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Maundy Means Commands

March 24, 2016 / / 0 Comments

JesusWashingFeetToday is Maundy Thursday, the day Christians all over the world remember the events of the night our Lord Jesus was betrayed by his disciples. Yeah, remember, it wasn’t just Judas who betrayed Jesus; he was just the only one who got paid. They all fled that night when things got hairy. They all abandoned Jesus (Well, the guys did. According to the Gospels, the women were the only ones who did not flee the scene. They stood by their man, as it were, through the trials, the suffering, the crucifixion, and the burial).

The word “Maundy” is from a Latin word that means “commands.” That word has been used by Christians to describe that last night for centuries because Jesus gave his followers several commands during that last meal:

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” ~John 13:14-15

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” ~John 13:34

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” ~John 15:12

Today is a day of solemn remembrance. Easter Sunday — I can’t wait for Easter, I love Easter, Resurrection! — is a day for exuberant celebration. But Maundy Thursday is for individual and corporate reflection. Inspection. Introspection. How have I betrayed my Lord? Am I keeping his commands? In what ways do I continually deny my Savior?

He told his disciples that night around the table to remain in his love, to obey his commands. At a meal together, he asked them to obey his commands just as he had obeyed the commands of the Father. And then he says it: My command is that you love each other as I have loved you. You’re my friends, he says, if you do what I command (John 15:9-14).

Are we obeying his primary command to love each other? Are we showing Christ Jesus’ sacrificial, servant-hearted, selfless love to other followers? Or do we betray our Lord and disobey his command by judging other disciples and withdrawing from other followers? Are we loving and serving all Christians as Jesus commanded, as he prayed to our Father on that dark night we would, or do we only love and serve Christians who think and behave exactly like we do? Do we reject Jesus’ command by criticizing other churches, even condemning them, because we have different understandings or different practices?

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Here at Central, we’re trying to love all Christians in Amarillo the way Jesus showed us during that last meal on that Thursday night. We’re trying to be sacrificial. We’re trying to be servants. We’re trying to come closer together with other Christians. We’re trying to erase the man-made lines of distinction and focus on the many, many things we all have in common in our Lord Jesus. No judgments. No criticisms. More grace. More forgiveness. More service. More love. We’re not perfect at this yet; nobody’s arrived. But we’re trying.

Tonight, our church family joins with our brothers and sisters at First Baptist, First Presbyterian, and Polk Street Methodist for a time of worship and communion with each other and with our risen and coming Lord. We’re going to reflect together. We’re going to inspect our lives together. We’re going to eat and drink together. And we’re going to commit to the Maundy Thursday spirit of paying attention to Jesus’ commands. And obeying them.

Peace,

Allan

Saying “No” to the Good Ol’ Days

March 1, 2016 / / 0 Comments

Demolition update from the west parking lot at Central Church of Christ: two buildings down, one to go.

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VotePinAs the Super Tuesday voting frenzy continues — on the streets of Amarillo, along the crawl at the bottom of my laptop screen, on the TVs at the Chinese food restaurant — I’d like to consider aloud a question posed by Philip Yancey in his 1999 work The Bible Jesus Read:

“Is it possible that God permitted the entire tragic experiment of Israel’s nationhood in order to prove a point about the visible kingdom — any visible kingdom? Solomon, with every advantage of wisdom, power, and wealth — all good gifts from God — led his nation to destruction. Did God grant Solomon those advantages in order to put to death illusions and thus prepare the way for a new kingdom?”

David had every blessing of God’s strength. He possessed great military might and strategic power. He conquered foreign lands and expanded Israel’s territory. Every enemy Israel ever had surrendered to David’s kingdom. Solomon after him had every blessing of God’s wisdom and peace. Great building programs. Wonderful economy. Peace. And it all failed. It collapsed. It was destroyed.

All kingdoms of this world are built on strength and power, on wealth and force, violence and intelligence. Yet even at their very best, they all fail. History has proven this over and over again.

Yancey continues:

“A later king — one greater than Solomon, he claimed — established his rule instead among the lame and poor and oppressed and ritually unclean. He belittled Solomon’s glory by comparing it to that of a common day lily. He offered no rewards other than the prospect of an executioner’s cross.”

Consider that the Jews in Jesus’ time were clamoring for a return to the good ol’ days. They wanted a Davidic King who would restore the nation back to the days when they were in charge, when they submitted to no one, when their enemies bowed to them, when the differences between them and everybody else was clear. They were hungry for a return of their nation to Solomon’s splendor, when peace was protected by the world’s biggest army, when religion reigned in fancy robes under the magnificent national temple, when everybody had plenty of what they wanted.

Jesus said “No” to that. Clearly.

Even after he was brought out of the tomb by God’s Holy Spirit, the disciples were still asking, “Are you going to restore the kingdom now?”

I hear Christians today clamoring for some return for the United States to some long ago glory days when followers of Jesus were in charge. Christians made the rules, I hear. Christians set the tone, they say. Christians had the respect, the power, the influence. Our churches were full and the laws of the land reflected our Christian will. That’s what they say. And, apparently, that’s why they vote. For the good ol’ days of Bush. Or Reagan. Or Solomon.

The good ol’ days were never ever ever better than David’s and Solomon’s. Those were the very best of anybody’s good ol’ days. And Jesus said “No.”

The kings of Israel who followed Solomon did not learn. The disciples who followed Jesus did not learn. What about us?

Peace,

Allan

Bye to Matt, Sort Of

February 29, 2016 / / 0 Comments

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The Madison Apartments are coming down! The three dilapidated buildings on the northwest corner of our church property have long been a security risk, a safety hazard, and an eyesore. Our grand plans to remodel the structures for the expansion of Heal the City’s free clinic were scuttled by the YMCA’s outright donation of their building on Sixth Street to the non-profit group last year. And, after much prayer and study, the decision has been made to just tear them down. This is just the very beginning stage of a long range plan for our church and a future capital campaign to fund those plans and ministries. In the meantime, please drive carefully this week around that corner of Central’s property.

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MattHatAfter twelve years of faithful congregational ministry at Central, we said goodbye today to Matthew Blake. Sort of. Matt and his wife Katie have made the decision to leave fulltime congregational ministry and pursue small scale farming and the salsa industry. Matt’s got farming in his blood and he’s eaten enough hot sauce in his lifetime that he probably has some of that in his blood, too. So, they’ve bought a nice little spread just east of Canyon where they’ll raise their own tomatoes, peppers, and onions and produce enough of his “Matchstick Salsa” to feed everyone who wants it, not just staff members and family.

Matt led our young singles ministry here at Central and has been a vital part of our foreign missions efforts and our visitors and new members ministries. His quiet, mild-mannered, even-toned personality appears to be in conflict with his wicked sense of humor and his propensity for playing clever pranks, but it actually all works perfectly together: he lulls you off your guard with a reflective soliloquy on the contemplative prayer life of a Benedictine monk while he’s plotting to replace the nameplate on your office door or fill the bed of your pickup with foul objects.

Needless to say, we laugh a lot around here together as a church staff, and Matthew is a big part of that.

MatthewApronWe also pray together and dwell in God’s Word together as a church staff, and Matthew is a big part of that, too. I’ve known him and worked with him for only four-and-a-half years, but his insights and personal commitment to a disciplined life of following Christ have impacted me and every minister and every elder at this place. I’m forever grateful for the practices and disciplines he’s introduced to me that help me better engage our God. And I’m equally grateful for his imprint in those same areas on the leadership of our church. We’re all thankful for that.

Matt’s a good man. His heart belongs to our Lord. It’s clear to anyone who’s paying attention.

I’m excited for the Matchstick Salsa thing. I’m happy for Matt because he’s so clearly committed to chasing this passion. He’s really alive for this thing. It’s fun to see. But, there’s a part of me — I’ve shared this with him three or four times — that is sad, too. Matt’s a good minister. He’s a good congregational minister. God has blessed him with gifts for leadership and teaching and spiritual direction and I regret that we’re losing that. Of course, he’s not stopped being a minister. Our Father will have plenty of opportunities to work through Matthew in some of the same, but also in some very different, and maybe even potentially better, ways. But not having Matt as a congregational minister in our churches feels like a loss. That’s probably more my problem than anybody else’s. No, it’s definitely my problem.

Matt and Katie and little Lydia are staying here at Central and will remain vital members of our Central church family. For that, I’m grateful. The really good news is that now I won’t be nearly as hesitant when I choose a gift from under the tree at the staff Christmas party. I won’t have to wonder if he’s sabotaged my office or my truck. But if I’m going to eat some of his salsa, now I’m going to have to pay for it.

Peace,

Allan

Manning’s Ring

February 8, 2016 / / 0 Comments

PeytonManningSB50It must be really weird to have every reporter on every network and satellite TV station and every columnist in every American newspaper calling for your retirement, even speaking of your retirement as if it’s a foregone conclusion, as if doing anything other than retiring would be an act of sheer lunacy. It must be strange to win a Super Bowl, to achieve the highest pinnacle of your profession, and before the confetti all hits the ground to hear your own co-workers speak publicly on national television as if you’ve already moved on. It must be odd to read your own obituary.

Yes, in my head I believe Peyton Manning should probably retire from the NFL. Old age (he’s 39?!!?), neck surgeries, and the accumulated football mileage are compelling reasons on their own. Add to that list the fact that he just won his second Super Bowl trophy, that he has now become only the twelfth quarterback in history to win multiple Super Bowls, and the first and only to do it with two different franchises, and it’s a no-brainer.

Retire.

But doesn’t it seem strange to talk about it as if it’s already happened? To talk about it while he’s standing right there beside you? It’s almost like we want to get rid of him. “He won the Super Bowl! Great! He deserves to go out that way! It’s perfect for him to end his career this way!”

“He doesn’t have the arm strength he once did. He can’t move like he used to. He was the lowest rated quarterback in the NFL during the regular season. He can’t make the plays anymore. He needs to retire and, now that he’s won the Super Bowl, he can do it with dignity.”

Yeah, maybe.

I wonder if Peyton doesn’t just feel weird about everyone assuming his retirement, I wonder if he resents it.

What if Manning meets with his doctors in a few weeks and they tell him he’s completely healed? What if he has a really good couple of months here — physically, emotionally, psychologically? What if he believes in his heart he can study the film and tweak some mechanics and work extra hard and start for some team in the NFL next year that’s just one good quarterback away from competing for the Super Bowl? If he put in the time and did the work and some team wanted him to start for them, would we be opposed to that? Would it take away from Peyton’s dignity? What if he believed in the team in Denver and loved his teammates in Denver and wanted to practice the all-for-one team philosophy he’s talked and walked during his entire career and agreed to backup and mentor Osweiler or whoever else they bring in to start? Would we like him any less? Would that mean he had less dignity?

The stats say Manning didn’t have a great game last night. His numbers are a little less than average. They’re probably the worst numbers of any Super Bowl winning quarterback in the past thirty years, if not in all of Super Bowl history (I’d have to look up Trent Dilfer). His passes seemed to float. I’m not sure he ever threw deep. Didn’t Denver go a dozen drives in a row without a first down? So we say, “Peyton obviously doesn’t have it anymore. It’s good that they won the Super Bowl so now he can retire.”

Wait. How do you measure what Peyton Manning brings to that Broncos locker room, what he brings to the huddle, what his experience and his football brilliance bring to the field immediately before and immediately after every snap? I’m not making an argument for Denver to sign Manning as their starting quarterback for next year. But I am thinking we probably should all take a deep breath and tap the brakes a little bit on his riding off into the sunset. Slow down. What’s the rush? Are we that eager to lose Manning so we can replace him with more Cam Newtons? Why are we in such a hurry to trade Manning for a Manziel or Kaepernick or Bradford? Can we just enjoy what we witnessed last night for a week or two first?

It was fitting. It was good. It was unexpected and, in a football kind of way, strangely poetic. Manning’s gracious and self-deprecating responses to every question last night should be savored. His hard work and dedication to being the best version of himself for his teammates in the biggest game of their lives should be appreciated. The standup way he speaks well of others, the way he doles out credit to everyone around him, the gratitude he expresses at every turn, should be noted and celebrated.

Yes, Manning is probably going to announce his retirement in the next couple of months. But, why is everybody in such a hurry?

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SuperBowl2016Congratulations to Perri Harper, the winner of our Jars/Jericho Bible Class Super Bowl Sweepstakes. Perri chose/guessed correctly on 29 of the 50 proposition bets all of us considered before kickoff. The contest gives just as much weight to knowing if Lady Gaga will wear short sleeves or long sleeves while singing the national anthem and whether the first commercial after the second half kickoff will be for Doritos or beer as it does to knowing if a two-point conversion will be attempted and who will be the leading rusher. Perri becomes the first female to take home the Bentley Trophy, where it will probably sit on a shelf next to Perri and Clay’s Central New Members of the Year Award from 2014. For the record, Connor Landon finished with 27 points while his brother Braden and Bruce Tidmore tied for third with 26.

Peace,

Allan

Blessing the Blasingames

January 26, 2016 / / 0 Comments

BlasingameWeddingNov23-1940Do you know anybody who’s been married 75 years? Do you know a couple who exchanged their wedding vows before World War II? I wish you knew Odell and Doris Blasingame.

Odell and Doris were married November 23, 1940. She was sixteen and he was nineteen. He first saw her during a softball game. He was walking by, only mildly interested in what was happening on the field, on his way to somewhere else, when Doris hit a stand-up triple. He was so impressed that he said out loud to a couple of friends, “I’m going to marry her!” If you ask Odell today if he was more moved by Doris’ great beauty or by her athletic feat, he’ll answer, “Both!”

Do you know anybody who’s been married for that long?

BlasingamesNowWe know Odell and Doris. They are long, long, long time members here at Central, for almost thirty years. They are faithful in every sense of the word. Important. Beloved. Regular members of the Bible class I’ve been blessed to teach for the past six or seven weeks. Odell always tells funny stories and at least one prepared joke at the beginning of every class. Doris sits by his side and alternately grimaces and laughs. She pushes his wheelchair. He adores her and lavishes her with praise. There’s nobody who knows them who doesn’t love them.

We took the time during our worship assembly this past Sunday to honor this precious couple. Of course, they received a standing ovation that went embarrassingly long. We gave them a couple of commemorative T-shirts and I told the church a little bit of their story. When I told the softball story, I concluded by musing, “Even before their very first date, Doris was already at third base!” Come on, pick your jaw up off the ground; that’s a good line.

I asked Doris the secret to staying together for so many years and she said the key was to take everything one day at a time, to which she added, “And when you say ‘I do,’ that means forever!” When I asked them for any advice they wanted to give to the newlyweds of our church (those who’ve only been married for 30 or 40 years) Odell offered, “Just do whatever she says!” It was priceless.

BlassingamesDiamondSince the 75th anniversary is traditionally the Diamond Anniversary, I told them that the church wanted to give them some diamonds. And I pulled the gifts out of a bag and handed them to them one at a time: one gallon of Red Diamond Iced Tea, two cans of Blue Diamond Almonds, and a CD containing forty two of Neil Diamond’s Greatest Hits.

We clapped again and several people walked over to hug Odell and Doris as I reminded the congregation of how blessed we are to be in the same church family as the Blasingames. We’re honored just to know these two. Their love and devotion to each other, the ways they support and take care of each other, the sacrifice and service they give to each other — it’s a true reflection of the love God has for his Son and the love Christ has for his Church. Their marriage is a daily expression of the Gospel. When people see their marriage, they see a living illustration of God’s faithful love and fidelity to his people. And it’s beautiful.

Congratulations, Odell and Doris. We love you so much. May the blessings of heaven continue to crown your marriage with increasing joy and peace.

Allan

The Creed & Historical Community

January 14, 2016 / / 1 Comment

Barrett&OCI had a great day at Oklahoma Christian University yesterday, catching up with some really old friends and maintaining connections with some more recent ones. It’s fascinating to walk into Hardeman auditorium and see Sheldon Adkins as a respected university counselor and Jeff McMillon as a respected Bible professor. Randy Roper — pardon me, Doctor Randy Roper — my play-by-play partner for all those Eagles basketball games, is the dynamic preacher for the Edmond Church of Christ. I know my own life has changed in so many wonderful ways since we were terrorizing the faculty and administration at OC back in the ’80s. Our God has faithfully shaped me and used me in ways I never could have imagined back then. To know he has done and is doing the exact same surprisingly wondrous things in others is a true blessing to my heart. We picked up with our conversation and connection like we had never left off, getting the scoop on mutual friends, re-telling the crazy stories that nobody would believe unless they had been there, laughing at the same things we laughed about twenty-five years ago. But there was added joy in the knowledge that our God saved us from ourselves and is using us to his glory and praise.

It was great to see Dillon Byrnes and Chandler Trader from the youth group back at Legacy. It was a true blessing to have Barrett Packard from our youth group here at Central introduce me to the OC chapel crowd and pray with me before I spoke. And the lunch at Alfredo’s with Adair, Randy, Barrett, and Dillon was a blast: old Delta guys in their late 40s with a couple of current Delta guys in their early 20s. And Randy.

Speaking at chapel at OC is nerve-wracking. I dread it. Tough room. Tough crowd. Impossibly high demands. I get the sense that 95% of the kids in the room don’t want to be there. I feel like none of them are listening (I know, I used to be one of those kids). Yesterday, though, seemed different from the other times I’ve spoken there. It seemed like they were paying attention yesterday, actually listening to the words of encouragement from the end of Romans 8 regarding God’s unconditional love for each of us. I wonder sometimes if the entire OC faculty and board of directors has to meet and vote first before I’m invited back to speak at chapel. I wonder if they call Terry Johnson or Richard Mock first, just to be sure they haven’t missed some kind of lifetime ban I’m under for some infraction committed in 1988. Regardless, I’m always grateful for the opportunity. And always blessed.

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“There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” ~Ephesians 4:4-6

CommunityJesusChurchWe’re in the beginning stages of exploring together the Apostles’ Creed here at Central. We just introduced it to our congregation last Sunday and we’re jumping into the first line together this Sunday, returning to each of the different lines in order once a month through the end of the year. I’ve received much encouragement this week since that introductory sermon in the form of emails and texts and even pictures. Some of you have placed the creed on your refrigerators, some of your children are drawing and painting the lines of the creed and hanging them up in their rooms, lots of you are wondering why you’ve never heard of the Apostles’ Creed before. Your excitement and energy about this is giving me much energy and excitement. Thank you.

In the last post here I wrote about using the Apostles’ Creed as a way to maintain theological balance. Today, let me suggest that memorizing and saying the creed together also reminds us that we belong to the historical community of all disciples of Jesus for all time. We are a part of the one body. We belong to the one called people. We confess the one faith and we are all children of the one God.

When we stand up and say this creed together, it connects us to all the Christians who stood up and said this creed together. Through the ages. The group of fifteen Christians in Asia Minor who gathered at the river and said the Apostles’ Creed as their neighbor was baptized in 265 AD. The two dozen Christians in Ephesus who said the creed together around the Lord’s Meal in one of their homes on a Sunday night in 310 AD. The hundreds of Christians in Rome who said the creed together in a brand new church building in 526 AD. The Christians in the European cathedrals in the 14th century. The Christians in the mission fields in the 19th century. All the Christians around the world who say the creed together every Sunday today. We are part of a people — think about how big this is! — thousand and thousands and hundreds of millions of people for the past 1,800 years all over the world who confess the basis beliefs of the Christian faith with these same words. It’s huge. It’s beautiful. It connects us to the people who’ve gone before us even now as the faith has been passed on to us and it’s our turn to run the race and boldly proclaim the truth about our God and his holy Son.

You say the pledge of allegiance or you sing the U.S. national anthem and it connects you to a people that were founded 240 years ago. We say the Apostles’ Creed and it joins us to an eternal people who were founded and shaped by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Peace,

Allan

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