I love that old question that asks, “If a tree falls in the woods, and no one is there to hear it, did it really make a sound?” I love the question because it will often spark debate or a friendly conversation. We could enter into a debate at this point to discuss it, but I will save you the energy. The answer is “No.”
I think that the question is asked to evoke philosophical and emotional discussions. I was one of those that entered the debate until I heard the answer described from a scientific perspective. From that scientific perspective, hearing takes both a transmitter and a receiver. If any one of the two is missing, there is no sound. In other words, there has to be someone in the woods for the tree to make a sound when it falls.
I like that perspective, because I’m one of those people that like things spelled out for me. I like things to be clear and concise. That explanation for me makes sense. In order for there to be sound, there has to be a transmitter and a receiver.
The same, I think, holds true with a message. There has to be someone giving the message, and there has to be someone who receives it. If any one of those two is missing, or becomes distorted in any way – the message is not heard.
Those who deliver messages have to think about that quite often. Words have power, and the words that we use have influence. Different people hear those words and the way that they receive them influences how the message is heard.
Further, there are times when a message is just not clear. The receiver is ready and willing, but when the message is unclear, the true intention of the message gets lost in the communication. I’ll ask for forgiveness in advance, this E-pistle just may be one of those messages!
We have to think about clarity of message quite often. How many times have you ever said to someone, “you just weren’t listening,” and in truth it was the message that was distorted? Or how many times has someone said to you, “I didn’t hear that,” and yet you were as clear as you could be about the facts. How many times have you taken a sip of coffee and then said, “Man that’s hot!” only to read in bold letters, CAUTION – CONTENTS HOT!
I have to think about how I say things in a letter that I write to campers each year. In order for the message to get across, I need to be clear. But sometimes I need to write things in BOLD so that people can get the message. The message is so important that I want them to hear. But inevitably, there are those who just don’t get the message. Each year at adventure camp, I know that we have communicated that we go biking, white water rafting, swimming, climbing, and CAVING. Inevitably, there will be someone who shows up who can’t swim, is afraid of heights, has never been on a bike before, or WHO IS AFRAID OF THE DARK. Believe me – I don’t like hearing “I’ve never ridden a bike,” when I am about to start on a 15 mile bike trip; or “I’m afraid of the dark,” when we are in the deepest and darkest part of a cave.
I also have to think about communication each and every week when I prepare for worship. Regardless of how good we are at communicating, there are always things that slip through the cracks. This past weekend, we had two couples show up for worship at 10:30 a.m. thinking that our worship began at 11:00 a.m. The great news is that they showed up early for our worship hour in our program year. During the summer, we worship at 10:00 a.m.
Was it their fault? – NO! It was mine. Actually, I’ll take half the blame and will cast the other to sea. The first couple called the church. The voice mail message on our church answering machine was old – it still said that worship began at 11:00. The other couple looked at a conference publication, and it said the same thing. Both circumstances were clearly instances of the message being wrong.
Those circumstances make me think so much about how the message of the Gospel is shared. Clearly, there are some who will not receive the message either because they just don’t want to hear it, or because they are not there to hear it. Maybe you could ask, “If a sermon is preached and no one is there to hear it, does it make an impact?” And regarding the transmission, there are so many who want to hear it proclaimed, but the message is lost because the message is garbled, messed-up, or just plain wrong.
Paul says in Romans 10, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believe in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?” Later, he continues by saying, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”
The church has some work to do. We have to constantly work at sharing the message. Sometimes, there isn’t much we can do but continue to preach hoping that the message is heard. Sometimes, regardless of how well we communicate, the message is lost. However, we have to continue to preach! Secondly, we have to work on the message. There are so many people who are hungry, thirsty, and really yearning to hear the Word spoken and proclaimed. We have to get it right for Jesus sake.
I hope this message has been transmitted well, and received. If you know someone who needs to hear that they are loved, send this message along, and remind them that they are loved by God. Don’t just assume people know – say it!
“Gracious God. We thank you for your message of love and forgiveness. We thank you for your love. Strengthen us for the journey of this week, and give us the message so that we can share it with others with hope and faith. And when we share, let there be ears to hear. Bless us, O Lord, in Jesus Name. Amen.”
By the way – worship starts at 10:00 a.m. this week. If you invite someone to worship, remember to stress that!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Happy Birthday!
Today is my wife's 41st Birthday. I know that some women don't like to have their age revealed, but that is not the case with Tracy. She celebrates her life daily and gives God thanks for it. I celebrate with her today. I love you Tracy, and Happy Birthday!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
From the world of the Bizarre
Check out this local story from Meadville. Thought it was interesting enough to share if you haven't seen it yet. Enjoy.
Wrinkles and All
Our parsonage is a flurry of activity this week. We are getting new carpet this Thursday on the first floor. That doesn’t sound that complicated, until you hear what you have to do in order to get the carpet. If you’ve been through this – you can relate.
The girls asked initially if we needed to move all the furniture. We were happy to say “no, the carpet installers will do that.” However, there was a “but” at the end of that sentence.
All of the books on the bookshelf need to be taken down. The knickknacks need to be put somewhere safe. The china in the china closet needs to be taken away. The computer needs to be disconnected, and the stereo too.
All of this sounds simple, until I tell you that with the exception of the kitchen and the play-room; the entire first floor, the stairs leading upstairs, and the landing at the top of the stairs are being carpeted. It would be quite easy if we could move the aforementioned stuff into the other room, but it’s just not that simple. We have to find space for all that stuff amongst the space that we won’t have carpeted, and where it will cause the least disruption. “Guess what kids? Your toy room is not just a toy room this week!”
There’s not much of a choice. (Last night however, I found that the dumpster is an excellent alternative.)
We’re getting new carpeting in the parsonage because the present carpeting is just plain worn out. No one has records to know exactly when it was installed, but it is at least 10 years old by some estimations. That may not be that old for some, but this carpeting has seen better days. The main problem is the wrinkles that have developed over the course of the past two years. They have gotten only become worse. It is stained, worn in the high traffic areas, and cleaning the carpet has only made the situation dire.
There have been times when we have tried to limit the amount of eating that happens in the family room, but those efforts have largely failed. Three children under 8 years listen well, until they see dad drinking his coffee in his recliner.
Well – Thursday’s it! The lady of the house has laid down the law! When the carpet is installed, there will be no more eating in the family room!
Wow! Just think of it. No more popcorn while watching a movie. No more fruit loops while watching Hannah Montana. No coffee or oatmeal watching the Today show. Oh the humanity!
We have to change our ways – and now!
This has made me think about how hard it is for us as Christians to truly repent. To repent is to change, truly change – 180 degree change. When we repent, we move away from our former self or a former way of life and we move in a new direction.
In Acts chapter 2, Peter is preaching to a multitude with the message of repentance. In verse 38 he says, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
What a wonderful promise. Like our carpet, we have a chance to start over when we repent. In the end we are washed clean. No more wrinkles (spiritually speaking) and no more stains. But even then we have work to do. We must continue to deny that former self and all that stuff we used to do, so that we can remain clean.
July is not the traditional season of repentance, but what a great time to think about it. What do you need to remove from your life or change in order to be made new?
The girls asked initially if we needed to move all the furniture. We were happy to say “no, the carpet installers will do that.” However, there was a “but” at the end of that sentence.
All of the books on the bookshelf need to be taken down. The knickknacks need to be put somewhere safe. The china in the china closet needs to be taken away. The computer needs to be disconnected, and the stereo too.
All of this sounds simple, until I tell you that with the exception of the kitchen and the play-room; the entire first floor, the stairs leading upstairs, and the landing at the top of the stairs are being carpeted. It would be quite easy if we could move the aforementioned stuff into the other room, but it’s just not that simple. We have to find space for all that stuff amongst the space that we won’t have carpeted, and where it will cause the least disruption. “Guess what kids? Your toy room is not just a toy room this week!”
There’s not much of a choice. (Last night however, I found that the dumpster is an excellent alternative.)
We’re getting new carpeting in the parsonage because the present carpeting is just plain worn out. No one has records to know exactly when it was installed, but it is at least 10 years old by some estimations. That may not be that old for some, but this carpeting has seen better days. The main problem is the wrinkles that have developed over the course of the past two years. They have gotten only become worse. It is stained, worn in the high traffic areas, and cleaning the carpet has only made the situation dire.
There have been times when we have tried to limit the amount of eating that happens in the family room, but those efforts have largely failed. Three children under 8 years listen well, until they see dad drinking his coffee in his recliner.
Well – Thursday’s it! The lady of the house has laid down the law! When the carpet is installed, there will be no more eating in the family room!
Wow! Just think of it. No more popcorn while watching a movie. No more fruit loops while watching Hannah Montana. No coffee or oatmeal watching the Today show. Oh the humanity!
We have to change our ways – and now!
This has made me think about how hard it is for us as Christians to truly repent. To repent is to change, truly change – 180 degree change. When we repent, we move away from our former self or a former way of life and we move in a new direction.
In Acts chapter 2, Peter is preaching to a multitude with the message of repentance. In verse 38 he says, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
What a wonderful promise. Like our carpet, we have a chance to start over when we repent. In the end we are washed clean. No more wrinkles (spiritually speaking) and no more stains. But even then we have work to do. We must continue to deny that former self and all that stuff we used to do, so that we can remain clean.
July is not the traditional season of repentance, but what a great time to think about it. What do you need to remove from your life or change in order to be made new?
Friday, July 6, 2007
My Lunch
As I am sitting here typing, I am eating my lunch. And my lunch is the reason for my post! Actually, it is more than my lunch, but my lunch made me think of something that relates to my sermon this week.
We are beginning a 3 part series on Bearing Fruit. We are looking at the fruit of the Spirit and will be talking about how we can bear that fruit in our lives.
I went to a local farmer's market yesterday and bought some fresh tomatoes. I have some sliced on my sandwich. Wow! How awesome it is to have that fruit. It is making my sandwich out of this world.
It reminded me how much better our lives are with the Fruit that the Spirit offers. Much better than the nasty stuff that Paul urges us to resist in Galatians 5.
I am excited about Sunday . . . and I want to finish this sandwich.
We are beginning a 3 part series on Bearing Fruit. We are looking at the fruit of the Spirit and will be talking about how we can bear that fruit in our lives.
I went to a local farmer's market yesterday and bought some fresh tomatoes. I have some sliced on my sandwich. Wow! How awesome it is to have that fruit. It is making my sandwich out of this world.
It reminded me how much better our lives are with the Fruit that the Spirit offers. Much better than the nasty stuff that Paul urges us to resist in Galatians 5.
I am excited about Sunday . . . and I want to finish this sandwich.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Back in the Saddle
Not to be outdone by Brett, but I too have just returned to the office after being at Jumonville for a week of camp. It was a great week. Although I am totally exhausted, and bruised, I am renewed in Spirit and Love. To see kids really seek God's face is amazing, and to be able to see that develop over a week is even more amazing.
We are fortunate here in Western Pennsylvania to have three absolutely fantastic camps. They are all unique, but they all do one thing very well - they give children and youth an experience with God that is life changing.
Tracy and I were fortunate to have our oldest, Sarah, with us for the first time at Adventure Camp. She was great, and we enjoyed having her there. You should see her climb!
Now it's time to get back to the pile of stuff on my desk.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Staying Connected
Several months ago, I lost the antenna on my cell phone. Honestly, I don't know how it happened. I do know that it was unscrewed, but how it became loose and when I lost it confounds me. I never realized it until that moment that my cell phone is USELESS without it. Absolutely no signal! I ordered a new antenna from the internet after realizing that my phone is no longer made by the company and my cell phone carrier does not carry replacement parts. it came very quickly, and my cell phone signal was restored.
Without that antenna, I couldn't receive or make phone calls. Immediately upon replacing the antenna - my cell phone was back to normal. The signal was true.
About two weeks ago, my antenna broke off and I do not know where it went. This one is a little harder to explain. I noticed before all this happened, that the little rubber nobbie thingie on the antenna was loose. The actual metal part of the antenna was not - it was securely screwed into the phone. Every so often, the little rubber nobbie thingie would come off - and I would simply screw it back on.
However, just before annual conference, I noticed that the little rubber nobbie thingie was GONE!!!! Oh, I was upset! Not in my pocket, not on the floor, not on my dresser, but Gone! Guess what? Turns out that the little rubber nobbie thingie is almost as important as the actual metal part of the antenna. Without it, my signal is weak. It also turns out that Cingular no longer has the fewest dropped calls. I'm going to suggest a new slogan - "Cingular, raising the bar - but make sure you don't lose your antenna!"
Have you ever lost your signal? Now I'm thinking theologically. Sometimes I think we're not as connected to God because we lose our connection and we lose the thing that makes it possible for us to be connected to God. For each of us that may be different things, we forget to pray, we forget to be involved, and sometimes we are not listening to God's Word as God speaks to us in scripture.
One of my favorite scriptures is from Psalm 1.
That scripture reminds me that we need to continually be connected, or planted by the streams of living water that God has provided for us. Without it, we are missing something and we may even be like the chaff that the wind drives away.
I pray that you continue to be connected. Don't lose touch; don't lose that connection that you have with the church and with God during the summer. Without that connection, we are missing so much.
God needs to be in touch with you, and I am sure that you need to be in touch with God.
Without that antenna, I couldn't receive or make phone calls. Immediately upon replacing the antenna - my cell phone was back to normal. The signal was true.
About two weeks ago, my antenna broke off and I do not know where it went. This one is a little harder to explain. I noticed before all this happened, that the little rubber nobbie thingie on the antenna was loose. The actual metal part of the antenna was not - it was securely screwed into the phone. Every so often, the little rubber nobbie thingie would come off - and I would simply screw it back on.
However, just before annual conference, I noticed that the little rubber nobbie thingie was GONE!!!! Oh, I was upset! Not in my pocket, not on the floor, not on my dresser, but Gone! Guess what? Turns out that the little rubber nobbie thingie is almost as important as the actual metal part of the antenna. Without it, my signal is weak. It also turns out that Cingular no longer has the fewest dropped calls. I'm going to suggest a new slogan - "Cingular, raising the bar - but make sure you don't lose your antenna!"
Have you ever lost your signal? Now I'm thinking theologically. Sometimes I think we're not as connected to God because we lose our connection and we lose the thing that makes it possible for us to be connected to God. For each of us that may be different things, we forget to pray, we forget to be involved, and sometimes we are not listening to God's Word as God speaks to us in scripture.
One of my favorite scriptures is from Psalm 1.
That scripture reminds me that we need to continually be connected, or planted by the streams of living water that God has provided for us. Without it, we are missing something and we may even be like the chaff that the wind drives away.
I pray that you continue to be connected. Don't lose touch; don't lose that connection that you have with the church and with God during the summer. Without that connection, we are missing so much.
God needs to be in touch with you, and I am sure that you need to be in touch with God.
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