A bloody, vicious war in Ukraine. China is threatening Taiwan. North Korea is planning another missile test to send a missile into the Sea of Japan. Any one of these, or all three, could evolve into war with the US and our allies. A new contagion is out there called monkey-pox. Inflation is at a forty year high. Gas prices are more than we can bear and diesel is worse. Some states are having pivotable primaries. Our federal government has seemingly lost their collective minds. So much going on! Important things that will change history. And then, the mass murders right here in our nation.

          As distressing as all this is, the various news agencies eat that up. It is their business to report the news. Without news, they have nothing else to do other than manufacture news.

          On Tuesday morning I got up and went through my routine, which includes going onto the Fox News web page and checking on national news. Sometimes I will go to the WOWO 1190 AM page to check on local news, but they really don’t cover Wabash County. Besides, I would be driving to Ft. Wayne later and I would listen to WOWO to get the traffic updates. Whatever local news there was, would be on the radio.

          So, I open the Fox news page and there, right out front with all the horrible things in the world, is a headline about a pastor in Indiana who admitted to adultery. I looked at the story to see if it is a big mega church in Indy with a world renown pastor, or maybe a chaplain at Notre Dame or something. As I waited for the page to load, I ran through my mind as to who or what was so big and so important that it would rate right up there with another city falling to the Russians or inflation getting worse or the latest shooting. The page opened and there was the story. From Warsaw, Indiana. A pretty good sized church, but one doesn’t have to look very far to find others that are bigger. It gave the pastor’s name, and it didn’t ring a bell. My first thought was, Warsaw? Why does someone in Pittsburgh or St. Louis or Albany or Sacramento even care about Warsaw and the things that happen there? National news? Tuesday evening, Marsha called (she is home from the hospital) and said she had read the story on the Yahoo news page and wanted to know if it was the same Warsaw she had been too. What kind of impact does that story have on people outside of Warsaw?

I want to address this story in two ways. Obviously, Christianity is under attack. Just because you don’t personally see it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. If it were the mayor of Warsaw or the owner of a hardware store or the manager of the Burger King, would we even hear of it in Urbana or Wabash? There is nothing wrong with Warsaw, per se, and I am not taking a shot at the city when I say this, but who would care beyond Kosciusko County? It is very impactful there, but why is it on the national news? Because it involves a pastor and a church and is semi-sensational. A television station in Chicago referred to the pastor as a Spiritual leader in Indiana. Well, I am a Spiritual leader in Indiana too, I suppose. Big deal. I know that there are no Christians in, say, Terre Haute, that have ever heard of me and I doubt there are any in Terre Haute that have heard of the pastor in the story. But, get a little dirt on a Christian, have a video of a tearful confession and all of a sudden it is a story of world-wide importance. The world hates Christians. Jesus said they would and that has come to pass now.

The other thing I want to look at is a major misconception we have as Christians and how and how it allows these things to happen. We associate big ministries with big success. The impressive buildings, the senior pastor’s book deals, the stunning effects during the worship service, the rockin’ Youth group, the support of missions, the creation of an institute, the creation of worship bands……all of these things mean success! Yet, where in the Bible does it talk of large, spreading church campuses? Where does the Bible equate big with great. In Acts Two we have the story of Pentecost. After the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, Peter got up and preached and in verse forty one we see that over three thousand came to Christ! What happened then? Did they start building the biggest church in Israel? Did they make Peter the senior pastor and all the rest of the disciples staff members? Did they start publishing scrolls for everyone to read? No, they went to the towns they were from and started telling people about Jesus.

I am going to share a little secret. When I was in seminary, my mentor, Dr. Leroy Benefield, told me that along the way in the ministry I would encounter females who would offer me anything. I scoffed. “Dr. Benefield, I see this face every morning in the mirror. I know that no females are going to be interested in me. Why, even my wife closes her eyes when she kisses me!” He chuckled, but then he said, “Look at me, Mr. Wade. I am as ugly as a rotted fence post. That has nothing to do with it. In a church situation you will be in a place of importance, you will be put together, you will have ideas and answers. These women see their husbands at their worst, but they will see you at your best. There will be things they can’t talk to their husbands about, but you will sit and listen, and then you will say things that makes everything make sense. Of course they will be drawn to you. DON’T LOSE FOCUS! And then there are teenagers. Their emotions run high and their hormones run hot and their fathers don’t understand them. But you will. You will be able to talk sense to them and they will see in you a hero, DON’T LOSE FOCUS!”

The pastor of the Warsaw church is 65 years old. He has been at that church for 37 years. I don’t know if he started the church or not, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. That was a big deal 37 years ago. He would have been 28 years old at the time. Young, dynamic, full of fire. Ten years later he had a sixteen year old girl, A CHILD, in his office and there he had sex with her. This illegal and illicit affair lasted nine years. Before you start asking what was wrong with that girl, remember, he was the adult. He had led her to this point. Maybe without intent, or maybe with full intention, but she was in love. Once it started, she was emotionally tied to him and he maintained that tie for nine years. I don’t know what ended it, but I do know it was largely a secret, although it seems there were a few who were aware. However, he was their leader. A flawed human, yes, but their leader. And they were having great success under his leadership. Again, I don’t know this for sure, but I imagine he only confessed before his church because it was about to become public knowledge. The brother of the girl was starting to make noise.

I do know how it can come about. I was 27 when a sweet young teen offered herself to me. I was shocked. I was perplexed. What??? Then, Dr. Benefield’s words came back to me. “DON’T LOSE FOCUS!” Over the years their have others, teens and adults. I know how it can happen. I also know it doesn’t have to happen. But you can lose focus. King David saw Bathsheba and desired her and sent some to take her and bring her to him. He had lost focus. He was the king and could do as he pleased. And don’t go saying that this pastor is just human. It definitely can happen, but it doesn’t have to happen.

Now I am going to say something that you may disagree with. That’s OK, but I am still right. Say someone lives in North Manchester and chooses to drive to Warsaw to the church that is now in the news. (there are some who make that drive) Why don’t they come to Urbana to the Yoke? There would be many reasons, but none of those reasons would have anything to do with beliefs or theology. A person goes to a large church because the church offers them something. Music, programs for your children, a coffee bar, (which we sort of have now before Sunday School) an energized service. And most important, the ability to hide from any responsibility. All you have to do is show up and worship the Lord! Everything else is done for you. President Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” Replace the word ‘country’ with ‘church’ and the saying is good for now. The large church is filled with people who just show up while the Spirit led smaller church is filled with people who show up and after that, they do the work of the Lord.

Big does not mean a church is blessed. It may just mean Satan has prepared it for a great fall so the national news can chew Christians up. I believe a church should strive to do big things in the Lord, BUT NEVER, EVER, LOSE ITS FOCUS!

 

          I loved Chattanooga, Tennessee. I was in college there when Marsha and I got married. We didn’t have much in the way of money, but there was always something to do. Mountains, valleys, fast moving rivers. Places to go swimming. This was the mid-1970s. In 2002 we went back for a visit. Guess what!? The place was even more enjoyable when you had money! That was where we were planning on retiring. I would still like to retire there.

          Miami, Florida. That was OK. Lots of good memories. The only problem there was the crushing heat nine months of the year and the helicopter sized bugs. Still, there was always the beach. You couldn’t do much about the bugs, but you could hold the heat at bay. I was the music and Youth pastor, but I also had a secular job. I spent a lot of time in the heat. I would come home and it would be about 64 degrees in the house. You know that ‘brain freeze’ you get when you eat ice cream to fast? That is what it was like to walk into our house.

          Northeast Ohio. I grew up there and I also pastored two different churches there over a period of twenty one years. (Not at the same time. Ten years at the first, then eleven years at the second.) After that it was the funeral home for nine years. Amazing ministry years. It was the area I grew up in and which Marsha’s family had moved to when she was a junior in high school. We were close to family, which was a blessing. Within two years of moving there, Marsha’s Dad got cancer. We were able to help her Mom during his illness and then his death. In time, my mother took ill and we were able to help her as she spiraled down. And then, Marsha’s mother had cancer and we were able to help her. Our son has spent almost his whole life in NE Ohio, most of it in Geneva. The Lake, the hills, the beautiful Fall colors. Wonderful place.

          Urbana, Indiana. To be honest, the worst events of my life have happened right here. Illness, personal problems and I had a spectacular wreck and I don’t even remember it. BUT, the people are awesome. The ministry has been very satisfying. Carry-ins are amazing. And lastly, snow is not a real issue here for someone who came from where I came from.

          Every place I have lived has had its pros and cons. I have friends all over the place and former Youth everywhere. It has been a journey to celebrate.

          But in the last month I have been asked at least ten times, “When are you going to retire and come home?” These people all come from NE Ohio and the ‘home’ they are referring to is NE Ohio. I was there a long time. My sisters live there. Marsha’s brothers live there. Many former church members. And, of course, my granddaughter lives there. (With my son and his wife, but the important thing is my granddaughter lives there.) The assumption is that I will go there for retirement, especially since I have been so sick.

          And it does make sense. Of course, I do not want to retire. But unless I can get some strength back, I may have to do so. I have always said that I would not hang on at a church for the paycheck. So, retirement is on my mind.

          However, there is something else. Where is my home?

          I used to say that home was wherever Marsha was. That is no longer true. But it goes deeper. I have never lived anywhere in my adult life that I would consider ‘home.’ This has bothered me for a long time. I have never shed tears when the Lord has moved us along. Marsha has, but not me. Always looking ahead for the next challenge. Everyone I know eventually makes their home where they are. I have always longed for home, just have never found it.

          Of course, the answers are always in the Bible. You clear your head so the Holy Spirit can commune with your spirit and you will find your answer on the pages of Scripture. In this case, I came across a passage I had read many times. Even preached on it. But then the Holy Spirit made it new for me one evening.

          2 Corinthians 5:17-21, ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸ All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

          There is enough there for three sermons and a half dozen Bible studies. But what I want us to see is verse 20. We are ambassadors for Christ. What does that mean? Well, our lives need to exemplify Jesus. If an ambassador from our country goes to another country and makes the USA look bad, he or she will be recalled. We, therefore, are called on to represent Christ in such a way as to draw people to Him. However, being an ambassador means something else. We had an older couple in our church in Ohio who had three adult children. The son was the under ambassador to France. The ambassador came and went as presidents changed, but the under ambassador stayed the same. This man was a very good Christian and conducted Bible studies at the embassy. Great family. He, his wife and their two daughters. His name was Alan. When Alan’s father passed away, Alan got time off to come home. But his time was limited. We wound up having visitation on Christmas Day and the funeral the next day. Anyway, Alan and I had a few moments to sit and talk and I expressed that this was a very sad trip for he and his family. “Yes it is, Pastor. But Dad isn’t suffering anymore and besides, it is always good to get home once in a while.”

          Funny how the mind works. I was reading the passage in 2 Corinthians and it struck me what Alan had said all those years ago. That is why I have never felt at home. I am an ambassador for Christ. Maybe not a very good one, but still an ambassador. As such, my home is with Jesus.

          I can live with that.

           There is a lot of stuff going on right now. It is easy to get frustrated and even angry. I am not immune to that. I watch all of these young people who were raised in a more 'enlightened' time where everyone was worried about hurt feelings and everyone gets a trophy. I see that they became spoiled little children who grew up to be spoiled, whiny adults. It makes me despair for the future. But sometimes we need to pull back and take a breath. Maybe smile a little. Sit and watch a bird for a bit. And always try to find the good in something. It isn't all young people, or even the majority. This blog today is not intended to make you laugh. I am just looking to make you smile.

            Our church in Ohio had a softball team. I played first base. Not necessarily well, but I played first base. Our coach had me playing third because I was the only one who could throw across the diamond to first. It didn't matter because our first baseman couldn't catch a cold, much less a softball. After a game in which we got creamed, the coach told me that from then on I would be playing first base. "You are the only one who can handle the throws from third." I looked at him and kind of smiled. "Well, Lou, if I play first there won't be any throws from third." He thought about that for a bit and told me I might be right, but I was still going to be at first.

            One day one of our young ladies brought a friend with her to the game, a woman she worked with. As the game moved along, I was my usual self, laughing and joking with people, cutting up with the other team and being kind of goofy. At one point the visitor turned to our young lady and said, “It’s a good thing your pastor isn’t here. He wouldn’t like the first baseman being silly like that.” Our lady burst out laughing. “He is our pastor!” The woman couldn’t believe it. Her pastor never smiled or told a joke. How could this guy be a pastor? When we came in from the field she walked up to me. “Sir, what do you do for a living?” She didn’t believe her friend. In her experience, pastors were not people who enjoyed life.

          It reminded me of a story I once read. A stern, old Congregational minister was working over his congregation one Sunday morning. His topic was frivolity among the faithful. As he warmed up to his topic he read the New Testament passages that record Jesus weeping.

          “Now you see,” the powerful older man thundered. “The work of God is so serious that we see several examples of Jesus weeping, but there is never a single example of our Lord smiling. Not once did He ever smile.” The great preacher stopped and let his stern eyes scan the crowd in a dramatic way, seemingly daring anyone to disagree. He did not have long to wait. A small child sitting next to her mother in the third pew said to her mother, “Yes, He did smile, Mama.”

          The preacher heard the little girl. Leaning far over the pulpit he glared at her until she began to squirm. Then he sought to make her an example to the rest of the people.

          “Well, child, you seem to disagree. What portion of Scripture do you base your theological position on, if I may ask?” He kept his eyes on the girl, and the great church fell silent.

          In a small, quavering voice the child said, “Well, sir, the Bible says a child came to Jesus. If Jesus were as serious as you, the child would have been too scared to go to Him!”

          Humor most definitely has a place in ministry. In fact, with all the tragedy and suffering in the world, humor is sometimes the only way to hang on. Which is not to say it is one big laugh riot. It is not. There is much to be serious about. But, sometimes you just have to laugh.

          On a typical hot summer day in Ohio I was pumping gas at the local convenience type store when I noticed in the corner of the parking lot a lady and two teenagers, a boy and a girl that were probably her children, standing around a car staring solemnly at a flat tire on the front of the car. I went in to pay for my gas and when I came out they had gotten the spare tire out, but they were still standing around staring at the flat tire looking as if they had just discovered an alien spacecraft. I drove my car away from the pumps and parked it an went over and asked if they needed help just as the boy turned and headed for the store. The woman said yes, they did need help, so I set about changing their tire.

          Now understand the situation; As usual, I was in a hurry to get somewhere, but I couldn't very well leave these people in the lurch. After all, it was hot and they were going somewhere, too. The kids were high school age and school had another week, so I was thinking they should be in school, but perhaps they had a doctor's appointment or some such errand. I was in a suit and really did not want to get sweaty, but this was something I could do fairly quickly and still get to where I had to go on time. Changing a tire for someone is something I have done many times.

          Just as I was getting the lug nuts off the old tire the boy returned and began speaking in a very agitated manner to the lady. "No luck! They wouldn't even let me have just a little! We have to get going right now! I...I...I'm telling you, I just can't wait anymore!" Being human, I became interested. What was it this teenager needed so badly? If he needed it so badly, why didn't the folks in the store help him out? The woman said, "I think you can make it. This guy is just about done with the tire. We can leave in a few minutes." The words did not seem to assure the boy and he began to pace.

          By this time, I had wrestled the old tire off and was in the process of lifting the spare up to the hub and trying to line up the lugs with the holes. The boy squatted next to me and filled me in on his dilemma. "You know what? If I had another dollar I could buy a whole pack of cigarettes! I tried to get them to give me part of pack in the store but those %^&$#& wouldn't break up a pack!" He looked at me with a hopeful look, obviously thinking that after hearing such a sad story I might just reach into my pocket and give him a dollar. I just stared at him for a second. It crossed my mind to hand him the spare and get in my car and drive away, but I really couldn't bring myself to do such a thing. So, I just went ahead with what I was doing. He stood up and went over to his sister and began to complain about me. The woman just laughed and shook her head. It made me think that if that situation had occurred when I was a teenager and I had said that to someone kind enough to change my mother's tire, my mom would have straightened me right out. Then, when we would have gotten home and she had told my dad, he would have bent the tire iron over my head (not really, but you understand what I mean). And I would have deserved it.

          The point, I suppose, is this; you can let things bother you, or you can roll with the punches and see the humor in it all. Jesus did. If you read Scripture you can see a lot of humor. Bring some into your life.