matter what his desperation was, or just that he was INCREDIBLY desperate to call and go through what he went through trying to get less than $100 for assistance?
What is the most desperate you have ever been?
Desperation for what? Money? Housing? Grades? Job? Love? Friendship?
Could there be any greater desperation than that shared by my two acquaintances who were unbelievers, died, and then had hell-like experiences with pain beyond belief & they cried out to God -- and God rescued them, delivered them, answered their prayers. Could I have done otherwise? What do you think?

In the Father's Hands...

A friend of mine, Janet Hauser, is an artist and poet. Recently she had a friend who gave birth to a new little girl. The friend had a picture of her father (grandfather of the newborn) holding her new baby. She discussed with Janet the possibility of painting her newborn, but could not decide on an appropriate pose. Within the past few months the grandfather developed colon cancer and Janet decided to surprise paint the baby in her grandfather's hands -- the hands of love, protection, nurture and promise. Consider these hands and how we are graciously caressed by the hands of God, our heavenly Father. What words come to mind in the best of nourishment that you received from your parents or grandparents? How has God shown to you true love, protection, nurture and promise?

Vindictiveness

How sad it is when little children demand that they get their way, or else!!! Such has been the actions of the new fundamentalist regime in leadership of our Baptist State Convention here in North Carolina. When the WMU of NC (Women's Missionary Union of North Carolina) decided NOT to allow the new regime to change the rules and decide who the WMU could or could not hire, they kicked them out of their building. Now the regime at the convention level has told Ruby Fulbright, Executive Director of WMU of NC, that they will not publish on the State Convention website any mention of WMU NC, in spite of the fact that national WMU has a standing relationship with the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board to be THE supplier of missions information regarding Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong offerings. How childish, manipulative and mean-spirited, just because they could not change the rules and manipulate the women with their size and manhood.

Easter season gives us reason to move beyond fear and to define ourselves as above the silly childish games of our youth. "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways." (1 Cor. 13:11). Evidently, some enjoy childish behavior, speech and actions. However, for others it became time to grow up and be concerned with the health and wholeness of a lost world rather than being consumed with self and ego.

Pray for the WMU of NC and efforts to stay on track as being a missions agency that educates and supports both national and global missions in the name of Jesus Christ -- for all Baptists in this North Carolina.

Prayer for Teddy Bear Ministry...

Here is a prayer from the leader of our Teddy Bear Ministry:
Teddy Bear Rocking Chair Ministry Prayer

Dear Lord and Savior,
Please hear our prayer when we ask you to consider our work with the Teddy Bear Ministry of the First Baptist Church and guide us in our endeavor to assist the Coastal Women’s Shelter.
We are desirous of following your teachings in a most humble manner and only seek to provide relief and calmness to young children who find themselves in a strange environment through no fault of their own.
We pray that our efforts will lift their spirits and alleviate some of the pain and suffering of their parent(s)
Assist us in creating a Teddy Bear rocking chair that will remain in their hearts and minds as a lasting symbol of love, understanding, hope and safety for them.
Allow the chair to become a haven of peace, tranquility, and harmony for these innocent children.
Let our efforts teach these innocents that there is a higher authority judging our thoughts, actions and deeds.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful, Lord to have this outreach of love last through many generations and alleviate pain, suffering and heartache for these children and their children’s children?
We ask all of this in your Son’s name, Jesus Christ.

Amen

More to what is?

Mary went to the tomb to cling to what was and discovered that there is more to what is. I find that my faith in God's presence in the midst of all ordinary experiences of daily life brings excitement and adventure to each and every day. In what ways have you discovered that there is more to an ordinary event that what appeared to be there at first (just on the surface)?

Bobby Swain funeral today...

Today I will conduct the funeral service for Bobby Swain. Bobby became schizophrenic during late adolescence. He was a brilliant and handsome young man. Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects more than 2 million American adults. Being diagnosed with this in the late 1960's was not an easy thing for his parents and family to live with, but they did so valiantly and courageously.
Sometimes the illness makes it hard for people to do certain things.
For example:
They may not be able to think clearly.
They may not know the difference between what is real and what is not real.
They may have trouble managing emotions.
They may have a hard time making decisions.
They may not relate well to other people.
What happens?
Here are some things that can happen in people with this disease:
They may hear or see things that are not there.
They may feel as if they are being watched.
They may experience a change in self-care or personal appearance.
They may experience a change in personality.
They may feel angry or fearful toward loved ones.
They may act in ways that are strange or out of place.
They may develop an extreme focus on religion or the occult.
No one knows the exact causes of schizophrenia. Experts have found that, like any other illness, some factors may increase the risk. These factors may be in a person's genes. Imbalances of certain chemicals in the brain are thought to lead to symptoms of the illness. Medicine plays a key role in balancing these chemicals.
In honor of Bobby Swain, and those who do not have the ability to focus their minds in a healthy way without the assistance of heavy medications, I challenge you to calm the noisy voices that compete for holy space in your mind and world. Maggie Ross says that, "the phantasmagorical [illsuionary/fake] world cannot bear silence, for silence reveals it for the delusion it is. It adores only what it can consume and lives for the adrenaline rush of power over people and things. It is this noisy world of delusion and lies that the humble Christ defeats by self-emptying silence." (Maggie Ross, Weavings, March/April 2008 Vol. XXIII, No. 2, pp. 18-19). Remember Bobby, honor God who reveals himself in the life of Christ and in Bobby, and spend more time in silence stilling the noisy voices of the world that lead us into consumption, arrogance and power plays. God's power is peace and prosperity that the world knows not!

Daily Reflections

As we concluded our Good Friday service today at West New Bern Presbyterian church, I was blessed by the seven clergy from local churches and their musicians, as well as their congregations that spent three hours in worship on such a beautiful day. It demonstrates how much some adore Christ. In an essay by Maggie Ross in the March/April Weavings, Ross points out that "we are what we adore" (pg. 14). Perhaps that is why Mary Magdalene was the first one to find an empty tomb on Easter morning -- she adored Jesus so much that she did not care what others thought about her devotion to him, even in his death!
Lord, what is it that I adore the most in life? My time, energy and check book reveals it!