Just Save One - an new approach to HIV/AIDS Ministries

This September, while I am off to school in Dayton, three of my colleagues in HIV/AIDS ministries in our Annual Conference (UMC) will be attending "Just Save One: An Equipping Conference on HIV/AIDS" in Denver. 

HIV/AIDS continues to be a global crisis, impacting all countries. HIV does not discriminate - it impacts every known population. It impacts somebody with HIV in all areas of their life - the physical, social-emotional, financial, and even their family structures. It is not uncommon for people diagnosed with HIV to be completely disowned by their families.

Specifically in the United States, there is a belief that HIV is a "curable" disease or is "manageable." Although there is some truth to the second statement, there are issues with long-term infection. Statistics show that by 2020, 70% of the 1.1 million (and increasing) infected in the United States will be over the age of 50. 

What is true is that we absolutely need a new approach to ministering to those with HIV/AIDS. A diagnoses changes one's worldview and life-perspective. Being impacted by HIV changes the fundamentals of a person's interactions with the church and relationship with God. Our job as followers of Christ is to help people reconcile this new period of there lives with hope.

At the same time we need to invest people, processes, and our resources (including our finances) to bring awareness to underserved groups needing information to prevent further infections. In order to circumvent the growing population over the age of 50 living with HIV, we need to return our efforts to bringing awareness of HIV infection to our youth. 

Finally, the stigma simply needs to stop. The shame that someone feels after being infected can be unbearable. By removing the stigma and shame, we help that person become whole and realize that they are loved as a child of God.

May God bless those attending and our church and faith community as we bring hope to the future of HIV/AIDS ministries.

Mary & Martha - Being and Doing

One of my classes this semester is preparing to preach. It is an interesting class and an interesting title. All of us in this class have some experiences in preaching – some more than others.

My first assignment was to take a look at my life and reflect on my experiences of preaching throughout my life. In reflecting on that history, I was reminded of a situation where I was attending catechism classes at my church on a Wednesday night back in 1988. As I was entering the classroom, I walked past our sanctuary. It was a large just like ours, but the cross was in the front and the back.

Approaching the room, I noticed a peculiar site. Our pastor was standing at the pulpit, just standing there gazing at the cross. He wasn’t practicing his sermon. He wasn’t praying. He wasn’t preparing the stage for Sunday. He was spending time with God enjoying a significant level of intimacy. His experiences I believe are what we find in our gospel passage today.

Our story is found in the gospel of Luke. It is the third gospel, known for its elaborate stories and a more complete picture of what the church would become beyond the life and times of Jesus Christ. Its fundamental themes throughout the book are salvation and the saving grace of Jesus Christ just as God saved the Israelites through Moses. Recurring attributes are validation, continuity, and identity of Gods children.

The specific story of Mary and Martha takes place after one of the most profound and popular stories in the New Testament – the parable of the Good Samaritan. Luke’s gospel captures the importance of what the Good Samaritan does and how that glorifies God. However, the importance of activity takes a new direction in in this context and places emphasis on the different relationships that Jesus Christ has Jesus’ disciples. Additionally, this story shows the relationship that Mary and Martha have with each other.

In this passage, Martha and Mary welcome Jesus Christ to their home. Jesus Christ is there dining with them. Lazarus is present as well as Mary - and they are all, as my son calls, “chilling”.  It is very similar to what happens when we invite people into our homes – we exchange pleasantries, share our stories and our lives with each other, both our highs and our lows.

She is captured by Jesus’ presence, paying attention to Jesus’ actions and words, absorbing Jesus’ teachings like a sponge.

What is interesting is that Mary is breaking a cultural norm by being with Jesus so intimately – an action that is normally reserved for males in that place and time, and more specifically Jesus’ disciples as found in Acts 6:1-6

There is a rabbinic lore that is prominent in this place and time: “Let thy house be a meeting-house for the Sages and sit amid the dust of their feet and drink in their words with thirst…but talk not much with womankind.”

Jesus’ presence in this household is important, for Jesus is fulfilling a requirement of household evangelism to which Jesus commanded Jesus’ disciples to do earlier in the Luke’s gospel. A similar story can be found Jesus’ interactions with Zacchaeus in Luke 19. In both stories, Jesus is breaking cultural barriers by being with sinners, something that is prohibited by the culture of that time.

Martha, on the other hand, is fulfilling her societal requirements by attending to everyone, busy as she can be. She is clearly distracted by all that she is doing to ensure everyone is comfortable and their needs are being met. However, she is confusing her love of neighbor with her love for God – two conflicting parallels within this story.

In verse 40, she declares “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!” Jesus response is interesting as Jesus says “Martha, Martha.” This is the same declaration that we find in God’s response to Moses found in Exodus 3 where Moses is essentially doing the same thing as Martha is doing by complaining to the Holy One – complaining about his inability to lead God’s people out of Egypt. In essence, Martha is complaining to Jesus about Mary.  Jesus’ statement is a slight scolding of her complaint – a mild rebuke. Essentially, Martha’s actions are preventing her from experiencing “unhindered devotion to the Lord” as found in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, chapter 7.

Jesus then goes on to explain to Martha what Mary has done, first by explaining to Martha that her worry is unneeded. This is a common Biblical theme declaring “do not be afraid.” He states there is only “one thing” and between “being” and “doing”, Mary has chosen the right path.

So, what are the lessons we can identify from this profound story in Luke’s gospel?

First, “being” is the foundation of our existence. I believe that even before our salvation experience, we learned to exist within the confines of God’s prevenient grace. Even before we acknowledged Jesus the Christ as our Savior, we grew up on different paths of life with God waiting for us to commune with God.

Being with God is also not limited to our identity has humans. As in the example of Jesus found in this story, Jesus is breaking social norms by inviting all of God’s children to the table of grace and an encounter with the divine. We should not be limited based on our gender, our race or nationality, our political party, our sexuality or gender identity, or any other category in which we define ourselves.

However, that is not the only existence that we enjoy. As in the example of Martha, Jesus calls us to “be” with Jesus. This is a lesson that it’s not about you – it’s about you and God.

We also must understand that through this relationship with Christ, we are able to more effectively meet our God-given potential to be a follower of Christ, glorifying God by our presence on earth.

If there is only one thing that you take from this sermon, you need to understand and believe that you are a loved, unique child of Christ. God has placed you in this place and time to glorify God. No matter what your struggles might be, you are God’s precious gift to this world. God has formed you and made you into God’s image. God has given you grace and peace regardless of what comes your way. Your identity is found in your status as a loved disciple of Christ.

Earlier in my life, I was challenged by this precept. In 2008, I had obtained my bachelors in education and was working towards a master’s degree in adult education. I was then enjoying a successful career in corporate training. I was laid off in the midst of the financial crisis in our nation.  I was exceptionally upset at my future and what my next steps would be, as the only job in my office was that of a collector.

Through contemplation and prayerful meditation, I had to return to my salvation experience and learned to rebuild my broken foundation, exploring who I am in Christ, and what God’s will might be in my life. I wasn’t able to do God’s will at that time until I understood what that might be. When I was able to get through that process and see where God was leading me to make me happier and at peace.

In this story, our lesson is this: Jesus Christ calls us to “be” to create a foundation for our lives. That Holy Communion – a relationship with Christ – helps us to articulate who we are as a body of Christ.

Next, we must realize and notice in this story that although Martha is rebuked for her actions, Jesus never expresses that she should not complete her chores, indicating to us that we should first learn how to “be” and then we must “do.” Doing is fulfilling our call as a church to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

In order to “do” we must first encounter others. We need to exhibit the grace of God found in this story. We should see Jesus in every person we meet, even when it’s hard. We must have the same undivided presence with others and their concerns as Jesus Christ expresses in our passage today. We are called to share our lives and our stories with others who have not experienced the powerful grace of God in their lives.

However, I firmly believe that our encounter with others is God’s teaching us through the hospitality we share with them. An example of this is a friend of mine who I encountered in a dire situation – he was incredibly ill, homeless, without a job, depressed, and suffering from alcoholism. In helping him, I was able to not only understand his experiences living with addiction and the culture of alcoholics anonymous, but I was able to be present with others around him and recognize the blessing of his life in Christ.

“Doing” includes helping others realize who they are as a child of Christ. Remember, each one of us is a unique part of God’s body, and by helping others explore their calling and place within our family, we are better for it.

As a church, two of our primary social justice issues that we address are homelessness and poverty, which is especially prominent here in Phoenix. When someone is homeless or in poverty, they are not at peace. There are many side-issues that they are experiencing such as depression, addiction, or dysfunctional relationships with family and friends. In whatever context we find ourselves we can touch these peoples’ lives and help them bring about God’s shalom in their circumstances.

Ultimately, our lives and our identity – everything we are and everything we do – are found in the cross on which Jesus Christ offered Jesus’ self to help us to continue our communion with God and our relationship with others. Through this selfless act, we are called to “be” and “do”.

Journeys - Transitions

In June, I had the opportunity to share with my fellow parishioners at Faith as we began the process of saying goodbye to our pastor - Judy Boroto - and seek God in a spirit of transition as we welcomed Jody Topping to our world.

For me, it was bittersweet in that, although I had only been a member of Faith for a short period of time, my leadership skills, preaching skills, and relationship building had grown exponentially because of the amazing support, dedication, and tenacity of Pastor Judy. 

I was able to re-write my calling, articulate it my district committee, obtain certification, and get (almost) straight A's in seminary while attending to the responsibilities of my job, my family, and my church at the same time! And I owe a majority of this effort to Judy's skillset.

In June, I explored and was welcomed to intern at Shepherd of the Valley UMC under the direction of Deb Schauer, a local pastor with many years of experience who is leading a well-established church with a faithful congregation seeking to live out their faith with a Wesleyan spirit.

All of this required change and transitions. Transitions for Faith who was sending a pastor into a new chapter of her life and receiving one of my best friends who is looking forward to serving the church and community with passion. 

There has also been a transition for SOTV as they receive me into their care, giving me the opportunity to try new ideas, succeed & fail (but learn from those opportunities) and share my heart as I help them continue in their engaging ministry.

There's also been change for me as I transition to another church, support my son as he takes on developing his gifts and graces in ministry within Faith, and continue to grow under the prayerful support of some talented clergy.

As I reflect on the context of scripture, we see a spirit of change in a variety of forms. However, what I noticed in those stories as well as my own, is that God is always present, trying to ensure that God's will is express and actioned so that all may benefit in the process.

I also believe our faith and denomination is in a period of change, but I also think we need to take dynamic steps so that we may transition and evolve into a church that is called to fulfill our calling to make disciples for the transformation of the world.

What I am writing here is not another speech or another sermon, but an observation that, in spite of the uncertainties we find in our lives during a period of transition, change is always happen, and the best we can do is ride through that change,  engage scripture, tradition, reason, and experience, & do what God is calling us to do.

Mr. Roger's Theology

"Once you realize that everybody's your neighbor, you have a choice. You can either be an advocate or an accuser. An accuser is somebody who only sees what's awful about themselves so they look through those eyes and look for what's awful about their neighbor. An advocate is somebody who looks through the eyes of God at their neighbor and sees what's good about that person because they're created in God's likeness."

"I like you just the way you are."

These are two amazing quotes from Rev Fred Rogers - one of the most influential advocates for children's television in history.  

Fred was a minister in the Presbyterian faith. He loved God's creation, especially children who needed to hear the affirming message that "Mr. Rogers" shared each day that he was on PBS channels throughout the US.

I personally believe that Fred was a revolutionary man after God's heart who wanted to share that heart with everyone he encountered. Watching some of his videos recently, I was amazed at how applicable his message is to today's church message.

What if we were to take seriously his message - "I like you just the way you are"? What if we were to accept anyone who walks in the door without any need to seek change in those who are in our midst? How would that increase our church body? How would that align our message specifically for the UMC denomination "Open hearts, open minds, open doors"?

What if?

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to have dinner with a young clergyperson who is serving a small church in Arkansas. I was in the midst of someone who loves God, loves his wife and son, loves his church, and loves all. I was excited to hear all his story at how God has made him a witness to God's sustaining power and grace.

That is what we need in our church - we need to stop looking at the "awfulness" of people, and look at every relationship, every interaction, and every point to install goodness in God's creation because they are created in God's likeness.

Because I do like you just the way you are, not who I wish you could be. You are God's likeness wherever you are on your journey.

Did Jesus Give Hugs?

The other day, I was watching a video called "homophobes get their first gay hug." I was kind of struck by it in that I saw such a group of visibly-uncomfortable people offered something as simple as a hug from another human being. 

Now, I don't believe in the word "homophobe" but that's another blog for another time.....

Seeing the love and understanding that eventually came out of the interactions, I immediately thought of the life of Jesus - did Jesus Christ give hugs?

A brief Google search shows that one must look at the culture of the time in order to identify whether or not Jesus gave hugs. I don't know that I necessarily agree with that as Jesus did things outside the culture - he was Jesus, after all.

So, that begs the question - did Jesus give hugs?

In order to truly answer that question with all honesty, one must looks at the function of the gospel - to take a broken world and bring it in harmony with God. Looking at the essence of a hug - it is giving comfort and being comforted at the same time. It is an art of affection. It is a mutual invitation to the healing power of touch, making one whole, and offering a warm embrace.

So, did Jesus give hugs? Absolutely!

A celebration of life - Tim Jennant-Jayne

This week I celebrate the life and mourn the loss of a good friend – Tim Tennant-Jayne.

Tim offered to help me as a mentor during my first year of seminary. He took tons of time in helping me learn a new way of thinking and writing in seminary. He was very helpful in helping me overcome some of the hurdles I encountered.

Tim was one of the most caring individuals I have ever encountered. He was just an amazing person who always had a positive outlook on life.

In September, he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Even in the midst of these obstacles, he was always kind and generous. He clearly had the love of God inside his heart and in his relationship with others.  Unfortunately, things were too progressed and Tim went to be with  the Lord this week.

I miss him terribly. However, I also know that his body is completely healed of all illness and he is in the presence of God. I know for certain that God has said to him already “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Tim – you are loved and you are missed. I will be forever grateful for all you have done for me.

Unconditional Love & Acceptance

One of the first lessons I learned as a child was unconditional love & acceptance. My father spoke volumes about that topic as I was growing up. I think it was more of him affirming his own belief system when I made mistakes as a kid – normal mistakes any teenager makes, but challenges nonetheless.

I continued to be affirmed by my father as I grew into young adulthood and established my own identity. Then, as a parent I continued that tradition as best I could with five foster children who definitely challenged the status quo. Now, having adopted a special needs child I am challenged daily to remember that unconditional love & acceptance when things don’t go so right.

I am wondering how this concept filters into the church. I believe that this originated from God – God loved Israel in spite of Israel’s challenging behaviors. God punished Israel for poor decisions, but ultimately brought Israel back into the fold and fulfilled God’s promises that originated when God brought Israel out of captivity in Egypt.As for Jesus Christ, it seems to me that Jesus’ whole ministry was devoted to demonstrating this unconditional love to all that Jesus encountered.

For the local church, unconditional love and acceptance is critical to both fulfilling the mission of the church and church growth. I believe that by shutting sections of society out of the church whether covertly or overtly we shun certain cultures and prevent them from engaging wholly in the life of the church.

Many would automatically assume I am referring to the LGBTQ community considering the huge focus on this culture in the church today. While I believe that this community needs to experience God's love and grace through the church and the Christian community, we need to reflect on others who are prevented from being part of our communities of faith.

I remember attending a local church several years ago here in Surprise. A man had shown up to church, drinking a beer in the parking lot. There were many who were very upset that anyone would have the nerve to show up to church and drink alcohol on church property. I remember the love that the pastor shared both with the church and ultimately with this man. His response was “Well, at least he showed up to church.”

Another community which needs our love & acceptance is the disability community. When reflecting on the needs of people affected by autism or Down’s syndrome, I see an opportunity for us to develop resources and ministries to help those impacted to engage in the church at a level which both meets their needs and develops their faith, helping them learn that God loves them.

As I was preparing to celebrate New Year's Eve with my family, I saw a Google commercial celebrating many of the significant events that touched the world during 2013. One of them was a story in which the pope embraced a heavily disfigured man. You can read his story at J Johnson's blog. I am touched by the story which shared 

"During a stroll among many people in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, the pontiff personally visited a severely disfigured man among the crowd. Pope Francis prayed with the man and comforted him as he cried." 

Ultimately, we need to reflect on the love of Christ and be the hands and feet of Jesus to a world which is broken and needs our love. That love must be unconditional as it is not our job to judge others but to help them grow in their faith. By expressing this unconditional love & acceptance, we will grow the church and our faith.