I must admit at the outset that I am not a Theologian. I also realize that there are huge tomes dedicated to this issue. Then I must also admit that I feel completely out my element even addressing such a subject. "Well, why are doing so then?" you might be asking. The reason that I am addressing the issue is personal and is addressed strictly from my experience and my point of view. Lately, I have been writing about God's activity in my life from my earliest childhood see my blog God in the Belly of the Whale. This question also comes to mind as I reflect on my years living in the Ministering Community of the First Baptist Church of Chula Vista.
I knew that I had been called to become a pastor while I was still in my teens. I didn't want to be a pastor and I ran from it for years. Could I have run for the rest of my life. I believe that the answer is certainly, yes. In spite of God's plan for me; in spite of situations that affected my life; in spite of guidance that he provided to me; I didn't have to become a pastor unless I cooperated with God in that choice.
Last week in my Belly of the whale blog I wrote about music, both violin and voice and their impact in my life. Some commented how God used this in my life to provide circumstances where I was able to move into the ministry. I concur with their observations, but I could just as easily moved in other ways. For example, when I was a senior at UCLA I had an opportunity to sing at a large charity dance in Hollywood. I had already auditioned and was selected to be THE vocalist with a "big band" as my accompaniment. I was also provided with a lovely date. I was estranged from my father at the time, but in the afternoon of the performance, I received word that my father had suffered a heart attack. I could have stated that I would go and see him after the evening festivities, but I immediately cancelled my appearance -- and my date and went to see my dad. Needless to say, I was never asked to perform by the sponsors of this event nor was I given the opportunity to date this girl. Ironically I not only missed this opportunity, but I got further estranged from my father when I went to his room and saw that his "girl friend" was there. As he told me he was glad that I came, I replied, "I just came to tell you that I hope you die!" I didn't see him for 10 years. Did God arrange these circumstances? I don't think so. I do think he used the circumstances, but I could have done the performance, I might have married my date and I might have been more sensitive to my date. Any of these things would have changed my life and the decision was up to me!
Rather than going through a series of "fork in the road" circumstances of my life, I will just state what I believe in the issue. I do believe that God has a plan for my (our) life (lives.) I think that he guides in many ways toward reaching that plan. I don't believe that he sets up a set of circumstances which force into his plan. I do think that he uses these circumstances to help us to make the right decisions leading to living out his plan. But the decisions are ours. Even when I was thrust into the role of a pastor at First Baptist Church of Chula Vista, I was not convinced. I can so close to leaving the church and furthering my education in another field! I prayed about it. God did not make me do it. However, when I surrendered and embraced the role of pastor, years of resistance to that idea rolled away. Finally I was moving with his plan for my life.
It is God's plan -- but he allows us to walk in his ways or not. He loves us either way -- will not force us -- but he won't give up either.
I was very interested in the Face Book posting by Kevin Cope about the celebration of Lent. At our church, Bay View Baptist in Chula Vista, we don't really celebrate Lent, but I do try to help us focus on the cross during the time of Lent. After all, there is no Easter without Good Friday. I am taking my meditations from the letter of 1 John.
"In the beginning God. . ." (Genesis 1:1)
"In the beginning was the Word. . ." (John 1:1)
"That which was from the beginning. . . (1 John 1:1)
These scriptures point to the cosmic reality of God -- the Word which was with God and was God -- the Word made Flesh -- and it is the Word made Flesh upon which I would like us to direct or thoughts at this time. John helps us in this because he doesn't stop with "That which was from the beginning," but continues with
"which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched -- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life." (1 John 1:1 -- NIV)
He could have continued with the one who we ate with, who we could smell. We walked around with him. We heard him teach. We heard him just talking to us as men walking with one another. He was real! He was a man. He was flesh and blood.Yes, I know all about his divinity, but what we saw, touched and talked to was not a What -- or Word -- but a man -- a real man! John goes on
"the life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete." (1 John 2-4 -- NIV)
He wants us to know that we have eternal life because of Jesus. We know that he is going to talk about his death on a cross. It is for this reason that I think it is so important to see Jesus, the man. This is important first of all because those of us who believe in Jesus and indeed see him as Lord, tend to spiritualize. "The suffering that Jesus went through on the cross because he experienced separation from the Father." This undoubtedly is true, but can any of us relate to that? "Jesus endured the cross because he saw the glory that was to come with Easter and the resurrection." Yes, but does that take away from the reality of the cross? Jesus suffered a painful, agonizing and brutal death upon the cross. Look at it! I can relate to physical pain. Jesus suffered. I get it.
In the church we are looking forward to Easter and we should, but never forget the Old Rugged Cross.
I would like to add a word about eternal life, fellowship and joy. This eternal life is not merely a statement about longevity after we die and "roll around heaven all day," but it is an entirely new kind of life, here on earth, right now as we become a part of God's Kingdom. We are now in fellowship -- a love fellowship with God -- and with all of those who believe in him. This is the source of joy. All of this is because Jesus, the one in the beginning, the Word which was with God, didn't stay there but, this Word became flesh. John saw him, touched him and talked with him. Jesus came so that we might have life.
Sherry Liebel passed away this morning. Linda and I have only known her for a few years, but she made quite an impression on us.
Before she retired, Sherry was an LVN who worked in the Neonatal ICU at Kaiser Hospital in San Diego. The part of her job that she loved was that of holding and rocking these little, sick babies. She loved these little ones so much that she actually got in trouble at times when she was told to just leave the dying ones alone -- take care of the ones where there was hope for the future. She would hold these little, dying babies as they slowly passed away. She was a giver -- and a lover -- a compassionate woman. In 1990, my first Granddaughter was born at Kaiser. It was not long before she was placed in ICU. Linda and I along with my daughter and husband were frightened, but the ICU was good -- Hayley got better and now is a beautiful young woman. I believe that one of the wonderful care givers for Hayley was Sherry. I don't know that for sure, but it gave me a sense of connection thinking that this might have been the case.
I became Pastor of Bay View Baptist church in 2006. One of our mainstays in the church was Diane Strader. She was a nurse and had a group of nurses that she met with on occasion. Somewhere around 2010 or so, Diane brought a friend to church, Sherry. Sherry was a Christian, but like many of us wasn't particularly religious. I wasn't sure that Sherry would stick around, but she fooled me, she began to attend every Sunday. Then, in 2012, Diane moved to Oceanside and stopped attending. Now, I really wondered whether Sherry would continue attending. She did! She not only attended, she became a real spark plug in the church. It seemed like whenever someone was in need, Sherry was always there; she was a compassionate woman. She visited the sick and dying. She gave financially to help out those in need. All of this was done by a very proper lady. She always dressed for church -- she was proper. Her hair was always just so (I found out later, she wore wigs a lot.)
Before she ever attended, she had gone through a bout of cancer, but seemed to recover. Last year the cancer recurred with a vengeance. Sherry went through chemotherapy with hardly any complaining. This is when I realized that she wore wigs. We prayed fervently for her healing. It seemed like the prayers were effective because Sherry was doing so well. She had little pain and was always in good spirits. She continued to love the people; she was a compassionate woman. Late last year she asked me to baptize her. This was a high point, not only in her life, but in the life of the church. She was so excited! She gave a wonderful testimony -- and she didn't wear her wig. I never saw her with a wig again. She was beautiful. She was down to earth. Indeed she lit up our lives.
Then she began to take a turn for the worse. She couldn't eat. She lost weight. Yet, she never lost her smile. She continued to serve and bless others. She didn't complain -- and she still had no pain! Then, just a few weeks ago, she began to move toward the end. She was taken care of by her loving friend, Gloria. Then she entered hospice. Finally, she not only couldn't eat, she couldn't even hold down water.
She became a special friend to my wife Linda. We went to visit her on Thursday night. She was so frail and weak, yet she smiled and talked -- and still no pain. She tried to take her pills but couldn't hold anything down. She rolled over and said, "I want my mom!" Linda held her. I kissed her forehead and she kissed my cheek. We prayed. That was the last time we saw her. Gloria called this morning and told us that she was gone. She will be missed! Linda and I lost a friend this morning.
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