What is it about being a grandparent?

In case you have been living far away and haven't heard - I AM GOING TO BE A GRANDMOTHER.  My oldest daughter Meghan is due March 24th and is ready to meet this kid as she says.


I have not been this excited in a while.  Why?  Why is it so exciting to think about being a grandparent?  My father actually asked me why I was so excited to be a grandmother.  I did not have a formed answer.


Watching your children grow from baby, toddler, grade school, teenager and finally an adult is an awesome experience.  Once they reach the adult years and you can have a different relationship with them -  you begin to feel as if they have arrived.


Then seeing your children have their own children completes the circle of life.  I have been thinking a lot about my own grandparents and what do I want to pass on to my grandchildren.  I have heard that having grandchildren is better than being a parent because you don't have to do the disciplining.  I am determined my grandkids will enjoy spending time with me.


One of my grandmothers passed the faith on to me.  She sang, read from the Bible, taught Sunday school class and never hesitated to talk about how Jesus wants us to treat other people. My biggest hope is to do the same for my grandchildren.


I began to feel guilty the other day because I realized that I don't have the same sense of excitement at the thought of meeting someone new, getting to know them and sharing God's love with them.  I am not out of my head excited to get the opportunity to witness to others.  The thought of sharing with others about Christ can sometimes make us very nervous.


As I live in to actually being a grandparent I am hoping to take notes on how I pass on the Christian faith and how I can transfer that to sharing the faith with those I don't know.  Pastors share about the faith every week as they lead worship, teach and preach.  Remember that the worship crowd are usually those who are already converted or at least are open to the Christian faith. 


I invite you to consider your relationship to those outside the walls of the church.  How can you walk with them and find opportunities to share the faith?  How can we, the church, become more adept at sharing our experiences of what God has done in our lives, in the lives of others we have known and in scripture.  I hope to gain new insights as I become a grandmother.

Early, On-time and Late Arrivals

     Growing up my parents were always early wherever we went.  We were the first at church and early to the theater and movies.  I don't remember objecting to my parents early timing.  I actually grew up thinking that is just what one does when you go somewhere.
     I get especially anxious if I realize I am going to be late.  I think I am being rude by arriving late or even on time.  I guess there was an implied message in the way my parents approached our arrivals.   I also think it was a part of the time I grew up in - people arrived early for events and got the opportunity to see and talk to others.
     Compare that to what I have seen happening just in church attendance.  Since about 10 years ago it has been common practice for me to walk up the aisle of the church before worship begins and see the church sparsely populated.  Often by the time I kneel, pray and turn around the church is filled with people.  
      This past Sunday was classic at Anchor Park UMC.  I walked in, kneeled to pray and as I began the worship service the pews were very empty.  As I stood up to preach (later in worship) I noticed the church was full of people.
     What does all this mean?  What did it mean when I was growing up and we were always early?  What does it mean today that the tendency is to arrive after the starting time?  What does it mean that as the years go by people are arriving later and later during the worship service?
     I don't have any answers.  I am not upset about this change in behavior.  I find it interesting and am wondering what it reflects about our world and what is happening in people's lives.  
     Those who analyze human behavior have been known to explain why an individual may be consistently late to everything in their lives.  The excuse, I mean explanation is that arriving late is a form of control.  A time may be set for something to begin but the individual is not going to allow someone to tell them what to do - therefore they arrive late to show who is in control.
     Can this be true for our entire society?  This is not just a behavior by a few who are still dealing with childhood issues.  Perhaps things are so hectic in our lives that arriving late is our only option.  I know occasionally I will try to get one last thing done at the house before I leave only to realize it took me longer than I anticipated and I arrive late.
     When my spouse and I go to the movie we are always the first ones to arrive.  We figure that movies are expensive and we want to see it all including the previews and ads.  Maybe movie theaters have trained society to not worry about arriving at the start time because we know there will be a lot of previews before the actual movie starts.
     Another thought I had was the coolness factor.  It was "cool" to arrive early when I was growing up.  Postmodern society may not value early arrivals so it has become "cool" to arrive late.   We know it doesn't pay to arrive on time to the doctor because you always have to wait. (no offense to doctors - just the reality I have experienced) 
     There is a problem with getting in to the habit of late arrivals.  Late arrival becomes a problem for events that definitely start on time.  Things like school, courtroom and airline flights tend to fairly rigid in their start times.
     Whatever the reason I do find it interesting how the world has changed in this way.  If you have an explanation write me a comment because I would love to hear.  Know that I am not upset but just acknowledging a current reality that I find interesting.  Late arrivals definitely impact how we think about organizing our time as planners.
     There is one thing I know for sure - God loves the early, the on-time and the late arrivers.  May we grant one another grace in behaving as we have been created.

What A Difference!!!

     I was just reading a wonderful devotion written by a colleague in Iowa using the "transitioning" weather as an image for "transitioning" in life.  It was very appropriate for Iowa but the devotion would be lost on Alaskans.
     In Iowa when the weather is "transitioning" it is important to stay tuned to the radio and TV stations for updates.  The day can begin with rain turning to ice turning to snow turning to a blizzard.  For Iowans when there is bad weather that usually means people are asked and warned to stay home and off the roads.  Tornado season is another time Iowans stay tuned to the radio and TV.
     Contrast that to Alaska.  I am not sure we ever know when the weather is "transitioning" and even if it does transition to ice or snow we are prepared for it and go out anyway.  In Alaska we also don't put much confidence in the weather forecasters because they are usually wrong.  If we stayed home in Alaska when there was snow we would not leave the house for many days and even months at a time.
     Two different parts of the same country and an image has two very different meanings.  I realize I will need to be "transitioning" very soon to the Iowa way of seeing the world.  Much the same as when I transitioned to Alaska 5 years ago.
     I do however thank God that I have a new perspective on the world because of my time in Alaska.  I imagine that as the years go by in Iowa I will still continue to smile and think of Alaska when Iowans cancel events because of a little snow.   God created humans and areas of the world to be different.  Thanks be to God. 
     May each of us understand how different a perspective can be depending on where we are living and our life experiences.  Neither is wrong - just different.

Being Served

Last week I had the privilege of spending time with my family at an all inclusive resort.  Basically I spent a week enjoying the sun, beach, my family and being served.  My every desire was taken care of throughout this week.


As the week was about half way through I began to notice that the staff was extremely attentive and often anticipated my needs.  If I dropped something someone quickly picked it up - if my glass was empty it got filled - well you get the idea.  This was a great contrast to a person who is used to serving others.


There are several observations I would make out of this experience.


First, I was resistant to being waited on at first.  As the days went on it felt good and I relaxed and let it happen.  This was a good reminder that as I serve my neighbor in mission they may at first be resistance but if I keep at it they will relax, know that I mean no harm and even relax and enjoy.


Second, at the beginning of the week I did not notice those serving me but as time progressed I began to realize how amazing it was there were so many people concerned about my needs.  I also felt comforted knowing there was not anything I might face that week where I would have to solve it myself.  This also seems applicable in the work we do as the church in serving our mission field.


Third, by the end of the week I relaxed and felt special.  When we are cared for by others we can relax and we are reminded how special we are in God's eyes.  I think it would be awesome to give each person in our mission field a reason to relax and remember they are special in God's eyes and in our lives.


There are many of us who spend our lives intently looking for ways to serve others.  After last week I understand the need for each of us to have a time like I did last week.  I am not alone on this journey and I am indeed special in God's eyes.  Serving others takes patience as they trust our motives.


Peace, Leila

Green - Paperless Worship

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of worshiping with the Palmer Fellowship in their beautiful new location.  As I came in the door I did what I automatically do - I began to look for the bulletin.  I was told there was not a bulletin.  The church had gone green through being paperless.


One part of me thought awesome.  Another part of me started to panic - how will I know what is happening, how will I see what is on their calendar....  As I sat through worship I began to relax and allow worship to flow.  What I found was that the worship service was relaxing for me - I didn't have to keep looking at the bulletin to see what was next.  I could simply worship and allow those in leadership to carry me through.


Anchor Park UMC tried a similar experience for one week.  They did not have a bulletin one Sunday and no worship plan.  The idea was to let the spirit move them.  I was not able to be present for this service but I heard it was a good experience.


There is a great concern about the environment and being green.  I wonder if more churches might consider going without a bulletin.  What if you allowed any information to be on the screen up front or in your weekly e-blast newsletter?  Think about the amount of paper that would be saved - the cost and the trees.  I see it as a wonderful witness of the Christian commitment to model behavior that reflect Christ.


If your church decides to go paperless I would enjoy hearing about your experience.  I appreciate our connection to share these experiences and ideas and I thank God for the witness of our churches in the Alaska UM Conference.

Just Another Reminder - God Is In Control

This past week I was stricken with a mysterious illness - temperature, aches, pains, nausea, chills... you get the idea.  On the first day of this illness I thought - I must have picked up a bug.  I will be up and well by tomorrow.  The next day came and I was not up and well I was still very ill.  Then I began to bargain and rationalize - God I am sure this isn't going to last longer than today - if that is the deal then I will be perfect from now on (right).


The third day came and went and I still was not better.  Finally on the fourth day I woke up feeling better, very weak and dizzy but better.  I was able to eat real food - cautiously.  Now I am definitely on the road to recovery.


As I reflect on this ordeal (yes I have been known to be a little dramatic) I have to confess until the third day - I was determined to be in charge.  I had a childhood notion that I could control being sick.  I even bargained with God.  On the third day I gave in and in my prayer told God that I understood - nothing I was going to do other than rest and drink plenty of liquids - was going to hurry this up.  God was in charge.


Why does it take things like this to help me remember (I mean really remember) that God is in charge.  I am not in control and if I give over the controls to God I will be taken care of in ways I could not even begin to invent.


Thank you God for a bout with the flu (I think).  I don't believe God caused me to be sick but I do know that God was with me every moment and prepared the way for me to be well again.  I do believe that God can help us to turn our "mourning in to dancing" if we will just give over control.


Glimpses of the world the way God would prefer it shine through when we release our tight grip on control.  (If I could just remember that.)

Eerie Predictions

Did any of you see these eerie predictions from 1969 about the church?  Deborah Cole Wise from Iowa discovered this newspaper article.

Looking into the future - a view from 1969

The Fort Dodge Messenger Farm Edition July 26, 1969

Shocking Forecasts:

Predicts no sermons in churches of the future

by George W. Cornell AP religion writer

NEW YORK (AP) - Out of the murkiness of the present commotion and changes in the churches, a Protestant scholar has taken a long look at the eventual results of it all - and he sees some shockers ahead.

Among them: The disappearance of sermons and Sunday morning church services; growing interest in Jesus and less in the mystery of God; broad church consolidations; multiple memberships by some believers in more than one church.

The Rev. Dr. Roland W Tapp of Philadelphia, a United Presbyterian specialist in religious education, says "part of the upheaval now going on in the churches is temporary, but much of it will have permanent effects."

Recently on a three month research assignment for analysis and planning, Dr Tapp said in an interview that indications are that the organizational structures of churches "are not going to make it" to the end of the century."

"The long-range prospects are good for essential Judeo-Christianity, but not for the institutions.," he said.

Dr Tapp, a one time missionary, California pastor and World War II bomber pilot, is a former professor of psychology and philosophy of religion at Kentucky's Center College and of Biblical languages at San Francisco Theological Seminary.

He offered his lively preview of the future church at a recent gathering of religious publishers.

Items on the forecast included:

- A re-enactment of the fundamentalist-liberal fight of 60 years ago...It already has resulted in a marked polarization of the church at all levels...the split may become irreparable.

-With Protestants and Roman Catholics "no longer in real dispute" over major doctrines, they wil move increasingly toward "merger at practical levels" - between fundamental Protestants and fundamental Catholics and between liberal Protestants and liberal Catholics.

- Most institutional members will be 45 years old, and up.  "There will be a steady decrease in total membership...fewer youths will join the church."

-On the other hand, there will be "increasing interest in religion and Christianity" among college students and young adults but "they will continue to avoid the institutional church."

-Christian teachers will see themselves "more as fellow-seekers" rather than "transmitters of heritage."  They "will be more interested in Jesus and less in God"  even though this seems a "flat contradiction in Biblical terms."

- The Consultation on Church Union will bring unification of major Protestant denominations among "great wailing and gnashing of teeth," but the new connective church "will be no more of a monolith than it is now."

-"Sermons are out.  And so is the Sunday morning worship service at 11 o'clock.  The death rattle will be long and loud and gruesome."

-The main theological shift will be away from doctrine of divine transcendence toward a "doctrine of panentheism," which holds that "God is in everything," in contrast from pantheism, which says "God is everything."

- Racial integration "will be a fact within the churches...It already is a workable everday truth at headquarters levels."

- Church property, valued today at over $80 billion, will go on tax rolls.  "In a pluralistic society with Christians rapidly becoming a minority, this kind of tax exempt welath simply cannot be tolerated.  It won't be."