In August I finished A Child’s Walk in the Wilderness:  An 8-Year-Old Boy and His Father Take on the Appalachian Trail by Paul Molyneaux.  It relates the adventures of the author and his son through the hike of the Appalachian Trail.  The beauty of this book is the wonder of an 8-year-old as he explores the world of the trail.  At one point Paul comments that he would have missed so much of what there is to see if he had not been with his son.

As I read, I relived outdoor adventures of my own; canoeing and hiking along the Grand River, wandering the trails around Bethany College, hiking to several waterfalls in the Cumberland Falls State Park in KY, and exploring Chained Rock and Cumberland Gap.  This book and my memories tied me back to the power of God’s Creation of our world.

As we get older and spend less time in the great outdoors, we begin to take for granted the world that God made.  We have been made stewards of all that God created; the water, the air, the earth, and all that lives within this creation.  It is not ours to use up and dispose of; it is ours to return to the One who made them.  This is not about whether or not Global Warning is real or fiction.  It is about our responsibility to care for Creation.

On the trail, Paul and his son clean up after themselves and others who toss trash on the ground.  They had to clean some of the shelters along the trail because hikers left all their waste behind.  A father and his little son picked up after other “responsible adults.”  We witness the same lack of concern for our environment when we see people toss cigarette butts out their car windows or empty their car ash trays in parking lots.  Hardly a week passes when one of us must pick up food containers, bottles, or other trash tossed out on Green St.  If people can be this disrespectful of Creation with trash that can be put in trash cans at home or at a business, why are we amazed when we hear of major businesses and others pouring pollutants into our water and air.

As Christians, we must do all that we can to not add to the problems of pollution.  Using less energy, and being as careful with the energy we do use can show respect for the earth and or devotion to the One who made it.  Recycling, reusing, or repurposing things we no longer need or want can be a great way to be better stewards.  Reducing the amount of chemicals that you use around your home and yard will prevent those same chemicals from getting into the air and water supply.  There are many recipes for inexpensive cleaning products that can be made at home.  Our laundry detergent is made from Fels-Naphtha soap, Borax, and washing soda.  It works as well as any detergent available and the clothes get just as clean.  Plus it is not bad for the water or earth.

We all hope to pass a better world to our children and grandchildren.  As Christians, let’s plan on returning a world to God as close as we can make it to the way God made it.

Shalom, Darrell

Starting this month, Camp Christian will be running at full speed.  Our congregation will be well represented this summer and I would encourage everyone to consider sending notes and cards to the kids going to camp.  Because of the abuse of email being sent to campers, multiple page or even with one word per page emails, the campers will only be able to receive letters and packages.

The mailing address for camp is 3735 Dennard Hardy Road, Gordon, GA  31031-9776.  Address any mail to the name of the camper in care of Camp Christian.  Plan on it taking a couple of days for the mail to arrive, so if camp begins on Monday, mail a letter on the previous Friday.  Also, any mail sent after Wednesday will probably not reach the campers.

The first of our church family to attend camp this summer will be Juliet and Theresa Nolde at the Genesis Camp on June 7-9.  Send any mail by Thursday, June 6th.  From June 10-15, Ethan Thompson, Andrea McCleese, Gavin Edmondson, Savanna Gowin, and Taylor Hicks will be at CY camp.  The following week, June 17-22, Olivia Gowin will be at Chi Rho camp.  Due to the General Assembly, the next camp isn’t until July 16-20.  Watch the July newsletter for the names of the campers attending camp in July.

The General Assembly of the Christian Church is being held in Orlando, FL, July 13-17.  This is one of the closest sites for the Assembly.  It is a wonderful opportunity to experience the rich variety of our church and to hear messages from church leaders from all over the country.  This year there will also be opportunities to attend Learning Tracks.  They are Media and Arts in worship, Missional Transformation, Stewardship, and Spirituality.

Everything begins Saturday evening and concludes on Wednesday night with the a-cappella women’s group “Sweet Honey in the Rock”.  I had the opportunity to hear them when the Assembly was in Kansas City and they are fantastic.  A young Disciple musician, Andra Moral, will perform Monday night.  If you would like to hear either of these artists before the Assembly, I have CDs of both.

You do not have to come for the entire time; you can come in for a day or two.  In the Convention Exhibit Hall, all the ministries of our church will be on display.  All of our colleges and universities will be there as well as a book display from Cokesbury.

Our denomination is best experienced in the variety of languages, music styles and cultures that can come together and worship around the Communion Table.  We use the phrase “come and be embraced” to describe our congregation.  Come to Orlando and embrace the richness of our church.

Shalom, Darrell

On May 12, Mother’s Day, the Chi Rho/CYF will lead worship.  Please make an effort to come and support our young people as they share their talents in worship.

If any of our church family will be graduating this year, please let me know by phone (478-718-8724) or email (pastor@fcc-wr.org) so they may be honored this month.  I would like to recognize any graduates on Pentecost Sunday, May 19.

On Pentecost, the former disciples, now Apostles came out of hiding and fear and began to share the Good News that God cares for all people, not just the wealthy and successful power brokers.  These fishermen, tax collectors, hired helpers, radicals, men, and women went out into the world they had feared and at once wished to be violently changed and began traveling and teaching and preaching.

We are now the ones to be “sent out” to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.   To quote the prophets about justice and righteousness for the powerless and to work for a time when swords are converted to plows and everyone will be free to rest in their own space confident that there is food for the family.  To love others as we have been loved by God.  To do all of these things knowing that people will think we are crazy, or peace-niks, or radicals.  To do all these things even we have to sacrifice our comfort, our security, our life.

Jesus dared the Disciples to take up their cross and follow.  This is not a reflection of some ache or pain that we experience.  It is not some hardship or discomfort through which we must pass.  Rather it is the willingness to put our very lives on the line to change the world that sees people as commodities and tools; that measures a person’s value by how much they are worth or by what they can offer to me; that releases the individual of being my brother’s and my sister’s keeper.

The Spirit of Pentecost upset the Apostle’s comfort zones; in fact, it blew their comfort zones apart.  Their comfort zone became service to others.  Look at Paul, how comfortable was his life?  He was shipwrecked, beaten, stoned, ridiculed, jailed, and finally executed.  All because he said that all power is God’s and that those who wield power in this world must answer to God and that everyone, regardless of where they are from are to be welcomed and not judged.

We have passed through the season of Lent, where we examined our walk with God to see if we are on the right path.  We have rejoiced through the Grace-filled gift of Easter.  Now is the season to roll up our sleeves and set to work preaching the gospel in all we do, and only when necessary resort to the use of words.  When you feel that Divine prodding to get out of the recliner and do, get up and go.  When your vision is opened by the Spirit to see the excess, give it away.  When you hear the call for justice and righteousness, answer it.  We ARE disciples!  We are Disciples of Christ!

Shalom, Darrell

I want to express my gratitude for all the words of comfort and support and all of the prayers that have gone out for my family since my father passed away on March 6, 2013.  It has been a time of thanksgiving, laughter, tears, memories and gratitude.

As a pastor, I have been around death on a regular basis.  I have lost grandmothers, and my mother, lost friends and members of the churches I have served.  Since coming to Warner Robins, I have witnessed the presentation of Military Honors at least once a year.  But we never really discuss death; rather we talk about the one that has died.  We talk about the needs of the surviving family, and/or we talk about going to be with God.

I write this column days before Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week.  For the most part, we focus upon Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Easter and skip the reality that is Good Friday.  Yet we all face that kind of event in our families and for ourselves.  Rather than avoiding the topic or stepping quietly around it, maybe we should face it head on.

Jesus died on Good Friday.  His mother and a few of the women who followed him and according to John, the disciple that Jesus loved the best, witnessed Jesus’ death.  The women then gathered with Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus and prepared Jesus for a hasty burial.  This small group took it upon themselves to stay through to the end.  They witnessed the transformation from life to death.  This was not unusual in the ancient world; as a matter of fact, it is only recently that people stopped witnessing the arrival of death and the transition from life.

Today we step away; we even disguise it with cosmetics so that our loved one “looks so natural”.  We do not want to grow old and die.  We don’t want to see death in reality.  Yet without death, there can be no eternal life.

This does not mean we should all rush to die, but rather accept the reality that death occurs and that there are times when it is indeed a blessing.  We should do our best to live a full and generous life and then not fear what comes next since our faith teaches us that God is waiting for us on the other side just as God waits for us every day.

My father had been in the nursing home for 6 years.  Most of that time he did not recognize family or friends.  During the last year he spent most of his time asleep.  I am grateful that his dementia did not cause him to be angry or abusive.  I am grateful that he has found peace and is with mom again.  During the military honors that were rendered by the VFW, I met a man that had known dad for a long time.  He was the one who presented the flag after the salute and taps.  My father lives in the memories of those who knew him and the stories they shared as well as in the memories I possess.  He is with me in my heart and will never leave.  Yes, death causes us pain, but it also sweetens those memories that remain.

Do not be afraid; remember that God is with us.  Jesus quoted the 22 Psalm from the cross.  We remember the words, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me.”  But we rarely go to the Psalm and read the whole thing.  Here is how it ends.

“From thee comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him.  The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord!  May your hearts live forever!

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.  For dominion belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.

Yea, to him shall all the proud of the earth bow down; before him shall all who go down to the dust, and he who cannot keep himself alive.  Posterity shall serve him; men shall tell of the Lord to the coming generation, and proclaim deliverance to a people yet unborn, that he has wrought it.”

Our God is the God of the living and those who die remain alive in our God.  Thanks be to God.

Shalom, Darrell

There is a lot going on in March of this year.  On the last Tuesday evening in February, at 7:00 p.m., we began a study of World Religions utilizing The Great Courses DVD “Cultural Literacy for Religion:  Everything the Well-Educated Person Should Know.”

This course will introduce those attending to the major religions of the world.  Everyone is welcome to attend, even if you missed a lecture or two.  Though people have differing opinions about the Supreme Court’s ruling on school prayer, consider this statement from that ruling as the reason for doing this study, “It might well be said that one’s education is not complete without a study of comparative religion or the history of religion and its relationship to the advancement of civilization.”

The Camp Christian Gala and Auction will take place on Saturday, March 16th.  This event will mark the 50th anniversary of Camp Christian.  Starting at 11:00 with appetizers and a silent auction, attendees will have an opportunity to see the Camp in a different light.  This is a formal event, so dress up and come to camp.

At 12:30, guests will enter Lavery Hall for a meal prepared by Chef Jim Torbert and a live auction.  Guests will be seated at tables covered in table cloths and be served by the members of the Youth Activities Counsel.  Tickets are $30 each and can be obtained by calling 478-743-8649 or by going to www.gadisciples.org.  Space is limited so make your reservations quickly.  If you want, you may also make reservations for staying overnight either Friday or Saturday.  Space is limited so respond quickly.  Gifts can also be made to the event by contacting the same phone or website.

This year we will celebrate Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Easter almost as early as they can be celebrated.  Palm Sunday is March 24.  Be in worship as we remember the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and his last week of ministry.  On Thursday, March 28, at 7:00 we will have a Maundy Thursday Service to commemorate the Last Supper.  Disciples mark this event because of the centrality of Communion to our church’s life.  We will share not only in Communion but foods that are similar to what might have been eaten in the Upper Room.  Please let Darrell know if you will be in attendance so that all may have a space at the table.

On Sunday, March 31, we will start Easter with an Easter egg hunt for the children.  If you would like to help or bring something to share, please let Darrell Vandervort or Mary Jane Rogers know by March 19.  We need these things at the church by 9:30 a.m. on Easter.  There will be goodies for everyone to share and a great opportunity to fellowship prior to entering the Sanctuary for the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ.

Come and be embraced at any or all of these events.  Learn, remember, worship, and celebrate as we journey together through March.

Shalom, Darrell

I bought my copy of Turbo Tax for 2012 this week.  It’s time to get prepared for Tax Day.  Gather up all the income paperwork, W-2, 1099’s, etc.  Collect all the interest statements; what a laugh.  Compile the deduction receipts, medical, mortgage, higher education, etc.  Sharpen pencils, pull out the calculator and check its batteries.  There’s so much to do to prepare for a single day in April.

There is another day for which we are to prepare.  This year it is at the end of March—Easter Sunday.  On February 13, 2013 we start the preparation for Easter with Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.  During Lent we are to spend our time in self-examination.  Seriously examine how well we have been living up to the claimed title of Christian.  Do we pray enough?  DO we really love our neighbor?  Do we feed, clothe, visit, and extend fellowship to the people on the edges of our society as Jesus did?

On Ash Wednesday, many people give up something they enjoy (do not confuse Lenten sacrifice as another shot at meeting your New Year’s resolutions) and devoting the resources or time spent in that enjoyable activity in more closely following the Way of Christ.  People donate to those in need, give time to help at food pantries or shelters, increase the time they spend in prayer and the study of the Bible.  Any or all of these can become tools in our preparation.

Easter is often portrayed as the end reward of our faith, but Jesus didn’t teach his disciples to do things so that they could get into Heaven; rather, Jesus taught them to act as though the Kingdom of God was NOW in the world.  Behave as if this were the Heavenly Realm on earth.  Our faith is not to be in a future reward but to prepare us for living in the present Kingdom of God that is all around us.  He taught that we were to be ambassadors for the rule of God now.  Love God with all that you are and love others as we love our selves!

In an effort to trick Jesus, he was asked if the people in Israel should pay taxes to Caesar.  He told them to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s.  Thinking of all the time and work put in to preparing your taxes to meet the April 15 deadline, how does that time and energy compare with all that you do in meeting the requirement to return to God what has always belonged to God?

Shalom, Darrell

I write this on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  Thus far, anyone with a television or a newspaper has been buried under the ads for Black Friday, which starts on Thursday, and even earlier in some places than last year.  Eat your Thanksgiving meal and give thanks, take a nap and spend the night buying stuff.  Granted we have a tradition of gift giving at Christmas, but is it possible we have gone overboard on the drive to buy?

In the Nov. 14, 2012 issue of The Christian Century, I read an article taken from the journal Weavings (Nov.-Jan.).  “Marilyn McEntyre suggests some very practical ways that American Christians can work against a self-centered consumerism and toward concerns for the neighbor and community.  Begin every day for a month asking the question, ‘What can I share today?’  ‘What do I have that might be given away?’  See if a room at church can be found to use as a ‘sharing station’ where tools, utensils, clothing or books could be stored for others’ use.  Talk on the phone with someone who may be lonely for 15 minutes two or three times a week.  Host dinner-and-documentary nights to discuss public problems with a view to finding and working for solutions.  Commit to a steady-state household.  If something new comes in, then something else goes out.  ‘Who is my neighbor?’ is a question we cannot afford to consign to cliché, McEntyre says.”

All of us have encountered people who may be borderline hoarders, and a few who may have crossed the border.  Could the attitude of our society that demands us to be huge consumers lend itself to this problem?

At Christmas we celebrate the God given gift of the infant Jesus.  We emulate this by giving gifts to others.  But does the current demand that we insanely consume goods in the name of Christmas reflect the meaning of this season?  God gave us a gift of welcome and inclusion in His family.  Jesus became a gift of learning—learning to love each other, to set aside worry, to find satisfaction in doing for others rather than others doing for us.

In a time when people are struggling with a weak economy and un- and under- employment, could we as Christians behave more like the one whose birth we are celebrating?  Give gifts to family and friends, but share with your neighbor as you are able.  Make your gifts reflect your faith rather than the latest ad on TV or the advertising push for “what everyone needs”.

May your Christmas be a blessing to you and your family, and may it lead you to be a blessing to others.

Shalom, Darrell