Transitions

Transitions are hard to navigate. Some happen so fast your coffee does not get a chance to cool down before they happen. Others, seem to drag on and on, like slow moving molasses, and those can even be just as sticky. 

I was ordained in July of this year, 24 years after I decided to enter into ministry. In September of this year, I received a call from my home church, Desert Dove Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as their Associate Pastor. I was called at the same time that our senior minister, Rev. Kathleen Day was also called. Pastor Kathleen is a .6 FTE Pastor and I am a .4 FTE Pastor. Together we serve a small congregation on the southwest side of Tucson. 

We are a small church, but we do great things. For the past year we have engaged in what we are calling our "YIGBY" process, That translates to "Yes In God's Back Yard." To live into that vision, we sold 2.5 vacant acres of our property, in partnership with City, County and State officials. We sold that land so that 63-64 units of 1,2, and 3 bedroom affordable apartments are being built. Construction is underway and they are framing the forms for the foundations as this is written. This effort assists in our mission to be God's hands and feet in an area of town that is in desperate need for affordable housing.

On-site, the complex will have a Community building which will house a pantry, meeting spaces, and commercial fridge. Additionally, the apartment management company will offer client social services as well as job training opportunities. These apartments will rent for a little over half of what the market rate rents are here in Tucson. 

Exciting things are happening and we await welcoming new families to the neighborhood. This will also enhance our ability to better serve the families of the area and bolster the efforts of our food pantry which we operate in a nearby elementary school.

These types of transitions are easy (Even working with developers and contractors.). The transitions that are not easy are the ones we face as a society. We do not know what the next four years will bring to us, but if we keep faithful to God, keep being God's voice here in the wilderness, we can accomplish great things. We can be a strong voice for the marginalized who have little-to-no voice in our present society. God asks us to 'do justice and love kindness and to walk humbly with our God. (Micah 6:8)." God will walk this journey with us and we will respond with a prophetic voice when we are called to be in solidarity with and in service to others in God's name. 

Third TIme a Charm?

I am admitting right up front here that I am bad at creating new habits, I start out great and then things inevitably fall by the wayside, never to return. This is the 3rd time I have tried to get this blog going and who knows, maybe the third time IS a charm and this will work. If not, it will be one more attempt to resurrect something from the ash heap of time that failed to produce fruit.

My last attempt at this was waaaaay back in 2014. Six years ago. I had just barely started seminary (and I am still in seminary), there was a whole lot going on, and life was pretty Chaotic. Still is. Who would have figured that one!

So, what is happening now? Glad you asked (even though it was really me who asked), because a lot is going on. We are finally a 2 vehicle household, having purchased a truck and a car last year from a co-worker. We are without a dog, although our grand daughter is living with us and with her came her dog, so that is a good thing (Except that he can be a little ornery at times). Still working daily at the University of Arizona, still attending Lexington Theological Seminary, and still trying to have a life in the process. So, where will this all go? Who knows. Stay Tuned.... This could last a day,two days OR it could become an enduring habit and be. I'll leave this here for the time and will get back with you tomorrow???

90 Seconds

90 Seconds

Following the release of the ‘evidence’ in the shooting death of Michael Brown, one startling fact emerges: it was 90 seconds from the time Officer Wilson called in the initial contact with Brown over the radio, to Michael Brown, Jr lying dead in the street.  In 90 seconds, a life was taken, in 90 seconds a country was changed. 

90 seconds is all it took for one man to become judge and jury. 90 seconds was all it took to take 51 years of work to combat racism in America and throw it back to where it all began. 90 seconds is all it took to let us know that America has been changed forever, and not for the better. 

No longer are the rules of law for all people. If you are African-American, Hispanic, or anything but white, you are condemned to the margins of society, thrown in jail, or executed by law enforcement, no trial necessary, it is a fact of life. We have had over two months pass between the murder of Michael Brown and yesterday’s grand jury decision and testimony release. Two months where laws for use of force could have been changed. Two months where police procedures could have been revised and trainings held, so that the dark nights of August would not be repeated on a cold November evening- in the light of flames and destruction. Two months where meaningful and constructive reform could have happened, yet none did. 

Martin Luther King, Jr, hoped for the day where a person could "not be judged on the color of their skin but by the content of their character"; sadly, we are still hoping for that day. Martin Luther King, Jr., hoped for a nonviolent end to struggle for civil rights, yet 51 years of inaction, police brutality, unfair judicial systems, and systemic racism have robbed people of their hope and left them with little alternatives but to cry out and to lash out. Cry out in pain, cry out in despair, and lash out in violence. 

MLK understood how a people feeling lost and in despair could resort to violence; but it was not the way he chose to address the injustices facing African Americans. Nonviolence is ultimately the right answer, but when a nonviolent plea for action and nonviolent voices for change are blocked by a system that is set up to perpetuate the status quo, how can we sit here and condemn the rioters for their actions? It is we who must take the blame for last night’s events in Ferguson, Mo., because we have failed. Because of our inaction, we failed Martin Luther King, Jr, and we have failed Michael Brown, Jr.  

We need for people of faith to stand with our brothers and sisters from the African American community and call for, no—demand, meaningful change; to demand meaningful action. Time has passed- 51years of time- to talk about these issues; when will positive action take the place of talk? How many more bodies, young and old, black and brown, need to be removed from our streets before all voices are heard and respected, invited to the table, and unjust laws are changed? How many more mothers must visit their children in jail and how many more funerals of young children must take place before we remove the stain of racism from our discourse and embrace all children as beloved children of God that they are? 

We need to hear again those words of MLK: to have "justice roll down like waters"... for the "valleys to be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low." We need to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the legacy of Michael Brown, Jr.  90 seconds is not a very long time, yet so much happened in those few seconds that we cannot run away from. 90 seconds was all it took to hold up a mirror to the face of America and see the wounds that still scar us. 90 seconds is enough time for all of us to say, enough. 90 seconds should be the catalyst that begins our time of healing and more importantly, change.  Darren Wilson may go free, but Michael Brown’s death should not be in vain. 90 seconds.

Twinkies and Christian Values

I admit I log into Facebook rather frequently, it is a well known medical condition after all. However, at the moment, FB is populated with all sorts of posts either lamenting or celebrating the loss of the venerable Twinkie. For those who have just come back to earth, the issue surrounds the fact that Hostess is filing for immediate cessation of all production at it's plants around the country. This means everything from Twinkies, Apple Pies and the cupcakes with the swirlie things on top. this move will affect more than 18,000 workers, who may soon be out of work.Hostess is just one of a growing number of companies who have decided, in the days following the election, to strike back against the results of that election. Rather than pay for health care for all of it's workers, Hostess decided to go out of business. They joined a growing list of conservative business ventures who have decided that rather than pay for health benefits for their employees, they are going to employ draconian avoidance measures to 'save money'. Papa John's Pizza is going to cut back the hours of its employees in order to avoid having full-time workers, since only full-time employees are eligible for coverage under the new law. Additionally, they are considering a surcharge on their products to cover the cost of the heathcare premiums for those full time persons they still have on the payroll. There is one Denny's franchise owner who announced yesterday they are following the same strategy. At the same time, many of these owners proclaim their Christian values. That seems to me to be a contradiction of serious concern. Jesus said to his disciples in the book of Matthew Chapter 25:   ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ These are the values we as Christians need to follow. To care for the sick, feed the hungry, house the homeless, free the prisoners and clothe the naked. This is a matter of justice. A matter of profit over the health of our brothers and sisters.On the other hand, it will actually do my health wonders if they keep this up, so maybe they should keep going with this. After all, now I won't have those empty calories from the junk food they peddle. My wallet will be fatter from not spending it at Denny's, Circle K and others (Purveyors of Twinkies), and at Papa Johns. And with the money I save, I can donate to those agencies that offer healthcare to the poor, ummm.....Planned Parenthood perhaps?

Clarity

There is always the possibility that at some level, we will encounter an Epiphany. It doesn't have to be a 'eureka moment', but just that gentle nudge which often points to a new way of being, doing, living, or perceiving (an a host of of other adjectives). Today's personal epiphany is clarity. We have just finished an election season that was marked by confusion, ambiguity, and definite lack of clarity. Even now, there are local areas and States where there still is no clarity, since the totality of ballots has yet to be counted. Here in AZ, local and congressional races are uncertain, and we just don't know the outcome yet. And that makes us uncomfortable. We want it to be all settled, to be wrapped up nice and neatly in a little box with a bow on top. Let the circumstances or situation do the wrapping up for us. We see the same thing with our faith. "This is what I believe, that settles it, end of discussion." But faith, as well as life, is not a matter of certainty or clarity, but quite the opposite. Faith is messy. It tugs us in one direction, and challenges us in another, seemingly in contradictory ways. Do we believe that Christ will save us? Yes. OK then, how? Then it gets messy. Is it through faith alone, as in Paul's writings? Is it through works as in the book of James? Is it through engagement in social justice, involvement in church, etc. etc.? Beginning to get the picture about faith? It's messy. However, even in the messiness, we have clarity, clarity that all is not figured out, not wrapped up in a tight little package, and not easily categorized.The joy of faith is the duality of messiness and clarity; the tension between certainty and uncertain messiness.And praise be to God that it is so.

Changes

So much has happened since January. As usual, I have not been able to catch up with my postings here. Is it because I think no one reads this thing? Maybe. But anyway, I spent a week at camp over the 4th, this time as camp nurse. It was a good week. Got behind on my studies, but had fun overall. Today though, is our friend Heather's last day at church before she and her husband head off to Texas. She has taken a Senior Pastor call in Katy, Texas-near Houston. Seems like we have a new place to visit now! Time to get ready for church, see you later!

Anticipation

Well, I have arrived here at Lexington. These next 10 days are going to stretch me, challenge me, and who knows what else. This is certainly going to push my comfort zones and we will see how the days ahead progress. To spend 10 days in an intense exploration and learning about faith, process, church, and more. I will finally get to meet the people I have only until now seen in two dimensions online. I have reading to do tomorrow and then tomorrow night the classes begin. Join me in this journey and we'll see where God takes me.