A Life Changing Event

I am still overwhelmed with what took place at Ridge Church on July 12th! Never in my wildest dreams did I think that we would get the response that we got. Especially since many of us are on the verge of Ridge Church meal burn-out. July has to be the craziest month of the year with our 3rd of July party, the float in the parade on the 4th , the corn crib for the youth at the Jazz and Blues Festival, and then, of course, Vacation Bible School. Working in one more thing seemed not only overwhelming, but impossible.

Back in June, shortly after Tim Lukoshus headed up to Mayo’s to battle his cancer, one of his friends, Chris Bakker came by to ask for my help. He said that Tim’s friends wanted to do something to show their support, and to help Tim out. Chris asked about a pancake breakfast, and I suggested, why don’t we try a spaghetti dinner. Chris, Nicco and Nick took off running with the idea. They secured donations from Zuni’s House of Pizza in Dyer, The Olive Garden in both Lansing and Merrillville, as well as a huge donation from Giovanni’s right here in Munster. They lined up the football team to help, and friends and parents, and together, along with a number of people from Ridge Church, (especially Nancy Caddick, Beth Kitchell, Jack Conley and Chuck Horton) they did the impossible!

Our best estimate is that we feed about 1,400 people (an average fish fry has been around 250 people), and more than that we received donations so that the total amount raised for the Lukoshus family was close to $16,000.

Tim is home right now, and came by the church on Thursday. He looks great and is doing well. On August 20th, he will head back up to Mayo’s to have surgery on the 22nd. This is going to be a BIG surgery, so keep him in your prayers as they seek to remove all of the cancer from his knee. Following the surgery, Tim will go through an extensive period of rehabilitation.

While Tim was at the church, he visited with Julie Crary’s V.B.S. class. They had been praying for Tim every day and writing him notes. What a treat it was for the class to meet Tim, and for Tim to meet them.

To be honest with you — July 12th was a life changing event. Everyone who was involved witnessed firsthand a miracle and was changed by it. The Lukoshus family too, was changed by your love and generosity.

One of the Bible passages that came to mean a great deal to me following the death of my brother Stewart is Psalm 81:16: “With honey from the rock, I would satisfy you.” I came to understand that God does not cause the hard places in life, but that, if I am willing, I can experience, ‘honey” — good things — from those hard places. God did not give Tim cancer, but because we refused to let the rock crush us, we found “honey” in the midst of the rocks. When I came to see the “honey” that came out of Stewart’s life and death — I was a new being, and had a new and healthier perspective on life. After WE experienced that “honey” on July 12th, I know that Ridge Church will never be the same — and for that I give God thanks!

More Reading

I just finished a couple more books that I thought I would share with you.

The first was a novel much like The DaVinci Code. Steve Berry's The Alexandria Link is about the quest to find the lost library of Alexandria. The reason why it is so important to find the library is that it will prove that the basis of Judaism and Christianity is all wrong. The Jewish people never were settled in Palestine but in Saudi Arabia. It is a little far fetched, but it was an exciting past passed mystery nevertheless. I would highly recommend it Just don't see it as history.

The second book is very different. Malcom Galdwell's The Tipping Point. I had read this book a couple of years ago, and decided to read it again. It is an attempt to explain why certain things/events succeed and others do not. From Galwell's website he defines the book as:

It's a book about change. In particular, it's a book that presents a new way of understanding why change so often happens as quickly and as unexpectedly as it does. For example, why did crime drop so dramatically in New York City in the mid-1990's? How does a novel written by an unknown author end up as national bestseller? Why do teens smoke in greater and greater numbers, when every single person in the country knows that cigarettes kill? Why is word-of-mouth so powerful? What makes TV shows like Sesame Street so good at teaching kids how to read? I think the answer to all those questions is the same. It's that ideas and behavior and messages and products sometimes behave just like outbreaks of infectious disease. They are social epidemics. The Tipping Point is an examination of the social epidemics that surround us.

He does a great job explaining how and why things "tip". But the practical application becomes very difficult.

I think the one thing that I gleaned from this reading of the book relates to why new churches grow large and established churches have such a hard time changing. But that is a discussion for another day. Overall, I would suggest this book. If you do choose to read it, their is an excellent study guide on http://www.gladwell.com/.

Pay It Forward

Last Wednesday I had the privilege of attending the annual dinner of the Jim and Betty Dye foundation. This foundation is set up to award college scholarships to students who live in many of the communities of Northwest Indiana.

The James W. and Betty Dye Foundation was established to provide tuition scholarships for qualified high school graduates at selected high schools in Northwest Indiana. Jim and Betty Dye Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors to recognize academic achievement, demonstrated leadership and future potential. The awards are for students selected to attend Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana University Northwest, Purdue University West Lafayette or Purdue University Calumet. In addition, degree specific scholarships for Nursing, Teaching and Entrepreneurship are available for Ball State University Muncie.

Of special interest to the James W. and Betty Dye Foundation is the economic development and general welfare of Northwest Indiana. The Foundation believes a better educated population will enhance the quality of life for all its citizens. Some of the ideals of the Foundation will be realized if those who benefited from the Jim and Betty Dye Scholarship program live and work in Northwest Indiana following graduation from college. While not a specific criteria for receiving a scholarship, the Foundation would like to know the interest each candidate has in this regard.

What fascinated me was the students who had received a scholarship 5-8 years ago, now were out of college and wanted to pay back the gift that they had received. Not pay it back in the sense of paying back to the scholarship fund their gifts, no, paying it back by making a contribution to the communities that they were now working and living in.

I am excited that I have been invited to participate on the foundation. I am looking forward to watching these young people grow and become generous people, because of the gift that they have received.

If you would like more information about the Jim and Betty Dye Scholarship, go to: http://www.jimandbettydyescholarships.org/, or drop me a note, I would love to tell you more about it.

Dinner For Tim

Last night Ridge Church hosted a dinner for Tim Lukoshus, a 19 year old, who is battling cancer. The dinner was organized by some of Tim's friends --- particularly Chris, Niko and Nick. And we could not have done it without Munster High Football Coach Leroy Marsh and Jamie his wife nor Munster High Baseball Coach Bob Shinkin and his wife. Nancy Caddick and Beth Kitchell were unbelievable, and Chuck Horton is the best!

We really have no idea how many we served, but we guess somewhere around 1,400. Our best guess before we started was that we might, at the top have 700. If I thought that we would double our best guess --- I really would have gone crazy yesterday!!!

I cannot say enough about the generosity of people in this community. Olive Garden Restaurants in Cal City and Hobart donated enough food to feed 240. Zuni's in Dyer gave gallons of sauce and Giovanni's in Munster was unbelievable. Initially the gave 5 gallons of sauce and noodles, but twice during the evening when we ran out, the came through with sauce, and noodles. When they ran out of spaghetti noodles they then gave us fettuccine. WOW is all I can say.

Thanks to everyone who helped --- who worked (I did more dishes last night than I think I have done in my life!), who donated desserts, bought tickets, made a donation etc. You did a great thing!

What kind of God do you believe in?

I am always fascinated in how we as Christians understand God. I came across this sign the other day. At a first glance it is nothing but cute. But think about what this says.

The thing that gets me, is the implication that what we need in a god is one who is a life guard --- and what is a life guards job? To keep us safe. And our life guard is better than anybody else's life guard because our life guard isn't constricted to the natural laws that the rest of us have to live with. This life guard doesn't swim to save you from drowning, this life guard is so good that it can walk right out to you.

Again -- at first glance there is nothing wrong with it.
BUT, and you know me, there is always a but, what about those people who believe, but are still drowning? Still being ravished by cancer? Is this god fickle? Does this god like some people but not others?

As long as things are going smooth, this type of god makes lots of sense. But what if things aren't so smooth, and don't seem to be getting better. This type of god becomes nothing more than a pie in the sky, an unrealistic hope.

The BIG QUESTION is who is God and how does God operate in the world? Is God a rescuer? Is God a life guard? Or is God something else, and if something else, how in the world do we articulate that?

I believe that we as Christians need to develop a faith that is consistent. A faith that has integrity. It is a huge challenge, because to do that, we have to seriously examine much of the baggage we have about God.

Wish I had the answers, I just know, that God doesn't work the way that the sign suggests and it is time we start wrestling with how God really works in the world.

More Books

This is kind of a fun way to share what I am reading these days. I am in the middle of my usual 3 or 4 books (some of which I may never finish). But I have just recently completed two.

The first is a Tami Hoag novel. I had never read her before last summer, but I really enjoy her police mysteries. I found a couple of her books at the church rummage sale, and finally decided to take a few days to read one of them. DUST TO DUST is a great story set in Minnesota, centering around the deaths of a number of police officers. We are taken all over the place, as a number of different stories weave together to fill the book and our minds.

Sam Kovak the main character in the book is trying to put the heat on someone he thinks might be the murderer. He believes that guilt will bring a confession out of him. I just loved this exchange:

"Don't we all harbor guilt for something? We carry it around our whole lives like ballast. Something to weigh us down and keep us from reaching for true happiness. It reminds us that we're not worthy, gives us an excuse to underachieve."

I think she nailed it on the head. Way too many of us carry too much guilt that keeps us from becoming all that we could be.

The book ended fairly predictably, but with one pretty good twist. The ending wasn't what I was hoping for. Overall, it was a great read and a fun book.

The second book that I recently finished is totally different. Elaine Pagels and Karen King: Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity, is a fascinating look at the recently discovered Gospel of Judas, and how it helps us to understand the dynamics that were taking place in the early church.

The book is divided into two parts. Part 1 is a look at what this Gospel can teach us about early Christianity and the developing Christian culture. It was excellent. They do a great job taking a very complex study and making it understandable and digestible. Part 2 is another story. This is the actual Gospel, along with comments on the translation. The translation and the comments are very difficult and confusing reading. It took the book, which in part one was written for a more general audience and moved it into the academic world. I really struggled to get through it.

I would recommend the first half of the book, but you might want to just skip the second half and trust that they really did their homework.

Summer is almost here!

Tomorrow is the first day of summer. The greatest day of the year when you are a kid. Greater than Christmas even, because it means NO SCHOOL. How I long for those days!

When I came to Ridge Church 9 years ago (yes, I am starting my tenth year at Ridge), Nancy my wonderful administrative assistant was cluing me in about the church. She said, summer is a little quiet around here. I am sure at times she longs for those days when you could clean out files, enjoy the peace and quiet and just do nothing!

Those days are long gone. Yesterday at our staff meeting we began putting together the meat around the bones of two exciting ministries that will take place at Ridge Church.

The first is RIDGE FEST 07. On Sunday, August 26th, we will kick off the school year by having a huge party. Jeff and I will begin a sermon series that will look at the neighbors who live around us, and what they believe. We are hoping to get some interviews with religious leaders from the Jewish, Hindu and Muslim communities. I am really excited about what we can learn, and how we can engage our neighbors. But that is just the beginning. On Sunday afternoon, we will have a huge party --- we are working on getting a live band, dunk tank (I am told that I will be the target), moonwalk, bingo, kid's games and of course FOOD, lots and lots of food. Sounds like it will be a great way to start the year.

The other big project we are working on is WWE@Ridge which is not a website, but a ministry night. Wednesday evenings this fall will be filled with opportunities for the whole family. We are planning Adult studies, Sr High studies, Middle School studies, and classes for our children. And of course, it will all center around FOOD. (We love food at Ridge Church!) I am excited because I will be teaching BIBLE 101 first to an adult class, and then later to the Sr High class. I am working on finding time to teach the Middle School age as well. This spring I will bring back an all new version of WRESTLING WITH GOD --- I can't wait!

Ridge Church is a happening place! And if those things aren't enough --- our 3rd of July festival, the corn sale at the Jazz and Blues Festival, and Vacation Bible School are all around the corner. Those and the Middle School Mission Week, and the Senior High Mission trip to the Gulf Coast will keep us all on our toes!

Building Indiana Magazine

I was asked to write an article for Building Indiana. Below is the article I submitted. If you would like to see the whole magazine, go to : http://www.buildingindiananews.com/splash.asp

Somewhere along the way, Christianity developed the idea that the world was evil and Christians were not to be tied to it. That notion would certainly suggest that a clergy person should not be involved with the “secular” community. The Rev. Jerry Falwell (of the moral majority) may have been one of the most vocal advocates for this notion when he said in a sermon on March 21st, 1965:

Believing the Bible as I do, I would find it impossible to stop preaching the pure saving gospel of Jesus Christ and begin doing anything else — including the
fighting of communism, or participating in civil rights reforms. . . . Preachers are called not to be politicians but to be soul winners. (Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg Virginia)

This idea of the world being evil certainly did not begin with the Jewish Bible (Old Testament) nor with Jesus — both saw the world as intrinsically good, but in need of transformation to reach it’s full potential.

My understanding of religion is quite simple — it’s goal is not to get you into heaven, or enable you to be blessed materially — the goal of religion is to help you develop a relationship with God that will enable you to see the world around you in a new way. The world is not evil, instead God wants us to see the potential that we all have to make the world into the kind of place that God desires. I am not Christian so that I can get into heaven, or become “rich,” which seems to be the motivation for much of the religious right. I am a Christian because Jesus models for me a way of living that seeks justice and a relationship with God for all people.

My passion in life is all about helping people connect in a meaningful relationship with the living God, a God who desires us to learn to live together regardless of our religious tradition. In the fall of 2002, I went to a local bank to open an account, while I was there I met Mike McIntyre the branch manager, we began to talk and Mike invited me to join him the next week at Rotary. I said yes, and he helped, unknowingly, change my life.

Prior to that experience I saw Ridge Church as my parish, but Mike opened up to me a much larger world in which I could share my love for God and maybe, make a difference. From that chance encounter, I joined the Munster Rotary Club, and soon after the Munster Chamber of Commerce and the Munster Education Foundation.

Working with the business community, I am able to see and understand the needs of Northwest Indiana in a better way. I see the poverty and the injustice that exists, but I also see the business leaders who really want to solve those issues, but don’t know how. We don’t always agree on the solutions, but I have come to know and respect great people who want to see, and help create a better world. The wonderful thing is that even though we come from a variety of traditions: Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Muslim, Agnostic, it doesn’t matter. Together we can work to make a better world. In the end, isn’t that what we all really want? My God is big enough for us all! Regardless of how we understand the divine, we are all God’s children.

Why did the Munster Chamber of Commerce choose me as their citizen of the year? I don’t know for sure, but it is my hope that I was chosen because they can see my honest attempts to help them navigate the realities of the marketplace and live an authentic relationship with God.

Twenty-five years ago when I was a graduate student at Duke University I was a member of the rebellious culture: long hair, military jacket, sunglasses at night. Some of my friends joke that I sold out, but I don’t think so. I have come to understand that the best way to change the world, is to get to know those who can make the changes; to see the possibilities and to work together to get it done. I am still a revolutionary, just in a whole new way.

Shadows, Generosity and Sex

In the past couple of weeks I have finished three more books that I want to lift up to you.

The first is a novel that I read for fun. It is Robert W. Walker’s Shadows In The White City. I loved Devil in the White City (by Erik Larson), so the title fascinated me. It is a well written story of Chicago and the issue of homelessness during the year 1893 (a problem that has yet to be solved). If you like mysteries and historical fiction then this is a good book for you. I will tell you that I was a little disappointed with the ending. This is obviously going to be a series.

A couple weeks ago I read Kirk Nowery’s REVOLUTIONARY GENEROSITY. It was sent to me by INJOY Stewardship Services. Kirk is the president of INJOY. I have not seen this book available commercially yet. Parts of it were excellent — other parts drove me absolutely crazy. In terms of books on stewardship I would give this a 7 or 8. I just ignored the stuff that I totally disagreed with and focused on the rest, which was very good.

I mentioned earlier that I loved Rob Bell’s book Velvet Elvis. I just finished his newest Sex God, and I was very disappointed. I have great respect for Rob Bell and his ministry at Mars Hill (although many times I am fairly convinced that he has just repackaged fundamental Christianity in sheeps clothing that is palatable to many people). Sex God wandered all over the place. His chapter on marriage, however, was outstanding. I listen to Rob’s "sermons" from his podcast every week and you have to get used to his style which is very evident in the book. Overall, I don’t think I would recommend you run out and get this book.

Living the Faith

Interesting experience finding myself the target of a group of women who are trying to prevent others who don’t understand, refuse to understand or just plain disagree with the RC church from sharing their opinion. I posted about the suicide and the disconnect that seemed evident in the lives of the family. My whole point was not about whether the RC should have done the service, but that the family clung to a set of values that they did not really believe — or at least did not live.

Thanks to the person who wrote me to tell me how I became the target. I tried to reply but my e-mail was kicked back.

That to me is the paradox. Why we claim allegiance to something, yet have no practical application. I would have asked the same question whether he was clutching a rosary or a KJV Bible. Neither were a part of his life.

The question that I ask is WHY? Why the allegiance to the RC, UMC, Baptist or whatever faith tradition, if we do not live it? The hypocrisy of clinging to a false faith suggests that we all (whatever tradition we are in) have failed this family.

I am willing to minister to these families in need (Even when others won’t, refuse to, cannot — that is not the issue) because I want to try to bridge the gap that exists in the survivors lives. Religion is meant to be lived, not a magic ticket to heaven or anywhere else.