Easter: March 31, 2013

Easter is the continuation of God’s interaction with creation. 
God’s involvement with the world is not confined to the stories of old. 
Easter marks the beginning of a whole new way of defining God,


It will happen again this year.
Just like it did last year
and the year before.
It will happen to the unsuspecting
and to those searching for it.
It will affect the young and the old;
the rich and the poor;
children and adults.
It will push away the darkness that haunts the mind.
It will fill the hole of loneliness that resides deep in the heart.
It will replace frowns with smiles.
It will bring hope to the hopeless.
It’s called Easter.
Celebrate it with us.

These words will again be published in our annual Easter ad in the News of Delaware County.
Several thousand of your neighbors will see them.
For sure, far more people will see this ad than will attend our service on Easter Sunday. 

For me, even more important than attracting a crowd, the primary value of this ad is to let people know that Easter means much more to us than bunnies and bonnets and eggs.

Through this means, a portion of our story is disseminated to the world at large. 

For us, Easter is the grand climax of the drama of Holy Week. 
Far from memorializing the death of a person in ages past,
Easter celebrates the beginning of something new,
something altogether different.

We celebrate Easter as the continuation of God’s interaction with creation. 
God’s involvement with the world is not confined to the stories of old. 
Easter marks the beginning of a whole new way of defining God,
a whole new faith,
a whole new relationship,
a whole new way of living.

The poet says it is  the suns’s birthday . . . the birthday of life and of love and wings.

Easter changes reality.
It redefines the laws of physics.
It brings a new way of looking at things:
life and death,
other people and ourselves!

For us, Easter is about discovering sparks of the Divine within ourselves and in our daily lives.

Easter is a huge birthday party for us as we celebrate the discovery and revelation of the true nature of our God – and of ourselves.

Once a year we focus on tending the ears of our ears and the eyes of our eyes to become more awake and more open to observing and celebrating the presence of Christ in our world, in our lives, today.   

We do this, because like those early disciples, we so often look for love and truth and meaning in all the wrong places. 

When they found the tomb empty, God’s messenger asked “Why do you look for the living here among the dead?” 

That question is asked of us, as well. 

Either we don’t know where to look, or we are afraid to look in the right places.

Come, help us celebrate the Presence of Christ this Easter Sunday,

See you in church  –  and bring someone with you.

Top Reasons to Be at CPC Palm Sunday

1.    It’s good to just celebrate once in a while.
2.    It’s good to sing out loud in public!
3.    It’s good to join a parade (even if symbolically)!
4.    It’s a way to visibly demonstrate your faith.
5.    Everyone welcomes you.
6.    You will hear a message that could affect your life.
7.    You will be among staunch believers – as well as questioners, sceptics, and seekers.
8.    We, too, like those of old, will be celebrating the presence of Christ in our midst.
9.    Your presence will be noticed by others.
10.    You can come as you are – no matter what.
11.    You will be welcome.
12.    You will be expected.
13.    The more the merrier – and we all need more merry, don’t you think?
14.    You will bring a smile to someone’s face – guaranteed!
15.    Folks banding together can change the world – we see it on TV!
16.    Parades are fun!

Lent begins March 13th

From the very earliest times, Christians took time out before Easter to reflect on their faith, cultivate it, and prepare for a most joyous celebration of Easter.

Remembering that Jesus took 40 days off to prepare for the beginning of his ministry,
the church sets aside these 40 days prior to Easter for us to get ready. 

This is a time for us to explore the mysteries of the universe, looking beneath the surface – within ourselves -- examining our own motives and desires, and ascertaining exactly what our commitment is: to what, to whom, and what it means.

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus went out into the desert for 40 days. 
For 40 days he lived without food or, presumably water. 
For 40 days he confronted his demons. 
For 40 days he prayed. 
For 40 days he communed with his God.

Suffice it to say, upon completion of his 40 days in the desert, Jesus had a clearer picture of his purpose in life,
of his reason for being,
of his God-given mission. 
And he embarked on his course of demonstrating the reign of love on earth. 

Traditionally, the church has set aside these 40 days prior to Easter as a time for personal reflection toward discovery of our purpose and renewed commitment to our faith.

Many cultures make a lot over the fasting nature of these 40 days. 
Carnival is celebrated in many parts of the world the day before Lent begins as the last chance to eat meat for 40 days! 
In this country Mardi gras is celebrated in New Orleans on “fat Tuesday” – the day before the 40 day fast begins.

Today, we see these 40 days as an opportunity to attend to the parts of our lives that we often neglect.  We are challenged to open ourselves in new ways to the Spirit’s transforming power. 

Because Presbyterians rebelled against all things Catholic, Lent was never celebrated in most Presbyterian churches until  recent years.  But, Lent is such a rich time. 
It is an excellent opportunity for us to really focus on things that matter.

Lent is meant to remind us that
the days are getting longer –
Spring is right around the corner.  Signs of life are preparing to bud right in front of our eyes. 
And,  we need to prepare ourselves to see these signs!

We need Lent! 
Lent encourages us to look within ourselves to see how we have confused popular cultural values with Christian faith. 
Through a sustained focus on the life and ministry of Jesus, Lent can help us resist the pressures of this culture. 
Lent can remind us that we are called to continue his ministry:  "As the Father has sent me, so I send you"  (John 20:21).  Consequently, Lent prepares us for an Easter that is more than bunnies and eggs, an Easter that begins a whole new reality – a whole new world.

From the beginning, part and parcel of the Lenten observance has been alms giving.  The purpose of fasting is not so much a bodily discipline as it is a sharing discipline.  Becoming aware of the needs of others, and responding to them with generous gifts of our time and talents and money are particularly transforming.

During this season we will be emphasizing our One Great Hour of Sharing as a concrete way of self-sacrifice for the needs of others.  The discipline of a daily gift to the One Great Hour of Sharing jar is a concrete way of focusing our thoughts on our individual purpose for living. 
It becomes an expression of the faith we proclaim. 
We will dedicate these special offerings on Palm Sunday, March 24.

Be with us each Sunday during these 40 days before Easter.
 
Between now and Easter, see you in church . . .

8 Years Cancer Free!

The annual encounter with my Urologist was good.
No signs of cancer.
"There is nothing for us to talk about," he said.
"See you next year."
"YES!", I said.

8 years ago I wrote these words for our church folks -- and it has since been passed on and on -- I don't know where. 
You might like to read it. Please let me know if you pass it on.


"Cancer," he said.
"You have cancer."
Sobering words, for sure.

I knew he was talking about the cancer that kills more men each year, save one.

I knew that over 30,000 men will die from prostate cancer this year.

I also knew that an estimated two million American men are currently living with prostate cancer.

So, the doctor had my full attention.

Thus began three weeks of whirlwind research and consultations and tests.

Fortunately, all doctors concurred that for my age, and my particular circumstance, the cancer needed to be treated aggressively.

Our research revealed that some surgeons were reporting great outcomes using laproscopic techniques. However, only a few surgeons in the Philadelphia were trained in these procedures and few were actually doing the surgery on a regular basis.

As luck would have it, the most experienced surgeon in laproscopic prostatectomies worked out of Bryn Mawr -- alongside the urologist I have seeing for some 20 years!

Not only had he done more laproscpic surgeries than any other area urologist, but he had documented phenomenal success with positive outcomes. And, he is the first -- and currently, only -- one to use the very latest tool: a robot called DaVinci. And, Lankenau Hospital is the only hospital in the Philadelphia area to have this futuristic machine in use.

I knew from my research that confidence in the medical team was one of the most predictors of positive outcomes. I had that.

I also knew that an even greater predictor of positive outcomes was my involvement with the faith group that is Christ Presbyterian Church.

In recent years I have been collecting scientific studies that confirm what I have observed -- and long suspected -- members of faith groups heal quicker, have less pain, and experience better surgical outcomes than those that aren't.
In fact, research confirms that being a member of a church is a better predictor of positive surgical outcomes than the disease itself, the location of the disease, or, even family history.

The prayers and expressions of concern by so many in the church, in other churches throughout the Presbytery, and in other contexts as well, worked with the skill and dedication of the surgeon and the medical team to help secure the most positive of all outcomes.

Not only has my recovery gone very well -- my hospitalization was only about 24 hours and I have had very little pain or other side effects -- but, tests show that the cancer seems to have confined to the prostate and they got it all!

By all accounts, I am now cancer free!


Sadly, over 30,000 men will die from prostate cancer this year.

This is the cancer that kills more men each year, save one.

It is estimated that some two million American men are currently living with prostate cancer.

And this is a cancer that can be beat with early detection and treatment.

It would behoove all men to get checked today. 

The US Has A Spending Problem Alright

I think it has been nearly three years now that I have been saying this. 
It is always good to see someone else do a much more articulate rendering of the issue.
It is downright scarey to me to see this anti-Christian objectivism of Ayn Rand's novels of 50-70 years ago get played in real time today.

I wish there were louder voices speaking to this issue.
Folks need to know about the real "war on religion" going on in our country. 

Are we our brothers' keeper?
Ayn Rand says "NO!"
Jesus says "YES!"

Jesus' message was counter to the culture in which he lived.
Jesus' message is so counter to the culture in which we live today.

All over the country people were elected and sent to Washington for the sole purpose of obstructing, disabling and dismantling the Federal Government.
(Sure, I'll a swear a pledge to uphold the Constitution and all that, but I'll keep by fingers crossed.)

I am not an adherent to conspiracy theories.
But, this is no theory.
We are seeing this play out in reality, affecting the lives of so many real live people - folks you know, folks you are related to.

And, the thing is, we are better than this.
Until now, we have recognized certain common values.
Over time we have observed and learned that certain things can only be supplied by the federal government.
And, until now, we have been willing to pay for it.

But, now the Randites control the message.
Now, all the talk is how to restrain spending, and how to cut spending - thereby starving the beast.

But, folks, if we truly believe that all live is precious  to us -- when one hurts, we all hurt; when one cries, we all cry; when one is wronged, we all are wronged -- then we willing provide the funds collectively to enhance life to the fullest for all.


And, the fact of the matter is,
the fact totally ignored by the Republican rhetoric,
is that the United States has the lowest tax rate of any of the other developed nations in the world.

If the United States has a spending problem, as the Speaker of the House so often states, it is that we do not spend enough!!!!

Christians all over the county need to speak up.
The President needs to stop all talk of compromise.
Affirm that our prime value is that we are our brothers' keeper.

I still believe we can have the kind of world we have been working for - the kind of world where all are valued and no one is left behind.

A world based on the visions of Jesus, not the visions of Ayn Rand.