Scattered Thoughts by Marty

When Grief Rules

2011-06-27T09:35:00.000-07:00

I am a technosaur. My pea-sized brain lost my log-in information so I have not been able to share my thoughts. Now begins a new era of blogging.

I have walked through the valley of the shadow of death, but I have not walked it alone. Beginning last September (see previous blogs) I mourned the death of my mother, then my favorite uncle, the finance chair of the church (who I "adopted" as a younger brother), a member of our youth group who died at his own hands, and my spiritual mentor.

Needless to say, it has been a long year. However, I have felt God's presence at every turn. How do people without faith handle this kind of grief? I can't imagine. My grief was assuaged by my confidence in the promises of God.

Death is neither the ultimate illness nor the end of life. It is merely a transformation into what is ours to become. Christ has won victory over death (Romans 8). I have chosen to be on the winning side. I thank those who have died in the arms of the Lord, for they have given me the best present ever: release from grief.

Judging Cities

2010-10-10T06:32:00.000-07:00

This is my first post on my renewal leave. We will leave Humboldt after church today. Inevitably one compares one's own town with the town one visits. Here is what I have found. Every town has great things that make it a great town; and every town has significant problems they would love to solve. That makes us all even.

What makes a special town in which to live? The home you in which you live and the people with whom you choose to surround yourself. We have stayed in a beautiful home with beautiful people who have surrounded themselves with other beautiful people. The quality of life is in the satisfaction one has with oneself and with one's relationships.

Christianity is all about relationships. The great command says love God with all your heart, mind and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself. We have a relationship with One who gave his life that we might know we are unconditionally loved. That allows us (if we let it) to have a healthy satisfaction with ourselves (in the midst of understanding our own weaknesses) so that we can surround ourselves with great relationships with others.

"In my father's house are many rooms. I go there to prepare a place for you." Now that is a great place to live!

The Best Death Ever

2010-09-20T05:20:00.000-07:00

A recommended funeral prayer in the United Methodist Hymnal includes the phrase, “Help us to live as those who are prepared to die. And when our days here are accomplished, enable us to die as those who go forth to live.” I have offered that prayer on numerous occasions. I believe that phrase defines a basic core of the Christian faith. We do not believe that death is an end, but that death is a transitional point to a new and better life.

That being the case, I believe my mother had the best death ever. Yes, that may appear to be morbid, callous, or inappropriate, but I can’t imagine someone dying a better death than Carol Schuhmacher. Let me explain.

Suffering from COPD for almost 20 years, my mother knew her death was coming. That allowed her to prepare and comfort. Her slow decline allowed her to pre-plan and pre-pay her funeral. She had time to make sure there was no debt owed to anyone. She had time to personally bless each of her family individually. She took it further by doing the best she could to bless as many people as she could on her way to the glorious light of death.

Most importantly, Carol prepared herself spiritually. She never “had it out” with God. Instead she used her last years of life to grow more intimate with her Lord and Savior, Jesus. She read her Scriptures voraciously. She took notes. She asked questions with wonder and awe, not with fear and trembling. She lived out the apostle Paul’s exhortation to pray without ceasing.

She left her family a fortune. Her fortune was not monetary, but spiritual. She knew where she was going and she was looking forward to it. She had the blessed assurance that God’s promises all came true through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. She made sure all her progeny knew where she was going.

Family and friends surrounded her in her last three days. My mind’s eye sees snapshots. The twinkle in her eye as she told one last joke in front of her bridge partners. Lori quietly singing the songs Carol selected for her to sing at the memorial service. My daughter Cora, alone in a chair, quietly praying through her grief. The look of appreciation as Caleb’s father, a baritone for the San Francisco Metropolitan Opera, sang Ave Maria to her on her last day.

As her family and friends mourn her loss we are comforted. Within our grief is a peace that passes understanding. A peace promised by Jesus and lived out through the life, death, and resurrection of Carol Schuhmacher. My mother’s faith in Jesus Christ allowed her the best death ever; a death available to all of us who truly believe.

2010-09-03T12:42:00.001-07:00

Oma/Carol/Mrs. Schuh update. Late last night I sang hymns and read psalms to her. It relaxed her a whole bunch. This a.m. she saw light and the "beautiful man" on the other side of the window. Later she smiled broadly saying "you want me to come?" Then a loud "I love You!" What a special, full-box-of-kleenex, mom...ent. All our prayers are being answered!

2010-09-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

Update on Carol/Oma/Mrs. Schuh: She continues to decline rapidly. Non-responsive most of the time. Hard breathing and mild heart attacks. Probably will be released to the Lord today or tomorrow. Praise God for the blessing of hope and the assurance of salvation. Thanks for all of your kind words.

2010-09-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

Carol Schuhmacher, my mother, has entered the final stages of her life. Her body has started the dying process and is deteriorating at a rapid rate. Best guess from hospice is two weeks to two months. After examination today they think it is closer to two weeks. Please join me in thanking God for her life and releasing her from her body of pain.

Hitting the Deck

2010-07-30T19:12:00.000-07:00

I can actually see the end in sight. Tearing out our old deck and putting in a new one has certainly tried and tested me. Without the help of top-notch deck designer/builder Kevin T. I would never have been able to attempt this project. Nick and David D. have also been wonderful.

This weekend I am putting the floor of the deck on. Roughly 832 screws for just the flooring. I can't imagine the Amish concept of a barn raising. Building a barn in a day our two? They must be logistical masters!

I am getting tired of all the rebuilding. I wonder if God ever gets tired of rebuilding me. I warp and get out of square. I constantly need repair and I am sure God wants to replace a few of my habits with new ones.

Good thing God has more patience than I.

Prayer without Action

2010-07-26T06:49:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking alot about the relationship between prayer and action. Prayer is not the opposite of action. It is not a substitute for action. As a matter of fact prayer is an action for which there is no substitute. (I believe that is a quote from Quaker theologian Thomas Kelly.)

All of this is true, but prayer does not leave out action. Proper prayer invites action. Are you really listening to God if you are praying for your church's finances, but are not looking for ways to contribute more? Are you really praying for a friend who broke a leg if it doesn't lead you into mowing their lawn? Are you really praying for our environment if you continue to purchase styrofoam products?

I could go on and on, but you get the concept. Prayer is far more than dumping our woes on God. It is an on-going conversation with God that leads us into a more Godly life.

Scattered Thought for the Day...

2010-03-07T18:11:00.000-08:00

Expecting your pastor to do all the ministry in the church is like expecting your doctor to exercise until you lose twenty pounds.

No Gold for the Hitites

2010-03-07T18:05:00.000-08:00

Once again the Olympics have come and gone. And once again no medals were awarded to the Hitites. In all Olympic history, no Hitite has ever won a gold medal. I realize that the Hitites have never been strong in the winter sports, but even Jamaica has received some recognition. Oh well, in two years the summer Olympics return. Perhaps the streak will end there. I hear that the Hitites have some extremely talented javelin throwers. We can only hope. Go Hitites!

Happy (Hrmph) Holidays

2009-12-13T05:22:00.000-08:00

In the never ending war to end Christianity in our country one of the largest battle grounds is Christmas. I still haven't heard on any media or in any store (other than my local Christian book stores) the greeting, "Merry Christmas". Now, the only politically correct season greeting is "Happy Holidays". GRRRR!

Try as one may, one simply can't take Christ out of Christmas. We are now told that it is offensive to Jews or Muslims or Athiests to wish a "Merry Christmas". I have no problem with a Jew saying, "Happy Hanukah" to me. I don't know if there is a proper Islamic greeting for the month of Ramadan, but I certainly wouldn't be offended if I were greeted with that perspective. As for the athiests? They need to hear those words of promise more than anyone. Christ even told us that the Good News is offensive to some people.

So here my solution: Every time someone wishes you "Happy Holidays", smile broadly and in a loud confident voice declare, "Merry Christmas". (At least until it becomes illegal...)

Cupped Hands

2009-08-25T14:56:00.000-07:00

As usually happens, I had a profoundly moving experience while I was cloistered at the Academy for Spiritual Formation. In that place I am allowed to participate in worship rather than lead it. For that week, I am part of the congregation. At that time I receive, rather than give, communion.

The soft music was playing in the background. People were singing quietly to the reflective songs being played. I had heard a moving sermon and was now, myself, moving toward the altar: the table of grace. As others preceding me in the line to receive were served, I cupped my hands in order to receive the bread.

I looked at my hands and knew that I was a beggar with nothing to offer the One doling out the bread. As I moved forward, my cupped hands pled for mercy, for a crumb of blessing that I didn’t deserve. As I reached those offering the elements of communion I heard the words; “This is the body of Christ broken for YOU.” (Emphasis added.) My cupped hands didn’t just receive a crumb, but a piece, a mouthful. I then went on and was treated to the cup of Jesus’ blood poured out for the forgiveness of MY sins. (Emphasis added again.)

I couldn’t shake the idea of God’s Extravagant Generosity given to me, an undeserving sinner. I was overwhelmed with humility. Then another picture stuck in my mind. It was a picture of starving children with hands cupped just like mine. Only for them the bread they were to receive was more than a church ritual. It was a chance to survive another day.
As we receive the mercy and grace of God’s Extravagant Generosity let us cup our hands

Quote of the Day

2009-08-25T14:53:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of the rest of your life... Is that a good thing?

Quote of the Day

2009-07-23T11:08:00.001-07:00

Life sucks...unless you need a vacuum cleaner!

Chasing the Wind

2009-07-13T08:44:00.000-07:00

How do you spend your time? Does work consume you? How about the care of your family? Are you obsessed with a certain sport or a particular team? Are you driven to succeed so that you can have all you want? A good friend once told me that her view of life was, “He who dies with the most toys, wins.”

Michael Jackson died with a whole bunch of toys. The media seems to be obsessed with his death. Didn’t we know this was coming? Couldn’t someone have predicted this? All of his considerable genius in music came at a dear cost. Michael’s childhood was taken away from him. He never had a chance at normalcy. His life was thrust in front of the camera and he became a commodity rather than a human being. This abnormal life with all of its perks led to an abnormal death. Why do so many people who “have everything” wind up destroying themselves with addictions?

The author of Ecclesiastes may have the answer. This person was extremely successful. If he wanted something he went out and got it. This person had wealth and power. After wrestling with himself and with God, do you know what he wrote? Life is meaningless, chasing the wind.

When I was a child, I loved spending time outdoors, chasing the wind. Running with no place in particular to run; rolling down the hills just to see how fast I could go; climbing the apple tree in my yard to eat a few apples just because they were there. All of this taught me that the best things in life are free. Oh, how I wish Michael could have run and rolled, and climbed with me.

The truth is, “He who dies with the most toys, still dies.” The happiest people that I know are people who know they are at the end of their lives…who have little but enjoy much…who know that the best things in life (relationships, love, nature, and God) are free.

Quote of the day

2009-04-30T08:53:00.001-07:00

I don't know if this is attributable to Jeff Foxworthy, but I think he would like it...
You know you are a redneck if you use the same tree your dog does.

2009-04-21T09:44:00.000-07:00

I Will Stand with You
We sing these words every Sunday as we close worship. "I will stand with you; we will fight the fight. I will stand with you through the darkest night. I will stand with you as God give us might. Hand in hand, hand in hand we will stand."

Soon after the flood the UM (United Methodist) churches of Cedar Rapids stood together. We helped as we could. Some opened their buildings to the flooded churches. Other pitched in and started mucking.

As this was happening churches of all denominations stood together. We soon discovered that different denominations had different expertise in disaster recovery. There was no competition. We all did what we could. And we all stood together.

Then other UM churches in Iowa came to our aid. Soon our denomination’s disaster experts, UMCOR came with much needed supplies. Then UM’s from all over the country began to stand together in our fight.

Living Water now is blessed to provide housing for dozens of mission workers each week. Presbyterians, UM’s, Independents, Catholics, Lutherans all standing together to help.
All of the people who have come to stand with us have learned one lesson: It is better to give than to receive. The next time we close worship, let’s sing "I Will Stand with You" with prayerful thanksgiving for the Body of Christ who has come to stand with us.

2009-04-06T09:41:00.000-07:00

Gay Marriage in Iowa – What Does it Mean

The Iowa Supreme Court ruling striking down Iowa’s law banning gay marriage was only hours old when I received my first question about its effect on churches. Whereas many have asked, here are my thoughts.

There has always been a difference between the church and the state regarding the purpose and definition of marriage. For the state, marriage deals primarily with legal issues such as property rights, inheritance rights, and child raising. There is a whole section of law called "Family Law" which concentrates solely on interpreting the rights and duties within the bonds of civil marriage.

For the church, marriage is a holy institution. It celebrates the coming together of husband and wife with Jesus Christ at the center of this union between man and woman. The purpose, duties and privileges of marriage are laid out clearly in Scripture. As Christians, we are to follow the clear teachings of Scripture over any societal influence from our culture.

However, there is also the issue of social justice. Jesus clearly calls us to fight injustice wherever we find it. A good argument can be made that people of the same sex who desire to have the same property and family rights as opposite-sex-married people are being shut out. Is there a way to seek social justice and hold to Scriptural teaching? There might be.

What do we do? Let the state to decide who should be married according to the state. Let the church decide who should be married according to the church. In this case there needs to be a real separation of church and state.

2009-04-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

Of Chocolate Bunnies and Easter Baskets

The church I grew up in was not one to let their hair down. Communion was once a year: Good Friday. Christmas was pleasant and rich with tradition. But Easter Sunday was the one time the children literally got to bust loose.

After hearing the Easter story and singing the traditional hymns like "Up from the Grave He Arose", we were released to run and play outside as we searched for Easter Eggs. As a young child it was like Christmas all over again! There were eggs, chocolates, cookies and of course fake green grass. As an older child I became responsible to help a younger child find the well-hidden goodies. It was still a tremendous joy, a release from the daily life of the church.

What does the Easter Bunny have to do with the theology of Easter? At first glance, it would seem nothing whatsoever. But that Easter Egg hunt in many ways emulated the real meaning of Easter. The resurrection of Jesus allows us to bust loose in joy. The resurrection of Jesus opens up for us a treasure trove of new things in our lives to search for. The resurrection of Jesus produces a tremendous joy as we are released from our hum-drum lives into lives of hope and praise and love.

"And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in God’s Son." 1 John 5:11

Surrounded by Death

2009-04-03T19:20:00.001-07:00

Wow, what an amazing couple of weeks. My step mother died two weeks ago. My uncle was rushed to hospital intensive care earlier this week. A friend's father passed away yesterday. The Apostle Paul told us that we are "Constantly surrounded by death."

Death at any time is rough on the survivors. But death before Easter helps us remember that Jesus died so that we might live. The gift Jesus gave us was the gift of hope and confidence in life after death in the presence of God.

There is a total difference between the funerals of those who have placed their lives in the hands of the resurrected Jesus and those who refuse to believe. The funerals of believers are filled with hope amidst the grief. The funerals of those rejecting Jesus are filled with grief that cannot be assuaged.

Before I became a Christian I was terrified of death. I had a few childhood experiences that left me paralyzed at the thought of going to a funeral. When I finally understood the Good News of Jesus Christ, my view of death was transformed. I now embrace the death of believers as one of God's greatest gift of grace. In death we are released from the pain sorrow and suffering of this life. The Easter message is a message of hope for the darkest times in our lives.

I love life. Christ allows me to do that. We have recently placed my mother in the care of a local Hospice organization. She is near the end of a long battle with COPD. She has longed to die for more than a year. She has treasured her life. She has treasured her family. She has treasured the friends she met along the way. Yet she treasures the coming of the fulfillment of the promises of God through our Savior Jesus Christ.

May you live in the promises of Christ,
Marty

Getting Started

2009-04-01T13:07:00.000-07:00

This is the start of a new adventure for me. I have been writing for many years. Friends and relatives have suggested that I share more of my thoughts, scattered though they may be. As a pastor I get many questions about many subjects. I will seek to share insights from Scripture, common sense, modern authors, and personal experiences.

Let me know if there is anything we can discuss.