Football and Faith

Okay, so today is a football playoffs Sunday... not quite the Super Bowl but still high up on the chart of “where are all the people this Sunday morning?”

Some people have argued that sports have become the religion of America and sporting venues the new cathedrals of our generation.  Perhaps in some way that is true.  Considering all the Tebowmania this year, I’ve been wondering about it.

I’m happy to note that St. Andrew was fairly full this morning.  If the Giants were playing the 3 o’clock game, might there might have been a few less?  Hmmmmm.

To our credit, we seem to be able to pull a fair number of attendees for our annual congregational meeting which always seems to fall on Super Bowl Sunday, even though we have a fair number of football fans on the Church Council.  Maybe it’s because we entice them in with lunch, and then the specter of the ULTIMATE football game keeps the meeting short.  A 6:30 pm kickoff time doesn’t hurt either.  I’ve always been somewhat proud of us that we put the business of the church as a top priority and recognize that we can do both… have an early afternoon congregational meeting and still leave time for football.  If the Super Bowl was being held in Giants Stadium (ooops, sorry Jet fans, MetLife Stadium…or better yet, let’s just call it the Meadowlands and leave the corporate sponsors out of it), then perhaps there might be some squawking about the changing the meeting date.

Since the Broncos and Tim Tebow are now officially out of contention for the Super Bowl, it is interesting to reflect on the hype that surrounded that team’s quarterback.  Was God granting success to the Broncos because of the faith of Tim Tebow?  Doubtful.  I don’t think God plays favorites in the football arena.  Plus, there are plenty of other faithful athletes, but none so recently under the national media microscope.

But I do think God was/is there.

If the people will not go to the Church, then perhaps God has come to the people in the place they deem worthy to worship?  If we remove God from schools, government, work places, public places and our everyday lives, then perhaps He has chosen sports as the place to walk among us?

God will not be silenced.

He equips the called and gives them voice.  Through the acts of a faithful football quarterback, the eyes of a nation have been focused on the heart of an athlete… an athlete equipped with the quirky athleticism that makes secular football professionals wonder if something divine isn’t happening, and makes a nation remember that the God of all creation will find a way to walk among us and grab our attention… even when our worship has been misdirected.

(Psssst..... Go Giants!) 

Come and worship with us on Sundays: 8:30 & 10:45 am

Christian Education: 9:45 am

St. Andrew Lutheran Church

335 Reynolds Ave.

Parsippany, NJ  07054

www.elcaAndy.org

Ellis Island - Faith and Adversity

My husband and I recently visited Ellis Island.  I’ve been wanting to go ever since they renovated and re-opened it in 1990.  My children have visited this National Park Service landmark with their respective schools, but as it sometimes goes, we get too busy to enjoy the gems in our own backyard.

This will be the first of several blog posts that stem from this visit.  It is an incredibly inspiring place and the faith and determination of the people who traveled through its doors are amazing.

We purchased the audio tour because I’ve found that there is usually so much wonderful information on these soundtracks, often including the testimony of actual people.  On this audio tour there was the voice of a Russian immigrant who (in the course of the discussion of the inspection of immigrants) said, “if they refused me, there was no way I was going back to Russia.  I’d rather throw myself over the side [of the returning ship] and die in the deep of the ocean than return to Russia.”

This man’s comment really got me to thinking about how much faith these people must have had, who attempted this journey, and how very deplorable their homeland situation must have been.  They trusted God that America held a promise of a brighter future, and that He would see them safely across the Atlantic to begin a new life.

 A National Park Service Ranger who introduced a 45-minute documentary that we watched, helped us to understand how much had to be left behind and what was likely brought forward to the new homeland of these immigrants.  Picture everything of importance that you could carry in one suitcase, one basket, one bedroll, and maybe the equivalent of a backpack.  Now walk from Ellis Island at Liberty State Park to Philadelphia.  You’ll quickly determine what REALLY is the most important stuff.   Grandma’s candlesticks? Gone, left on the NJ Turnpike.  The family Bible?  Yeah…they probably managed to carry that.

That would have been the most likely type of experience of many immigrants.  People walked and carried their most prized possessions for many, many miles from villages and towns all across Europe and Russia to ports with passenger lines to America.  They had to have the fee for their passage and $25 per person to enter America.  It took years to save up that kind of money, so most didn’t have the extra money necessary to get transportation to their port of departure.  The Ranger told us that some people were so poor they carried empty suitcases so their neighbors wouldn’t know how little they had when they left and the steamer company wouldn’t turn them away for the chance of being turned back at Ellis Island for being so poor as to be “a potential burden on society.”

Think about the millions of people who came to this country through Ellis Island.  What a challenge it was!  Think how bad it must have been at home to brave this experience!  The adversity they faced in their flight to a new life!  The scariness of the unknown!  Think of the faith they put in God to get them here safely and to connect with someone who could help them get their feet on the ground and make a future here.

I don’t think most people could have survived this trip and the challenges they faced upon arrival without a deep faith in God.

I was awed, inspired, and more appreciative of my own country where I can worship as I please.  If you haven’t been to Ellis Island, take a vacation day and go.  You’ll need about three hours to tour the Main Building and do it justice.  The other buildings are not currently open to the public.   We’ve got a national treasure in our own back yard (actually lots of them).  It will stir your soul and deepen your faith.

Then come to worship and thank God for all that you have.

Summer Worship at St. Andrew, 9:30 am on Sundays

www.elcaAndy.org

Do you have a relative who came to America through Ellis Island?  What story do they tell you of the adversity they faced in this experience?

Speaking for yourself

Yesterday was Confirmation Sunday at St. Andrew.   Four of our young people stepped up to a microphone and spoke to our congregation and told us what their faith and their relationship with God means to them.  They had the opportunity to speak for themselves and claim the blessings given to them at their baptism.

If I could pick one unifying message from each of their speeches it would be this:  Each one of them is confident that God will be with them throughout their lives, no matter what.

Hallelujah!

All those Sunday School lessons, confirmation classes, Sundays in worship, servant hours and fellowship events have not been wasted.  They get it!  They feel it!  They know it in their hearts!

What a glorious reason to celebrate the Affirmation of their Baptisms as they CONFIRMED what their parents had promised for them, on their behalf as infants, when they were too young to ask to become a child of God with their own words. 

They have now claimed for themselves the membership in the body of Christ given to them at their baptisms.  Their membership fee has been paid in full by Jesus Christ. 

Congratulations to Ryan, Viviane, Hannah and Andrew. 

May you continue to always feel the Creator’s presence, the love of Jesus Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your lives, trusting in this faith that you have affirmed as a beloved child of God.

Come worship with us this Summer at 9:30 am on Sundays.

www.elcaAndy.org

Taking Comfort in the Midst of the Lightning

Tonight as I write this there is a severe thunder and lightning storm going on outside. 

I am safe inside and I am not afraid, probably foolishly so.  Any one of the 10 oak trees on my small property could drop a large branch or come crashing down.

But yet, I am not afraid because a lifetime experiencing storms like this has shown that I can find a safe place where I need not fear the extreme elements; and I have access to scientific information that will explain what this incredible noise and light show is made of and why it happens. 

I am not afraid because I have faith in the constructs of my world, simple though they may be, that protect me from the damage these elements can cause… my home, the power company, emergency personnel and first responders, etc.

I am not afraid because I trust that God will be by my side and protect me and my family.

And yet, I think about how our dog in the other room is tucked under my son’s arm, shaking in fear.  She does not understand the science or that our house will protect her.  Yet she seeks comfort and safety in the one place she knows she is safe.  Her boy.

I think about our children, when they ask in fear, “what is that noise, Mommy?”  and we answer… “The angels are bowling.”  They can not understand what science has told us, so we offer something they might be able to understand, and they trust us to protect them and seek comfort in our arms.

I think about how vulnerable we are, even with all our technologically superior camping gear, should a storm like this crop up while we are camping.  Where would we seek shelter?  The meager protection of our nylon tent?  A trail side lean-to?  A cave perhaps?  Where would our comfort come from then?  I’d bet we’d be praying to our God for protection in addition to flipping through that Wilderness Survival Guide.

And what about earlier peoples in times before our scientific research led to quantifiable answers?  What did Noah think of this type of storm as the rain began to pour down from the heavens?  What about the Israelites wandering 40 years in the desert?  How many storms did they see across the open expanses of sand and scrub, watching it approach closer and closer, praying for it to pass and spare them?

God has given us the gift of science to help understand our world around us, to help us put in place the protections that will help to keep us safe from the extremes of nature.  But in the process, do we rely falsely upon these constructs so much that we no longer turn to the One who can guarantee our safety?  Do we forget to be in awe of the incredible power of the One who created that lightning and thunder?

It has been a wild year, no …make that a wild few years, in the realm of natural disasters and wild weather for this country and for others around the globe.  Our science and prediction devices can only protect us so much.

We must rely on the One who has the only true power to save us.  We must trust, like children, in the protective love of our Father.

“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.” Psalm 5:11

Join us for worship on Sundays at 9:30 am

www.elcaAndy.org

What frightens you?  Where do you find comfort from your fears?

A Matter of Perspective and Faith

Oooh boy.  Yesterday I turned 45.  I remember being 10 and thinking that 45 was SOOOO OLD….like a dinosaur old, that’s almost HALF A CENTURY!!! 

It’s all a matter of perspective.

Now I don’t even really think of people as “old.”

Because I’m never going to be old.

Sometimes I might FEEL old, but I’m never going to BE old.

There are too many things to learn to BE old.

With my family genetics and advances in health care, I’ve probably got a good chance of living to be 90 years old or more.  So in that sense I’ve only lived half my life, maybe even less than half.  I’ve got another half (or more) to go, and a lot of living to do.  And yet, tomorrow it could be cut short, too.  (Rapture anyone?)

In some ways, I feel like my life is just getting started all over again.  My kids are mostly grown and in a few short years will likely no longer live with us.  I’m at a place where I am searching out new career options and will likely embark on something new before long.  The future is wide open.  It’s scary.  It’s exciting.  I feel like I’m learning to walk all over again, and soon someone is going to say it’s time to learn to RUN!

When I started 2011, I told you (faithful readers) that I resolved to let the Holy Spirit guide me.  I’ve been trying to pay attention for “God-signs” in my life, to point me in that direction.  As I look at this “mid-point” in my life I realize that I’ve got a long way to go and I’d really better put it all in God’s hands, or things could get rough.  But I also think to myself, “just think of the possibilities if I truly let God adjust the sails, hold the rudder and sail with His winds instead of against them.”

What will I become then?  What might I accomplish then?  How will God shine through me next?

I’m only half way there.  The journey so far has been filled with blessings, even though I have frequently faltered on the path.  I know that no matter where I journey, if I trust God to lead, I’ll never be alone and things will turn out just fine in the end.

It’s a matter of perspective.  It’s a matter of faith.

So bring on the next 45 years!  I’m ready!

Are you?

Join us for worship.  Sundays at 9:30 am through Labor Day.

www.elcaAndy.org

Faith...tested and defended...Could you do it?

“You shall be saved, but we shall have to run aground on some island, first.”
The apostle Paul to his Roman escort centurion and soldiers.

I have recently taken to reading my Bible in a randomized fashion by letting it fall open on its own. The pages that lie open before me are where I begin reading. This has been an interesting exercise.

Today, my Bible fell open to Acts 27, the story of the shipwreck of the Apostle Paul. Interesting.

Paul has been suffering the trials of imprisonment because of the disruption of the peace his speaking has caused among the Jews. He has been preaching that Jesus of Nazareth is raised from the dead, while the Jews are adamant Jesus is dead. Because he is a Roman citizen, Paul’s case must be heard by a Roman official, ultimately requiring him to go to Caesar. It is on his trip to Rome that his ship is beset by travel difficulties, ending in shipwreck. On the trip, Paul became friendly with the Roman centurion and soldiers escorting him to Rome.

The time was winter and the travel was becoming dangerous. (How appropriate to find this story today in the midst of our icy winter weather!)

On their way, they encountered a northeaster and were pushed along and violently storm-tossed to the point the crew began to toss the cargo overboard. For several days they battled the storm, but then Paul appealed to them and told them of a vision from God, saying “there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and lo, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. Be we shall have to run on some island.”

On the fourteenth day, the sailors found shallow water. Paul encouraged them to eat; he took bread, gave thanks to God, broke it and shared it with them. The crew prepared to sail into a bay with a beach but ran aground and the ship was wrecked. The centurion whom Paul had befriended ordered all to find a way ashore, while the soldiers would have killed the prisoners to prevent their escape.

In so many ways, Paul and his travel companions are tested. Paul’s speaking about the Good News of Jesus Christ has earned him many friends, and many enemies. But it is interesting that in the face of these trials it is the Gentiles, whom are just now learning about Jesus, who befriend him. Roman rulers find his story compelling and wish to hear more. Roman centurions befriend him and ensure his safety. Faith in Jesus the Christ is coming to those who knew Him not, but who hear in the story Paul tells, the Truth of their heart’s desire.

Like Paul, our faith is frequently tested and we are often put on “trial” to prove what we believe. I pray that I might be strong enough to weather the storms of life that test my faith. I pray that I have studied the Bible and listened for the voice of the Holy Spirit within me in such ways that I can be like Paul and bring Jesus into the lives of those who do not yet know Him.  I pray that you may also be prepared for the trials life sends you.

What are you doing to weather the storms in your life that test your faith? Could you defend your faith if you had to stand before Caesar and make your case?

Faith, Foothball, Jets & Jesus

So the Jets (I won’t call them NY Jets because they play here in NJ and should be the Jersey Jets) have beaten the New England Patriots in the NFL playoffs after much hullaballoo and posturing about vindication and things being personal. Tomorrow’s papers are bound to be full of faith. Jets players had faith in the play calling. Jets coaching staff had faith in the talent of the players. Quarterback Sanchez had faith in his offensive line. The fans had faith in their team. The fans will continue to have faith in their team as they march on to Pittsburgh next week.

I don’t doubt that there was a lot of faith on that field today…faith in the things that the world of football holds dear. Did the hype and the rhetoric fuel that faith, or was it there all season? What causes us to have faith in something?

In the big picture, football is just a game. Having faith in your coach, fellow players, team mates, or if you’re the fan, in your team, is fun but not usually a matter of life or death. If it gets you the win, I guess it means the continuing life of your current football season, but it doesn’t really impact your eternal situation. It’s for a win…in a game…maybe even your job if you work for the team, but it’s only a blip on the radar of the time we’ve been given to inhabit this planet. It means even less when you consider eternity.

Do we give a thought to the bigger faith issues in our lives as much as we talk about having faith in our favorite football teams? Yeah, I’ll bite. I’ve been more into football this year than other years. It’s fun. It’s fun to pin your hopes on something and feel like you’re part of something bigger…a whole fan base all cheering for the same team. Whoohoo! (Personally, I’m a Giants fan and a Seahawks fan, but since they’re both out of the picture I guess I had to root for the Jets. But, if it comes down to the Packers and the Jets, I pick the green and yellow. I know I’m weird.)

In the grand scheme of life however, we need to take a harder look at where we put our faith.

Do you have faith in the God who created you?
He has an ultimate game plan for your life.

Do you listen to the coaching from the Holy Spirit?
He gives you all kinds of advice on how to win the game, i.e. how to value a relationship with God as your Lombardi Trophy.

Do you have faith that the God who created you really knows and understands all your sorrows and joys?
Jesus took on our human frailty and died a horrific death. He conquered that death and was resurrected to eternal life. Because of this, we can have faith that He understands all that we go through. He knows our strengths and weaknesses…when it’s time to carry the ball or punt.

Do you have faith in the people that God has placed in your life?
God has give you a team of fellow believers who will be there to support you in all your joys and sorrows, in all your struggles and in the times when you question the things in which you have placed your faith.

Do you pin your hopes on the life God has promised you?
If you do, you will feel like you’re part of something bigger…a whole fan base made up of the children of God, cheering for the same team. Whoohoo!

Now that’s a team worth having faith in.