Bring my cloak...

There is an obscure passage in the Bible that describes what happened this past weekend (thanks, Laura, for reminding me). Paul (the man who wrote much of the New Testament and starting many new churches) was in prison and facing the end of his life (he was in prison for preaching about Jesus). In the book called 2 Timothy, he says to his friend, "Come quickly...and bring my claok."

It's a deeply personal look inside the life of this great man. He needed the presence of his friend during a very difficult time. He needed the claok to keep warm. It is also a reminder of the kind of personal friendship that he had with this young man, Timothy.

This past weekend, Rick and Carrie (and Gavin and Eve) came for a visit. They are soul-mates from Buffalo...in our small group, Rick on my leadership team, we shared a lot of life together. Though they didn't bring my cloak, they did bring Wegman's soup!

Having them here was like a drink of water for my thristy soul.

Here's a little recap...

Friday night, they came in just in time for dinner. They got stuck in Chicago traffic...don't arrive here after 230pm...

It was great to just hang out, watch the kids play together, and reconnect. Then Rick taught me a bit on the pool table. He helped remind me how much I hate to lose!

Saturday was a full day. Heidi and Carrie went out for breakfast together while Rick and I wrangled kids. Of course, it was cold, so we couldn't do much outside. Good thing the basement was finished.

I went to a funeral late morning.

After lunch, we went to make good on our tee-time...just me and Rick. We enjoy golfing together. It's a great time to connect, talk, laugh...and laugh some more.

However, the golf course was closed. Even though I had a tee time, they were closed...and didn't bother calling me! It was pretty frustrated. So we drove around looking for an open course. We found one, but they wanted to charge and arm and a leg.

So we spent the next hour at Buffalo Wild Wings, talking over lunch. What a bummer that we couldn't golf...oh, well.

Saturday night, Heidi felt terrible (later we found out that she probably had some sort of flu bug or something). More pool -- more schooling for me.

Sunday...worship at Northwest went well. It was fun to have Musielaks there.

Suday afternoon, Heidi and I had big plans. We took Rick and Carrie to Blue Man Group down in the city. Great show! And then to Bennihana's for dinner. What a great night out together!! May be the highlight of the year so far...so far...

Dee came over to watch the kids... what an amazing gift she gave us in a night out as adults. thank you, Dee!!!

Izak spent much of the night throwing up...such fun. French fries look about the same coming up as they do going down...just in case you were wondering.

Libby starte the puke routine in the morning, just about the time Musielaks were getting ready to leave. We're still trying to get the smell out of the carpet...yummmm.

It was great to see them...share some life together. But it was very hard to see them leave again. I've been in a bit of a funk since they left. Sure, I've had the flu (thanks, kids), but my heart has also been heavy. Good friends. Soul-mates.

Come quickly...and bring my cloak. Mission accomplished.

Peace,

Matt

crazy Uncle Benny...

I grew up as a part of the Wesleyan tradition (stemming from the man named John Wesley). That means that yesterday, I got a new Great Uncle, 4 times removed (or something like that). Follow the train: Wesleyan-Methodist (one of the denominations that made up the merger to make Wesleyan) - Methodist (the group of peole known for following Wesley's methods of spiritual holiness) - Anglican (John Wesley was an Anglican preacher in England) - Roman Catholic (the "original" trunk of the Christian tree). So Uncle Benedict16 (4 times removed) has some connection to me...sort of.

I've been surprised at the variety of responses to the Pope's death and the choosing of a new one. Some people feel deeply connected while others feel strongly that this whole thing is just a sham and waste of good oxygen.

I'm somewhere in between.

There is a connection. As I mentioned above, the Roman Catholic church, like it or not, is the trunk of the Christian tree. In order to trace our spiritual heritage back to Jesus, we (those of us in western, protestant denominations or even non-denominational churches) have got to pass through the RCC.

I'm somewhat disconnected and sad because I think the trunk of the tree has lost some of its connection to the root (Jesus). Though they acknowledge Jesus ( and I have known people who deeply love and worship Jesus), there is more credibility given to Mary and the saints than to Jesus, himself. It's sad to think that so many people don't realize that they can talk directly to Jesus without the middle man/woman.

I'm interested in this process for a few reasons. One is that the Pope has a voice that is stronger, perhaps, than the voice of the President of the US. He doesn't have an army (the guys in the cute clown outfits don't count, really), but his authority transends borders. When he speaks, many world leaders listen. It's a moral authority, not a physical one. It's very interesting to see how a person handles that kind of power.

Two, is that because of his moral authority, it's important for him to speak to certain issues. Pope JP2 has been the single strongest voice for life and peace in the world. He used his platform well...for the benefit of others. How will Uncle Benedict use his platform? We'll see.

Three, is the notion of choosing a leader. There is something mystical about the process. I know that the secrecy thing is all part of that, but there is a sense in which RCs believe that the Holy Spirit is guiding the process.

How does that compare to the last Wesleyan General Conference? At that meeting of denominational leaders (not really a conclave of "princes") and delegates, they voted on a few people and finally settled on one...and to be honest, I think it was more of a "gold watch" for a man who should have retired rather than a God-inspired/lead choice of leadership.

His wife apparently agreed with me. When she found out he was elected the next General Superintendent, she made him resign and retire...finally.

I suppose that's a good reason for clergy to not marry...image Joseph Ratzinger coming out of the conclave to wave to the masses, only to have his wife shout from St. Peter's Square, "Oh, no you don't!! You get down here and come come like I told you before you went into that X$@%^ conclave!! Joe, get down here!" Hmmm...just takes some of the mystery out of it.

Sorry for the digression...just struck me as funny.

But what if we took the choosing of leaders as seriously. Do you think God does? What does that look like in our faith tradition? I'm not sure we can do the same thing in America. We don't like to give so much moral authority to one person.

At Northwest, my church, we are in the process of selecting some more elders who will provide overall leadership for the church community. My prayer is that God will use the process, which I believe is crafted in such a way that he has the room to do what he wants. I'm enough of a mystic to believe that God will work in the process.

What do you think?

M@

family day...

What a day...family day! I love time with my family. I work hard all week and spend much time away from them, so when we get the whole day together, I love that.

I'm also a pretty idealistic person. I get these grand visions of what family day will be. Today was one of those days...

I figured that Libby would take a short nap in the morning (like she normally does). Once she gets up, we'll take a family trip to explore our new home (perhaps the big lake or find another park in the woods). Then we'd come home for long naps, have a nice dinner...and on and on.

Libby slept like a monster. We actually pulled her after a couple hours otherwise we'd never have any time for a trip. She was fine with that. So we loaded up the van and drove north. We were aiming for a state park near Fox Lake.

A few minutes into the trip, Izak begins blowing a gear! He just won't use his words. All he does is shout, "PLEASE!" at the top of his lungs. Use your words, we tell him. PLEASE!!! Finally he gets "pretzel sticks" out and we go along our way. At two and a half, he's establishing his boundaries...great fun.

All the while he's hollering PLEASE, Libby's having a great time trying to grab his blankie and hold his hand. She loves her brother with her whle heart. He's her hero...but he wants none of it!

You have to laugh. There go the Furrs...screamin' down the road! We're going to take a dang family trip and we're all going to have fun...got it!?!?!

So we finally find the state park. Izak cheers as we pull in. We're all hungry for the picnic mom packed. Driving into the park, we discover...

...apparently they burn their state parks here. Yes, the park was on fire. Not just a little camp fire. About 5 acres (that we could see) of park land was burning or smoldering!! The park's on fire!! Nobody seemed very alarmed by this, but we decided to wait another day to figure out the state park thing.

So on we went.

We eventually found a nice park by a lake. Izak played on the swings and slides, bypassing peanut butter sandwiches and popcorn. Time to go home...woops...another blown gear. Here come the Furrs!

All in all, it was a good family day. We spent time together. We laughed alot (again, what are you going to do, get upset at the kids when it doesn't go your way?). We made a memory. Today will be known as the day we found the state park on fire.

It's time for bed now. Family days are pretty tiring...

Matt

up way too early...

I'm not sure what the deal is, but I'm up way too early today...before any of the kids, for that matter. Just woke up (I think I heard Izak cry out with a bad dream or something) and just couldn't get back to sleep. Bummer.

I'm heading down to Willow Creek Church today (mother of large churches outside of Chicago) for a leadership seminar. Don't really even know what to expect, but it's free time with a few leaders of Northwest. I'm excited to take a road trip with them. The group will include Shaun, Scott, and Wanda.

I'm enjoying have this week off from preaching. I've gotten my next series just about planned out, which takes me through the end of June. July and August are rattling around in my brain, too. That doesn't mean the conversations are written, but the series flow is outlined...which is a good beginning point.

In about a week, the Musielak family is coming for a visit! I can't wait to see them again! I can't believe how much I miss them...Rick was my "golfing buddy". We'd get out at least once per month. There was a special course in PA that we'd go to -- even in the rain, we'd show up as the first golfers (I'm sure the course manager loved us!). But now that course will need to be closed...if I can't got there with Rick, then there isn't any point in staying open.

I guess I'll jump in the shower and head to work...make good use of a spoiled night's sleep.

M@

what a weekend!

It was quite a weekend with family and friends. The Cary Clan arrived on Thursday night and stayed until Saturday. The Hilson Trio arrived on Friday afternoon and left Sunday after worship. It was a good time with family. And it was nice to have a home to be able to accomodate them all. Thank you, God.

Sunday evening, we went to the Armour home for a shin-dig with some folks from Northwest. What a great time we had! It's fun hearing the stories as we get to know people.

Worship on Sunday morning was a little strange. There were several elements in the time that are not normally there.

I think the memorable moment of the day came when I pulled out a baggy of "skuballah" -- which is the word translated "rubbish" in the NIV translation of Philippians 3:8. More literally, it means "dung"...and Paul used the slang version of it! So I saved a bit of skuballah from my parents' dog and brought it out for show and tell. It was hillarious to see the reaction. Might have been over the top, but it got the point across that much of what we chase after as so important is actually...crap.

I'm in the midst of being tackled by some respiratory thing. Not feeling to inspired in my writing. Not sure if I'm just over-tired from running to hard these past few months, but if it's a virus thing...anyway...

That's the scoop from Lake Villa.

Matt

let the games begin...

My family begins descending on Lake Villa this evening. The Cary clan (sister, brother-in-law, and 3 nephews) will be the first real test of our entertaining capabilities in the new house. The basement is finished. We finally got a new kitchen sink with garbage disposal (not fun without one) yesterday. We're ready to go!! Bring it on!

Then, Friday evening, my mom and dad will show up in town. They will make their regular pilgrimage to mecca aka IKEA and then head north to our home. Mom's bringing lasagna...yum!

Carys are driving back to Michigan from Denver, where they spend a few days skiing. They will be tired, I'm sure. They will finish their trip on Saturday, meaning only Mom and Dad will join us for worship on Sunday.

Like I mentioned above, we just got a new kitchen sink, faucet, and disposal. It has been bad tossing food into the trash...it stinks and makes Heidi, who is already nauseous enough, run the john...not good. So we had a guy come over yesterday to install it all. It looks great. It's a sink worth having a party.

Today is study day...can't you tell? I'm working on a message for this weekend. I'm excited about it. But you have to come...I won't give any sneak peaks!

Kevin's preaching next weekend, which gives me a little break. I'm hoping to use that time to get further ahead...as if I'm any ahead right now.

Well, that's the scoop for now.

Peace,

M@

meaning in suffering...

This past week, we've been given a glimpse at two perspectives on suffering...one in the Shiavo case and another in the ebbing life of Pope John Paul II. Both of these situations highlight the end-of-life ethic, namely the issue of suffering.

Many of us have become very comfortable with the notion of calling it quits in this world when we enter into a phase of life characterized by suffering. I think that many people who have a hope in an afterlife through faith in Jesus look forward to the day when we no longer have to face the problems of life.

I'd like to challenge that notion briefly.

I believe that we carry our character with us into the next world. When I die, you will recognize me, not because of my beard or bad haircut or slight (or not-so-slight) paunch...you'll recognize me because of my character -- who I truly am.

If that is the case, then everything we experience in this life shapes our character in preparation for life to come. Our soul is the hard-drive of our lives...everything that we experience and process is imbedded in the memory of our character. Every situation, every relationships, every decision we make. Forgiveness and grace only wipe away the eternal consequences of "sin", they don't take it away from our experience. And in many cases we still live with the temporal consequences of our choices.

We like the happy times. We relive them in our memories. Family and school reunions are all about this. Photo books are filled with them. Stories passed on from generation to generation recount the happy times.

But what about the struggles and suffering? Is there something to be gained in those times, as well? I think there is.

It is in times of suffering that we experience the strength, grace, power, and presence of Jesus unlike any other time in our lives. The Bible tells us that we will be made strong in our weakness and that trials and suffering will produce in us character traits like perseverence, hope, and faith.

A predominant thought in America (and most of the Western world) is that once I stop producing and contributing to society, then it's time for me to go. So the measure of a person's value is their economic contribution. Doesn't that make us simply cogs in the machinery of the world?

Another diminant ethical foundation is that of pleasure. I want to experience only that which feels good. Once it stops feeling good, then I want out. We approach relationships this way - when they stop making me feel good, then we leave. We approach church like this -- I don't like what the preacher said or did (and usually didn't do) or the music doesn't make me feel good. And we do this with life. Once I don't feel good, then pull the plug. Or in a twinge of altruism, we tell our loved ones that we want them to go on without us and they should pull the plug so that they don't have to suffer with us.

I'd like to challenge the ethics of the "right to die." I'll do so by beginning to speak about a "right to suffer." If suffering is a part of the formation of my character, then don't cut that short...don't cheat me of even a few hours where my spirit is being prepared to pass into eternity.

I'm not asking you to keep my body functioning when I'm not in it. Let me go when it's time. But don't cut my preparation short.

Today, Pope John Paul II is preparing to enter eternity. I don't know what's in his soul or the relationship he may or may not have with Jesus...that's between the two of them. But I do know that his character continues to be shaped by the suffering. He has reportedly said that he believes that his life with be characterized by suffering...he's living that reality now. He lived courageously when he was a man of strength and stamina. He forgave the man who tried to take his life. He stood up to that which divides humanity. And now, in his final hours (most likely) he is courageously receiving the gift of suffering. And may he know the closeness of Jesus in this hour of passing.

Peace on the journey,

Matt

Looking for a place to hang...

I've got sort of a strang request...I'm looking for a place to spend about a week this summer. It should be somewhere between Buffalo, New York and Chicago. Heidi and I will be spending this time with a couple families that we are close to. There will be a total of 6 adults and 5 toddlers. I'd love it if there was a house that someone will not be using while on vacation that we could use for no or minimal cost.

If you know of something, can you shoot me an email at TheFurrHouse@juno.com...

Thanks for your help.

Matt