Deep River Friends Meeting Blog - "Faith Connections"

"Joel Committee" or Dreaming at Deep River Friends

2010-11-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

Lately you may have been hearing about a group at Deep River Friends called the "Joel Committee". This is a committee that was set up by Ministry and Counsel and approved by Monthly Meeting for the specific purpose of engaging the meeting in a process of long range planning and dreaming. The term "Joel Committee" is based on the Scripture passage in the book of Joel where we read:

"I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants - men and women alike." (Joel 2:28-29, NLT)

We see this verse come up again in the Book of Acts on the Day of Pentecost. It's a recognition that God's Spirit dwells in everyone and is available to all - men and women, old and young. We have called this committee the Joel Committee because we want to underscore the idea that God's Spirit comes to all of us - young and old, men and women - and fills us in such a way that we can "dream dreams". The Joel Committee is not just a "long range planning committee" but a group of folks committed listening to God and dreaming about our future together.

This committee has met three times and in those three times has brainstormed ideas in five key areas. These areas are: Finances, Faith Formation, Friendly Presence(our Quaker identity), Facilities, and Fellowship. The ideas that this committee has generated is on newsprint which can be seen in the Fellowship Hall. The next step is for the rest of the congregation to offer their ideas and input.

We have left the newsprint with the ideas for each of these areas on tables. On the tables are also blank pieces of newsprint and markers. What the Joel Committee would like for you to do is for you to give your input and ideas. The papers and pens will be left there for the next two to three weeks. Feel free to put down your idea or to say anything about all the other ideas. The committee values your input.

The next step will be to take these ideas and begin to discern a theme. Our most important question ultimately is, "Who is God calling Deep River Friends to be?" We are praying that this calling will begin to emerge from the themes that are discerned from the various ideas and input that is offered. Out of these, we hope to have a direction to head in that will give us short-term, mid-range, and long-term goals. We will still journey forth in faith but at least we will know what direction we are headed in one year from now, three years from now, five years from now, and ten years from now.

So, take some time and give us your ideas. Jot them down on the newsprint. Share with us your dream for Deep River Friends Meeting.

Founders Day Message - "Carrying the Fire Forward" (Jeremiah 20:7-9) by Scott Wagoner

2010-10-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

The young man was tired. He was tired of preaching the same message over and over again. Little did he know that he would end up preaching it for 23 years before his listeners would actually get it. But he kept preaching. He kept sharing his heart. It wasn’t always an easy message to give. It wasn’t an easy one to hear. It basically predicted that if his listeners didn’t take notice of their lives – the duplicity in which they were living – they would experience destruction both in their souls and as a nation. He was ridiculed and scorned all the time. When the people didn’t like what they heard, they would find a preacher that would say what they wanted to hear – and there were plenty of them. And what preacher turned prophet can take that over a long period of time? You preach what’s on your heart and you get ridiculed and scorned. You share what you believe is the word of God and you get the “deer in the headlights” look and then they leave and go find someone that will share a message that will go down just a bit easier. The young preacher turned prophet was about ready to give up. But just when he would have those moments of feeling as if he couldn’t do it anymore – those moments when he would convince himself to never again speak in God’s name, he would feel something deep within his soul stirring, something deep within his soul burning, something that would not leave him alone, and he would write in his journal: “…then your message is like a fire burning deep within me. I try my best to hold it in, but can no longer keep it back.”

This “fire in the bones” – this “fire burning deep within me” is what we might call passion. Jeremiah had it – or, maybe a better way to put it is that it had Jeremiah! The passion that burned within him was that of the message of God and the presence of the living God. It was that force within him that caused him to proclaim God’s message even when it wasn’t popular or readily accepted. It was the force that defined his ministry. Even though his message remained pretty much the same for 23 years – this “fire “within gave him the courage and the resilience to keep on preaching it, living it, witnessing to it, and proclaiming it even when it wasn’t popular or understood. That’s what passion will do for a person.

The early Quakers had passion. In fact, they were probably the corporate embodiment of Jeremiah. In other words, they were ridiculed and scorned. They were thrown in prison for their beliefs and the faith they chose to live out. They were persecuted for living out their experience that the Living Christ is real, present, and has come to teach and guide his people. They challenged government and religious authorities. They came alongside the oppressed and the marginalized. They chose conviction over comfort and convenience. They could have said with Jeremiah, “…your message is like a fire burning deep within me. I try my best to hold it in, but can no longer keep it back.” The message of early Friends burned white hot. It radiated out from their souls and warmed those they served with the love and power of God. As Thomas Kelly writes: “A great light and spiritual power blazed out in England, beginning about 1650, which shook thousands of their complacent formalism, which kindled men and women with radiant fires of divine glory and holy joy. It sent them out into the market places and the churches, ablaze with the message of the greatness and the nearness of God, His ready guidance and His enfolding love.”

The risk, though, is – and it’s a great one – that the farther away you are from the original fires the greater the risk of things cooling off. Let me quote Thomas Kelly again: “You and I exist today as paled-out remnants of the movement which sprang out of that discovery and that light. Those fires of 1650 and 1660 flicker low. We are for the most part respectable, complacent, comfortable, with a respectable past, proud of our birthright membership in the Society of Friends which guarantees us entrance, if not into heaven, at least into very earthly society. The blazing, burning fires of three centuries ago are too generally sunk in us to a genial, mellow glow of historical sweetness and innocence and gentle beauty.”

This morning we celebrate Founders Day –the “founding” of this meeting called Deep River Friends. We celebrate the vision of those that came before us and the legacy that they have left. We realize today that all we do is simply build on the foundations of those that have gone before us. And as we celebrate this Founders Day, we also look forward to the future realizing that we have a legacy to continue. And it is a rich and treasured legacy. Our forefathers and foremothers of Deep River Friends have given us some wonderful gifts – a great location, a rich spiritual heritage in which many of you have experience through Sunday School and other classes, a wonderful relationship and connection with the surrounding community, and continuity of leadership through families that have served as well as a wonderful welcoming spirit that invites new people to sink their roots and life deep into the soil of this meeting’s love and grace. But let’s heed the warning of Thomas Kelly – now is not the time to rest on our spiritual and historical laurels. Maybe this Founders Day can be our moment of re-dedicating ourselves to this passionate living faith that once burned brightly with early Friends and our own forefathers and foremothers – and can so with you and I.

Quick story – In the early days of the Tennessee Valley Authority a log home had to be abandoned to make room for lake behind the dam. A new home on the hillside had already been built for the cabin’s poor Appalachian family, but they refused to move into their beautiful split-level ranch home. The day of the flooding arrive but still the family refused to move. As the bulldozers were brought in, the family brought out their shotguns. No amount of legal papers or bulldozers would budge this family from their cabin.

Then someone from the Tennessee Valley Authority decided one last-ditch effort to end the stalemate. They called in a social worker to talk with the family and find out what their problem was. “We ain’t goin’ anywhere” the family announced to the social worker. “Nobody can make us. We’re not budging no matter how many threats you make or how rundown our li’l cabin may look to you!” The social worker pleaded, “Help me to explain to the authorities why you won’t move into your beautiful new home.”

“See that fire over there?” the man asked, pointing to a blazing fire in the primitive fire place of the log cottage. “My grandpa built that fire over a hundred years ago,” the man explained. “He never let it go out, for he had no matches and it was a long way to a neighbor’s. Then my pa tended the fire and since he died, I’ve tended it. None of us ever let it die, and I ain’t a-going to move away now and let grandpa’s fire go out!”

This gave the social worker an idea. She arranged for a large apple butter kettle to be delivered to the home. She explained to the family that they could scoop up the live coals from the fire and carry them to the new home where they would then be poured out and fresh kindling added. In this way, grandpa’s fire need never go out. Would this be acceptable? This Appalachian family huddled, and then agreed to move from their shack in the hollow to the new home on the hillside. But they wouldn’t budge – until they could take with them the fire of their ancestors.

We have a building. We have furniture. We have other historical artifacts. But more importantly, let us take with us into the future the fire, the passion, of our ancestors. Not just our ancestors at Deep River Friends Meeting but the ancestors for our faith – both our living Quaker faith and the faith in Jesus Christ – the “crowd of witnesses” as the book of Hebrews describes them. Thomas Kelly writes: “But the blazing discovery which Quakers made, long ago, is rediscovered again and again by individuals, and sometimes by groups. The embers flare up, the light becomes glorious. There is no reason why it cannot break out again, today, with blazing power. The world needs it desperately. It is in the hope that you and I, today, may rediscover this flaming center of religion that those words are written – not in an historical interest in a charming past.”

We take with us the fire of a living faith – a faith that is not fixed to a creed or a belief statement but a faith that is connected to a living person – the Living Christ. A faith that is based on a relationship with a person – Christ – and not propositions and fixed ideas. This is a “living faith” that sustains us in the hard times and gives us power in the challenging times. We take with us the fire of a serving faith – a faith that is seen and not just heard. We continue that legacy here as we serve at Open Door shelter, Leslies House, Peacemaker program, our serving in the schools, gifts to Hospice..and much more. It is a faith that follows the life of Jesus by exercising downward mobility and becoming a servant. We take with us the fire of genuine faith – a faith that is real, a faith that is authentic, a faith that expresses our personal relationship with Christ and our personal journey. A motto for us at Deep River Friends needs to be, “Making God’s Love Real.” How can it become real for you and I in such a way that our lives and our spiritual journey feels real to those around us. We take with us the fire of a courageous faith – a faith that is willing to advocate for the oppressed and poor, a faith that is willing to speak out against injustice, a faith that is willing to speak God’s message into a world that often lives by other messages, a faith that is willing to love the ones that other would rather not touch, see, or even acknowledge. We take with us the fire of a connected faith – a faith that connects us with one another through acts of kindness, love, encouragement and even accountability. A faith that offers hospitality to one another and is willing to “see that of God” in each other – one where we recognize and affirm each other’s gifts. And we take with us the fire of a transforming faith – a faith that not only transforms our lives and restores our hearts but a faith that transforms our community and world as well. It has been written of the early Friends that they were changed people before they went about to change others.

In his most recent book Outlive Your Life prolific author Max Lucado shares this story:

“Unfavorable winds blow the ship off course and when they do, the sailors spot uncharted islands. They see half a dozen mounds rising out of the blue South Seas waters. The captain orders the men to drop anchor and goes ashore. He is a robust man with a barrel chest, full beard, and curious soul.

On the first island he sees nothing but sadness. Underfed children. Tribes in conflict. No farming or food development, no treatment for the sick, and no schools. Just simple needy people. The second and following islands reveal more of the same. The captain sighs at what he sees. “This is no life for these people.” But what can he do.

Then he stops onto the last and largest island. The people are healthy and well fed. Irrigation systems nourish their fields, and road connect the village. The children have bright eyes and strong bodies. The captain asks the chief for an explanation. How has this island moved so far ahead of the others? The chief who is smaller than the captain but every bit his equal in confidence, gives a quick response: “Father Benjamin. He educated us in everything from agriculture to health. He built schools and clinics and dug wells. The captain asks, “Can you take me to see him?”

The chief nods and signals for two tribesmen to join him. They guide the captain over a jungle ridge to a simple, expansive medical clinic. It is equipped with clean beds and staffed with trained caretakers. They show the captain the shelves of medicine and introduce him to the staff. The captain, though impressed, sees nothing of Father Benjamin. He repeats his request, “I would like to see Father Benjamin. Can you take me to where he lives?”

The three natives look puzzled. They confer among themselves. After several minutes the chief invites, “Follow us to the other wised of the island.” They walk along the shoreline until they reach a series of fishponds. Canals connect the ponds to the ocean. As the tide rises, fish pass from the ocean into the ponds. The islanders then lower canal gates and trap the fish for harvest. Again the captain is amazed. He meets fisherman and workers, gatekeepers and net casters. Be he sees nothing of Father Benjamin. He wonders if he is making himself clear. “I don’t see Father Benjamin. Please take me to where he lives.”

The trio talks alone again. After some discussion the chief offers, “Let’s go up to the mountain.” They lead the captain up a steep, narrow path. After many twists and turns the path deposits them in front of a grass-roofed chapel. The voice of the chief is soft and earnest. “He has taught us about God.” He escorts the captain inside and shows him the altar, a large wooden cross, several rows of benches, and a Bible.

“Is this where Father Benjamin lives?” the captain asks. The men nod and smile. “May I talk to him?” Their faces grow suddenly serious. “Oh that would be impossible.?” “Why” the captain asks? “He died many years ago.” The bewildered captain stares at the men. “I asked to see him, and you showed me a clinic, some fish farms, and this chapel. You said nothing of his death.”

“You didn’t ask about his death,” the chief explains. “You asked to see where he lives. We showed you.”

On this Founders Day, let us rededicate ourselves as individuals – and as a meeting – to outliving our lives. Years from now, when someone asks, “Show us Deep River Friends”, maybe they will show them…
 A person working for peace who attended Florence Elementary
 A person attending church on a regular basis who remembers learning about the Bible and about God while attending here as a child
 A marriage that is now flourishing because they found hope and healing at Deep River Friends
 A family involved in serving their community because they learned a servants mentality while at Deep River Friends
 A person serving in the ministry full-time because while at Deep River Friends they heard God’s call on their heart
 A person who has found joy and peace in life because, when they needed acceptance and grace the most, they found it here.
 A person who lives life with intent, purpose, and passion because when they were floundering and had no direction, they discovered their life had meaning while here at Deep River.
 A person who has found life in a relationship with Jesus Christ because when they were here, it was the most important thing we could offer them.

May we carry the fire of a living faith forward into the future…and may we outlive our lives both individually and corporately.

Amen.

Founders Day Prayer - Founders Day, October 24, 2010

2010-10-26T06:22:00.000-07:00

Gracious and Loving God
On this day, our Founders Day, we give thanks…
We give thanks for those who had the original vision to see a Friends meeting gather and thrive in this location.
We give thanks for all those who have been joined to this meeting for well over 250 years and have given of their time, their talents, and their treasure.
We give thanks for lives that have been changed, transformed, renewed, and healed through the ministry of this meeting.
We give thanks for the many sacrifices and the dedicated lives that have made it possible for there to be a Deep River Friends meeting these many years.
We give thanks for every pastor that has ever served in this meeting – for their servanthood, dedication, and shepherds heart.
And we give thanks to you, O God, for being a generous God, a God who has walked with us and guided us through both the ups and the downs.
We give thanks God for the love you have for us, for the forgiveness of our sins, and for the promise and hope we have in Jesus Christ.

On this Founders Day, we pray for…
Vision for the future
Wisdom in the present
Guidance in the everyday
Love for one another
Hope in the circumstances of life
Peace in our hearts and in our world.

In Jesus Christ Name.
Amen.

Living An Authentic Spiritual Journey and Faith Life

2010-07-12T07:46:00.000-07:00

Abraham is one of my spiritual journey heroes. His journey of faith resonates with me because it seems real. It seems authentic. It seems like the kind of spiritual journey that struggles with real life. I think some folks try to have two different lives - their "spiritual lives" and their "real life". Their "spiriual life" then becomes and escape from their "real life" and ends up having no connection with how they live, where they go, what they do, and how they grow. Abraham's faith struggles with real life on a daily basis. He leaves the comfort and security of his familiar surroundings. He has to deal with strife in his family. He gets nervous at times and wonders if God's promises will actually pan out. He doesnt understand how God is going to keep His promise because it involves he and his wife having a baby in their "retirement" years. But through all of this Abraham keeps searching, keeps hoping, keeps expecting, keeps anticipating. His faith seems real.

I want to live a spiritual journey in which my faith keeps me hoping, expecting, anticipating, dreaming, and moving foward even thought the obstacles look formidable and challenging. I want an experience of God that seems real and authentic and connected with daily life - not something that feels like an "add on" because it's the respectful thing to do. Immersing myself in Abraham's life and journey is helping me to that. I'm not there yet...but I feel I have someone I can look and show me how it's done - that being Abraham.

Eugene Peterson defines faith in this way, "...'faith' - trusting obediently in what we cannot control, living in obedient relationship to the One we cannot see, venturing obediently into a land that we know nothing about." For me, the operative term here seems to be that of "obedience." To live this life of faith is to give up my need to control and to follow in holy obedience the promptings and leadings of God. Quakers have always sought to do this - to listen for the living voice of God and follow wherever that Voice calls us to go. Abraham did. So can we.

I pray my life can be described as one in which I am trusting obediently, living obediently, and venturing obediently. I also pray that we as Deep River Friends can be a faith community that trusts obediently, lives obediently, and ventures obediently. We are on a journey together - a journey that takes a lifetime. In that journey we can individually listen to God as well as corporately listen to God. It's tempting to want to make decisions purely from a rational level but what is easy to forget is that God is speaking to us at a deeper level - the level of our heart and soul. When we hear what God is saying, we bring it to the faith community and we share our leadings with one another. In that way, we take this journey of faith together.

Blessings,
Scott

Wisdom and Lifelong Learning

2010-06-07T11:10:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Graduates
This past Sunday was Graduation Sunday as we honored and celebrated the 2010 graduates at Deep River Friends Meeting. We saw some great slideshows of the "growing up" years of the following grads: Erin Wagoner, Brittany Robles, Emily Venable, Megan Donaghy, Janison Dillon, Amanda Deason, Jonathon Watts, Chad Wagoner, Brittany Moore, Lauren Watts, and Hannah McMurtry. Congratulations to all of these young people and our prayers go with them as they continue their life's journey.

The Continuation of Learning
As I think about Graduation Sunday I am reminded that our learning should never stop but should be an ongoing experience. In the Adult Sunday School class that I teach we will be studying the Book of Proverbs for the Summer. This book of the Bible is one of my favorites. It has short little sayings that seem to hit the nail right on the head. I like to say that with the Book of Proverbs, you either get it or you don't. It's a book of wisdom but not wisdom in the sense of head knowlege. It's the kind of wisdom that gets translated into every day action. In other words, if we are truly being wise as God wants us to be wise, it will show forth in our daily choices. The Bible has another name for those that choose not to follow God's wisdom. They are called "fools." I have made many foolish choices in my life's journey and I seek to recommit myself to making wise choices and to live wisely.

A Proverb A Day
For that reason, I am going to engage in a little experiment. I'm going to read a chapter from Proverbs each day. There are thirty-one chapters so it will take just one month. Each day I am going to see (and hear) what God might be speaking to me through that chapter. What proverb does God seem to be impressing upon me for that day. I want to be transparent enough to share that with you and what it means for me. Maybe you would like to do this experiment as well. In fact, I would challenge you to do so.

Continual Learning
We never arrive in the spiritual journey. We are always "on the way". While we travel, God is always showing us what we need to know in order to live wisely and less foolishly.

Blessings,
Scott

A Memorial Day for the Many and for the One

2010-05-31T07:19:00.000-07:00

Today (Memorial Day) we are invited to take time to remember and honor those who have lost their lives in service to our country. At Deep River Friends, our White Ribbon campaign has been our simple way of expressing honor. Each of the white ribbons in our front yard represent a life that has been lost in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They also serve as a reminder to us that our deepest longing and prayer is for peace. They remind us that those who have lost their lives are not numbers or statistics but real people with real families, loved ones, and hometowns. In many ways, their lives have been cut short and our world has lost forever their potential and contribution in many ways. We do honor their sacrifice and their willingness to serve our country in this way. We also can best honor their effort by our continued work for peace. As we continue to pray for peace and work for peace we envision a day in which war will be no more and we will not have to train for war. This is not a political statement. It is a statement that the prophets of the Old Testament and Jesus himself uttered many times. God's dream for all of creation is for there to be shalom - wholeness in our lives so that our lives may flourish and all of creation can flourish. As we strive for peace and as we wage peace daily, we get closer and closer to God's dream for all of creation. Let us honor those who have fallen but let us honor them by recommiting ourselves to work for peace.

One of the ways Deep River Friends has sought to be proactive in working for peace is joining an organization called "Every Church a Peace Church" (www.ecapc.org). We have joined the national registry of churches committed to living for peace and seeking peace in our lives and in our world. Take a few moments and visit the website and see how God might be leading you to engage in acts of peace.

I also want to take a few moments and honor another individual - David Chou. On Saturday, David passed away due to complications from a perforated bowel. David and his wife Mary Ann came to Deep River Friends about five years ago. I would like to say we found them but they found us - and have blessed us ever since with their presence, gracious spirit, and hospitality. David was a very quiet person but his spirit was larger than life and he always had a kind word and a gracious word to say about everyone and anyone. Even though David could not make it to meeting for worship that much we will miss him. Our prayers go out to Mary Ann and the family as they prepare for David's Memorial service on Tuesday, June 1st.

Maybe on this Memorial Day there are many we can honor...but there are also those that have touched our lives in significant ways and we can offer a simply prayer of thanks for their presence in our life.

Living In The Spirit of Peace

2010-05-25T05:43:00.000-07:00

"If we simply live in the spirit of peace, we contribute to the peace of the entire world. This is an ancient spiritual truth. If we want to participate in this transformation, we have to begin right now, this very moment, to root out the violence within us, to forgive those who have hurt us, to let go of bitterness and resentment, to reconcile with one another, and open a way for the spirit of God to move freely among us. We need to take a deep breath, turn our hearts in prayer, and receive God's gift of peace that we can then share with all of humanity and creation itself...Peace begins within each of us. It is a process of repeatedly showing mercy to ourselves, forgiving ourselves, befriending ourselves, accepting ourselves, and loving ourselves. As we learn to appreciate ourselves and accept God's gift of peace, we begin to radiate peace and love to others."

John Dear, Living Peace

As the song says, "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me." Where does it begin with you today? Do you need to forgive yourself? Befriend yourself? Accept yourself? Appreciate yourself? How you see yourself is what the world gets. Is it getting peace?

Reconciliation - God's Ultimate Purpose and our Ultimate Calling

2010-05-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

During the month of May we continue to focus on "peace" and the many ways it can be expressed in our lives. I think when we hear the word "peace" we immediately begin to think about Peace Rallies and anti-war protest and pacifism. To be sure, these are all a part of promoting peace but I think this narrow view of peace leaves us thinking that it's only for a select few. In other words, we might think that peace is only for those that are into it and have an interest in world peace when, in reality, peace is everyone's calling - the calling of the church and the calling of those who are part of the church.

In Paul's letters to the Colossians we read: "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood shed on the cross." (Colossians 1:19-20, TNIV). God is in the business of reconciliation and it's a pretty comprehensive reconciliation (..things on earth or things in heaven.) The statement "all things" covers a wide area - from world issues right down to the neighborhoods in which we live and the churches in which we serve. God's ultimate mission is reconciliation and God's ultimate calling upon our lives is that we be reconciled to God, to one another, and to creation. It is this reconcilation that is the fruit of the peace God offers all of us.

Author Chris Rice writes: "...before reconciliation is about us, it is about God. It is God's mission in the world. The journey of reconciliation begins with seeing reconciliation is not the goal of human striving but is instead a gift God longs for us to accept. It is connected with and gives birth to other gifts within the reality of God's new creation....reconciliation both names the church as and requires the church to be the sign and agent of God's reconciliation."
In one of his letters, Paul refers to Christians as "ambassadors of reconciliation." Ambassadors act on behalf of the country they serve. They are agents representing that country. As Christians, disciples of Jesus, we are acting on behalf of God's kingdom - we are agents of reconciliation representing God's rule. In that way it could be said that we don't have a choice but to be reconcilers and peacemakers.

But, in reality, we do have a choice - and we make those choices everyday. Reconciliation is about forgiveness, kindness, mercy, love, and acceptance. We have daily opportunities in which we can engage in these practices. Peace isnt just for a select few. It's not just for those that are "into peace". Peace is about all of us. It's a calling for all of us. And, God's peace in this world depends upon all of us becoming God's agents of reconciliation.

Letting the Peace of Christ Make the Final Call

2010-05-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

During the month of May we are focusing on peace. The topic of peace is one that's easy to discuss, theorize, and preach on but not always easy to practice. But, it's the most necessary to practice. In the Paul's letter to the Colossians, he writes these words: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts..." Bible scholars tell us that the greek word for "rule" in that sentence is basically the same word we get "umpire." In a baseball game, it is the umpire that makes the final call. The umpire declares who is out and who is safe. His decisions can often shape a game.

I often wonder what, or who, makes the final call in my heart? If I am honest, it's not always peace. If peace is ruling my heart and making the final call then most likely I am exhibiting actions that resemble kindness, compassion, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and bearing with one another (which is another way of saying, "putting up with others") But, there are times when anger, hostility, ungraciousness, pride, arrogance, and bitterness make the final call. They can sometimes rule my heart. When they do it's not very pretty.

We presently live in a culture in which peace is not making the final call nor is it ruling the hearts of people. Rather, hostility and bitterness - even negativity -seems to be making the final call. As the body of Christ - the church - we have been empowered to live a different way and in a different manner. Especially amongst ourselves, peace needs to make the final call. It needs to rule, "...since as members of one body you were called to peace."

What makes the final call in your heart? What rules your soul? Is it peace? If it isn't, it will show. It it is peace, it will show as well...and bless.

In Peace and Joy,
Scott

The Week Prior to Easter

2010-03-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

In reading the accounts of the last supper I noticed something I had never noticed before. Matthew, Mark, and Luke have Jesus sharing with the disciples the bread and the wine. In that moment Jesus makes the connection between the bread and the wine and his impending death on the cross. From those accounts the church has developed the sacrament of communion.

When I John's account of the last supper there is no mention of the bread and wine. What John does mention is Jesus washing the disciples feet and also telling them to love one another. As I reflected on this I began to wonder if maybe these are ways that I can live sacramentally...and especially the week leading up to Easter. A sacrament has often been defined as "an outward expression of an inward reality". In other words, the outward ceremony tries to somehow convey the reality of an inward experience. As Quakers, we believe that one needs to be beyond the outward and experience the reality of the inward. If we were to practice an outward sacrament, could it be that the practice of servanthood and loving others can be a powerful expression of that leading up to Easter?

I find that for me that is a challenging way to live. This week leading up to Easter I want to be open to the ways the Spirit of Jesus shows me I can serve others and love others. This can be the way I engage in "communion" leading up to Easter weekend. My guess is that Jesus will show me very practical ways I can serve and love and if I am not paying attention I am going to miss it. But, those are the way I need to be communing with Christ..those are the sacraments of the present moment.

Easter Sunrise Service
Our Easter Sunrise Service will be at 6:45 AM Sunday morning. We will gather at the edge of the cemetary and welcome Easter Sunday morning with the reading of Scripture, singing of songs, and a few moments of silent reflection. After the service, we will gather in the Fellowship Hall for our Easter morning breakfast. You are invited to join us on this Resurrection Sunday!

"Ribbons for Peace" - Deep River Friends Weekly Update

2009-12-16T07:12:00.000-08:00

This past week I sent a letter to the local newspapers (High Point, Jamestown, and Greensboro) to be printed in their Letter to the Editor section. This letter explains to readers and motorists what the white ribbons on our trees represent. Below is the letter in full.

White Ribbons for Peace
Over the last couple of years persons driving through the intersection of Penny Road and Wendover Avenue in High Point may have noticed the presence of a multitude of white ribbons on the trees and bushes in the front yard of Deep River Friends Meeting (Quaker). Many have asked us about the purpose of those white ribbons.
The white ribbons represent for us a witness to peace. We began by putting up a ribbon for each person that had been killed in the war in Iraq. The ribbon serves both as a way to honor the life that has been lost as well as reminder that we long and pray for peace to prevail. We are in the process of putting up more ribbons and our focus is now on the present war in Afghanistan. As before, the ribbons will serve to honor those that have given their life in service of their country as well as be a reminder that peace is God’s ultimate dream for creation – and our hope as well.
As a Quaker meeting we feel God has called us to witness to peace and at the same time supporting those who find themselves on the front lines of these wars. Quakers have historically maintained a peace testimony and we humbly seek to live that out as best we can. We are aware of the reality of armed conflict but long for a day when “…nations will never again go to war, never prepare for battle again.” (Micah 4:3 TEV) Until that time we continue to pray for those who have been deployed as well as their families and we pray for peace to prevail in our community, our nation, and our world.

Deep River Monthly Meeting of Friends (Quaker

As I finished this letter, my ultimate prayer is that peace will not just be something we talk about - or write about- but something we practice on a daily basis.

Annual Founders Day at Deep River Friends Meeting

2009-11-04T12:39:00.000-08:00

This Sunday is the Annual Founders Day at Deep River Friends Meeting. It's a Sunday in which we celebrate our rich heritage but also look forward in worship to the future God has called us towards. We give thanks for the foundation that has been laid by those that have preceded us. Their wisdom, perserverance, and faithfulness has given us a wonderful treasure in the form of the faith community called Deep River Friends. Our job is to get in line with these wonderful saints and keep the faithfulness going as we live into the future and live out our calling at the intersection of Wendover Avenue and Penny Road.

In our 11am meeting for worship, our guest speaker will be Becky Memmelaar. Becky is a preachers kid and recently graduated from the Wake Forest Divinity School. She is a recorded minister in North Carolina Yearly Meeting and just recently accepted a call to serve as pastor of Whittier Friends Church in Whittier, California. We look forward to Becky and the words God has put on her heart for our Founders Day.

After meeting for worship, everyone is invited to the Fellowship Hall for best carry-in meal in Guilford County and the surrounding area! Everyone is invited and welcome and encouraged to bring a dish to pass. There will be great fellowship, connecting with old friends and the making of new friends! It's a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the most important component of any church - it's people and the relationships that make up the congregation.

Deep River Friends Happenings - Week of October 5

2009-10-06T08:14:00.000-07:00

The Next Item up for Bid...
You will be hearing alot of that this coming Saturday at Deep River Friends Meeting as we hold our Fall Charity Auction. If you want some great deals on some great then you won't want to miss this event. It all begins at 4:30 pm with Bob Miller's gospel group, "Sheltered Quartet" singing. There will also be a Silent Auction along with the Live Auction. Hot dogs, chips, and drinks will also be for sale. A majority of the proceeds will go towards local charities and missions such as Victory Junction Gang, the MOWA Choctaw Center in Alabama, Belize Friends Boys School, and more. That is this Saturday, October 10th. See you then!

CROP Walk a Success
Thanks to everyone who contributed and walked in the CROP. Susie Jones reported this past Sunday that our meeting raised over $400 to help reduce poverty in our community. Those who walked enjoyed a beautiful day and walked for a very meaningful cause. What a blessing to be part of faith community so dedicated to helping alleviate the poverty and hopelessness so many find themselves in these days.

Membership as Discipship and the Week Ahead

2009-09-28T12:03:00.000-07:00

Membership as Discipleship
This past Sunday I spoke briefly on membership as discipleship. In our own Faith and Practice it describes membership as an experience in discipleship. But, when we hear the word "discipleship" I fear that we might think of heavy duty study with three-ring binder notebooks for those only truly serious about being spiritual. The truth is that discipleship is for everyone and it's not a "one time" experience nor it is just an event. Discipleship is a journey in which we make a conscious choice and decision to live in solidarity with Jesus and the reign of God that Jesus invites us to follow and participate in. To live in solidarity with Jesus means that we value the same things Jesus values as well as do what Jesus did. Discipleship is less a program and more a way of life. To become a member, then, is to publicly acknowledge that you are willing to engage that journey at a thoughful level. This doesnt mean you will be perfect or always get it right in following Jesus. It does mean that you will seek to be faithful to the way of Jesus and to give thought to it's implications for your daily living. As a member, it's a journey we take together and not just as individuals. To be sure, there are ways activities and programs we can participate in that will help us in this journey...

Participate in our "Digging Deeper" Sunday evening series along with the Disciple Bible Study or the book study
Attend a Sunday School Class
Be as regular as possible to meeting for worship
Attend our Contemplative / Silent worship at 9AM
Join with others in a book study, prayer group, or Bible study
Be active in service to others
Seek ways to apply your faith and the way of Jesus to your daily decisions - whether it be at work, in politics, or in your family
Take time for silence and prayer to hear the voice of the Living Christ

These are just some of the practices we can engage in to aid us in our journey. Whatever you choose, seek to bring meaning to your membership. Seek to make it a journey of abundance and life!

Thanks To Everyone Who Helped At The BBQ

Thanks to everyone who helped at our Fall BBQ this past Saturday. It takes alot of folks to make it a success. Most of all, it's a great opportunity to join together in a common project as well as meet people and fellowship with each other. At the same time, we are able to raise money for worthy projects as well as ongoing projects around the meeting house. Again, thanks to everyone for your participation!

Deep River Friends and Membership

2009-09-14T04:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I started a short series on what it means to be a member of a local meeting and specifically Deep River Friends. Our own Faith and Practice defines and Active Member in this way:

"Friends received into active membership those whose faith in Christ as a personal Savior is manifest in their lives and who are in unity with the teachings of Christian truth as held by Friends. Membership is seen 'primarily in terms of discipleship. It implies a sense of responsibility...a sense of commitment...and a willingness to be used by God.' "

As I shared yesterday, our starting point is a relationship with the Living Christ. Being a member is more then just having your name on a Membership Roll. Being an Active Member is a public declaration that you have entered into a spiritual journey with the Living Christ and you desire to take that journey in community with others. On this journey, we don't have it have it all figured out nor do we need to be perfect. What is necessary is that we see our membership journey as more then a "networking" tool or a status symbol. Instead, we see it is an important stage in the ongoing process of our spiritual development. Over the next three weeks, we will continue to look at this definition of what it means to be an Active Member. We are reminded, though, that any understanding of being an Active Member begins with our own personal reflection on our relationship with Christ. The relationship is our starting point and it is what carries us on this journey towards the fullness of membership.

Thanks and Appreciation!
This past Saturday we had some thoughtful folks giving time and energy around the meetinghouse grounds to do some cleaning and trimming. Thanks to all who came out on Saturday for your time and effort. It's also great to realize that when we take responsibility to care for our property, we are exercising good stewardship by not having to pay others to do it for us. It literally saves us money and we are able to take this money and use it for outreach and other meaningful ministries. Thanks to all who give of their time and talents at Deep River Friends!

Ice Cream Social Sunday
This Sunday (September 20) will be the the Annual Missions Committee Ice Cream Social. Come and enjoy great homemade ice cream from a variety of folks. All the monetary donations go towards supporting our ongoing mission projects. The ice cream social is always a great time to visit with others and support our missions giving!

CROP Walk
The Annual CROP Walk is coming up on September 27th. We hope that many of you will either be able to give a monetary donation or participatein the walk. The CROP Walk is intended to both raise money and awareness of those that are in need and hungry both in our communties and across our nation.

"Buckets of Blessings" by Dwight and Dacia Osborne

2009-08-25T04:58:00.000-07:00

Dwight and Dacia Osborne are the parents of grandparents of Bailey Shea Silva. These words of gratitude also capture some very important spiritual lessons. Thanks Dwight and Dacia!

One night this summer my grandchildren and I were in the yard catching lightning bugs and putting them in empty water bottles. It was neat to see the affects
of several lights in one bottle. A few minutes later our 5 year old grandson
came runninig from the backyard with a 5 gal. bucket waving wildly in the air.
"I 'm going to catch LOTS of lightning bugs!!"he yelled. That's how our
spring and summer has seemed...we were looking for a bottle full of blessings
but God had planned buckets and buckets of blessings. Our Jenny and Clint,
our Bailey, the awsome gifts, the special account, THE yardsale, the power
of praying people .. each has been unbelievably encouraging. Thanks and
expressions of gratitude seem useless but the love and committment from our
FRIENDS and family has been wonderful. Eph.3:20 says it best,
"Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or
think, according to the power that worketh in us."

Buckets to you, Dacia
and Dwight

Deep River Friends Happenings - Week of August 24-30

2009-08-24T12:46:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was a celebration weekend. In partnership with Furnitureland South, we were able to raise approximately $2500 for the Bailey Shea Sarvis Fund at the Yard Sale. This fund, which not totals around $5,000, has been set up to help pay medical bills incurred since Bailey was born premature. She is growing and getting healthier each day. We keep praying for her health and well-being. We also pray for Clint and Jenny as they go back and forth to the hospital. If you want to give to the Bailey Shea Fund, you can still do so. Just make your check out to "Deep River Friends Meeting" and memo it, "Bailey Shea Sarvis Fund".

"Digging Deeper" In Your Spiritual Life
This Sunday will be the start of our "Digging Deeper" series. This year, it will be structured with a book study and a bible study.

From 5:00 PM - 6:15 PM, we will have a book study entitled "Something More". Over the next nine months, we will read and discuss approximately three to four books that deal specifically with the spiritual journey and deepening one's spiritual intimacy with God. Each book will cost anywhere from $10 to $15. You only need to purchase them one at a time. The first book we will be reading is "Sacred Romance" by John Eldredge and Brent Curtis. This book sounds as if it's about relationships. It's about our relationship with God and how we can experience it in a more passionate way.

From 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM, we will be offering a Disciple Bible Study course on the books of Genesis, Exodus, Luke, and Acts. This will be a 32-week study which will involve daily readings of the Bible. Each week, we will come together to discuss the previous weeks readings as well as the Bible instruction in your manual. The manual costs $25 and can be picked up in the church Fellowship Hall.

These spiritual growth opportunities are open to anyone and everyone!

Silent / Unprogrammed Worship
This Sunday is a 5th Sunday so we will be offering a silent / unprogrammed worship during our 11AM meeting for worship time. We do this on our 5th Sundays to give us the experience of what it is like to worship in silence and to experience the silence. Early Quaker worship began in this manner as they believed that God could speak directly to anyone and that everyone gathered had the potential to bring a messgae from God. Silence is also a forgotten experience in our noisy world. It serves to create a space whereby we can listen not only to ourselves but also to God. We will have a couple of hymns as well as our offering. After that, we will go into silent worship.

Missions Committee School Giveaway
This Saturday our Missions Committee will be sponsoring a "giveaway" in the Fellowship Hall. It's intended to simply give school supplies away to those in need. With the economy being the way it is, school supplies can be hard to come by on a limited budget. We hope this will help bring some relief and encouragement to those that participate.

August Happenings at Deep River Friends

2009-08-11T04:39:00.000-07:00

Alot is going on in August both at Deep River Friends and everywhere else. Seems many are getting in their vacations and mini-trips before school starts.

Speaking of school starting, our youth collected a number of backpack items last Sunday for the Guilford Interfaith Hospitality Network. Thanks to everyone that contributed. Our Missions Committee is also collecting school supplies to help equip the kids in the schools around us as they head back to school. If you would like to donate any school supplies, just drop them off in the Fellowship Hall.

Bailey Shea Sarvis Fundraiser
As many of you know, Bailey was born to Clint and Jennie Sarvis a few weeks ago but rather prematurely. (Jennie is the daughter of Dwight and Dacia Osborne) Since then she has been receiving tremendous care and Women's Hospital in Greensboro. In order to help with their medical bills, we are partnering with Furnitureland South and holding a rummage sale on August 22nd in our Fellowship Hall. Jennie is employed by Furnitureland South. I like to say, there will be good deals for a good cause. Also, there will be baked good items for sale as well. If you would like to donate items for sale, you can bring them to the Fellowship Hall the week of August 17th. If you need something to be picked up, call the office at 454-1928.

We want to thank Susie Jones and Janie Carroll for their work on the Deep River Friends Meeting Yard Sale and Rummage Sale. Due to their efforts - and those who helped them - they raised $500. That money will into the fund for Clint and Jennie to use for their medical bills as well. There is alot being discussed nowadays in the area of healthcare reform. It seems that a big first step towards that is making sure we look out for each other and help each other when we can. That's the kind of reform I think everyone can agree on.

"Digging Deeper" on Sunday Evenings
This Fall we will be offering study opportunities again on Sunday evening. Beginning at 5PM we will have a book study. The books this year will follow a theme on developing our spiritual lives and growing spiritually. Book titles will be announced ahead of time. At 6:30pPM we will be offering a Disciple Bible study class focusing on Genesis, Exodus, Luke, and Acts. It will be a 32 week study of these four books of the Bible and will be open to anyone in the meeting. Both of these opportunites will being at the end of August of first part of September.

Also, Beth Johnson will be offering a women's Bible Study beginning around the same time. Right now, that group will meet most likely on a weeknight - possibly Tuesday evening. This study is open to any woman in the meeting. Meeting times and dates will be announced.

Hope you are all having a great week and look forward to seeing you this weekend!

This Is The Week The Lord Has Made...Let Us Rejoice and be Glad!

2009-07-27T06:43:00.000-07:00

Vacation Bible School
This week is the beginning of Vacation Bible School at Parkwood Baptist. Each year we partner with the fine folks at Parkwood and every year it's a huge success. I marvel and am amazed each year at all the folks that are willing to volunteer at least two hours of their evening to spend time with these wonderful children. Thanks to all the volunteers from both Parkwood Baptist and Deep River Friends Meeting. Vacation Bible School will end Friday evening with a hot dog supper. It starts each evening through Thursday at 6:30 PM and ends at 8:30 PM. Keep all teachers and children in your prayers.

Bailey Shea Sarvis Update
We have all been praying for Clint and Jennie Sarvis' new baby girl, Bailey Shea. Born premature, Bailey is still at the hospital under the care of the fine doctors and nurses and putting on weight. Here is an update from Jennie posted as of yesterday (July 26)

Sunday afternoon- We get good news that she will have her ventilator tube removed this afternoon and be put back on the cpap, she is done with another round of anibiotics, and she is tolerating her feedings. Oh,,,and she is now 3lbs big!! To you that sounds like nothing, but to me she is starting to get "fat". I put another bill next to her just to measure her growth and I looks like she has come a long way.(in my head) Monday, I will get to hold her again after a tough week of just being able to watch her outside her "condo". Its amazing that she knows my voice and will start to breath more heavily and try to open her tired eyes at me when I come and visit. Gosh, she is so beautiful!
I think back to the days of me on bedrest in the hospital. In talking with some of the nurses that I had each day, I would ask about other patients on my hall-no names but just their condition. Perhaps to see if there were others close to the same week I was.(23-27) or a patient who was a few weeks further along that would give me strength. Some days the nurse would come into my room and I would ask. "Is everyone behaving today?" (meaning- are the other patients ok and is everyone still holding on to their babies) Some days the answer would yes and other days the answer would be no. Several times I have been asked how I can keep my head up through all of this. The answer is that some of those girls on my hall which have no faces or names to me, don't have what I have right now- a baby. I feel so blessed-not lucky- to have Bailey right now. There were so many days when the answer was no to that daily question. I have to keep going strong b/c this chance of motherhood is and will always be so delicate. God is awesome! Prayers heal people! It is truely a miracle to be a parent. I still go and visit the nurses that had me on that hall and joyfully keep them updated on Bailey's progress too. No she is not out of the woods yet, but what progress from where we started from. -Jenny

Continue to keep Clint, Jennie, and Bailey in your prayers!

California Bound
This Friday, Chad and I will be flying out to California to meet up with Erin and Sarah as we get ready to bring them home. We will be leaving Los Angeles on Sunday morning and arriving in North Carolina on Thursday evening. Along the way we will pass through Las Vegas, Utah, Colorado, Kansas (with an evening at the Kansas City Royals ballpark!), and Kentucky. Keep us in your prayers and I will be posting on my "California" blog to keep everyone update.

I hope everyone has a great week! Remember, God has already gone ahead of you and has prepared this week for you! Be aware of what God is up to in your life!

The Hard Work of Growth

2009-07-20T12:15:00.000-07:00

Getting Unstuck From Our Patterns
This past Sunday (July 19) I spoke on getting "unstuck" from our patterns. These patterns are entrenched ways of behaving, relating, acting, and doing life that sometimes do not serve us well...or serve others well. In fact, they very well may sabotage our effectiveness and our success...not to say the least our relationships. I have witnessed many marriages sabotage themselves due to the fact unhealthy patterns had developed over the years between the couple but yet they were unable or unwilling to make the changes necessary to enable them to function in a healthier manner. Growth is not always easy work. Sometimes it takes some necessary soul work. The following is what Lynda, my wife, wrote about the hard work of growth. I believe she describes it very well:

"I have been waging a battle all summer in my front flower bed. It's a battle between me and the Bermuda Grass. I have to be honest and say I neglected that bed last summer. So this spring I declared battle and with Scott's help old plants were removed and new ones planted.But the Bermuda Grass keeps returning. I pull and pull, spray Round Up, and pull some more.It had been 2 weeeks since my last surge to get rid of all the grass. So, I tackled it once again today. I decided I needed to dig a little deeper, get more of those roots that run deep and criss cross all over that flower bed. Hard work- yes. But is anything really worthwhile easy?That flower bed is really like my soul. How many times have I tried to just work hard enough to clean up the surface so my life looks nice. But I have left all the tangled roots deep below the surface. All those behaviors and patterns that hinder my relationships with others and with God eventually make their way back to the the surface of my soul.So how do I get at those roots? How do I get them out of the Garden of my Soul?When I look at what I did with my flower bed today, I have got to work at it. There has to be some purposeful action. And, the hardest part, I've got to dig deep. Probably deeper than I ever knew I had to dig.It's hard work, very hard work. Just as my muscles ache and my hands are sore, my soul may feel tender and bruised in the process.But the hope that I cling to and the promises I hold dear, remind me that the work pays off. My flower bed will thrive, and so will my soul and my relationship with others. I've got to keep tending to my Garden. Blessings for today."

The question sometimes has to be asked - am I willing to do the hard work necessary to grow in my life, in my relationships, in my emotional maturity?

Helpful Resources
I mentioned Sunday morning that there have been some resources helpful for me and I want to pass these titles on to you. You can order these at any bookstore or through Amazon.

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Peter Scazzero
How Can I Let Go If I Don't Know I'm Holding On, Linda Douty
A Resilient Life, Gordon MacDonald
One Day At A Time, Trevor Hudson
Change Your Mind and Your Life Will Follow, Karen Casey

These are just a few that I have found helpful. You may have others. The key is to keep on growing and doing the "digging" and "weeding" that helps us get rid of those unhealthy patterns.

"God's Love" by Thomas Merton

2009-07-15T03:45:00.001-07:00

"If I were looking for God, every event and every moment would sow, in my will, grains of God's life, that would spring up one day in a tremendous harvest. For it is God's love that warms me in the sun and God's love that sends the cold rain. It is God's love that feeds me in the bread I eat and God that feeds me also by hunger and fasting. It is the love of God that sends the winter days when I am cold and sick, and the hot summer when I labor and my clothes are full of sweat: but it is God who breathes on me with light winds off the river and in the breezes out of the wood. God's love spreads the shade by the sycamore over my head and sends the water-boy along the edge of the wheat field with a bucket from the spring, while the laborers are resting and the mules stand under the tree. It is God's love that speaks to me in the birds and streams but also behind the clamor of the city God speaks to me in God's judgments, and all these things are seeds sent to me from God's will. If they would take root in my liberty, and if God's will would grow from my freedom, I would become the love that God is, and my harvest would be God's glory and my own joy. And I would grow together with thousands and millions of other freedoms into the gold of one huge field praising God, loaded with increase, loaded with corn."

Numbers Matter - Deep River Friends Annual Report

2009-07-14T08:53:00.000-07:00

William Willimon is a Bishop in the United Methodist Church in Alabama. Sometimes he will hear the concern that it's "all about numbers." Typically, this is voiced by someone who doesnt want to be held accountable for dropping attendance or dropping finances. In the following excerpt from his blog, William Willimon makes a good case for how "numbers matter":

"Although I’ve never heard this comment from a bishop, a pastor, or a church that was growing, a frequently heard comment in response to our Conference Priorities, from those who have limited their ministry to decline is, “So? It’s all about the numbers.”
Though I don’t see much indication that we have become infatuated with numbers (I was miserable at math in school) in our evaluation and deployment of our pastors, in our evaluation and leadership of our churches (most of our churches are still declining rather than growing) some question our historic Wesleyan focus on numbers of baptisms, attendance, membership, giving, and mission. The church is all about Jesus Christ and his mission. Are we now guilty of moving toward an “It’s all about numbers” posture?"

We loaded up our car for our annual family vacation. I had been clear with the family about our time of departure for the beach. Patsy had dutifully loaded the car. I had dutifully been clear about the time of departure. Harriet was there. Where was William?
“That does it. We’re leaving. He knew the time and yet he’s not here,” I said, in love.
“We can’t leave without him,” Patsy asserted. “How can you go on a family vacation without the whole family?”
I responded, “Look, we have one child who obeyed the rules, did as she was told, is punctual and obedient. Isn’t that good enough? Let’s go. Don’t worry about the other fifty-percent of our children.”
“We have two children. We are not going anywhere without everybody,” Patsy commanded, in love.
“One, two, whatever,” I responded. “So? It’s all about numbers! What difference does it really make whether we have all of our children or half of our children? The important thing is the quality of our family interaction on the vacation. This is about love, not numbers!” (adapted from the Annual Conference learning session with Mark DeVries)

In this interesting illustration, the numbers do matter! You don't want to leave a child behind...or do you? For sure, we don't want to obsess about numbers but they do give us an indication of where we might be doing well and where we need to pay more attention.

Annual Report
To this end, we handed out last Sunday our first-ever Annual Report of Deep River Friends. In it we have provided information regarding our receipts and expenditures for the past year as well as our budget for the coming year. We have included financial reports as well as reports regarding the work of our committees over the past year. Here are just some hightlights from the report:

Average Worship Attendance for the past year - 122
Average Sunday School Attendance for the past year - 48
Average weekly Sunday offering - $3,010
Average monthly Sunday offering - $$13,047
Total Outreach Giving (Quaker and non-Quaker) - $44,846
Total Sunday offerings for past year - $156,570

These are just a sampling of some of the information you will find in the Annual Report. In the report, you will also see what it is our committees do and how you can possibly serve within the meeting. I have been saying that there is more then enough ministry at Deep River Friends for one or more committees to do - we need everyone! Even if you are not on a committee, we need your servant heart. Consider where God might be calling you to serve.

Sermon Series Continues - "Getting Unstuck"

This Sunday I will continue my sermon series on "getting unstuck". This Sunday we will look at getting unstuck from patterns in our life. In other words, we pattern our life in certain ways and usually based on our upbringing and on past experiences. Some of these patterns serve us well and some of them don't. We need to discern what patterns we can keep and what patterns we need to change. How we pattern our life can greatly determine our fruitful...and even successful...we can become.

Hope everyone is having a great week. Feel free to check out my other blog at www.thegrowingedge.blogspot.com

Blessings,

Scott

"Getting Unstuck" at Deep River Friends

2009-07-07T06:42:00.000-07:00

"Getting Unstuck" Sermon Series
This coming Sunday I will be continuing my sermon series on "getting unstuck" in life. The past three weeks I have focused on getting unstuck from our past, pain, and our perspectives. This week, we will take a look at getting unstuck from our problems.

In his book, Leading On Empty, pastor and author Wayne Cordeiro makes some interesting observations:

"Unresolved problems are like unresolved debts. You know they're there, but you just can't bring yourself to deal with them. You ignore symptoms and suppress the reminders until they ulcerate the inner recesses of your soul. They deplete energy and cause a low-grade fever in your emotions. It won't be long before an overwhelming sense of helplessness and entrapment overshadows you. Problems don't destroy you. Unresolved problems do. These are the nagging issues that create a breeding ground of fear. We feel compelled to live in the past and feel as if our hope for tomorrow is slipping away from us. Unresolved problems spawn chronic illness, work stress, relationship problems, and family breakdowns..."

Do you find you have "unresolved problems" or "issues" in your life? If you do, you probably resonate with what Wayne Cordeiro has to say in the preceding quote. These "unresolved" problems work on us like a low-grade fever. They sap our energy, creativity and even enthusiasm.

This Sunday, we'll take a look at how we can get "unstuck" from our problems and, through the presence of God, we can bring resolve and growth to our lives.

Monthly Meeting for Business
This Sunday will be our regular Monthly Meeting for Business. All members / attenders are welcome and encouraged to come to Monthly Meeting. During this time, we discuss the daily and ongoing business of the meeting as well as discern how we can continue to fulfill God's call on our life as a meeting. Ideally, we gather for worship for the purpose of having business. It is first and foremost a worship experience in which business is conducted. Being aware of that, we come seeking to discern first and foremost God's will for our lives and our meeting. Come join us in this time of prayer and worship!

Youth Missions Trip
Our Senior High and Middle School youth under the direction of Lisa Moran will be having a local missions trip this week. They will be using Faith Presbyterian in Greensboro as their "home base" and going out to various parts of the city to offer their lives and time in acts of ministry and community service. This is a great opportunity for our youth to see what goes on in their local area as well as give back some of their time and gifts. Pray for Lisa and our youth as they participate in this unique missions experience.

Make A Place for People

2009-06-30T05:13:00.000-07:00

I don't know where I heard it - probably at a conference years ago - but it was such a great statement I have never forgotten it. The line that I remember to this day goes like this..."Church should be an experience of finding a place for people and not keeping people in their place."

I have heard unfortunate stories of where church has become an experience of "keeping people in their place." That phrase, "keeping people in their place", has a feel of judgment and punishment. It has a feel of someone just waiting for someone to mess up so that they can be corrected. It has a feel of superiority. If you are on the receiving end, it doesnt feel very good. Accountability is good and helping people to live in the way of Jesus is necessary. But, turning church into an experience of "keeping people in their place" conjures up images of moral finger wagging. Worse, it describes an environment that is not too full of grace and mercy.

I better approach and vision would be to see church as an experience of "finding a place for people." Folks today are looking for a "place"...
> a place to serve
> a place to discover meaning and purpose
> a place where grace is real
> a place live out their unique gifts and calling

We serve folks well when we make a place for them to do all of this and much more. Jesus was always making a place for people - a place at the table, a place in his life, a place in his Kingdom. Jesus was never about "keeping people in their place".

How can we make a place for folks at Deep River Friends? Who do you need to make a place for in your life?

Happy July 4th!
This weekend is July 4th and an opportunity to celebrate the birth of our country. There are probably a variety of ways we all celebrate this weekend - mainly with cookouts and fireworks. And, we take time to reflect upon the freedoms that we have. I would invite us, though, to also reflect on how our freedoms can be stewarded to bring goodness to the common good. It's easy to use our freedoms to simply look out for ourselves and our own individual rights rather then steward our freedom to seek the good of others and our country...and even our world. It seems that if we as a country have been blessed with so much freedom then it wasnt necessarily for the purpose of hoarding it for ourselves. Let our freedom lead us out into creative goodness on behalf of others.

Summer Sermons and Upcoming Activities

2009-06-22T09:09:00.001-07:00

Wow...it seems as if Summer came on full force and now we are right into it! Hard to believe that July 4th is just around the corner. While you are all traveling and heading to the beach or the mountains, here are a few things I want to keep in front of all of us at Deep River Friends.

Summer Sermons Series
For the next month, I will be offering a series of messages on the theme, "Getting Unstuck." It's my contention that part of what impedes our personal and spiritual growth are the "stuck" places in our life. There are a variety of reasons we get stuck but whatever they might be, our personal growth diminishes the longer we remain stuck. The five areas we often get stuck in our...
> Getting stuck in our past
> Getting stuck in our pain
> Getting stuck in our problems
> Getting stuck in our perspectives
> Getting stuck in our patterns

This past Sunday (June 21) I spoke on how we can get "unstuck" from our past. This coming Sunday (June 27), we will look at getting "unstuck" from our pain. If you can't make it to meeting, you can always listen to the messages online at www.deepriverfriends.com Of course, I would be then happy to provide a copy of my manuscript if you would like one.

New Church Year
Our new church year begins on July 1 and goes through June of the next year. In our Monthly Meeting for Business yesterday (June 21) we approved a budget for 2009-2010 as well as a list of committee members. We will include both items in our July newsletter. Thanks goes out to our Finance Committee and Nominating Committee for completing both of these important tasks for the beginning of our new church year.

Scott's Personal Blog
We appreciate everyone that follows this blog to keep updated on what is going on at Deep River Friends. I also invite you to check in with my personal blog at www.thegrowingedge.blogspot.com. This one is more a labor of love as I attempt to put in writing my thoughts and musings about spiritual and personal growth.

Have a great week and keep checking back in!
Scott

Living and Growing in Grace

2009-04-27T08:32:00.000-07:00

Family Camp 2009 - This weekend (May 1-3) will be the Deep River Friends Family Camp at Quaker Lake. (www.quakerlakecamp.org) It's a time for us to gather as a church family and enjoy the fellowship as well as grow spiritually. It all starts on Friday evening. There is nothing scheduled for Friday evening but you can come and enjoy hanging out as folks arrive. On Saturday, there will be a couple times in the morning in which we gather as a group to worship and study the Scriptures together in keeping with our theme on "grace". Saturday afternoon is free time with a BBQ chicken dinner on Saturday evening and a Talent Show after dinner. Sunday morning we will have our Sunday School time with our Meeting for Worship at 11AM. We are encouraging everyone to come to the worship at Quaker Lake. You can dress extremely casual as we gather to worship together in the beautiful surroundings.

Our theme for the weekend is "grace" and we seek to understand how we can "grow in grace" so that we can better live in God's grace as well as be grace-full towards each other. One of the themes Ministry and Counsel has been promoting in our meeting is that of "hospitality". This term, "hospitality", is one of the five spiritual practices we are seeking to root ourselves in as a congregation so that we can become an increasingly fruitful congregation. Here is what one writer has to say about "hospitality":

"The hospitality of the church is not simply a matter of being nice or being really friendly. Not is hospitality accomplished by better signs, name tags, or a really great coffee hour. Hospitality is about grace. It is about welcoming others, whoever they are, wherever they are on life's journey, because that's the way God welcomed us. It is about loving others because God has loved us."

As we gather for Family Camp, I pray that we can better understand how God has welcomed each of us and how God has created a hospitable place for each of us to live and exist. In that way, we can be people who gladly welcome each other regardless of where we are on our spiritual journey.

Thoughts on Current Events - It seems as if we can't pick up the paper or watch the news without another "crisis" looming on the horizon. If it's not an economic crisis it's a climate crisis or a health crisis -as in the present warnings about Swine Flu. No doubt, we certainly need to be aware of what is going on around use but we need not be consumed by the events. As we do what we need to do to take precautions and be prudent, we also live with the awareness that our God is a much bigger God then any crisis that exists today. God is not thrown off by events of our world and neither shall we.

Blessings,
Scott

Christian Earth Care

2009-04-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

Coming up this Wednesday, April 22, is Earth Day. It is a day designed to create appreciation and awareness for creation and the world in which we live. It is also a day designed to cause us to stop and reflect on our behavior towards the earth's resources and how our lifestyles may be doing damage to the environment. For years, Christians have often shied away from this kind of stuff. They leave to to the "tree huggers" and those of a more liberal and progressive persuasion to deal with the "earth care" stuff. But, thankfully, we are beginning to make some progress in seeing earth care as the responsibility of all Christians - and all people's - and giving careful thought to our actions and lifestyles and how they affect the environment. In recognition of Earth Day, I share this excerpt from entitled Serve God Save the Planet: A Christian's Call to Action, by Matthew Sleeth.

"What is your behavior toward God's creation? Most of us are not able to walk down pathways we have planted with trees. We do not know how many pounds of trash we have plucked out of streams. We have not composted our yard waste, much less eradicated an invasive species of algae from a pond. For the majority of us, our relationship to the created world is not one of caretaker or steward. Our typical reaction to nature is to not see it, or to see it only when a vacation or a sporting activity takes us into contact with it. It is sobering for me to admit that I can identify more species of automobiles than trees.
Are you kinder than average in your treatment of the earth and your neighbors? In order to move from thought to action, you will have to recognize that some action is needed. For actions in which there is no universal right or wrong, it can be helpful at least to be aware of what others are doing. We may think of ourselves philanthropic and generous until we see a widow giving away her last two pennies.
When we ar truly grateful, we give God thanks for our blessings. When we are ungrateful or feel a sense of entitlement toward material blessings, we tend to ignore or mnot give thanks. Many of us give thanks for our food. We know that farmers have worked hard to produce it, and that God has provided the sun and rain and wind vital to the harvest. We bow our heads in prayer and thank God for our food. Few of us recognize however, that people work, fight, and die to bring us energy.
Energy - electricity, wood, coal, gasoline, propane, and oil - is like food. It is a blessing, and it sustains us. Our relationship to God's gifts can be one of entitlement, ignorance, and gluttony or one of praise, thanks, and temperance.
When was the last time yo bowed your head in thanks when filling your car with gasoline? If you haven't done so, is it because you don't think it is a blessing? Do you feel entitled to fill up? Is home heating oil something God or the world owses you? Do you feel you should have all you want, and at the price you want?"

I think one thing this author does is cause me to see how often I view life as an entitlement rather then a gift. When we see the earth and creation as an entitlement, we feel free to use it any way we want without any regard for the damage we may be doing or for what we are handing on to the next generation. When we see creation as an entitlement, we lose a sense of wonder about it and we only see it in utilitarian ways - how can it meet my needs? how can it supply what I want? To acknowledge God as the Creator is to acknowledge that God is the giver of all we have and possess. And, God has given us a magnificent creation to enjoy, steward, nurture, and care for so we can pass it on to the next generation.

Happy Earth Day!
Scott

Easter As A Way of Life

2009-04-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

I recently came across a great website. It's www.explorefaith.org. On this website it provided a great way for folks to make Easter more then just a weekend experience. We Quakers don't often follow the Liturgical Calendar (or Christian calendar) very religiously. Being folks that don't get too much into ceremony or ritual, we often don't pay attention to it. But, sometimes the Christian calendar can be a great way to be mindful of our own spiritual journey in such a way that intersects with everyday living. What the Explore Faith website does is provide a great way for individuals to make Easter a way of life for the next 50 days. In fifty days, the church will celebrate what is typically known as Pentecost. This is a time in which the coming of the Holy Spirit is recognized and celebrated. But, until then, what would it look like if each day we made the resurrection miracle a daily event...and not just a weekend gig. Here is the link to the website: http://www.explorefaith.org/explore_faith/explore_christianity/holy_days/easter/calendar/easter_calendar.php

As part of explaining Easter as a way of life, here is a helpful thought provided by the folks at Explore Faith:

"But the Easter story is not only an experience, an event. It is a way of life. The resurrection of Jesus created the hope in Christians that death is never the end—resurrection is. We not only look forward to an eternal future with the Holy One, we have the opportunity to experience Easter moments in the midst of our everyday lives. We know that death and sorrow stand nearby — whether it be physical death, the loss of a job, the loss of a relationship, the loss of a dream —but resurrection also waits to be noticed at the edges of our life. We have all known the wonder of a healing, a new job, a new love, a new dream being born out of the agony of hopelessness. Making Easter a way of life means that we are unwilling to settle for death in any of its forms. We are unwilling to give up hope and belief that new life is always being offered to us by heaven. We are unwilling to be ground down by grief when God's goodness is extended to us. Making Easter a way of life means that we turn our eyes toward resurrection each and every day, searching for its signs, believing in its truth, living into its glory."

I especially like the way they remind us that "death is never the end" but that resurrection is. I also like how they remind us that resurrection "waits to be noticed at the edges of our life." I realize, then, that maybe the reason I don't often see Easter happening in my life is that I am not taking the time to notice. We have become a very distracted society and it's not as easy to "notice" or "pay attention" to what is going on around us. Maybe Easter is happening all around us but we simply are not able to notice. Maybe, also, the reason I don't notice is that I might spend too much time paying attention to the things in life that deadening...a deadening attitude, a deadening vision, a deadening disposition, deadening entertainment. In other words, it's easier to spend time with things that deaden the soul rather then wake up the soul.

Let's look for Easter at the edges of our lives and let's remind ourselves that death is never the end....whether it be physical death, the death of our dreams, the death of our hope, or the death of our joy. Death is never the end. Resurrection and life have had the final word and they call us to live!

Checking Our Fear Level

2009-01-27T08:45:00.000-08:00

“Have you ever seriously reflected on how different your life might be now – how many decisions might have been made differently in the past – if your fear level had been lower? Suppose that your present fear level were reduced by 50 percent. What could you imagine yourself doing? Some of us could scarcely wait to start doing all we have secretly wished to do – being all we have wished to be. And that would be our feeling if our fear level were reduced by just 50 percent. What would our reaction be if our fear level were totally eliminated? So often the fear that held us in check and kept us ordinary and mediocre has kept us from statesmanlike servant leadership.”

Gordon Cosby, By Grace Transformed)

You’ve probably seen those reports on the news when those wildfires happen in places like California. They may start out small – an unattended campfire or a cigarette thrown from a car – but they quickly ignite and turn into a raging fire that spreads with unbelievable speed and causes unbelievable damage. Fear, today, is spreading like a raging wildfire and it’s destroying everything in its path. It’s being ignited by news releases and political pundits. It’s being fueled by “gloom and doom” theology. And its embers are being stoked by talk shows, talk radio, and reckless commentators. It’s destroying our hope and sabotaging our optimism. It’s eating away at our faith and breaking down our resolve. It’s paralyzing vision and stifling our imagination. Something has to give – this wildfire of fear has to stop.

We are living in challenging times – probably the most challenging times we have seen in decades. But even if the times have changed, our God hasn’t! In the Gospel of Matthew, Peter and the disciples were in a boat that was being tossed around by a huge storm. He saw Jesus walking on the water and said to Jesus, “If it’s you, tell me to get out of the boat.” So, Jesus told him to step on out. Peter did but as he walked he began to sink into the water. The Scriptures say he began to sink when he took notice of the huge winds and become frightened. In other words, he took his focus off of Jesus and began focusing on the storm. Anytime I take my focus off the Living Christ who promises to sustain me during tough times and put my focus on the storm raging around me, I start to sink. I sink into anxiety. I sink into irritability. I sink into stress. And, sometimes I sink into melancholy and a mild funk.

Friends, don’t let yourself sink too deep into your anxiety, fear, and stress. Our God has promised that there is nothing that can separate us from His love or presence. We don’t want to be naïve about the challenges we face but we also go on living into the promises of God. It is these promises that will sustain us and bring us through. It is these promises that will strengthen us and make us more courageous. It is these promises that will reduce our fear level. I hope and pray that during these challenging times, Deep River Friends will be the kind of place that will serve to strengthen your faith, deepen your resolve, and encourage optimism and hope in your life.

In Hope and Faith,
Scott

Living Our Faith and Social Justice - Human Trafficking & Racism

2009-01-12T10:06:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday we took time in our meeting for worship to acknowledge the fact that it was Human Trafficking Awareness Sunday. This is not a topic that often gets much attention but it is an issue that certainly deserves our attention. Human trafficking deals with issues of the trafficking of humans across state lines and the borders of various countries for the purpose of using them against their will for such things as prostitution, pornography, forced labor and even forced military service. This is often the case in areas of Africa where there is constant violence. This then becomes an issue of human slavery as people are forced into service either in sweat shops or other activities such as the sex trade. However one defines it or describes it, it is the holding of someone against their will in order that they may perform certain acts or services which are demeaning and damaging to their life and soul. And this is a very real 21st century problem. Even in our own community of High Point, I have heard stories of a parent, or parents, selling their child for sex just so the parents could have money to buy drugs. We might not like to hear these stories but they are real. As Quakers, we have a heritage of working to oppose slavery. It's in our DNA. Prior to the Civil War, Quakers were at the forefront of the anti-slavery movement. The slavery may look a little different now in the 21st century but it is slavery nonetheless.

It does feel overwhelming and it's not easy to know where to start. What can you do? The best place to start is by becoming aware. David Batstone's book entitled, Not For Sale is a good and comprehensive overview of the global slave trade issue. Also, you can visit such websites as www.notforsalecampaign.org, www.stopthetraffik.org, www.ijm.org (International Justice Mission), www.slaverystillexists.com, and www.antislavery.org. Any of these websites will provide much needed information, statistics, and background on the global slave trade and human trafficking crisis.

Another issue that we have committed to creating awareness this month is that of racism. Jim Wallis of the Sojourners community writes about racism in this way: "In Biblical terms, racism is a demon and an idol, a fallen principality and power that enslaves people and nations in its deadly grip. To be even more specific, it is the idolatry of whiteness, the assumption of white privilege and supremacy, that has yet to be spiritually confronted in American and, especially, in the churches. White racism is America's original sin; continuing failure to repent meaningfully of that sin still confounds our efforts to overcome it."

Like any other sin, we often don't recognize it within ourselves and may even rationalize it or deny it. But, the truth of the matter is that everyone carries some form of this sin in them even if it functions as a "low grade prejudice". The sin of racism is often fueld by fear and maybe even our upbringing. It often times is the result of ignorance and lack of understanding. Left to itself, it grows into hatred and contempt for those that are different then us, that are a different color then us, and are from a different part of the world. Rather then me pointing the finger at others, I would do well to examine my own life, attitudes, and disposition and see if I carry any fear, contempt, or hatred towards groups that are different then me.

On Monday, January 19, we celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Here is an excerpt from a sermon he gave two months before he was assassinated:

"If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don't want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. Every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize, that isn't important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards, that's not important. Tell them not to mention where I went to school. I'd like somebody to mentions that day, that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others. I'd like to for somebody to say that day, that Martin Luther King Jr., tried to love somebody. I want you to say that day, that I tried to be right on the war question. I want you to be ablet to say that day, that I did try to feed the hungry. And I want you to be able to say that day, that I did try, in my life, to clothe those who were naked. I want you to say, on that day, that I did try, in my life, to visit those who were in prison. I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity."

There will always be issues of social justice that we need to be aware of. If the best we can do is to try to love and serve humanity - those oppressed, those enslaved, those that have been demeaned and discrimated against - then we have done alot.

A Pre-Consumption Prayer

2008-12-01T12:52:00.000-08:00

I realize at Christmas time we hear alot about not consuming so much and not getting sucked into the commercialism of the season. Yet, at the same time we enjoy buying gifts for those we love as well as receiving a gift. Consequently, we feel guilty if we even seem like we are enjoying ourselves at Christmas time. It seems that there could be a way in which we could enjoy the season, be responsible consumers, and be thankful for those that have given of their time to make or produce the products we will buy. For that reason, I am including this post that I first received from Sojourners. It is written by Rachel Hope Anderson who is the Executive Director of the Boston Faith and Justice Network. Here is what she has to say:

“Consumption” isn’t a bad word. Even as we watch the excesses of the consumer economy crumble and collapse around us, we should remember that the word “consume” also means “to eat.”
On Thursday, many of us consumed to excess as eaters; today, on “Black Friday,” many of us also consume to excess as shoppers. But as Eugene Cho pointed out so thoughtfully last week, buying stuff at low prices isn’t by itself a mark of shame or weakness. It is, in our post-agrarian, post-industrial society, a necessity. The issue isn’t whether we buy or not buy things. It is whether we do so with appreciation for all of God’s creation.
Before we eat, we say a prayer to acknowledge our gratitude for God’s bounty. Through prayer, we express both humility and appreciation. If we pray mindfully (rather than out of rote habit), we simultaneously acknowledge our joy at what we have while also feeling compassion for those who have not.
What if we said a prayer each time we bought something –- each time we “consumed”?
For most of our history, getting enough to eat has been our primary preoccupation. Praying before we ate ensured a direct connection between our livelihoods and God. But for those of us lucky enough to live in a modern, developed nation, the idea of “putting food on the table” has become more figurative than literal. Praying before a meal no longer carries the weight it once did.
A gratitude economy involves, I think, a more spiritually conscious consumerism. It is no better to wallow in guilt about our need to buy things than to flaunt our ability to buy while considering ourselves specially blessed. It will not advance global justice to focus simply on what not to buy; rather we also have the responsibility to buy the right things –- for ourselves and for our brothers and sisters worldwide.
As we go about our shopping or no-shopping in the next days, why not say a prayer dedicating the buying and giving and receiving and yes -– our stuff — to God?

May the food we eat feed those who farmed it. May the things we buy support those who fashioned and shipped and sold them. For everything we enjoy from your good earth, God, thank you.

And if the purchase doesn’t sit right with the prayer –- well, maybe that’s a sign to put it back on the shelf."

I espeically like her prayer that reminds us that someone had to grow the food we eat and someone had to make and ship the stuff we use. Her prayer also is a good reminder that it's okay to enjoy material things as long as we keep them in perspective and do with a sense of humility, stewardship, and gratitude.

Blessings,
Scott

$700 Billion...or $700,000...What's More Newsworthy?

2008-11-18T12:54:00.000-08:00

It seems lately that numbers that include the number "7" are getting some big attenion. First, there is the $700 billion dollar bailout that is presently working its way into our financial instituations and, supposedly, back into our economy. This number is so huge I'm not so sure we can even fathom what it means. Then there is the number "OO7" which usually is another term for "James Bond." That much awaited recent installment of the James Bond movies is in the theatres now - "Quantum of Solace." Nothing says "Thanksgiving" like a good James Bond movie.

Then, there is the number 700,000. This number could apply to alot of things but in this case it applies to alot of growling bellies. You see, the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) just came out with a report that showed that almost 700,000 children went hungry in the United States at some point in 2007 - up more than 50 percent from the year before. This marks the highest point since 1998. And this is even before the sharp economic downturn.

Overall, the 36.2 million adults and children who struggled with hunger during the year was up slightly from 35.5 million in 2006. That was 12.2 percent of Americans who didnt have the money or assistance to get enough food to maintain active, healthy lives. Almost a third of those, 11.9 million adults and children, went hungry at some point. That figure has grown by more than 40 percent since 2000. The government says these people suffered a substantial disruption in their food supply at some point and classifies them as having "very low food security." Here are some other statistics:

> 93% reported eating less than they felt they should because there was not enough money for food
> 65% reported that they had been hungry but did not eat because they could not afford enough food
> 45% reported having lost weight because they did not have enough money for food

These are the kinds of numbers we would expect to see in Third World Countries and Underdeveloped Nations - but not in the United States. But yet, we have hunger in our own backyard - in our own communities - in our own neighborhoods. The shame is that for the most part this can be prevented as groups and churches partner together to provide the necessary food people need just to survive. It's somewhat embarrassing to know that we have this kind of problem but yet we have restaurants that have "all you can eat" buffet bars and even churches that have "all you can eat" suppers and dinners. Maybe we should skip a few meals every now and then (I know I could stand too!) and have an "All You Can Give Away" night or an "All You Can Donate to the Local Food Bank" night.

The number seven in the Scriptures is usually a number that stand for "wholeness". In this case, though, life is far from "whole." In this case, the number "seven" with alot of zeroes behind it stands for pain. It stands for unawareness. It stands for apathy. It stands for "national shame and embarrassment". It stand for a "wake-up call."

Mary's song found in the book of Luke has this simple verse: "He has filled the hungry with good things..." (Luke 1:53). Apparently the coming of God's Son was not meant to be synonmous with 700,000 people starving - let alone just one. As God's people, we have been given so much - especially as those living in America. May we do what we can to see that the hungry are filled with good things.

A Life of Focus

2008-11-11T19:44:00.000-08:00

This past week, Darrin Allen from the Yearly Meeting office did a great job as he brought our Founders Day message. He spoke from Hebrews 12 and shared with us the need to be a congregation that has focus, discipline, and teamwork. I was struck with the simplicity of his message but also the challenge. On paper, those three qualities may seem easy and obvious. But, in real life, it's always a challenge to live with a sense of focus, discipline, and teamwork.

One of the words I keyed in on was the word "focus". In his book, Wide Awake, author and pastor Erwin McManus writes about the power of focus. Here is what he has to say:

"You essentially self-medicate with apathy to keep yourself under control. You took care of all those out-of-control, un-realistic dreams and passions, and now you're just like everyone else. Instead of harnessing your energy, you decided to conserve it. When a person's light shines too brightly, everyone else will complain about its intensity. You can choose to live with your light on pilot, or you can develop the powerof a focused life. Focus allows you to live a life of full intensity with all your passions fueling your momentum in a singular direction. Focus isn't about less but about more. It is the ability to interconnect all you are and all you do around a central theme."

McManus goes on to write that two key components to living a focused life are concentration and convergence. In concentration, we direct all our energies and resources to a specific task, idea, and direction. This means we might have to make some adjustments. We may need to start concentrating all of our energy and resources on where we are going. We need to set our eyes on where God is calling us...and to not look back. In convergence, all of our talents, giftedness, skills, passions, intellect, and experience is harnessed to unleash our highest potential. This is important because, as McManus writes: "Without focus, not only do obstacles overwhelm us, but we also become distracted and diffused by opportunities."

We may not realize it but we often tend to live reactively rather then proactively. When we live reactively, we live our lives by default rather then design. We live according to the expectations of those around us. When we live proactively, we choose to design our lives according to God's call upon our lives. To be a focused person is to live with concentration and convergence and to not be thrown off by the distractions and obstacles that will come our way.

Do you feel you live your life with focus?

A Prayer for Election Day

2008-11-04T08:51:00.000-08:00

Jim Wallis of the Sojourners community offer this wonderful prayer. I offer it to you ..and for me..and for all us..to consider it as we vote, pray, and prepare to moved forward on November 5th.

On the eve of this historic election, let us pause for a moment of thanks. We should thank God for the men and women who committed themselves to establish a new nation, in which voting was possible. We should thank God for the courage of the women of the Suffrage movement who pioneered the path to the 19th Amendment and ensured women the right to vote. We should thank God for those who risked and sacrificed their lives to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to allow all our citizens, regardless of the color of their skin, to vote.
We also pray for forgiveness because there are still some in our country whose votes are not allowed to be cast or counted, even in recent elections. We pray for protection of all the voters and the votes of this election.
We pray for the candidates, their family and their staff—who have worked tirelessly to offer the country the vision of the future they deeply believe in. Give them rest and a sense of peace, no matter what the outcome of the election. We pray for all the citizen volunteers who have made democracy better by their work on this election campaign.
We pray most of all against a spirit of fear. The scriptures say that “God has not given us a spirit of fear but a spirit of love, a spirit of power and a strong mind.” Help us to remember the words of our Lord Jesus, who reminds us that love casts out fear and to be not afraid. If the Scriptures say, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil,” certainly we can make it through election day. No matter how we vote, let us vote more for the visions, ideas, and candidates that best represent our best values rather than voting against candidates simply because of the negative and often manipulative things that others have said about them.
As a people of faith, we do not find in our scripture, we can not locate in any sacred text, a mandate to support a particular candidate for president or vote for a particular political party during this election. While the scriptures may not say what box we should check on election day, we must strive to be clear about the priorities of the kingdom of God and how we can best impact the common good. Voting is one part of the prophet’s instruction to “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
Today we also pray for those who will vote differently than we do, for their own reasons also deeply rooted in faith. And we pray, despite the outcome of the election tomorrow, that we will find the ways to build bridges and work together for the common good of the country we all dwell in. And may our votes tomorrow be guided less by a fear of our neighbor and more by a hope for the future.
God has blessed all the nations of the world, not just America. But we pray tomorrow for God’s special blessing on our nation, and that the opportunities to fulfill our country’s greatest possibilities might be greatly enlarged.

Consumer Confidence...Soul Confidence

2008-10-28T11:40:00.000-07:00

It's probably no surprise that the news wires just came out with a story that consumer confidence is the lowest it has been in 40 years. The speculation is that the consumer...people like you and I...forsee a deep recession. Forget "Joe the Plumber". We have become a nation of "Joe the Panicky" and "Joanna the Worrier." What is most revealing to me, though, is how much of our "confidence" rises and falls on economic reports. Now, I won't take a dive off into the deep end of naivete. I realize that bills have to be paid and that there are certain things in life that are necessary and it in order for me to have those things, I become a consumer. But, it does seem that our sense of well-being, our sense of being at peace, our sense of "everything's going to be all right" is more oriented around Wall Street then it is around the way of Jesus.

I want a soul-confidence that sustains me even when things seem out of control. I want to live with such a confidence that I am fully aware of what is going on around me - in my world and in my community - that I am not shaken to despair and anxiety. Most of all, I want to live with such confidence that I am not continually distracted by the bad news and the negative news. You see, I think that ends up being the biggest detriment to our spiritual life - our distractability. We get so distracted by the reports of how bad the economy is or how bad it's going to get, that we have no more energy to focus on how God is at work or how God is caring for us. My distracted soul ends up focusing more on those things that should not matter and less on the things that do.

In the Bible, the Psalmist writes: "Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident...I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." (Psalm 27:3, 13) For the Psalmist, when the world around him was chaotic, he remained confident. In other words, he made a choice to trust in God even though everything seemed to be going crazy.

What I find to be true for the Psalmist - and then true for me - is that when I choose to trust then I begin to notice God's goodness around me and in my life. I believe this happens because this act of trust in God has a way of focusing my vision. My energies are no longer dissipated by worry and anxiety. Rather, trust in God has a way of focusing me and enabling me to see where God is at work and God's goodness in my life.

Our consumer confidence may be low but our Christian confidence can be high because we can be confident God is still alive. We can be confident that all we need God will provide. We can be confident that God is able to carry us through any adversity we may face. And, we can be confident that God will give us the strength we need. Maybe your consumer confidence will wane...but keep your Christian confidence high...and lifted up...as you look to God.

Gracious Speech and Civil Conversation

2008-10-21T04:46:00.000-07:00

My routine is pretty much the same each morning. I feed the cat, make my coffee, pour my bowl of cereal for people 45 and older (Kashi shredded wheat) and I read the paper. One of the first sections I turn to is the Letter to the Editor section. I turn there because I like to read the exchange of ideas. But there are other times (and I hate to admit this) I go to the Letter to the Editor section much like a person goes might go to a NASCAR race - you want to see a good race but every now and then you hope for something exciting like a someone going into a wall or even a ten car wreck. You don't wish for it but when it happens you take it all in.

Sometimes reading those Letters to the Editor is like watching car careening all over the highway and eventually running into each other. Sometimes they bump. Sometimes they scrape. But often times there are verbal head on collisions and the damage is done. Sometimes there are injuries and people are hurt. But, I'm not surprised. Writing Letters to the Editor is often like writing an angry email - you feel pretty courageous in what you have to say because you don't actually have to sit before an actual person and see their actual face and realize they are an actual human being. We can hit "Send" and are opinions and "take on things" is not on it's way.

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying the Letters to the Editor is a bad thing to have. Sometimes you take the bad with the good. For that reason, it's an important part of our democracy. It allows folks to speak their mind and share their thoughts. But, I wish that a certain level of civility and graciousness could be part of the process. Like seasoning one's food with just the right amount of salt or pepper, it would be nice for folks to season their speech with just the right amount of humility, graciousness, and respect.

In one of his Epistles, the Apostle Paul wrote: "Let your speech always be gracious..." (Colossians 4:6) Paul seemed to get it. He seemed to understand that how we talk to people and about people makes a different. How we share our ideas, thoughts, and opinions is just as important as the content of our ideas, thoughts, and opinions. This becomes especially important given the prevalence of negative advertising over the next two weeks. It literally becomes the air we breathe. As we breathe in the negativity, cynicism, and even disrespect, we begin to manifest it in our lives. Paul has a better idea. Season your conversation with a gracious spirit and with gracious words. Not only for the benefit of the person you speaking with but also for the benefit of who you represent. We represent a most gracious God - a God who would never demean or disrespect.

At a more everyday level, I am often amazed at the number of folks I hear that speak about others with a low-level contempt. They may not slander but I have heard folks refer to others as an "idiot" or a "moron" or even a "jerk." If they can't come up with a suitable name, they may engage in the kind of gossip which seems harmless but only serves to reinforce or judgmental spirit within our soul. What makes this even more heartbreaking is that I often hear this from folks who claim to be followers of Jesus. For some reason, we often save our most biting contempt for those we are closest to - family, neighbors, even church friends.

In their book Gracious Christianity, authors Douglas Jacobson and Arther Sawatsky write:

"We have a gracious gospel. The good news that Jesus proclaimed is that God is graciously disposed toward us. God loves us, and, indeed, God loves everyone and every good thing in this wonderful world in which we live. We are expected to do the same. The gospel invites us to mimic God's own graciousness in our lives. It calls us to become so enveloped in God's graciouness that we become conduits of God's grace and love for others. Graciousness is a nonnegotiable dimension of Christian faith. It goes to the very core of the gospel. It is what makes the gospel good news."

We are invited to do more then just believe in the good news. We are invited to share it, live it, and even reflect it in how we speak to one another. The scriptures invites us to let our speech always be gracious. Not sometimes. Not when I like the person. Not when it's convenient or I am in a good mood. But always. There might not be much you and I can do to save the negative political ads at this point. But, there is certainly alot we can do in being gracious to each person we meet, each person we talk to, each person we talk about. Let graciousness prevail. Let it rule your heart. Let it season your speech.

How hard is it for you to remain gracious when sharing your ideas?
How do you graciously respond to an ungracious person?
Where do you see God at work in your speech?

Metaphors of the Week

2008-10-13T11:11:00.000-07:00

Last week was a wild ride on the Wall Street Express...and it might not be over. In the meantime, I have been reading, searching, and reflecting so I could make sense of it all. At one level, I don't want to panic. Life happens in cycles and we have seen some of these cycles before. At another level, I want to be very prudent and aware of what is going on. Not only does my retirement and college funds depend on me being aware but so does my soul. I want to process this spiritually and see what this whole experience can teach me. wanted the. Better yet, what can it teach us as followers of Jesus and Christians seeking first the Kingdom of God.

In that process, what has been helpful for me is to connect up with other metaphors that other writers and observers have been using to describe the recent economic crisis. Mark Sayers, culture watcher and author of the book The Trouble with Paris: Following Jesus in a World of Plastic Promises, uses these words to describe the current economic crisis: "To put it in layman’s terms the global economy has been acting like a teenage girl who had stolen her parents credit card and was buying everything in sight at the mall; it was fun for a while but it was always going to end in tears...Greed became the norm, we got so used to it that we barely noticed that everyone's ride had been pimped. A culture of insanity set in as no one was happy anymore with being healthy and free, we all wanted the lifestyles of the rich and famous." Sayers goes on to add these words:

"But now reality has crashed the hyperreal party. We are seeing the consequences of our culture’s credit card lifestyle. So now I pray, because this will hurt a lot of people, most of all it will hurt those at the bottom of the economic pile. Yet I also have hope, hope that sanity will return, that people will begin to question our culture’s hyperreal paper tigers. That people will see that there is another unseen reality that exists in our world. A reality that does not revolve around stocks, currencies and computer screens. A reality that is marked by shalom, righteousness and justice. A reality that is breaking out in our world, that we will see if we just can take our eyes off the dollar signs."

Another author, United Methodist pastor Adam Hamilton, describes the recent economic condition in this way:

"In many ways this economic crisis is like a serious heart attack requiring quadruple bypass surgery. The patient (America) has eaten too much of the wrong things, refused to practice self-discipline or to exercise. She could have predicted the attack basedon her lifestyle. And, though doctors had warned her of the likelihood of an attack, she chose to ignore their warnings. Following a lengthy surgyer, and after a period of recovery, the patient will feel so much better. But there is still the matter of changing her lifestyle. If she goes back to eating fatty foods, far too many calories, and never exercising, she will be back on the operating table, or perhaps worse, within a few years. This is where America finds herself."

These are both pretty stark metaphors but they both point to an overindulgence in stuff and now we are suffering severe economic indigestion. This, of course, is no laughing matter. Many have lost millions of dollars in their retirement funds and college funds have taken a hit. Also, folks live under the fear of being laid off or not having enough to pay for gas or groceries. We need to be praying as well as being sensitive to the needs of others. For us as Quakers, this is an excellent time to live out our core value of simplicity as well as community and caring for others. Life is not all about what we own or possess. Life is about community and caring for one another.

What's your take on the present economy? As of today, the stock market was up..but how long will that last? Moreso, can my faith sustain me and hold me solid as through this wild ride?

United We Stress

2008-10-07T17:35:00.001-07:00

Most of us have heard the phrase, "United We Stand." Well, according to a report from CNN we're not "standing" things as well as we should. Here is what a report from CNN, dated October 7, had to say: "As many as 80 percent of Americans are stressed about their personal finances and the economy, according to the annual survey conducted by the American Psychological Association." The report goes on to add that "...Nearly 7,000 Americans responded to the survey between April and September this year. Within five months, anxiety about the economy had jumped from 66 percent to 80 percent. The poll was conducted before the passage of the $700 billion bailout bill last week and Monday's stock market tumble on to add..." Suffice it to say, we are a stressed out nation. And the toll is beginning to show. Just in the last couple of days the news wires have carried reports of tragic stories where famliy members have either been hurt or killed due to a stressed out family member driven to the brink either due to the fact they were having extreme financial problems or they were having trouble finding work.

At times like this, it feels as if I would just be doling out pithy answers and easy phrases if I were to say, "Just trust God." But, as those who seek to follow in the way of Jesus and live the abundant life Jesus promised, we discover that Jesus lived a life that seemed to lack one thing in particular - stress. Certainly Jesus may not have had the bills and issues we have today, but he did live in the same world and battle with his own stressors. What seems different with Jesus is that he lived in such intimate communion with God that he truly believed that God would provide for his every need. For that reason, Jesus chose - that's right, I wrote "chose" - Jesus chose not to worry. He knew that worry would not accomplish anything and would, instead, siphon off all the energy he would need to minister and serve on God's behalf. Jesus truly lived an unhurred, un-worried life. I'm not sure life was any easier. I think he just chose to focus his heart elsewhere. He chose to focus on the loving care of God and the fact that God truly cares about his well being. In the same way, God truly cares about our well being. We may not fully know how God will take care of us and how God will provide - but we can trust that God will provide for our needs.

As we live in trust, what else can we do to reduce our stress in these uniquely tough times.

Get Plenty of Rest
That might seem like an oxymoron because when you are stressed, it's hard to sleep. But making sure we are getting the rest we need helps us during stressful times.
Get Some Silence...Take A Spiritual Timeout
Allow yourself to take some time to create a space where you can just sit, take deep breaths, and wait on God. As the Psalmist says, "Be still and know that I am God." Rest in God's presence.
Watch Your Emotional Gauge
Realize that sometimes we get emotionally worn out and we don't even realize it. When we are emotionally worn out, we need to do those things that rejuvenate us emotionally - reading a good book, listening to good music, stepping outside and enjoying the Fall colors, taking a nap. Whatever works for you, take time to fill your emotional tank.
Financially...Dont' Panic...But Be Prudent
These truly are unique times economically. We should not panic by doing things like taking all our money out of the banks or burying our retirement in the bank yard. But, we can be prudent and realize that maybe some purchases have to be put off for awhile until the economy settles down. This is a time to focus on the things we need...not as much the things we want.
Maintain a Strong Relational Network
At times like this, our friends can be a source of strength and support. Having a network of people we can go to when we are down, scared, or nervous will get us through.

We are a stressed nation but it doesnt have to divide us...or divide our souls. Trust God. Take care of yourself. And realize that each day is a new day, a gift from God, it is the day the Lord has made!

Discipleship or Cruise Ship

2008-09-30T05:55:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite authors is Pastor Mike Slaughter out of Ohio. In his church, he has established a vital ministry that combines both an emphasis on the person's spiritual condition as well as issues of social justice. He casts an inspiring vision for becoming disciples seeking to live in the way of Jesus and not view our spiritual life as a hobby. The following are some of his words from his own blog. Read on and share your comments and thoughts.

A few weeks ago I addressed the whole issue of the church setting a low bar of involvement that calls people to make a decision for Jesus rather than make a commitment to become a disciple of Jesus. I fear that we have given people a false and simplistic view of salvation. The churches that grew in the 1980’s and 90’s were based for the most part on a seeker-attraction model rather than a costly call to renounce the predominate culture (worldview) and claim the worldview of Jesus (I refer to this as the “Missional Church”). The result has been “born again” church attendees (vs. servant-participants), who have brought Jesus into their own worldview rather than being transformed into his. Many of our mega churches have created programming that mirrors that experienced on a cruise ship rather than Jesus’ relational-missional model of discipleship. Note the contrast:
The Cruise Ship is an experience of refined excellence. Truly entertaining. Service with a smile. Someone to wait on you at your beck and call, turn down the bed and leave a chocolate on your pillow. Five Star!
The Mission Outpost is messy. Many of the teams who have worked in the Gulf region or Cedar Rapids have slept on floors and forgotten the meaning of air conditioning. (Click on the picture to view a news report on one of Ginghamsburg’s Gulf teams.)
The Cruise Ship is centered in excess. How much food can you eat in a day before you hit the midnight buffet?
The Mission Outpost is stretched to the limits, lives by the “seat of its pants,” depending on Jesus to multiply the loaves and fish. Embodies a commitment to live simply so that others may simply live.
The Cruise Ship is literally a self-contained fortress. Programming, classes, restaurants, movies, clubs, gyms, gift shops. You never need to leave the confines of the ship.
The Mission Outpost is an externally focused network of partnerships for the sake of better meeting the needs of the communities it serves. Ginghamsburg is in partnerships with public schools, international relief organizations, businesses, theological seminaries, social organizations as well as county jails, to name just a few.
The Cruise Ship is a place of retreat.
The Mission Outpost is all about engagement at the greatest places of need.
Participation on the Cruise Ship is based on self-interest. I show up at the things I want to do.
Participation for the disciple in mission is based on others’ needs--a servant rather than a volunteer.
I desperately hope I am wrong, but I fear that many folk in the church have signed up for a cruise rather than a life mission.
God bless...

Lazarus Life And The Lilies of the Field

2008-09-22T18:59:00.000-07:00

Lazarus Revisited
For the past few weeks I've been preaching the through story of Lazarus found in John 11. In that story, we are invited to experience spiritual transformation as we see Jesus coming and raising Lazarus from "death to life." Author Stephen Smith, who wrote the book The Lazarus Life, sees the whole Lazarus story as a way to imagine our own spiritual transformation. Part of that is realizing that there can be some tough places for us..as there were for Lazarus. Namely, Lazarus was dead...or at least was dead until Jesus raised him. It invites us to think about those times that we have been in those "dead" moments of our lives or those "dead ends". Stephen Smith calls them our "spiritual tombs" - those dark and dead places we sometimes come across and experience in our life. The key part of this story is realizing that these moments can happen and will happen. This leaves us realizing that sometimes we can offer up a Christianity that doesnt often acknowledge the tough places of life and would rather just have the good stuff. Good stuff is great but when we have the "dead" moments, we get thrown off. I think we get thrown off because we often forget that the hard times are as much a part of the spiritual journey as the good times. And, just because we have hard times doesnt mean we have done something wrong. It just means we are human people living in a very human world. The Lazarus story reminds us that, in time, Jesus comes to us and "raises" us from those dark, empty, and hard places. How do you handle or deal with those hard, dark, and empty places? What sustains you? What gets you through? What does your faith mean for you in those times?

Lilies of the Field and a $700 Billion Bail Out
It's all over the news - the financial bail out the government is going to provide for the major financial institutions. All of this has shaken up people as well as the world. Oil spiked to an increase of at least $20 a barrell and President Bush is going to go to the world leaders and try to assure them that all is okay and the bailout is going to work. In the meantime, people worry about their retirements as well as their savings and we still see gas lines and gas stations without no gas due to "gas panic." I think about all of this and I think about Jesus words: "Therefore do now worry saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we wear?...So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today." Does Jesus really expect us - you and I - not to worry even during shaky times like this? I mean, what he said sounds good but does it work in real life? I am thinking he meant what he said. If that's the case, how do I live a life in which I truly follow and abide in the way of Jesus. I believe in preparing for retirement and I'm going to watch my 401 K, but my trust in Jesus needs to be alot deeper then my trust in my bank account, my style of clothes, and what is or is not in my refrigerator. What do Jesus words means to you?

Post your thoughts, I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to Faith Connections

2008-09-19T07:02:00.000-07:00

Welcome to "Faith Connections"! Many folks are connecting today through the use of the internet, blogs, and Facebook. We hope this can be a place for you to share your thoughts and respond to issues of faith and life as we journey together at Deep River Friends Meeting. Each week we will pose a quote, thought, or even a question. It might have something to do with current events or with the past Sunday's message. Whatever the subject, we invite you to join the conversation as we seek to live on a growing edge.