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!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
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
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
Thursday, October 9, 2008
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
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
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
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!
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!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
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!
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!
Monday, August 18, 2008
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
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
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
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!
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!
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