I Don't Feel no Ways Tired by Rev. James Cleveland

Too Much to Bear?

"I Don't Feel No Ways Tired." I'm singing out the assurance that no matter what is going on that God will not forsake me. I am singing this African American gospel song written by James Cleveland because I need assurance. I know where I come from, I know where I am now and I know that God did not bring me this far to leave or forsake me.

I need this assurance. My heart is broken, because I have broken someone's heart. I miss-stepped, overlooked and seemingly did not value someone who means the world to me. This person has opened up home to me, shared customs, shared talents, time and family with me. And I unintentionally caused pain.

Now, it is easy to say I didn't mean it, but that doesn't fix it. And yet I can't even express the heartache I feel for letting this person down. I suppose it sounds arrogant of me, as a pastor, to think that this would never happen. And I guess I always accepted that I would not live up to everyone's expectations. I realize that to do so would be impossible. But I never thought I would be so affected -- so torn up -- by someone else's pain.

I can't even imagine how Jesus could stand it. As Jesus took on all the hurt and pain of the world on the cross it must have been unbearable. I can imagine, that it wasn't the holes in his hands or feet that killed him, or asphyxiation but the weight of hurt, guilt, shame, and un-forgiveness -- our sin, yours and mine.

And unknowingly I have sinned. I don't have any idea what to do, except, sing , ask for forgiveness and hold on to the assurance of God's presence --hold on to God's promise of reconciliation. If Jesus can overcome the cross and the grave, then surely God can resurrect a ruptured relationship. I am certain of it! At least this is my prayer in this season of Easter. Would you pray with me? Or join me in singing?

"I don't feel no ways tired, I've come too far from where I started from. Nobody told me that the road would be easy. I don't believe God brought me this far to leave me. I don't believe God brought me this far to leave me."

Life Bares Out the Possibilities of Love

Last weekend I flew to Atlanta to officiate at the wedding of Lonnie and Shekema. I was one of Lonnie's youth ministry leaders when he was a teenager. In Atlanta, or East Point, Georgia to be more precise is where my journey in the ELCA began, where I first realized God's love, where I once served as the Pilot Project Coordinator of Lutheran Theological Center in Atlanta (LTCA). It is where my love for God was first made manifest in the work of ministry. I coordinated projects for African American Lutherans in the Southeast Synod and developed a passion for youth ministry. But I am getting away from the point.

Over the last six months, I have had a few conversations with the couple and discovered that despite what others would see as overwhelming obstacles, they are indeed in love. I know that somehow Lonnie learned about love not only from his family, but also as he grew up in and around the church; his mother is one of my pastoral colleague. From conversations with the bride, I gathered that Kema has a clear sense of God's presence in her life. They chose Colossians 3:12-14 as the scripture reading for their day.

Such good advice resides in these few verses. Paul writes about our relationship to God and with one another. He admonishes us to remember whose we are, always to forgive each other, and to hold love as central. Of course, he is not specifically talking to a couple about to be wed, but these verses do apply.

No words that I could come up with would serve this young couple better. After all what do I know? I haven't been so successful at matrimony myself. Yet, I have seen great examples of love and faithfulness, first from God and then from those around me. Through others I have learned how possible it is to love and care for someone for a lifetime. ---- I listen as a wife tells of the over 45 years that she and her husband have had together. I witness in her face the agony of having him with her no longer. Yet, there lingers satisfaction in her weak smile as she remembers their good times together. ---- I have watched as a husband patiently encourages and cares for his wife as she struggles with insecurities and illness. ---- I have even witnessed the love between couples whose kids take up all their energy and yet, date night and stolen moments keep them.

Yes, the wedding this past weekend is an another example of loves possibilities, scripture proclaims them and life bares them out.

Where have you seen the possibilities of love?

A Dog Makes It Clear

Today, the Second Sunday of Easter, I had time away from my own congregation. So I visited a congregation about an hour away and heard my colleague Rev. Paul Lutz tell the story of Doubting Thomas by heart and listened to his sermon. He is the one who inspired me to try and tell the gospel by heart. I do it twice a year on Palm Sunday and Easter and would like to expand the tradition at St. John's. Paul's telling was amazing.

But what I enjoyed most worshipping this Sunday at Prince of Peace in Princeton Junction, is the use of Lassie as a sermon illustration. Pastor Lutz talked about his experience as a child watching Lassie with his family. This immediately evoked in me my experience watching the Lassie television show. Paul spoke of how Lassie would get himself into a mess, a tragedy would occur or Lassie would find himself in the midst of a crisis. Then there would be a commercial. Rev. Lutz told the congregation that he and his sisters would worry about what would become of Lassie during the commercial. And when the commercial was over, crisis, tragedy, or even certain death would be averted. Lassie would be fine all would be well.

He quoted, Julian of Norwich who says, "all will be well, and all will be well, and every kind of thing will be well." Because of Jesus, this is the promise of Easter. Crisis, tragedy, even death does not have the final say for us, Jesus promise of everlasting life does.

Who knew that an old television show about a dog could make the point so well? I thank Pastor Lutz for his hospitality and for preaching the gospel.

What did you hear this Sunday? How was your worship experience?

P.A.W.

Slacker No More

Okay, I am beginning to feel like a slacker. All my pastor friends are blogging and my last post was November 2008. I guess I should take this a little more seriously. I just can't envision that I have anything to say that anyone wants to read. Nevertheless, as a discipline I will sit and write something in this space every week. No matter how dull or mundane, I will say something, in the hopes that readers might find a word that is interesting, touching, thought provoking, faith inspiring or even funny. Here goes!
P.A.W.