Christmas Eve Sermon - take a listen

DARKNESS

DARKNESS

By looking at this picture can you tell where it was taken?  Can you tell what lies beyond the light in the corners where the light disappears and is replaced with a grayish black?  Perhaps you were able to see right away that it is a road with street lamps and a speed limit sign.  Beyond that what can you see?  Is this a busy street in a city or maybe a little-traveled side street in a small town.  Could this possibly be in the country and the light you see is from a farm yard a bit further in the distance?  Was the picture taken in motion or standing still?  Darkness can teach us many lessons.

Maybe the most important lesson I've learned from darkness is to appreciate the light.  Life can be lived in the shadows and once that lesson is learned then it is much more freeing and empowering to dance in the light.  In fact, once the specter of darkness is no longer something to fear then darkness seems to all but vanish because there is always light even in the darkest of darkness.  From the very beginning light was being spoken into the darkness and it was good.

Dance in the light but also learn to dance in the darkness.

CHOSEN

Oscar

CHOSEN

I remember going into the pet store to find the perfect dog for the two of us. I wanted a WOOF WOOF dog while Steph wasn't sure about this dog business at all.  In a moment of weakness she said "a small dog wouldn't be so bad" and off to the pet store we went before she could change her mind.

Five or six puppies yipped and chased each other around their kennel, hoping to get our attention. This black and white shi-tzu grabbed our attention first. He was so energetic and he looked so happy. 

After spending some time with him back into the kennel he went.  We played with the next puppy and the next, but I kept looking at this little guy out of the corner of my eye.  None of the others had what he had.  Both Steph and I knew we had found the newest member of our family.  Ten years later he still continues to bring smiles to our faces and we cannot imagine life without our Oscar.  You could say that we chose Oscar but there is no doubt in my mind that he equally chose us.

We are a chosen people who are loved beyond measure.  As we enter into the season of Advent may you be reminded of who you are and whose you are.  Never forget that you are loved and you are CHOSEN.      

HOPE

HOPE. 

We are people of light. We gravitate to it. There is something promising about light that peaks around corners, forcing its way into a void of darkness that otherwise is a dominating presence.

When we enter a dark room our eyes need a moment to adjust, to find the light. Even in the darkest of places our eyes find the light. 

It's in the promise of eternal light we find our HOPE. 

Are you a Pastor?

My wife and I had purchased tickets to see a movie when my phone rang.  We were standing outside the entrance to the theater, people filing by on their way, my wife with the popcorn and soda in her hands.  Steph gave me a look, I shrugged my shoulders, told her to "go in, I'll be right there" and I answered the phone, "Hello, this is Pastor Brad."

I was expecting the call - actually I had been expecting it all day.  Earlier that morning I was in contact with a family member whose mother, a member of the church I serve, had told me her mom was not doing very good and she details to share with me but now wasn't a good time.  Could she call me back later?  Of course and I gave her my cell phone number, telling her to call whenever she was available.  That was at 11:30 or so and now it was 7:00 pm and she was available so I needed to be available too.

I knew we were taking a chance on seeing a movie when I hadn't received the return phone call but I also knew my wife and I wanted to see the movie.  So we did what pastors and others who are on-call do and took a chance.

I spent the next 10 minutes talking with the daughter about her mom and the next steps that needed to happen.  I re-assured her that she was in my prayers, that God would surround her with people to help guide her family through the next few days and made sure I answered any questions she had.  All the while standing in the midst of people off to see the newest releases and to munch on popcorn.

When I hung up the phone I heard a voice say, "Are you a pastor?"  The question took me a bit by surprise.  I was wearing my Chicago Cubs hat, a t-shirt, cargo shorts and sandals - I'm sure the last thing I looked like was a pastor. The question came from the young woman who was taking tickets. "Yes, I am.  How did you know?"  Perhaps I had a glow about me or something about me radiated pastor that I wasn't aware of.  "I heard part of your phone call.  You sound like a pastor,which is good if that's what you are."  I smiled and said something off-hand like "guilty as charged" to which she responded, "Is someone sick?"  "Yes, and it doesn't sound like they will be getting better." was my reply.  "I will pray for them.  Is that ok?"  Before I could respond she said, "I don't need names, God knows who they are."  I was a bit caught off guard; who was the pastor here?  I smiled and said, "Yes God does." and handed her my ticket.  She smiled at me again, tore the ticket and said, "Enjoy the movie."

You don't have to have a fancy title to be able to minister to others, to share God's love with others.  I am grateful for that ticket-taker who reminded me of that.  I'm thankful of that phone call as I was heading into the movie for the reminder that people are in need of good news and comfort in the most unlikely of times and places.  I'm thankful to be able to say "YES" when someone asks me, "Are you a Pastor?"

The life of a thespian

For as long as I can remember I've enjoyed performing. Whether it was in Sunday School Christmas programs or music concerts in elementary school or entertaining my family on long car trips I've always enjoyed performing.

Is it any wonder, then, that in high school I drifted toward band, choir and theater?  I found my "people" - people who understood me, people I could relate to, people I enjoyed spending time with - if for no other reason they didn't seem to fit in anywhere else either.

College brought more theater experience and through those experiences brought me some of the absolute best friends I could ever hope to have.

Then adulthood struck and into the world I was sent, not knowing for sure what I was doing or where I would be doing it but one thing was for certain - I would find a way to do community theater.  I needed to for my own sanity.

We flash forward fifteen years (is it possible I've been out of college for fifteen years?)  and I've moved six times, got married, bought a dog, gained extended family and the one consistent has been community theater.  In that fifteen years I've been lucky enough to be involved in no less than thirty productions to various degrees with over five different groups.  Each time I've found enjoyment, friendship and a sense of fulfillment.  Being involved in theater is part of who I am.  Thankfully I've got a wife who understands that and I have and have had employers who understand/understood that.

Tonight (20 August) I embark on a new adventure with a familiar troupe and a mix of familiar and not so familiar faces.  I look forward to the journey and the discoveries that will be made along it.

More to come about the specific project but this is enough for now.

Until then.....

My second post

So for quite some time I've thought that I needed to blog.  I've got opinions to share, ideas to ponder, experiences to relate, humor to offer, random 70's & 80's tv sitcom knowledge to release.  I need to put all of this in a thought format so others can benefit from my random musings.

I have experiences in life and I will often think to myself, "Self, you really should record that so others might be aware." and that is how far I have gotten in my quest to be a blogger.

Over the past six weeks (1 July to 15 August) I've had several encounters that I knew needed to be shared and so my hope is to share them.  We'll see if that pans out.  I'm hoping so.

Until then....

A start

I need to start blogging.  So, this is my start.  My first post.  You happy, Dave?