Whiteboard: Wrestling

This week's Whiteboard picture was surprisingly difficult.

Not because the drawing was hard. No, I found a picture online that I liked and copied it to the best of my (limited) ability.

No, the hard part was deciding what title to write down below the image.

Read over Genesis 32:22-31 and answer me this one question: Who is Jacob wrestling with? (For your convenience you can find the scripture passage at the bottom of this article.)

It's not an easy question to answer, is it?

Christian tradition holds that Jacob was wrestling with an angel. You'll find the image repeated time and again in religious art and architecture -- Jacob in the heat of battle, wrestling with a white-winged creature that has come down unexpectedly from on high.

But Christian traditions also holds that it was God that Jacob was wrestling with. In fact, you can find that title ascribed to the text in the New International Version (NIV), the English Standard Version (ESV), the New Century Version (NCV), and at least a dozen other English language translations. And even though those particular words don't show up in the scripture account itself (remember, those titles are added by editors and publishers, they are not original to the text) you have to admit that the blessing Jacob gets from his foe is at least open to the interpretation that this could be God.

And yet, the text itself simply says that Jacob wrestles with a man. An unnamed, unknown assailant who comes out of nowhere, appears to fight dirty, and yet offers a name-changing and legacy-defining blessing for Jacob, now rechristened Israel.

That is why I struggled with what to write under the image. Do you write "Jacob Wrestles with God" or "Jacob Wrestles with the Angel" or "Jacob Wrestles with Some Random Stranger" or something else? Ultimately, I took the easy way out just used the ellipsis: Jacob Wrestles...

It is a story worth wrestling with, frankly because it reminds us that it is, in fact, a blessing to wrestle. It is a blessing to wrestle with our faith, to wrestle with our beliefs, to wrestle with how we live and who we are, and even a blessing to wrestle with God.

That's what we'll be talking about this Sunday in worship: Wrestling with God -- the God who will not let us go, the God who knows us deeper than we know ourselves, the God who blesses us and opens to us the fullness of life's possibilities. I hope to see you this Sunday in worship!

Three Things from Administrative Council

This past Sunday our Administrative Council did something different.

You see, for the very first time we met for a “Mid-Year Appraisal”.

For several years now Administrative Council has had a special retreat at the beginning of the year to identify our goals and lay out a plan for the year. This year we decided to take an extra step and carve out a special meeting in the middle of the year to see how we are doing, identify the larger issues before us, and spell out our top priorities for the remainder of 2014.

You all know that I like to end every meeting by brainstorming “The Three Things You Should Know…” Well, it just so happens we have Three Top Priorities for the remainder of 2014! So here they are:

1. Strengthen the Education Program at FCC ScottsdaleWe have a special Education Task Force that is already meeting to discuss the educational needs and faith formation opportunities here at the church. Be on the look out for some exciting new things!
   
2. Recruit/Train Leaders for the Coming Year(s)This is about more than filling out the slate for the nominating committee. We are seeking to develop a pipeline of leaders to serve our congregation (and the wider community) for years to come.
   
3. Focus on Financial ResponsibilityIn addition to developing the 2015 Budget and coordinating the Annual Stewardship Campaign, we’ll be looking into developing our Planned Gifts and starting up with the SCRIP Gift Card system. More details to come!

Yours in the Journey, Rev. Brian

Bonus “Fourth Thing” from the Meeting: With Administrative Council’s blessing I have accepted the nomination to serve as Vice Moderator for the AZ Region!

Whiteboard: Sing-A-Long Sunday

This coming Sunday we'll be doing something different in worship.

You see, this coming Sunday is Sing-A-Long Sunday!

Remember a few weeks back when Sandi asked you to fill out that bulletin insert asking you "What is your favorite hymn or praise song?" Well, we took those suggestions (no really, just about all of them!) and built an entire worship service around them!

So we'll be singing praises to God in all sorts of ways. We'll sing old favorites, new standards, and to be honest at least two songs I had never heard of before!

Come and join us this Sunday as we sing our praises to the Lord, celebrate the blessed gift of music, and witness the Kingdom of God breaking in all around us in melody and song!

See you Sunday!

June 29 Workship Photos

Pictures of the Workship Project at Vista Del Camino during "The Fifth With First" on June 29.

Post by First Christian Church Scottsdale.

June 29 Sermon Video

Here is the Sermon Video that we shared this past Sunday at "The Fifth With First."

Post by First Christian Church Scottsdale.

Whiteboard: My Yoke is Easy

Naturally, on the last day before I leave for vacation the assigned lectionary reading for the morning would say, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

No really, I promise it is the assigned gospel reading! I didn't pick it on my own!

I am looking forward to two weeks of vacation. I'll be visiting with family, celebrating my Mom's birthday, seeing old friends, and traveling throughout the Missouri, Oklahoma, and Indiana with my wife and my son. It will be a wonderful time of rest, re-cooperation, and re-connection.

But I'm also looking forward to diving in to this scripture reading on Sunday too. Christ is telling us some powerful truths here in Matthew 11:25-30 -- truths about the ways of the world, about the frustration of looking for meaning in all the wrong places, about the value of our lives, and about how he stands right beside us. That is what the "yoke" is all about, both on The Whiteboard and in the scripture text itself.

The sermon scripture isn't just a prelude to vacation this week, oh no. It is an invitation to journey with Jesus, to be yoked with Christ and work with him on a mission that is truly worth doing.

So come and join us this Sunday at FCC Scottsdale. Come all that are weary, all that are heavy burdened, all that are in need of a break and looking for a life worth living. Come join us as we worship and praise the Lord!

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Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

Whiteboard: The Fifth With First

This Sunday is "The Fifth with First" and you'll have plenty of options!

{Note: for folks who do not know what "The Fifth with First" means you can learn all about it by clicking here and scrolling through our archives}

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On Sunday June 29 The Workship Team will meet at Chaparral Park at 8AM for a brief prayer service before heading out to Vista del Camino to help get things ready for their Back To School Program.

Please note the new start time! With the heat of summer now fully upon us we’ll be meeting an hour earlier for our outdoor prayer service. 

AND, please note the new community partner we’ll be working with. FCC Scottsdale has been a longtime supporter of Vista del Camino and I am overjoyed that we’ll be working with them as part of “The Fifth with First.” It is even more exciting because, well, Vista del Camino has an air-conditioned workspace! 

But have no fears: When things cool off in the fall we’ll get back to working with Operation Fix-It again (the community partner we worked with in December and March).

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On June 29 we’ll also have a Worship Service here in the Sanctuary at 10:15AM. The Worship Service at the church will be a little bit different as well. The Music Ministries of the Church (under Sandi’s direction) will be leading everyone in a Patriotic Singing Sunday. 

There will be patriotic hymns, special patriotic music, and even a patriot anthem from the Chancel Choir on the Sunday before Independence Day on July 4th.

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For folks who are looking for a third option on June 29, that Sunday will also be the Rev. David Shirey’s last Sunday with Coolwater Christian Church. After a dozen years here in Arizona establishing a successful new church start in North Scottsdale, David has been called to serve as the Senior Pastor of Central Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky. 

For anyone wanting to be in worship with David for his last Sunday at Coolwater that service will begin at 9:30AM and be held in their sanctuary at 28181 N. 56th Street. You’ll want to get there early to get a seat – they are expecting a packed house.

Whiteboard: No Fear

Lets be honest, we all get scared.

It happens to the best of us.

Sometimes we get jumpy or afraid or terrified. Sometimes we just can't keep our thoughts from drifting into those dark places. Sometimes an uncertain future, a downward trend, and a slippery slope bring out the very worst in us and send our fear responses into a frenzy.

We all get scared.

Which is why it is so interesting that the Bible repeatedly tells us "Be not afraid." It says it over, and over, and over, and over again.

You'll find that phrase (or some permutation of it) in every section and subsection of the Bible -- In the Old Testament and in the New Testament; in the Creation Stories, in the Law, in the Prophets, in the Gospels, in the Epistles, and every single time an Angel of the Lord shows up with something important to say.

Everywhere you look in the Bible you'll find that consistent chorus, "Be not afraid."

So I guess that is pretty important.

When our fearful nature is met with a genuine expression of faith the response is consistent, clear, and true: Be not afraid. Fear not. Have no fear.

This Sunday we'll be talking about fear and faith. We'll be talking about what I'm afraid of (hint: it isn't just my very well known phobia of snakes) and what we can do about it. And we'll be talking about Jesus' instructions to us found in Matthew 10:26, "So have no fear."

I'll see you on Sunday morning!

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Matthew 10:24-33 Have No Fear

24 ‘A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master;25it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!

26 ‘So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 27What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. 28Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. 30And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

32 ‘Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

Whiteboard: In the Beginning

This Sunday we begin the longest stretch in the Christian Liturgical Calendar.

From the Third Sunday in June clear until the Fourth Sunday in November we'll be in "Ordinary Time" (also known as "The Sundays After Pentecost"). That means that for the next five months we are in that long stretch in the worship life of the church between any major, high holy days.

So the colors in the church have changed to green, and they are going to be that way for a while. We "go green" in the church during The Sundays After Pentecost because this is the time that we are to grow in the faith. And just like the green leafy trees that are reaching up to the heavens and growing in the light of the summer sun, we too are called to grow in this season in the life of the church.

In that regard, we'll be exploring some of the major stories in our Biblical tradition. We'll celebrate the mission, ministry, and teachings of Jesus. We'll hear once more the epistles of Paul to the early church. We'll listen to the words of Psalms and hear the wisdom and teachings of the Old Testament.

As we enter into this long stretch in the worship life of the church, what better place could there be to begin then right at the beginning! 

This Sunday we build our worship service around the first creation story in Genesis. It has the strange designation of Genesis 1:1-2:4a. You would have thought that the editors and arrangers of the Bible (the good folks who put in all of the chapter and verse numbers, many many years after the stories themselves had been written) would have just made the first creation story the entire first chapter. But no, they had to arrange it in such away that the seventh day bleeds over into the second chapter, and the last line bleeds into the first half of a new verse.

Anyway, it is the beginning. And beginnings are important. Beginnings set us on a journey, orient us in a direction, and predict where we are heading. All of those things happen in the Genesis 1 (I'm going shorthand here) and some of the deepest truths that we need to know as a people of faith are revealed right there at the very beginning of our scriptural tradition. We learn right away that God is present, powerful, creative, and blessing bestowing and that we are created in God's own image -- what an amazing way to start the story of faith!

Come join us this Sunday as we begin at the beginning and celebrate the Lord God our Creator!

Summer Reading List

Summer always started the same way when I was a kid. 

On the first day of summer my mom would pile all of us kids into the station wagon and drive us to the Round Rock Public Library and sign us up for the Summer Reading Program. 

The program worked like this: For every milestone you passed (for every 10 short, children’s books when you were a kid or for every 100 pages of a chapter book once you got older) you got a Prize Pack. Those Prize Packs were filled with all sorts of little trinkets as well as coupons for free stuff from local shops. 

The best prize in the gift bag (the Holy Grail of the Prize Packs) was the coupon for “One Free Donut” from Round Rock Donuts! Lots of people can trace their love of reading back to an certain influential teacher or to a particular beloved book, but I’m pretty sure my love of reading was nurtured by those donut coupons!

 

Even though the donut reward system is long since past for me, I still see summer time as reading time. Each summer I put together my own Summer Reading List, and I build in some accountability by sharing the full list with the church. It is also an invitation too. If  you are interested in any of the titles on my Summer Reading List and want to order a copy for yourself I’ve also included Amazon.com linksfor each book. 

So without further ado, here is what I’ll be reading this summer:

• A Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen
  A classic text. Nouwen connects the practical need for funds to do the work of religious organizations with the spiritual and theological principles that inform the work.
  
• Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairytale by Frederick Buechner
  A short, quick read by one of my favorite authors. It offers a creative look at the underlying meaning of the Gospels that stresses the many dimensions of God's relationship to humanity.
  
• Insurrection: To Believe is Human to Doubt, Divine by Peter Rollins
  A thought provoking book from one of the leaders of the Emergent Church movement that “prescribes a radical and wholesale critique of contemporary Christianity” in order to faithfully follow Jesus.
  
• Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate by J. Clif Christopher
  I’m re-reading this one again this summer. Written with the needs of pastors and stewardship teams in mind the book provides immediate, practical guidance to all who seek to help God’s people be better stewards of their resources.
  
• My Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer by Christian Wiman
  Completed in the wake of a bone marrow transplant, the book is a moving meditation on what a viable contemporary faith—responsive not only to modern thought and science but also to religious tradition—might look like.

I’m also planning on finishing The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America by George Packer (which you might remember from last Summer’s Reading List!) and just for fun I highly recommend Steve Martin’s Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life. Oh, and as a family we are going to read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix out loud to each other during our vacation back in the Midwest in July!

Yours in the Journey,
Rev. Brian