Monthly Archives: March 2013

God Goes Pop – Resurrection Playlist Edition

31 Sunday Mar 2013

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IMG_2477Last night, I was having a conversation with some folks about compiling a resurrection playlist.  For fun and inspired by them, I came up with a resurrection playlist.  These songs connected me to themes of remembering, hope, grace and resilience and have often been a source of comfort and strength during difficult moments.

1. Carry On – Fun
2. The Heart of the Matter – Don Henley 
3. Anything Could Happen – Ellie Goulding
4. I’ll Be There – Escape Club
5. Shake It Out – Florence & The Machine
6. Dog Days Are Over – Florence & The Machine
7. You’ve Got the Love – Florence & The Machine
8. Jacob’s Ladder – Huey Lewis and the News 
9. Fire and Rain – James Taylor 
10. The Middle – Jimmy Eat World
11. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
12. Part of Me – Katy Perry 
13. Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson 
14. Emily – Michael W. Smith 
15. Raise Your Glass – P!nk
16. Promise of a New Day – Paula Abdul 
17. Let My Love Open the Door – Pete Townshend 
18. Solsbury Hill – Peter Gabriel 
19. Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles 
20. Bright Side of the Road – Van Morrison
21. Someone Like You – Van Morrison
22. Incomplete – Alanis Morrisette
23. There You’ll Be – Faith Hill
24. How to Save a Life – The Fray
25. Here I Go Again – Whitesnake
26. I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
27. At Last – Etta James
28. I Made It Through the Rain – Barry Manilow
29. I’m Still Standing – Elton John
30. I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor

What are some of your favorite songs that remind you of resurrection?  List them below or tweet me at @mictori.

“Not Broken, Just Bent”

28 Thursday Mar 2013

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Recently, I have fallen in love with P!nk and Nate Ruess’ song “Just Give Me a Reason.”  The melody of the song is magnificent.  Yet there’s something about the words that reach into my heart.

It’s the lyric “Not broken, just bent.”

As Christians, what would it mean to call ourselves bent instead of broken?

I ponder the subjects of original sin, total depravity and these centuries-long idea that humans are so fallen that we can’t redeem ourselves – at least on our own.  What if that wasn’t the case?

What if we are just slightly dented?  What if we have the potential to smooth over our dings and bends because of the love of God, the leadership of Jesus the Christ and the strength of the Holy Spirit?

This is where Holy Week comes in…

Jesus died on a cross.  Did Jesus die to repair a brokenness? Or did Jesus die in the process of showing us ways of evening out the indentations on our souls and in our societies?

If we are made in God’s image, maybe we aren’t completely broken.  Maybe we just have been crushed and squashed by life, and it’s time for us to find God’s image within each one of us once again.

There is hope in knowing that we aren’t completely broken.  There’s possibilities for tomorrow.  There’s new ways of finding grace.  There’s dignity where we haven’t seen it before.

So I’m sticking with the school of thought that we are bent and not shattered.  And quite often, bends, twists and dents make us more beautiful anyway.

Bucket Lists

25 Monday Mar 2013

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IMG_20130325_200855In fifteen days, I turn 40.

This gives me no time to fill my “Before 40” bucket list – the list of activities I wished I had accomplished before I turn 40.  There are things I would have loved to cross off before this impending birthday, but it doesn’t look like these will happen.

Here is my “not going to accomplish before 40” bucket list.

  1. Meet the love of my life (could happen, probably won’t)
  2. Write a book
  3. Go to New York City
  4. Get married
  5. Go to Europe
  6. See Van Morrison in concert again
  7. Run a marathon/half-marathon
  8. Have a child (birth or adoption)
  9. Buy a house
  10. Meet Ben Affleck
  11. Take a cake decorating class
  12. Be an extra in a movie

I’m sure there’s other items…

Have some of you felt the urge to complete certain activities before you turned 30, 40, 50, etc?  What happened when you didn’t complete them?  Did you feel discouraged or even less than whjole?

Or did you save them for the next decade?

Why is completing our dreams so important by a certain age?  I think about Jesus the man, especially this Holy Week, I wonder if he was at a content place before he died?  Did he have his own Bucket List?  Was Jesus’ bucket list one that included improving the conditions for the poor and expendables during his time?  Was it one that included a significant other, marriage and children?

Or was he just blissful living fully in each moment?  Maybe that should be #1 on my list.

If you do have a way to help me make the other 12 things happen in the next 15 days, let me know…

Waving Our Palms Means Something More

24 Sunday Mar 2013

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Palm SundayThis is part of the Palm Sunday Sermon delivered at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Old Blue Rock Road, on March 24, 2013.

When we celebrate Palm Sunday, we’re not just praising Jesus.  Our call to faith is deeper than sitting in a cheering section on Jesus.  We can’t support for Jesus without cheering on our sisters and brothers who struggle.   By waving our palms in this parade, we’re cheering a system where all are given dignity and rights.

Here’s the thing – it’s risky.  Jesus died for standing up for humanity and the humans he met.  Jesus died because of the sins of broken systems.  In many similar ways, we’ve seen these deaths in recent history.  Martin Luther King Jr. died because he spoke to loudly on issues like civil rights, labor and the war.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer died because he was outspoken against Hitler and the Nazis.

If any of us to really have the faith of Jesus, we’d have the faith that would put fear aside and put our neighbors front and center.  Our lives would be at risk – from ridicule by our loved ones to arrests and death.

I wish I could have that level of faith that Jesus had – the kind that would stand up for radical love and grace no matter what the cost.  But I worry what others will think.  The let the fear of “what will people think of me if I voice my opinions” get in my way.  What will people think of me if I attend a rally or protest or parade… It’s not that I don’t stand up for what I believe, it’s just that I’ll lower my voice a bit if I know I’ll offend others.  It’s scary to be as bold as Jesus.

But boldness and justice is an imperative part of our faith.  I know that justice is reoccurring theme in Scriptures.  Some form of the Hebrew word for justice, mishpat, is used over 400 times in the Hebrew scriptures.  The faith of the prophets who stood for love and justice was the faith of Jesus.  He carried that radical love and boldness into the future by advocating for the marginalized.

Looking at the repeated mention of justice in scripture would indicate to me justice is a part of our call as Christians.  So how do we look at justice issues as a faith community, especially as a faith community of diverse theological and political views?  Our first and most important step is dialogue.  It’s trying to understand why our neighbors believe what they believe and try to figure out if we are called to advocate for the marginalized.  While we may not agree as a full community, we are still journeying together to find out what we can do to give dignity to all of God’s children.

Yes, we are called to feed and house and clothed, but we’re not called JUST to feed and house and clothe.  Through Jesus the Christ, God has called us to stand up to the powers that be to create just ways of living.  I’ve often used the illustration of mission and mercy as pulling people out of a fast running river.  Justice is going upstream to find out why they fell in the river to begin with.  Most of us have found our place at the bottom of this stream pulling people out.  But what if we traveled together upstream to find out why people have fallen into the river and maybe even do something about it?

And If we had the faith of the prophets and the faith of Jesus to be radically loving and just, who would we stand up for in our society?  Much like they took care of the widows and orphans, is our call to stand up for the single mom who can’t afford childcare?  Just like they called for the Israelites to take care of the aliens, are we called to take care of immigrants in our land?  Just like the Just like Jesus cured those with leprosy, are we called to advocate for those with HIV/AIDS or other stigmatized illnesses?  Just like Jesus had a grassroots protest on the other side of Jerusalem, are we called to protest systems that oppress?

Celebrating Palm Sunday means supporting Jesus’ stand against oppressive systems.  It means more than hosannas and yippees.  It’s standing on the side of justice and risking who we are to stand for the greater good.  So when we wave the palms, we’re not only supporting Jesus, we supporting Jesus’ way of loving others at a cost.

As we face the most intense part of Lent – Holy Week – how will we reflect on the powerful love and courageous steps of Jesus?  In what ways can we love, advocate and serve radically?  In what ways can we be bold in our faith?  If we are willing, let us pick up the palm leaves not only to honor our redeemer, but to stand with him as he shares the love of God with all he meets.

It “Sucks”… Authentic Expression of Pain

22 Friday Mar 2013

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Yes, to some of you, the word “sucks” is edgy.  Some will find this word and even this post offensive.  I hope others find grace in the way they express themselves.  My intention is not to offend but to help people find words for their pain.

On Thursday’s Grey’s Anatomy, a school teacher was dealing with her ill health.  This was a teacher whose students very much viewed her in high regard and missed her when she wasn’t in class.  She would correct her students when using certain terms, like “sucks.”   But when her students left the room, it was her time to process the terminal cancer diagnosis.  In verbalizing her pain and health challenges, she couldn’t help but use a certain word: “We don’t say ‘sucks.’  But this sucks.”

Growing up, my dad always hated the use of the word “sucks.”  So it wasn’t a term we used very often.  Somewhere in the back of my head, I still think of the word as derogatory language.

But I wonder if limiting ourselves of the words we use to express our deepest pain is doing us an injustice, especially if we use them in safe spaces.  Maybe authentically expressing our grief or pain is what we need to continue moving forward or to process our grief.  Maybe this includes using terms like “this sucks” because, frankly, nothing is closer to the truth when we hurt.

When someone hits a rough point of their lives, I sometimes have nothing else I want to say except “it sucks.”  To me, there are few words that can really embrace a low moment in our lives.

I get sad when people try to edit themselves around me because they know I’m a pastor.  Instead of being authentic and expressing their emotion in real ways, they avoid using curse words or talking about edgy parts of their lives.  What if you knew that your pastor would be fine with whatever words you need to use?  Would you be more open to expressing yourself?  How would this help you move forward in your life?

Lamenting is real.  Pain is real.  What do you want to say when you hurt horribly?

When a member of your family dies or your pet has to be put to sleep, it sucks.

When you lose a job, it sucks.

When you are diagnosed with a serious illness, it sucks.

When you have lost a relationship, it sucks.

I would rather hear someone try to comfort another person with “it sucks” because saying things like “it happens for a reason” or “God has a plan” doesn’t really affirm a person’s pain.  It’s just very unorthodox for a pastor or Christians to use curse words or edgy terms to affirm one’s grief.  But shouldn’t we be real about how we feel?  And shouldn’t I sit with you in that pain and affirm your difficulties in life?

Some may think this is taking the Lord’s name in vain, but I’m not using words that attack another human or speaking horrific words on behalf of God.  I’m trying to take the pain we see in Psalm 22:1 or Psalm 88 and give it 21st century words.

And, with me, it’s always a safe space to use the words that describe the pain in your hearts.

Are you challenged by this language?  Do you agree with these words?  Voice your thoughts below.

Not Only in Steubenville

18 Monday Mar 2013

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There may be triggers with this post.

And it may be NSFW.  But so is the Bible in certain places.

Let me tell you a story.  No names will be used to protect all involved.

One weekend night in college, my friends came back from a night at a bar.  Most of them were pretty intoxicated and very sick from their evening libations.  A couple of them were unconscious.  They thought they had alcohol poisoning.  Looking back on the situation, I wonder if there were other substances that had been slipped into their drinks by someone at the bar… but that’s secondary to this story.

A number of people were in one dorm room.  I saw all of this occur from the doorway as many of my closest friends were in the room.  The person who lived in that dorm room, Mr. Snake, decided to kick everyone out of the dorm room except Ms. Deer who was passed out on his bed.  Two of my male friends refused to leave the room.  One jumped on Mr. Snake’s back.  The other, Mr. Rhino, headbutted Mr. Snake, in order to protect his friend Ms. Deer.

Guess who got in trouble from this?  Mr. Rhino, of course.

It doesn’t matter if Mr. Rhino was standing up for Ms. Deer trying to protect her from any abuse or violation  (and thank God she wasn’t raped or abused).  What mattered to the powers that be is that Mr. Rhino be held accountable for what he did to Mr. Snake even when his actions were needed.

I was friends with men who stood up for the protection of women, but when they were trying to be faithful allies to women, they were the ones who got in trouble.

The ones who wanted to take advantage of women never got reprimanded by the powers that be.

Too many people I know have endured sexual assault in many various forms.  There are men who cared about these women and tried to protect them.  But there were still men who felt they had the right to use these women’s bodies as they wanted.

I’d love say that any decent human being should know not to rape someone when they are passed out or in any other vulnerable position.  Isn’t this a “duh” situation: don’t hurt someone who is more vulnerable than you.

But I guess some people need to feel powerful.  And abuse is how they attain that power.

The conversation we should be having in the 21st century must include how we associate power with sex, and that conversation must include how the Bible portrays rape.

The Bible, especially the Old Testament, does not do the greatest job defending people against rape.  Sure if a man is to rape a man, then that’s an incredible sin.  People associate the sin of Sodom being sex between men, but the Sodom citizens really wanted power over the visitors.

Lot offers his daughters in return.  So, back during the time when this text was written, it was apparently more acceptable to offer women and their bodies.  Fortunately for the girls, the Sodomites didn’t want Lots daughters.

Yet even Lot’s daughters took advantage of their father while he was drunk.  (This can go both ways.  While women being attacked by men is more common, we can’t forget that men can be assaulted as well.)

A similar story to Lot offering the rape of his daughters is found in Judges 19.  When the men in a town called Gibeah demand to rape a male visitor to the town, his host offers to give the men his virgin daughter and the guest’s concubine.  As the host says to the rowdy men “Ravish them and do whatever you want to them; but against this man do not do such a vile thing.”  The men of Gibeah take the concubine and assault her all night.  They throw her dead body in front of the guest’s door.

Did women have so much less value than men that they deserved to have their bodies raped until they were dead?

Deuteronomy 22:28-29 does not condemn a man from raping an unmarried woman.  He must buy her as a wife from her father.

(And sometimes I wonder how I’m still a Christian with texts such as these.)

And then I continue to read… The book Song of Solomon shows a more egalitarian and loving relationship between two people.  Seeing 1 Corinthians 13, I am reminded what real love is about: not taking advantage of another.  Jesus was never a “power over” person but rather “power with” those around him.

Why do we continue to allow a rape culture, and does Scripture perpetrate that culture?  If it looks alright in the Bible, which was written in a completely different context, are we implicitly allowing it in our current culture?

Which leads us to Steubenville.  People turned their heads and laughed as a young, unconscious drunk girl was sexually assaulted.  Why were there no people like my friend Mr. Rhino?  Where were the men and women who could have called the police?  Why do the powers that be cover up and glorify certain men (especially ones who shine in sports)?

And in how many other high schools and colleges are situations like these happening?  It’s time to talk, and it’s time to put Scripture stories of rape in their proper place.

St. Patrick’s Day Blessings

17 Sunday Mar 2013

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An Old Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of God’s hand.

And a little humor for the end of your day:

The White Smoke Matters

14 Thursday Mar 2013

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Sports fans have the Superbowl.  Movie fans have the Oscars.  Theological fans have the conclave.

Facebook, Twitter and the entire internet exploded with the news of white smoke billowing from the Vatican.  As indication of a new pope was selected, we exchanged comments on the historical news of the hour.  I’ve seen and engaged in many interesting online conversations March 13, 2013 regarding the selection of Pope Francis I.  Very few of the friends I was communicating with were Roman Catholic, but the excitement transcended religion.  This was history.

Now, I’ve heard how some Protestants think a selection of a new pope may not impact us.  There are many who may not realize how much Vatican II impacted relationships between Catholics and other faiths.  They may not know that post-Vatican II music that Catholics created (songs like “Here I Am, Lord” and “One Bread, One Body”) have brought much beauty into our congregations.  When a change happens within one part of Christianity, it can’t help but impact the rest of Christianity.

While it’s tough to talk about, when doctrinal decisions are made, it impacts us too.  Sometimes, this means we are on the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to an issue.  The power that the Church has in influencing politics can be wonderful if it’s something we agree upon or difficult if it’s a divisive issue.  We see things in different ways because we hold different sources of authority.  For instance, Scripture and tradition are huge in the Catholic church.  In many of our Protestant faiths, we have Scripture and tradition, but we also have reason and our own experiences.  So we often arrive at issues from opposite ends.

But never forget that we are all part of this one Body of Christ.

And that’s the other reason we should care.  We are all God’s children made in God’s image.  We are all part of the same vine.  So we do care what happens in your faith.  We care that you feel connected to your denomination.  We rejoice with you that you have a new pope.  We cry with you when you have scandals that plague your churches.  Because we are all part of the Body of Christ, our common work feeding, clothing and healing provides greater resources for the Kingdom of God.

Let us keep the faith together even when we take separate spiritual paths.

To my Catholic friends – may God bless your Church, your new Pope Francis I and your clergy and lay members.  May God find ways to bring us together on issues such as poverty, creating a world where all have dignity.  May God give us love to disagree with one another peacefully on divisive issues.  And may we walk together in times of joy and times of sadness.  Amen.