Pine Island Pastor Musings

The men of the Pine Island Church are studying the book of Amos.  Amos was an 8th Century BC prophet who was a regular guy, herdsman and dresser of sycamore trees, today's factory line worker equivalent, called by God to speak truth to power and the nation.  He addressed the conspicuous consumption of the elite (Amos 6:1-7) "who drink wine from bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph  (v. 6) , referring to the beloved son of Jacob, and I think here refers to Israel and the forsaken "ruined" promise of a blessed community intended   in the fair distribution of the land to the twelve tribes of Israel.    Amos challenged the growing disparity between the rich and poor, and warned of such indifference.    "The revelry of the loungers shall pass away"  (v.7).  In our discussion, the men recognized how familiar the situation Amos addressed sounds to our contemporary situation today:...

My sermon this coming Sunday will address the communal life to which we are called.  How once we are freed from oppression (Exodus story) do we live together?  God gave us the Law through Moses.  How once we are freed from sin (Gospel story) do we live together?  By grace alone as the choir sang last Sunday.  Jesus, who proclaimed that grace of God through his dying on the cross for our sins, gave us just one command, to love one another (John 13:34).  I've had a frown on my forehead all week, because communal life involves politics, power, law, grace, forgiveness and love.  Communal life is complicated.  It's not pure. It's is hard?  But it is our calling.  Two weeks ago I preached on justice and how it's time to get our hands dirty, to get into the weeds of public policy.  Then this week the Alabama legislature and governor signed a law prohibiting abortion with no exceptions, challenging the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 Roe vs. Wa...

The rhubarb is harvested, cooked, some eaten and some frozen for later.  The asparagus planted two years ago looks so tempting to cut, but wisdom says wait one more year to let the roots establish themselves.  The strawberries are in blossom.  The spinach, lettuce, and kale are up and looking good, as are the radishes sown with the carrots.  The carrots like the company of the radishes.  They take longer to germinate and like the protection the fast growing radishes give.  Only a couple of snap peas germinated.  I just replanted, but it's likely too late.  They like the cooler spring weather.  I just completed spading the rest of my garden plots, turning under the leaf mulch and chicken manure I spread last fall.  Turning the earth by hand is one of the joys of working a small garden.  My worked muscles talk to me and make me feel alive.  I love Wayne Simsie's reflection. "I am renewed by digging my hands into dark loam, cl...

Discernment is term used a lot these days by leaders, especially in church.  What does it mean?  Discernment is another way to talk about strategic planning and visioning a desired future.  In the church, the discernment question is not so much what do I want or what you want, but What is God calling us collectively to be and do now?   What does faithful stewardship of our time, talent and resources look like for us?   How might we best live into that vision?   Answering these questions requires prayer, listening to God and understanding God's desire.  Having just experienced Lent and holy week, I am mindful of Jesus' discernment.  We entered Lent after Jesus engaged two great saints Moses and Elijah in a transformative moment on the mountain (Mark 9:1-8).  His every step after that conversation led him to Jerusalem.  Then when he got there he prayed,  "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me, yet n...

One of the gifts of growing older is the gift of reflecting back on one's journey.  You can't do that until you have lived and experienced some life.  Until recently, I always felt like the youngest person in the room.  I was the listener as others pondered and shared their life stories.  Now as I approach retirement I find myself pondering my life's experiences.  Last week I shared some of my life story in my blog post "Resurrection, Be the Evidence." This week I've been pondering how did I manage to navigate all those transitions.  So this post is a Part Two of sorts.  I cannot explain how or why God placed those many blessings in my path following hard challenges, any more than I can explain Jesus' resurrection.  That's God's work, for which I thank God!  Gratitude is a foundational hallmark of the Christian life.  I am witness to these blessings and grateful.  But as a lifelong member of one community of faith after another, I h...