A Little Snow at the Beach House

This was a very strange snow storm.   The forecasters said beforehand it had too many variables to accurately predict what was going to happen.  It snowed for over 10 hours, yet only displayed three inches even though the temps were in the upper 20's.  A few miles to the west of us the roads were impassable; we only had a few icy spots.  Atlanta and Birmingham became parking lots.  Some school kids had to spend the night at the school.  Thousands were stranded in their cars or went to nearby homes, stores, churches, and restaurants which let people come in and sleep on the floor.  Cars ran out of gas while sitting in the gridlock.  At least one baby was delivered on the expressway.  Some people are still not at their homes staying in shelters or with people who opened us their homes to strangers.  But at our house... it made for some of the LORD's beautiful handiwork...

Overloaded and Stressed Out!

                  Jesus said in John 16:33 – These things I have spoken to you that in me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.  Following Jesus brings peace into one’s life even in the midst of the great difficulties and tribulations of life.  His peace passes all understanding. It is real and it is wonderful!

                And yet, when I observe the modern-day Christian’s life, my own life included, I don’t see lives saturated in God’s peace. I see overwhelming stress.

I see anxiety. I see financial pressure. I see maxed-out schedules. I see people who are tired and weary.  Does this match up with what Jesus said in John 10:10 – I have come that they might life, and have it more abundantly?

God has given us a body with a soul. And each of our lives has a capacity of what our soul can take on at any given time (usually this capacity is way more than we can imagine). God desires that we might have life, and He desires it to be full. He wants us to have meaningful, fulfilling, lives filled with His Presence – life itself.  However, you and I tend to fill our lives with SO MUCH that we are over that capacity.

This space is called margin. It’s that space between ourselves and our limits. It’s breathing room. It’s that reserve for the unanticipated.  It’s that place for the surprises.  It’s that place between the “abundant life” and deadly lives.

Margin is allowing extra time to get to an appointment.  It is having money left at the end of the month after you pay your bills. It’s coming to the end of your day and having the emotional energy to play with your kids.  It’s having enough time in your schedule to be able to get a good night’s rest.  It is that place where God often meets us.

But too often, because of the choices we make, the debts we take on, our lack of trust in God, our desire to succumb to cultural norms, and allowing technology to control us, our lives end up with too much to do, too much debt, and too much demand. We end up in chaos, being overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, physically debilitated, and SPIRITUALLY dead.

Is this the way God wants us to live our lives?  Is this the witness He wants us to have to our unbelieving friends?  It’s time for us to take a serious look in the mirror and examine ourselves and the priorities we have for our lives.  We are not only wounding the cause of Jesus; we are hurting ourselves!!

Richard Swenson, in his book, Margin, writes: Overload is not having time to finish the book you are reading on stress.  Margin is having time to read it twice.  Overload is fatigue.  Margin is energy.  Overload is red ink. Margin is black ink.  Overload is hurry.  Margin is calm.  Overload is anxiety.  Margin is security.

Remember the Holidays?

The following is my newspaper column for December....

            Thanksgiving?  Christmas?  Remember those days?  As I write this, it is the week before Thanksgiving and I just drove through a neighborhood where almost half of the houses already have their Christmas decorations up.  Of course, the stores have been advertising Christmas for weeks and there are so many ads for not just “Black Friday,” but also “Black week” – a time for Christmas shopping and special prices.

            I wonder how many of us really remember (or even know) the reasons behind our holidays.   Thanksgiving Day was decreed as a national holiday in 1941 by the U.S. Congress as a day of  “prayer and thanksgiving to God.”  It is supposed to be a day when we the people of the nation along with our fellow citizens give thanks to God for the blessings in our lives, communities, and nation.  However, Thanksgiving is now mostly about family gatherings, family travel, Thanksgiving Dinner, football, and preparing for the big sales the next day.

            I wonder how many of us really remember (or even know) that Christmas is a national holiday set aside to remember the birth of Jesus, the Messiah.  Christmas is a time in which we remember that God entered into our world fulfilling hundreds of prophecies from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) living, dying, and rising from the dead for the salvation of human beings.  However, Christmas is mostly about decorations, gifts, family-time, Santa, reindeer, and special music.

            The ancient Church calendar reminds us that Christmas begins on December 25 (or the 24^th on the Eve) and lasts for 12 days.  It is preceded by the season of Advent, a time of preparation for the Messiah’s return and for remembering the Messiah’s birth.

            Remember the holidays?  I hope you will this year.  Christmas can be a deeply spiritual and meaningful time as one recalls the birth of Jesus, prays for spiritual renewal, and celebrates the transformation He brings to one’s life and community.  Take time to remember the real holidays this year! Go to church somewhere on Christmas Eve.  Give of yourself to help someone.  Spend some extra time in prayer. It will make all the difference in your holiday!

10 THINGS YOU SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR

A very humbling and powerful article....  10 THINGS YOU SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR

A THANKSGIVING PRAYER by Samuel Pugh

O God, when I have food, help me to remember the hungry;

When I have work, help me to remember the jobless;

When I have a home, help me to remember those who have no home at all;

When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer;

And remembering,
Help me to destroy my complacency;

Bestir my compassion, and be concerned enough to help;
By word and deed, those cry out for what we take for granted. Amen.

Giving Thanks to the Lord!

Giving Thanks to the Lord.  LISTEN HERE!

A Busy and Fruitful Few Weeks

November has been a busy and fruitful month of ministry and I give thanks!  After an uplifting and Spirit-filled Annual Synod, I traveled to Apostles, Knoxville and ordained Doug Floyd to the priesthood and confirmed and received numerous new members into the Anglican Church.  But first I stopped and visited our Diocesan Middle School retreat going on at Camp Glisson in Dalonega, Ga. While in Knoxville, I visited with the folks at Old North Abby and their priest, Patrick King.

At Camp Glisson

Middle School Retreat

Laird Bryson, Jack King, Doug Floyd, me, Ray Kasch

 I returned to Georgia and spent several days at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, GA on a Prayer and Planning Retreat.  The next two Sundays I preached a two-part series at Holy Cross entitled: Giving Thanks.  Listen Here.

Monastery of the Holy Spirit

Monastery of the Holy Spirit

Monastery of the Holy Spirit

Monastery of the Holy Spirit

 This past week I visited All Saints' Church in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas ordaining Lynda Valdez to the deaconate and confirming and receiving numerous new members.  All Saints is also starting construction on a new building, ans so with their fine priest, Rick Moore, I asked God to bless the land and the construction.

Some of the folks from All Saints after we dedicated the Construction project to the Lord

Rick Moore, a visiting priest, me, Deacons Lynda and Sami Jo, and Michael Pahls.

Upon returning to Atlanta I met with the Board of the Young Anglicans Project (CHECK IT OUT HERE) and then went to an AMiA Ordination Service for a new priest and four new deacons.  Thanks be to God who has saved us, not of our own doing, but because of His marvelous grace and love.