Musings From Behind The Pulpit

Sometimes we toss out ideas and they go “kerplunk” like the proverbial lead balloons. [NOTE: That’s “lead” as in a heavy metal and not “lead” as in “He Leadeth Me.”]

I have done that. But then those of you who recall my urging the congregation to chose “The Buffet” when we were seeking a new name for this newsletter, already know that. You will undoubtedly also recall that when we took a poll of the congregation, I was the only one to vote for “The Buffet.” That meant that even Marge failed to support me.

But, idea tossers like inventors have to avoid being discouraged by failure. We prefer to think that those lead balloons are simply part of the process and so we continue to toss out ideas. We are convinced that some of them will fly.

Therefore, I am pleased to share with you that I am on cloud nine because I tossed out an idea this September and now nearly 25 people are flying it with me. [Please show respect for the pastoral position by not suggesting that, because most balloons fly on hot air, there is no real surprise.]

What happened was this.

I asked if there was any interest in a survey course on the scriptures. I figured that if I could get a half dozen people interested, I would resurrect a book that I used a decade ago and gently walk people from Genesis to Revelation. I thought this was a good idea. I expected that there would be some interest. I anticipated it would not take much of my time. I was, however, in for quite the surprise.

The interest was much greater than I had expected – or dared to hope. As such, I now find myself leading a class on Thursday afternoons and then repeating it with a different group of participants on Thursday evenings.

That was a great – and a joyous - surprise, but I was in for another one as well. This second surprise has also given me joy – and a lot of extra work.

In preparation, I looked at the resource that I had used ten years ago and said to myself, “I can do better than that.”

[Now, my older son, Justin, will undoubtedly call me when he reads that last sentence. For he loves to remind me of the many times he has heard me say, “I can do better than that.” What he truly relishes is reminding me that I have not always been right when I have said those words. Still, I think that he respects my self confidence and effort.]

However, whether or not I can actually do better, I decided to find out and thus am now not only leading the study, but writing it as well. Each week, between the classes themselves and my preparation for them, I spend a good ten hours on the Bible Study. That’s a lot of work – even for a guy whose work week is perceived to begin at 10:30 on Sundays and end an hour later (all right, an hour and a quarter later).

And I am enjoying it.

I am enjoying the participants, their questions and their insights. I am enjoying their energy and enthusiasm. I am enjoying and being moved by their dedication and faith.

But the people are not all that I am enjoying. I am also enjoying having my own faith strengthened by this walk through the scriptures. I never cease to be amazed by how real they are. I see myself in them (not always favorably) and I see people and churches whom I know in them (again, not always favorably).

In the first two classes (basically Genesis and Exodus) alone, I have seen jealousy (Jacob and Esau and Joseph’s brothers) and whining (the Israelites in the wilderness perfected the art of whining). I have seen deceitful scheming (Jacob, Rebekah, and Laban) and undeserved oppression (the Egyptians enslaving the Israelites). I have seen how fragile faith can be (the Golden Calf) and how committed God is to us despite our fairly regular attempts to ignore God.

These hastily assembled observations are just the tip of the iceberg. But the point is that we read and study scriptures not just for education, entertainment, and enjoyment. We study them as a means of looking at ourselves, our congregation, and our relationship with God. They provide a mirror to our hearts, souls, and minds.

When I was over 100 pound heavier, I tried to avoid mirrors. As individual Christians and as a congregation of Christ’s church, - no matter how fearful we are about the reflection to be shown - we should never try to avoid the mirrors we have in that book – or collection of books – that we call the Bible. For we cannot improve that reflection without first taking a good look at it.

On the fourth Thursday of this month, we will set aside a day to give thanks to God for our blessings. On that day, let’s remember to include the scriptural mirror on our lists of things for which we are thankful.

Jim

PS to Betsy, Dominique, Dale, and others who celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving: I know 2009’s celebration has already passed, but I urge you to give thanks for our scriptural mirror next October - while the rest of us are celebrating Columbus Day.