Rules and Guilt

One of my nieces is fun to follow on Facebook (to be honest, a lot of people are). She has grown up with technology, and is quite well digitally connected; hardly a thought escapes her that is not immediately posted. If you are thinking that you just don’t get the whole posting-every-thought-on-Facebook thing, you are probably older than 30. Hahahaha! This seems to be the eternal burden of each new generation: that they are not understood by the older generations.

Now, my niece is in college, a whole lot of fun, and (like most of my relatives) a practicing Roman Catholic. At Lent, this means giving up stuff, and fasting. Most Catholics believe that fasting during Lent means no meat on Fridays… even though the US Bishops rescinded that rule for American Catholics.

Her recent Facebook post made me laugh:

“Man do I hate Fridays during Lent! This ‘no meat’ rule sucks!”

After my chuckle, I posted the following short reply:

Ask yourself... did God institute the no meat rule, or is it an arbitrary construct of religion? Jesus came to free us from religion, so we could have a real relationship with God. Jesus gave us simple commands: "Love God and love your neighbor as yourself." Religion, churches, and self-proclaimed holy leaders give us Lenten rules, food restrictions, and guilt. Lent and Easter are a time to rejoice... your debt has been paid! Jesus paid the ultimate price to free us from the bondage of guilt, and sin, and death. You can choose to be controlled by centuries of man-made church law, restrictions, and guilt... or you can simply follow Jesus, and be free... and eat what you want on Friday.

Now, I don’t have any problem with anybody who is led by the Holy Spirit to fast… but eating fish on Friday instead of eating meat has never really struck me as much of a fast. Besides, trumpeting to everyone that you can’t eat meat on Friday, or bemoaning such a sacrifice, flies in the face of what Jesus had to say about fasting:

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:16-18

I’m not necessarily picking on Catholics here. If you belong to any church, whether it’s Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, or whatever… you live by some arbitrary constructs of religion. You have doctrines, traditions, and rituals that are mostly man-made. I’m not saying that they are all bad, I just pose the question:

Do doctrines, traditions, and rituals keep you from being the light in the world? Do they help, or impede an effective walk with Christ?

On Wednesday nights during Lent, we discuss these types of questions. Come join us in some rousing discussions as we prepare to celebrate Easter.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

The Right Prescription

Crammed right up against the 91/57 freeway interchange is an area of tenement apartments known as Cypress Street. The rumbling noise of passing freeway vehicle traffic is a constant roar that makes concentration a challenge. Gang pressures and activities are a fact of life for those living here, as is poverty, crime, unemployment, and truancy. Messiah sponsors a ministry into the Cypress Street area that is aimed at involving our high school youth directly with the children of the area. The idea is to bring play, music, and a regular study of God’s Good News to the children of this neighborhood.

Mike and Meg Nguyen are a high-energy couple. Both are quick to laugh, and their smiles seem ever-present… especially when they are engaging the high school youth, or the kids of Cypress Street. Both are doctors that work 80 hours a week. Mike’s a surgeon, and Meg works with infectious diseases. They’ve been married for 4 ½ years, and have only been a part of our fellowship here at Messiah for about 2 years; almost as long as they’ve been helping with the Cypress Street ministry. In fact, Trevor invited them to participate in Cypress Street before they formally became partners in ministry with us here at Messiah.

They let me ride along on a Tuesday evening to experience their involvement in the Cypress Street ministry first-hand.

As we pulled up, the look-out’s shout of “They’re here!” became an overwhelming refrain as children seemed to appear from everywhere. For the next half hour, Mike, Meg, Trevor, and all the high-school youth were in constant motion… at play with the kids of the neighborhood. Some of the play seemed somewhat organized, but mostly, I watched what I could only later describe as a sort of random chaotic joy; with Mike and Meg at the center of most of it. The nightly format was simple enough: designed to engage the kids in play and music, to give them a safe respite from the pressures of their lives, and designed to bring the Word of God into their lives in a meaningful and personal way.

Although Mike admits to it “being Meg’s ministry more than mine”, it belies the passion and enthusiasm he pours out on the kids. Noting the chilly night, Mike mentioned that “Sometimes I don’t feel like going out, but then I do, and I always feel better; glad I came!” When asked why he’s involved in the Cypress Street ministry, he emphasized: “I’m involved with the kids! It’s easy to see how hugs and attention make a difference in kids’ lives. The best moments are seeing the long-term potential to change the course of the lives of children that… seem predestined only for a life of gangs, violence, poverty, and hopelessness.”

Meanwhile, Meg has been a magnet for girls since we got out of the vehicles. She speaks Spanish, and fluidly moves from English to Spanish when the situation calls for it. Meg is at home with these young girls, and they respond to her love and her passion for them like flowers respond to sunlight. Meg confides that “It’s a ministry that fits my passion!” Though there are there are hundreds of moments with the kids that touch her heart, Meg insists that “The best moments are when the kids ‘get it’; when they understand a lesson, when they see… more.” Meg likes that she gets a lot out of prepping the lessons, and she delights in being “someone the girls can talk to… simply by being a friend.”

What I saw… were kids who hunger for acceptance, connection, and love.
What I saw… were Mike and Meg (and the Cypress Street team) bringing a genuine love.
What I saw… was the kids accepting them because their love is genuine.
What I saw… were kids opening up and making real connections with them because they come back week after week, month after month, year after year!

I saw… Mike and Meg bring an infectious level of enthusiasm and excitement to the kids.
I saw… energy and excitement from the kids during the play time.
I saw… joy from the kids during the singing.
I saw… focus from the kids during the Bible study and prayer time.
I saw… a young couple that mentors our youth by example.
I saw… a pair of doctors who are the right prescription for a hurting world.

Week after week, Cypress Street sees Christ… in the hearts of Mike and Meg!

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

P.S.: The RISE newsletter is coming on Easter. Don’t miss it!



Daring to be Passionate

Recently, I sat down with Frank and Oralle D’Orsi to ask them a few questions about their involvement in Messiah’s Sunday school program. I’ve known Frank and Oralle (say: or-ah-lee) for most of the 16 years that they’ve been a part of our fellowship here at Messiah, so I thought I’d be done with them in 5 or 10 minutes. To be honest, they always seemed like background people to me; always serving, but more in the background than out in front. An hour later, I had developed a new respect for their commitment, their dedication, and their passion.

Oralle is such a great Sunday school teacher; I was surprised to learn that she was nervous and scared when she first joined the program 4 years ago. That surprised me, since Oralle has taught special education and then pre-school since 1972. Oralle emphasized that the call to Children’s Ministry came: “When the Holy Spirit placed it on my heart first.” So when the Director of Children’s Ministry asked her to be an aide, she agreed. That immediately turned into team-teaching.

Frank, who is a teacher/trainer in his own right, started in the Sunday school program “just to help Oralle.” According to Frank, working with children was “definitely a move outside my comfort zone.” Today, however, he’s very comfortable working with the kids. Time and exposure have led to an easy familiarity with the kids in their class. When asked what he likes best about the team teaching, Frank immediately broke into a big grin and said: “I love the opportunity to learn from Oralle… and I enjoy how well we compliment each other in the classroom.”

Later, I posed the same question to Oralle. She, too, smiled as she immediately replied: “I love to see Frank around the kids; how he interacts with them, bonds with them, and how he mentors and encourages them.” Oralle also added that she and Frank really enjoy… “The connection they make with the kids and the look on their faces when they ‘get it’.” After reflecting a bit, she went on to say: “The kids help me. I pray that I’m helping them. I want them to be excited about coming to Sunday school every week. Along with the lessons, they are learning to put forth the effort, and to be respectful… all in a fun environment.”

Today, Oralle and Frank team teach every week for Messiah’s Sunday school program. Although they have no kids of their own, or perhaps because of it, they pour their intensity into the kids in their Sunday school classes. Both of them agree: “It’s important for the kids to see your passion for God!”

Somewhere in the middle of interviewing Frank and Oralle, I realized something that I hadn’t ever taken in before. Here was a couple extremely comfortable in their passion and joy for one another! They really do compliment each other. Oralle nestles into Frank as they sit together, not out of any need, but because they fit together so perfectly. Their passion and joy are so infectious; I wondered aloud just how long had they been married? They were excited that this August would mark 25 years of marriage for them. And with that, they asked me if they could share another of their great passions and involvements at Messiah.

It turns out that they have been involved with the Marriage Retreats at Messiah since 2003, and they’ve been on the planning committee for the marriage retreats since 2005. They both share a real passion for planning the retreats, and find it a great honor and privilege to work on, and be part of, the marriage retreats with Pastor Ron.

It was impossible to stem the tide of passion and enthusiasm that this new topic had released in this special couple! They wanted me to know that the marriage retreats are for all couples… whether you’ve been married 4 months, or 40 years. Their overwhelming passion for this topic swept me away to a marriage retreat that was not just a ‘marriage retreat’, but was about meeting new people, knowing your spouse better, learning new things, having fun, and sharing in meaningful sessions and breakouts. They painted a picture of a secluded retreat environment that was comfortable, and that gave couples the time and the opportunity to share, to open up to each other, and to ultimately grow closer. The retreat format is fun, not forced, and on the final day most of the couples renew their vows. Wow! Are you ready to sign up, yet?!?

If you want more out of fellowship at Messiah, get involved, seek your calling, and like Frank and Oralle… take a step on faith by daring to be passionate!

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

P.S.: This entry will appear in a newsletter called RISE; look for it on Easter.