Wouldn't it be amazing?

Have you ever noticed that hopes and dreams which we live by are likely to be downplayed, poo-pooed, and disregarded as valuable by others and even ourselves sometimes?  Dreams have power to propel human beings to move beyond expectations and to challenge ourselves past the things we know into the things that might be.  When people chose to follow their dreams, they risk being looked at strangely and having their judgment questioned.  They also risk finding out that their are more possibilities than they first thought or that they are capable of meeting a challenge that once seemed impossible.  


Lately I have been listening to a new album by Rachel Marie.  Her song called "The Peacemakers" is one of my favorites.  It epitomizes, for me, how dreams can inspire us to do and live out amazing lives!  One line song reflects a conversation during a Church World Service sponsored CROP Walk, she sings, "Wouldn't it be amazing if we could really stop the hunger!"  There is hope in dreams and vision beyond the cynicism of our world.  It can be hard to see past all the hurt and difficulty of history and imagine a different world.  But then again as Christians we believe that God has done something unique and amazing that confirms another world is possible!  We have what we need to see the world become a place of love rather than hate, of compassion rather than judgment, and life rather than death. 


As I work on planning worship for Z Tree, beginning November 27, 2010 at 5pm, I found a quote from St. Francis of Assisi, he said, "“Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” (www.thinkexist.com)  Dreams are the things that keep us hoping and looking forward to something new.  But we rarely can go directly into our dreams without much smaller steps that lead us into places where the "possible" becomes probable and the "impossible" is only a few more steps away.  So maybe the power of our dreams is the little bit of foolishness that allows for us to believe in what we can't know and to live into a hope that we can't see.  


Don't get me wrong I don't believe dreamers are fools, matter of fact I count myself  among the dreamers.  Dreams have the ability to move us in a direction that some would never imagine and that some would never pursue.  As we begin the life of a new congregation, we aren't sure exactly how everything will look, work, or turn out but we do know that our dream to be a place where all people feel safe to come and explore relationship with God through Jesus Christ is a dream worth pursuing.  It is sometimes scary, often unpredictable and always amazing to see how our dreams are inspired by God's call and molded by the relationships we share.

So it seems to me, that one of my dreams is to be part of creating a community where dreaming is the norm and where we find energy in the hope of what is to come by taking steps to live it out right now!

Harvest and Sustainability Festival Invite!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Harvest-and-Sustainability-Festival-at-Z-Tree-.html?soid=1103081187919&aid=XJ3qRm-KY04

Cool Video about Zacchaeus' Story!

Thanks to MrDanOfTheChapel on YouTube for his creativity!

Where you are loved

As I walked over to my friend Christie's office at the Downey Moravian Church in Downey California I noticed a little blue paper, it is from a publication of the Moravian Church in North America in the 1980s, and says "The Moravian Church...where you are loved."  Wow!  There is no regulation, expectation, or judgment in that statement.  What does it look like when congregations are places where people are loved? Have you seen congregations that you believe characterize this statement?  As I follow God's call to begin a new congregation on the south side of Indianapolis, it is my hope that this will be true of us.  That before we get into the details of doctrine, practice, or worship style we are a community where people are loved.

It is funny, I grew up in the Moravian Church and the message on that publication characterizes my experience.  I was loved.  Even when I was an annoying teenager or disrespectful kid or a questioning pastor in training I have known without a doubt that I am loved here.  There is something of being loved when you are known, even at your worst.  I don't know that this is everyone's experience, I doubt it is which makes me sad.  But the freedom we have when we are loved first and known through that love is amazing.  Love changes our perspective, allows for us to see things that are overlooked without love and it helps us to look past the things that the world would pick out to separate us from one another.  Love may give us rose colored glasses but not to ignore the reality of pain, struggle, or disappointment.  We are given the rose color that allows for those things to come in on our list of priorities where they belong.

If we find ourselves loving first I believe that we will experience more depth of relationship, transformation and hope.  Jesus said lots of wonderful things but he began with LOVE.  I will pray and strive to create a congregation whose witness and life will affirm that Zacchaeus' Tree is a place where you are loved!

Happy Birthday Elie Wiesel!

Today I found a quote, for my facebook page, by Elie Wiesel. I love quotes because I feel like they catch us off-guard and make us think and consider in ways that a whole speech, conversation, or book does not. I guess this, for me, is an example of less is more. This particular quote (which I will share here...later) speaks of indifference which is interesting because today I heard people talking about apathy and how it can cause problems because we simply do nothing, essentially we have no opinion, and make no difference through our actions. As I think about Jesus, I cannot think of a time in the Gospels when Jesus is indifferent. He is always engaged in the action of compassion, or seeing to the needs of those around him!


In Revelation 3:14-22, John writes that the church in Laodicea is neither hot nor cold.  They do not stand for the Gospel or against it.  While many people take this a sign of judgement, maybe so but that is really for God to decide, I think it is like a litmus test for our lives.  If our lives are filled with indifference we may see that even our "values" don't appear to be part of our actions.  I make lots of decisions through indecision; letting a deadline go by, just not offering my opinion, or simply by forgetting to decide.  I realize too late sometimes that I had an opportunity to say something or show something important and because I wasn't really paying attention I missed that chance.  The Good News is that the world never has nor will it ever depend on me...I would be an inadequate savior that's for sure.  However, the more I endeavor to intentionally make decisions in light of the God of Love who guides me, the more I will be able to demonstrate the love that God has shared with me and that God shares with the world.  
There are lots of protesters in our world, some I agree with and many I don't.  I can't see Jesus going out of his way to demonstrate hate.  But Jesus was always on the forefront of demonstrating love, speaking out in the face of injustice, and challenging the world order when it missed the point.  As Christ(ians), people who strive to live in Jesus' way, we are not called to an indifferent witness.  We are called to choose; to cry out for justice, peace and in all things love!


So whether you take opportunities to protest with signs and pickets or with words in a blog, or through the daily living in community, I pray that we all consider our own areas of luke warmness...how would Jesus react?  Where can we grow in our living out of the Good News?  What do people see in my life that tells them about God's love for them?  I would guess that this conversation is better had with friends and people you can trust, so they can mirror back to you their experience and understanding of you as you move closer to the image of God who calls you to follow.  


As I work in my own life to follow Jesus better I hope I keep these words in my mind, 

“The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference. --Elie Wiesel

We Need Your Opinion

I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love.

Henry Ward Beecher

At Z Tree we are looking forward to beginning regular worship again soon! As we prepare to worship together we are discerning a good time. In many ways Sunday morning is the obvious choice, but we aren't an obvious church and are looking into other options. We have tried a few services on Saturday evenings at 5pm. It seems to give people the opportunity to make plans during the day and have the ability to sleep or get things going on Sunday Morning. I don't think that the day of worship is as important as the quality of worship. If we gather, whenever we gather and worship the Lord we are called to respond in kind to God's love for us and the world. So take the poll, leave a comment and share with us your thoughts on the best time to worship for you and your life! Thanks for you thoughts!

There's nothing you can do about it!

Last week I had a great time with Sister and Brother Moravian Clergy! As we heard encouragement from our bishops, speakers, and colleagues to find time to connect to God and one another, we heard from Rev. Peg Chamberlain, executive director of the Minnesota Council of Churches and a Moravian colleague. Peg spoke to us about her experience with the larger church in ecumenical settings. And what is like to be an ambassador of our gifts as Moravians that we share with other denominations. As she shared with us that she sees our gifts as relational theology, focusing on the importance of connecting in personal relationships with God and one another, community, and our Moravian motto, "In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Love," it was encouraging to think of how our emerging community also shares these gifts in a smaller venue, Indianapolis, IN.

Over the last 550 years Moravians have been active participants in the life of the communities where they lived by educating children, both girls and boys, finding ways to support the local population through farming and spiritual reflection, and simply building relationships of compassion and accountability for Jesus' sake. Throughout the world, communities have been served by missionaries, local believers and followers of Christ who have come from the Moravian tradition. It is because of our vibrant and dynamic heritage that I have found my own call to engage in building relationships in the community, planting a garden, and praying for the ability to follow God where ever God leads me.

As a Moravian it sometimes seems difficult to explain the things that make us distinct. As Peg spoke she shared something that I believe offers a good picture of who we are not only with one another but in our witness to the world. She spoke to us with these words, "I love you, God loves you and there's nothing you can do about it!" Relationships are full, live giving and sometimes really hard but it is the love of God and the model of Christ that motivates us to love unconditionally and with conviction...all the time.

So here we were, a gathering of Moravian clergy, celebrating the aforementioned gifts with one another so that we might live and lead in ways that show others the love of God. There are so many wonderful and amazing things happening as we follow God’s direction, finding meaning in the old and new, finding hope in hearts to live into God’s Mission in the World, and learning what it means and how it will look to be Moravian Christians as we journey together into the future!