harbarger theory: christ is not in any danger of being left out of christmas!

The irrascible Joe Blundo wrote a great article in the Columbus Dispatch about Christmas. Among his many wonderfully pithy (and I'm not writing with a lisp here), he challenges this silly modern idea that Wal-Mart cash register clerks are ruining Christmas for the whole world. Poppycock!!

As a Christian, I claim Christmas as a holy season in my life. As a pastor, I claim Christmas as a REALLY busy season in my life. As a shopper of gifts both well-thought through and bought in haste with dubious taste (hey, that rhymed!), I find Christmas a fun time to give to others. I could care less what the weary ones who check me out say to me. Instead, I offer a cheery Merry Christmas to THEM!! After all, if this season is MY faith's season, then it should be MY responsibility to share the cheer, don'tcha think?

I've said it before, people like Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh would become flaming liberals tomorrow if it paid better and Howard Stern would become a moralistic high grounder tomorrow if it paid better. These guys are not true believers ... they are opportunists who are cashing in on the conservative fear that is bandied about so freely and act as breeder reactors for the anger that seems to be simmering.

My friends, be gentle and loving to the weary retail clerks. They work way too many hours for way too little money. Be generous to people who are confused about what to say in this season for fear they may offend. If Christmas be your holy season, then proclaim your joy to all around. After all, isn't this what witnessing is SUPPOSED to be about? We proclaim the joy of our faith and what better opportunity than this season where people's heads are already turned Christ's way?

As the old carol sings, "O come let us adore Him! O come let us adore Him! Christ, the Lord!" Merry Christmas ... Happy Holy-days ... Feliz Navidad ... May the joy of the One birthed this season be yours forevermore!

harbarger theory: christ is not in any danger of being left out of christmas!

For God's Sake!

harbarger theory: God is not limited by our ignorance.

I saw an article in the paper (Assoc Press article in the Columbus Dispatch) about Dale and Leilani Neumann who were convicted of reckless homicide for "praying" their child to death.

Let me say from the get-go that I fervently believe in miraculous healings and curings. They happen. But, they are EXACTLY that ... miraculous. If I (or you) could call down a miracle at our whim, then they would NOT be miracles. We call that a skill, not a miracle. If a plumber can fix a leaky pipe, that's not a miracle, that's a skill. If a carpenter can saw a straight line (while that may be a miracle for ME), that's not a miracle, that's a skill.

Miracles happen OUTSIDE the control of humans and OUTSIDE the normal processes of our planet. Miracles are ... MIRACLES!!

We are blessed by God to have amazing medical facilities and equipment and knowledgeable medical personnel to use them. That is a gift from God!! We have medicines and therapies that can literally heal and cure people. Those are gifts from God!!

While I believe that God does the healing, God might choose to heal my flu through medicines and medical intervention ... or through a slow healing process ... or by a whiz-bang miracle. But, all of those are God's intervention, just via different avenues.

I have consistently been amazed over the years of reading the Bible, that it seems that Jesus NEVER healed this person like any other person he healed. They were ALL different. Amazing!! God loves diversity and abhors boredom!

So, why do we (and I'll count myself in with these whack-jobs!) try to FORCE God to do stuff OUR way and OUR way only? Why? Hubris, I believe. We want to show the world ... show ourselves? ... show God? ... that we can control God. We want "God In A Box!" Hubris, that's what that is.

Neumanns (joel harbarger) ... shame on you and, indeed, your child's death IS on your hands. You claim to trust God, but only if God will work YOUR way in YOUR timing and for YOUR consequences. Who do you/we think you/we are, anyway??

We need to learn the deep lessons of letting God be God and knowing our place. And our place is lower than the angels and a little higher than cocker spaniels (but not every day, I suspect!!).

For God's sake, let's take the blinders off and let God be sovereign over the cosmos and let's stop trying to muck it all up!!!

harbarger theory: God is not limited by our ignorance

Appearances Are Deceiving

harbarger theory: objects in the mirror really ARE closer than they appear!

In the past few months, we have been witnesses to some appalling behavior, haven't we? First, we have people coming to Town Hall Meetings and, in some cases, screaming hysterically at congressfolk. Now, granted, sometimes they NEED to be screamed at, but isn't that why we vote them into and out of office? Isn't the voting booth the most effective way to get our point across? I think so.

Adding fuel to the fire, we have Joe Wilson, an elected representative to the US Congress (albeit a guy who is a Son Of The Confederacy and fought hard to keep the Confederate Flag as a herald of his home state of South Carolina ... [note to self - find a way to convince these knuckleheads that the Civil War has ALREADY been fought!]), yelling out in the middle of a speech by a sitting president to a joint session of congress! Holy moly!

Finally, we have Kanye West, whose money and popularity has made him think that we care what he thinks! He crashes the stage to make a stupid statement about something that matters to a few, but completely sucks the joy out of a moment for the honoree. Some days, Beyonce gets the lauds and some days Taylor Swift gets them. That's the way the MP3 crumbles. Ya know?

But, more importantly, we have somehow opened the door for people to forget that we should be civil to each other. Should we disagree? Sure. Should we voice our disagreement? Of course. Should we be hateful, disrespectful and immature about it? I should hope not!!

Some have laid the blame at the feet of people like Jerry Springer, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity or the myriad Rant "Journalists" out there. I'm not willing to go there. They may encourage it and model it, but my behavior is MY responsibility, good, bad or ugly.

Therefore, let us covenant together that we will disagree openly, vigorously, but respectfully and in ways that are appropriate for adults. Like the Apostle Paul, let us put away childish things and ways and become adults. Let us learn new ways of discourse that produce more light than heat and more respect than self-righteousness.

It's time to grow up, America!!! There are big issues at stake. Put on your big girl panties and let's talk ... and listen.

harbarger theory:be careful what you pray for

harbarger theory: be careful what you pray for ...

We always prayed that our kids would be people who are strong, independent and world-changers. We raised them to have wings.

Dang it ... sometimes you get what you pray for!!!

Our son is doing wonderful things at his work and with the men and boys that he coaches. He works hard and plays hard ... and OH, SO independent. He's a good friend. He's a role model. He's the kind of guy that other guys want to be. As for the wings ... he lives in California. We live in Ohio. Some strong wings there, eh??

Our daughter is doing exciting things in her life as well. She is now in her last year (or so!) in college earning her baccalaureate degree in two majors. She spent a semester in Japan and succeeded in so many ways. For a pale, sorta redheaded appalachian girl, she's become kinda japanese, now!! In a month or so, she'll be heading to Beijing as a reporter for a couple weeks!!! She and a friend started Winter Camp at Camp Otterbein. She has friends ... I mean REAL friends with people all over the place. As for wings ... she goes to school in Missouri, but, I think she'll be a citizen of the world. Talking about strong wings!!

God answers prayers. Always. And sometimes, God says, "OK ... you asked for it!!", and we get it. We got it.

And we wouldn't have it any other way.

Well ... sometimes we would, but it's our fault!!! We asked for it, didn't we?

harbarger theory: be careful what you pray for ...

We're moving!

harbarger theory: ain't nothin' constant but change!

After 10 wonderful years as a pastor in New Lexington, we're moving!!

Sometime in late July, we'll be moving into our new home in The Plains, Ohio, where I'll be a pastor at The Plains UM Church.

We are grieving as we contemplate leaving our friends-who-have-become-family in New Lex. We've had a WONDERFUL ministry here in Perry County among some of the best people on earth, but we look forward to another wonderful ministry among more of the best people on earth!

We wanted to move closer to my folks in Jackson, so as to take better care of them. The Bishop and Cabinet have graciously agreed and found a wonderful place for us to work and serve and do ministry.

I have been saying for years from the pulpit, in bible studies and casually that the only people who actually LIKE being changed are babies and most of the them cry through the whole process!!! But ... change is constant, isn't it? The law of biology is that we either change or die. Change or die.

So ... lots of changes ahead of us. We are dreading them and are eager for them. We grieve and we are so excited. We are sad and we are happy. Reminds me of "Two-Face" from the Batman movies and comics! He was always "of two minds" about things. I am of two minds about things right now.

Pray for us. We've never moved without the kids. We've been in this one place (New Lex) longer than any other times in our married lives. It's all about the changes!!

harbarger theory: ain't nothin' constant but change!

Whitewater Rafting

harbarger theory: leadership is like guiding a whitewater raft



I LOVE whitewater rafting. I've been down the New River a whole bunch of times, the Gauley a couple times and a few other rivers, too. I love it. I love it. Did I mention that I love whitewater rafting? I really do!!


As I have pondered leadership, I see many connections between navigating whitewater and leading (especially the church).


You see, a whitewater raft guide's job is to balance the demands of being safe and having fun. It is finding that sweet spot where you are able to experience the flash and excitement of riding that line where you are experiencing the heart of the rapid while not getting yourself, your raft and those on your raft into too much danger. Some danger, but not too much danger.


Most raft guides work on rivers that change water levels daily (maybe during the same day), so they hit different rapids at different water heights. And the techniques that they use to guide the raft differ for different rapids. Some are so gentle that the guide can simply let the paddlers take the raft where it wants to go. Other times, the guide has the paddlers stop paddling so s/he can do all the work and, most of the time, it's a balance between these where the guide expects the paddlers to offer propulsion and some steering (with direction) while the guide uses her/his paddle as a rudder to guide the boat. It's a complex mix of brute force, river reading, artistry, innate knowledge of river dynamics and seat of the pants decision-making.


I've been blessed. I've only had one incompetent guide and another who was fine until he got stoned at lunch and then didn't care the rest of the day.


Leadership is like this. We study; we train; we think; we act; we "read the river" as we look for trends that are coming up; we think outside the box; we lead alone; we let the church do it's thing; and we do a mix of both. To lead a church is a mix of force of will, reading the reality around us, artistry, innate knowledge of what's good for the church and seat of the pants decision making. All of it is needed. Sometimes all at the same time.


I love whitewater rafting. I love leading the church. It's all a rush. It's all exciting. It's all lots and lots of work! Woo hoo!!!!

harbarger theory: leadership is like guiding a whitewater raft

Easter

harbarger theory: empty can be good!

This is one of my favorite Easter stories. In fact, I told it as the Children's Moments yesterday. Sorry, I didn't blog yesterday. With 3 service after a busy loooong weekend and fixing dinner for my parents (it turned out WONDERFULLY!), I was pooped.

So, here's my Easter post.

Mrs Adair, who was a Sunday School teacher, wanted to teach her kids about the meaning of Easter, so she gave each of the kids an empty plastic egg (a big one like the ones that L'Eggs pantyhose used to come in, remember?). She asked them to go outside and fill them with something ... anything that told the Easter story.

So, the kids stormed out of the building picking up various flotsam and jestam around the church yard. Mrs. Adair called the kids back into the Sunday School classroom and asked them to open their egg and share what they had found.

Millie opened her L'Egg and inside was a dandelion. Millie talked about how the flowers die every winter and rise again every spring. Mrs. Adair complimented her on how well she understood Easter.

Freddy opened his L'Egg and inside were some blades of grace. Freddy talked about how the grass goes brown and then, miraculously in the spring turns green again. Again, Mrs Adair showered Freddy with praise about how well he understood the Easter story.

Ling opened her L'Egg and insde was a rock. Ling shared about how the stone was rolled away from Jesus' tomb on Easter morning. Mrs. Adair was beaming over how well her class was understanding the Easter story.

And so it went around the room until they got the last kid. Craig had multiple learning deficits. He was in special classes at school and would never develop intelligence that would get past a 5 year old. He was a sweet kid, who loved everyone and everyone loved him back. But, he could be a distraction in a classroom of "normal" kids.

Finally Craig opened his L'Egg and inside was ... nothing. Nothing at all. Mrs. Adair was so concerned that Craig didn't understand his assignment, or that she should have gone with Craig to help him, or kept him with her so he wouldn't be embarassed, or ...

But, because Mrs. Adair trusted God and had an inordinate courage, she pressed ahead. "Craig," she said, "tell me about your Easter Egg."

Craig did. In his halting and child-like way, he shared. "My egg is empty," he started, "because it's Easter and Jesus' tomb was empty!" And he beamed the most beautiful smile you could imagine.

And Mrs. Adair cried grateful and joy-filled tears and hugged Craig with a fiercely loving hug.

harbarger theory: empty can be good!