"My Spiritual Journey"

Luke  10:  1-11, 16-20    

                                            July 8 , 2007

 Love and Grace has been the key words of my Spiritual Journey.

 

I'm an Eldest Child .  The Parable of the Loving Father [Prodical Son] reminds me of the first stage in my spiritual journey. In Junior High and High School I was a hard worker.  I walked straight, earned my pay, worked at righteousness. [My spiritual walk parallels Paul and Luther.]

 

Earning salvation failed to be satisfying, I tried to work harder at salvation, but life did not feel OK.  In frustration I hit a spiritual bottom, a dark night of the soul.  

 

I turned slowly to God alone!  Trusting only in Him for salvation.  Only God can give inner peace!  A key word for me is Trust. Relying on God  for forgiveness, direction, and life abundant.

 

The struggle between earning salvation and trusting God alone has been a blessing and a challenge my entire  life. Other key words are God's grace and mercy.  For I am still an Eldest Child who will try at times to earn my worth.  While deep in my heart I know that only God makes me worthy.

 

            TO TRUST AND GRACE I WOULD ADD THE WORD LOVE.

 

In College and Seminary I was taught that Love is the "oxygen" of God's Kingdom. [from Juan Carlos Ortis' book "Disciple".  Juan Carlos is a pastor serving in Argentina in the 1960's.  He read the Scriptures, believed them, acted on those Scriptures!!  It transformed his ministry and his community.]

 

We do not live long as Christians if LOVE is not present. Love must be shared and received between God, neighbor, self.  In the Gospels Jesus gives the two great commandments: Mark 12:29 - 31 (NRSV) ²⁹Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; ³⁰you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' ³¹The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." This triangle of love between God, each other, and ourselves is essential.

 

            In the late 1960's at Drew University Theological School [just after Newark riots]  many were Social Activists.  Our new Bishop James Thomas came to upstate New Jersey for dinner with the Iowa students.  He said, "First thing I want you to do when you are appointed to a church  is to Love the people.  The second thing you are to do in a parish is to love the people.  The third most important thing to do is to love the people."  (Today I am reminded of Jesus' commission to Peter at the end of John, "Do you love me more than these, then feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep".)  Love the People!  I have always remembered those words and ministered by them!

 

              Love is the oxygen of the Church. Love is reason for the Family of God.  Love [I Corinthians 13] prays for the best of God's Abundant life for each of us.  TRUST  - GRACE - LOVE

             

              I am Orthodox, Evangelical, and a Social Activist.  I am Orthodox theologically; Evangelical in my focus on the primacy of Scripture, discipleship & reaching the unchurched; Social Activist in my call to care for all people in the midst of their needs..

           

            THE MINISTRY OF THE LAITY is an area essential to my ministry style. In each church I have relied on Lay People as a crucial part of the ministry of the Church. As a student pastor and later a young pastor, I found that when a paid pastor does all the work, then the work of the Kingdom is limited.  Ministry shrinks as it is centered on the pastor and not on Discipleship and the abundant life in Jesus offered to all.

 

Faithful, committed, trained people are the heart of any quality ministry that is done in Iowa today.  Now in the 21st Century it is essential for the Kingdom of God to "come near" our communities.  Let us be alert to where God is at work and join him there.  The Iowa United Methodist Church [and our World Church] has moved in that direction, with it commitment - time - money.  Note the new larger districts and staff realignment.

 

             In my last two parishes - Columbus Junction/Columbus City and Clarinda - I found myself asking,   "What does an Ordained Elder in the Church do that others really cannot or won't do?"  I focused on those areas of ministry {Communion in various settings,  Administrative Leadership, Guiding people in discovering their spiritual gifts and ministries,  Mentoring new pastors, Healing Services,   Ecumenical - cooperation among the churches.}  Many wonderful ministries began as someone's "call" affirmed and supported by the church and community. 

 

            When we scatter out throughout greater Humboldt after our worship services, we are those 70 being sent out to extend the work of Jesus Christ. 

 

Trust in God, God's Mercy and Grace, God's Love, Lay Leadership

 

I would add to this list another essential for ministry, REACHING THE  UNCHURCHED - those not tied to a church, nor distantly related to a church but those who hunger and thirst to belong and find righteousness and abundant life.  The Harvest is indeed incredible with few laborers. I pray for Christ-centered laborers who will Invite  - BRING  friends, family, relatives, neighbors, co-workers, classmates to Church.  Pray for them. Invite them.  BRING them. Have them Sit beside you in church.  Then Include them in your Groups where you are spiritually fed. These Small Groups are where teaching\learning takes place!

            Scriptures today: Jesus sent out  the 70. We in Faith Parish send out  500 every Sunday to transform greater Humboldt!