Dec 31, 2023

The 17th Annual Inspirations List: 2023

When I look at this year's heroes, I see one common thread running through.  They all convey this kind of steadiness.  Granted, in many cases that calm may be like that of a duck on a still lake--gliding along apparently effortlessly--all the while their legs are churning like mad under the surface.  If you were to ask them how they stay so cool, so chill, so even-keeled they'd probably be amused. "You have no idea," they'd chuckle.  So I guess it's really more about how they make the people around them feel.  Peaceful. Loved. Listened to. Cared for. Somehow they've alchemized whatever challenges they've faced into grace, compassion, and reliability to those whose lives they touch.

This year's heroes are four men and three women.  They are three pastors, one nurse, one lawyer, one retired administrator, and one student.  One of my heroes, I have never met before--she's accomplished much on the world stage.  One I've known my whole life.  Interestingly enough two of the people are related on this list--they are aunt and niece (And the mother of the niece has made this list in years past. I find heroism does tend to run in families).  Sadly, if  I had posted this entry just a week earlier, one of the men on the list would have been able to read his tribute.  But at least he knew he was an inspiration already. This was his second nomination, having appeared on the 2019 list  as well.  You can click on his name in the list below to read how he inspired me then.

Here they are my heroes and inspirations for the year 2023:

Keith Goodman & Ndubuisi Nwade

Leah Cox

Shawn Monk

Primah Kwagala

Roland Thomson

Sam Ulett


Ndubuisi Nwade & Keith Goodman

I'm inspired by their graceful & grace-filled courage




Love is not the easy thing.  It's funny how often we say we "just" need to love people.  The dynamic duo of Pastor Goodman, currently senior pastor at Ephesus SDA Church in Columbus, Ohio and Pastor Nwade, associate pastor at Ephesus, understand that inspiring a church to be motivated by love and grace is anything but easy.  It takes intentionality, it takes wisdom, it takes compassion and humility. And most of all it takes courage. Both pastors have demonstrated those traits as they launched an ambitious effort to help our church fully realize it's goal of becoming a graceful and grace-filled place where everyone feels like they belong.  I'm honored to work as an elder alongside them in this goal. These days I've got a lot of conflicted feelings about the way we've traditionally done church and the burdens we place on men and women when we give them the title and authority of pastor.  But I have to say, if there's a right way to work within this system Pastor Goodman and Pastor Nwade have figured it out.


Leah Cox

I'm inspired by her quiet leadership



Leading middle-schoolers is a bit like herding cats.  It's not for the faint of heart.  And I imagine it's doubly hard when you are their peer.  Yet Leah managed to pull off this feat with impressive grace, a cool head, and a wry sense of humor. As president of her 8th grade class, Leah managed to coordinate the daily snack cart sales, work with the officers, and even launched a brand new fundraiser for the class--the annual school hoodie sale--that will help support 8th grade classes for years to come. She also lobbied the school board to purchase new lockers for the middle school.  She did all this while maintaining top grades and positive relationships with all of her classmates.  Never mind, 8th grade, I think we might have been better off if Leah had been leading the entire country these past few years! 


Shawn Monk

I'm inspired by her authentic compassion



There is strength in tenderness and power in love. Compassion has an impact for more powerful than we imagine.  Shawn seems to intuitively understand these truths.  Her heart is tuned to those who struggle, those in need, those who are hurting. Reaching out with kind words, a heartfelt prayer, and helping hand just seem to come naturally to her. Over the years, I've watched her reach out time and again with care and compassion. My family and I have been the recipients of her care--whether offering a place to stay when we were waiting to move into our new home or watching our kids when emergencies arose, or simply offering a caring word or prayer.  Shawn doesn't reach out because she's "supposed to" or because she wants to "look good" to others.  Shawn's love is authentic.  She loves because that's who she is.  


Primah Kwagala

I'm inspired by her clear-eyed advocacy



She was one ray of hope in an otherwise sad story. I first came upon Ms Kwagala's remarkable work as a human rights lawyer and the founder of the Women's Probono Initiative while watching a documentary on the disgraced missionary and aid worker Renee Bach.  It seemed like the key players on both sides of the story were stained by ignorance and self-congratulatory hubris.  And then Primah Kwagala arrived on the scene.  She's no nonsense, sharp, humble, and compassionate. She's not about to become a tool in anyone else's machinations. Most important of all, she prioritizes the truth and the welfare of the women and girls she represents.  The documentary Savior Complex is a sobering look at what happens when do-gooders overreach. Primah Kwagala is a reminder that good actually can be done in the world.


Roland Thomson

I'm inspired by his gentle wisdom



Uncle Roland always has the best stories.  My mom's brother seems to have an endless treasure trove of funny anecdotes from his youth, unusual people he's met, and fascinating adventures he's been on.  Not to mention an amusing penchant for "dad jokes." But what really inspires me about Uncle Roland is his wise insight and Godly counsel.  He has a remarkable calm about him then tends to calm you down when you're worked up.  And he has a kindness and compassion that makes you feel really listened to and understood. Even when a crippling injury left him in the worst pain of his life and bedridden for weeks earlier this year, he still managed to come out of that experience with powerful insights that I found encouraging in my own journey.  Whatever the situation, you can count on Uncle Roland as a calming, steady, presence.  And as a bonus he'll probably have a good story too!


Sam Ulett

I'm inspired by his positive outlook



He was the first person I wanted to call.  Grief is strange like that--that often the first person you want to tell, the one you know would get it, is the very person who is gone.  I know I would have found in him joy through tears, hope through the pain.  Pastor Ulett went through a lot, and he struggled like anyone would.  But through it all, I've been inspired by his hopeful outlook and positivity.  He never minimized pain or trivialized suffering.  He wasn't one for cheap platitudes or easy answers.  His hope was hard-earned and as real as the pain he endured.  Check out this short reflection he shared on Facebook the summer before last, and you'll see what I mean.  Just like Jacob, Pastor Ulett, wrestled with God. And like, Jacob, he prevailed. 

 I miss Pastor Ulett's joyful laugh, his easy smile, his enthusiasm for the things of God.  All these things are gone now. But the hope and encouragement he passed on remains, and will live in the hearts of those of us who know him and love him. For Pastor Sam Ulett the Future was--and still is--bright.

Sep 3, 2023

A Kid by Any Other Name

 "What’s in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet.”

                                           --William Shakespeare, "Romeo & Juliet"

Famed musicians David Evans and Paul Hewson


For quite some time I’ve been baffled by the strong responses we sometimes get from people when they learn that our oldest son has changed his name.  Where I would expect to get a shrug and an “Okay”, I get questions that strike me as “none-of-their-business”:  “Why?”  “Is it a nickname?”  “Is that the name of someone in your family?”.   On other occasions I get a strong whiff of disapproval.  People don’t typically say it but there’s a sense of “Who does he think he is? He can’t change his name.”  What I sometimes do hear is even worse and more direct:  A flat refusal to acknowledge the change, a scoffing “No that’s not his name.  His name is **insert birthname here**”  It’s especially hurtful for us and for Kai when those kinds of responses are made in his hearing or directly to his face.  Even little kids--classmates of Kai’s younger brother--seem to feel it is their right and place to speak strongly on what Kai’s name really is.


I suppose I could understand if the name change reflected a different gender or something like that, but there’s nothing about the name Kai that suggests that sort of new self-identification. No, it’s just that he had the temerity to change his name.


I don’t get it.


Or at least I didn’t until recently, when I finally understood that our names are not--in most cases--who we are.  Our names are who other people say we are.  They are not so much about self-identity, as they are about who we are to the group.  When I really began to think about it, I realized that names are almost always given to people by others, and almost never chosen by the person themselves.  This is true for the names given us by our parents, but also for our nicknames, our titles, and even our true spiritual names like the ones that God gave to Abram and Jacob.  And the ones that will be given to us by God one day.  Our names are social constructs.  They are literally labels.  And so it makes sense that there would be an immediate tension, a sense of discomfort when someone decides to break out of that construct and do what no one is allowed to do--choose their own name.  When someone decides to break away from the social order in this way, it feels part and parcel of a general move in our culture towards people taking power away from the group and claiming it for themselves.  This whole “I identify as. . .” thing.  There's a hard reaction to that kind of boldness:.  “You don’t get to decide that, we do!”  Think about it, if a kid starts being called “Pookie” while growing up and it sticks, no one bats an eye.  Because the kid didn’t choose that name.  The group did.  If on the other hand, the kid announces, from now on I want to be called “Pookie” the group would resist it.  The kid is taking on a power that does not belong to him.


"Yeah, but that's different. He converted to Islam so he had a 'legitimate' reason to change his name and people were cool with it". . .Actually they weren't.  There were major newspapers at the time that refused to acknowledge Ali's chosen name and insisted on referring to him as Cassius Clay.  It took time for people to come around.



There’s one interesting exception to this rule though.  It’s artists and entertainers.  This is the one arena where it’s quite common for people to change their own names, and for society to give them a pass. From Jay-Z to Madonna to Prince (and the unpronounceable symbol he had for awhile) to Bono & The Edge to John Wayne and Marilyn Monroe, choosing your own name in the world of the arts is not only accepted, it’s commonplace. I don’t know why it’s different for musicians and movie actors but I think it’s pretty cool.  And I think it might be okay to let us regular people do the same without all the hassle.


Marion Robertson changed both his first and last name.  I guess Marion doesn't quite have the same ring.


I highly doubt my son’s name change is a “phase.”  He seems really happy with Kai, and at some point he will probably make it legal (at which point people will have to call him by the name he’s chosen!).  And Barbara and I, as his parents are okay with it. It’s not like we had any special connection to his birth name--at least in the case of his first name (He kept his middle name). It’s not like he’s named after someone special to us. It was just a name we liked, that’s all.  And even though we didn’t pick Kai, we like it too.


Kai loves to draw and he’s done some acting in his young life, so it helps, think of him as an artist and maybe you’ll feel a bit better.  And for those who just can’t stomach the idea of him choosing his own name, how about this:  His mother and I are calling him Kai.  We’d appreciate you doing the same.


Aug 12, 2023

50: What I've Learned

 Ten years ago, when I turned 40, I reflected on blessings I'd experienced in the first four decades of my life (you can read that entry here).  For this milestone birthday, I thought I'd do something different. Esquire magazine has these little interview segments they call "What I've Learned" where a well-known person will provide little snippets of their life experience, beliefs, and values.  I thought the occasion of my fiftieth birthday would be a good time to reflect a little bit on my own life experience, beliefs, and values.  I don't know where I'll be in another ten or twenty years; I can't say for sure that these are set in stone.  But they are where I am fifty years into this journey of life. 



My faith is stronger than it's ever been and my doubts are more numerous.  I hold deeper convictions and fewer dogmatic beliefs.

I've come to believe that everyone lives with pain of one sort or another, and for the vast majority of us that pain is significant.   Life is much harder than our social media posts would lead us to believe.  From that perspective I think I've gotten off pretty easy.

God has given me an amazing life--one that I didn't have the sense to dream for myself.  I'm not the poster child for chasing your dreams and making them a reality.  I think dreams realized can sometimes be not what we thought they'd be.

I have so many really great people in my life. I hear people talk about this or that toxic person they have to deal with, and I can't relate. There's no one I feel I need to excise from my life. 

To experience a true soul connection with someone is rare.  Some people live their whole lives without ever having that.  I don't think having such a connection is necessary to have a meaningful and rich life, but if you have that, it's a nice bonus.

I don't like to say I'm #blessed. I have no judgement against those who do say that. It's just for me it feels kind of callous. I prefer to say I'm lucky, even though it sounds less spiritual. I think what I really am is grateful.  That's better than blessed or lucky.

I used to think it would be great to be rich and famous. Then I decided that maybe I didn't want fame, but being rich would be great.  Now I don't know that being rich matters all that much either.  Being rich can't keep you from getting seasick, can't cure cancer, can't stop you from being in a car wreck, can't prevent you from getting older, can't protect you from losing the ones you love, can't make you have a happy marriage or be a good parent. I don't think that being rich is bad. I think it just is, with it's own unique set of advantages and disadvantages. Fame on the other hand? I don't see much upside to that at all.  

As rewarding as my career as a teacher has been, I'm never been one to wake up excited to go to work. I wouldn't do it for free. It's a good thing I have to work, because if I didn't, I probably wouldn't and I'd be the poorer for it. 

The constraints life places on us can sometimes be a blessing.  God knows what He's doing.

Everybody needs some time on their own. Everybody needs some time all alone.  Especially when you have kids.

Nothing lasts forever.

I'm not cool.  Cool is not something you can choose to be. You either are or aren't.  I've known a few cool people, and the ones of I'm thinking of are so humble and down to earth. And that part--being humble and down to earth-anyone can choose to be, cool or not.  I don't think cool really matters much in the scheme of things. I think cool people would agree with me on that.

I've never been particularly interested in the education profession. I'm also not a "kid person."  I don't spot a group of kids or teenagers and think, "Oh, let me go hang out with them."  But since my very first class I've loved my students with my whole heart. I give them the very best that I can and am always looking to improve. But it doesn't come from a passion for teaching or a passion for kids, it comes from a passion for teaching my kids.  I think my students know that.

I believe that the most important thing in life--maybe the only important thing in life--is to treat other people well and leave our corner of the world a little better for our having been there.

I've never been very spiritual. I'm more religious.  But I think maybe those two are reversing as I get older. I think if God is truly as great, good, powerful, and glorious as we believe Him to be then we all are pretty much wrong in our understanding of Him (and no the Bible doesn't help as much with that as we'd like to think). If God is truly beyond our understanding, then by definition, we don't understand Him.  Jesus came, in part so that we could understand God in a way that makes sense to us.

Theological Truth is not without value, but it's never more important than love.  Truth at it's best amplifies love. Love tied to bad theology can cause real hurt.  But I don't believe a loving God punishes us for not knowing the right facts. 

Grief has taught me not to stress too much about life--especially about living up to the demands and expectations of others.  I've always been a people pleaser, but I'm less of one now.  I used to worry about if so and so is "mad at me".  Now I'm just like "Oh, well."  Losing someone you care about makes you realize that much of what you thought was so important wasn't. It's also made me more determined to identify the people that matter to me and be intentional about maintaining connections with them.

I don't worry about being masculine enough. I've spent my entire professional life surrounded by women--as colleagues, as superiors, as friends and it's never bothered me.  I think fears about being "manly" or "man enough" are signs of insecurity and not really being at peace with oneself.  I'm insecure about some things, but this is not one of them.

With few exceptions, people can't be "set straight."  That's why I don't put much stock in "telling it like it is." It doesn't work, it just makes you feel better.  It's not that people can't change.  They can, but it's rare and when it happens it's because they decided to, not because you set them straight.

The exceptions are kids.  As parents and teachers we have them for a narrow window of time when they are teachable and we have to use it. When that window closes, that's it.  The other exceptions are adults who are seeking change.

Most people won't change their belief system unless is stops working for them.  As long as it "works" no amount proselytizing is going to move them.

I have found that life is easier when you accept people as they are. Appreciate what they are able to give you in relationship. And accept that what they can't give, you'll have to find elsewhere.  

I am a romantic at heart and an emotional person. I've learned to hide it well, but the music, books, and movies I like are the tell.

I can't think of anyone offhand that I hate or that I'm currently mad at.  There are things that trigger me. There's a hymn I don't like because of who I associate it with, a car that I don't like because of who used to drive it. But I don't carry around bad feelings about people.

That said, I'm really on the fence about human nature.  Are people basically good or basically awful?  I tend to assume the best of people I don't know, not the worst. Yet human beings are capable of such savagery. I know as a Christian we are supposed to say that "we are all sinners" and thus we are all the same. But it really does seem to me that there are some people that are really worse than others. I haven't resolved this conundrum yet.  Maybe by the time I'm 60, I'll more wisdom on this?

Most things we think of as strengths can also be weaknesses.  And vice versa. It's all about channeling those characteristics and knowing when and how to apply them.  I hate confrontation and by nature I want people to get along and I want them to like me.  This can be a liability as often as it's an asset.

If you want to move people to action quickly, fear is an excellent tool.  Media executives, politicians, and pastors know this. Unfortunately, it's not great for bringing about lasting change. But if you need to get numbers on the board quickly or keep eyeballs glued to your screen fear is the way to go.

I don't think hate is the problem. I'm talking about the  -sims: racism, sexism, etc not hate that comes from being hurt or wronged.  Greed, selfishness, pride, cruelty, and the need to control other people for our own benefit are the problem. Hate comes about in the oppressor when the oppressed won't stay in their lane and accept their oppression. 

I hit the jackpot with Barbara. I'm grateful every day for her. It's not that we don't have problems. We do. Significant ones that have been present since the start of our relationship and still haven't really been resolved.  We're not talking about which way the toilet paper goes. But they are manageable, and when I look at what other people have to go through, all I can say is that I really lucked out.

I don't think anyone should have a goal of getting married.  If you meet someone you want to share the rest of your life with, by all means, get married. But otherwise, it's better to be single than married and miserable. No one can make you happy but they sure can make you unhappy.

We all (well most of us, I'm guessing) feel at one time or another like failed parents.  There are so many things I would do differently if I could go back to the start. But I have to remind myself that I have two children that I've raised more or less the same way.  Any issues (or strengths) that don't appear in both children are likely due to their personalities and not to my parenting.  When the same problem pops up with both kids--well, that's probably on me.

One of the worst things you can do as a parent is try to make your children happy. It's an impossible task and the more you try the more miserable they will be. And in the process you teach your kids that happiness comes from outside of themselves.  Especially with food.  Don't ask your kids what they want to eat.  Let them be hungry if they don't want what's being made. They won't starve, I promise. I'm not saying this because I did this but because I didn't and we're still reaping the consequences.

One of my greatest fears is that I've messed up my kids. I think about Eli and David in the Bible a lot.

I'm not as humble, kind, or unselfish as I would like to be and as I hope I appear.

I feel like I'm right probably  90% of the time.  I don't feel like I have to be right. I just feel like I am.  

A few weeks back I was out for a run and noticed that almost everyone in the neighborhood had put out their recycle bins even though this wasn't the week when recycling was picked up. I knew they were wrong.  I knew it and was smug in my knowledge. I figured they were sheep.  Someone got the week wrong and put their bin out, a neighbor saw it and put their bin out and others followed suit and soon the whole neighborhood had done it.  But not me. I knew the schedule.    Turns out everyone else was right and I was wrong--they picked up the recycling.  Thankfully, when I got home, I put my bin out too, but only because ours was totally full and I couldn't afford to be wrong. I learned a lot from that.  

I'm a good writer. Maybe not great. But pretty good. I'm an excellent storyteller.

I keep wondering these days, if I've hit my peak already.  Have I already run the fastest I'll ever run? Has my mind already been the sharpest it'll ever be? I've always had a very strong memory and I still do have a remarkable propensity for remembering the tiniest facts. But lately I find sometimes I have trouble remembering a name or specific word.  It's right there on the edge of memory and I can't seem to retrieve it. That worries me. Developing Alzheimer's/dementia is my biggest fear about growing older. I've always lived a life of the mind and to lose that would be devastating.

I don't know that I want this to be the halfway point in my life.  I'm at peace with my life being more than halfway over. I'm not sure living to 100 is all that great. My 106 year old grandmother certainly doesn't think so. If I'm in excellent health and everyone I love is also a centenarian then maybe.  

Life is short. Live it well.



Jan 7, 2023

The One Year Bible: Obscuration?

The W.O.B astride the Beast

Some times reading John's fantastical coda to the Bible, I wondered if the name Revelation was meant to be ironic. Because without a doubt, it has to be one of the most confusing books of the Bible.  The beasts, the creatures, the numerology (from 666 to the reoccurrence of the number seven), the whore and the woman in white.  It's a lot, folks.  The Revelation of Jesus Christ seems raise more questions than it does reveal answers.

Yet many believers claim to have unlocked the mysteries of Revelation, not least among them the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Revelation has always been deeply important to our church.  The Three Angels message of Revelation 14 is baked into our identity, not least because Adventist theology teaches that the messages of the three angels are our unique task to deliver (see this summary written by the current president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church).  Essentially, the three angels are the Seventh-day Adventist church.  Our reason for being is tied up neatly in those three clarion calls from heaven:  First, fear God and give Him glory, for the hour of His judgement has come. Worship Him who made heaven and earth.  That's the investigative judgement (which unbeknownst to most people including many Adventists is understood to be ongoing right now. . .and could end at any moment.  There's a whole blog post to be written on this hoary old doctrine) and the seventh-day Sabbath--both distinctive Adventist doctrines. Babylon is fallen, the second message is a reminder that the rest of Christianity has been corrupted by doctrines rooted in Catholicism.  And the third and final message, a warning that anyone who worships the beast and his image will experience the full force of God's wrath and eternal punishment.  Everything fits perfectly and it's kind of amazing to be essential to Bible prophecy. 

Of course, Adventists don't have a monopoly on interpretations of Revelation.  Other denominations have their own reads on the Apocalypse--their own ideas of who are the 144,000, when will/did the seven last plagues occur, who is/was the beast, the woman, the dragon. There are four major approaches to interpreting Revelation (click here for an excellent summary of these different interpretations. Adventist theology falls squarely in the historicist camp).

I don't feel qualified to vindicate or critique the Adventist teachings on Revelation. I tend to be a bit arrogant, I fear when it comes to spiritual things. Not so much in being certain of what the Bible says, but more in being certain that other people--people who have spent years in careful study--don't really know what they're talking about.  Before I can truly dismiss any Revelation teaching, I'd have to, at the very least, do the work of diving in deep myself.  Yet, I also don't know that it's wise to just take the word of the nearest Bible scholar, assuming surely they must have gotten it right.  

So where does that leave me?  Probably not anywhere that would please the hard-liners in my church since it's going to sound rather Idealist.  But it's the only place I can, in good conscience, be right now.

As I read through the book I found bits and pieces that I thought I kind of got, but nothing really came together in a cohesive whole until the final chapter or so. For me Revelation works when I take a step back from trying parse out the exact meaning of all those symbols and look at the big picture.  

Much is obscured to me in Revelation, but this is clear: Hope of death's destruction, the triumph of love, and the end of evil.  The how is not as important as the promise that it will happen.

We have this hope, and long for this day.  Even, so come Lord Jesus. (Interesting side note: As I was looking for an image to close out this entry, representing the Second Coming, I came upon this picture on a Catholic website.  The article is talking about the End Times, and what's fascinating is how familiar much of it sounds! I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't know Catholics even believed in a literal second coming.)



Dec 31, 2022

The Sixteenth Annual Inspirations List: 2022

 We think of  unsung heroes as those whose heroic actions go unnoticed and unappreciated.  They are not celebrated as they probably deserve to be.  One of the goals of this blog entry, now in it's sixteenth year is to sing the praises of those who would otherwise go unsung.  But this year, unsung takes on a different flavor, as several of the heroes on this list I can only praise obliquely.  It might be to protect the privacy of the hero or the privacy of others.  You might say their songs of appreciation are sung softly.  And this is often the case, I think.  Like Seal Team 6 commandos on a top secret mission, some acts of heroism can never be made public.  But those heroes are no less deserving of our appreciation.  And so, while most of you will notice nothing lacking in these tributes some will be able to read between the lines and hear what goes unsaid.  They will know that I see them and I am deeply grateful for them.  If you know, you know.

The six women and five men on this year's list include two people who will not be able to read their own tributes.  These posthumous acknowledgements were once a rarity.  Now they are becoming common practice, as time and chance take their toll. The heroes of 2022 are long-time friends, family I've just gotten to know in the past few years, a beloved church member, gifted professionals whose inspirational acts come with job, and a quartet of really special current and former students.  Among that last group, is one person who joins his mother as one of only two people (so far) who have been honored three times on this annual list.  I have a feeling it won't be the last!

Here the are, the people who have inspired me most in 2022:

Rachel C

Winston Baldwin

Rolando Balverde

Luette Cowell

Molly

Kai Maycock

Leslie Drapiza

Larry Howell & DeeAnne Lau

Rachelle James Mason & Oscar "Yahir" Martinez


 Rachel C

I'm inspired by her willingness to help


If a true friend is defined by one's willingness to drop everything and drive four hours round trip to go get someone stranded at the airport
due to a family emergency, than Rachel is true blue. That's what Rachel did for me in the summer of 2021 and I'll be forever grateful.  When I put out the word that I was stuck in Cincinnati, Rachel was on it without hesitation. She made it seem like no big deal. Not only that but Rachel provided our family with some great ideas and resources at a time when we needed them.  She not only drove all those miles, she went the extra mile too. We've known Rachel since she was a student missionary in Saipan 18 years ago.  We used to be neighbors here in Ohio, and her son is friends with our boys. Even though these days we don't get to see Rachel as often as we might like, I know that when the chips are down, Rachel will show up with a smile, ready to lend a hand.


Winston Baldwin

I'm inspired by the sermons he lived



Once I approached Pastor Baldwin after church
to ask him some questions about the sermon he'd just preached. I wasn't sure I agreed with his key point and wanted clarification.  We had a nice discussion, a little theological back-and-forth that I think we both enjoyed.  He wasn't defensive or angry; he was sincere and thoughtful and though I can't remember whether I came around to his point of view, I know I came away blessed.  

Pastor Baldwin was a blessing in our family's life for 18 years--his entire tenure at the Centerville SDA Church up to his unexpected passing early this year.  My mother-in-law worked for him as the church secretary for sixteen of those years and during that time he was always kind and considerate of her needs. He was there for the Leen family when Dad passed away in 2014, and he would often come to visit Mom in the hospital after some her surgeries in recent years. Indeed the last time Barbara saw Pastor Baldwin was at her mother's bedside  Of course comforting the bereaved and visiting the sick come with the job title, but with Pastor Baldwin it never felt like he was just doing his duty.  We felt his genuine care and compassion.   I still miss his sonorous, earnest voice from the pulpit, but I miss his presence in our lives even more.  Pastor Baldwins legacy is to inspire me to preach the we he did--by the way I live my life.

Rolando Balverde

I'm inspired by his will to improve



Rolando is not "lucky". But an uninformed observer might have thought otherwise, as they watched him crossing the stage at his 8th grade graduation, graduating with honors and receiving all kinds of awards and accolades.  "Some kids want to learn, other's don't,"  they might conclude.  And they would be wrong. All kids want to learn--it's just sometimes they don't realize it for awhile. Rolando didn't realize it for awhile.  When he first arrived in my classroom, it was a rare thing for him to complete and turn in assignment. Many times he didn't even bother coming to class at all.  I often despaired over whether we'd ever be able to get Rolando motivated.  But somewhere along the way, Rolando decided he wanted to make a change. He didn't "get lucky"--he made his own luck. He tapped into the tremendous power of his own will.  He began turning in his assignments, his grades began to tick up. He back to show previously unnoted academic talents, especially in math.  By the final quarter of his eighth grade year he was on the principal's list.  Amazing!  I was the lucky one--Lucky enough to bear witness to Rolando's quiet maturity, his determination to improve, his dignified bearing, and most of all his willpower. In all my years of teaching I've never seen a turnaround as complete as the Rolando pulled off. 

Luette Cowell

I'm inspired by her sharing



A gift from a loving heart ends up being shared far beyond the original recipient. Such is the case with Luette Cowell. I didn't know Luette well; I knew her daugher Emily a little better.  But I didn't have to receive a delicious plate of cookies or another tasty treat from Luette's kitchen to feel the warmth and light she shared with everyone around her.    When I learned of her passing, I was stunned. It didn't seem possible that such a bright light could go out; death couldn't--shouldn't--happen to people like Luette.  But though she is gone, her love lives on.  At her memorial, I was inspired by the generous life she lived--how she shared what she created in her kitchen with easy and joyful grace. I thought to myself, I can do that.  I can live like Luette did. She has shown me that even the simple act of making something special and sharing it with someone else can make a world of difference. I'm planning to whip up a peach cobbler tomorrow to drop off for someone. You could say that dessert will have come from Luette Cowell.

Molly

I'm inspired by her faith in us



"I didn't do much, it's you that did the work,"  That's what Molly would often say when we expressed our appreciation for her help. Through the better part of a year, Molly helped us navigate some considerable challenges as our family therapist. In all that time, Molly held an unshakeable faith in our family to grow, change, and better relate to one another.  That was her job of course, but she did it so well. Molly was not some sort of Dr. Phil dispensing instructions and advice from on high.  She was a big believer in tapping into the strengths we already had--not so much empowering us, but helping us uncover the power that was already there.  Our time with Molly is concluded, and that's a good thing!  But I'll always remember how Molly believed in us when it was hard for us to believe in ourselves. And when we hit bumps in the road, as is sure to happen in life, I hope to tap into that faith once again.

Kai Maycock

I'm inspired by his friendship


Friendship is magic. 
That was the theme of My Little Pony, Kai's favorite cartoon, when he was younger. He was captivated by the stories of six friends, each with their own unique characteristics, but bound together by their love and care for one another.  Lately, Kai's been binging another TV series featuring six pals who are there for each other even when the rain starts to pour. You guessed it: Friends. But friendship means more to Kai than just a fun TV fantasy.  You might say that Kai is a student of friendship. He lives out the principles of friendship in his daily life.  More than most kids his age, Kai understands that people matter, and that relationships are worth investing in.  For Kai it's not just about having good friends, it's about being a good friend.   With our busy lives, it's easy to take people for granted, but as I've watched Kai's intentional efforts to value his friendships, I'm inspired to do the same with mine.


Leslie Drapiza

I'm inspired by her advocacy



She's gone where many have never set foot, from mountain heights to ocean depths. Leslie is an adventurer, but it's not her amazing exploits that inspire me, it's why she does them.  "Because it's there," is not the only reason Leslie climbs.  Dr. Leslie Drapiza, through her participation in and advocacy of Women of Color Who Summit Climb for Clean Air, raised thousands of dollars for the American Lung Association and also served as inspiration for women and girls of color who might not have ever thought that climbing was for them.  She's letting them know that they are powerful, that they matter, that they can overcome.  I've never hiked with Leslie, but I can picture her reaching out to help a fellow climber on the way, providing a word of encouragement and hope, and making it possible not just for herself but for her teammates--on and off the mountain-to succeed.  

Larry Howell & DeeAnne Lau

I'm inspired by their gentle spirit



They exude kindness, warmth, peace.  Just being around  Larry & Dee, you can feel yourself relax, soothed by their gentle spirit. What's remarkable is you can feel it even through a computer screen. I've actually never met my cousin DeeAnne and her husband Larry in person.  I knew her parents, my great aunt Yvonne (my grandmother's younger sister) and Uncle Ben but the times we visited, Dee was elsewhere.  I got to know Dee and Larry at the start of the pandemic when they started attending our family Zoom church each Sabbath.  Larry and Dee have been such a blessing to me.  They've exhibited a thoughtful compassion and open-heartedness that I've found inspiring.  Whether through an earnest prayer or a timely text message, or even a thoughtful gift in the mail, their caring so sincere, their gentleness so authentic, you can't help but be encouraged.

Rachelle James Mason & Oscar "Yahir" Martinez

I'm inspired by their achievements




Watching them soar is a joy.
   Rachelle and Oscar (or Yahir as I will always know him) are representative of so many of my students who are now adults making their way in the world and making their mark. I am so proud of them. Yahir is a successful real estate agent. Every time I see his Facebook updates announcing another property sold or see the professional accolades he's received, it makes me so happy.  There's nothing better than seeing your "kids" out there living their dreams and making a difference.  With Rachelle, I've had the unique privilege of having her as my supervisor! Her deft leadership of the media team at the Ephesus church amazes me.  Rachelle is capable, firm when she has to be, but always generous and respectful. I appreciate her willingness to advocate for what our team needs to do our job well, and her determination to see us bring our best to every worship service. It was a privilege to teach Rachelle and Yahir, it's an honor to see them fly.

Nov 26, 2022

The One Year Bible: The Greatest Gift and The Last Enemy

 I was never a big fan of Paul.

I found him cranky and his opining on some topics, like marriage for example, always made me cringe. But I think I'm coming around.  I've really enjoyed his first letter to the church at Corinth.  The passages from Ch 12-15 are especially rich and I want to reflect on some the highlights.

Love > Gifts

The gentleman on the right, my father-in-law, Bill Leen was 1 Corinthians 13 personified. He was a quiet man, one who may not have ever done a miracle or preached a sermon but who had what mattered most: Love

1 Corinthians 12 and 14 provide crucial context for the famous "love" chapter 13.  In chapter 12, Paul discusses the value of the different spiritual gifts--prophecy, teaching, healing and miracles, speaking and interpreting in unknown languages and so on.  He notes that not everyone has the same gifts and each should be valued as an important contribution to the life of the community of faith.  But Paul concludes that there's something even more important than all the religious talents.  This sets up Chapter 13.  Love is not a spiritual prize that some lucky Christians are endowed with.  Love is the highest goal that every believer should strive for, and it is one of the few aspects of mortal life that will carry on through eternity.   Furthermore a lack of love invalidates all other spiritual gifts--something we Christians seem prone to forget.  Prophecy, faith, miracles, tongues--all of it is of no value if we are not patient, kind, humble, polite, easy-going, hopeful, lovers of truth and justice.  Paul clarifies what Jesus meant when he said many will come to him at the last day, crying "Lord, Lord, didn't we do all these great things in your name" and the response will be a shocking "And you are?"  Christian activity is good so far it goes--but it is no substitute for love.

Tongue Tied


Once Paul has established love as foundational to Christian faith, he returns to the topic of spiritual gifts within the church. Chapter 14 focuses primarily on weighing the gifts of tongues vs prophecy. It's a fascinating chapter, particularly for one coming from a faith tradition that doesn't give much consideration to the gift of tongues and views the Spirit of Prophecy as shorthand for one specific White lady.  I was always taught the tongues referred to in the New Testament simply meant the early believers were able to speak in foreign languages without having to learn them.  Its not uncommon for Adventist missionaries to ask for prayer that they might be given the "gift of tongues" so that they can quickly learn the language of their target people group. 

But there's very little in the New Testament seems to support the Adventist interpretation of tongues.  The closest we get is the statement in the second chapter of Acts that everyone in the diverse crowd heard the disciples speaking in their own language. But the way Paul describes the gift of tongues in 1 Corinthians 14, it doesn't sound like he's referring to being blessed with multilingual talent. On the other hand, I don't get the feeling that the practice of speaking in tongues in charismatic faith traditions really follows Paul's guidance either. I can't speak with authority here since I'm only somewhat familiar with charismatic Christianity.  But if speaking in tongues becomes a test of whether one has "received the Holy Spirit" or not, if it becomes primarily an emotional expression of ecstatic spirituality with little concern given to making sure that the expression is not disruptive and can be translated, than our Pentecostal siblings are no closer to what Paul is calling for than the emotion-averse Adventists are. 

 Paul is seeking order, not chaos.  Even the seemingly patriarchal instruction that "women should not speak" in church is very clearly in reference to a specific time, place, and culture not a timeless principle.  Paul sums it up in vs. 40 : "So my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy and don't forbid speaking in tongues."  I've never been to a congregation like that, but at least vs. 40 is easy enough: "But be sure that everything is done properly and in order."

The Last Enemy

It's funny that when you Google this quote, it is often attributed to J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter novels, because it is featured in the final book of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  But Rowling lifted that powerful promise from a much older Book!

Paul's strong defense of the resurrection is so beautiful to me and fills me with so much hope.  The resurrection is the foundation of our faith.  Without it, Paul points out, our faith is essentially useless. "If our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to pitied than anyone in the world."  Like many, if not most religions, Christianity is primarily concerned with cheating death--or more definitively, defeating death.  "The last enemy to be destroyed is death," he says in vs. 26. Paul presents Christian belief as rooted in the resurrection. Not in "hell avoidance", not in "here's a motivation to be a good person"--those themes don't appear in Paul's reflection on the hope of eternal life. Instead, Paul declares that just as one man, Adam, ushered in death for all of humanity, one Man, Jesus, has made resurrection available to all.

The verses that really struck me in a way I'd never noticed before are found in 1 Corinthians 15:42-43. These verses speak hope for the little sister who only had two brief weeks of life on this earth, hope for the husband who was brought down by cancer in the prime of his life leaving behind a grieving wife and two young sons, hope for the son killed in a tragic car accident, hope for the father and grandfather who at 91 had not lived long enough for the loved ones he left behind 8 years ago today, hope for the best friend, who died without warning, to keep her promise to be "friends forever".

"It's the same way with the resurrection of the dead.  Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength."

Nov 12, 2022

The One Year Bible: Snippets from The Greatest Story Ever Told

 The world could not contain all the posts I could write about Jesus.  So for this entry I've selected four snippets--four observations or reflections, from the old, old story.  We've also got snippets from three songs--a CCM favorite from the 80s, a rock n' roll reflection, and old hymn that celebrates the greatest story ever told.

Secret Ambition

"Some say, "Death to the radicalHe's way out of line."Some say, "Praise be the miracleGod sends a blessed sign.A blessed sign for troubled times."
Nobody knew His secret ambitionNobody knew His claim to fameHe broke the old rules steeped in traditionHe tore the holy veil awayQuestioning those in powerful positionRunning to those who called His name
But nobody knew His secret ambitionWas to give His life away"
                                   --Michael W. Smith "Secret Ambition"

Back in the 80's this was the song--with it's dramatic drumbeat intro and urgent lyrics, Smitty was in fine form. When he belts out that "No!" near the end like a Christian Kenny Loggins, you couldn't help but be compelled. But even though it sounds dated now, there are still few songs out there that capture the challenging figure that Christ was--and is. Far from an easy, palatable Savior, this song portrays Jesus as the conundrum He was to the people of His day--a man on a secret mission that no one else could possibly know or understand.

I find it interesting that early in his ministry Jesus was keen to keep his miracles and his mission secret.  He wasn't a great evangelist. He told people to be quiet, and tell no one what he'd done. Those who figured out who He was were ordered to keep it under wraps. I began to wonder if his reticence was supposed to be a model for us to follow. Is our whole Christian obsession with evangelism wrong-headed?  But later on, Jesus became much more open about who He was and what He had come to do.  Near the end of the ministry, He was quite bold about stating who He was.  When on trial for His life, it was the one question Jesus would answer-to assert His true identity.  He opened up about His once secret ambition--to give His life away.  But even then--this counterintuitive plan of redemption was so incomprehensible that nobody knew his ambition even when He told them plainly. It wouldn't be until after His death and resurrection that the penny finally dropped for His disciples and they realized this had been the plan all along.

I eventually realized that for Jesus it was all about timing--His Father's timing.  Early in His ministry, His "time had not yet come" as Jesus explained to His mother.  But that reticence was only for a season--when the time was right, Jesus declared Himself boldly and without apologies.  We, His followers would probably do well to seek that same Spirit-led flexibility.  We need to recognize that one plan may be what's called for at a particular time, but that plan needs to be given up as the times and circumstances change.

For me Jonathan Roumie's portrayal of Jesus in The Chosen is now the gold standard for the most impossible of roles. But years before the multi-episode series was a twinkle in Dallas Jenkin's eye, this guy, Bruce Marchiano, was my go-to for imagining Jesus. He appeared in the 1993 Visual Bible film Matthew and I found his performance compelling. Matthew  is a word-for-word telling of the Gospel of Matthew and Marchiano's take on Matthew 23 is riveting.  He captures the love and anger Jesus feels so well.

Jesus on the Attack

In Matthew 23, Jesus absolutely lays into the religious leadership. It is one of the most vigorous tongue-lashings found this side of the Old Testament.  But the theme same is the same--God's deep disgust with religious playacting that poorly masks a corrupt heart.  It's sobering to consider how much of what Jesus excoriates in the "teachers and preachers" of His day still rings sadly familiar in their modern day counterparts. A couple of key rebukes:

  • Spiritual showmanship: God is extremely turned off by displays of religiosity.  Whether it's flashy displays of religious symbols, or basking in titles, honorifics, and public acclaim, Jesus condemned the public honor and respect that many of our religious leaders still see as their due today.
  • Presenting a twisted picture of God:  One of the worst things a Christian can do is misrepresent the nature of God's character.  It is perhaps the single most damaging thing one can do to another person's spiritual experience.  And yet this grievous sin is far more common that we'd like to admit.  From the spiritual havoc wreaked by religious leaders who abuse their followers--especially as children, to whole cultures of Christians for whom zealous missionaries have traveled over land and sea to convert only to turn their converts into twice the sons of hell they are.  I can think of one place in particular with a strong Adventist presence that has been spiritually devastated by a strong legalistic culture that was engrained in the people by the original missionaries to that place.  Jesus stern warning in Matthew 23:13-15 should give all of us eager to baptize some humble pause.
  • Majoring in Minors: God is appalled by an emphasis on minor details of "proper religious conduct" while the major issues are neglected.  The sins of pride, cruelty, hunger for power and control, and selfishness run rampant in the church while we wring our hands over jewelry, the role of women, "dress reform", and yes even tithing.  It's sad when some of our leading churches are known more for the internal power struggles and church politics than for the things of eternal consequence.
  • Virtue Signaling: Jesus uses the image of tombstones--clean and beautiful on the outside, harboring decay and decomposition inside to lambast those who know the right religious turn of phrase, the correct spiritual display, and proper Christian comportment but whose hearts are corrupted.

It's not surprising that Matthew 23 doesn't get preached very often. It strikes too close to home.  It's far easier to dig up a handful of verses from other parts of the Bible to condemn the "sinners" outside the fold than to consider the much darker dangers from within.

But something tells me there's probably no part of the Bible more relevant to modern Christianity than this chapter.

The Mystery of Judas

"I took the moneyI spiked your drinkYou miss too much these days if you stop to thinkYou lead me on with those innocent eyesYou know I love the element of surpriseIn the garden I was playing the tartI kissed your lips and broke your heartYouYou were acting like it was the end of the world'

                                            --U2 "Until the End of the World"

Bono has said that this track from U2's seminal album Achtung Baby! is an imagined conversation between Jesus and Judas over Judas's decision to betray Jesus. For millennia everyone from theologians to rock stars have wrestled with the mystery of Judas.

It's easy to criticize Judas.  Talk about an obvious villain, right?  But when you read the gospels, that villainy isn't so obvious.  In fact we don't really know that much about Judas at all.  John tells us that Judas used to steal from the disciple's treasury--but he also tells us that Judas was in charge of the disciples finances--the CFO of the group, if you will.  It seems reasonable that the disciples must have considered him trustworthy, smart, and capable.  And even though Jesus must have known what Judas was up to, He made no move to stop him. 

We don't know why Judas decided to betray Jesus either.  We are told "Satan entered into him" but we don't know what might have precipitated this.  We also don't know why he had a sudden attack of conscience once he realized Jesus was going to be executed.  "I have betrayed an innocent man" he declares. But didn't he know that Jesus was innocent the whole time?  And what did he think was going to happen after he turned Jesus into the authorities?  We can't even be sure of the exact nature of Judas ignoble end. Only one gospel, Matthew, describes what happens with Judas after his betrayal and the account in the book of Acts is quite different from what Matthew describes.

Eyewitness Accounts

It's quite remarkable how comfortable we've become with the competing narratives of the four gospels (though I sometimes wonder how many Christians are even aware of the contradictory eyewitness accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I'm guessing many assume that they surely must harmonize).  I don't mean that as a criticism.  I've always felt--as counterintuitive as it may sound--that the different accounts strengthen my faith in the truth of the gospels. The "disagreements" (one demoniac healed, or two? for example, or even the end of Judas's life.  The accounts in Matthew and Acts are so different. ) have the ring of authenticity.  You would expect four witnesses to the same incident to recall the details differently.  Whereas a carefully devised fiction would take care to make sure all the details lined up perfectly.  

Recognizing these inconsistencies is perhaps the strongest argument against being overly rigid in our understanding of "Bible truth."  If four accounts of the same story can differ on key details--details where they can't all be true, shouldn't that cause us to be a little less insistent about sticking to a single interpretation of a passage where there is only one account?

I loved reading the stories of Jesus.  They are unquestionably my favorite part of the Bible.  There's so much to explore and unpack in them.  I wish I'd blogged more of this section of my reading in the Bible. Perhaps I'll have to do a revisit after this year long journey through the Bible comes to an end. One things for sure, I love to read--and tell--the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

"I love to tell the story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and his glory,
Of Jesus and his love.

I love to tell the story,
Because I know 'tis true;
It satisfies my longings
As nothing else can do.

I love to tell the story,
'twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and his love.

I love to tell the story,
For those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting
To hear it like the rest.

And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
'twill be the old, old story
That I have loved so long.

I love to tell the story,
'twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and his love."
                          -- A. Katherine Hankey, "I Love To Tell The Story"