Thanks for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2016

Lake Lure, North Carolina

Like many of you, I'll be spending these next few days celebrating Thanksgiving with family from far and near: my mom, siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews, including a nephew we haven't seen in a few years. We're looking forward to a few relaxing days of catching up, telling stories, and, well, eating way too much. 

I woke up early this morning, made some coffee and watched the sun rise over the NC mountains. It gave me time to read back issues of Our State magazine and become filled with thanks for our beautiful state.

In the October issue is an article about Salisbury, loaded with names and references that are so very familiar.

It reminded me of how blessed we are to live in this uniquely beautiful part of the world and at how blessed we are to be at St. John's. Thank you for your partnership, your passion for ministry, and your drive to make our community a better place. 

On this quiet mountain morning, I'm filled with thanks for lots of things, including you. May God bless you and keep you in his grace. 

And if that includes some yummy sweet potato casserole or chocolate pie, then all the better.

Peace+

Pastor Rhodes

Anne's Monkey Bread

November 18, 2016

I've just returned from our Senior Seasons beach trip with 30 of our "seasoned citizens." Honestly, it's a highlight of my year. The camaraderie is outstanding, the food is superb, and everyone is so very relaxed and at peace. Even the Bible study is loaded with great questions, insight, and enthusiasm. 

We've done this long enough that we have a few traditions ... so when we learned that we wouldn't be eating Anne Loeblein's monkey bread on Monday morning, well, we almost had to pack it up and go home. Saner minds prevailed and we started a new tradition. No worries. 

I'll be the first to say that the Senior Seasons beach trip is a pretty cushy part of my "job." But I'll also say that it's a critically important part of what we do and who we are. One of the primary responsibilities of the church is to create space for folks to experience the power of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes that happens in worship (often, we hope), other times as we join together for a "St. John's Serves" project. It also happens as we step aside from our daily routine in the joy of intentional Christian fellowship. 

That's what our beach trip was all about: venturing from home to a place set apart so that we might focus hearts and minds on the power of the Holy Spirit in our midst -- a Spirit that gathered us together in love, peace, and joy.

The fact that shrimp, sand, and sunshine were involved made it all the better :)

Blessings to you this week of Thanksgiving. I'll see you in worship.

Pastor Rhodes

Post-election thoughts

Post-election thoughts | November 9, 2016

November 9 is finally here. After a bitterly divisive campaign, we have elected a new president: Donald J. Trump, the 70 year old real estate mogul who has literally shocked the world by defeating Hillary Clinton, the woman so many people just assumed would be the next president. I think she made the same assumption. 

What now? Several things come to mind: 

1. Let's pray for our elected leaders. Whatever their motivation, they have now been entrusted with the responsibility to govern. From school board members to senators, judges to the president, it's our job to "pray for all those in authority" (1 Timothy 2:2). Pray for wisdom, strength, and humility. Pray that they will lead according to the common good, so that our country might continue to be a place of "justice for all," not just a few. 

2. Hold our leaders accountable, but do so in light of kingdom standards, not political standards. After all, the only perfect kingdom is God's kingdom, and God's kingdom is rooted in justice, mercy, love, forgiveness, and grace -- a kingdom in which all might flourish. So, before spouting out the latest political talking points over the latest hot button issue, ask yourself: How might kingdom standards affect this conversation and my decision? Immigration, affordable health care, refugees? You might be surprised.

3. Remember that we're all in this together, which means we've got to figure out how to live and talk and debate together. Our political discourse is embarrassing. With that in mind, NYT columnist David Brooks writes this: "Respect for one another is the binding glue that holds our friendships together, even when we disagree strongly on politics and policies." Can we build respect for one another without racial slurs or the politics of destruction? Of course we can. Civility must overcome petty partisanship. 

4. Remember that God is sovereign over all things, and at the end of the day he will lovingly guide those who follow him. My hope is built on nothing less. 

Some of you are happy today, some are sad. My prayer is that we all will pull up our bootstraps and get to work ... together. Impossible? Well, I know someone who makes all things possible :)

May the peace of Christ be with you and our country+

Pastor Rhodes

Pre-election thoughts

Pre-election thoughts | November 2, 2016

Have you ever stepped into a voting booth, still uncertain as to how you'll vote?

I'm not sure I'm at that place as of yet, but with each passing day/revelation, voting becomes more and more complicated, doesn't it?

This has been the most bizarre election cycle I've ever experienced. It's not uncommon for nearly 50% of the country to be disappointed in the outcome of a presidential election, but I've never experienced the distinct possibility that 50% of the country will be angry at the outcome. In fact, I'm sure that a large percentage of those who vote for the winning candidate will still be disappointed. When both candidates' "negatives" are larger than their "positives," that's not a good sign.

So what are we to do?

My prayers have been focused on November 9, the day after the election - that our country will find within itself a way to honor the winning candidate, no matter our political persuasion. I'm praying that a sense of civility will rain upon us. I'm praying that leaders will step up to the plate who are blessed with the spirit of reconciliation, are bound by time-honored principles, and understand the need for compromise.

And, yes, I'm praying that this crazy election cycle will be a watermark - a low point that encourages our citizens, political parties, and potential candidates to demand a better way.

Possible? Who knows. But this one thing I know: we are better than this. Our country deserves better than this. Our children deserve better than this. If we are to be the "shining light" we strive to be, then we better figure this thing out.

Let's start on November 9. May God bless us and guide us as we do just that. 

I'll see you in church.

Peace+

Pastor Rhodes