LIFE CHANGES

That title can be interpreted in different ways:

• It can be descriptive of the changes that can (and do) take place throughout our lives.
• It can also be a statement of action:  life is not static - it changes.

I probably mean it in both ways.

Annually at this season, I write a blog expressing the things that I am thankful for.  This year will be no exception.  But things are different.

I've been retired for a year-and-a-half.  For the first year, I kept very busy working around our new home, putting in a yard, doing landscaping, finishing our two-car-garage, and just generally knocking things off the honey-do-list.  We had to make adjustments financially, but my schedule opened up in new ways that gave me tons of freedom and quantum time alone.  Once, and often twice-a-week, Debbie leaves for twenty-four hours to sit with her aging mother [she and her siblings share this responsibility].  

To say that our lives have changed is a gross understatement.  

This past spring I realized a long-held dream and spent six weeks on the Appalachian Trail.  Whether or not I resume my hike remains to be seen.  But, upon my arrival home, life slowed down.  Much of the work around our home has been completed.  I have begun to struggle to find ways to occupy myself in recent months. 

But don't misread me;  I'm still a very grateful and contented man: 

• I'm forever grateful to God for His patience, provision and kindness!
• I'm thankful for my life's companion and her faithfulness in loving me and sharing the journey.
• I love my kids and take joy in their visits, gifts and texts.  Watching them flesh out their lives is a treat that Debbie and I rejoice in.
• I have two precious grandchildren that bring untold delights!  What a joy!
• These days I'm grateful to the Social Security Administration.  They make a deposit to my bank account every month!
• I'm also grateful to the Free Methodist Church for having a pension plan and executing it so well.  They also make a deposit to my bank account monthly!  
• I love our home:  warm, lovely, comfortable, nice neighbors, great view...
• I have three vehicles - all paid for!  :-)  I now can occasionally be seen driving a Ford F-250 around!  Woo Hoo!  I'm running with the 'big boys' now!  
• At Debbie's instigation, we bought a used fifth-wheel camper this year.  We hope to take it south for some winter months in the future!  
• I have lots of friends - I can prove it, just look at my Facebook page!  😀  But sincerely, we have friends from far-and-wide that we have shared precious times with.  When we have the opportunity to get together (or talk) it's as though no time has passed at all.  I still have occasional contact with my former students and friends from China!  My blog is read regularly in ten different countries!  Our friends have formed us and we're truly grateful!  
• There is finally time to write.  I enjoy blogging and Facebooking, have written a short novel, started a sequel and am documenting my life history for my family.
• As odd as it seems to write, we have Gabe.  He started out to be Deb's puppy, but gradually she showed him less attention and I've shown him more.  Today, he's almost my constant companion!  
• Debbie and I enjoy extended family connections that add value to our lives.  My relationships with my siblings have never been real close - probably because of the age difference.  All through the years, most of my contacts with them have been initiated by me.  But the Whippo family has been part of our foundation!  They're a fun bunch and we know they'd be there for us if we ever had a need - they've proven that in the past!  
• Sixty-six years have accumulated - soon, sixty-seven!  I'm still healthy, strong, and able to enjoy life!  
• Reading is still a joy to me (although double-vision sometimes limits the length of my reading).  I enjoy novels more than ever before. but still read in other areas as well.  Books have always been a tool God uses to sharpen, awaken and grow me!  

I could go on - you know that.  I'm a prosperous man!  

Each stage of life is different.  Life changes.  We have to adapt.  It keeps things interesting.  I'm stretching to discover the ways I can be productive and effective in this new stage of my life.  

Right now, I've very excited that our kids will be home next week to spend four or five days with us! That doesn't happen too often, so you can imagine our anticipation!  Special foods are being planned, gifts are being bought and wrapped, the quads and golf cart are tuned up,  the house is being cleaned and the red carpet is ready to be rolled out!  Our deepest joy will be a reality as our family comes under one roof for a few days!   

So, from our house to your life - may God's peace and joy be so real to you as we close out another year that you too will automatically express your gratitude for all He has done in and through your life!  Blessings...

MORE THOUGHTS ABOUT CHURCH

Having been a pastor for over forty years, I suppose I will have a different take on this topic than most.  I've read hundreds of books suggesting how churches should operate and how worship should be structured.  For many years I had the opportunity to shape these things and did so with passion and creativity.

In my humble opinion, the biggest change we've seen in the church over the past several decades has been the transition to the performance approach to worship.  The greatest impact of this change has been the reduction of congregational participation.  Sanctuaries have been darkened to focus attention on what takes place up front.  At the same time the experience of congregants sitting together and participating in worship has been minimized (in some cases we can't even see each other once the lights go out).  

The impact of these changes is immense.  Our experience of worship has become one of tunnel-vision.  It's as though we were sitting alone experiencing the message and performance being cast for us.  The sense of being together and experiencing worship as a community has been reduced.  When the lights are brought up again, we are shuffled out rather quickly so that the next group can be herded in to experience the same program we just witnessed.  

The lingering and talking about what we just heard and experienced is decreased or eliminated.  It's easy to get the feeling that we've met our obligation for the week.  "See you next Sunday or Saturday, (whatever your name is)."  

Yet, churches that follow these practices have grown (are growing)!  Some would hold that these churches are satisfying the desires of the culture.  It's hard to argue with success.  

But, not all growing or healthy (are they the same?) churches follow these trends.  I've attended a Presbyterian Church in my community where the sanctuary is completely full every week.  The parking lot overflows across the road from the building.  The worship format is very traditional.  The sanctuary is well lighted.  A wide variety of ages are present.  A liturgical format is followed.  It is a prime example of a healthy, vibrant, country church!  

The church I presently attend is led in worship by a team of twelve musicians including drums, flute, piano, sax, trombone, bass, acoustic guitars and several singers.  Worship is vibrant in a well-lighted sanctuary.  I would guestimate that attendance averages slightly under 200.  The pastor is very laid-back and casual;  he uses humor in his communications and is valued by the congregation.  

It seems to me that our worship experience should draw us together and cause us to interact with one another.  In the church I just mentioned, the pastor will frequently call us to pray for a person over a specific need (sometimes several people).  He calls us to come forward and lay hands on the person.  Ninty percent of the congregation moves forward filling the aisles and the front of the church!  Each one lays a hand on the shoulder of the person before them.  The community expresses its concern and love for the person(s),  It's a beautiful thing to observe.  

I was on staff at a large church in Akron, Ohio for about six years.  At that time, this congregation had an altar prayer time where people flooded forward to pray.  Others came to pray with friends or family.  The front of the sanctuary was literally clogged with people on their knees!  New people were deeply impressed in seeing this response and often came to staff with questions about it.  It was dynamic!  

In Nehemiah 8, we are told that Ezra read the Word of God from an elevated pulpit (so that he could be seen and heard). 

• When he read it, all the people stood up.
• Then Ezra blessed the people, and they all said "Amen"
• Then all the people worshipped God with their heads bowed and their faces to the ground.
• As the Word was read and explained, the people wept.
• After the worship time, the people all went to celebrate together with food and drink.  
• They sent portions of their feast to the needy in their community.  

It was a community experience!  They were celebrating the goodness of their God!  

This leads me to one other point.  I have been repeatedly disappointed that major news concerns are consistently ignored in our churches.   We watch our news channels throughout the week and talk about our concerns among our families and co-workers;  but when we go to worship on Sunday, these things are not addressed.  

On a recent Sunday, a synagogue shooting (on Saturday) in nearby Pittsburgh left eleven Jewish people dead.  The next day saw Christians gathering for their appointed times of worship.   You evaluate your own congregation:  was there public prayer for this atrocity that had occurred just sixty miles away?  A religious service was invaded by a violent man with a weapon of destruction!  Lives were violently taken!  Were you given assurance that you were being protected while you worshipped?  

My guess is that in most churches the incident was completely ignored.   (I hope I'm wrong!)

I do pray about these things privately (and occasionally with Debbie).  I'm sure many others do too!  I have an expectation that my church family lift these concerns to God, as well.

I want to be led in prayer about these things.  I want to pray - in community - for my president and leaders.  I expect us to be corporately concerned about the impact of hurricanes, wild fires, shootings, caravans and elections!  When it doesn't happen, I'm frankly disappointed!  

We do not exist in a vacuum.  Our prayers make a difference - especially when we pray them in agreement!