Is God a Broncos Fan?

Just in case you aren't a sports fan let me give you a quick update. For the past few weeks Tim Tebow, the quarterback for the Denver Broncos, has been the talk of the NFL. Tebow was an enormously successful college quarterback but nearly every scout said he did not have what it takes to succeed in the NFL. Since Tebow has taken over as the starting quarterback for the Broncos they have won six games in a row and 7 of their last 8 games. And, I have to admit, that I have jumped on board the Tim Tebow bandwagon. Yes, it is Tebow time.

Now aside from his uncanny ability to win games Tebow has been extensively criticized about the fact that he is outspoken regarding his faith. He already has a patented move, a prayer like pose that he strikes quite frequently, and Jesus and his faith are routinely a part of his post game interviews. For some they find this offensive, some fellow Christians (including another former NFL quarterback and strong believer Kurt Warner) have told him to tone it down and even Tebow's pastor in Denver is saying that they are winning because of his faith. So is God a Denver Broncos fan?

I do not believe that the Broncos are winning because God is willing it to happen. I do not trivialize God to be a good luck charm that helps us win and those non-believing heathens to lose. But for whatever reason I am cheering for this guy. I am cheering for Tebow not because I am a Broncos fan (actually they beat my team last week and I may have been secretly pulling for the opposition) and I am not cheering for him because of his faith (even though I do find it refreshing.) I am cheering for Tim Tebow because he is not ashamed to be himself. If faith is a part of who he is that is what you are going to get. Like it or not, that is who he is. He may not be the prototypical type quarterback but he doesn't change just because he doesn't fit in. This is who he is.

Too often I fear we worry about offending others or we worry that we don't fit in so we deviate from who God made us to be. Too often I worry that the church has softened the Gospel because we don't want to rock the boat for fear of losing people or turning them away. Being a follower of Jesus means a lot of things that we have hushed into the corner. Being a follower of Jesus means that we are generous. Being a follower of Jesus means that we care for those who are hurting. Being a follower of Jesus means we live our lives according to a specific code that typically goes against the norms of the world. And I worry, we may at times, shy away from this because it doesn't fit in.

I am not a Broncos fan (and I don't think God is either) but I am pulling for Tebow. I appreciate his courage and confidence to be who God has called him to be, even if that isn't the most popular thing. Who has God called you to be? Are you being that person? Or are you too concerned about fitting in?

See you in church,

Chris

A Bold Vote Forward!

I feel as if much of the past 13 years has been working towards this one vote on Sunday, December 11.

After years of buying land, eliminating debt, expanding parking, meeting with the builder, designing with the architect and raising money, this congregation voted to move forward with The Master's Plan on Sunday. It was an overwhelming affirmation without a single negative vote. We all know about the concerns for the money, attendance and debt but after weighing all the options, we have decided that now is the time for construction of our new sanctuary, youth space and commons area.

So, mark you calendar for a ceremonial groundbreaking on January 15. The actual construction will take about 14 months. Tell your family and friends now to join you for Easter worship at CLC on March 31, 2013 for the first worship service in the new sanctuary.

What excites you about this project?

Peace,
Pastor Scott

Historical Vote on December 11

It has been a long time in the making. No one can complain, "Why are we rushing this?"

I'm talking, of course, about moving forward with the Master's Plan. The congregation generously increased its commitments from 6 Million to 7 Million at this halfway point in the campaign. I am humbled and excited about this high level of support across the entire congregation with a participation rate of about 80% of our active members.

December 11 will be decision day. We will review the numbers and bids from our Contractor and vote whether or not to approve the contract. In addition, we will also look at the bank financing and make an informed decision on that.

I want to urge the congregation to attend this historic congregational vote, ask the hard question, examine the information and cast your vote. This is a significant moment in the life of Christ Lutheran. This will impact our congregation and the community for the next 100 years!

So December 11 is important. It is historic. It is bold. But the one thing it is not is hasty. We have been working towards this day for at least 15 years. Now it is time for a decision.

See you on the 11th.

Peace,
Pastor Scott

A Good Read

When you come across something that you think is really good, often times you want to share that with others. Last week I read the book "Rooms: A Novel" by James L Rubart. It is a fascinating book. Its style is very similar to The Shack which was wildly popular just a couple years ago. I think it would be hard to describe the book in just a few words but it really talks about past hurts and brokenness, purpose and the tough decisions we are asked to make in our lives. I don't want to tell you too much about the book because I want you to read it and let me know what you think. If The Shack wasn't your cup of tea than this one probably isn't either but if you like that kind of book I think Rooms will speak to you too.

Pick up a copy, read it and let me know what you think.

See you in church,

Chris

Say it ain't so Joe.

One of the biggest stories over the past few days has been the abuse scandals that have rocked Penn State. What is even more difficult to believe is that Joe Paterno's credibility has been tarnished. Joe has been at the head of Penn State's football program for over 45 years and he stressed character and honor as much as winning. These recent events have left many reeling as someone they looked up to could be part of such a situation.

Growing up my hero was a baseball player named Kirby Puckett. After he was forced to retire early due to glaucoma numerous allegations surfaced about Kirby's life and his reputation was severely tarnished. My hero was not who I thought he was.

Maybe what is worse of all is that these types of stories are becoming more and more frequent. Individuals that we look up to, trust and admire seldom remain on that pedestal. Whether it is an employer, a politician or maybe even a leader within a church it seems as if everyone is capable of falling.

For the most part we focus on the individual who has erred but really the greater hurt probably lies with those who looked up to this individual or those who were hurt by that individual. They put their faith in someone who did not deserve that trust. They put their faith in someone who is not perfect and who will make mistakes. Have you been burned in this way?

This begs the question, where do you put your trust? If we have been disappointed time and time again maybe we need to take a better look at who or what it is we look up to. This is where faith comes in. From a faith perspective we would argue that we can only fully put our trust in God. Everyone else will always disappoint but God will never disappoint.

Now it is also important to remember that the church is not God. Although the church does its best to represent God the church is made up of people and it too will fall short. Our faith must go beyond everything of this world, including the church, and reside only in God. This is the only way to avoid disappointment.

So, where are you placing your faith?

See you in church,

Chris

All Saints' Sunday--November 6

It was perfect. Just perfect.

We had a great celebration yesterday for All Saints. With one worship time, people packed into both Spirit Hall and the Sanctuary for a unique service where right after the sermon, everyone filed out of seven exits and met at the new building site. (Chris and I finished the sermon within 10 seconds of one another!)

To see the perimeter of the new building lined with the decorated, white All Saints' flags was a wonderous sight! Not only did it accent the enormous size of the footprint but it also reminded us that we build upon the work of the saints who have come before us. As we gathered around the make shift altar, we had a blessing of the land our charter members gave us (about five present with us on this day!). And as we joined together for communion, it was a glimpse of a church united in mission, strong in its foundation and bold in its vision.

Even the weather could not have been better!

From Sunday, so far we raised an addition $600,000 for the Master's Plan, raising our pledges to 6.6 million. However, there are many more pledges coming in. I fully expect us to cross that 7 million dollar mark within the week.

Thank you for coming on Sunday (in one car!). Thank you for decorating your white flags, bringing a side dish and recommitting yourselves once again to the bold vision of The Master's Plan.

The next time we will gather will be in December to consider the financing and the contract with the builder.

For All the Saints. . .
Scott

What does pure joy look like?

Last night I traveled up to Duke University to see the "indy-pop" band Blind Pilot play. Blind Pilot has been around for a few years but I went to high school with their frontman Israel Nebeker. Israel and I even stood next to each other in high school choir. I gave Israel a call on my way up and I was able to hang out with the band on their converted school bus before they played.

Now I am not sure what your perceptions are of professional musicians but not all of them are raking in the money like U2 and The Rolling Stones; actually, very few of them do. I asked Luke, the bass player, if they have started seeing some profits for all of their recording and touring and he said they have but that they could make more money waiting tables. They could make more money waiting tables!

If that is the case why would they keep doing it? Why would they spend months on the road away from their friends and family? They do it because they love what they do. There is something special about people who love what they do and when you are around them you can sense that passion, it is contagious. As I watched them up on stage playing you can clearly tell they love what they do.

"They love what they do." Can people say that about you? Can you say that you have that same passion in your life? The reality of it all is that God wants us to have that type of passion. Whether we are waiting tables or playing music to sold out crowds God wants us to be passionate about what we do. Our lives should bring us joy.

Have you found yours?

See you in church,

Chris

A Significant Event

Most of the churches where Protestants worship each Sunday were built in the 1950 and early 60's. Following World War II, there was a boom for the economy, family, America and, of course, the church.

Then something happened in the late 1960. There is a distinct downward trend in every mainline Protestant denomination beginning about 1968, including the Lutherans. In America, Lutherans started more churches, had more baptisms, and had the most members in 1968 than at any other time.

When the ELCA was formed in 1988, we started with 5.2 million members with over 11,200 congregations. Today, we have less than 10,400 congregations and have lost nearly 1 million members. To put it in perspective, we have been losing a church with a membership of 600-700 members every week for the past couple of decades!

Why the Debbie Downer News?

November 6 will be a significant moment for Christ Lutheran. While other congregations are struggling to stay open or hopefully remain plateaued, on Sunday we are going to stand on our new building site and declare this land to be holy ground. Very few of us can say that they were part of a congregation that built a new sanctuary--especially one of this size. On November 6, we stand united and in faith, traditional and contemporary alike, to be a part of this historic and significant event.

So come. Come with your decorated white flag to remember your loved ones. Come with your side dish to share at the luncheon to follow. And come with your renewed pledge card for The Master's Plan as we celebrate what God is doing at Christ Lutheran.

See you on November 6! 10:00 am!
Pastor Scott

What should we say?

The "Occupy" campaigns have been gaining strength and publicity. Over the past few weeks religious leaders have been speaking out about these demonstrations. Some in support, some more critical but seldom on the same page. So, should the church be speaking out about these campaigns or should we remain silent?

Maybe before we talk about "Occupy" we should talk about Jesus. Jesus was one who rocked the boat, he challenged authority and if there was injustice he was never shy to let the offenders know about it. Jesus spoke up for those who did not have a voice. He spoke up for women and the outcasts. He reached out to the marginalized and cared for children. Would Jesus be sitting Zuccotti Park?

I read an article from a religious leader who does have some strong opinions about these demonstrations. (You can read that article here: redletterchristians.org/a-devotion-for-wall-street). Two of my favorite quotes from this article are:

‎"...there is enough for everyone’s need, but there is not enough for everyone’s greed."

and

"It does make you wonder what to do about 401k’s and pensions. But it seems pretty clear that Jesus isn’t a big fan of stockpiling stuff in barns and banks, especially when folks are dying of starvation and preventable diseases."

Regardless of your stance on "Occupy: Wall Street" there is injustice in the world and the church is too often silent when others are hurting. We are too often silent when we can do something to help, but instead we do nothing. Our faith needs shock us, it needs to wake us up to the needs of our brothers and sisters, those who are in our backyards and those who are across the world.

How is your faith challenging you to change? How is Jesus challenging you?

See you in church,

Chris

Video

In preparation for November 6, I've put together a video. Please check it out. Master's Plan Video
Let me know what you think!

As an added treat to the special celebration on November 6, we will have present all the artists who contributed pieces for the sermon series, "Connect the Dots," and whose works now hang in the Gallery. They will be there during the potluck lunch to answer any of your questions.

Peace,
Pastor Scott

November 6--One Service Time (10:00)

It's going to be a great celebration!

On Sunday, November 6, come to worship at 10:00 either in the Sanctuary or Spirit Hall. It should be packed, so come early (in one car!) After the sermon, we will exit the seven different doors leading outdoors and all 1000 of us will meet at the new building site to wrap up worship with communion, a recommitment to The Master's Plan, a blessing of the ground and a remembrance of the saints. Afterwards, we will continue the celebration with lunch.

In preparation for this special celebration, bring a couple of things. . .

1. A heart filled with anticipation

2. A renewed pledge card for The Master's Plan. We need to increase our combined pledges from 6 to 8 million dollars. That's a one third bump. We need everyone to get on board for these remaining two years.

3. A white flag for All Saints. We will pass them out on October 23 and 30. Please take as many as you would like home with you, decorate them for a favorite person who has died, and bring them on November 6 to help us outline the perimeter of the building.

4. A cold salad, side dish or dessert to share for lunch

As a congregation, we voted to go forward with The Master's Plan on October 2. However, in doing so we realize that we build upon the work of the saints who have come before us. So help us honor their memory with worship and a renewed commitment to move forward, trusting that God is leading the way.

Peace,
Pastor Scott

Hilarious Giving--October 16

Do you write out your offering to the church "cheerfully?"

In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul wrote, "Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Interesting, the word for "cheerful" here is "hilaros," from which we get the word, "hilarious." In other words, God wants there to be something between a giggle in your heart to an all out belly laugh when you make your offering. When is the last time that happened?

Of all the "bills" I write out every week, my offering stands out in two ways. First, it is the second largest check I write next to my mortgage payment. Second, it is the one that gives me the greatest delight in writing.

I want to remind you to bring in your pledge card this Sunday, October 16. Do it with a smile, do it with a giggle in your heart, do it not because you have to but with the joy that God desires from a cheerful giver.

Laughing all the way to the offering plate!

Pastor Scott

Is faith about having all the answers?

Last night I "attempted" to teach The Holy Trinity. I say "attempted" because The Trinity can be a challenging concept to grasp if we attempt to understand it on our terms. When we talk about The Trinity God's math doesn't add up like ours does. Three equals one and one equals three? Now I do not consider myself a math genius, and I am not embarrassed to admit that my third grader's math homework frequently challenges me more than it should, but I am pretty sure that 3 typically does not equal 1 any more than 1 equals 3. What if The Trinity is not so much about understanding and explaining but about experiencing. What if we felt OK admitting that we don't fully understand this one. What if we were comfortable saying we don't have all the answers.

We live in the age of professionals. Many of us are professionals in our own fields and quite often people come to us seeking advice, clarification and answers. Now when one of these professionals does not have the answer we are looking for this surprises us. After all they are professionals and this is what they do. I may carry the title of pastor and I may have studied theology in college and seminary for nearly a decade but that does not mean that I have all the answers because faith isn't about answers. Faith is about peace, hope and family. We may go to a family member or a parent for some advice and we certainly appreciate their wisdom but their value to us goes far beyond answers. They are our family because we share our lives with them, they share theirs with us and they are a part of our journey.

It is OK to admit you don't have all the answers because faith is not about answers. Our faith is a life long journey and we never cross that finish line until the day we transition from this world to the next. And that journey is enriched because of those that we share it with. Not because of their intelligence or wisdom but because they are a part of our lives.

Enjoy the journey.

See you in Church.

Pastor Chris

Forward with Permitting!

It was the fastest congregational vote in all of recorded church history. It took all of one minute and fifteen second for this congregation to vote unanimously to move forward with the permitting for the new building. As I write this blog, David Bigham, our church administrator, is delivering the check to the builder to bring along with the plans to the county permitting office.

Thank you!

For the next 4-6 weeks, the county will tweak and comment on the plans before approval. Once this approval is secured, the builder will put the plans out for bids to the subcontractors. And then, if everything goes as planned, we will have another congregational vote in December with the contract to build.

This is really going to happen!

This has been years in the making through countless meetings for number crunching, designing and sharing information. Several councils have rotated through, each one advancing the cause a little at a time. Thank you for your patience in letting us get it right. Thank you for your generosity towards The Master's Plan. And thank you for the trust that you have placed in your leadership these many years to make the right and faithful decisions.

Thanks be to God!

Pastor Scott

Being New

Over the next two Sundays we will welcome some new members into our church family. Some have been a part of our community for a few weeks, others a few years. They have spent two Sunday afternoons with Pastor Scott, Gretchen, the staff and myself and this Sunday at the 11:15am service and next week at the 8:45 service we will introduce them to you. Now what?

How long ago did you join the church? Do you remember attending a new member class and standing in front of a group of relative strangers? What happened next for you? I am hoping "what happened next" was someone came up to you and invited you out to lunch or met you for a cup of coffee. I am hoping someone invited you to a small group or asked you to join them for a play date at the park with your kids. I am hoping someone reached out to you and made you feel a part of this family.

Now it is your turn. Joining a church can be a bit of a stretch for some people. Joining a church requires you to put yourself out there a bit and let others in. We need you to reach out to these new members of our family and make them feel welcome. We need you to invite them to lunch or buy them a cup of coffee. Their kids need to meet your kids so they can find a connection here. At one point you were a new member and someone reached out to you and the rest, as they say, is history. Now it is your turn to do the same thing, to invite them to be a part of our family.

See you in church,

Pastor Chris

Congregational Vote--October 2

It has been a long time in the making to get to this vote--and we are not quite near the end.

On Sunday, October 2 at 12:15, we will have an historic vote to move forward with The Master's Plan. After casting the vision 17 years ago, after first building the Ministry Center, after legal battles with the neighbors, after expanding our campus and improving our parking, after paying off debt and after banking $4,000,000, (whew! We've come a long ways!) we are now ready to go to the country to seek a permit to build. This is not an authorization to build (that will come in December), this is only to secure a permit. Once submitted, the process will take 4-6 weeks.

Please come to the meeting this Sunday--even if you are on board and eager to start. We need an overwhelming "yea!" vote to confirm what God is doing through us.

We have poured over the plans. We have scrutinized the numbers. We have debated the issues. It is now time for all God's people to speak in one accord, "Amen. So be it!"

AMEN!
Pastor Scott

Adultery

Last Sunday was not one of those feel good sermons. How could it be with a topic like adultery?

I wanted to be specific, without being unnecessarily graphic. I wanted it to be frank, without being insensitive to the young ears in the congregation. I wanted to speak to the married people, but with a powerful word to those who are unmarried.

When Jesus expanded the definition of adultery to lust, it make sense for us to include all those things in between--emotional affairs, premarital sex, pornography, etc. And when you do that, this commandment against adultery suddenly affects everyone--married and single, young and old. No one is left unscathed. No one can sit back with moral indignation, point a finger and say, "At least I've never done THAT!"

Why does Jesus cut such a wide swath to convict everyone with this commandment? Isn't it enough just to condemn those who have done THAT?

I begin with the assumption that everything that Jesus does is to repair, renew, restore and reunite us with God. By convicting everyone, he opens our eyes, reveals our brokenness, extends his hand and says, "Today. Today, make those changes. Today, sin no more. Today, return to me. Today, walk as a child of God. Today, start fresh. Today."

Jesus doesn't end with conviction, but that is often where we must begin in order for us to hear the last word of forgiveness.

Today!
Pastor Scott

This Sunday, 7 and 8.

This Sunday we will continue our look at the 10 Commandments and I am wondering what your take is on the 7th commandment, "Don't Steal" and the 8th commandment, "Don't bear false witness against your neighbor." At first glance we could simply say "don't take something that isn't yours" and "don't lie" but do these go further. These two might seem like weaker commandments in comparison to killing and adultery but do we always know how powerful words are and how deep and painful they can be? We may have never "boosted" a car or shoplifted at the mall but have we stolen in other ways? Have we stolen someone's self-esteem or innocence? I would greatly appreciate hearing your thoughts on this one. You can post them here or email me at chermansen@christelca.org, call the church office at 704 366 1595 or track me down on facebook. Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

See you in church,

Chris

Why Wednesdays Together

Tomorrow evening we kick off our Wednesday night program, called Wednesdays Together, and if you have never attended a Wednesdays Together I hope this will encourage you to check it out.

Why go? At its core faith is our relationship with God and this relationship needs to be cared for. Just like any relationship in your life if you don't care for that relationship it will eventually weaken and die. Wednesdays Together is a great opportunity to care for your relationship with God.

Taking care of any excuses: The evening starts at 5 with a meal. Its not lobster thermidor or filet mignon but it is a good meal. Beyond the food it is a great chance to spend some time getting to know new people or catching up with old friends. Our Sunday schedule can be a hectic one but on Wednesday nights you have all the time in the world to sit and connect with old and new friends alike.

Taking care of more excuses: the entire family is covered. You say you have a new baby? We have some of the best childcare I have ever seen and its free. You have toddlers, grade schoolers or teenagers? We have activities for them too. Its not daycare or organized chaos but it is a safe, healthy environment where your kids have the opportunity to learn about God and build connections with their peers.

And its not just for kids. We have 6 adult classes that cover a wide spectrum. Whether you want something more basic like Faith 101 or something more in depth like a study on John or Revelation we have that too. Or maybe you want to attend a class on managing your finances, understanding your God given gifts or finding some peace through yoga its all here.

Mostly this is an evening where you can grow in your faith and develop some deeper relationships with your peers who are on the same journey. It truly is a great program and I hope you will join us.

See you in church,

Chris Hermansen

The sky is falling!

I read this morning that Steve Jobs is finally stepping down as CEO of Apple. Jobs has led Apple since the mid 90s and under his leadership Apple rose to become one of the top companies in the word. For the past few years Apple's stock has fluctuated following Jobs' health. He was treated for cancer and then a few years later had an organ transplant and every time something looked bad for Jobs, Apple's stock would dip. Ultimately many feared that once Jobs did finally leave Apple's helm the company would plummet. Wow, talk about a lot riding on one guy.

What I appreciate about the church is that we don't build our entire fortune on one individual. Certainly a church has a pastor and that can be a draw for some, but then most churches have musicians and that can be a draw too. Many churches have strong youth programs or seniors programs and all of those connect with different people at different stages of their lives. You see it has never been about one individual, it has been about a group of individuals who come together to create something bigger than themselves.

Now there are churches out there who have built their entire identity on one specific individual and that seems to go well for a while but if that leader leaves, dies or gets caught in a scandal their stock dips faster than Apple's. What is important for us to remember is that our faith is not the result of a fantastic preacher or a talented musician but we put our faith in God. If we put our faith in anything else we will be disappointed. Certainly there are those who have helped us grow in our faith or who have introduced us to God but the goal is not to worship them, the point is to worship God.

Its not about one individual but many individuals, coming together to create something special. You are a part of that.

See you Sunday,

Chris

Community

Yesterday Freedom School held their closing ceremonies in our fellowship hall. We have had the privilege of hosting them for 7 weeks this summer, like we did last year and the year before. The ceremony included some sharing, a little singing and some dancing, but what really got my attention was the amount of emotion that filled our basement. A healthy number of students and leaders were overcome by the conclusion of this program to the point that they couldn't hold back their tears. As the youngest group came to the stage (kids that are close in age to my own children) some of them had a hard time saying their brief line as they covered their eyes and wiped tears from their cheeks. Now I didn't get the chance to ask them why there were crying but I am guessing it was because they had built such a strong community with their fellow students and leaders that leaving this community was difficult if not painful. I wonder if community is so valuable to these students because too often their day to day lives seldom include that kind of love and support?

Two observations form this experience. First, what type of community do you have in your life? Have you been able to surround yourself with individuals who love and care for you? This is something we all need, we are intended for community with others, and I would hope that you have found this in your family, work, neighborhood and your church. If you haven't found this please email me (chermansen@christelca.org) and let me connect you with others. Second (which connects with the previous sentence) have you reached out to others who are desperately seeking community? It is very easy for us to live in a bubble and only interact with those that we choose but that is not how we are called to live as the Body of Christ. We are called to care for those that have been forgotten, over looked and dismissed. This is not always easy and quite often it is messy but it is what the Body of Christ looks like.

I cant shake the image of those little kids crying from my mind but it is a good image. It reminds us how important community is and how much we need it. I hope and pray that you have a strong community around you and I challenge you to bring others into your community so that they might experience that love too.

See you in Church,

Chris

The things we get excited about...

This week I almost thought that Jesus had come back! But then I realized that the NFL had finally settled their labor dispute and there was in fact going to be football. I find the things that we get excited about very interesting. The amount of time and energy spent on the NFL issue was astounding but what was even more astounding was the amount of joy and celebration that followed. Boy do we love football.

The debate in Washington has only further increased the amount of polarization and political animosity in our country. This tension isn't just between the politicians but between coworkers and neighbors, friends and family members. Are we really focused on what is the best for all people or what is in our best interest? Do we really care about each other or are we more concerned with making sure the political party we identify with wins?

And then maybe a footnote to these issues is the attacks in Norway. A horrific experience but on our American news radar it is here today, forgotten tomorrow.

Now with all of these in mind, and as worked up as we may get about one or all of these issues, that excitement is short lived. It is how we have been trained. We wait for the next big story to come around and then that issue, which seemed like the most important thing in the world at that time, is completely forgotten. Where can we find lasting excitement?

Jesus dealt with this when he talked to the Samaritan woman at the well. Remember, the one that had had many husbands and then the one that she was currently living with was not her husband (things weren't that different in Jesus' day either). Jesus clearly revealed to her that she was looking for passion, purpose and meaning in all of the wrong places. He told her that he would give her living water that would be like a spring in her soul that never stopped. Wow, talk about fulfillment.

Where do you find your excitment? Is it in the latest, breaking story? Or battling alongside others who share your same opinions? Or do you find it in winning? Or living vicariously through celebrities and athletes or do you find your purpose in your faith, in Jesus? Some of these are here today and gone tomorrow and some bubble-up like a spring that never runs dry. Which one are you picking?

See you in church,

Chris

Timeless.

In a culture where something is here today and gone tomorrow, what allows the bible to remain timeless? How can a single book continue to challenge, inspire and comfort us thousands of years after it was written?

What makes the bible so powerful is it's ability to read us. What the bible says to you today may completely change next year. The gospel of John may really open you up to God right now but next summer it might be the gospel of Luke or Matthew or Mark. God doesn't change, the bible doesn't change but we change. Passages that we simply cant connect with right now may knock us off our feet next month. For me, this has been our study on the book of James. James was a book that I discarded because it seemed like that's what every "good" Lutheran did, and so I never gave it much of a shot. (Here's a side hint: If you want to focus on something you have usually avoided, plan to preach on it for 5 Sundays! All of a sudden it becomes way more interesting!) James is connecting with me (and it sounds like a lot of you too) because it is a book that I (and maybe you too) need to hear at this moment. It is a book that reminds us of what it means to be a follow of Jesus. How we are called to live, how we connect with God and how we treat each other. It is something that we need to hear.

What parts of the bible have you struggled with in years past? Are there sections that you skipped over because they didn't seem to pertain to you at that moment and time? Maybe it's time to look at those sections again and see what God is trying to say to you today.

I have heard the story many times that Luther read the bible from cover-to-cover once a year. I am guessing he experienced the same growth that we are talking about and it's a growth that we need. So take a second look at those pages that have been dark for a while and see what God is trying to say to you. I would be interested to hear what He has to say.

See you in church,

Chris

Tweeting Away

For the first time i tweeted. Now I like to think of myself as fairly hip, with a decent grasp on what is popular but Twitter was something that I had not dabbled in. I was watching the MLB All Star game and they encouraged the viewers to tweet with the "hashtag" #asg. It was incredible how many users were a part of this discussion. The "tweets" were coming in so fast it was impossible to keep up. People from all over the country, maybe even the world, sharing a common language, this evening it was baseball.

As people of faith we have a common language, the question is are we using it? When it comes to church, God, the Bible, Jesus, etc we all speak the same language, we may differ on some things, but for the most part it is the same language and the core of our conversation shares a ton in common. Are you a part of the conversation? When we use our language, when we come together, when we are a part of the conversation incredible things happen but we have to be a part of the conversation, we have to talk.

I will admit, tweeting was fun and I can see how it can become addictive but what was even more fun was being a part of something where we all shared a common interest, it was fun being a part of something. We are a part of something, we are a part of the body of Christ. Now, join the discussion.

PS - It also made a boring game interesting.

September 11--10th Year Anniversary

Here's a blog that will require some input.

The buzz among the senior pastors throughout the country right now is how to acknowledge the 10th year anniversary of 9/11. Some are doing very little thinking that to go overboard continues to dredge up the past, create more bitterness and perpetuates hatred. They will light a candle and acknowledge it within the prayers.

Others are going all out with testimonies of surviving family members and soldiers returning from the battlefield. This is a significant event in our country's recent history, they argue, in terms of lives lost, an attack on American soil and a ten year war on terrorism. To let it slip would be a mistake.

Some of it depends on where you live. Certainly those in New York or with a membership filled with military members, 9/11 will have heightened awareness.

How about you. To what extent do you think we ought to acknowledge 9/11 at Christ Lutheran?

Peace,
Pastor Scott

Faith, Church and Independence Day

As a person of faith on the 4th of July some parallels should ring within your soul. This Monday we celebrate freedom and the birth of our country. Across the country we see an abundance of flags, spend quality time with family and friends and hopefully see a fantastic fireworks show (at least that is one of the things I look forward to). So where is the connection to faith? It begins and ends with freedom, but instead of just talking about a country we are talking about an entire world. Instead of celebrating victory over another land we celebrate victory over the greatest enemy we have ever known.

Through Jesus we have an even greater freedom than what we celebrate on Independence Day, freedom over sin and death. Going all the way back to Genesis an eternal condemnation was handed down to all of humanity because of sin. A burden that was carried until the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. Because of his life, death and resurrection we have been given victory over this sentence and have received the gift of eternal life. As powerful as the freedom we celebrate on Monday is (and it is powerful) the freedom found in Jesus is even more powerful. This freedom is celebrated across the world and it's gifts extend beyond this world and this life, they extend into eternity.

If you have struggled with understanding the power of this gift I hope this parallel connects some dots for you and just as we celebrate our country's freedom may this celebration also lead to the great freedom we have in Jesus.

See you in church,

Chris

Building on Trust

The Master's Plan is about a sanctuary, commons area and youth space.

The Master's Plan is about building a tool for an even more effective outreach into the world.

The Master's Plan is also about trust.

I have put my trust in the generosity and commitment of this congregation, and have never been disappointed. The deal was that when we hit four million dollars in the bank, we begin to break ground. My trust in you has served Christ Lutheran well. We now have 3.75 million in the bank.

Now it is time for that trust to be returned.

After spending 2-3 months reviewing the costs and financial assumptions, on Monday, June 26, the Council voted to move forward with the Master's Plan. On Tuesday, we contacted our architects to proceed with the construction drawings. In September, we will have a congregational vote to approve the building permitting process. In December, we will have another congregational vote to review the bids, approve the contract and secure bank financing.

That trust will be at the center of our halftime event for the capital campaign come November. We will be well on our way to securing a permit and obtaining bids at that time. To make the Master's Plan work, at the halftime event we will have to increase our commitments currently at 6 million to 8 million. We can certainly do that--together.

This is really going to happen--certainly because of our faith in what God is doing at Christ Lutheran but also because of the high level of mutual trust that we enjoy within this community of believers.

Your Trusting Pastor,
Pastor Scott

Where are all the Lutherans?

One of the bad habits I have is checking out other churches. For some reason every time I drive by a church I have to figure out what type of church it is. Whether it is a Catholic, Baptist, Methodist or Lutheran church, I am bent on a need to know. Now for the past few days I have been with Gina's family in Tennessee and I have seen A LOT of churches. I have seen more Baptist churches than I know what to do with but the Lutheran churches have been noticeably absent.

The other day I stopped off at a road side stand to purchase some fireworks and had a great conversation with Carl, the owner. During our conversation I discovered (or was told) that Carl was a Southern Baptist and I in turn told him that I come from the Lutheran church. After a brief period of silence and a slightly confused look on Carl's face our discussion continued.

Quite often our faith is closely connected to geography and ethnicity. If this same conversation were to happen in rural South Dakota the Southern Baptist would have been the recipient of the pause and the blank stare. Now I don't have any criticism of these truths or situations but I do see a fantastic opportunity. We need to learn how to talk to one another and learn from one another. I may not agree with everything the Southern Baptists believe but that doesn't mean we are any less brothers and sisters in Christ. Grace may not mean the same thing to them but that doesn't mean I cant learn something. The Christian church is diverse and too often we look like a divided house. But what if we used that diversity to enhance the Body of Christ? What if, instead of looking at our differences, we focused on our unity in Christ and allowed that to strengthen the body? I am guessing, with certainty, we are going to see more diversity in the church before we experience a mono-denominational church, and that can be a good thing if we approach it with the right mind set. Imagine Lutherans and Southern Baptists praying together and doing God's work! What a beautiful thing. It's going to be difficult but I think we can do it.

See you in church,

Chris

The Experience

Whenever I speak with other pastors and they ask what cool things God is doing at CLC, I usually point to three--worship, McClintock and The Experience (they are all tied for first place for me!)

As I write this, The Experience is on tour. They have a real cool blogspot with pictures, itinerary and blogs at:

http//theexperiencetour.blogspot.com

During this week, pray for their safety and for their message. We have about 90 people on the road, visiting churches and, in their own words, telling the story.

I also want to invite you to be at worship this Sunday, June 26, either at 10:00 or 11:15 to see their performance. It is a modern rendition of The Prodigal Son parable. They do such a nice job of telling it in skits, music and visuals.

Thirty years from now, these 17 year olds will still be talking about their experience in The Experience. They will say it shaped their faith at a very young age and laid a foundation for the rest of their lives. They will remember the tours, the funny stories, and the relationships that were formed. And they will hope that their children will have such an opportunity that they had in The Experience.

Studies consistenly show that a huge majority church-going, faithful adults came to faith before age 18. I know that was true for me. That's why this ministry is so significant--not for the singing and the touring but for a faith that will extend from this world into the next.

Peace,
Pastor Scott

Saturday Church and Guilt

Over the past few weeks a number of individuals have shared with me how excited they are about a worship service on Saturday night. Now quite often this statement is immediately followed with some confession of guilt. It seems many folks feel guilty about finding a service that is convenient for them or that going to church on Saturday so you can sleep in on Sunday is some sort of abomination. Now just incase you are worried I talked to God and if you decide to go to church on Saturday instead of Sunday he is not going to be angry with you. It's going to be OK.

For a few years now churches have faced stiff competition. Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, time slots that at one time seemed sacred, have become filled with a variety of other options. During this evolution the church has taken a couple of different approaches. Some have used guilt and sermons about priorities to "encourage" their flock to be in church on Sunday mornings and although I agree with the need to talk about priorities I also have a realistic understanding that if church is going up against your kid's soccer tournament I have a pretty good idea who is going to win. Other churches have tried a different approach. Some have tried to adapt their schedules to accommodate a busier population. Is one approach right and the other wrong?

For years Sunday morning has been "church" time and I like that. It helps us establish balance and priorities in our lives but that doesn't mean we cant worship God Monday through Saturday too. What is important is not when you make time for God, it's that you make time for God. Whether that is Sunday morning at 10am or Saturday evening at 5pm it's not the time that is important but that you are there. God wants to connect with you, where you are at. All we need to do is set the time.

See you in church,

Chris

Connecting the Last Dot

On Sunday, we will connect the last dot.

Since August, we have been walking through the Bible together, journeying from Creation to the Tower of Babel to King David to the Birth of Jesus to the Resurrection and now on Sunday, June 19 we conclude with the Return of Jesus. We have been awed by the art ranging from painting to woodwork to metal to cloth. And hopefully along the way you have experienced God's amazing love story of coming to us to claim us as his very own.

As we near the end, two questions:

First, what Bible story stands out for you either in terms of the message or art or that "ah-ha" moment when you connected the dots?

Second, now that you have received that 30,000 foot overview of the Bible, where do you want to get a closer look? Would that be a theological theme like predestination? Would that be a book of the Bible like Romans? Would that be something to do with life application like marriage? Or did you have something else in mind.

From my perspective, I want to thank you for staying with us for the year. I think it was an important one to establish that solid, biblical foundation upon which we can build an enduring faith. Thank you for the words of encouragement and gratitude. Thank you for the wonders of the artistic expression. And thank you for your hunger and thirst for the Word of God.

Peace,
Pastor Scott

Leaving room for God.

For the past few months I have been working on a Saturday night worship service. Coordinating musicians, securing a location, lining up preachers, choosing a format, etc. and although a lot of work has been done, I can honestly say I am not completely certain what the service will look like. I have a pretty good idea, and even with all that hard work to say I know exactly what to expect would be a lie. For some this might be nerve racking but I think it is exciting. I believe that in this uncertainty God's Spirit is given the room to move.

In your life is everything figured-out, planned, coordinated and expected or do you leave some room for God to work? We would say the rational mind has everything worked out; a five-year-plan, 6 months of income in liquid reserves, the extended warranty on the new car and a 30 year fixed mortgage but if WE have everything planned out what role does that leave God to play in our lives?

The "unexpected" can lead to fear but it can also lead to faith. We can kid ourselves and think we have everything planned out but the truth is the unexpected is unavoidable and it is in those unexpected moments that we need God the most. Life is full of speed bumps we don't expect and curve balls we can't avoid, and we can live in fear of these experiences or we can allow our faith to carry us through those struggles.

On June 18 at 5pm I am excited to see how God will go to work, I expect him to be there and I invite you to be there too.

Kairos

I hate to wait.

When I'm in a line at the grocery store that is going too slowly, I'll hop over to another--and get stuck behind someone who needs a price check.

When the traffic is snarled and I try to find a short cut, I stumble upon an accident and have to stop dead in my tracks.

When I am doing some touch up paint around the house under a deadline and don't have time to tape the lines, I usually look back to regret it.

It seems when I impose my timing on life, there is always a push back that comes with a strong message. . .wait.

In the Bible, they talk about two kinds of time. Chronos is the time measured by your watch. Kairos is the time measured by the Spirit. You can't force Kairos time. Unfortunately, (for me, at least) you have to wait for the Spirit to move and act and breathe.

On Sunday as we celebrate Pentecost, we will turn our attention to how the Holy Spirit moves within Kairos time. The secret is to wait and watch. That doesn't mean remaining idle. We still plan wisely and work hard. However, when we try to impose our Chronos time, we not only frustrate God but also ourselves.

Beside the grocery store and Charlotte traffic, where is God teaching you right now about the value of Kairos?

Peace,

Pastor Scott

So much tragedy.

Yesterday I attended a breakfast hosted by "Men For Change" in association with United Family Services. Both organizations work to bring awareness to domestic abuse/violence and to offer support to those who have been victims. This was a powerful event! The keynote speaker was Sheri Lynch of "The Bob and Sheri Show." Now I had heard of Sheri and, once in a while, I have tuned in to her show but I didn't know her story. Sheri grew up in an abusive home with an abusive father. She experienced horrible things that truly devastated her childhood. But that isn't how her story ends. Not only has she used that pain to propel her life in a new direction, she is a voice for others who have gone through or are currently in abusive situations.

What do we do when things go bad? What do we do when we hit rock bottom? What do we do when horrible things have happened to us that were out of our control? In these situations it is crucially important to remember that, when life is at its worst, God is at his best. Every time we turn on the TV or read the newspaper or head to a news website we are bombarded with tragedy. Murder, tornados, floods, earthquakes, unemployment, budget cuts, war, violence, etc., all of these things are flung at us without pause; but, just as quickly as they become headlines, they are forgotten and the next catastrophe is hurled at us. We never get to hear the rest of the story. We never get to hear how these towns rebuild or how strangers came to the aid of someone they had never met. We never hear about the addict who finds the strength to rebuild their lives and then dedicates everything they have to help others who are battling the same demons. We hear about Good Friday a lot but we don't always hear about Easter.

Everyone has struggles, bad things happen, but we don't stay there. God is still working in that pain and struggle and when we get out of that pit we have the opportunity to share our story of hope with others. To remind them that life won’t always be that way and maybe we have the chance to make life better for someone else. This is doing God's work.

See you in church,

Chris

QUILLOWS

For some, it's a made up word, combining Quilt and Pillow.

For some, it is cruel and unusual punishment that ought to be banned.

For others, it's like seeing an accident on the road. You never want to see or experience that pain and yet you can't help but looking.

On June 5, we have our annual Quillows Ceremony at the 11:15 worship where we recognize our graduating seniors with a special quillow that the parents have made to wrap their child once again in their arms before sending them off to college. While it is a tough and emotional service to get through, it is also a very special and heart warming moment to experience for both the families and congregation who have raised these young people together.

As we celebrate another Quillows on Sunday, we realize that many hands have shaped these graduates. While the parents alone stand up with their child, the Sunday School teacher who first taught him the Ten Commandments looks on. The youth volunteer who took her bowling, breaks into a smile. The choir director who coaxed him to sing sheds a tear. The confirmation small group leader marvels at how well she has done.

These are our kids. We have all played a role in shaping them to be the people who stand before us today. And while we all don't get to wrap that Quillow around their shoulders on June 5, on those lonely college nights when they feel so far away from home and crawl into bed with that Quillow, they will remember that there is a greater family here at Christ that loves them.

Join us on June 5.

Bring a tissue!

Pastor Scott

The beginning of summer...

Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and for a lot of us summer vacation means traveling. Now I am curious, when you travel and you are away over the weekend, do you find a church to attend on Sunday or do you worship at the "Church of St. Mattress"? I am guessing for a lot of us we don't take the time to find a place to worship when we are away from home. This summer I am challenging you to take your faith with you when you go on vacation. Pack it in there with your swim trucks and flip flops. I know there are a million excuses not to do this and I don't want to hear any of them. Being in God's house and with God's people is incredibly important for our souls even when we are away from home. Take the time and do the research to find a church so you can have your soul fed. I guarantee you it will be worth it.

To help you do this I want you to email me (chermansen@christelca.org) after you have had the chance to worship somewhere else. I want to hear about the experience. I want to hear about what was different and what was the same. I want you to realize that we are a part of a gigantic family across this globe that finds their unity in Jesus.

Now when you walk in to this new church I also need you to promise me that you will approach this experience with a positive attitude and an open mind. Certainly it wont be Christ Lutheran but the Spirit is alive and working in that place, that same Spirit that fills Christ Lutheran and that Spirit wants to connect with you.

Vacations are great, we all need them, but don't forget to take your faith with you. I look forward to your emails.

See you Sunday,

Pastor Chris

Parenting--at age 20

I heard my mom and dad once say that you never stop being a parent. While I now know what they mean, I sure hope I'm not turning into them!

Our oldest, Hannah, just turned 20. She is doing well in college, old enough to vote, and responsible enough to make her own decisions. Though Gretchen hates it when I say it, Hannah is a woman, no longer a little girl.

And yet, when we put her on the airplane this past weekend to send her off to L.A. to work in a Physical Therapy Clinic for the summer, those parenting instincts kicked in. Do you have a jacket? Do you have enough money? How will you get around? Don't talk to strangers. Call us when you get there. Pack some cold medicine.

For the most part, she patiently accepted our neurotic parenting without once reminding us that if the US Government considers her mature enough to choose a President, we should trust her enough to pack her own toothbrush.

You never stop being a parent.

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he invited them to call God "Our Father." It dramatically changed the way they understood their relationship with God as one who looks over, protects, love and worries about his children, no matter their ages. And when they wander far from home and lose their way, like a parent, God will not rest until they are safely home.

Hannah will do well in LA. It is a great opportunity and a unique adventure. And while we encouraged this summer job and helped set it up for her, there will always be just a twinge of anxiety until she is back home.

Always a Parent, Always a Gift,
Pastor Scott

Now what...

Now that 6pm on May 21 has come and gone let’s talk about the work that needs to be done.

I recently read an article about atheists who are excited about this event because when it doesn’t happen they are looking forward to “rubbing it in Christians’ faces.” How in the world did this happen? Typically when someone talks about the end of the world they talk about someone who will take the express elevator up (themselves) and someone else who will end up extra crispy, and those who are told they will be extra crispy don’t usually like that.

We love to judge don't we. We love to say who is in and who is out and somewhere along the line churches thought it would be a good idea to use this approach as a way to draw people to the faith. Newsflash: it isn’t working. It is widening the chasm between those who go to church and those who don’t. It is increasing the animosity between the pew-sitters and the non-pew-sitters.

Now Jesus preached a message that was challenging but he also tried to reveal how incredible God’s love is. He understood his audience before he spoke so he could share the message that they needed to hear, the message that would lead them to God. It may have been delivered in different ways but the result was always the same, getting closer to God.

The end of the world will happen, someday, but the Bible tells us over and over again not to worry about it. We are to live everyday as if it might happen at any moment.

There has been a Martin Luther quote floating around that I think is excellent. “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” No matter what happens tomorrow we have work to do today. We are called to lead people to God, and by the looks of the animosity that our “atheist” brothers and sisters have towards us, we have a lot of work to do. Let’s stop creating division and start building a better world. Are you with me? Because we need you!

See you in church,

Pastor Chris

A Strange Family

Just this week I was amazed again at how diverse our congregational family is.

At our new member class sitting at the same table was a lifelong Lutheran who great up as a preacher's kid eating lunch with a woman who grew up primarily Muslim. This week I will meet with a guy who was Jewish and once considered being a rabbi but now is interested in converting. I had lunch last week with a guy whose bumper stickers clearly display his suspicion of the government and another person who thought Marx didn't go far enough.

This is our family!

And yet they all have found themselves here at Christ Lutheran. They don't look the same, vote the same, even believe the same. But there is something here that they hold in common--Jesus.

When I look at the Bible and see the mismatch of people who followed Jesus, they look like, well, like our congregation. Rich and poor, conservative and liberal, opinionated and meek, Jewish and Gentile. But they all agreed that Jesus is both Lord of their lives and Savior of their souls.

If there is room enough in just one week of my life for all these different kinds of conversations, then I have to think that there is room for you at this church, too. I don't assume that you will agree with me all the time. But I do assume and expect that you will be engaged in the questions with me.

Because that is what family does. . .even one as strange as ours.

Peace,
Pastor Scott

Finding Perspective

Last night I watched an interview between two Christians. I assumed that both of these Christians believe in Jesus, go to church and read the bible, but for some reason it seemed like these two believers really didn't like each other. The interviewee had recently written a book and the interviewer seemed to be taking great delight in attempting to thrash the book's content and push the author into a defensive position. Have you ever seen anything like this? Why would two people, who seem to be working for the same goal, go after one another with such hostility and anger?

I am firmly convinced that we would rather be defined by our differences than our similarities. We are very good at creating divisions and once these divisions have been established we tend to surround ourselves with individuals who only share our same opinions. What is worse is that churches do this, believers do this and instead of doing God's work we sit and debate.

Now this is not to say that issues shouldn't be discussed, those types of discussions can lead to tremendous growth, but when these debates lead to gridlock it is God's work and God's people that suffer.

We have more in common with each other than we think. We need to define ourselves by our similarities, that we are brothers and sisters in Christ, and that, as believers, we are called to go to work. Now you and I may not agree on everything but that doesn't mean that we cant go to work for God's people. That doesn't mean that we can't work side by side building a home or serving a meal. That doesn't mean that we can't live out our faith for the benefit of others.

There is a time and place for debate but not at the cost of God's people. Let's put aside our differences and get to work, for God's sake and his people.

See you in Church,

Pastor Chris

LOVE WINS--A Reminder

I just got back from the senior pastors' conference for large churches in the ELCA and had several conversations about Rob Bell's latest book, "Love Wins." Some think that he is asking the questions that we've been avoiding for years while others think that he crosses the line into heresy. If nothing else, he has rattled the evangelicals' cage and caught the attention of many young people who have turned their back on a church that teaches eternal punishment.

Is Rob Bell a universalist?
Does hell exist and if so is anyone in it?
Doesn't God get whatever God wants--everyone to go to heaven?
Is heaven out there somewhere or is heaven what we create here?
Is our concept of heaven and hell correct?

Get the book. Read the first three chapters. And meet me on Wednesday night, May 11, for three weeks beginning at 7:00. It should be a pretty interesting conversation.

Peace,
Pastor Scott

Searching for the right words.

A lot of people have done a lot of writing this past week. A lot of people have done a lot of talking this past week. I have been searching for the right words. The death of Osama bin Laden has been the topic of conversation since Sunday night and, as only we can do, we have found a way to let this divide us too. Many have talked about justice finally being served, while others have said this death should not be celebrated. Others have talked about closure and the healing this brings while others have worried about the potential repercussions.

As important as these issues are, and they are important, what has consumed me this past week is the question, "How do we, as people of faith, confront evil." Two things come to mind; first: Bonhoeffer. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was a pacifist, saw pure evil in Hitler and felt the need to stop this evil. He associated himself with a group that planned an assassination attempt on Hitler, an association that ultimately cost him his life. (If you dont know much about Bonhoeffer please look him up, he is a fascinating man that we need to know about.)

The second is Ephesians 6. Verses 10-20 speak of this battle against evil and our need to put on the full armor of God. I find this passage so helpful because it reminds us not to fight evil on our own but only with God's protection.

Now I am not offering any answers here but I am interested in your thoughts, how do we confront evil? Is there an evil that needs to be confronted? If there is, is it our job to confront it? And, what is the best way to carry that out?

I look forward to hearing from you.

See you in church,

Pastor Chris

Responding to Devastation

This morning I was reading through some facebook posts. Folks trying to post funny comments (myself included), one talking about the importance of their upcoming book, and others sharing their coffee orders as they wait in line at the cafe. For some reason these just don't seem appropriate to me right now. I worry about those who have had their lives turned upside down. I feel for those who have lost loved ones. I am thinking about those who are left with nothing. How do we respond to devastation?

It's hard to watch the live footage of the storms and not sense their fear. It's difficult to see the destruction and not feel their pain in our own hearts. If you are experiencing those feelings too, own them, own those feelings. These are our natural reactions to our brothers and sisters when they are hurting. Whether we like it or not, whether we want to admit it or not we are connected to each other. Regardless of the differences or the distance we are connected as God's creation. It is natural for us to hurt when someone else hurts.

So what do we do? First, pray and then pray some more. Pray for those who are hurting. In your prayer ask God how he would like you to respond. If he is telling you to go out there and work with those who are trying to put their lives back together, then get in your car and go. Go and take as many folks with you as possible. If he is telling you to open up your wallets and send some financial aid then do just that. Whatever we do it is important to let those who are hurting know that they do not hurt alone. We are with them during this time and God is with them during this struggle.

See you Sunday,

Chris

"Love Wins," by Rob Bell

Have you heard of this book?

Evidently many have to the point that blogs and articles and TV shows are abuzz about it. Even Time Magazine has the author, Pastor Rob Bell, on its cover.

What the big deal?

In this book, Pastor Bell can't imagine that God would let anyone suffer an eternity in hell. Furthermore, he surmises, because God is God and can do pretty much whatever he wants, and we know that God wants everyone to have abundant life. . .ergo, Love Wins. In other words, everyone eventually, will go to heaven. God's love is so overwhelming that everyone will embrace Jesus as Lord and Savior either during this life or in the life to come.

You either love this stuff or hate it. Which one?

We are going to talk about it during a three part book study on Wednesday evenings on May 11, 18 and 25. Please join me in the Forum at 7:00. Since Wednesdays Together will be over by then, you will have to arrange your own child care and dinner.

So, buy the book, read through it (it's a fast read) and bring your A Game to this lively, heated and controversial subject.

Peace,
Pastor Scott

Will anything change?

This Sunday a lot of people will go to church. I am not sure what the percentage increase is, but most churches will find more people in the pews than they usually do. Why? Is it a tradition? Just something to do on a Sunday morning? Out of obligation? I guess I am not so concerned about the why people will be there but I am wondering will anything change?

We are not patient people, we like the immediacy of our world and powerful change takes time. It is estimated Jesus rose from the dead around 33 AD. Christianity was illegal until 313. Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in 1517 and here we are in 2011. This did not happen over night but it happened because of individuals who were committed to their faith thought it was important enough to share with others. Do we think our faith is important enough to share?

This blog isn't read by the thousands but I believe the handful of individuals who do read it are passionate about their faith, will anything change with us this Easter? Here is my challenge to all of us: share this story. Don't let this Easter go by without anything changing. Allow the power of Easter to change you and then let the spirit take hold. I truly believe that if we give ourselves fully to the Gospel sharing the story will become second nature. I am asking that we hold each other accountable to not let this Easter go by unnoticed, let's change the world.

See you in church,

Chris

College Visits

. . .and nothing remains the same.

We just returned home from two college visits with Nathan. It was a time filled with a myriad of emotions. Certainly on the top of that list were feelings of excitement and anticipation. But included right alongside those were twinges of anxiety and loss.

When Hannah, our first, went to college, that was tough. Nothing remained the same. The four of us did a lot together and with her gone, those dynamics changed considerably. (Many of you experienced that) But with the last one leaving the house (we still have a year and a half), once again we realized that nothing will remain the same.

As we enter into Holy Week, we remember that with each event, nothing remains the same. On Thursday, the Passover Meal now becomes the foundation of Holy Communion. On Friday, the cross, a symbol of brutality and death, now becomes a symbol of life. And on Sunday, the empty tomb, a place of finality, now becomes the place of new beginnings.

With each change comes with it the myriad of emotions ranging from the betrayal on Thursday to tragedy and grief on Friday to surprise and joy on Sunday. All the emotions are valid, and all remind us that nothing remains the same.

From college to the cross, it's all change for the good!

Peace,

Pastor Scott

Are we building something together or trying to build something better?

When it comes to Christianity do we see other churches and other Christians as allies or competitors? I believe we should see each other as allies but I fear too often we are competing against one another for the same goal.

Let's compare a sports team versus a musical group to help illustrate this point. Certainly a team works together to accomplish a goal but if their goal is achieved there is also a loser. But with a musical group individuals come together to creates something, something that is beautiful, something that anyone can be a part of and, hopefully, something that impacts others. When I think about the church and the goals of the church I hope we are trying to create something beautiful, something that everyone can be a part of and something that changes lives. I am by nature a competitive person, I love to win and I hate to lose, but if I allow that mentality to creep into the church that will undermine our goal of creating something.

I have heard that worldwide there are over 1000 different branches of the Lutheran church, 1000! Now certainly we disagree on some key points and most likely we will never agree on everything but aren't we still working toward the same goal? Aren't we all trying to work for God' kingdom? Somehow we need to let our similarities define us instead of our differences. Somehow we need to let God's will lead us instead of our own because when all is said and done we are working towards the same goal and we will be much more successful if we work together.

See you Sunday,

Pastor Chris

What Makes Communion Work?

What makes Communion "work?"

We have worked with about 43 2-5 graders to prepare them for their first communion on Maundy Thursday, April 21st. During our studies, they have asked the question, "When it a person old enough to receive communion?"

I received my first communion on the day I was confirmed. The message I received was that what made communion work was enduring three years of confirmation classes.

In the 80's, first communion age dropped to about 10. It was separated as a reward for "graduating" from confirmation classes. What seemed to make communion "work" was enough knowledge about the sacrament. You didn't need to ace the SAT's but you had to have a working knowledge of what you were doing.

Not too much later, many churches advocated for infant communion, as they often celebrate in the Orthodox Church. The message? Just as baptism "works" for an infant who does not decide or understand the sacrament, what makes communion work is the Holy Spirit and not the knowledge or belief of the individual.

In determining the correct age for communion, we have settled in on second grade. Why? I've thought in terms of what Luther said that makes communion work. It's not a graduation gift or based on how well you score on a test or even in the physical act of digestion bread and wine. What makes communion work is the believing heart.

That's why as we offer communion here for second graders, but we always leave it up to the discretion of the parents. Some see faith in their child before this age while others choose to delay first communion until there is a longing for the sacrament by the child.

How about you? When did you receive your first communion? What message did you receive subconsciously about what makes communion "work?"

Peace,
Pastor Scott

The Call

Not talking about my call to ministry but a telephone call that no one likes to receive. "Mom is in the hospital." That is what my dad said when he called late on April 1 and this wasn't a joke. Now my first thought was that he was talking about his mom who has been in and out of the hospital since Thanksgiving but he wasn't, "mom" was my mom. Now to better understand my panicked reaction it probably helps to know that my parents have never been in the hospital, so when I get this call my thoughts turn to the worst possible conclusions. I talked to my dad for a while and then I sent my sister a text asking if she had talked to my dad. Now she tends to "freak-out" more than I do and I figured I would be the one comforting her but when she called me she was surprisingly calm. This calmed me like nothing else could. If my sister was calm I had a better sense that everything was going to be OK.

Being a follower of Jesus doesn't mean that we will never experience any pain, hardship or loss. We live in a broken world and death is a reality of that. And even though we know that somehow things will always work out according to God's will that doesn't mean we wont have bad days. Even Jesus had these types of experiences. When he went to the garden to pray before he was arrested he was filled with a great deal of emotion and he went there to share that with God. The other powerful thing Jesus did in the garden was he didn't go alone. He brought Peter, James and John with him. Our faith is best experienced in a community. Jesus turned to his community during a challenging time just like I did when I was "freaking out" by calling my sister. We all need a strong community around us, people that we can turn to when we struggle. Have you found your community yet? If not please let me know, I would love to connect you with some folks who want to be a part of your faith life.

And incase you are wondering my mom went home that night and seems to be fine now.

Sarcoma Stomp

Stomping out Sarcoma Cancer is a God-size task.

But that is exactly what Paula Takacs ventured out to do when she organized this run/walk on April 2 called The Sarcoma Stomp. After months of preparations, we all gathered for the race at 9:00 am with about 350 walkers/runners and 550 giving units and scores of volunteers. The day was perfect, the event was well organized and the enthusiasm was high.

I can't say that I won the race. . .or my age group. . .or my weight class. But what a time! On Sunday, Paula told me that we had raised over $90,000 for a specific research center that is the nation's leader in Sarcoma Research.

Thank you for Paula and her family for heading this up. Thank you for all the supporters, runners and walkers. And thank you, God, for the perfect day to celebrate the gift of life.

For we know that in the end, cancer can never win. No matter which way the battle goes, life wins.

In Christ,
Pastor Scott

Every year, around November, I tell myself I wont get sucked in again but by April it happens, I get baseball fever. I often wonder why so many have this love affair with sports. We love the competition, the challenge, the success, the fame and the almost super human ability of these superior athletes. But aside from something to do for a few months a year, something to pass the time, does this fascination have much of a positive impact on our lives?

As much as I will beat myself up or scratch my head at our fascination with professional sports I think there are some positive lessons we can learn from this weird relationship. Sports teach us about hope. I am a big Minnesota Twins fan and that in itself brings with it some pain. The Twins are in a small market, they dont have the revenue of a team like the Yankees or the Red Sox and when they are up against teams like these it looks a little like David Vs. Goliath. Even though my team has been swept out of the playoffs by the Yankees more times than my son has years, every year I am filled with the hope and excitement that this could be the year.

Sports help us find community. A few months back I was in Home Depot and I saw a guy wearing a Twins jacket. This is a bond that is almost supernatural. We began talking about the team, sharing our hopes for the coming season and our disappointments from years past. Perfect strangers can find instant community through this bond.

Our faith should have the same impact on our lives. At the core of our faith is hope. As we draw closer to Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter at the root of this journey is hope. Our faith gives us community. Although I am consistently grieved by the lack of community in churches, grieved almost daily, our faith helps us find community with a strength that is rarely matched. Faith is the "super-glue" that holds us together if we allow it to. Instead of looking for a reason to divide let's look for a reason to unite found in the power of the Gospel.

See you in church, Chris

A Glimpse Over the Fence

You never know how good you have it until you look over the fence.

Today, I went to a pastors' retreat in Salisbury. We spent the day in worship, prayer and conversation. I really found it refreshing in so many ways. I had way to many things to do and thought about cancelling. I'm so glad I didn't.

However, several pastors spoke about their fractured congregation. One pastor said his severance package ran out last January after he was asked to leave. Another pastor thought his church had about a year and a half until they went bankrupt. Another spoke of the weight he felt on his shoulders and within his heart. Many sat there, soaking up the quiet, drinking in the fellowship and gathering strength from the prayer to face their churches.

I never take for granted what we enjoy here at Christ Lutheran. It's far from perfect. I know some people fall through the cracks. The staff is filled with cracked vessels. We could tighten up some screws. But if you ever doubt what God is doing here or the strength of the community or the depth of the ministry or the extent of the impact, take a glimpse over the fence from time to time.

How good, Lord, to be here!

Your Grateful Pastor,
Scott

Who is Jesus?

I have a coffee mug that has about two dozen names that could answer that question. Each one is good. . .and each one is not quite enough.

I remember when I was a freshman at college. I went to my religion professor after a particularly mind-boggling lecture. I had one question. "Who is Jesus?" I don't remember his answer because he went on for about a half hour with metaphysical, eschatological, soteriological mumbo jumbo.

I ended up as a religion major and before I graduated, I went back to this same prof (who was my advisor) and asked him again, "Before I leave the place, I just want to be sure who Jesus is. Who is he?" To his credit, he gave the same half hour mumbo jumbo. To my lack of credit, I still didn't understand him.

This Sunday at church, we will read Matthew 16 in which Jesus asks that same question, "Who do you say that I am?" Not your parents or your church or your pastor or your religion prof, but you. Who do you say that I am?

I would like to hear from you. Give me a one or two sentence answer. If it takes more than that, consider becoming a religion prof! I'll use the best on Sunday (anonymously).

Peace,
Pastor Scott

Easter at McClintock

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

On Sunday, March 13, I asked for 30 volunteers who would be willing to give up their Easter at CLC and help host one at McClintock Middle School for the families we serve. We will need drivers, hospitality, set up and tear down. Hoping for 30, I received 100 volunteers! And the good news is that most of them have never volunteered on Tuesday nights at McClintock.

(I'm just hoping we will have enough people for worship left over at CLC!)

People have asked what the long term goal is for this worship. I've realized in recent years that what my long term goal is may not be what God's is. What I can give you is the short term goal. If Easter is well received, we would like to offer worship on a regular basis each Sunday beginning in September. And if that goes well, in a couple of years we will either blend that worship into ours with the new building or help them establish a church of their own.

At this point, I am thrilled at what God is doing. These four years at McClintock have been a blessing to both the school and to us. Now it is time to share our very best--the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life!

He is Risen!

Pastor Scott

How's Your Lenten Journey Going?

If you were with us on Ash Wednesday we talked a lot about the season of Lent being a journey that we take with Jesus. This journey is difficult, it leads to a cross, is filled with pain and ends in death. But that is not the end of the story.

The Christian Faith is something best experienced with others, and I am inviting you to be a part of my journey. This Wednesday at noon we will gather to worship, be fed at the Lord's table and journey with Jesus. I hope you will join us.

Our theme for these service (and the class that I am leading on Wednesday nights) comes from the book of Jonah who was an Old Testament prophet who had a journey of his own. As we learn about his journey we learn about our own journey.

Together we will journey with Jesus to better understand his life and the life that he gives to us. I hope you will join me.

See you in church, Pastor Chris

Are Non-Traditional Churches Becoming More Traditional?

I am becoming more and more surprised to see churches that we might call "non-denominational" looking more and more like denominational churches. As Lutheran churches across the country celebrated Ash Wednesday, as we do every year, some churches were engaging their congregations in this service for the very first, or one of the first times. Why is this?

Some scholars are suggesting that "mysticism" is making a comeback. So what is mysticism? Mysticism, from my perspective, approaches God with the understanding that we are unable to fully understand God, but we experience him more fully when we let go of our need to understand him completely. An example, the Lutheran understanding of communion: We believe that Jesus is truly present in the bread and wine that we receive during his holy meal. We don't try to explain or understand that presence we simply accept it.

So why are more churches engaging in these ancient practices? I believe this is happening because we are realizing that faith is not found in answers or understanding but through a connection with God, and quite often a connection that is beyond our typical understanding. Where and how do you experience God? Let me know! Pastor Chris

Ash Wednesday--March 9 12:00, 5:00, 7:00

Most of the time, we try to avoid thinking about our mortality. Talking about the tomb, detailing our death, and facing our finality do not rank high on our daily "to do" lists.

When we do, it is often in passing when we come across an accident or when we sit at a funeral and can't help but confront death. Those morbid thoughts often pass quickly as we try to return to our normal, carefree lives.

So when we actually plan a worship service that reminds us of the fleeting nature of this life and hear those words spoken, "Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return," it can be a bit jarring.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40 days of Lent that prepare us for the glorious celebration of Easter. It is a service that focuses on our need for repentance, the mortal nature of our bodies and the promise that awaits us on Easter. The solemn nature of this worship serves to heighten our joy when we gather on Easter morning to shout, "He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed!"

I would encourage you to set aside these next 40 days to:
1. Do a daily devotional
2. Worship with us at noon every Wednesday
3. "Give up" something for Lent (and don't tell anyone!)
4. "Take on" something for Lent (like a morning prayer walk)

See you in church on Wednesday!

Pastor Scott

El Salvador-Part !

When we first arrived in El Salvador I asked A LOT of questions of the people who had been there before. I wanted to know what to expect, I wanted to know what we were going to do and I wanted to know how much we could accomplish. On Sunday, before we had even started working, I asked our group leader three questions.

I wanted to know what was the main reason for bringing a bunch of folks from the US down to this Central American country. Were we brought there to work? I thought this was the least likely reason we were brought down. I was pretty sure most of us did not have a vast amount of experience in masonry work and feared that our work might slow the process or worse lower the quality of work.

I asked if we had been brought down to raise up an awareness of the deep need in El Salvador. Beyond just poverty, natural disasters have decimated this country. It is estimated that 400,000 homes are substandard for habitation in El Salvador.

I also asked it we had been brought down to raise the morale of those we worked with. I wondered if it would boost the spirits of the workers and the homeowners to see these folks from the US taking time out of their lives to come down and partner with these individuals to let them know that people do care about them, even people that live many miles away.

A week later, as our trip was coming to an end, I reflected on these questions and realized that really we were brought down for all 3. We were able to do good work and make a difference in the construction of the home. We were made aware of the need and have been able to share this need with others. We were able to make strong connections with those we worked with and for those we were building the homes for. I hope they believe that we do care about them and see one another as brothers and sisters in Christ regardless of the language we speak, the color of our skin or the size of our bank accounts.

I know that I have been changed by this experience, and I want you to experience the power of this mission. Please consider joining us when we return to our brothers and sisters in El Salvador to continue to do God's work.

See you in Church, Pastor Chris

Preparing for First Communion

One class that I truly enjoy teaching is First Communion. I get together with parents and their elementary children for three sessions to learn about the history, theology and blessings that come with this sacrament.

Generally, parents and children are together. However, for the first session, I take the parents alone and administer a three page, no looking, no talking test. For about ten minutes, there is silence in the room as they scribble down answers and mutter, "I should have paid more attention at confirmation classes."

The test is just a fun way (at least from my perspective) to teach a lot of information in a short period of time. If the parents are going to be the primary faith advisors for their children, then we need to make sure that we are all on the same page.

The fun part comes when the questions arise. With so many people coming from a variety of backgrounds, our understanding of baptism and communion is not always in unison. Here are some of the questions. . .

Can I receive communion in a Baptist, Catholic, Episcopalian church?

What is the appropriate age to receive communion?

How often should we celebrate communion?

My friend is an unbeliever. If I secretly baptize my friend's child in the bathroom, is that child baptized?

Go ahead. . .take a stab. Which question do you want to tackle?

Peace,
Pastor Scott

Pastor Chris Experiences El Salvador

For my next two blogs I want to share with you two of the more powerful experiences I had during my time in El Salvador.

Before we got to work on the construction site, our contacts in El Salvador wanted to share with us a little bit about their identity and their history. This took us to "La Divina Providencia," a hospital for hospice patients. At this exact place, in the chapel, on March 24, 1980, while leading mass, Romero was assassinated. Romero was associated with the "Liberation Theology" movement and this did not sit well with the government. Romero argued that the way the government was treating the poor was unjust and conflicted with the teachings of Jesus. Romero went so far as to ask Salvadoran soldiers to obey God's calling, a higher calling, and not the government's orders to further violate the citizen's basic human rights.

As I reflected on this powerful site (so powerful they still have the clothes that Romero was wearing when he was shot in the chest, (bullet hole included) I was left asking the question, "when are we called to advocate for change?" Thankfully we don't experience the same evil that plagued Romero's land, but are we as Christians called to speak up for what is right and condemn what is evil? Think of Bonhoeffer who felt so compelled by the evils of Hitler that he, as a pacifist even, plotted Hitler's assassination. Do we have a mandate, instilled by our faith, to live up to a similar calling even if it might cost us our lives?

P3--The Ultimate Mat Carriers

On Sunday, we focused on the story in Mark 2 where four buddies carried their friend lying on a mat to a house where Jesus was teaching. Since they couldn't get to him because of the crowd, they made a whole in the roof to lower him down, mat and all.

So we talked about the importance of having mat carriers during those times in which we find ourselves in need of help. We all need mat carriers. Don't be so proud or stupid or private or stubborn to try to carry that mat of yours all by yourself.

But some truly don't have mat carriers. Not for lack of want. They would love a mat carrier. But for some reason, they find themselves alone with their mat and now where to turn.

Is that you?

We have a ministry that majors in carring mats. It's called P3. It is a group of about 30 volunteers who will bring over a meal, play cards, pick up groceries, look after children or drive you to the doctor. Whatever you need. Please call me if you need a mat carrier. That's what they love to do.

Or, maybe you are willing to take up a corner and carry someone else's mat. P3 could always use more. Let me know if you want to serve as a mat carrier for someone else.

We all need mat carriers. And I have found God does his best healing through the gift of these mat carriers who step up and say, "I'll take a corner of that!"

Peace,
Pastor Scott

Greetings from El Salvador.

I am sitting in the closet where they keep the computer trying to understand a computer that speaks Spanish. We had our first day of work today, and it was hard work. I thought I would be using hammer and nails on this project but due to the lack of trees, a hammer and nails aren't really needed. The houses down here are constructed mostly of concrete and rebar and without much in the way of mechanical supplies you certainly get a workout.

El Salvador is a beautiful country that reminds me a little bit of Tucson. The country is full of volcanos and experiences earthquakes on a regular basis. This increases the need for homes in this country.

Christ Lutheran has a good reputation down here. We have worked with Habitat on many homes and they appreciate our relationship. Consider yourself invited for the next trip. We return Sunday night and I cant wait to share more of the trip with you.

Peace

Chris

Islam on Wednesday Night

Do you know the difference between Shia, Sunni and Sufism? Do you know the tenets of The Muslim Brotherhood? Can you separate the facts about Islam from those characterized by terrorism?

I can't answer all those questions.

As many of you know, the class I am "teaching" on Wednesday nights from 6:00 to 7:30 is understanding our neighbors' faith. Each week, we have a different person from various faith traditions share the history of their faith, worship practices and theological foundations. This coming Wednesday, February 16, we have someone coming in from the Islamic community. Even if you have not been coming to this class, this would be one not to miss.

Come with your questions. Come with an open mind to learn. Come and learn about this growing, world religion that impacts our news everyday.

We meet in the Forum,
Pastor Scott

Pastor Chris Heads to El Salvador!

Tomorrow morning, at the very early hour of 6:00 am, I will board a plane to El Salvador as a member of a Habitat For Humanity mission trip. For a while now I have encouraged our members to be part of an overseas mission trip and now, for the first time, I will take my own advice. As excited as I am I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little anxious. This will be a tremendous experience, and I will have the opportunity to be part of a great mission. But 9 days is a long time. It's a long time to be away from my family, and it will put an extra burden on my wife (pray for Gina). I assume I wont be able to check email, and I don't plan to take a cell phone, iPod, Kindle, etc. with me. I was told not to run my tooth brush under the faucet or open my mouth in the shower. But as much as I will miss these usual conveniences it doesn't take away from the opportunity.

To do God's work do we need to occasionally be taken out of our comfort zones? This doesn't mean that we cant do God's work here in Charlotte (or where ever you call home) or that we have to take a break from our work to do God's work. But with an experience like this there certainly wont be many distractions, my focus will certainly be on the work that we have been sent to do.

As excited as I am to make a difference in the lives of others I am equally excited to see how this experience impacts me. Faith is rooted in community and as I engage with a community that is different from my own they will change me as much as I will change them. I believe we benefit greatly from these types of exposures.

My thanks to Christ Lutheran Church for making this possible and I look forward to sharing with you my experiences when we return next Sunday. Your prayers are appreciated.

Peace,
Chris