We've had another death in our faith community. This time it was not an elderly member who quietly drifted off to sleep only to awaken in the arms of the savior. This one was a 12-year old who was shot.
Her name was Na'Jhae and she was one of the children shot presumably by her father in the Providence Squares apartments last night. She was not a member of CLC nor did she ever attend, as far as I know. She was one of the McClintock students who joined us on Tuesday nights at the school for dinner, clubs and tutoring.
When we began this partnership with McClintock, we knew that it was going to be a lot of work. Part of it was with the sheer man-hours it takes to pull this off every week and throughout the summer. But a big reason this takes a lot of work is because we have two world colliding. Our calendar-driven, type-A personalities can't understand missing appointments--"make a list of priorities!" Our upper middle class living can't understand poverty--"make a budget!" Our two parent centered families can't understand lack of parental involvement--"get one of your parents to help you."
God knows we are trying to understand.
But the death of a 12-year old girl rocks both worlds. There is nothing good, fair or cultural about it. It's a tragedy where we both weep. But there is no one who weeps more than Jesus.
Perhaps that why Jesus makes us this promise: "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more. . ." And they only way that Jesus can keep his promise is Easter. Easter comes not only with a celebration but with hope in the midst of death. Because he lives, so do we. So does Na'Jhae.
That's something we all need to hear, no matter in which world we live.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Last Thursday, the staff ran away for an all day retreat. We actually brought in my sister, Lisa, who works in Human Resource for Hosanna (Lutheran Church) in Lakeville, MN. This is a vibrant, huge (third in the ELCA), far-reaching congregation that is doing some amazing things. Whenever she and I talk about our churches, Hosanna makes Christ Lutheran feel like a small, rural country church with one service on Sunday morning and a Bible study in the church basement on Tuesday morning for 8 senior citizens.
She worked with the staff all day on their spiritual strengths. God has hard-wired each of us differently. The challenge is for us to figure out our own strengths, build on them and use them to God's glory. However, it is equally important to figure out the strengths in others so that we can team up together more effectively and make sure that each of us is in the right position on the team.
I had three take away from that retreat. First, I could embrace my strengths. There were about two that I really, really wished I had going into this retreat but now I'm ready to celebrate the ones I have and not regret the ones I don't.
Second, I could recognize the strengths in others. It helps me understand what makes people tick, what gives them passion, and how they can do so effortlessly that which I struggle to complete.
Third, I am more convinced than ever before that we have an amazing staff at CLC. God has assembled these people with these gifts at this time for this ministry. We have the staff in the right positions to maximize their strengths for the advancement of the Kingdom.
Sometimes it takes a day away from the phones, meetings and e-mails for us all to see just how God has showered us with blessings.
She worked with the staff all day on their spiritual strengths. God has hard-wired each of us differently. The challenge is for us to figure out our own strengths, build on them and use them to God's glory. However, it is equally important to figure out the strengths in others so that we can team up together more effectively and make sure that each of us is in the right position on the team.
I had three take away from that retreat. First, I could embrace my strengths. There were about two that I really, really wished I had going into this retreat but now I'm ready to celebrate the ones I have and not regret the ones I don't.
Second, I could recognize the strengths in others. It helps me understand what makes people tick, what gives them passion, and how they can do so effortlessly that which I struggle to complete.
Third, I am more convinced than ever before that we have an amazing staff at CLC. God has assembled these people with these gifts at this time for this ministry. We have the staff in the right positions to maximize their strengths for the advancement of the Kingdom.
Sometimes it takes a day away from the phones, meetings and e-mails for us all to see just how God has showered us with blessings.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
After spending way too many hours late into last night tiling our small laundry room, I have a greater appreciation for large, tiled surfaces. I look at the cuts, I notice how the tile butts against the baseboard, I inspect the grout. But I also breath a sigh of relief that I don't have to do that every day. Wow, is that hard work (and messy!)
I marvel at how an expert tiler could whip out a small room like mine in half the time without plaster globbed on the carpet and on the walls. I can do it, but it doesn't come easily or quickly. I suppose that's all on where our gifts lie.
I remember a while ago when I had to use a lawyer for something and after I read his document I said, "I am so glad that I don't have to do your job!" At which he promptly replied, "Funny, I was just about to say the same thing about your job. I couldn't imagine doing what you do."
God has gifted us all differently from the tiler to the lawyer to the pastor. We can probably do the other person's job (to some extent. . .you haven't seen my laundry room!) but it either takes longer, done not as well or we make a whole lot of mistakes.
But when you find out how God is gifted you, the stars all line up and life is as it is suppose to be. Have you found those gifts, yet? Maybe your first step should be to your laundry room floor and see if tiling is it. Or, you may find out as I did, that you can cross one more thing off your gifts list.
Happy searching!
Scott
I marvel at how an expert tiler could whip out a small room like mine in half the time without plaster globbed on the carpet and on the walls. I can do it, but it doesn't come easily or quickly. I suppose that's all on where our gifts lie.
I remember a while ago when I had to use a lawyer for something and after I read his document I said, "I am so glad that I don't have to do your job!" At which he promptly replied, "Funny, I was just about to say the same thing about your job. I couldn't imagine doing what you do."
God has gifted us all differently from the tiler to the lawyer to the pastor. We can probably do the other person's job (to some extent. . .you haven't seen my laundry room!) but it either takes longer, done not as well or we make a whole lot of mistakes.
But when you find out how God is gifted you, the stars all line up and life is as it is suppose to be. Have you found those gifts, yet? Maybe your first step should be to your laundry room floor and see if tiling is it. Or, you may find out as I did, that you can cross one more thing off your gifts list.
Happy searching!
Scott
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Patrick was born in the 4th century A.D. to a wealthy family in Britain, and his father was a Christian deacon. When he was 16, he was kidnapped and sold into slavery, where he turned to religion for solace. He later became a bishop and is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland.
According to legend, Saint Patrick used a shamrock to explain about God. The shamrock, which looks like clover, has three leaves on each stem. Saint Patrick told the people that the shamrock was like the idea of the Trinity – that in the one God there are three divine beings: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The shamrock was sacred to the Druids, so Saint Patrick’s use of it in explaining the trinity was very wise. Instead of introducing something entirely foreign, he built upon a foundation that they already had.
I think that is always the best practice in sharing your faith--build upon what the other person already knows or believes. If they are a scientist, speak about the God's blueprint on creation. If they are a poet, use the words of the Psalms. If they are a skeptic, begin with their difficult questions.
God is always at work around us, reaching and pursuing us in ways we sometimes miss. Patrick recognized this with the shamrock. Paul recognized this when he spoke to the people in Athens beginning with their poets and their altars. We try, also, to begin with the felt needs and the deepest hurts of those who come to Christ Lutheran. And from there, acknowledge God as one who is present in the middle of the tears and laughter, doubts and beliefs, joys and sorrows trying to make himself known.
The point is, start where people are at but don't leave them there. They mean so much to God that he refuses to leave them they way he finds them. Love doesn't always mean blind acceptance just the way you are. God's love is that acceptance that then moves the person to become that person whom God created. . .sometimes even with a shamrock
Patrick was born in the 4th century A.D. to a wealthy family in Britain, and his father was a Christian deacon. When he was 16, he was kidnapped and sold into slavery, where he turned to religion for solace. He later became a bishop and is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland.
According to legend, Saint Patrick used a shamrock to explain about God. The shamrock, which looks like clover, has three leaves on each stem. Saint Patrick told the people that the shamrock was like the idea of the Trinity – that in the one God there are three divine beings: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The shamrock was sacred to the Druids, so Saint Patrick’s use of it in explaining the trinity was very wise. Instead of introducing something entirely foreign, he built upon a foundation that they already had.
I think that is always the best practice in sharing your faith--build upon what the other person already knows or believes. If they are a scientist, speak about the God's blueprint on creation. If they are a poet, use the words of the Psalms. If they are a skeptic, begin with their difficult questions.
God is always at work around us, reaching and pursuing us in ways we sometimes miss. Patrick recognized this with the shamrock. Paul recognized this when he spoke to the people in Athens beginning with their poets and their altars. We try, also, to begin with the felt needs and the deepest hurts of those who come to Christ Lutheran. And from there, acknowledge God as one who is present in the middle of the tears and laughter, doubts and beliefs, joys and sorrows trying to make himself known.
The point is, start where people are at but don't leave them there. They mean so much to God that he refuses to leave them they way he finds them. Love doesn't always mean blind acceptance just the way you are. God's love is that acceptance that then moves the person to become that person whom God created. . .sometimes even with a shamrock
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
We had a death in the congregation yesterday--Carolyn Blight.
With a young congregation averaging about 40 plus baptisms a year, deaths are much more uncommon--between 6-10 a year. When they come, it jolts us as a family of believers.
You may not know Carolyn. I suppose that's the danger of moving after retirement to live closer to your children who are in Charlotte. Another danger is that you lose your community when you move that late in life and, in many ways, your sense of identity.
Carolyn and her husband, Ed, were both physicians in California. Ed was a urologist and Carolyn often worked in the E.R. They were very active not only in the healing ministry (which both really saw as their calling) but also in their church. Both of these calling came together as they developed and organized medical teams going to Albania. These teams were less about going into the field to do medicine and more about identifying, empowering and training Albanian physicians. Following the fall of communism, the Blights and their ministry were able to enter in and make significant medical advances in a world that was truly third world in their medical practices.
Why Albania? Certainly because of the medical need but also because of the religious need. The Albanians today grew up with no church understanding, experience or belief. It was really a blank canvas. So as the Blights helped with the medical education, they made sure the doctors with whom they trained knew in whose name they came.
To those who met Carolyn, she was that older lady who came to Bible Studies with her husband and could run circles around anyone in the room with a mental acuity, biblical knowledge and deep faith. She never flaunted her education or experience so you probably heard her and wondered, "Who is that woman?"
You had no idea in whose presence you sat. . .but God did and now, with arms wide open, is saying the words Carolyn waited a lifetime to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant. . .well done!"
With a young congregation averaging about 40 plus baptisms a year, deaths are much more uncommon--between 6-10 a year. When they come, it jolts us as a family of believers.
You may not know Carolyn. I suppose that's the danger of moving after retirement to live closer to your children who are in Charlotte. Another danger is that you lose your community when you move that late in life and, in many ways, your sense of identity.
Carolyn and her husband, Ed, were both physicians in California. Ed was a urologist and Carolyn often worked in the E.R. They were very active not only in the healing ministry (which both really saw as their calling) but also in their church. Both of these calling came together as they developed and organized medical teams going to Albania. These teams were less about going into the field to do medicine and more about identifying, empowering and training Albanian physicians. Following the fall of communism, the Blights and their ministry were able to enter in and make significant medical advances in a world that was truly third world in their medical practices.
Why Albania? Certainly because of the medical need but also because of the religious need. The Albanians today grew up with no church understanding, experience or belief. It was really a blank canvas. So as the Blights helped with the medical education, they made sure the doctors with whom they trained knew in whose name they came.
To those who met Carolyn, she was that older lady who came to Bible Studies with her husband and could run circles around anyone in the room with a mental acuity, biblical knowledge and deep faith. She never flaunted her education or experience so you probably heard her and wondered, "Who is that woman?"
You had no idea in whose presence you sat. . .but God did and now, with arms wide open, is saying the words Carolyn waited a lifetime to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant. . .well done!"
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Last Saturday, Nathan and I spent most of the day sorting golf equipment. Our garage looks like a Golf Galaxy! People have been donating used equipment for the past month and finally this past Saturday it was not cold or raining and we could sift through it all.
The equipment is not for us, of course (though some of the sets were better than mine!) Nathan and I want to form a golf team at McClintock Middle School so they can compete in the fall against other schools. As we've been collecting equipment, the school has been collecting names of interested students. We have over 40 on our list.
At the end of the day on Saturday, we had 16 complete sets of clubs with beautiful, light-weight carrying bags (thanks, Billy!). We also have a dozen used golf shoes freshly back from the shoe-shine shop.
Golf starts next Tuesday, March 16. We don't know how many of those 40 will show up, but we should be ready. We will go to Charles T Myers twice a week where they will provide lessons every Tuesday and allow us to play on Thursday.
What we need are:
1. Drivers who are willing to transport kids either on a Tuesday or Thursday once every two weeks. We pick them up at the school at 3:45 and return them at 6:00.
2. Two sets of left handed clubs
Can you help?
This is far more than learning how to swing a golf club. (Though the students don't know that). We will be teaching integrity, sportsmanship, patience, discipline and character. After all, it is the greatest game ever played!
The equipment is not for us, of course (though some of the sets were better than mine!) Nathan and I want to form a golf team at McClintock Middle School so they can compete in the fall against other schools. As we've been collecting equipment, the school has been collecting names of interested students. We have over 40 on our list.
At the end of the day on Saturday, we had 16 complete sets of clubs with beautiful, light-weight carrying bags (thanks, Billy!). We also have a dozen used golf shoes freshly back from the shoe-shine shop.
Golf starts next Tuesday, March 16. We don't know how many of those 40 will show up, but we should be ready. We will go to Charles T Myers twice a week where they will provide lessons every Tuesday and allow us to play on Thursday.
What we need are:
1. Drivers who are willing to transport kids either on a Tuesday or Thursday once every two weeks. We pick them up at the school at 3:45 and return them at 6:00.
2. Two sets of left handed clubs
Can you help?
This is far more than learning how to swing a golf club. (Though the students don't know that). We will be teaching integrity, sportsmanship, patience, discipline and character. After all, it is the greatest game ever played!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Fist, a quick response to Lynn's comment. I have read the Shack and if you would like to talk about this more, let's do it via e-mail. suskovic@christelca.org
Gretchen and I are headed up to App State today. Hannah (freshman) is going on a mission trip to Mississippi with the Lutheran Campus Ministry. We are going to take her out to lunch, get her packed and send her off. App is teaming up with Chapel Hill on this mission trip. There will be probably a half a dozen kids from Christ Lutheran between the two schools on the trip. With many choices before her, I'm glad she is going on a mission trip rather than a road trip to Daytona Beach!
I never did that for a spring break during college, did you? As I've been seeing college now through her eyes rather than through my own experience 28 years ago, I see a big change. Gone are the protests against nuclear weapons and Apartheid. No longer is there a cry to save the whales and the rain forests. It has been replaced with service that goes beyond simple rhetoric and signing petitions. They are more interested in authentic living than talking a good line. There seems to be a depth or maturity that includes hands on involvement. While I'm sure there are plenty who will be living in a bottle at night and sunbathing on the beach by day this spring break, the kids I've seen go through our Youth Program at CLC seem to be looking for more out of life than personal pleasures.
It seems back in my college days, we were going to change the world by signing petitions and writing our senators. Today, they are still idealic enough to want to change the world--but rather than demand others to do it, they would rather get their own hands dirty and make a difference.
Twenty eight years later, I think they have it right.
Gretchen and I are headed up to App State today. Hannah (freshman) is going on a mission trip to Mississippi with the Lutheran Campus Ministry. We are going to take her out to lunch, get her packed and send her off. App is teaming up with Chapel Hill on this mission trip. There will be probably a half a dozen kids from Christ Lutheran between the two schools on the trip. With many choices before her, I'm glad she is going on a mission trip rather than a road trip to Daytona Beach!
I never did that for a spring break during college, did you? As I've been seeing college now through her eyes rather than through my own experience 28 years ago, I see a big change. Gone are the protests against nuclear weapons and Apartheid. No longer is there a cry to save the whales and the rain forests. It has been replaced with service that goes beyond simple rhetoric and signing petitions. They are more interested in authentic living than talking a good line. There seems to be a depth or maturity that includes hands on involvement. While I'm sure there are plenty who will be living in a bottle at night and sunbathing on the beach by day this spring break, the kids I've seen go through our Youth Program at CLC seem to be looking for more out of life than personal pleasures.
It seems back in my college days, we were going to change the world by signing petitions and writing our senators. Today, they are still idealic enough to want to change the world--but rather than demand others to do it, they would rather get their own hands dirty and make a difference.
Twenty eight years later, I think they have it right.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Thanks for all the great comments on last blog. One comment needs a response--if you haven't figured out the pattern, yet, I try to post a blog twice a week on Tuesday and Fridays.
I'm going to diverge for just a moment from the Prodigal Son (I have to leave something for Friday's Blog). Instead, I wanted to express a word of gratitude for our Music Director, Mark Glaeser. As of yesterday, March 1, Mark has served Christ Lutheran for (drum roll, please!) TWENTY YEARS!
I have had the pleasure of working with him for nearly twelve years and I am in constant awe that he remains focused, fresh, committed and relevant to the Gospel. While most pastors will tell you of the ongoing battles they have with those wacky musicians in their churches, our relationship is not just harmonious but complimentary. His ease of flowing between traditional and contemporary is highly unique, reminding us that the Gospel cannot be limited to one particular style. His emphasis on the words that matter have made me pay attention to the message and not just the tune a song conveys. His attention to the entire worship service reveals a heart that is not merely focused on musical performance but that the Word is heard and people come to faith. And his keen sense of ministry beyond the Music Department acknowledges that what we do here day after day, year after year is not about one individual but echoes the words in John's Gospel, "We want to see Jesus."
Thank you, Mark, for our shared ministry, for being one of my trusted confidants, and for our partnership in fulfilling that Great Commission--"into all the world. . ."
"Well done, good and faithful servant. . .well done!"
I'm going to diverge for just a moment from the Prodigal Son (I have to leave something for Friday's Blog). Instead, I wanted to express a word of gratitude for our Music Director, Mark Glaeser. As of yesterday, March 1, Mark has served Christ Lutheran for (drum roll, please!) TWENTY YEARS!
I have had the pleasure of working with him for nearly twelve years and I am in constant awe that he remains focused, fresh, committed and relevant to the Gospel. While most pastors will tell you of the ongoing battles they have with those wacky musicians in their churches, our relationship is not just harmonious but complimentary. His ease of flowing between traditional and contemporary is highly unique, reminding us that the Gospel cannot be limited to one particular style. His emphasis on the words that matter have made me pay attention to the message and not just the tune a song conveys. His attention to the entire worship service reveals a heart that is not merely focused on musical performance but that the Word is heard and people come to faith. And his keen sense of ministry beyond the Music Department acknowledges that what we do here day after day, year after year is not about one individual but echoes the words in John's Gospel, "We want to see Jesus."
Thank you, Mark, for our shared ministry, for being one of my trusted confidants, and for our partnership in fulfilling that Great Commission--"into all the world. . ."
"Well done, good and faithful servant. . .well done!"
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