Ramblings from a seeking sojourner

2008-06-30T12:21:00.002-05:00

I was in my office at the ECM (Ecumenical Christian Ministries) building today. Having spent the morning reading our scriptures for the week, praying, and helping an ECM Intern move into her office, I was getting the itch to “go do something”. It wasn’t God, it was Sean saying, “I have to go figure out what to do to make money or build financial relationships.” I felt the Spirit say, “rest”. The Spirit continued, “if you are going out for those reasons you are only one person – that limits me. But, I have all the resources and will bring them to you. For now, just stay where you are and rest.” (“Resting” is not my *usual* mode of operation – but it is my *natural* mode of operation. “Resting” is how God wired me, I am learning how to live it out in the face of non-restful times.) [smile] So, I spent a couple more minutes in prayer, praying our Gospel reading for this week, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

I opened my eyes. My Microsoft Outlook e-mail screen was up. I literally watched a new e-mail land in my inbox. It is attached below.

I hope you read it with a smile, as did I.

Sometimes the Spirit says, “Go”, sometimes the Spirit says, “Rest”. Thank God that he provides us his wisdom to discern the difference. And, because God is so beautiful and mysterious: in Kingdom-life, “Go” and “Rest” are intermingled like lovers in the dance of life.

Peace and Love,
Brother Sean of Lawrence

-----------------
From: Ross and Karen [last name removed]
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2008 11:19 AM
To: sean@kuchurch.com
Subject: Ministry Partnership

Good Morning Sean,

Recently you sent an e-mail to Mary [last name removed] about some changes you are going to be making in your ministry. She shared this with our S.S. class, and we want to send an offering to you. Could you provide me with a mailing address so that I can get a check in the mail to you.

Thanks! Karen [last name removed]

In Moments Like These

2007-04-18T00:15:00.000-05:00

I gave this address at the Virginia Tech Candlelight Vigil held at the Campanile on the campus of Kansas University. I hope you will find comfort in the words it contains.

--------

In moments like these, words fail us.

When peace is punctuated by violent acts –
    we search ever deeper for messages of hope and inspiration.
When the certainty of tomorrow is interrupted by the uncertainty of today –
    we cling to thoughts of stability and safety.
When justice appears cloudy and distant –
    we long for a place of belonging and community.

Tonight as we gather in support of our friends and colleagues on the campus of Virginia Tech I would encourage each of us to lean on our own traditions. As we enter our time of silence, prayer or reflection I would encourage you to reach beyond yourselves - to embrace the comfort that you find both in one another and in the great mysteries beyond.

For the victims and their families we offer a time of silence.

For those witnessing the atrocities we offer a time of silence.

For the family and friends of the perpetrator we offer a time of silence.

For those working for peace and justice in the aftermath of the violence we offer at time of silence.

For healing on the campus of Virginia Tech we offer a time of silence.

Hope comes in the life we still have – and the lives of those around us.
Inspiration is available in the communities of which we are a part.
Certainty is still ours when stability and safety seem so far away.
Justice, though delayed, will surely come.
And, Peace, may you find Peace tonight in the very core of your being.

For all of these things: Hope, Inspiration, Certainty, Justice and Peace we are forever grateful.

Let us go forward, united as a community, living lives of hope, inspiration, certainty, justice and peace; remembering the lives of those that were lost – that they may not have died in vain.

FWIW

2007-03-08T15:33:00.000-06:00

For what it's worth:

Dr. Gunter listed the three biggest challenges to the church in the past 60 years. I offer my opinion on the biggest challenges:

1. Consumerism in the church
2. Anti-ecumenism (pro-denominationalism and pro-schizm)
3. Sloppy social and biblical hermenutics

M7 Conversation

2007-03-08T14:58:00.000-06:00

There has been quite a bit of conversation about the M7 Conference. These conversations are taking place via e-mail, phone calls and blogs. Many of you know that I am part of the denomination known as The Church of the Nazarene. For those of you not familiar with our denomination I ask for your indulgence.

Many of the conversations center around this video clip. Taking this clip out of context is unhealthy and should be avoided. Please visit here for the entire address. It is the plenary session delivered by Dr. Nina Gunter.

The conversations that I am a part of are not about Nina. This is about a conversation that has needed to happen for over 25 years. And, it looks like it will finally happen. For other examples of the beginings of the conversation view the plenary sessions of Reggie McNeal and Oliver Phillips.

My take on it is this: ORGANIZATIONALLY speaking, postmodernity can be accomodated inside of the denomination by simply seeing it as another culture - similar to the afro- or latino- cultures. It could fit into the Multicultural Groups inside of USA/Canada Mission/Evangelism's Mission Strategy department. Simply let the denomination identify someone to speak for the postmodern culture. Then, that person can sit with the committees and task forces to help the postmodern / emerging voices.

Theologically, Ecclisastically and Epistemologically it is a MUCH longer journey. There is not room here to post on these topics. [grin]

Space

2007-02-04T19:21:00.000-06:00

Give yourself some space. Create patterns in your life that ensure time for rest, creativity, community, enjoyment and contemplation. Give yourself a five minute gift right now. Instead of reading websites, take a break for five minutes. Close your eyes; breathe deeply; relax your shoulders and neck; think of the most serene place you've ever been. Once you've done that you can continue on here with your web-browsing.

Here we go again . . .

2007-01-18T16:25:00.000-06:00

Tonight we will begin our Phat Thursdays for this semester. I have missed my friends and look forward to seeing many of them again. For anyone who reads my blog, I encourage you to engage with a meaningful community. A place were you can enjoy life with friends. A place where you find purpose and vitality. Many blessings to my friends. And, even to those who lurk here. Send me a note. I love hearing from folks! Oh, I will be at the M7 Conference in Kansas City in mid-February. If you will be there, drop me a note.

Peace,
Sean

We Wish You a Merry Holiday

2006-11-20T15:51:00.000-06:00

I continue to hear reports of corporations, ad agencies, news organizations and individuals substituting "Happy Holidays" for "Merry Christmas". I know some Christians are offended by this. Some desire us to boycott companies that make this substitution. Honestly, the substitution is refreshing to me. Before you castigate me, read further.

For years many of us have complained about the "commercialism of Christmas". We bristle and the commodification of a beautiful holiday (holy day). Now the commercialism begins the day after Halloween, not the day after Thanksgiving or December 1st. So, I say let the corporations, ad agencies and news organizations make their substitution. I do not want Christmas associated with such commercialism and commodification.

I would ask you, as an individual to give greetings as you so desire. If you wish those around you a "Merry Christmas" when the world around them is screaming "Happy Holidays" you will be conspicuous. "Merry Christmas" may once again become special.

Also, I am glad that the words of the Christmas hymns are no longer associated with commercialism and commodification. It has been so long since I have heard the words to a Christmas hymn in a department store that now when we sing them in church I can appreciate them. They no longer conjure up thoughts of holiday shopping, early morning sales, over-spending and long lines at the checkout.

So, YAY for the companies helping Christianity to once again become distinct from the commercialism, commodification and gluttony of a sacred day (actually TWELVE days).

Bread and Coffee

2006-10-16T10:40:00.000-05:00

As some of you know, I have a burden to help others. Recently, I have been compelled to help some of the underserved in Lawrence, Kansas. Some folks in our faith-community (University Church) also have this burden. Through their contacts they arranged for us to receive baked goods from Panera Bread on Saturday evenings. This past Saturday we received our first donation from Panera. We received about 45 pounds of bread. We brought it back to the ministry center, sorted it, grabbed the coffee and hit the streets of Lawrence.

We visited a couple shelters hoping that the men and women there could help us locate folks who would be sleeping out of doors. In doing so, we met some wonderful people and heard some of their stories, frustrations, dreams and wants. In good faith we provided bread to the shelters for their Sunday morning breakfasts.

After talking to the folks in the shelters, we went to the places indicated by the men and women we met at the shelters - South Park, the alleys and under the bridge. We left bags of fresh bread where we knew people were staying. We talked to all the folks we saw. All in all, it was a learning experience. One that will help us better know how to serve our community next week.

Salt n' Peppa'

2006-10-04T12:31:00.000-05:00

Lawrence was ranked as the second meanest city towards the homeless in the United States by the National Homeless Coalition. That is staggering when I know that there are dozens upon dozens of organizations and agencies that work hard to meet the needs of the homeless in the Lawrence community. So, being naïve, I decided to do something. I have begun asking the homeless what they need.

This is how I met Salt n’ Peppa (this is one of the ways in which the two gentlemen refer to themselves). What I learned in the conversation with them is that some type of “safe place” is needed for the homeless – especially on Friday and Saturday nights. A place away from the police who are required by ordinance to remove them. A place away from small groups which, encouraged by inebriated bravado, choose to beat them for sport. Another thing I learned is that “the food is crappy.” This is interesting since there are several agencies that exist to feed the homeless community. Salt n’ Peppa’ indicated that the food was readily available, just crappy. They identified L.I.N.K. (Lawrence Interfaith Nutritional Kitchen) as the best place to eat. So, I’m going to L.I.N.K. to see the level from which better food must emerge.

Salt n’ Peppa’ indicated that a “hospitality house” would be most welcomed by the homeless – a place where they could get a healthy snack and something cold or warm to drink. They also indicated that semi-permanent housing (maximum 6 month stay) would be helpful.

We are taking all this information and going to do something meaningful with it. Our community exists to help and love the “unwanted” of our society. The next time you are wandering the street, stop and ask the homeless person how you can help them. Then do something about it.

Monastic Life

2006-09-19T09:54:00.000-05:00

I am beginning to encourage the growth of a monastic community in Lawrence, Kansas. Here are the core values of the community:

hospitality
contemplation
compassion
justice

As an introduction, here are the ingredients for the long-term vision:

Location: downtown Lawrence, Kansas
Educational opportunities: K - Adult
Residential facilities: temporary, student, transitional and ordinand
Comfort station (warm/cold drinks and light snacks for those in need)
A place of peace
A place of contemplation

If you are interested in something like this, let me know!

Fed up

2006-03-11T22:43:00.000-06:00

I'm fed up.

I know I'm not the only one. People have been blogging and writing for years about how we are so fed up: with culture, with each other, with education, with the conservatives, with the liberals, with the media, with the church, with all of it.

I'm tired of people wanting to be postmodern. People who want to create postmodern ministries. People who want to constantly write and read about things postmodern. What ever happened to living? What ever happened to love, joy and peace? Whatever happened to the teachings of Mohammed? Sidartha Gautama? Abraham? Solomon? Jesus?

Vanity, Vanity, all is Vanity. --The Son of Man

Love

2005-05-31T10:24:00.000-05:00

We all desire it.
We all need it.
At times we pervert it.

He brought it.
He offers it.
At times we accept it.

Our hearts break from it.
Our lives are changed by it.
Why do we refuse to live in it?

Love is.
Love becomes.
Find freedom in it.

From Technology to Relationship

2005-03-05T21:07:00.000-06:00

"The Technology Age" . . . I'm not sure how much longer it will last. I think we are on a crash-course to "The Relationship Age". The Relationship Age is much more inclusive than the Technology Age. To be a part of the Technology Age you have to have, well, technology that is progressing at exponential rates. That's a pretty exclusive group. During the Technology Age things like Colonization, Fragmentation of Community and the Space Race can come to the fore. The use of Technology could become the abuse of Technology.

I see some good coming from the Technology Age - the Relationship Age blossoming out of the Technology Age. The "shrinking globe", transportation, electronic communications, etc. are playing a key role in this emerging age. I see people under the age of 30 from all over the world engaging one another in conversations - relationship building.

The Relationship Age is far less exclusive than the Technology Age. This is NOT to say that all persons will treat relationships on an equal plane. There will still be oppressors, evil, war and pestilence.

I do have a major concern. In America we have already begun to commoditize relationships. (How many self-help talk shows does one country really need?) It seems that people are already figuring out ways to extract (or is it extort) money by selling "relationship". My fear is that in doing so we will ostracize ourselves from the rest of the human family.

Perhaps my real complaint is with consumerism. I'm tired of seeing things "consumed" - knowledge during the Age of Enlightenment; workers during the Industrial Age; power during the Technology Age. What will be consumed during the Age of Relationships? What is at the core of Relationships? Would we really be better of if that were consumed? Perhaps we should look at a way to supply the Age of Relationships instead of consume it.

Supplying the Relationship Age. All it takes is the ability to have a relationship. Just BE in a relationship. Don't buy it, sell it, market it, or consume it. Just BE.

MLK Day Celebrations

2005-01-19T15:31:00.000-06:00

I had the pleasure of attending an MLK Day Celebration on the 18th of January this year. After the event, one of the event organizers sent me an e-mail asking what I thought. Here is a portion of my response. Please read it carefully.

I do have some thoughts on ways to visualize MLK’s Dream for next year. There were white folk on the stage and black folk on the stage. But, I don’t think there were any times two leaders of different ethnicities on the stage simultaneously. Beyond that, I think it would communicate volumes if the choir was of mixed ethnicities. And, MLK’s Dream was not for the “blackifying” of American culture. I fear that our society is doing that to his Dream. And, I fear that the MLK Celebration this year aided in that misrepresentation. For example, I saw nor heard anything from the Jewish nor Catholic faiths. Perhaps next year we could have each of the groups pay homage to MLK in their own voices: Jewish, Catholic, post-modern humanist, Protestant, (heck, even Muslim). It would certainly be a more accurate reflection of the Dream as Dr. King described it in his most famous speach. ". . . . that one day Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro Spiritual 'Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, we are free at last!'"

Let the comments commence.

University Church

2005-01-19T15:25:00.000-06:00

Catalyst for Change: Let's not beat around the bush, something is broken in many evangelical churches today. Something is amiss. Evangelicals seem to have lost their ability to communicate the Gospel to a secular nation. If you are interested in experiencing authentic relationships, wholeness, peace, and joy without having to "check your brain at the door" (or worse yet, explain why you are the way you are) then we are the place for you. University Church, Lawrence Kansas.

One Month and One Day

2005-01-18T23:48:00.000-06:00

Wow, it has been awhile since my last post. Thank you all for your (somewhat) patient demeanors.

Today I had the pleasure of attending a Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration at Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. As I listened to portions of selected sermons written by Dr. King I became aware of how little things have changed. If anything the church continues to struggle with power and how to appropriately deal with the disenfranchised in the community. More than this is the fact that the disenfranchised now include the sons and daughters of the established Protestant churches. The sub-culture known as "post-modern" is comprised of many persons with lineage in these same Protestant churches.

I would never say that the white, suburban, intellectual male is now "walking in the shoes" of his black brothers and sisters. However, I will say this, the post-modern culture shares more with the minority communities than it shares with the Protestant churches of today. Maybe that is a good starting point. Perhaps the post-modern folks and the minorities could begin to work together. Perhaps it is this mix that will be the catalyst to further Dr. King's Dream beyond its stagnation. Perhaps these communities will see the beauty in one another. Perhaps these communities can help the Protestant churches find footing and a new place of belonging.

If there is one thing that Dr. King reminded us, that thing is Hope. And, I think that Hope can find itself in the strangest of places. Conversations and Relationships between the post-modern, intellectual, white folk and the minority communities seems as good a place as any.

Flew the Coop

2004-12-17T13:15:00.000-06:00

Get this, renowned (as in WORLD renowned) atheist Anthony Flew now professes belief in a higher being. Flew even goes so far as to say "It could be a person in the sense of a being that has intelligence and a purpose, I suppose."

What next? Check out the Associated Press (AP) article here.

Reconnect the Disconnect to save your neck

2004-12-15T19:58:00.000-06:00

When did the evangelicals lose touch with the rest of America? Better yet, is there any way to reconnect the two? Would the reconnection benefit America? The Gospel? Who knows. I'm pretty sure I don't see America desiring to reconnect with evangelicals. Do evangelicals want to reconnect with America? And, if they do, what is behind their desire? I'll bet that at its root it has to do with some kind of power or control. Two of the biggest distracters from the Gospel message. So, evangelicals, where do we go from here? Do you really want to reconnect with the post-modern (man, I hate that word) America? Are you willing to do it in a way that is true to the Gospel message for reasons that honor your faith claims? If so, welcome to the conversation. Enjoy equality with the sinner. Enjoy your redemption again for the first time. Drink from the well of Grace and walk humbly around those whom you have so egregiously wounded. Seek to honor God by engaging the secular culture around you following this pattern: listen carefully, learn quickly, speak truthfully, mentor thoroughly.

I guess that is enough for tonight. Blessings to all my friends. Oh! my friend Dave just started blogging too! As soon as he sends me his blog addy, it'll be listed in my Friends section.

Peace,
Sean

MNF and all things spiritual

2004-12-13T21:51:00.000-06:00

Culture. It is who we are -- collectively. It is how people groups identify themselves. It is how people groups identify other people groups. Whithin a particular people group it is interesting to see who's voice takes precidence in the identification process.

Monday Night Football is part of our culture. Consumerism is part of our culture. Dishonesty is part of our culture. Faith is a part of our culture.

Since it is Monday night, I will say that Monday Night Football is what defines our culture tonight. But, the late news will be on next; there is no telling how I will be identified by them tonight. Just a thought.

Round One

2004-12-11T03:44:00.000-06:00

As with most bloggers, I'll begin with the customary "Hello World" type post. I'm looking forward to finding a community of folks who will engage me in an ongoing blog dialogue.

Feel free to stop by my friend Dena's Blog.
Another recent aquaintance of mine, Thia, blogs here.

Peace to all.