Lunch with the Governor

I'm soon off to lunch with Idaho's Governor Butch Otter, well, not just the two of us, but the Twin Falls Kiwanis Club and our guests which will be about 80 of us meeting with the Governor. I'm not really all that sure how I feel about this week's program. I can't imagine that Otter will have much to say that I'll agree with, but he is the state's highest elected official so certainly he'll have something to say that is of interest.

I know these feelings are only part of a larger feeling of malaise in our country over elected officials at any level. There are people who are unhappy that the President is too Socialist and there are those on the left that think he's moved too far to the middle. Then there are people who think the Republicans in Congress are too obstructionist and there are those on the far right and in the "Tea Party" who think they're not conservative enough. In Idaho there's a sense that all taxes are bad and therefore we certainly can't raise taxes to make more happen and then a lot of those people who complain about taxes happily collect their Social Security Check or enjoy the benefits of Medicare.

It seems like you just can't please anyone these days. So I'm going to lunch where a Governor I didn't vote for and won't vote for in November will probably talk about things from a perspective that I don't agree with, but if he does so in a way that is authentic and true to how he believes he is being led to believe then who am I to not at least listen? That and it seems to me that there is something in what it means to being a Christian about loving neighbors and not only those with whom I agree. So, shortly I'll hop in my car and try to not only open my mouth for lunch but also to open my ears, mind, and heart to what Governor Otter has to say.

Urban Renewal & Church Renewal

While I really should be working on my sermon this morning another idea popped into my head as I was thinking about an outline for this Sunday's sermon. It popped into my head because last night the Price family was invited to an election wake. One of the men in our church ran for city council and lost by a scant 120 votes out of about 2500 votes cast and one of the issues he was running on was how to go about redeveloping and renewing the downtown area of our small city of Twin Falls. It was a nice affair with he and his wife's neighbors and supporters from around town sharing our condolences over the loss and speculating on what might have been.

Remembering that this morning as I woke up got me thinking about how Twin Falls has (from what I've heard) over the years tried various strategies, hired different consultants, and gone with different approaches to get people back to downtown shopping and living. Of course the reason that business and community leaders have been working on this issue in towns and cities like Twin Falls all over the country is that years ago shopping downtown was the thing to do and these leaders would like to recapture something of those glory days if not at least bring some of that energy back.

This made me think about how downtown churches have gone to similar approaches in renewing their ministries in historic buildings in downtown Twin Falls as well as across the country. Just as downtown businesses have had to struggle with the big boys like Target, Wal-Mart and Best Buy, so too have historic downtown churches had to deal with comparisons to large big-box churches in the suburbs or outskirts of towns and cities.

This really hit home for me yesterday afternoon while sitting down with a couple who are preparing to have their infant daughter baptized this Sunday. After a very cordial and friendly conversation the young mother asked, "When does your young mother's group meet?"

Earlier in the conversation they said that they had attended one of the big-box churches on the edge of town for a few months but that they want to be a part of our church for how welcoming and hospitable it is. But the thing about our warm and hospitable church is that while we have young families we also have many middle-aged families and quite a few much older couples and widows/widowers; not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just that after their big-box church experience they were looking for something similar in our historic downtown church that simply can't offer the same amenities as the big boys.

What we do offer however is that we do several things well, much like some of the downtown businesses in Twin Falls. For instance, if you want to buy new kitchenware in Twin Falls you can always go to Wal-Mart or Target and find a really good price but then again you could also go to Rudy's on Main Street who specializes in and knows all about a whole range of kitchen needs. Or say its time for a new grill, there are three dozen different models available at Lowes, but downtown on 2nd Avenue Brizees specializes in some really amazing grills that will last a generation.

So too, if someone is looking for many niches under one roof there are several big-box churches that offer every conceivable niche ministry under the sun. But here at First Presbyterian there is high quality music, hospitality that can't be beat and people who want to know your name and who you are.

I don't if I have any answers, it just seems that the urban renewal movement and church renewal movement might have something to learn from one another.

Hopsack Brown, Blue Spruce & Green Day

Three colors marked the Price family's first day of Memorial Day weekend. We woke with the sun and taped off the trim in the "Master Bedroom" and followed up with "Hopsack" as the color of the day. This is a shade lighter than what is in our bathroom. Or as we both remarked throughout the morning, "it's a soothing color."

From about 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Kathy and I made our way around our bedroom. I took the roller and Kathy tended to the trim. It was well worth it as we cozied-up our bedroom and made it blend into our "nature" theme.

Then, before the sweat of the holiday weekend wore off completely we headed outside for the planting of a "free" Blue Spruce. I say that it was, quote-un-quote-free, because we had to purchase a Christmas Tree from Kimberly Nurseries in the first place, in order to qualify for our "free" spring spruce. But it was worth it as "she" is sitting out in our backyard waiting for a sprinkle from the heavens.

As for the "Green Day" I bought Green Day's latest CD "21st Century Breakdown". We listened to it throughout the morning and during clean-up, it was well worth it. Unlike "American Idiot" this latest album is far less politically angry and far more poetic. So if you have some work to do this Holiday weekend and you're looking for some inspiration then I encourage you to look into Green Day's latest, "21st Century Break Down". Between this album and whatever you have schelduled you're sure to get your work done!

Habitat for Humanity Breakfast

I just got back from a delightful breakfast at the Ascension Episcopal Church in Twin Falls where the Magic Valley Chapter of Habitat for Humanity hosted a Helping Hands breakfast. The food was great, there were smiles all around and a positive energy about what Habitat for Humanity can accomplish in the Magic Valley in the year to come.

Hopefully you all know what an amazing ministry and mission HFH is; in case you don't their objective is to impact poverty housing and homelessness by renovating and building homes which people buy through no-interest loans and investing what HFH calls "sweat equity" a set number of volunteer hours on their own home usually in the neighborhood of 300 to 500 hours of work. So by the time that HFH gets done with the home the new owner has invested many hours of their time and can afford to sign a mortgage they can afford to become a homeowner.

HFH not only provides the opportunity of home ownership to those who are financially disadvantaged, but they also raise the value of homes in a variety of neighborhoods across the Magic Valley in the world. And so regardless of political or theological perspective, Habitat for Humanity is a mission that all can get involved with and since HFH makes use of people with both construction skills and no skills at all other than a willingness to Lend-a-Hand this is a mission in which all can get involved.

I hope that you will consider offering your time and talents to HFH in the Magic Valley.

Change in Perspective

As I sat in bed this morning listening to the rain I thought about how I've had to change my perspective about the weather now that I live in the Magic Valley of Southern Idaho. For years, rain was almost always a good thing, whether it was my growing up years in Southern Pennsylvania, or the seminary years in Richmond, Virginia or the Kentucky years and most especially the Colorado Foothills years. In every place I have ever lived and since I have never lived in Tornado or Hurricane country, rain has been a positive thing all year round.

But not in the Magic Valley. No, thanks to the wonder of irrigation, once the canal company releases the waters the farmers don't want to hear their pastor pray for rain or give thanks for it. It almost seems as though some farmers that I've had conversation with over these past three years wouldn't mind if it didn't rain at all during the irrigation season. Of course that could just be a few individuals and not all people involved in agriculture in Southern Idaho.

Thinking about it theologically for a moment, it is something that even here in very conservative and traditional Southern Idaho how man's impact on God's creation takes prominence. I mean, for all the editorials in the local paper about maintaining traditional values takes a back seat to the progress of contemporary agricultural technology. Perhaps its no big deal and maybe I don't quite have a grasp on the situation, but it really has been a challenge to realize that once the irrigation begins, talk of rain for most people turns sour until Autumn.

A Sikh, a Jew, and a Presbyterian Walk Into a Diner

No, despite the very politically incorrect way of starting this blog, there is no punchline. Instead, I wanted to share an observation with all of you. Over the last couple of weeks one of the blogs I follow is examining the issue of pluarlism (a philosophical view holding that reality is composed of various things or states, in contrast to monism, which holds that there is only one underlying reality). Specifically the blogger is exploring what it means for Christians to live in a pluralistic society like 21st Century America.

For some people the whole idea of plualism may sound foreign or a politically correct idea being forced upon them. But quite recently I saw a vivid example of pluralism right here in Twin Falls, Idaho. Kathy, Eric and I went out for lunch at Kelly's and soon, two booths away from us walked in two men, one being interviewed by the other for a job. The interviewer looked pretty typically Southern Idaho in dress and complexion. The interviewee, on the other hand, though dressed mostly in North American attire, had dark skin and was wearing a turban like headdress that made me think he might be a Sikh (an adherent of a monotheistic religion of India founded about 1500 by a Hindu under Islamic influence and marked by rejection of idolatry and caste). Like many others in the restaurant, Kathy and I gave this man a little bit more of a glance than anyone else, and other than that the two men blended in with the rest of the lunch crowd.

A little while later another couple walked in and sat down between the Price family and the two gentlemen from earlier. This couple was composed of a younger woman in her thirties and an older gentleman in his fifties wearing a yarmulke (a skullcap worn by Orthodox and Conservative Jewish men).

No, I didn't approach either one and ask them their theological perspectives on life or what it is like to live in Southern Idaho and be so readily identified as "different", but it did make me think about how amazing and wonderful and challenging it is to live in 21st Century America. On the one hand it is amazing and wonderful that three monotheistic adherents could gather in three adjoining booths at Kelly's in downtown Twin Falls. On the other hand, with so much xenophobia and religious chauvinism, will our future be as diverse? Perhaps I'm just engaging in hyperbole, but if even Twin Falls can show so much diversity in one lunch hour, what will that mean for those of us who authentically want to show the love of God effectively in such a community?

More Untimely Snow! Grrr!

Yes, I know, it can snow in southern Idaho through most of what I would call the Spring, but really, haven't we all had enough already?!? Wasn't it just in the 60s and the weather forecast is for the seventies by Saturday, so why oh why do we have to endure this slushy, mucky, white stuff? What would be so bad about a couple of days of just some good old rain?

Granted, Eric thought it was really cool that it snowed yet again. Though when we told him that we would be driving him to the bus stop so that Kathy could drop me off at church, some of his excitement drained away. But I'm certain he'll have made it up on the playground before the starting bell goes off and the teachers open the doors.

In the meantime I fired up the church's snow blower which worked really well even if it didn't so much as "blow" the snow as cough up big wet and slumpy sputterings of slush. So here I am ranting about what is probably a gift from God that will only make the grass greener and the flowers brighter and draw more people to the Magic Valley to watch the Shoshone Falls thundering with a ton of water. That's not a bad way to end things, is it? As the snow continues to fall I'll pray and reflect that it will only lead to a more enjoyable Spring once it's here to stay.

God Is Here!

It is Saturday morning and my cup of Starbucks Home brew is starting to kick in as I sit here at church readying my heart, body and mind for part two of "God Is Here! Taking Worship to the Next Level" a Consultation/Seminar on Presbyterian Worship led by the Rev. Dr. Mark Smutny, here at First Presbyterian Church of Twin Falls, Idaho.

Last night we had about thirty people gather to consider what makes Presbyterian worship distinctive--not better--just distinctive from other traditions. At it's heart, Presbyterian Worship is centered on God, in contrast to a "Jesus and Me" approach. Also, our worship has at it's center God's Word Proclaimed, usually by a pastor delivering a sermon based on a Biblical text that conveys the good news of the Gospel--God's love for humankind found in Jesus Christ.

There was some give and take, but mostly the group was attentive to Mark's compelling case that Presbyterian Worship has something to offer, not so much as a niche in our consumerist culture, but because, in a world hungry for God--hungry for something more than self--a regular order of worship that attributes awe, honor, and glory to God is something worthy of our time and effort and when done with those things in mind will be of benefit because people of all stripes are looking for excellence.

Today we enter more into a discussion of what the implications may be for how we at FPC, Twin Falls manifest our regular worship of God. So we will remember that, as God was with us last night, so too will God be with us as we gather this morning for prayer, scripture, and an understanding of how God is directing us to worship and into deeper relationship with God who loves us.