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.

Staff Retreat

May 15 - 17, the Ridge Church program staff went on a retreat to Chesterton, Indiana. We have been doing this every year for the last five or six years. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to get away from phones, and the "daily stuff" of life and spend quality time together. Our goals are always simple. 1) Do planning for the next year. 2) Grow together as a staff. I think that we accomplished both.

We have heard your concerns! When we did our dinners for the Reaching Out To The Future campaign, we heard over and over again that we don’t know everybody. Unfortunately, we are too large to all worship together in either our sanctuary or fellowship hall (good problem – I know!), and even if we could all squeeze in, our parking lot is too small for all of us. So how do we offer opportunities for the people at11:00 met the people of 8:30 or the people of 9:45 meet the people of 11:00?

We are in the incubation stage of a number of really neat ministry opportunities that will try to bring us together. The most exciting is the creation of WWE @ Ridge UMC. This is a Wednesday night program that will minister to the entire ridge family. The evening will include dinner, children’s program and choir, middle school and youth BS (Bible Study) and adult Bible Studies. As you can imagine, the logistics of putting this together are huge. Over the next couple of months, we will be working hard to get them all worked out.

If you are interested, let the office know, and we will get you on the leadership team!
One of the other big planning objectives was to get the worship schedule put together. We are planning the following upcoming worship series:

Summer The Parables of Jesus (This will coincide with the children’s Sunday school material.) At 9:45 the children will stay in worship until a children’s message, and then they will be dismissed to their classes.
Fall August 26th will be Ridge Fest, a celebration of the ministries of Ridge Church. Jeff and I will begin a series we are calling: Being A Good Neighbor. We will look at Christianity in relationship to the other religious traditions that are a part of our community (Jewish, Hindu, Islam). We believe that this may be the most important sermons we have ever worked on.
Oct. Stewardship of all Creation
Nov. Waiting. How do we wait for God?
Dec. The Places of Christmas
Jan. What Good is the Church
Lent Why?

As you can see, we got a lot accomplished — but this is only the tip of the iceberg. Next article, I will share with you some of the exciting study opportunities that are being put together. Exciting things are happening at Ridge Church — Let’s continue to Reach Out To The Future!

Mis-information

Interesting replies to my earlier post. Obviously a group out to save RC from the horrible protestants. My information on salvation came from my local priest who clearly informed me that outside the "church" there is NO salvation. Maybe he is wrong (of which I am certain), but he sure thought he was right!

He also refused to allow a non-catholic to participate in a funeral mass, because non-catholics were not allowed --- again quoting him "according to the bishop." Maybe it is different where you all are from, but unfortunately, Vatican II has not come to North-West Indiana.

Disconnected From God

I had a very strange experience this week, that I hope someone can help me to better understand. As a rule, whenever the funeral home calls needing somebody to preside over a funeral, if I am available, I say YES. I do that because I feel it is better for me to preach grace in the time of loss for a family, rather than have someone else preach how the loved one is gone forever --- forced to spend eternity separated from God. (In other words, in Hell.) I don’t think any family needs to hear that at any time!

This week I conducted a funeral for a young man who committed suicide. And to add to the family’s misery, he had never been baptized. The family was Roman Catholic, but of course the Catholic Church would not do the service, since this young man was cursed to go to Hell. This is where I came in. Why this was so strange, and the part I don’t understand is while the Roman Catholic church turned their back on them, and said that the young man was going to hell, the family still put a rosary in his had, and repeatedly genuflect over the coffin.

Somebody help me here! If the “church” said I was going to hell, why would I still honor the church in the service? Are those rituals that are jammed down our throats as children so ingrained that we cannot even recognize the hypocrisy in them?

Out faith must make sense, we should not have to check our brains in our relationship with God, otherwise, at some point we will realize the disconnect, and that is exactly what we will do with God.

VELVET ELVIS

What a week! It is only Wednesday, but I am already wiped out. Easter, by itself, is enough to push anyone to the limit, but add to that a capitol campaign, stuff for the Rotary Run-A-Round, and a death and the week is loonnngggg! I have been invited to a Tiger's game next week, in Detroit of course, but since I haven't taken a day off for 2 weeks, I think I will go.

Someone suggested that I share about the books that I am reading. I will give this a go. I am usually in the midst of 2 or 3 books and I just finished 2 in the last few days. One I was listening to as I walk my dog in the morning, the other I actually read.

I listened to Michael Crichton's newest book: NEXT. If you have never read any of Crichton's books you really are missing out. In his introduction he makes the following statement: "This novel is fiction -- except the parts that aren't." Dan Brown, are you paying attention?


Next is the story of the growing field of genetic research that is taking place in the world. It is told in an engaging way that made me question a number of the assumptions that I have about gene therapy and the way business and universities are engaged in controlling the research and the use of potentially life saving and life altering genes. If you like a good mystery, and at the same time, want to think, Next is a great choice.


During spring break my middle daughter watched a family in the church's four pets (2 dogs, 2 cats), I guess they figured I was needed to help because they left a book for me. Rob Bell is the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Michigan -- his weekly messages are available free as a podcast on ITunes -- a couple of years ago he wrote Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith. This is a powerful book looking at Christianity through new eyes. I appreciated a lot of what he said, even if I wanted to smack him at times. He (like most of us) suffers from a inconsistent belief system. What he says on one page, he will refute on another.


A big part of why he does that has to do, I think, with the problem of language and how we tend to describe God. It is very hard for people who grew up in the church to get away from some of the outdated God language that was drilled into our heads as children. Despite that complaint, I would highly recommend this book.


Bell writes in his introduction:

For many people the word Christian conjures up all sorts of images that
have nothing to do with who Jesus is and how he taught us to live. This must
change. For others, the painting works for their parents, or it provided meaning
when they were growing up, but it is no longer relevant. It doesn't fit. It's
outdated. It doesn't have anything to do say to the world they live in every
day. It's not that there isn't any truth in it or that all the people before
them were misguided or missed the point. It's just that every generation has to
ask the difficult questions of what it means to be a Christian here and now, in
this place, at this time.

And if this difficult work isn't done, where does the painting end
up?

In the basement.

That is exactly why I started this blog --- because I am wrestling with God, and so too are most people who are younger than me. This book is a great introduction to "progressive Christianity," I don't think he goes quite far enough, but if you read it with an open mind, it will get you thinking --- and that is the most important thing that we can do!

Easter Musings

Easter is over, the bunny is off in the flowers, doing what bunnies do, and I sit here thinking about the days just past. Other than all the bunnies, and jelly beans in a store, would anyone know it was Easter. Or maybe more important, would anyone have any idea what this was all about?

Easter is supposedly the most important event in the life of Christianity, it was on Easter that Jesus taught us what life (and death) really is about, and showed us the path to living a kingdom life today. Yet, when you compare the hoopla at Easter with Christmas there is no contest. Easter has become the holiday of spring break and ham, bunnies and colored eggs — and let’s not forget the jelly beans! Jesus and his message seem nowhere to be found.

One of the great experiences that I had was being in Israel for the High Holy days of Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashana. I knew a little bit about these holidays, but I was shocked by my experience. On Yom Kippur, Israel (at least the Jewish parts) totally shut down. The TV stations all go off the air, stores are closed, cars are not driven. It was amazing to see how serious they took this significant religious festival. Can you imagine that happening here?

On Saturday I needed to run to the store for milk, I figured I should get it today because the store will be closed for Easter. The store I went to was a local grocery store that was originally owed by very strong members of the Dutch community. I was shocked when I saw a sign proclaiming that they would be open Easter Sunday. When I saw the manager I asked him about it — he said that the owners wanted to keep up with the competition. While I expect the national chains to be open, a local store???

What does Easter really mean anyway? What were you doing this past weekend? It is so easy to just go with the flow and let Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter just be like so many other days. Oh well, maybe next year . . .