Who I've Never Met

I haven't met one yet. It's not like I haven't looked, I just haven't met one. I wonder if the whole thing is some twisted myth.

Rumor has it they are real and living among us. But, I've never laid eyes on one in my entire life. I don't think anyone has ever gotten a picture of one either. I don't think they're real.

It's assumed that they could mix in with the rest of us, but if they were real I don't think they would blend in. No, if they really existed they would stand out like a bulldozer in a Corvette parade. I'm sure I've never met one.

Please understand, I have met some who claim to be one of them - but, I don't believe them. I have had people go out of their way to convince me that they are one. They have a list of reasons why I should think they are one - but I don't buy it.

Some people have convinced themselves that they are one of them. But, just because someone thinks they are one doesn't mean they are. No matter how disappointed they are I have to tell them they are wrong and pretending doesn't change anything.

I have never laid eyes on one... ever. I just don't believe they exist.

I suppose I could keep looking, but I'd just be wasting my time. The rumors are wrong. And if you think you are one you're doing nothing but playing games.

A person that God doesn't love? They just don't exist.

Amazed,

Pastor Dave

9-20-13

There's a problem with how we look at our faith journey - we expect respect. In some ways respect is the golden calf that we bend our knee to. When it's not granted we either respond by sulking in or lashing out. 

Lance Ford wrote, "Once we agree to be God's slave, he gives us the assignment of serving other humans. And humans do not treat servants and slaves well." [Lance Ford, Unleader, (Kansas City, Beacon Hill, 2012), 96.]  

There's a problem. God wants us to be his slave and serve others, while we want to be respected and successful. 

I wonder if our nation's history makes it harder to follow Christ. We have the embarrassing blemish of human slavery in our photo album and we've spent years trying to undo its impact. Slavery is undesirable. In fact since 1863 it's illegal. Our denomination was in full support of that.  We are about human freedom.

But then there's the God thing. While we proclaim, "no one owns me!" God looks for a slave. While we demand our right to be treated well God asks us to serve.

I am a "Free Methodist" that is in bondage to the call of Christ. I have the right to… serve. One man should never own another man, unless that Man built the universe. 

Never turn down serving God to be a success to humans. It's a rotten trade.

Thinking,

Pastor Dave

 

 

Thinking...

For my birthday I got a set of noise canceling head phones. It really is amazing to walk while I listen to the Bible and hardly even hear cars drive by. I learned a few big lessons quickly.

Lesson 1. Just because you can't hear it - doesn't mean it's not there. This is important to keep in mind when crossing intersections.

Lesson 2. I really don't have eyes on the back of my head.  Sharing a sidewalk with runners and bikers can be interesting when you have no idea they're coming up behind you.

Lesson 3. Internal noise is louder than external. Noise canceling headphones don't work on fear, worry, distraction, or confusion. If anything, those get even louder.

I learned lesson one by assuming a car saw me, but he had his "pedestrian canceling glasses" on. No big accident, I didn't get hit, but the heart rate of two people increased for a moment.

I learned lesson two by having a runner go by me. He had no idea that when he was instantly 24 inches away in my peripheral vision I would scream like a little girl on the inside and jump high enough to touch the roof of a six story building.

I learned lesson three by listening to the Bible and thinking about a book I'm reading. There is no correlation between the decibel level of external noise and internal noise. One doesn't cancel out the other.

I  am thinking about contacting Bose and seeing if there is an internal noise canceling upgrade available. My guess is… no.

I have to control the volume and content of stuff going in-between my ears and Bose can help me with the stuff outside of them. To ask questions about either of those I can contact either the manufacture of the headset or the Manufacture of the head.  One doesn't know me, the Other loves me.

Paul told the Philippians about noise canceling:
Philippians 4.8  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Thinking about such things,

Pastor Dave

Jubilee!

It's my Jubilee day today.

In Jesus' day 50 years represented a full measure of years. It was when a man would reach a new level of respect and be seen as fully mature. My bible encyclopedia says that 50, "conveys a sense of completion and the wisdom of long experience."

Yep, that's what it says. I don't like the word "completion."

Observations:
I think my thumb has arthritis in it.
My chin is a picture of the diversity of black and white (I wonder if I can get a government grant).
The prescription on the top of my glasses is different than the bottom.
I actually don't think that retirement is too far away to even imagine.
I've said the words, "I remember when that store was a farm."
I eat bran cereal and vegetables on purpose. (not at the same time)
My dentist is younger than I am - a lot.

But, as I sit in my office I can feel dignity leaking out of the cells of my body and congealing in my brain transforming me into… a grown-up fifty year old. I will wake up Saturday and be Rev. Dale David Kessler. I probably will no longer laugh at sitcoms or play loud games with my family.  I will stop liking action movies.  The day after tomorrow I will no longer tease people and I will only wear "outfits." I will drive slow and not eat spicy food after 4:00 pm. I can feel it.  It's h a p p e n i n g.  I ' m  g  e  t  t  i  n  g    m  a   t   u   r  e   e   e   e.

At one point Jesus was teased because he wasn't fifty (John 8:57).  Today I am. The Pharisees would think I was mature!  I like that even less than the word "completion."

Here's my conclusion, Jesus loves me and I will serve him with all that I am. So, I guess nothing's different at all.  I'm ok with that.

Jubileeing,

Rev. Dale David Kessler (or to my wife, "Davey Baby")