Clean-up Day Pictures

Click here to see a slideshow of pictures from the Churchwide Clean-up Day on Saturday, March 27.

Why I Need the Resurrection

Click here to read Rev. Gregg's response to the Patheos Theoblogger Challenge: "Why I Need the Resurrection ... in 100 Words or Less."

This article will be the featured article on the Patheos Mainline Protestant Portal through the weekend.

Recent Pictures from Northminster's Homepage

Click on the picture to see a larger version.

The Top Ten Books that Influenced Me Theologically

Click here to read Rev. Gregg's most recent post for Patheos on "The Top Ten Books that Influenced Me Theologically." Consider sharing your own list.

Last Minute Lent

Rev. Gregg has been invited to be a regular blogger at Patheos.

Click here to read his first post on celebrating a "Last Minute Lent."

To learn more about the Patheos website, click here.

TRACKS: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Foolishness—what’s a good definition? Since this is one of those mornings with a 4:00 AM wake-up call after an evening that finally ended about 11:30 PM, I am tempted to define foolishness as living a life in which every week usually contains two or three days of 4:00 AM wake-up calls. But the pay-off of those early risings is getting to go home early, like today, or spending fewer nights while visiting several different cities. So, I turn to another definition of foolishness—one that either causes me to shake my head in disbelief or chuckle, if not laugh.

Sometime back a friend sent me a news story from a small town in Texas, Mr. Vernon, where Drummond’s Bar had begun construction on a new building aimed at increasing its business. A local Baptist Church started a campaign of petitions and prayers aimed at blocking the new bar from opening. A week before Drummond’s new building was to open, lightning struck the structure and it burned to the ground.

The church people in town felt a little cocky and a whole lot smug about what had happened until the owner of the bar sued the church, claiming the church was ultimately responsible for the fire destroying the building either through direct or indirect actions or other means. Quickly the church denied all responsibility, arguing that there was no connection between the bar’s destruction and the church’s action.

In court, after the judge looked over the paperwork on the case, the bewildered officer of the court commented, “I don’t know how I’m going to decide this, but it appears . . . we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer and an entire church congregation that does not!”

Prayer

O God, help us to distinguish between what the apostle Paul meant when he identified us as “fools for Christ” and what we are doing when we behave in a manner that is simply foolish. The former is a consequence of spiritual fidelity and the other is only an indication of personal or congregational stupidity. Grant us the wisdom to know the difference between those two lest we embarrass you as well as ourselves. Amen

Worship Preview: March 28th (Palm Sunday and Covenant Sunday)

The Palm Sunday

Gospel Lesson

Luke 19:28, 36-40

The Covenant Sunday

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 16:13-19

The Sermon Title:

"Complaining and Creating"

The Reaffirmation of the Northminster Church Covenant

TRACKS: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Terrorism was not a word that frequented my vocabulary in the spring of 1995. But on April 19th of that year, in the city in which I am speaking tonight, terrorism thundered its way into our attention and forced itself into our public vocabulary.

I remember the day well. Stunned by the loss of life and property when the Federal Building in Oklahoma City exploded, I received a call from one of our church members—Wayne Bushnell—requesting that I come to his office and, via a video-hookup, offer a prayer for grieving employees of his business in Oklahoma City and Monroe. Friends and relatives were dead or missing.

First reports of the tragedy placed blame on a person of Middle Eastern descent. “A Muslim!” people quickly concluded. As it turned out though, the perpetrator of the terror was an American Christian convinced that he was doing the will of God by attacking our government.

I have been to the memorial site of that tragedy several times during the intervening years. Each time I shudder to think of the causes behind this horrible act—causes that transcend race, religion, skin color, and politics. Terror is a tangible result of irrational anger and religion blasphemed and prostituted to serve deadly purposes.

This current trip involves 5 interviews (television, newspapers, and radio stations) as well as public presentations. Over and over I am listening to people talk about the outbreak of a new plague of irrational anger. Ironically, my speech tonight on distinguishing between civil law and religious morality in handling controversial issues with civility—respect, civil dialogue, and cooperation—must be protected by security forces. A leading Oklahoma State Senator like others on the panel that will respond to my remarks this evening fear for their safety.

If the word “terror” causes you to think immediately of residents of the Middle East or devotees of Islam, please be done with the stereotypes driving that image. Yes, there are terrorists from that part of the world and in that religion. But, terrorism stalks the streets of our cities as well in every part of this country. Radical Christians also play god.

We have a government that is paying close attention to threats from outside us. We best pay better attention to threats among us. As a case in point, witness members on both sides of the aisle on the floor of the United States House of Representatives this past Sunday evening. The anger that is boiling among citizens and that some opportunistic, irresponsible leaders are fueling is an anger that has the potential to erode our democracy and to destroy innocent people. God forbid!

Prayer

O God, calm us down. Douse the flames of our prejudices with spiritual water. Enable us to take a deep breath and think clearly. Fill us with vision of a way toward quieter conversations, honest searches for common ground, and a nation in which liberty and justice prevail for all people in our streets as well as in our songs. Amen.

Worship Preview: March 21st (The 5th Sunday in Lent)

The Scripture Readings

Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

John 12:1-8

The Sermon Title: "Casting Stones and Saving Lives/Ranking Sins and Realizing Grace"

The Sermon Preview: In addition to the texts listed above, the sermon will also draw from the other lectionary texts appointed for this Sunday as well as from the narrative in John 8 of the woman whom Jesus saved from stoning.

The Artwork: Rembrandt, "Christ and the Woman Taken in Adultery" (1644). The painting shows the moment at which the religious leaders, attempting to outwit Jesus, ask him whether, in accordance with the Torah, she should be stoned to death. Jesus replies "He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone." The work is an example of Rembrandt's gifts as a colourist. Within the dark interior of the temple, golds, reds, greens and browns glow as they are struck by a strong fall of light. Click on the painting to see a larger version of Rembrandt's work.

ON FAITH: Pastors must relate to their congregations honestly

Click here to read Dr. Gaddy's latest post on The Washington Post's "On Faith" blog.

TRACKS: New York City

Daily devotionals never have been easy for me. Maybe it is different for you. I hope so. Whether my explanation of why consists of excuses or reasons really does not matter. I tend to favor spiritual practices for people on the run. Perhaps that is a problem in itself, but, if so, it’s a reality and a fact that I either must change or accommodate. Right now, my response to this situation is accommodation without spiritual compromise.

Sometime back I discovered a new resource for daily devotionals that has proven extremely helpful to me. At d365.org on the worldwide web you will find a daily online devotional series that may be helpful to you as well. This site offers music that settles the spirit and focuses the mind. Right now, the music is provided by the great pianist and my personal friend Ken Medema. With a click of the mouse, you can move through a short daily thought, a brief excerpt from scripture, a prayer, and a word of encouragement. You can spend as much or as little time as you choose and benefit from whatever amount of time you choose.

The website was created by Passport, Inc. and is now sponsored by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Presbyterian Church (USA), and The Episcopal Church—an act of cooperation that in itself is thrilling.

Of course, I like the fact that you read my quasi-daily thoughts, meditations, and prayers. But if you have to choose between reading my offerings and reading those on d365.org, go there. You may be surprised by the calmness, substance, and inspiration of a website constructed for people like us. Then, if you have time, come back here.

Have a good day.

Prayer

O God, thank you for focus at the beginning of a day that already seems frazzled, calm before an inevitably intensifying storm, inspiration for a spirit that is sagging and strength for a body that is tired. Give us the good sense to fulfill our spiritual needs with at least half the regularity with which we seek to fulfill our physical needs. Amen.

Worship Preview: March 14th (The 4th Sunday in Lent)

The Epistle Lesson:

2 Corinthians 5:16-18

The Contemporary Reading:

“Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” ---Malachy McCourt

The Sermon Title:

Resentment/Renewal

The Sermon Preview: Although we are not explicitly reading the Parable of the Prodigal Son from the Gospel of Luke, much of the sermon will be built on the role of the elder brother in the parable.

TRACKS: The White House, Washington, D.C.

“Did you accomplish anything this week?” That question, posed to me every weekend by one or more people, raced through my head repeatedly as I spent most of today in a meeting in an office of the White House. Often the answer to that query is “yes.” Today’s response is "Yes, taking one small step." However, that small step involved far more than a single day. It required an investment of focused attention, persistent action, research, commentary, and advocacy that stretched from 1999 to the present moment. And still more steps are required.


About a year ago I was asked to serve on President Obama's Task Force on Reform of the Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The assignment of the task force was to recommend steps for bringing that office more in line with the Constitution.

I had opposed the establishment of such an office since 1999 when presidential candidates in both major political parties voiced support for allowing government funds to flow into religious organizations to support faith-based social ministries. This new initiative within the executive branch of our government posed an unprecedented threat to our nation's fidelity to the religious freedom clauses in the First Amendment of the Constitution.

The Obama Administration knew they were inviting a critic on to this task force. Indeed, U.S. News and World Report carried a story on my acceptance of the invitation on its blog. Immediately after the presidential election I had met with the Obama Transition Team to request that they abolish the faith-based office in the White House.

Today the recommendations of our task force are being presented to cabinet members and other leaders in the Administration who will engage the president in conversations about the issues we have raised. Getting to this moment took time. Members of the task force are incredibly diverse--racially, politically, professionally, religiously, economically, and ideologically. Some members wanted a relaxation of emphasis on church-state separation while others, like me, were interested in strengthening the constitutional guarantees that have saved our nation from an entanglement of religion and government that has caused problems in other nations.

Our recommendations span several concerns—transparency, public postings of recipients of government money and for what purposes, attentiveness to religious freedom issues, and more. From the first time we met, however, one question had loomed larger than all of the rest—whether or not to mandate or only suggest that religious recipients of government funds form a separate legal entity into which to receive that money in order to protect the integrity of the religious organization and prevent a merger of taxpayers’ money and tithes and contributions from offering plates. For a year, the debate went on—passionate but civil. In the end, the vote on the recommendation endorsed the mandatory position—by a majority of one. Such is the divide on the meaning of religious freedom in our nation as well.

As I sit in this White House office, I wonder if all of the time and work were worth it to assure such a small step, to win what some would consider a minimal victory for religious liberty. Yes is the answer that resounds inside me. The fate of the big issues in our time are decided by hundreds of small steps taken, minor victories won, and the Constitution defended word by word one issue at a time. At least for this moment, a slide toward government-subsidized religion has been stopped.

This small step, this minor victory, likely will go virtually unnoticed. But, without it, the news would be big—journalists reporting a sea-change, a major shift, in which legal and religious leaders endorsed a position contrary to the United States Constitution. So goes the work of a lifetime—tracked one step at a time.

Prayer

O God, thank you for the gift of freedom and citizenship in a nation dedicated to protecting freedom for everybody. Instill within us dedication sufficient for continuing the work of preserving, defending, and strengthening freedom. And deliver us from ever getting too tired to give up this cause. Amen

TRACKS: Washington, D.C.

Losing time is not a pleasant thought for me. But, I am told that all of us lost time lately—not much, but some—because of the earthquake that rocked Chile a few days ago.

According to numerous earth scientists at NASA and in private research agencies as well, here is what happened. Any earthquake alters the shape of the earth to some extent. However, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake has a measurable influence, and the location of the earthquake in Chile strengthened the level of that impact even more. Under the Indian Ocean, two plates of the earth shifted. One of them (called “the Nazca” plate) slid downward underneath what is called the South American plate. The motion displaced a substantive mass which literally changed the shape of the earth. That change, in turn, altered the earth’s rotation. Changing the earth’s rotation caused a loss of time—1.26 millionth of a second of a day, to be exact.

News stories on the time loss intrigued me. Recently, I have been thinking a lot about the importance of time and the arrogance of assuming that we will have all the time we need to make decisions that need to be made and accomplish tasks on our “to do” list. I have assigned a new sense of urgency to time, and I don’t want to lose even the most fleeting moment if it can be filled with meaning aimed at helping someone else, nurturing love, doing something that needs to be done, or actually engaging in something that I want to do. We never have any assurance that there will be another such moment for us.

Prayer

O God, make us good stewards of the gift of time. Whether expending time in doing or using time for resting, we seek to live with appreciation for the time we have and a commitment to making the most of that time for the good of all. Amen.

TRACKS: Monroe, Louisiana

I heard birds singing this morning; several of them really. But one was aggressive—louder, sharper, more persistent than all the others, as if declaring, “You are going to hear me if you don't hear anything else.” A mocking bird with that same attitude lived in a tree right outside my bedroom window during my late childhood and early youth.

Sadly, I seldom hear birds singing these days. I don’t know that I have ever heard a bird singing in Washington, D.C. There I hear sirens, honking horns, shrill arguments, breaking news, partisan prejudice, and low-flying aircraft. New York is much the same when it comes to sounds, though there, street musicians play the role of birds and penetrate the cacophony of unsettling noises with the twang of a guitar, the melody of a saxophone, the welcome pulsations of diverse drums, the rolling reverberations of a xylophone, and sometimes even a solo offered with a beauty that can stop traffic otherwise unaffected even by red lights and cross walks.

Since my days tend to be filled with a variety of sounds, often in my car or in my condominium, I sit quietly and drink up silence like a sponge thrown into a puddle of spilled water. But I also long for music—all kinds actually—music that gives expression to my emotions, massages my needs, and strengthens my devotion to live out dreams.

I am thankful I heard birds singing this morning. At least for today, whatever other sounds I hear will be interspersed with echoes of the music of birds.

And, of course, there is no music like that made by birds. No wonder, they can fly!

Prayer

O God, from creation we derive personal gratification. In creation we find beautification for all of life. For creation, we offer affirmation. Sensitize us to the glory around us so that we will not experience even the briefest moment of drabness when there is beauty to be seen and music to be heard. Amen

Worship Preview: March 7th (The 3rd Sunday in Lent)

Scripture Readings

Isaiah 55:3-4, 6-8

1 Corinthians 10:1-5

Luke 13:1-5

Sermon Title

Blame and Blessing/Faultfinding and Forgiving

Art: "Christ Giving His Blessing" by Hans Memling (1478)

Netherlands; oil on oak