Who's Buried in Grant's Tomb?

I may be among the very few when I say this, but I like cemeteries. There is something about them that is both mysterious and hopeful. I enjoy them for their history, and I especially like them for their architecture.

Some thoughts come to mind when I think of cemeteries. I remember playing in one when I was a child. My brother and I went on a walk for several hours one afternoon when we were visiting my grandmother in New Jersey. We had a great day, exploring not only the Greenwood Cemetery but also Kiddy City, that day’s Toy’s-R-Us. We had fun until we were gone too long, my grandmother sent the Sheriff looking for us.

I think about some older cemeteries that I’ve visited over the years. When I was at Allegheny, I would visit a cemetery close to campus. Meadville has a fascinating old cemetery that actually was both a park and a burial ground at its inception. A former Supreme Court Justice, several former Allegheny Presidents, and some other notable figures are buried there. When I served in Titusville, I’d visit Woodlawn Cemetery. Woodlawn has oil tycoons, and even the grave of Ida Tarbell who wrote about some of them in her work on the Standard Oil Company.

I enjoy driving and even walking through cemeteries. It is fascinating to look at the markers, think about a person’s place in history, and even wonder about what would have been. Flags often mark the location of a fallen hero, sheep mark the location of small children lost far too early.

The evolution of burial practices is complex, and I should not dare attempt to distill it into one page. Unfortunately, much of what we think about, particularly this week is shrouded in fear. Halloween and the practices that surround it, often cause us to think about cemeteries as bad places. It takes us back to some of the medieval ethos that caused people to be gripped with fear. Far too often, they cause us to be fearful of death. Death in those times was often a threat used to discipline the living.

But part of the reason that I find some solace in a cemetery is because of my strong sense of hope that I find in our Christian faith. Cemeteries not only allow me to reflect upon those who have gone before me, history, and things of nostalgia, but also upon hope.

This Sunday, we remember those who have gone before us. We move past the fear of Halloween that our secular society clings to, and cling to something more lasting and more hopeful – and that is everlasting life. We celebrate life, we celebrate the saints of the church on All Saints Sunday.

Today, I’m thinking about those who have gone before us, not only from this year, but all those I have seen only through the words of a headstone. Some of them I know, some of them I have only heard of, most of them God knows. And as I remember, I remember the words of scripture that say, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain. But if it falls into the earth and dies, it will bear much fruit.”

In Christ, we will live again. And for that, I give God thanks.

I hope to see you in worship this week as I share a message entitled, “Unrevealed” and we share together in remembering those who have gone on to life eternal. Following our time of remembrance, we will share in communion. I hope you will join us for worship.

Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.

Amazing Worship

Last week, most of us in Beaver Falls were listening to reports of the devastating loss of the Otterbein Church. Initial reports talked of damage, but it wasn’t long before most people realized that the structure that we call a church was totally destroyed by the fire.

Church is often thought of a place of worship. We talk a good game about a church being the people, but when it comes down to it, if you were to ask most people, they would probably describe a building if you ask them to define, “Church.”

Worship also causes us considerable difficulty when we try to define it and describe it. Ask one person to describe “traditional worship” and it will not always match the description of another’s. Descriptions of worship vary as much as flavors of soda. (And for those of you stuck on the word Soda – I’ll offer you the alternative “Pop.”)

Those thoughts lead me to a question that I have been pondering over the past week since the fire in Beaver Falls. Where and how do you worship? And of course, you know that leads me to a story.

This past week, I worshipped several times. I worshipped in a hall with about 150 people. I led worship in an Orthodox Sanctuary, I married a couple in what I would call worship, but in a converted warehouse, and I also worshipped in an historic church in the heart of Richmond Virginia on Sunday morning. But probably the most significant worship for me this week, took place on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Yes – you heard me correctly; On the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Last week before I left, I created a mix of Christian music and burned a CD for our trip. It had a variety of Christian songs on it, but mostly it was worship music. Along our journey to Virginia, we played the CD. Tracy and I were singing and talking about the words of many of the songs. We were lifting our hearts in praise and prayer as the miles rolled under the tires of our vehicle. Several times during those moments, I was even brought to tears through the words that were being offered in praise.

One of the songs entitled, Revelation Song, talks about the God of creation and the God of our salvation. It goes on to say that with all creation I sing praise to the King of Kings, You are my everything, and I will adore you.

But even more significant on that road were the words that spoke of being clothed in rainbows, of living color, flashes of lightning, and rolling thunder. As those words were being expressed and even heart felt, the brilliant colors of the rainbow were being drawn out before me in the deep colors of fall. The trees that rolled past us throughout the mountains of the Alleghenies could not have been more magnificent. Saying a prayer of Thanksgiving for the splendor that was unfolding before my eyes was truly a gift of worship for me.

So, yes! I had one of the most meaningful worship experiences this week – on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Psalm 100 reminds us: Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100 doesn't say where or how, it just says, Worship. So, Yes – you can even worship on the turnpike. But sometimes we need to be the body of Christ, so don’t let vacation be your excuse to miss church on Sunday. I look forward to seeing you in worship!

Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg

Just leave this long haired country boy alone!

So, I'm driving back to the office this morning from Jamitch printing up on Darlington Road, and I'm listening to WDVE. It is a stray for me lately, becuase while I like music a lot, I love sports talk radio too. Anyway - I was listening, and a song came on by the Charlie Daniels Band. Great Song! Maybe you've heard it before. It has that capability of sticking in your head, and when you come up the stairs back to the office, your secretary looks at you like your nuts.

Long Haired Country Boy is the song. Look it up on iTunes if you don't know it.

The second verse got me thinking.

Preacher man talking on TV, puttin' down the rock and roll. Wants me to send a donation 'cause he's worried about my soul. He said, "Jesus walked on the water." And I know that it's true. But sometimes I think that preacher man would like to do a little walking too. But I ain't asking nobody for nothin' if I can't get it on my own. If you don't like the way I'm livin' you just leave this long haired country boy alone.

Now, I think that the line about preachers wanting to walk on water is a commentary on how the outside looks in and how there are a lot of preachers who have a Jesus complex and their arrogance has them believing that they can walk on water. It is a great verse. Why ask for people to change their lives if we are indeed just as bad.

But (and you knew this was coming), Shouldn't we all be water walking and doing a little of it ourselves. Not alone, in a way to say, "look at me," but in a way that is both inviting and engaging? There is that engage word again. Shouldn't we all be wanting to walk on water. Some food for thought.

"I Do!"

In our Sunday School class, we are reading a wonderful book by John Ortberg entitled, “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat.” It is a wonderful book and is causing us to think and talk about the spiritual boats in which all of us live, but also the ways in which we are called to get out of the boat and begin to serve God.

The premise of the book is the story from the Gospel of Matthew in which the writer recounts Jesus walking on water. In the midst of that story, Peter, the bombastic and often impetuous disciple is invited to come out of the boat. Jesus simply says, “Come,” and he comes.

Now we could go in so many different directions about how it all happened, what happened when Peter stepped out. We could talk about the storm, what led them to that place, and all other sorts of wonderful things. But what has really gotten me thinking is one simple word that relates not only to the book, but also to our lives as disciples.

One word has me thinking a lot these days, and that word is Engagement. No, I’m not talking about a betrothal or an agreement between a man and a woman that will lead to marriage. I’m talking about that which causes us to participate.

In order to further grapple with the word, I went to my standard – I looked up the word. Engagement means, to attract and to hold by influence. It can mean to move into gear or even to interlock. Engage means to hold the attention of and can also mean to promise or pledge to participate. Engage can also mean to respond.

One of those definitions makes me think about engaging a science fiction engine gear called “light speed.” Or you could also think about engaging or changing a gear on a bicycle. However the definition that really causes me to think – dare I say engage – is to attract attention or hold by influence.

Peter was engaged because of a simple invitation. But the invitation was not enough to get him out of the boat – there was something else.

I have been thinking a lot about the word “engagement” recently and even asking the question, “What causes people to be engaged?” I guess the converse of that might be, “What causes people to disengage, or simple not engage?”

I suggested on Sunday that “Greenhorns” on the Deadliest Catch engage, even in spite of the risk, because of the reward or the benefit that they receive at the end of a catch. Some people engage due to a passion that drives them. Some people engage due to the personality of the one asking the question. And yet, others simply do not move into gear, pledge to participate, or become attracted regardless of the message or reward.

What gets you engaged? What gets your blood boiling? What causes you to respond, participate, lock into gear, move forward, and become captivated? What is it that will make you get out of the boat?

Jesus simply said, Come. Peter engaged.

This week, we are concluding our series on Discovery Church with a message entitled “Dirty Jobs.” It is not only one of my favorite shows on Discovery, but it is a message that I am looking forward to sharing. I hope that you will engage in worship with us this week.

Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg

P.S. You are allowed to engage in conversation. Tell me what you think, how you are, and what causes you to become engaged?

Changing Lives

It was just over a few weeks ago that my father had a procedure to open the blood flow to his leg. The procedure was similar to a heart catheterization where they would attempt to use a balloon to open blockage and possibly insert a stent. No procedure is without risk, but we were optimistic that the results would be good.

When my father arrived the morning of the procedure, he had little to no pulse in his foot. I was there to ask the doctor some questions, and was hopeful that the procedure was going to be a success. There was really no way of telling until after the procedure whether the intended results would be realized.

It didn’t take long for us to come to that realization. From what we heard that afternoon, and from what my father is experiencing thus far, it has proven to be a successful procedure. I was excited to hear a nurse say that there was a really good pulse in his foot. Further, it was as if my father could feel the blood beginning to circulate in his leg once again.

Medical advancements are quite fascinating and quite engaging. It is amazing to me sometimes that we are able to learn so much and make great advancements in the field of health care and medicine. People’s lives can be changed.

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to visit Vanderbilt University’s Institute for Global Health as part of an immersion experience with United Methodist Communications. While there, we heard about the studies that are being undertaken and the advancements that are being made in the area of Global Health, specifically relating to Malaria.

I was truly engaged as I listened to scientists who had a real passion for science as well as a real passion for the lives of those who would be saved through their research. Their passion for saved lives was what was driving their research. Their passion and desire to eradicate Malaria was the reason that they were doing research.

Did you know that nearly 500 million people contract malaria yearly? Did you know that nearly 3 million of those that contract the disease, die? Further, and probably most disturbing is that Malaria is also the leading cause of death for children under 5 years in those areas.

But there is real hope.

Research at Vanderbilt is looking at ways of breaking cycles of replication, how mosquitoes transmit the disease, what attracts the female mosquito to humans and ways that we can eliminate that attraction, and how they can lure the deadliest creature on earth into traps without harming wildlife or other important environmental factors.

Research studies are showing that not only are bed nets and other repellents working, but that they are having residual affects in areas surrounding beds and homes that are being treated. Sustainable solutions and options are being tested and results are showing that the findings from research are making an impact in the field.

All this research is being undertaken to eradicate a killer disease. And what was so exciting is that this is possible! The cycle of disease and transmission can be broken, and ultimately life can be sustained. People’s lives can be changed!

Even more exciting is that we can have a part in this. Supporting efforts to change lives, can change our lives and the lives of those around us. This research will benefit research into eradicating all diseases that are transmitted in similar ways. This one disease, Malaria, doesn’t only affect the lives of those on other continents, it affects us.

If you were to tell someone 20 years ago that they would someday insert a stint into your Femoral Artery and restore blood flow to your leg, they probably would have looked at you like you were crazy. Some people think the same thing about the eradication of killer diseases. Some people believe it can’t be done.

I’m excited to see that someone things that it can. I pray that we will. I hope that you will pray too.

This week in worship, we will be thinking about those living across the globe and those living amongst the threat of killer diseases. This week is World Communion Sunday and we will break bread with our brothers and sisters across the world. I hope that you will join us.

Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg