The Godfather

Okay, so I had to write just a bit about my first experience watching "The Godfather." I know. Guys can't imagine I've lived so long and not watched it. But it just wasn't part of the teenaged girl's general experience!

So, since tomorrow is Chris' birthday but we'll be running around with conference meetings, I decided to make his birthday cake tonight...good news is it actually hasn't collapsed yet!

Apparently Chris has been wanting to watch "The Godfather" for a while, so that was tonight's excitement. Honestly, I've heard so many references to the film, that watching it, they all finally make sense. Like in context, the horse head thing fits at least. And "Leave the gun, take the cannolis," does as well.

I wonder what films out today--if any--will carry the same cultural influence of films like "The Godfather." I mean, hey, I hadn't watched the film but at least every few minutes I'd hear a line or see a scene that that had been talked about in some other movie, like "When Harry Met Sally," or "You've Got Mail." Of course, those are more my sort of movies...!

So I'm curious now...what are other film influences? And what will be the film influences of our generation?

What I Miss this Election Season

So our news is filled with all things political these days (well, when they're not talking the economy...or what celebrity is getting divorced now). For me, politics has always been in my blood. Even when I was a child, talking politics was part of our family's discussions, and it has continued to be so. As a teenager, I worked the polls at our local polling place along with my mother, who one year was the polling place coordinator for several sites...so I got one. I passed out flyers and for several primary and general elections, I had the joy or learning at the feet of more experienced associates---men who had been working in local and state campaigns for longer than my mother had been alive, it seemed! All of this was when I was planning to go into politics. It was exciting, and to be honest, it all still is. Through the Baltimore City student government, and as a student member on the school board, I got to see up close and personal the political world, which both excited and concerned me.

Then I heard a call to ministry. And I was reminded of our family's firm adherence to neutrality in public, especially for my father. You see, despite my mother's political involvement and my own father's passion on politicla issues, we never put a sign in our yard, on our car, or otherwise paraded our politics. My father preached on issues but never candidates. And let me tell you, when you are passionate about politics, it really is something to have to be that thoughtful. I mean, so many people parade around their politics, and if they remain "neutral" it's usually an effort at politeness. For a pastor, there are myriad reasons to be publically neutral...all of them very good ones that some pastors would perhaps be better served to take seriously.

So here I am...desperately wanting to wear t-shirts and have bumper stickers like my siblings, and well, a lot of other people. But this is also a reminder to me of the fleeting nature of even these elections. Because whoever wins, I will still be the pastor of people who are all going to vote a variety of ways. Goodness knows just talking about issues can ruffle feathers (I ventured to address the gambling/slots issue this past Sunday, and certainly some weren't thrilled). The other thing is, none of us really know what the future holds, and we all struggle--or at least should--to know whether the same qualities or beliefs that attract us to a candidate are actually indicative of their future leadership. Elections are in some ways an exercise in faith. Or hope at least. Hope that if we all try to be grown-ups about this and learn the issues (and not just the personalities) of the candidates, we will make a good choice. And of course, we all hope everyone else makes as wise of a choice (i.e. same) as us!

And when all of this is over, we still have to live together...so I hope we can all take a deep breath as we head into this campaign season...and maybe think a bit about how our behavior is seen by others during this whole process.

Election Fatigue

One of my favorite parts of the presidential debates is being logged in on Facebook and watching people's statuses throughout! You get to see who wanted to throw something, who marks one moment as a key moment, and who is just worn out by it all. Last night was no different. But one thing I saw last night for the first time was someone posting that they weren't watching the debate and really couldn't care less.

Indeed, aren't we all getting a bit worn out by it all? The campaign tied with the economic crisis seems to throws such highs, lows, and repetativeness at us that it's like we don't even know how to respond to anything anymore. And it's infecting all of us!

I'm actually interested to talk to the teachers I know--this week were parent-teacher conferences, and I'm interested to find out if teachers are seeing the same increase in stress and anxiety (which comes out as anger, illogical-ness and general grumpiness) in parents as other leaders like pastors are seeing with the people they work with. It was little suprise to most pastors when the American Psychological Association announced that stress level in our country have reach record heights, along with high levels of bad ways to cope with stress. What is perhaps most dangerous is the insiduous way stress wratchets up the tension all around us, so that we enter even neutral situations predisposed to stress, and are even less able to deal effectively and maturely with other difficult situations in our lives. Our nation truly does need to step back and take a deep breath!

A couple weeks ago, our DISCIPLE class at church read through the creation accounts, and as always, it was interesting to hear different takes on passages I've read before. One class member talked about reading the repetative "God said...and it was good" in the context of being a parent, and knowing how important routine and order is to children.--and how they need to be reassured. She pointed out that God's words here seem to offer that same comfort, "It's good. I've got it under control, and I know what I'm doing. It will be okay. It's good." I think that's a message we all need to hear right now.

The Economy

So this Sunday's Faith Topic is our economy...what it means for us as Christians and what we might be called to do.

I wanted to post some videos, but man, looking around YouTube, there is a ton of junk. It's tough to wade through. So I'll keep looking, but I wanted to give some other links for you to look over in case you're interested and/or wanting to prepare for our discussion Sunday (we will meet in the sanctuary immediately after worship).

The United Methodist Church's General Board of Church and Society: check out their link to a statement on the current economic crisis, but also, bookmark this site a good resource for future discussions, and just generally checking out what social issues our denomination is looking at at any given time (http://www.umc-gbcs.org)

Rev. Adam Hamilton speaks about the importance of simplicity to Christians (VIDEO): http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/blog/2008/10/adam-hamilton-revisiting-the-n.html

Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners magazine, on how fear is affecting so many, and how we can start talking about this together: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/a-pastoral-strategy-for-a_b_133370.html

Other Articles (I've posted a range, to get us all thinking...so even if you disagree with an article, check it out so you have an idea of some different perspectives):
http://www.christianity.com/Home/Christian%20Living%20Features/11582124/
http://www.gordonmoyes.com/2008/10/03/the-international-financial-crisis/
http://www.charismamag.com/cms/news/archives/100108.php

And let me know if you have any other interesting links to share...!

The Economy: Ridiculous Panic (ala the Daily Show)

Check out this caricature (which is perhaps not all too off base for some people) of how some are reacting to the current markets.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F9CqNADGjQ

Planning

There is something quite theraputic in being able to plan. Now, on one level, that's kind of crazy to say...because planning can feel daunting and overwhelming. But on the other hand, we all need a direction, a point to head towards. Proverbs is right when it says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." I think this is as true for groups as it is individuals.

I certainly know the feeling when the pressing concerns of the immediate seem to bog down. The days, weeks, even months, when I have not engaged in much long term planning has dragged down everything else I try to do. That is one of the truths (and perhaps paradoxes) of leadership: to lead powerfully and with wisdom and excitement now, we have to always be thinking very intentionally about the future.

Here of late I've been facing the same challenge. Between charge conference, meetings, finances, short-term worship planning, visitation, sermon prep, getting things together for newsletters and bulletins, and all the other things that come to me throughout each day via phone, e-mails, etc., what has most energized me has been the far-out planning: thinking more intentionally about the format a multi-site congregation may take, attending the new church start conference in VA in November, being asked again to help with annual conference worship, etc., and just generally taking a few moments to look beyond the immediate (though those immediate things do need resolution and attention) helps keep me motivated. I suspect, then, that it truly is a very good question to ask a pastor (or any other leader) who is feeling burned-out and worn down, "What is your vision for the future?" on any number of levels. The ability to answer the question may help energize, and the inability to answer would be reflective of a deeper frustration that needs to be more fully addressed.

What is your vision for the future? This is the question that is also very timly in an election season. Indeed, it is a question we would all do well to ask ourselves daily, and certainly each time we make a major decision. What is your vision, and how does this or that action help (or hurt) your ability to see that vision come to fruition?

Another Monday

So Mondays are my day off, and Chris and I have been doing pretty good keeping those as full days off. Today, though, we both have had some things to do. For Chris, it was dealing with some facilities issues that needed to be looked at today. For me it has been working on some charge conference stuff and trying to finalize a newsletter insert---I'm torn between wanting to get the newsletter out, but also wanting to include some information like the nominations slate, that people will want to see.

I've really been struggling lately, as I hear most pastors have been in a very anxious time, and what's more, in my area, an era of great change in the community, to think through (on my own and with others) the path forward. One of the biggest factors of course is not so much the issues as how people deal with them. There are always those who will come with constructive criticism and even support at times (imagine that!) while there are others who seem to find behind the back ways to try to control things. This is what always wears leaders out. And it's always ironic that the very people who act that way are often the ones who, if successful, can most effectively destroy any organization. It's not their purpose but their manner. And while it is comforting to hear from other pastors and leaders that this is all to be expected, it's pretty ridiculous.

We see this in our nation--partly a lot of us are gossiping about what's happening because we can't actually go right to the president and ask questions or offer suggestions. And look what a panic we can cause! The truth is we don't actually know what the future holds. And the wisest financial minds among us are careful not to overstate their certainty of anything. What we all seem to agree on is we'll work through it. But that can end up meaning a lot of things. It mostly means, however, all just digging in and pushing forward together. Sometimes we face (in our lives, our families, our churches, our nation, and our world) situations that just have to be worked through--messy though it may be. At our best we can do this by evidencing all our best qualities of patience, commitment, teamwork and sacrifice. At our worst, we are marred by self-interest, panic, apathy, blame and passive-aggressiveness. I am convinced, however, that some crises can actually cause a group to change the way they deal with each other. A crisis that does, in the end, bring people together, can be an incredible (even though painful) thing.

So we'll see. We are hearing from all over that our nation's anxiety level is skyrocketing, and we seeit affecting all sorts of things. Perhaps once this election is over, even if we are still walking through a difficult financial time, we will really be able to take a few moments to just calm down, take a deep breath, and walk through this together...as our very best selves.