The HeartBeat

A Message from Pastor Jeff

Pastor Jeff Lilley One of my favorite childhood games was called flying. We would hike up the mountain located near our Phoenix home early in the evening when the heat of the day had begun to dissipate. About two-thirds of the way up the mountain the terrain became quite steep and peppered with large rock out-croppings, and the cacti changed from multi-armed saguaros to prickly pear and jumping cactus. At some point, my friend Ian and I would count “One, two, three...go!” and begin running as fast as we could down the mountain. Gravity—being what it is—often took over as we sped headlong down the mountain. The game was easy: run as fast as you can and leap off the rocks. The combination of speed and the mountain grade resulted in “flights” of over twenty feet. The exhilaration of speed and flight was tempered only by the speed of the approaching ground. Each flight was followed by a controlled crash into the side of the mountain. Over time we learned that if you rolled on landing, you could come back up on your feet and lose very little speed as you ran to the next rock and leapt again. The game should have been called “falling,” but it was fun.

As I look back on those crazy childhood days, it is a wonder we lived through the game. At the bottom of the mountain we shook off dust, plucked out cactus spines, and dabbed the blood from various cuts and scrapes acquired on our downhill journey. And we laughed uncontrollably. Part of the joy was being out of control as we careened down the mountain. Once you started to run, it was almost impossible to stop—gravity was just too strong. As an adult, I can’t imagine having fun that way anymore. One leap off a rock would mean six months in intensive care! As an adult, I know better. I know my limits; I want to stay safe. I have lost that sense of immortality and invincibility that comes with the foolishness of youth, and I am more afraid of the approaching ground than I am excited about the joy of flight. Too bad.

When Jesus sent out his disciples, he reminded them that they would be like sheep among wolves. Their ministry involved risk. At times they were persecuted, imprisoned, even tortured. Still, our youthful church endured hardship and uncertainty because they believed Jesus’ promise that God’s kingdom was near. Leaps of faith brought Paul to countries far and wide as he shared the hope of the risen Christ. House churches gathered late into the night for fear of the authorities. Care for the poor and widowed became a hallmark of this new community of faith. Grace—being what it is—took over as God’s people sped headlong into the mission God had given them. Over time, they learned to shake dust from their feet when they were not received and to rejoice as the spirit took hold in unlikely places. They stumbled, they fell, they endured the barbs and taunts of friends and family, but they chose to fly.

Some folks say that the Lutheran church has become too aware of it’s own mortality. Every major debate is tempered by fear that this decision or that policy will spell the end of the church. How ironic that a community of faith whose central tenant is the promise of eternal life is so afraid of death! Our joints have grown stiff and our courage is ebbing while more youthful communities of faith draw our young people away from the deep experience of a graceful God to a pop theology which has neither grace nor a God distinctly identifiable from themselves. The very message of grace God has given us to share is going unheard by our children and grandchildren. We know our limits, and we want to stay safe. But in staying safe, the fire of faith dies a slow and certain death. Our church buildings stand strong, proud, and well manicured—but there is too much room in the pews.

As I reflect on my calling as a pastor, and my call as Pastor to Lutheran Church of Honolulu, I believe it is time to throw off self-preservation, climb back up the hill, and try a little flying. I know we have our limits, but wisdom leads me to believe that being safe is no longer a lofty goal of ministry. We may huff and puff a lot more as we climb, and some of us may ascend in wheel chairs and need a little help over the big rocks, but the joy of being seized by the gravity of God’s grace will make it all worth while. God has given us a gift of ministry and the message of grace that the world truly needs to experience in a time of war, economic uncertainty, and natural disasters. Unless we shake off our fears of failure, of injury, and even of death, our ministry is just a whisper among the shouts. It will take courageous leadership by our clergy—but especially by our lay leaders and folks in the pew—if we are once again to be a church where God’s mission is central to our lives. So, grab a canteen, put on some hiking shoes, and climb. One, two, three... go!

Pastor Jeff Lilley
pr.jeff@lchwelcome.org

Stewardship Corner

It’s summer when many of us change our routines and give ourselves a bit of a break from the familiar patterns of work and school. One routine we hope you will not change this summer is that of giving. Whether you pledge financially, make in-kind donations, or give of your time or talents, please remember that LCH does not take time off during the summer. Just like your family budget, our expenses continue and may even increase. We still need volunteers on Sundays—and sometimes during the week—so that our worship services and outreach programs can function.

As we move deeper into summer, please check to see if your pledge is up to date. If you have not pledged, please consider it. You can pledge at any time of the year! And remember, if your financial circumstances change and you need to adjust your pledge, it’s easy to do. Just contact Financial Secretary Bill Potter with the change.

Here are some thoughts to reflect on as you prayerfully consider your personal offering to God and share your blessings at LCH.

“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all. But whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”— Martin Luther (1483–1546), German reformer

“Money is a great treasure that only increases as you give it away.”— Lord Francis Bacon (1561–1626), English philosopher and scientist

“Give me five minutes with a person’s checkbook, and I will tell you where their heart is.”— Billy Graham (1918– ), American evangelist

“No one has ever become poor by giving.”— Anne Frank (1929–45), Jewish Dutch diarist during Nazi occupation

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”— Jesus, in Acts 20:35

Have a great summer!

July 2008—In this Issue:

The HeartBeat

A Message from Pastor Jeff

Stewardship Corner

OYEA Summer Camp 2008

Camp Erdman on the North Shore

June 29–July 4 (Sunday thru Friday)

Angel Network Ingathering

Leadership Roundtable

Rent, the Musical

St. Louis School, Mamiya Theatre

Sunday, July 6, 2:00 pm

ELCA Draft Social Statement on Human Sexuality Opportunities

A Summer of In Stitches

Midsummer Night’s Organ Concert, July 20

Game Night

A Thank You from Katy Grindberg

What’s New on the LCH Website?

Bill Potter, Webmaster

OYEA Mega Car Wash a Big Success

Faith & Arts Sunday—June 1

Heart Beat Deadline

Jokes Pastors Can Tell

Heavenly Humor