Diversity in Appalachia

As I reflect on the problem facing the region commonly known as Appalachia, I was struck by the realization that the region is so diverse that no one solution is likely going to fit. In my ministry, I’ve served in four pastoral charges (a total of seven churches), each of which have been located in Appalachia. Further, my hometown is also in Appalachia, although it does not really fit the commonly conceived profile of the region.

Consider first New Philadelphia, which is a small city of roughly 18,000 people, located in the center of Tuscarawas County. I was born in raised here, and served my first three churches within this county. While there are parts of the county that are rural, it is far from what many would call Appalachia. New Philadelphia boasts a strong manufacturing base, a regional campus of Kent State University, and a small-town atmosphere. Add to this fact that Dover has grown right into New Philadelphia, and you have two similar towns that together have a population of about 30,000 people.

Stillwater, on the other hand, better fits the Appalachian stereotype. Located about 30 minutes south of New Philadelphia on State Route 800, this crossroads boasts a general store, a gas company (recently sold), and a dozen houses. Just off the state route is the first church I served. The people there were either retired (35%), worked in New Philadelphia/Dover (25%), and the rest farmed (25%) or were still in school (5%). The area looked to the New Philadelphia/Dover area for its continued existence.

My next two churches were in the northwest corner of Homes County. Just outside of Amish country, Lakeville was a farming community that was undergoing change. The younger families that were moving in worked in Wooster, about 20 minutes North, while many of the older families still farmed or where retired. The town’s makeup was simple: there was an elementary school, a post office, the fire department (volunteer), and the church. There was an abandoned feed mill, a closed garage/gas station, and two to three dozen houses. Just outside of town, on a Friday night, you could see dirt-track auto racing. The thing that was most striking in that area was the trailer park about two miles outside of town. When we took Thanksgiving baskets the first year, we took two to the trailer park. I have rarely ever seen so many people living in abject poverty in my life. While Lakeville fit the stereotype, the poor had been priced out of town and relegated (by their own economic means) to the trailer park.

Now I find myself in the heart of the Appalachian region, living in the midst of the stereotype. In town, there is one business, a post office, and houses. Woodsfield, the county seat, is shrinking, and we are living 45 minutes from any large population center. Thus, these people lack many of the opportunities that have existed in the communities I have lived in. Without any tangible hope, many folks down here have simply given up.

Much of what I had come to know simply as “rural ministry” has really been Appalachian ministry. There are some characteristics that have largely remained unchanged (see the post "Ten Characteristics of Appalachia", but the quality of life and the opportunities available vary widely. There is little hope that my current context will ever become as prosperous as New Philadelphia. Yet as I read many of the articles about Appalachia, Marietta, New Philadelphia, and other pockets of prosperity are lifted up as a sign of hope for the region. While I am glad that these areas are flourishing, they should not be allowed to take the eyes off of the reality that is Appalachia, the “hidden Ohio.”

Ohio: a microcosm of the U.S.

I was searching on-line for material for another post when I stumbled onto this old CNN article by Richard Quest, entitled Ohio: a microcosm of U.S. Below, I’ve extracted just the beginning of this article, which points to the importance of Ohio in the bigger political picture. With the primaries coming up, I thought that this might get some reaction. Further, it will be interesting to see how accurate this plays out. Here's the article:

WELLINGTON, Ohio (CNN) – It has been said many times, but repetition does not diminish its importance. In the race for the White House, the state of Ohio has taken on an importance quite out of proportion.

Only a visit to the state really underscores why this is so, and why with its 20 electoral votes, Ohio will define who wins the presidential elections.

The reason is Ohio is a microcosm of the entire United States.

The major newspaper, The Plain Dealer, has called it “The Five Ohios,” with differing economies and politics.

The northeast for instance, which includes Cleveland, and where the voters traditionally turn democrat.

The Southwest, which is deeply conservative and traditionally votes republican.

And in between, a huge farming belt (where church and family are strong), a desperately poor Appalachian region with the highest concentration of Veterans in the U.S., and a central region which is suburbia personified.

This is America writ small.

Can ARC live on?

On Thursday evening, U.S. Senator George Voinovich (R – OH) visited Washington State Community College to build support for the continue funding of the Appalachian Regional Commission or ARC. Formed in 1965, ARC “was founded on the premise that the Appalachian region was not keeping up with the rest of the country in terms of access to trade, industry, jobs, education, and infrastructure.” (Diane DeCola, Support for ARC gathered, The Marietta Times, April 21, 2006) The Senator stated that “despite our success to date, ARC has not completed its mission in southeastern Ohio and throughout Appalachia. The most valuable investment we can make in a region is [in] its people.”

In all, ARC covers 400 counties in 13 states, representing more than 23 million people. ARC continues to be a vital player in the success of the region. For every federal dollar that ARC spends, $11 is spent from other sources, including $8 from the private sector.

ARC’s success can be seen in the numbers. Since its creation, ARC has helped lower the poverty rate from 31 percent to 13 percent. The infant mortality rate has dropped by two-thirds. Adult education has soared with an increase of 70 percent in adults with at least a high school education. The commission continues to focus on a wide range of issues and projects, ranging from jobs to telecommunications; from education to healthcare; and from sewer and water to highways.

In 2002, the ARC was reauthorized for five more years. Now, with 2007 just around the corner, the push is on to secure funding for its continuance into the future. But Voinovich points out there are still barriers to receiving funding. “One problem…is that…the pressure on…non-defense discretionary [funding] is enormous,” he said. Still, the program has considerable leverage in terms of investments beyond ARC funds. The $11 that match the federal investment will go a long ways to help secure ARC’s future. With the help of testimonies like those voiced at Thursday’s meeting, Sen. Voinovich is preparing to go to battle for ARC, and for the future of the region.

For more information on ARC, go to their web site at http://www.arc.gov/

The "New" Blue-collar industry

Appalachian Ohio is a study in contrasts. Worry coexists with a sense hope; the struggle of daily life compliments the continued sense of progress. In a time when the manufacturing base that has long supported this area is largely drying up, many have pointed to information and technology as the solution. However, there will always be a blue-collar segment of the population in this area. For them, a new industry is emerging – or rather an old one has arisen from the ashes and is back again.

The industry? Energy. With the cost of oil and natural gas rising so dramatically over the past few years, there has been a renewed interest in alternative energy sources. One of these alternatives is Ohio coal.

In one of his recent articles on Appalachian Ohio, AP writer James Hannah states, “Coal mining was once king in the state’s Appalachian foothills. But the industry went into a nosedive in the 1980s because of falling foreign demand and increased production of cheaper coal from Western states. Mines closed, and a generation of potential miners left their tiny towns to make their livings elsewhere, dealing a hard blow to a region already lagging behind the state economically.”

In addition to the cheaper coal from out west, the high sulfur content in Ohio coal (often referred to as “dirty coal”) caused many buyers to turn to other alternatives when the EPA began to crack down on the air pollution caused by sulfur dioxide gasses. The process of cleaning the coal was expensive and drove the cost of the commodity up even higher.

But as the cost of oil and natural gas continue to rise, many power companies (now equipped with pollution-controlling scrubbers) are turning back to the yet untapped resources in their own back yard. The new technology required by the government makes it possible for most of these power plants to burn the high-sulfur coal without any noticeable increase in pollutants.

Hannah reports that the “demand for U.S. coal is expected to be a record 1.2 billion tons this year,” and with “about 100 mines and 35 coal companies in Ohio” and the mining workforce at a twenty-year low, companies “are running ads and conducting job fairs, . . . offering pay increases, and improved benefits and bonuses to attract new miners.”

In the midst of a rapidly changing economy, the boom being felt in the mining industry is a boon to the Ohio Valley. It offers the area a chance to ease the transition from blue-collar labor to service and high-tech information jobs. Further, the increased revenue that mining will bring is vitally needed to stimulate the economy and bring the necessary infrastructure into place. The contrast between coal mining and high-tech might seem out of place most places, but in Appalachian Ohio, it is just one more contrast.

For more information, check out the Ohio Coal Association at: http://www.ohiocoal.com/

Galatians 2:20 Faith (Sermon)

I recently heard the story of a group of hunters, gathered on a back porch, sipping hot coffee before leaving to hunt. As they stood there, the neighborhood raccoon (who had been getting into all the trashcans for months) ran by. With a clear line of sight and a clear field of fire, all seven hunters grabbed their guns and proceeded to miss the creature, who promptly jumped down a nearby drain pipe. Well, seven very upset hunters were not about to let that raccoon get the better of them. They got the can of gasoline from the garage, poured it down the drain pipe, and threw a lit match down after. However, the match kept going out before it got to the gasoline. Not easily defeated, the owner of the house decided to lower himself into the drainpipe far enough to hit the gas with a lit match. Well, we all know what happened next ... BOOM! He shot out of the pipe with a trail of fire behind. When we find ourselves in a tight spot, do we have the fiery power of God behind us?

Evangelist Reinhart Bonnke said, “Cool, casual Christianity will accomplish nothing. Our nation’s most urgent need is the flaming message of the cross -- now and not at our leisure.”

The story is told about a young boy who was flunking math. So his parents sent him to a special evening class at the local Christian academy. To their amazement, the boy began to get straight A’s. When asked what made the difference, the boy replied, “Those people don’t fool around about math. On the wall, they have a picture of some guy nailed to a plus sign!”

Do we see the cross of Christ as a plus or a minus?

Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Do we see the cross of Christ as a positive or a negative? Crucifixion means that I choose to die, not physically, but in a more abstract sense. Yet this death is just as real as a physical crucifixion.

Many would read this passage and conclude that Christianity is not for them; at least not this radical form which calls for such a sacrifice. “Isn’t salvation a free gift”, they say? “I should be able to decide for myself how I will live, for I am a good person. I don’t want to die to anything. I want to live a good life my way.” For some, the cross is a negative.

Yet death does not have to be seen as a negative. Consider for a moment what we are called to die to:

1. The very idea that we can be justified (saved) by the law and our own works.

2. The world, with it’s applause, it’s treasures, and its gratification. If I am crucified, then the world has no hold on me.

3. To self. Crucifixion was a terrible suffering. And so it is when we seek to surrender our will to the Father, for self will rise up again and again to exert its control over us. It is not only a bitter struggle, but a daily battle. For when we say self, I am talking about the sinful nature that exists within each and every individual. I am talking about that part of us that continues to pull us away from the Father and our true heavenly home.

Consider also that if we die to these things, we also live for Christ. What is this life that we talk about?

1. It is the assurance in the very depths of my soul that I am God’s and he is mine. It is the knowledge that Christ is living in my soul. It is the peace that I need not fear eternity.

2. It is the joy of living. As we walk out this life of faith, we will find joy in the journey we have been called to. God knew us before we were ever born (Jer. 1), and God had a plan for our fulfillment. We have been created with a specific plan in mind, and that plan is for our joy, our fulfillment, and our completeness.

3. In this life of faith, we walk in the promises and blessings of God. There is no greater privilege than to walk in the blessings of God, to have the assurance that the promises of God are mine, and that I will prosper in whatever I do, so long as I am willing to life for Christ.

It is in the crucifixion that our own faith is given a true test. Are we willing to allow ourselves to be crucified with Christ so that we may live? Can we die to our works, to this world, to our own selfish nature?

May God find in this place men and women who will live Gal. 2.20 faith, who will die to self, so that they may live for Christ.

How do you see the cross this morning?

Four Monsters and the King (Sermon)

We’re all familiar with the Easter story . . . with the prayer in the garden, the crucifixion, and the glorious resurrection on Easter Morning. But we don’t hear the story of the battle that took place during those three days, the victory that was won on the cross.

John 12. 31-33 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."

Now is the time for Judgment. The word "judgment" in the Greek means “crisis.” The cross was both a crisis point and a turning point. As Jesus hung on the cross, he faced his enemies, vile and proud; monsters that had never known defeat on earth. One by one they challenged Christ, the King.

1. The first was called Satan, or Lucifer before he fell from grace. This serpent was a sinister foe. From the beginning he had sought to stop God’s plan of salvation. Time and again he attacked the line, hoping to kill off his bitter enemy. Now, faced with the Messiah himself, he had dealt his most decisive blow -- betrayal, disunity, and crucifixion.

2. The second monster was covered in chains; many were held in captive by his bonds and his name was Sin. He was a lust driven monster that consumed all in his path. He joined Satan, and as they crucified Jesus, Sin heaped all the world’s debt and guilt upon him. This Jesus, who had always escaped the traps that Sin had set, now willingly accepted the chains.

3. The third monster advanced last, dressed in black from head to foot. Death was his name. On the cross, weighed down with the sins of all humanity, death burst the heart of Christ, and blood and water flowed from his side. It was finished.

For three days, the monsters celebrated their victory over God’s champion. But as the sun rose on that first Easter morning, something unexpected happened -- Jesus fought back.

Death came first to stop him, but his eyes filled with fear, for he could not defeat the Spirit of God that lived inside him. Death was defeated by the wondrous power of the resurrection.

Sin struck next, pulling on the chains that he had bound around Him, but as Sin pulled, the chains began to fall away. Sin had no hold on him, for the guilt of Sin had been washed away by the blood. The power and hold of sin was defeated.

Finally only Satan stood between Jesus and victory. With trembling hands, Satan reached for the keys of earth, the power and authority that he had stolen from Adam and Eve in the garden. His eyes filled with terror as his hand came away empty, for the keys of earth had been bought back with the blood of Christ. Thus, Satan was also defeated.

Christian, there is a forth monster, a beast just a vile as the other three. Christ passed His victorious Spirit on to us, for it is our task to face the final beast, the one Jesus could not slay for us. The final monster is Self. Jesus has remove every obstacle that stands between us and eternal life except for our own free will. You must choose if you will let Self rule or if you will deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Christ.

Within the heart of every man, woman and child there is a cross and a throne. Christ will be on one, and self will be on the other. We will either keep Christ on the cross, so Self can rule or we will choose to die to self so that Christ can reign within our heart. Who have we chosen to enthrone? Who will we chose to crucify? The hour of battle is here, friend, and final monster awaits your choice.

Life in the Red (Sermon)

I was at Annual Conference a last year when a young woman got up to share. She has a short, but well-crafted speech that amounted to saying, “I thank you and I am deeply indebted to you.” One turn of phrase, however, caught me. She said, “I am not my own. I live my life in the red!” Don’t we all, I thought. In the margin of my note pad (every good pastor should take notes when others are preaching or teaching), I wrote the following sermon.

I am not my own. I live my life in the red. Being in the red refers to being in debt. What debt do I have? First, I have the debt of freedom, for my forefathers bled and died to secure the freedoms that I enjoy every day. Men and women still fight for similar freedom, and I own them a debt of gratitude.

I also owe the debt of faith, for my faith has been built up by countless people whose names and faces are dear to my heart. The traditions of the church have given meaning to my faith, and the teaching of pastors, Sunday school teachers, youth leaders, and so many others has made strong my faith.

Yet I would be remiss if I failed to mention that greatest debt, owed by all. For my freedom would be meaningless and my faith pointless if it had not been for the one who paid the debt of my Sin. Paul said it best in Romans. We all have sinned, and the wages of that sin is death, but God, through his Son, offers us forgiveness as a free gift of love.

My debt reminds me that indeed, I am not my own. I live my life in the red!

As I live in the red, I also think of the blood of Christ. Many have grown squeamish about a “bloody religion,” but without the blood, there can be no forgiveness (Heb. 9.22). What does it mean to live in the blood?

First, it means living out the Christian life. It is salvation, forgiveness, and on going sanctification. It is the assurance that if I walk as he walked, “the blood of Jesus will cleanse us from all sin.” (1 John 1.7,9)

It also reminds me of the power I have in prayer. I can enter boldly into the very throne room of heaven, because I come through the blood. I can come up to my great big pappa God and climb up on His lap and just stare into His face, because the blood that was shed makes me holy.

The blood makes me think also of the old-time saints, who used to plead the blood. They would cry out in prayer and as God to place the covering of the blood of Christ upon their lives, their loved ones, their friends and fellow laborers. The scriptures make it pretty clear that the enemy can not come through the blood.

I am not my own. I live my life in the red! I am in debt, and I live in the blood.

Red is also a color in our yearly observances. The alter cloths are red on only 7 days out of the year. Some remind us of the blood, but others remind us of the fire of the Holy Spirit.

What does it mean to live in the power and fire of the Holy Spirit? First, it means to be filled. Jesus tells us to seek it . . . to seek it . . . to knock, for we need that power. It is the power of the church to reach the lost (Acts. 1.8). It is the power to build up the body of Christ into a bride without spot or blemish. It is the power that I need to live the life that Christ calls me to when He says, “follow me.”

Living in the fire of God’s Spirit also means that we listen to the voice of this helper, promised by Jesus to His followers. For the Holy Spirit will teach us all things (John 14.26). He will give us knowledge and discernment (1 Cor. 3.10-16) as we follow after Christ, and in doing so, He will reveal the things of God to us.

Perhaps the greatest thing that the Holy Spirit does, however, is to bear witness with our spirit. (Romans 8.16) Like John Wesley, whose Altersgate experience gave him a bold assurance that he was saved, the work of the Holy Spirit within us helps us know that we know that we know. . . There is a freedom in knowing that you are saved and that your life is in God’s almighty hands.

I am not my own. I live my life in the red! Do you?

10 Common Characteristics of Appalachia

1. Individualism, Self-Reliance, Pride - most obvious characteristics; necessary on the early frontier; look after oneself; solitude; freedom; do things for oneself; not wanting to be beholding to others; make do

2. Religion - values and meaning to life spring from religious sources; fatalistic (outside factors control one's life, fate, believe things happen for a reason and will work out for the best); sustains people in hard times

3. Neighborliness and Hospitality - help each other out, but suspicious of strangers; spontaneous to invite people for a meal, to spend the night, etc.

4. Family Solidarity or Familism - family centered; loyalty runs deep; responsibility may extend beyond immediate family; "blood is thicker than water"

5. Personalism - relates well to others; go to great lengths to keep from offending others; getting along is more important than letting one's feelings be known; think in terms of persons rather than degrees or professional reputations

6. Love of Place - never forget "back home" and go there as often as possible; revitalizing, especially if a migrant; sometimes stay in places where there is no hope of maintaining decent lives

7. Modesty and Being Oneself - believe one should not put on airs; be oneself, not a phony; don't pretend to be something you're not or be boastful; don't get above your raising

8. Sense of Beauty - displayed through folksongs, poems, arts, crafts, etc., colorful language metaphors, e.g. "I'm as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a roomful of rocking chairs."

9. Sense of Humor - seem dour, but laugh at ourselves; do not appreciate being laughed at; humor sustains people in hard times

10. Patriotism - goes back to Civil War times; flag, land, relationships are important; shows up in community celebration and festivals

(from: Appalachian Values by Loyal Jones. The Jesse Stuart Foundation, 1994.)

Hidden Ohio -- Part 2

The shift in Ohio’s economy from a manufacturing to an information/technology base is undeniable. Yet “in an increasingly global society and a state with a stagnant economy, some fear” that Appalachia, which has a long struggle “with poverty, job loss, isolation, and educational disadvantages,” will fall even further behind. In the second part of this summary, we look at Sewell’s series, Hidden Ohio and see that a solution to this challenge is possible.

The primary area that must be addressed to adapt to these changing times is education. On the local level, the problem of funding for public education must be solved in a just and equitable manner. This means that the state’s legislature must pick up the issue that they have been avoiding for so long and address it in a realistic fashion. Our current system does not work; it places the funding for our children’s education in the hands of voters who all too often vote their wallet over the future of our children and grandchildren. As funding is addressed, the local schools need to do a better job of educating students about the opportunities available to them. Under our current structure, many high school juniors and seniors can take college courses at no cost. The program is not widely promoted, however, because each student who participates takes away funding from the local school.

As we address education, we must also look to higher education, for this is where the problem must be solved. One means of doing so is to push for more regional campuses. I am a proud graduate of Kent State University mainly because there is a regional campus in my home town. Also, colleges need to be intentional about working with local businesses to design programs that train students for the real-life needs of the workplace. When this type of cooperation happens, schools and businesses both benefit.

There are three smaller pieces of the solution that also need to be addressed. First, there needs to be a concerted effort to improve the information infrastructure of the region. This is already beginning, with wireless towers providing high-speed connections to a wide area, but the effort must continue.

Second, local leaders need to find practical ways to help people start their own business and find success. Sewell mentions several organizations that are meeting this need in their own areas, but such organizations are few and far from common.

Last, the stereotype of Appalachian culture needs to be debunked. The folks that live here are not ignorant, slothful, or backwards. They are hardworking people who simply want a chance to be successful. And if we can overcome the barriers we just may succeed.

Hidden Ohio -- Part One

Over the weekend, a series of articles appeared in local papers throughout Ohio. The series, written by AP reporter Dan Sewell, was entitled “Hidden Ohio.” The articles outlined both the challenges that face the region dubbed Appalachia, as well the direction in which a solution can be found. The original articles can be found here: (crossroads,High-Tech, change). In two posts, I will summarize the essentials of the articles. The first post will outline the problem caused by the changing economy, and the second post will outline the solution.

It is really no surprise—the economy has changed drastically over the past two decades. The mills, factory jobs, the mines, and other blue-collar jobs are moving out of the area. The entire economy in Ohio has begun a shift towards high-tech, information-based jobs. The mills are gone and they’re not coming back, says one man. “I think the only future we have is something like this [high-tech].”

This is a troubling development for three reasons. First, the common wisdom of the region largely discounts the problem. One store owner quoted in the article claims that all that is needed is “hard work” and the discipline “to live within your income.” The region does not place a high priority on higher education (with only 30% of high school seniors going on to college and only 12% of adults in the region ever obtaining a four-year degree). Instead, the emphasis is placed on hard work and family name. However, as the economic climate continues to change, hard work alone will not guarantee success.

Second, there is a crisis in education in many areas of Appalachia. Local school systems struggle to meet the soaring costs of operation, while trying to provide adequate education with fewer dollars and fewer teachers. Add to this that colleges are few and far between in the region, making obtaining a college education an even bigger commitment of time and resources than it might be in other areas. In my own church, graduates are faced with the cost of living on campus, or driving to a local college. There are two local colleges within an hours drive, and two more just a little over an hour. (You realize you are in Appalachia when distance is more accurately measured in time than in miles.)

Finally, there is a lack of infrastructure. The primary piece missing is access to high-speed internet options in most areas. With a widely disbursed population, it remains too costly for companies to install DSL, wireless towers, etc. Add to this a lack of cell signal in many places, few media outlets (for advertising), and a general lack of conveniences found in a bigger town or city, and our rural communities have little to offer an upstart company in the area of high tech.

Check out the articles, and don’t despair. The second post should be up today or tomorrow, outlining the solution that Sewell suggests for the region.

Are you ready for revival (Sermon)

Are you ready for revival? No, I mean are you really ready for revival? Before you answer, maybe we need to define what revival is -- it is the renewal of spiritual fervor, or the rekindling of one's fire for the Lord. So, are you ready for revival?

As I asked myself that question some time back, God took me to a familiar passage of scripture, 2 Chron. 7.14, ane God began to show me that in order to be ready for revival, we need to make some preparations that will allow us to receive what God intends to send unto us this week.

The passage begins, "If my people, called by my name" - Is that any of you this morning? Is there someone here who calls Christ their savior and Lord? Am I in the right place today? God is looking for men and women who will be His, not just in name, but in every aspect of their life.

So if my people who are called by my name. . ."Will Humble themselves" - in Hebrew, the verse starts with this word. It should read "If they will humble themselves, my people who are called by my name." Are we willing to set aside our own pride, and humble ourselves? Are we willing to get on our face before God, and cry out to him for a fresh fire to fall in this place? In church, humility is a dirty word. We like to talk about all that we have accomplished and what we've done for Christ, but if you want to experience more of God, you have to set aside your spiritual pedigree, lay down your religious resume, and come to the cross with nothing but yourself, sinful and selfish.

So if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves. . ."And pray" - You can't sit under the preaching of Rev. Mooney for very long without learning a little bit about prayer. Church, you have a powerful presence of prayer in this place. But hear me, church, you need to keep praying! There are some sitting here now, even as I said that, that you know you haven't pressed in to prayer like you need to, and God is calling some here to commit to a deeper prayer life. Prayer is where we are renewed with the power.

So if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray. . ."And will seek my face" Too often, we seek the hand of God instead of the face of God. You see, the hands of God represent His works we see all around us, but his face reflects God's nature and who he really is. Three big differences between faces and hands.

First, faces are beautiful. I remember like it was yesterday, standing in this very church and looking back that aisle as the most beautiful creature I've ever seen walked down. I was about to change my life forever--to say "I do to my wife." And in that moment, her face captivated me. I couldn't take my eyes off her. God's face is beautiful -- it will captivate us, and it will keep us from sin; the hand can't do that. You see, I don't want to do anything to bring pain and tears to the beautiful face of God or cause Him to turn His face from me.

Secondly, faces speak. Hands don't speak. When we seek the face of God, we will begin to hear His voice. Didn't Jesus say we as His sheep would hear His voice?

Third, faces smile and laugh. Hands can't express delight. The smile of God shows us the delight He takes in us. And His laughter helps us to loosen up. The church often takes itself too seriously. How can we ever hope to win the world for Christ when we sit in the pews looking like we've been sucking on lemons? We ought to be a people full of joy!

If my people who are called by name will humble themselves and pray, and will seek my face. . ." And turn from their sins" The words in the Greek literally mean to turn from the ways of the wicked ones. What unconfessed sin is keeping you from receiving from God? I'm not talking about some overt sin, but the stuff that only you and God know. If you really want to experience revival, you need to get rid of that garbage that has built up in your life. And for many that means dealing with the idols as well. Idol is anything that pushes Christ from the center of our life. Experiencing Christ is a bit like making a pie chart of your life. To increase how much of God you have, something else has to shrink. What things in your life are crowding out God?

So we have the conditions for revival. If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and will seek my face, and turn from their sins. Now comes the payoff. Then -- I will hear in heaven, and I will forgive their sins, and I will heal their land. Church, if we will humble ourselves, confessing our sin, get on our face before Almight God and cry out for his face - his presence to be revealed in this place, we'll be ready to have revival. Church, God is about to do a new thing, a might work in your midst. And He wants to start this very week . . . if we are willing. Are you really ready for revival?

Will you bow your heads with me?

Heavenly Father, we come before you with nothing to offer exept our sin, our pride, and our weaknesses. Yet you call us to come and seek you. Lord, we want to experience revival this week, not just a series of meetings, but God, we want you to rekindle your fire, to renew our fervor. Allow your word to take root within us this morning, and allow us to deal frankly with anything that would keep you from having your way in our hearts and lives this week. We ask this in the name our Jesus. Amen.

Cycle of Poverty

Last night at Bible study we got off topic (as we often do) and talked about the growing divide between the “haves” and the “have-nots.” I was surprised by the fervor that was expressed by the group (made up entirely by hard-working individuals).

“The difference between them and us,” remarked one man, “is that we get up and work all day. They sit at home and wait for their check to come.” While it is true that a segment of those in poverty choose to live off the system, such a viewpoint ignores the cycle of poverty and the sheer act of will that it requires to break out of the cycle.

I recently saw first hand what this cycle of poverty can do to a family. The family lives in an older two-story home. Mom and dad are both disabled, though dad works out of the home; he carefully scheduled his work so he wouldn’t make too much. The eldest child (one year out of school) had gotten a decent job at a local nursing home. When she came home with her paycheck, the family all went to town. She had been taught that you should spend everything you get as quickly as you can. Nothing is save, and while many basic needs are left unmet, but the wants have been more than adequately sated. I also talked to the second child (a senior in High School). He was uncertain what he wanted to do, unsure if he could hold (or even get) a job.

In each child’s life, you could see the cycle was played out afresh, teaching them through common experience and unspoken values. The message was pretty clear: you are of little worth, you don’t deserve to make it, and if you try, you’ll lose the help you need to survive.

Yet while those who are stuck in this cycle of hopelessness can’t see their way out, they are blind to the cycle itself, always hoping for better for their children. In a similar way, those on the outside are blind to it. The “haves” see only a lack of motivation and a willingness to take the easy way out. To them, it is an abuse of the system, originally intended to help folks get back on their feet. As long as these two groups remain so deeply divided (both socially and financially), and so long as they both remain blind to the cycle, there is little hope that very many will take the leap of faith necessary to break the cycle and become a productive member of the larger society.

Crows and Methodists (Sermon)

Mt 28:19-20: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

I enjoy reading the stories of the early American Methodists as they forged into the great unknown of the West. There was an account in one local paper that recalled when the people called Methodist held an open-air revival meeting in a small western town. Just down the river from the meeting was a large group of revelers, spending their afternoon drinking gin. Well, the paper says that at some point, a new wagon of gin arrived at the party and there went up a great shout of joy from those in attendance. Hearing this at the revival, the evangelist encouraged the people to shout to God all the louder. This so disturbed the drinking party that several of their number came with an axe “to fell the evangelist.” What happened next is not entirely certain. The paper reported, “ Mr. Smith charged into the meeting brandishing his axe. He was shot twice in the leg, and thereafter, the revival continued on for fourteen days.”

Another story from the frontier came from the journal of a Texas ranger, who on one particularly harsh, wintry day remarked, “It is not fit outside for any man to pass. There’s nothing out today but crows and Methodist preachers.”

Sometimes I praise God that I live in this time, when the frontier is already settled, but as I thought about it, we have a new frontier that confronts us today. It isn’t physical as much as it is philosophical and social. Today, our frontier is people in our own back yards who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet frontiers are always resistant to change. I want to share with you five factors of resistance.

1. Lifestyle of consumption. We’ve clean this term up quite a bit, and say we’re consumers, but consider, for a moment, the implications of that word. In the US, less than 10% of the world’s population consume over 90% of the world’s resources. On a more personal level, we define our lives and our social status largely on the basis of what we own and what we can buy. This has led to a dangerous and disturbing trend of debt, as those who can’t afford to keep up with the latest and greatest are offered easy credit to purchase these things. Last year, the average household spent 130% of their annual income.

2. Instinct for security. This is not just corporate (as evidenced by all of the changes since 9/11), but also private. We have to sign waivers for our doctors to be able to share information with each other about our health, because there is a new concern with privacy. We have gated communities in many towns and cities, and even in the country we always lock our doors -- something that our grandparents would have thought completely unnecessary.

3. Orientation towards self. “I’m not much, but I’m all I think about.” We live in a time of self-indulgence. Modesty and self-restraint have been taken completely off of society’s moral grid. There was a time that it would have caused a person to blush for living to excess, but our society today encourages us to just that.

4. Inclination towards Skepticism. This found its origins in modern advertising. What do our ads say to us? You NEED this product. You can’t live WITHOUT it. Today, everything is suspect and all motives are questioned. There is nothing sacred, for this skepticism removes any trust or respect, and it opens all of aspects of society to be criticized and to be poke fun at. Whether it is our leaders, the church, or Christ himself, everything is free game for the pundits, sitcom writers, and late night comics.

5. Reliance on the empirical. This simply means what can be proven by modern science. It leaves little or no room for faith. The idolatry of the 20th century was certainty. Anything we can’t KNOW by science as pushed to the margins. While this is being questioned by a postmodern generation, the vast majority of our society still clings to the frail crutch of empiricism.

Now none of these things are bad in and of themselves, but they must be held in balance. To do so, we need to rediscover the counterbalancing characteristic that Christianity offers.

1. Consumption must be moderated by devotion. When we give continuous partial attention to God, or even fully give him our attention, we invite a sustained gaze on the person of Christ. It is this upon which we focused on last Sunday, for people need to seek the face of God. Only when we begin to be consumed with devotion to Him will our own consumption be tempered. When I am devoted to God fully, my wants begin to be redefined. Our mantra shifts from “I’m all I think about,” to “He’s all I need.”

2. Security must be tempered with a sense of adventure. We want to experience the awsome things of God, but we fear to do it. We need to let go of our dependence upon control, and allow God to move through us and in us. Only then can we begin to break the spirit of control that asserts itself in the name of security. Life should be the greatest of adventures for the Christian, but we can only live it out when we walk by faith . . .

3. Self must be balanced with society. African Banatu tribe has a saying, which translates, “ A person is a person only because of other persons.” The New Testament concept is expressed by the Greek word koinonia, which refers to our sense of community and family. If we are the body of Christ, then Paul is right to say that one part can’t say “I don’t need you!” The New Testament is full of passages that I call the “one another”s. When I begin to see self in the light of others, it helps me manage those conflicting pulls.

4. Skepticism must be balanced with trust. We call it faith, but to the world, faith is a foreign concept. There was a boy named Muta who was born and raised in inner city. The church in the community began to have some outdoor events for the neighborhood children: Games, food and drinks, movies. Some of the kids would hang back and watch from a distance, but others were bold and came and joined in the fun. Muta was somewhere in the middle. After watching for a few weeks, he came and participated. He often did’t show up for a couple of weeks and then would suddenly be back again. One Sunday, the pastor of the church saw Muta come into the back of the church on a Sunday morning. The youth pastor went and sat with him. It was a communion Sunday, and when the time came for communion, Muta looked at the youth pastor and said, “I can’t go up!” “Why not?” inquired the youth pastor. “I don’t got no money ta pay for it.” With a smile, the youth pastor replied, “It’s OK, Muta. It’s already been paid for.” Muta was a prime example of the world’s skepticism, but with love and patience, trust will come, and trust can lead to faith and the deeper truths of the Gospel.

5. Emperical must be woven together with the mystical. We need to give space and silence for God to show up and shake up our rational world. We need both, but we must not give up either. While science will continue to inform us, teach us, and improve our lives, there is an aspect of our being that requires something more. You see, we are spiritual beings inside of physical bodies. We can never be wholly content with just the physical understanding. Faith provides us with the other side of the discussion, as we look upon the spiritual reality that is all around us.

If we want to go to all the world, even our back yard, we must find balance ourselves and help bring back the balance that can only be found in the person of Jesus Christ. There is a poem that I’d like to close with. It says . . .

There once was a carpenter who built the most wonderful things from wood.
There once was a priest who fed the crowds of hungry souls with bread and wine. There once was a storyteller who could make the world seem to come alive.

And this carpenter,
this priest,
this storyteller said to us,
“As the Father sent me, so send I you.”

Church, the conditions out there are harsh. In fact, you might say that it’s only fit for crows and Methodist. Are you willing to God and make disciples?

Education 101

One of the major problems that we are facing both as a region and as a county is a crisis in education. I want to look at a few issues that surround this problem here: funding, testing, and the goals of education.

At the Bishop’s statewide hearings on public education, funding was a topic of much discussion. While local school districts struggle to find adequate funding for equipment and supplies, unfounded government mandates, and the upkeep on aging buildings, they are forced to beg for levies from people who often accuse then of squandering the money. This is especially troubling when you consider that the voters decide if new funding is provided, for equipment, upkeep, programs, and (if the school needs them) new buildings. With our current method of funding being ruled unconstitutional in 2003 (for the fourth time), we are quickly reaching a crisis point. One school’s superintendent remarked, “The whole issue is very difficult to understand. With changes in Ohio’s tax code, and with more strings attached to the state money that is given, it becomes very difficult to explain to your average voter why money was spent the way it was and where the money (which was never there) has gone.”

Another troubling issue is the new testing that was instituted with the No Child Left Behind legislation. While this testing seeks to measure the abilities in key areas before they can be passed on, the methodology is flawed in many ways. First, all a test can tell you is how a child did on one day. I know of two specific instances where a child was either ill or going through a rough time with family issues. In both instances, the child struggled with material that they would have easily dealt with on a normal day. By putting so much weight on these tests, we are essentially setting up many students to fail. Another major issue is what this testing does to curriculum. Speaking to a teacher in my congregation, I was informed that the curriculum has shifted towards teaching to the tests. The problem with this is that it limits the potential of the education to the standard set by the test. Finally, there is legislation being discussed right now that would add even more testing and adjust teacher’s pay based upon the results of their students. This is unjust. A teacher with a bright class does not deserve to be paid more than a teacher who has to put out the extra effort to help slower students achieve.

The issue comes down to a simple question – what is the goal of education? Is it to make sure every student is able to pass a test that measures key areas? Is it to make sure teachers are being properly compensated? No! The goal of education is to prepare the next generation of citizens to be productive members of society. With an increasingly global economy and a general move from a manufacturing base to an information base, the need to a more comprehensive education is evident. If education does not become a priority in the next few years, the area will be a mere ghost of itself in the next ten to twenty years.

So what can we do? First, we can begin to petition our lawmakers to begin to address the funding problems. While there are no simple solutions, I am sure there are ways to make the funding of Ohio’s schools fair and equitable for every student. Second, we can push for a move away from test-driven education. Testing for a grade is one thing, but it has gone far beyond that. Finally, volunteer in a local school. Ask the principle what you (or your church) can do to help. Only by working together can we find a solution to the education problem we now face.

Good Friday (Sermon)

The Last Supper is over, all the disciples are stuffed and sleepy, like most of us after a big Thanksgiving day meal, and Jesus calls another all-night prayer meeting. They made their way to the garden, one of their normal quiet places. Jesus took the Big Three (Peter, James, and John) along with him and asked them to watch and pray. Then, He prayed. Three times! He prayed hard, Father, take this cup from me . . .

(There was a story about a rhino that was being taken to the LA zoo. It was brought into the airport and a helicopter flew the cage over the city and set the animal down inside its new habitat. When the door was opened, however, the young zoologists were horrified to see the animal covered in blood. They hosed him off and began to look for cuts, but found none. About that time, a senior zoologist came to see what the commotion was about. He listened to the account, then assured them that the animal would be fine. It seems that the noise of the traffic has so upset the animal that it burst some of the tiny blood vessels near the surface. The animal, in its excited state, literally sweat blood. Here, we see Christ was so intense in his time of prayer that blood came out with his sweat.

As he finished his prayer, there came a light in the distance, several torches. And Judas came forward and kissed Jesus. Can you imagine, the Son of God, who taught his followers to love each other, betrayed with a symbolic act of love by one of his own disciples. Jesus was led away to a mock trial. He was beaten and mocked. They blindfolded him, and beat him, all the while telling him to prophesy. They plucked out his beard.

Then they took him before Pilate, who had the guards take and beat him. I’ve been told that it was customary to use a cat-of-nine-tails when beating a prisoner. In the place where he was beaten, they had a tall pole set into the floor, with a metal ring on the top. They would tie the prisoner’s hands with one end of the rope and throw the other end through the ring. The prisoner was then pulled up, so that he or she could only touch the floor by standing on the toes. And these guards were not satisfied with leaving welts, so they would tie bits of pottery and bone into the ends so it could grip into the flesh and tear. 39 lashes multiplied by the nine ends comes out to 351 stripes. The beating was often so brutal that they would have to turn the prisoner half way through so they wouldn’t kill him or her. When they were done beating the Lord, they took a heavy robe and pressed it into the bleeding wounds. They placed a Crown of thorns upon his head, pressing the sharp points down into the soft scalp, and when they had finished mocking him, they ripped the cloak off, tearing back open the stripes that had clotted with the heady cloak.

Christ went before Pilate again, and he was found not guilty. Yet unwilling to anger the Jewish leadership, the governor washed hands of Christ. The crowd cried out for blood. Crucify Him! Crucify Him!

So the sinless lamb of God was led off to be crucified. Crucifixion was first an act of humiliation, and secondarily a death by suffocation. Large spikes were driven into feet & hands. But the worst part was still to come.
Jesus said several things from the cross that we need to talk about. The first one was “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Jesus forgave those who had killed him; he was willing to die for the sins of the very men that were crucifying him.

The next thing he said was to the thief: “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

Next, “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?” as God the Father turned away. You see, God the Father went back to beginning of time and took that first sin. Then he spun time forward and collected all the sins that have occurred or will yet occur before the end of time. And he placed all these sins upon His sinless son. The Father, who had been with the son since the beginning of time, turned his back. He couldn’t stand to watch.

Finally, Christ cried out “It is finished,” and then He died. The soldiers shoved a spear into his side to see if he was dead, and blood and water came out. The blood speaks of the New Covenant and Water of a new baptism. Medically speaking, the water and blood suggest he died of heart failure. Our sin broke the heart of our savior. It seems ironic that he was pierced in the side where Adam’s rib was taken and Eve was made. Through the children of that first couple, the sin nature was passed until it was conquered on the cross.

Jesus died and offered the final sacrifice for our sins on the Holy Altar in heaven. God the Father put one condition on this forgiveness. We must accept it as a free gift. We have all sinned and fallen short … and the price of your sin is death…(spiritual) God extends the gift of eternal life. If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart, you can be saved.

If you have never taken the time to consider what Christ did for you on that first Good Friday, I would like to invite you to right now. He paid a tremendous price for our salvation, but it is all for nothing unless we accept it. As our pianist comes, this alter is open. If you need him, come and we’ll pray with you.

Approaching the problem

As I’ve prayerfully considered the difficulties that face the region, I’ve focused in on Monroe County. When I’ve asked others what the problems that we face as a county are, the answers are always complex, covering a range of interconnected topics that range from culture and family structure to education and economics. The image that comes to mind is a tangled knot that is made up of many strings.

So how do we begin to look at the problem in such a way as to find a solution? I think that the answer lies in addressing each strand of the knot separately, bringing as much clarity and focus to the situation as possible, and then begin to vision and dream what we can do to bring resolution to the problem.

I’ll be the first to state that many of the problems that we face both as a county and as a larger region as a whole have no simple solution. Any quick fixes or short-term solutions will only tighten the knot of problems. Instead, we need to ask ourselves what we can do to move the problem towards solution. Many of the little things we can do as individuals, churches, and civic/social organizations will not solve the problem, but they will loosen the knots and move us towards a solution.

Ultimately, praying and looking for the little things (or even the bigger things) that we can do, we can improve the quality of life in our area. Over the next several weeks, I will be posting spots on specific issues. I will try to include links to the research that I am looking at, and where possible suggest some of the things that we can do.

I Think We Can

Sunday afternoon, I found myself sitting in a beautiful old church building for Spring District Conference. Rev. Wanda Wilson, the District Superintendent of the Southern Hills District was delivering the devotion/message, and as is my habit, I was taking notes. (Some of my best sermons have come from one quote or one poignant point from someone else’s sermon.)

Rev. Wilson talked about our new district office, which is located in the old train depot in Barnsville. She connected the train imagery to the well-beloved children’s classic, The Little Engine that Could. What a beautiful illustration for our district.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Southern Hills, it is the southern-most district in the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. Our district has the most multiple-church charges and the lowest per capita income. Despite this, Rev. Wilson challenged our district this past year to do the impossible: reach 100% payment of our apportionments.

In my own ministry context, this is especially difficult. In a recently published report, Monroe County ranked highest in poverty rate among Ohio’s 88 counties. This county, located near the middle of the district, has seen soaring unemployment, with the ongoing strike at Ormet and a lack of industry. The reality is that this county stands at a crossroads.

Yet despite all the concerns, Rev. Wilson’s words of hope and challenge bring the Biblical perspective to bare: together we can! I believe, as do many of my fellow pastors, that we can be leaders in our conference. Like the Little Engine, I think we can, I think we can . . .

Dog Faith (Sermon)

Matthew 10:29-31

When I first started pastoring, I met weekly with a group of pastors for prayer and fellowship. One of the most memorable meetings was the day that Pastor Hombre arrived late; he had quite a story to share and I'd like to share it with you.

The morning of our meeting, Pastor Hombre had received a phone call from a man who I'll call John. John began by explaining a little bit about himself. He was a traveling pastor/evangelist who hitchhiked his way across the country. His home church, a small congregation in a little Kansas town, would wire him funds for room and board, and any offerings he was given were wired back to the home church. Somehow, the wires had gotten crossed, and John found himself in Tuscarawas County with no money for a room. His request was a simple one, "Could your church help me pay for my room tonight?"

You have to know Pastor Hombre to know how he responded. He is a very energetic and caring person. "Sure, we'll find a place for you to stay tonight. You can stay at our house. Where are you? I'll come and pick you up." All Pastor Hombre heard over the phone was sobs. It turned out that John had called over two dozen other churches who could not afford the thirty dollars for a room, and he was calling from a church that couldn't help him, but allowed him to use a phone and the phone book to contact other churches in the area.

John was quite a sight. Other than the bloodshot eyes, he was a small, unimposing figure. He was smartly dressed, with a neatly trimmed beard and a slightly worn suit. Pastor Hombre and his wife, put John up at their house that evening, and were blessed by this quiet little man. He was so humble, yet so full of the Word of God and stories of what God was doing in the churches he had the honor of speaking at. He had been traveling for 18 years, the last 13 hitchhiking his way from one town to the next. God had impressed upon him that he was to sell whatever he could not carry with him, and the money allowed him great freedom to go wherever God called. He had preached every Sunday for nearly two years. The week prior, he had been contacted by one of the television news magazine shows that wanted to do a spot on this journeyman minister. They had heard about him a couple of times, and had finally managed to tracked him down. John was flattered by the offer, but when they shared their "vision" for the segment, he politely turned them down; they were more interested in lifting up a man than lifting up Jesus.

The next day, Pastor Hombre offered to take John wherever he needed to go. John asked to be taken to Caldwell so he could hitch a ride south to his next scheduled engagement. As they traveled down I-77, the traffic was light, and the conversation was lively. Then suddenly, Pastor Hombre saw something coming down the middle of the road. It was a stray dog. The dog looked like it was part Siberian husky and part God-only-knows-what. It was all skin and bones, and it was walking right down the middle of the two lanes.

Pastor Hombre saw it just in time to move to the edge of his lane and miss the animal. And in his Spirit, he heard God say "Stop and pick it up." Well, Hombre tried to ignore the voice, rationalizing and telling himself that his passenger needed to get to Caldwell. About five minutes later, John turned in his seat and said in his Midwestern drawl, "God's tellin' ya to pick up that dawg."

The rest of the trip down to Caldwell passed without incident. The whole way, Pastor Hombre reasoned with God. "God, I'm in the good car. What will my wife say if I stop and pick up a dirt old stray in HER good car? And God, I don't have any pets. I don't have time for one. But God..."

As Hombre reached the truck stop in Caldwell, he was struck by the worst case of nausea he had ever experienced. I'm getting the flu, he thought. I have to get home. As he drove back up the interstate, he saw something coming down the road. You guessed it. The dog had crossed over to the north lane and was walking right towards Hombre.

Still convicted that he was to pick up this dog, he pulled to the side of the road. The dog trotted over towards him as he got out of the car. The dog had no collar, and Hombre was a bit scared it would try to bite him. Instead, this battered old pooch sallied up to him with his tongue hanging out and laid his head against Hombre's leg. Well, Hombre wiped off the paws, and opened the back door. The dog jumped right in, curled up on the back seat and fell fast asleep. The amazing thing is, as Hombre got back into the car, the nausea had passed completely.

On his way back up the highway, the pastor called a vet and made an appointment for the dog. The vet's report was suprisingly good. The animal was malnourished and had several bad scars on its face. One of his ears was mostly ripped off. Despite all of this, the vet assured Hombre that all the dog needed was a bath, a good home, and some time. The dog got his shots, they left the vet. On the way home, Hombre stopped and picked up a big bag of dog food. And he asked himself two questions: How am I going to explain this to my wife? and What is God wanting to show me?

Dogs in the Bible are usually spiritual types of sinners and backsliders. Like my pastor friend, Jesus finds us wandering down the middle of life's road, disoriented, abandoned, beaten up, and in very real danger. Our Savior stops to pick us up and he cleans us up. He takes away sin's guilty stains. And He takes us the vet, where God the Father brings healing to our past. Finally, God offers us a place to call home. He wants us to live with him forever.

The analogy goes just a bit deeper, however. Let us, for a minute consider what Jesus did in the incarnation.

The story is told of a pastor who couldn't come up with a sermon. It was Saturday night, and he finally retired to his den and slumped in his chair. He looked over at his dog as if to say, "I suppose you're going to tell me what to preach tomorrow?" His dog looked up at him, and he heard the Spirit say, Would you become a dog to save him? Would you to save all the dogs in the world, knowing that some would turn tail and walk away? You would look like they do, eat what they ate, sleep where they sleep, and in every way be like them. And once you've saved them you will be stuck in that form forever. Would you? You see, that's what God did. He left heaven to become a man, he ate what we eat, slept where we sleep, and lived as we live. And he sits in heaven, with those nail scarred hands interceding for us.

In the words of Paul Harvey, "Let me tell you the rest of the story". John made it to Austin for his next engagement and as of last report is still traveling the country preaching the Gospel wherever he is asked to come. Oh, and Hombre's wife loved the dog; it still has a good home with them. I can't help but think, as we close, that if God cared so much for a stray dog, and He cares for Hombre and He watches over his servant John, how much more He also care for you and I?

If you feel that you've strayed from God's path, you can come home. If you have been beaten up, stop licking your wounds and let God tend them. If you have found the Father, if you are at home with him, then reach out and share the master's love with those who are lost around you. You see, the Gospel message is very simple, if you have a dog faith.

Greetings from the Pulpit

Good evening. If you are reading this post, then you have found my blog. Let me welcome you and give you some idea of what you can expect to find in these posts. First, I will be posting sermons (some current and some past). When I first began my minstry, I was always looking for good material that I could use. Feel free to use anything you find here. The other half of this blog's posts will consist of perspectives on current issues that are being faced in my ministry context (Southeastern Ohio). I hope to bring some unique insights to these issues. I hope you enjoy this blog. God's blessings. - Pastor Tom