Pastor’s Column

 The new geographic “center” of Christianity has shifted slightly. Anyone want to guess where the global geographic center of Christianity is now located?

No, it’s not Vatican City. No, it’s not some football stadium sized sanctuary in Texas. 

No, it’s not in South Korea, South Africa, or Southern Jerusalem.

Len Sweet reports that the wonderfully revealing new global center-point for Christianity, the new center of gravity for the Christian religion, is . . . Timbuktu.

That’s right, Timbuktu in Mali. Can anyone locate Timbuktu on the map? Timbuktu is the ultimate, 

classic definition of “the middle of nowhere.” What better place to locate the heart of Christianity? 

Where is the hope and love of Christ needed more . . . than in the midst of “nowhere”?

      The good news is that from its central point of Timbuktu, Christianity is the largest and fastest growing world religion. There are now over two billion Christians scattered across the globe.  – DJ

Pastor's Column April 22, 2012

      After his crucifixion, according to Luke, the disciples were trying to sort out the meaning of the reports they had received about appearances of the risen Jesus. It was most confusing, maybe a hoax. But suddenly Jesus himself stood among them, saying, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself..." Luke tells us that, "Even in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering." It was too wonderful to be true! He was dead, yet now alive and with them. No wonder they had difficulty believing. Some persons still have that problem today. Many desperately want to believe but something holds them back. So, says Jesus, "See my hands and my feet..." See if it’s not I who is with you.

       From frightened and uncertain men marked by doubt and envy, the disciples developed courage and purpose. How about you? What difference has been made in your life by seeing the hands and feet of the risen Christ? By knowing He is with you? Has it caused you to take more seriously your discipleship? Has it had an effect on the goals you have set for your life? Harold Kushner tells about a young man who left home to find fame and fortune in Hollywood. He had three dreams when he set out: to see his name in lights, to own a Rolls Royce, and to marry a beauty contest winner. By the time he was thirty, he had done all three, but he was a deeply depressed, in spite of, or perhaps because of, his dreams coming true. By thirty, he had run out of goals. What was there for him to do with the rest of his life?  Those who have seen the hands and feet of the risen Christ and live their lives in the light of eternity never run out of a purpose, God’s purpose. "See my hands and my feet..." Follow me.  -DJ

Pastor's Column April 15, 2012

      One hundred years ago today the “unsinkable” Titanic sank. The White Star Line, which owned the ship, never itself claimed that its new flagship was unsinkable. It was media hype from such sources as the Belfast Morning News and Shipbuilder that began this claim. But everyone soon got on board.

     The whole Titanic saga is one chocked full of hubris or pride based on the idea that such a large, modern ship could not possibly suffer a disaster at sea. Even though they may never have said it out loud, the Titanic’s designers, agents, leadership, and even its passengers clearly bought the hype.

       And because they did, no real concern was given to the following: the Titanic had received several transmissions from other ships that there were ice floes in the vicinity,

yet she continued at full-throttle. The Titanic’s rudder was 30-40% too small for its size, meaning the ship could not steer quickly enough to avoid the iceberg when first sighted. The parent company of the White Star Line suggested using a type of crane that would have allowed 48 lifeboats, more than enough for passengers and crews, but the White Star, which spared no expense in amenities for wealthy passengers, cut costs by mounting only 20 life boats, enough for half those on board. On and on the insanity went because of the hubris that an unsinkable ship could be built.

        Whether it’s the Titanic or the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig disaster that dumped

206 million gallons of oil in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 or the economic collapse of fall 2008 (including subprime mortgages), human beings are especially afflicted by one of the Seven Deadly Sins, hubris. As Proverbs 16:18 say, “Pride goes before destruction,

and a haughty spirit before a fall.”  - DJ

PASTOR’S COLUMN April 8

 Have you noticed that we say, “Easter is early this year,” or “Easter is late this year;” but we never say, “Easter is just right this year”? Evidently, Easter never comes when we think it should. But just when does it come?

         Obviously, Easter is the Sunday after the first full moon on or after March 21, the vernal or spring equinox. Everyone knows that. But what many of us didn’t pay any attention to were the incredible “early Easter” and “late Easter” of recent times.  

       In 2008, Easter came the earliest that any of us will see for the rest of our lives, March 23! The last time Easter fell on March 23 was 1913, which, those of you 99 or older remember quite well. The next time Easter will fall on March 23 is 2228. Mark it in your calendar!

       (The earliest Easter can fall is March 22, which it hasn’t since 1818. The next time Easter will fall on March 22 is 2285. I’d say mark it too, but few of us keep our calendars beyond 2250.)

       In 2009, Easter fell on April 12, and then on April 4 in 2010. But 2011 was special because Easter fell on April 24! The latest Easter can fall is April 25.

      We have just lived through an amazing time, and most of us didn’t even know it! Within the space of three years, 2008-2011, Easter was celebrated one day short of the earliest possible date and one day short of the latest date.

       What can we say about Easter’s date this year? Not much. I guess we could say that April 8 splits the difference between the dates in 2009 and 20010, April 4 and April 12. That’s not very exciting, but, of course, when Easter falls is unimportant. What we celebrate on Easter is what’s exciting!  - DJ

Pastor's Column April 1, 2012

 More PARAPROSDOKIANS, figures of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected and frequently humorous. 

1.  A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.
2.  You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need one to skydive twice.
3.  I thought I wanted a career. Turns out all I wanted was a paycheck.
4.  In filling out an application, where it says, “In case of emergency, notify:” I put,

      “Doctor.”
5.  I didn’t say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
6.  Money can’t buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.
7.  I used to be indecisive. Now I’m not so sure.
8.  You’re never too old to learn to do something stupid.
9.  To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.
10. Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.

11. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

12. Where there’s a will, there are relatives.     

      - DJ