What do you see?

What do you see when you look at me? When you look at Pattie or Beth or Holly or John or Vinnie or Emily or Alana or Chuck? Is it the same thing? Is it different things? Why? Do you make assumptions about each person you encounter about who they are, their upbringing, their family, their emotional resources, their education, their culture?

i heard a fascinating interview today on NPR with Dr. John A. Rich, the author of Wrong Place, Wrong Time. The book was born out of Dr. Rich's interviews with young black men in the ER when he became curious about why so many of these young black men were there. i'm hoping to read this book because it sounds fascinating, but what i found even more interesting was a particular phrase Dr. Rich used in his interview this morning.

Dr. Rich was discussing his own initial discomfort in interviewing these young men, despite being black himself, because his own upbringing (middle class, suburban and well educated) was so different from theirs. He had his own preconceived notions. He assumed most of these young men were gangbangers, dealers and criminals. It didn't occur to him that they might simply be caught up in the environment in which they lived, victims of circumstance. Upon meeting one young man, he made the assumption that he was unemployed, based on his appearance. But more remarkably, he followed that assumption with one that blew my mind.

Dr. Rich said that looking at him you wouldn't know this was a young man who had a job... and "you wouldn't know this was someone who loved his cousin." i cannot tell you how shocked i was. We all make certain assumptions about people. Some we make from experience, others from cemented notions implanted by culture or media or socially inherited prejudice. We assume that a man in a hardhat and jeans in front of us in line at the Wendy's is a construction worker. We assume all politicians are sleazy.

When i was working as a lifeguard for the YMCA, i made many assumptions about the people who swam there. i once saw a family swimming. They had two little girls, one 2 and one 3 or 4 and another on the way. Dad had a high and tight haircut, was built much like Vin Diesel and fairly tattooed. i assumed that with his build, haircut, tats, and 3 kids about 18 months apart in age, he was probably an actively serving Marine. When i thanked him for his service, he seemed surprised i knew he was a serviceman. We can and do assume much about the people we encounter, and when we're right, it confirms in us not only our correct assumptions, but all our assumptions.

But what really surprised me is that this doctor would make an assumption about this boy's ability to love. i don't know (and maybe the book will reveal this) if he assumed based on the young man's appearance that he had no family or didn't know them or that the family structure was a mess or if he just assumed that his exposure to street life and crime meant he didn't have the emotional resources for love, but it seemed a radical assumption to make. It makes me wonder if one of the reasons there is so much division and prejudice in this world (or country) is not how many assumptions we make about someone's occupation, education, values or family, but rather the assumptions we make about their humanity, their ability to have an occupation, to gain an education, to hold values or to love other people. Once we make assumptions about those things, we have not decided how different a person they are, but how much of a person they are. We have decided how human they are, or can be.

i don't want to lay blame on this doctor i have never met. What i wonder is how much of that sentiment is present in each of us. There is hope in the lives of example, both modern and Biblical, the living out of the knowledge we have that we are each made in God's image, and God cannot be diminished by our prejudices or assumptions. What do you look like? Do you look like someone who loves their cousin? i'm still not sure what that means, but i have hope that we can all look like that and that we can all see that in one another.

*Word(s) of the Week will return on Thursday this week*

Ask the Well

As many of you know, Wellshire has been approached about the possibility of moving to a new location just eight-tenths of a mile down the road. Just like the hiring of an Assoicate Pastor for my position last year, the response to investigate this opportunity is based strictly on the strategic plan adopted last year.

In true Presbyterian fashion, the strategic plan was developed over several months of careful study and prayer by a committee and drew from the wisdom, intelligence and imagination of the entire congregation with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Even after its adoption, the portions that related to Youth and Young Adults and Worship Leadership were not immediately implemented, but rather a nominating committee was formed to determine what sort of ministerial position would fulfill those needs and what sort of person would be able to serve the congregation best in meeting those needs and goals. That committee was tasked with and entrusted with the decision to investigate the possibilities rigorously and faithfully on behalf of the church and to then present a candidate to be examined by the church and voted on. That committee took months to decide and did so carefully because the life of Wellshire, its future and the growth of the Church catholic were all intertwined with that final decision.

Like the position of Associate Pastor of Youth, Young Adults and Alternative Worship and the various candidates, the possibility of a move down the street is being considered solely because of the needs expressed in the strategic plan. And like the process to determine the specific shape the Associate Pastor position might take, even considering bringing the move to a vote will require faithful members to investigate the possibility from every vantage, fiscal, architechual, personal, spiritual and emotional with wisdom, intelligence and imagination and the prayerful support of the congregation so that we might be led as a community by the Spirit.

The Spirit may lead us to stay or to go, but as believers and as Presbyterians, we will not make any decision without prayerful discernment, thoughtful discussion and careful and thorough investigation. To that end, the feasibility study has set up an e-mail account to listen and to give opportunity to every member to voice their ideas, their concerns, their expertise and their faithful accountability in the study of this opportunity. If you would like to contact the feasibility study, please direct your e-mails to: AskTheWell@WPCDenver.org and you may certainly speak to the members of the feasibility study group or any of the pastors at Wellshire, myself included.

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
Luke 18:1

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12

Word on the street

Attention Young Adults! The Core will be sponsoring a book discussion group in February, March, April and May. The kick off is tomorrow night, hosted by the Martinez's. The first book will be introduced tomorrow night and will be discussed on Thursday nights for 6 weeks (February 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25).

The fun will begin at 7pm, tomorrow evening (February 4th) with a spaghetti dinner. Please come join us. Feel free to bring friends.

If you need more details, feel free to contact me at the church, on my cell phone or Facebook.

Greenday

Get excited! i can hardly contain myself! Invented recently in Japan, this new invention really takes the crown for green devices, well, at least the throne. It turns your office paper into toilet paper. That's right, from inbox to outbox to outhouse, your paper can be recycled right in your office. What better way to deal with junk mail and undesired office memos. For many of you, this might go on your wish list for office supplies right under red Swingline Stapler.*


All you need to do is feed the machine 40 sheets of AR office paper, and let the machine do its work of shredding, dissolving the strips in water, thinning it out, and then drying it out and winding it into the rolls.

In just thirty minutes, your office TPS reports are a roll of TP, without the tube in the middle.
It only costs eleven cents to make a roll, and regular use of this easy-to-install machine can save you up to 60 cedar trees per year.

Of course, you have to ask yourself if the price is worth it. Right now, this machine weighs 600 kg and is 1.8 meters tall. So not only does it take up a lot of space, but it costs a lot of money at $100,000.




So, Wellshire may not be immediately acquiring one of these, but when the price comes down, i don't see why we can't be showing visitors our green side by sending them home with a roll of Wellshire's finest. The perfect perforated prostilization tool.


*Swingline did not make a red stapler until after the movie Office Space popularized it.

Word(s) of the Week

The three most beautiful words in the English language are, "I love you." And four of the most hurtful are, "I love you, but..."*

Many years ago (i think i may have been in high school), i came across this quote in Reader's Digest. i'm fairly certain that the author went to a church i used to attend ocassionally. The words struck me hard, and for the last decade or so, i have taken note of how often this phrase is used and endeavored never to use it myself. Those four words, whether in that particular phrasing, or another, can be so detremental to a relationship and to a community. Even in jest, it is easy to give slight emotional bruises that collect over time.

"I love you," can heal in the most wonderfully deep ways imaginable. For someone who needs to hear those words sincerely, they can be life-giving. However, when we are insincere with the use of these words, or use them to softpedal a blow of criticism we are about to deliver, they can become an unwilling weapon.

I love you... but that outfit is a tragedy.

I love you... but you can't dance.

I love you... but I can't help you with that.

I love you... but your family...

I love you... but your friend ____ ...

I love you... but your jokes...

Most of us say something along these lines every day, and alone, they can be fairly innocuous, like stubbing your toe or jamming a finger. But over time, they can add up, making you feel very clumsy, wounded or under attack. I encourage each of you to set aside time each day to speak words of affirmation to the people in your life and to try to catch your tongue every time you're tempted to mitigate an "I love you," with a "but."

And on that note, i have a few people i need to e-mail...

*Editor's note: quote is a very close paraphrase. Actual quote could not be located by publishing deadline.

Greenday

So, this week's Greenday blog is about bottled water. Please go here to read an interesting article on the energy costs of bottle water.

And in other news, Taco Bell is going "green" with a whole new menu...

Word on the street

More about the Laugh in Peace Tour about which i wrote previously is now posted on Facebook. Check it out for the latest details and see who else is going.

Greenday Post

Today, i want to take time to simply appreciate the beauty of creation. It's been said that the key to happiness is in appreciating beauty. And i think there is no better way to persuade anyone of the majesty of God and the necessity of good stewardship of the earth than to marvel in it. These photos are the winners of the 39th annual, 2009 photo contest held by the National Wildlife Federation. They are soul-stirring.

Also, if you're looking for a way to go green* with your transportation, Ford has an innovative idea...

*This care looks suspiciously a lot like my green 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis...

Linked

i have no misconceptions that i have cornered the market on news, insight or humor... well, maybe humor. Therefore, from time to time, i will merely point you in the direction of articles that might be worth a glance or thorough read.


At-a-glance:

This is a "riveting" article on the changing gender norms as they relate to bread-winning in modern marriage. While it's not surprising, the statistics are interesting.


Worth-a-thorough-read:

This site is a great place to look if you want to get involved in helping Haiti. It rates various organizations and relief aid groups in their effectiveness. It allows you to make an informed decision about where to direct your own efforts.

In other news, Avatar is making waves in China. In the country where James Cameron's Titanic reigned as the number one movie for 11 years, Avatar is being yanked from theaters. Chinese citizens are drawing strong parallels not only to their history, but current situations of forced relocation for resources and the struggles in Tibet. The 3D version will still be shown in Imax theaters, but there are few of those and the ticket prices are higher.

Vengance is Mine

Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. But just how much of what happens in today's world can we attribute to that vengeance. Can we attribute earthquakes and tsunamis to the wrath of God? Maybe only those over 6.0 on the Richter scale? How about planes crashing into buildings? How about famines and floods? What about school shootings? Some of our most influential religious leaders have very strong opinions about these issues. Largely, the media focuses on the most controversial of these leaders rather than the most rational or wisest or those most representative of the Christian faith.

Billy Graham suggested that some of the great tragedies in the United States have occurred because of our rejection of God. Jeremiah Wright suggested our actions and moral corruption were revisited on us in the trade center attacks. And Pat Robertson recently asserted that Haiti is being punished for the practices of non-Christian religion centuries ago. Interestingly, a dinner party of these 3 men and their wives seems unlikely, but they all espouse the general belief, which is not uncommon amongst [American] Christians, that the collective failure of believers (and non-believers) is directly related to the amount of suffering through enormous tragedies through which God punishes the world.

i can't say i agree with any of these three men. i understand Billy Graham. i understand that he's making the point that it's so out of vogue to teach children moral behavior that we can see some of those affects, but i don't think God moves in such violence just to say, "i told you so." i can see the points that are made by Jeremiah Wright. As a nation, we have allowed our leaders to make foolish decisions for greed and military conquest, but it doesn't address the ideological concerns of the radical groups that will continue to exist and attack us and others, no matter how little we exert our influence overseas as a country or international community. And i understand that Pat Robertson believes that God punishes people for disobedience or unbelief, but scripture also teaches that the rain falls on the just and unjust alike, and in Haiti, it has.

In all of this, i cannot read scripture and come to the conclusion that God punishes people through these horrendous acts. If you look at the times when God showed his wrath, you find no examples like the tsunami in SE Asia or the earthquake in Haiti, much less Columbine or 9/11. God's wrath fell on the world during a great flood, but it was made clear that Noah's family was the only righteous one and they were spared. There was no question. Everyone else was given the chance and they ignored it. They were given warning and a plan and it was clear. When God had wrath toward Nineveh, he gave them warning and when they repented, truly repented, they were spared. God is not in the habit of letting the innocent die when he moves to punish. God has no collateral damage. In fact, the Good News in which we believe is that God has only ever allowed one innocent person to die in place of the punishment of someone guilty. And that was his only son in place of all of us.

In any great disaster, particularly the ones i have mentioned here, there are deaths of the innocent, of righteous men and women and innocent children. i do believe scripture shows evidence of God's wrath unleashed in our world, but it shows so much more of a loving God who seeks to protect the innocent and the suffering ones and to bring healing to the remnant, the survivors. i don't see God moving in disasters, but in the aftermath, in healing, in rebuilding, in the body of Christ, the Church, to help and to heal and to love the world. Our God is a God of restoration and redemption above all else, and seeks the restoration and redemption of this world until Christ comes again to bring a new one.

Greenday Post

As always, Wednesday is Greenday. i've been reading a lot of interesting articles and literature lately on environmentalism and Christianity. Christians who are unwilling to self-identify as environmentalists, tree huggers or greenies have two major arguments. One argument is that the end of the world is eventually coming and there will be a new one, so why bother so very much with this one. i recently read an article that argued that Christians should refrain from being environmentalists. i was outraged. The essential premise is that an "environmentalist" is a person who believes we should try to preserve the world forever and since Jesus is returning some day, we would be foolish to believe the world will last forever.

Well, frankly, even a secular scientist will tell you that the world won't last forever. We'll either be swallowed by the sun in a few million years or be hit by an asteroid that will wipe us out. However, if we're to take seriously that the hour and dates for JC's big comeback tour are unknown (Mt 24:36), then we must plan for forever. Whether you're a Christian or an atheist, you gotta believe the world won't last forever, but it could be tomorrow, could be in a million years. And you don't plan to take care of your planet only through the end of the week any more than you plan to take care of your car through the end of the work day just in case the world ends.

Many believers take a different approach. This is the second argument. They're convinced that God made this world solely for the use and enjoyment of humankind. Therefore, if we need to cut down every tree in the world for houses, well, that's what they're there for. If we need to completely obliterate a species of birds or fish or whales in order to eat and/or have fun, well, that's what God made 'em for, right? It's an interesting argument and these believers point to Genesis, when God tells Adam it's his job to have dominion over all of nature.

Interesting.

If this was the only scripture or even the only book that references the relationship God intends for humans to have with creation, we could argue the point, but it might very well indicate nature was God's gift to humans and nothing more. However, even the creation story isn't that simple. God doesn't create a blank planet, set people on it and then create plants and animals and rain and sunshine to keep them happy. No, God creates a lavish world and delights in it before he ever even starts in with the play dough. The question many ask is, "Do animals exist to sustain people?" This is the wrong question. Even if the answer is yes (and i'll wager it is), the more thoughtful and faithful question is, "Do animals exist for any other reason than to sustain people?" This question seeks God's will more than human desire.

Creation exists as more than a comfort to humankind. First of all, nature exists for God's delight. Much of scripture, especially Psalms and Job indicate that God delights in creation. It makes God happy! Now, mere mortal that i am, i'm gonna go with this being more important than my comfort and sustenance. But that's just me. Heck, Job 41 indicates that God provides water and shelter for animals. It doesn't indicate that God does this so we can eat those animals. In fact, many of those animals would have been impossible for them to capture or kill and others were forbidden by God. Why take care of them so diligently if they are of no use to humans?

Nature was certainly made with human needs in mind, but not with them as the sole concern. Nature also exists to create in humankind the kind of awe that is the faithful and true worshipful response we ought to have for God. What else could create in us the sort of awe and inspiration than nature itself, whether the heavenly bodies or waterfalls or sunsets or an eagle soaring or a snowy vista from Pike's Peak? Nature evokes that in us which God desires, the response of glorifying the creator.

And lastly, creation, nature requires our cooperation. God commanded the birds and all creatures of the sea to go forth and multiply. It's a solidly grounded Biblical principal that we are responsible for not actively causing others to be disobedient to God. It is better even for a millstone to put around our necks as we're thrown in the ocean than to lead a child astray. How horrible is it then for us to eradicate the dodo or hunt whales to extinction? If we prevent the obedience of an entire species through our own carelessness or greed, will we not be held accountable?

Nature exists for our sustenance, certainly. It was created with humans in mind and we were given the responsibility to make use of it and care for it. However, God's creation exists for more than our benefit. We have been given domain, but it belongs to God. In Job 41:11b God says, “Everything under heaven belongs to me.” Not us. It exists for God's delight and to evoke the deepest sense of awe for our creator and we have a great gift and burden in proper stewardship and coexistence, whether it's until this weekend or until the Browns win the Super bowl.

Word on the Street

JOY/SHY YOUTH GROUPJOY (middle school youth) and SHY (high school youth) meet most Sunday evenings from 6 pm to 8 pm.

This Sunday is a Well Night. Bring $5 for food. Worship will follow.

January 17- JOY will meet at its regular time. SHY will NOT meet.

January 24- JOY & SHY will meet at the regular time.

January 31- Youth are encouraged to attend Brian Daoust's installation as the Associate Pastor of Youth & Young Adults at 4 pm before the regular JOY/SHY meeting at 6:00 pm.

Word on the Street

A Muslim, a Christian and a Jew walk into a church... Wellshire to be specific. Laugh in Peace, a must-see peformance will come to Denver. This Thursday, February 11th @ 7:30 PM, Wellshire will host 3 commedians of 3 different faith traditions. The ticket cost will be $28.50 and all tickets are general admission. Proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity. It's sure to be a night you won't soon forget. Susan Sparks, a trained lawyer, comedian and preacher joins Azhar Usman and Rabbi Bob Alper in a trio act. Check out the website for more details on the 3 comedians and come see them for yourself.

Update: Tickets available for purchase after both Sunday services and during the week during normal business hours.

Wednesday is Greenday

Since i have a sneaking suspicion that the world was actually started on Thursday morning*, thus resting and appreciating all he created, i have declared that on my blog, Wednesday will be Greenday. i'll mark it with an environmental post whenever possible. As i've mentioned before, i think it's fairly impossible to read scripture, particularly the Old Testament (and therefore be a believer) and also not be an environmentalist. Next Wednesday, i'll start a series of posts that study those scriptures specifically, in case you or someone you know needs convincing that God intends for us to take care of God's creation.

Today, in honor of Epiphany, i'd like to share my own epiphany. While i like to think i know a thing or two about scripture, i also must admit i don't know nearly as much as i would like to know. Some things in the Bible still surprise me now and then. So while i'm aware that scripture has more than one account of the story of creation, one very important detail escaped me.

Do you know who/what was created on the sixth day? That's right, people! Oh, and cattle and creeping things on the ground. WHAT?!?! We share a day with creeping things? We share a day with cows and the little things on the counter or in the bathroom from which i must frequently don my armor and lance to battle for my wife? Seriously? i was floored. Barbara Brown Taylor points this out in an intro article to The Green Bible. As she bemoans, we don't even get to share it with a snow leopard or antelope or something cool. Now, as an ardent milk drinker, i'm ok with this arrangement. And i rather like spiders.

It is nonetheless a surprise, and feeling a little less haughty is one outcome of this discovery, but it's also enlightening. God made only us in God's image, of all the creatures, but he didn't set aside a day for us. He set us in charge of caring for those creatures. i feel a bit better about my desire to capture crickets and spiders in the house to set them free. And i am utterly convinced i want to buy my milk and cheese from happy cows ;-)




*God created sea monsters on the 4th day. It had to be a Monday.

Dances with Avatar

As promised, there will be the occasional movie review. i took in Jame's Cameron's Avatar last night. Before going to see it, i had not read a single review or even seen a full preview. This is rare for me, as i don't typically like to risk wasting a movie ticket price these days on a movie i'm not fairly certain i will enjoy. i had merely heard that it was visually stunning, probably more so than any movie ever before. In two words - it was. i can recommend the movie most highly to any science fiction fan, historian, ethicist or special effects/visual graphics fan. If you don't fall into any of those categories, you can still enjoy the movie, but it's fairly odd and the sci-fi bend may be too much for you.

While i thought the movie more closely paralleled Dances with Wolves, there's a humorous essay on its similarities to Disney's version of the Pocahontas tale...