God loves you...

The Missional Church...simple

This is a good brief summary of 21st century missional reality.

Most United Methodists & United Methodist congregations are (in my humble opinion) "trapped" in the model that begins around 0:07.

Annual Conference & denominational leadership tend to be (in my humble opinion) somewhere around 0:40.

Those models have both been effective, but both are dated (they're SO 20th century).

21st century "missional ministry", which actually refers back to an earlier time, begins around 1:15.

Definitely worth some prayerful reflection...

A Lenten parable

"Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death —
even death on a cross."

- Philippians 2:5-8 (NRSV)

One Sunday in worship, a congregation received a rather large family as visitors.

After the service, the family spoke with the pastor, explaining that they had been members of another neighborhood congregation but were looking for a new church home that would serve their needs. They proceeded to begin asking the pastor various questions about the ministry and life of her congregation.

The pastor interrupted them by asking questions about their family and their activities, both in and out of church. “I’m not sure that our congregation is the place for you,“ the pastor told them, “for when it comes to joining our fellowship, we are far more interested in those who are willing to serve than those who are willing to be served.”

Great post from Jay Voorhees

Over at Only Wonder Understands, the blog of Jay Voorhees (a UM pastor in Tennessee), we find a wonderful post entitled The Myth of Relevancy.

Jay mentions the seeming obsession in contemporary Church circles with the desire to be "relevant" and illustrates his concerns simply, briefly, and quite well. I recommend this post as some great food for thought.

Excerpts from Church Conference report

Church Conference for JUMC
held at First Bethel UMC, 7 PM,
11/4/08

“…holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.”
– Psalm 93:5

It is a joy to be a part of the family of Jefferson United Methodist Church as we celebrate our 165th year of ministry. The congregation has a wonderful legacy of love and mission, and I feel blessed to be a part of her story. Our area is growing, and our circle of influence grows with it.

Some exciting things have been happening in our congregational family:

* While numbers are rarely a primary indicator of missional faithfulness, our average participation in Sunday worship has increased significantly in the past 2 ½ years; our baptisms and our new members are vastly outpacing funerals and transfers, which is a positive “turnaround trend”;
* We continue to get more visitors each week, and are retaining most of them;
* We have completed a bold building plan to improve and modernize our physical facilities, connecting our worship center with our education building and making some much needed repairs;
* Our new folks have been getting very active in the life of our congregation, in study groups, leadership opportunities and mission;
* We utilize our technological capabilities more efficiently, making use of power point and video in worship and in study;
* In the community, I have been meeting with area clergy in the hopes of gaining greater cooperation in ministry, and our West Jefferson Hills Ministerium continues to do wonderful things, from worship gatherings to collaborative missional efforts.

It has been a busy and positive year! And yet, there are even greater things in our future...

2009 will be my third full year in ministry at Jefferson church, unless our Bishop and his Cabinet determine that a change is in order (which is always a possibility in our connectional system). As I prepare for my third year, the number “3” has been running through my mind. With my love of music and respect for the great hymnody of the Church, the hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy!” has been a frequent refrain. This beautiful classic, with an 1826 text by Reginald Heber, extols the glory of the Triune God:

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity.

I have been reflecting on this hymn for the past several months, praying it several times a week as part of my devotional life. I believe we are being challenged by the Spirit to focus in 2009 on “holiness”…the holiness of God and our own calling to be holy for Jesus’ sake in the midst of a broken world. Holiness, after all, was a crucial aspect of John Wesley’s ministry and the early Methodist message, and is an important part of our faith heritage.

Holiness is more than just living simple, healthy lives (though that’s important); it is being fully devoted to Jesus. The Kingdom of God is described as ‘the Way of Holiness’…

“…a highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Way of Holiness.”
– Isaiah 35:8

How might we be more holy? Spend more time in prayer with our Heavenly Father? Read and study Scripture more effectively? Be more intent about our marriage and family commitments? Serve the poor, the lonely, and the lost with greater passion? Be more obedient regarding our attendance and participation in congregational worship? Stand against societal sins such as racism and sexism with more vigor? Love one another and our neighbors with less compromise?

Rather than listing goals for the next ministry year, I will be urging us to reflect on the theme of holiness in 2009 - what it means to serve a holy God and what it means to be a holy people. My expectation is that as we reflect upon this theme, the Spirit will open to us new possibilities for growth and effective disciple-making. We serve a God who honors faithful, honest reflection!

My only goal, then, for 2009, as a pastor and a leader of this wonderful congregation, is that we “take time to be holy”, and seek Jesus’ holy character in our own lives. I believe that we will be transformed in significant ways, as will our community.

May God continue to bless the people of Jefferson United Methodist Church and all that we do to build Christ’s Kingdom.

Pastor Keith H. McIlwain
November 4, 2008

Vision projects

This Sunday, I won't be preaching. Instead, our Trustees / Finance Committee / Vision Team, with the blessing of our Church Council, will be presenting the details of our upcoming building project. Lord willing, work will commence within the next few months.

A few years ago, under the inspired leadership of my predecessor, the Rev. Dr. Douglas Heagy, the people of JUMC revamped what was a very dated, worn sanctuary (and the entire church building) and made it an absolutely beautiful, intimate chapel, with diverse possibilities.

After that project was completed, the plans were laid for further "updating". The church's education building was built in about 1960, and it looks like it. Both the exterior and interior need serious work. Work is needed not only to modernize, but also to repair and maintain. The plans for the project are great, and include a connecting corridor between the two buildings, a lovely garden behind the facility, and a more suitable look.

Jefferson church is a wonderful community of faith, with lovely people and great opportunities in a quickly growing suburban area. By making these physical improvements, we'll be setting ourselves up well to accomodate what God has for us in the future, while honoring our heritage.

Our Lenten Bible study is focused on "prophetic ethics"...how God calls us to speak to our time, live a disciple's life in the 21st century, and reach the people in our part of the world. Later this month, our Church Council meeting will be devoted exclusively to the seeking of God's vision for our ministry. Where do we believe the Spirit is calling us in the next 3 years...5 years...10 years...and beyond? What do we need to do to get there?

Isaiah 6: Here am I; send me!

"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'"

- Isaiah 6:8 (RSV)

Isaiah of Jerusalem experienced a vision of God. He was transported, in some way we cannot yet fully understand, to the very throne room of heaven. There, he witnessed angelic worship of the LORD God, and was himself cleansed of the guilt of sin (the Hebrew words used, "cuwr" and "kaphar", actually refer to atonement). What a frightening and glorious experience!

The response of Isaiah to this experience is a response God can rightly expect of us all. The prophet responded to God's presence, holiness, glory, and merciful atonement by answering the call to ministry and service: "Here am I! Send me!"

Priests are called to stand between God and the people, representing each on behalf of the other. They are called to do the work of ministry on behalf of the people. Pastors are called to lead the people in mission and equip the saints for ministry.

Isaiah was neither priest or pastor, not a part of the "professional clergy"; he was a faithful layperson who responded faithfully to the Lord's call. Each of us is called to respond to God's call to minister and to serve. We are all ministers!

The prophet responded not out of fear, but out of love and gratitude. We as the people of God are not merely saved from something (Hell); we are saved for something - holiness, ministry, and service. We are SAVED TO SERVE!

Those who say, "I am not worthy" or "I don't have the right gifts to serve" are absolutely wrong; it isn't about our ability, but our availability.

On the eve to the year's greatest sporting event, the Super Bowl, we can look at two football players as examples. Randy Moss is a wide receiver currently with the Oakland Raiders. He may be the most talented wide receiver in the history of the game. Despite his enormous talent, he hasn't won too many games and has never appeared in a Super Bowl. Part of the reason for this is that Randy Moss is not a team player. He gives up on his team and on the games in which he plays, displaying an incredibly bad attitude and an unwillingness to utilize his great talent to its fullest potential.

On the other hand, Hines Ward of our own Pittsburgh Steelers doesn't have Randy Moss' size or raw talent, but makes up for it with determination, teamwork, and great heart. As a result, Hines Ward is one of the best two or three receivers in the game, a Super Bowl MVP and a likely future Hall of Famer. His willingness and his heart make the difference.

God can use us in wonderfully miraculous ways if we simply make ourselves available to him, if we answer his call as Isaiah did centuries ago, "Here am I! Send me!"

I am reminded of a beautiful old song by the Christian rock and roll band Petra...

"I Am Available"
(Words & Music by Bob Hartman)

I don't have much to offer you,

I don't have much to give
There's so much I may never be

as long as I may live
I may never be all I want to be

although I'll always try
But if you choose me, to use me,

there's just one reason why

I am available, I am available
I will go when you say, "Go"
I am available, I am available
I will stop when you say, "No"
My whole life was incomplete

till I laid it at Your feet
So use me as You will,

I am available

I'm not the most dependable,

sometimes you can't rely
There's no excuse,

there's no defense,

there's only one reply

I am available, I am available
I will go when you say, "Go"
I am available, I am available
I will stop when you say, "No"
My whole life was incomplete till I laid it at Your feet
So use me as You will, I am available

I know that my ability is not Your main concern
It's my availability and willingness to learn

I am available, I am available
I will go when you say, "Go"
I am available, I am available
I will stop when you say, "No"
My whole life was incomplete till I laid it at Your feet
So use me as You will, I am available

Isaiah 6: Holy, holy, holy

"In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple.

Above him stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.'

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.

And I said: 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!'

Then flew one of the seraphim to me, having in his hand a burning coal which he had taken with tongs from the altar.

And he touched my mouth, and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin forgiven.'

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'"

- Isaiah 6:1-8 (RSV)

The first thing that strikes me about the call of God to Isaiah of Jerusalem (or "First Isaiah" as he is known by contemporary scholars) is that when placed in the presence of Almighty God, the prophet is overcome with a sense of his own inherent sinfulness, unworthiness, and inadequacy. How can a mere sinful human being be in the throne room of heaven, in the very presence of our Creator and Lord?

Isaiah is, after all, only worthy to speak the word of the Lord after his mouth is scorched and cleansed by divine fire.

Christians have historically believed that each Lord's Day as we gather to worship God as the Body of Christ, we are also in the presence of the Almighty, and that our sanctuaries are earthly reflections of that divine throne room.

Does our worship reflect that reverence?

Are we awed by the presence of God?

Are we overcome with unworthiness and inadequacy as we enter into the presence of the Holy One of Israel?

Do we remember that the God who is with us and is immanent is also far beyond and above us and is completely transcendent, entirely different from us, "wholly Other"?

Are we too comfortable with Almighty God?

Is he too much "our buddy" and not enough "the LORD God of hosts", whose very name is too holy to speak?

Too often, we enter worship as a routine...traditional worship gone stale.

Many enter worship gleefully, as if the Super Bowl party is about to begin...contemporary worship gone mad.

While joy and celebration are certainly proper Christian practices, we should never allow our worship to be so "Happy, happy, happy" that we forget "Holy, holy, holy".

The Poor

Without question, Jesus had a special place in his heart for the poor and the oppressed. This week's Gospel lesson from Luke 4:18-19 reminds us of Jesus' mission:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim
release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Repeatedly, Jesus ministered to those who existed on the margins of society, those whom the culture and the powerful had rejected. The late Howard Thurman used a word rich in depth and meaning to refer to this group of outcasts..."the disinherited". Jesus recognized that the poor and the oppressed had as much a right to live, to serve, and to enjoy the gift of life as those who had money and power, and Jesus was determined to do something about the imbalances of society.

We must also remember that Jesus did not ignore or neglect the rich. But, when a rich young man approached Jesus, Jesus requested that the man sell all he had and give the proceeds to the poor. In essence, Jesus told the young man, "If you're serious about following me, then become as one of the poor, as one of 'the least of these my brethren'." What a powerful moment.

Poverty in our world is a seemingly overwhelming problem. Billions of people live in poverty, going without water, food, medical care, or very basic education. How do we even begin to solve the great problem of poverty?

While that certainly has to be a concern which weighs heavily on the heart of every Christian disciple, we should not allow the magnitude of the problem to keep us from action. We need to be about the business of bringing good news to the poor...right now...today...if we are to be faithful followers of Jesus. Nothing should keep us from that call, which, as Jesus makes clear, has its origins in the Spirit.

In fact, St. Gregory of Nazianzus, one of the greatest theologians of the Church, said in Oration 14, “...agape [divine love] is the first and greatest of the Commandments … and its most vital part … is love of the poor.” St. Gregory is saying that we show our love for God by loving the poor. Jesus' harsh and powerful words in Matthew 25 never seem to leave us alone long enough to give us peace!

The truth is that we don't like to be around the poor. We'd much rather give money to someone else...be it the government, the Annual Conference, or another charity...and let them help the poor on our behalf. We don't want to be bothered, especially with people with whom we simply don't want to spend time.

John Jones of Marquette University recalls a scene in one of the greatest novels ever written, John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, which sums up some of our feelings regarding the poor. The poor Joad family has just purchased gasoline for their vehicle, when they overhear the gas station attendants...

“Jesus, what a hard looking outfit!”
“Them Okies? They’re all hard-lookin.”
“Jesus, I’d hate to start out in a jalopy like that.”
“Well, you and me got sense. Them goddamn Okies got no sense and no feeling. They ain’t human. A human being wouldn’t live like they do. A human being couldn’t stand it to be so dirty and miserable. They ain’t a hell of a lot better than gorillas.”

We may not say those words, and we may not even consciously think those thoughts, but too often we act that way regarding our poor sisters and brothers.

But Jesus touched the lepers. He loved those who were largely deemed unlovable. He got his hands dirty with and for those in need...and told his disciples to do the same. We need to bring good news to the poor...the good news that God loves them and so do we...the good news that they matter...the good news that Jesus lives that they might know love and redemption...the good news that the Church identifies with them and will stand by them no matter what, in spite of our historic neglect...the good news that they are of cosmic importance to the Kingdom of God.

The poor need us to bring them good news...but we need them, desperately, that we might remember what it is we are all about. In so many ways, our faithfulness in this area (or at least the attempt at faithfulness) represents the difference between being an authentic Christian disciple and merely being a basically nice person. God's vision for the church includes a great emphasis on the poor...whether or not we clearly see his vision.

"Those who shut their ears to the cry of the poor
will also cry out and not be answered."

- Proverbs 21:13

* Read this for an article about a family caught in the cycle of poverty in western Pennsylvania.

* Read this for a progress report on poverty in Pennsylvania.

Considering Vision

As we ponder what constitutes a divine vision, we ought to differentiate between the word "vision" as it used (and at times abused) by a broken world and as it used by the Church.

There are a multitude of books by business and political leaders which talk about "vision". Many leaders in these arenas of life refer to "vision". That's a good thing! We want our leaders to be looking toward the future...whether in politics, economics, sports, or other areas.

But "vision" when it comes to the Church is a bit different. When the Scriptures use the word, or more accurately when they use the Hebrew and Greek words we translate as "vision", it always refers to something from God...a special sight or glimpse into heaven (and often into the future), granted in order to further God's salvific work in this world. Vision, for the Church, is always soteriological...it always involves redemption, salvation, the advancement of the Kingdom of God.

This is why it can be a mite dangerous to glean too much from the many books on "vision" written by politicians and business leaders...we run the risk of looking too much like the world we are trying to redeem and transform!

(Zechariah's vision in Luke 1, the Transfiguration in Matthew 17, the experience of the women in Luke 24, the Pentecostal outpouring in Acts 2, the apocalyptic horsemen in Revelation 9...all of these and other examples refer to "vision", and all pointed in some way to the salvation story.)

So, as we consider "vision", and what God's vision might be for us, it is essential that we keep in mind that God's vision...if indeed it be from God...will involve salvation - salvation not only for us but for our neighbors, for our city, for the world. Truly, that can be a vision which potentially is boundless and excitingly big! This is the hope for which we must be in prayer.

Orthopraxis

"The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Jesus,
and unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written:

'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim
release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.'

He then rolled up the scroll,
gave it back to the attendant, and sat down.
And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

He said to them, 'Today, in your hearing, this Scripture is fulfilled.'"

- Luke 4:17-21

At JUMC, we are continuing our discussion about what constitutes a divine vision, as we seek God's vision for our future.

Jesus' own "vision statement" is contained in this week's Gospel lesson, in which Our Lord makes reference to Isaiah 61. One of the interesting aspects of this passage is its counterpart in Mark 6. Mark's Gospel mentions Jesus speaking in Nazareth, but omits the precise passage.

Most scholars agree that Luke utilized Mark as a primary source. Why did Luke, then, add this passage?

We see hear a clear example of the "Lukan gospel". Whereas Mark emphasizes penitence and belief, Luke emphasizes orthopraxis, or "correct practice". Far too often, Christians (especially evangelicals) have emphasized "correct belief" (orthodoxy) at the expense of "correct practice". As a result, those on the margins of Church and/or society have often been neglected or forgotten.

We need orthodoxy and orthopraxis. In my view, historic Methodism embodies this dichotomy beautifully. Certainly John Wesley proclaimed the importance of orthodox Christian belief, and is rightly considered one of the key forefathers of contemporary evangelicalism. But Wesley also placed a great deal of emphasis on the "means of grace", both works of piety (prayer, Bible reading, communion, etc.) and works of mercy (feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, etc.).

Local churches tend to be relatively effective at performing works of piety. Works of mercy are a bit more difficult, though, since they often require us to "step outside of ourselves", roll up our sleeves, and get our hands dirty. The important sacrificial aspect of Christian living can be found in these works of mercy, and we need to be involved in these sacrifices. After all, Jesus makes it clear in Luke's Gospel that what we do is at least as important as what we believe.

As retired Salvation Army officer Henry Gariepy puts it, "Holiness without social concern is as a soul without a body, but social concern without holiness is as a body without a soul. One is a ghost, the other a corpse. Only when they are wedded together do we have a healthy, life-giving gospel."

* Read this for an excellent and concise discussion of orthopraxis and John Wesley.

* Read this for an excellent and concise study of the means of grace in Methodism.

God bless MLK

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.'

"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood...

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

"I have a dream today.

"I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama...little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

"I have a dream today.

"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together...

"Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania...

"And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, 'Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!'"

- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 8/28/63

Cloverleaf, etc.

On Tuesday, I'll be attending my first meeting of the Cloverleaf Area Ecumenical Ministry, which has its headquarters at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church in Pleasant Hills. The Cloverleaf ministry is a united ministry of the Jefferson Hills/Pleasant Hills religious groups (even serving parts of West Mifflin Whitehall) and serves over 200 families. There is a weekly food distribution and other outreach ministries such as a clothing distribution, emergency aid, transportation, child care, medical help, and counseling. Formed in 1983 by area churches and the local synagogue, it is a vital ministry and, frankly, is one of the most Christ-like things we do.

An extremely faithful leader of Jefferson church, Carol Kregenow, has been very active in the Cloverleaf ministry (as was her husband Dale, who sadly died a few weeks before we moved to Jefferson Hills), and I look forward to working with her in this ministry. This kind of service ministry has always been among the most fulfilling aspects of my pastorate, and I am anxious to "get on board" and to get Jefferson church more involved in the Cloverleaf agency.

I'm very, very excited! Hallelujah!

This morning, I preached the first in a sermon series on visioncasting, in preparation for our March Church Council meeting when we will "formally" and corporately begin to discern God's vision for JUMC. The sermon was well received, and I think the folks are anxious to experience the process and see what God has in store for us. My personal goal is to have some plans ready for our Church Conference this Fall, but I'm open to whatever timeframe is provided by the Holy Spirit.

My additional hope is that the Cloverleaf ministry plays a key role in our vision, since I believe strongly that a Christian's faithfulness is largely determined by what he or she is doing for "the least of these".

Searching for a Vision

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,

saying, 'Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him...'

And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh..."

- from Matthew 2

The wise men (or magi) who appear suddenly at the end of the traditional Christmas story must have been remarkable people. They were considered to be among the most learned, respected people of their day. They were students not only of the night sky (and if you've ever enjoyed the wonder of telescopes, you can understand why!), but of the "signs of the times" all around them. Nature, politics, art...for these wise men, all of these and more held great meaning, and they were determined to figure things out.

The mysterious star which appeared during the time of Jesus' infancy caused them no small amount of confusion. Perhaps they had already reached a point in their lives when they felt they had figured it all out amd finally understood the crazy world in which they lived! Then, God threw this star into the mix, which sent the magi scrambling for answers.

Desperately following this miraculous moving star, they soon came to the conclusion, given their learning, that this omen pointed to a great birth, and that a new king - indeed, a new kind of king - had come into the world. Diligently and with great passion and a sense of urgency, they searched for this new king.

God had given them a vision of the future...or at least the promise of a vision, and they were determined to discover that vision. They set out on a journey which upset their routines, causing them to leave all things familiar, knowing that their lives would never again be the same...all out of a desire to see what God had in store for them and their world.

The wise men were remarkable. 2000 years later, we are called to share their life-changing journey...not only at Epiphany, but throughout our lives.

The Church is called to remember that God has given us a vision of the future...or at least the promise of a vision. We are called to set out upon a journey which will undoubtedly upset our routines and those things with which we are familiar, knowing that our lives...and our church...may never be the same. We do this not just for the sake of change or simply to have fun, but to discover what God has in store for us and our world.

Like the wise men, we must recognize the "signs of the times" and recognize that the world has changed...and is still changing! We, too, must set out on a journey, following the light of the Spirit, to find the vision God has for us.

What does the Lord want us to do? Where does he want us to go? How does he want us to get there? Exciting, yet a bit scary! But, as movie icon John Wayne once said, "Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway."

The really exciting part of the story isn't just the search, the journey...which is quite exciting itself...but the end of the search! The wise men found, at the end of their search, Jesus, the new king, like no king before or since. They offered him their gifts and, more importantly, their homage and devotion.

Likewise, Jesus is waiting for us as we search for his vision, for every worthwhile journey leads to him! Hallelujah! Exciting times lay ahead!