Tragedy Saturation

Hurricane Irma hits Ft. Lauderdale

It's been a bizarre few weeks. First Hurricane Harvey, then Hurricane Irma with Jose close behind. In the middle of all that, we commemorated the 16th anniversary of 9-11 and heard the devastating report of a magnitude 8.1 earthquake in Mexico, the largest to hit our southern neighbor in over a century. Understandably, disasters and tragic events have occupied headlines for nearly three weeks.

With multiple 24 hour news networks and a Weather Channel that profits off of bad weather, it's no wonder that we've been saturated with tragic news. Jim Contore has become a household name, and Facebook is blowing up with videos of on-site reporters being blown away by 100 mph winds.   

There's much to be said of the news coverage. No doubt lives were saved because adequate notice of the hurricane's potential impact was given. Thousands more were prepared in ways they may never have considered. Thankfully the attention has encouraged an outpouring of support from around the world, raising millions of dollars for necessary relief efforts. 

As thankful as I am for all the coverage, I wonder if I've become saturated. The emotional part of my brain can only process so much tragedy before I become numb or, worse, disinterested. And having given so much attention to Harvey and Irma, do I have the emotional capacity to care about Mexico's earthquake or fires out West or whatever else CNN tells me I should be concerned about?  

On days like these I appeal to scripture. In particular Psalm 46 comes to mind as a powerful reminder of God's determination to bring order from chaos. May it be our prayer for these rather tumultuous times: 

O God, you are our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. 

You are in the midst of the city, therefore it shall not be moved; 

You will help when the morning dawns.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. 

Peace to you and yours. 

Needed: Another Miriam

Two of our high school youth on mission in Guatemala

I’m in the early stages of study for our upcoming sermon series entitled “We Can’t Stay Here: the life and times of Moses.” I’ve always loved the book of Exodus, and this series gives us another chance to dive deeply into a story that is of immeasurable importance in our journey of faith. 

One of the themes we’ll wrestle with is the remarkable sense of irony throughout the book of Exodus. Think about the first two chapters alone, when God uses five women to save Israel from the brutality of Pharaoh, eventually saving Moses, a slave’s baby, from sure and certain death. Of particular note is his young sister, Miriam, who went to the river that day armed with a plan that would deliver all of Israel.

Irony and surprise is everyone. 

We’re facing some challenges these days, aren’t we? Nationally, sure; but I’m thinking mostly about the challenges we face as a community. 

Last Friday night I had dinner with the retired police commander of Hickory who asked, “What’s going on in Salisbury?”

There’s no doubt that Salisbury has elements of being that quintessential Southern town described in a “Bury Home Companion.” The  lovely sense of home, the rich appreciation of history, and the beauty of culture surround us in Salisbury. 

But so does the sound of gunfire and the daily reminder that local drug addiction has taken a heavy, heavy toll.

Irony. 

One of the things I love most about Exodus is the way God surprises us over and over again, using the most unexpected of people to do remarkably liberating things. 

Who are we to suggest that God might not be ready to do the same thing here in Salisbury? Might God be preparing unexpected persons to rise up and be messengers of liberation and peace? One never knows. 

One thing I’ve noticed about Salisbury is that we tend to go to the same people over and over again for answers, contributions, and leadership. No doubt, many of these folks have been incredibly wise and generous over the years. 

But as I look into the future, I find myself praying that God might be preparing someone like Miriam to be the next source of inspiration. 

I wonder who that could be. Might it be you? Might it be someone you currently mentor? One never knows. 

Another thing I’ve learned over the years: don’t underestimate the power of young people. And don’t question God’s use of Divine Irony to bring hope and inspiration to people living in darkness. 

So, what do we do in challenging times like these?

Here’s a suggestion: like Miriam, let’s imagine a future that is filled with hope and possibility for all, not just a few.

And like Miriam, let’s dare to let God use us — yes, us — as his agents of hope for this weary world.

As ironic and surprising as that may be. 

on Charlottesville 2017

It's 2017 and I find it hard to believe that we're still battling with neo-Nazis and white supremacists. How is it possible that the vitriol and tired rhetoric of a rather unintelligent group of extremists seems to have captured our attention again?

Take last weekend's hatred and bigotry on display in Charlottesville. Their stated intent was/is to undermine the fabric of civil society through the use of ignorance, fear, and violence. Front and center were small clans of extremists from throughout the country who are loaded down with anger and hatred. It's time to start calling it what it is: racially motivated domestic terrorism.

I wish we could do a control-alt-delete and wipe them from our collective memory banks. Sadly, it's not that easy. 

How are Christians to respond? First, make no excuses or political justification for the evil that was on display. Jesus tells us to "love our neighbor" without restriction. Why is that hard to understand? 

Secondly, we should heed Paul's advice in Romans 12:21 when he writes: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." 

Third, come to the Table. I'm serious. The Lord's Table is a potent reminder/symbol of how inescapably we are bound to Christ and to each other, no matter how many other differences we embody. There is no room for prejudice or racism or hatred at the Lord's Table, only a common movement to hold out empty hands and say, "We are nothing, O Lord, without you." 

The world desperately needs us (you and me) to bear witness to God's love, grace, justice, and mercy. We need not stand idly by, but give rise to Martin Luther King's cry to turn our "thin words into thick action." 

Without our determined response, friends, we'll see more of the same. Let's do our best to put an end to this nonsense by bearing Christ's light in this darkened world. Who's with me? 

Lake Lure

Last Sunday after church we sprinted to Lake Lure, to a little cabin my parents built years ago -- a favorite place for respite and regrouping. 

One thing I love most about Lake Lure is the absence of TV and internet. Sure, we all glanced at our phones/email/texts/social media every now and then, but for the most part we don't have access ...... which opens the door to things like books, old movies, and, gasp, conversation. 

Since Carter and Matt were gone for the summer and would be returning to college this weekend, we knew that this was the only chance we'd have to all be together. It was great to reconnect and hear all the stories of summers well-spent. Before we knew it, moments had turned to hours and the afternoon had become the evening. We certainly didn't tell all the stories there were to tell, but we heard lots of highlights ... and lots of funny tales. 

I joked that by the end of that first night, my rear end had left a permanent imprint on the outdoor couch. (Sorry about that, mom!) But I can't think of a better way to unwind and reconnect with the most important things in life. 

A blessed gift from God was the gift of rest. When he invited us into the joy of work, it's interesting that he does so on the 8th day of creation, AFTER we are fully rested (the 7th day). We work from our rest, not the other way around. 

I hope this summer has afforded you the opportunity to rest, regroup, reflect and enjoy time with those you love. Know that God has enjoyed that time with you, fully present in your presence with one another. 

See you around the neighborhood, my friends :)

Just Mercy

I'm reading Bryan Stevenson's 2015 book Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. It's a page turner about the dramatic rise of incarceration in the US, but addresses a much broader question of a society's character and spirit. 

One quote stands out: "The opposite of poverty is not wealth; the opposite of poverty is justice."

You can imagine why that thought resonates after spending nearly two weeks with the desperately poor in Guatemala. They are the victims of 450 years of oppressive and corrupt governments that have intentionally left them hopeless. They are the forgotten, left behind by a ruling class and church system that is more interested in maintaining power than in securing justice for all. There's no doubt that a collective concern for justice in Guatemala would bring scores of people out of extreme poverty, giving kids like these a chance to dream and hope and, well, "take hold of a life that really is life" (1 Timothy 6:19).

Walter at Escuela Integrada

A biblical understanding of justice has nothing to do with jurisprudence or fairness; instead it sees "the other" as our brother.  Justice is impartial and seeks the good in and for all. It flows from the heart of God stretching to every corner of the earth. A society's true character, therefore, is judged not with how we treat our friends, but how we treat the poor and the marginalized ...

... like Walter, a very bright 13 year old boy who leaves Escuela Integrada every day to shine shoes in the park. He does the same thing every Saturday and Sunday, 8-5, stopping on the way home to buy food with the money he's earned, food to make the family's evening meal. He's done the same thing every day since he was 5 years old. 

Walter doesn't need our handouts. Walter needs/deserves a system that cares about justice and mercy for all. We all do. 

Adios, amigos. 

Pastor Rhodes

Hola from Guatemala

Hola from Guatemala! I'm on the first of two weeks in Antigua, Guatemala, alongside high school youth from St. John's. For ten years our church has been yoked with the Escuela Integrada school for children living in extreme poverty. It's been a beautiful partnership ... and what an amazing experience this trip has already been. 

One snapshot from yesterday captures our week beautifully. In the morning our students were yoked with the 7th grade class for an art project and visit to the neighboring nursing home. The language challenges and nerves led to some awkward exchanges ... until a very special moment when they got it: playing Bingo. Up until then our kids had been giving -- painting the school, filling food bags, being the "American mission trippers." In Bingo, each of our students was paired with a Guatemalan student and an elderly resident. Suddenly our students had little to give, relying entirely on their Guatemalan partner to communicate/compete/play the game. After it was over the students began creating their own games, laughing, joking, hugging. It was as though they suddenly realized that, wow, we really are brothers and sisters on this earth. The language barrier no longer mattered. The color of skin and vast cultural differences no longer stood as a barrier. They were family. 

On the mile walk back to the school the students -- Guatemalan and American -- kept laughing and joking and playing. Two even held hands, a friendship secured. 

That's what this trip is all about. We're not building churches or schools or medical clinics. We're building relationships. And that's the best building project of all. 

Thank you for your prayers. Adios, Amigos.

Pastor Rhodes

PS There are several ways to follow us these next two weeks. We'll add a blogpost/story each day to the church blog, accessed via our website. View tons of pictures via our church Facebook page. And read a special interest story about our students each day on the school website, www.wearegraces.org. Click "blog."  Thanks for joining our journey! 

On Danielle

By now you've processed the notice that Pastor Danielle will begin a new call withthe NC Synod in August. Her last Sunday will be July 30, 5 1/2 years after she first arrived. She'll certainly be missed. 

Danielle has been a faithful colleague, a tireless worker, and a passionate defender of the faith. She came on board as our "token millennial" (as she described herself), but leaves rather middle aged (I'll take the heat for that comment!). We've watched her blossom into a wife, a pastor, and a mom, and we've enjoyed the fruits of her endlessly creative energy. 

Thankfully Danielle isn't going very far. The Synod has stolen her away -- we'll forgive them at some point, I'm sure! -- but she'll be serving the wider church on our behalf ... which means that we now claim Danielle as our missionary. And since missionaries need to check in every once in a while, we'll be more than happy to welcome her home whenever she has a Sunday free. 

In the coming weeks you'll receive word on how and when we'll say goodbye. In the meantime, enjoy these last few weeks of preaching and teaching and laughing and (highly likely) crying. July 30 will be here before you know it :(

Blessings to you, Danielle!