The group that gathered recently for our Wednesday night devotion and communion service got to talking about change. We considered whether we liked or did not like change and, as a group, we concluded that change does make us uncomfortable and that we’re more likely (including our teens) to want someone else to change than to change ourselves.

On the introduction to the Dr. Phil show, there is a clip of him telling a guest, “This is going to be a changing day in your life.”

I started thinking about changing days recently, when I read this, “... you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God ...” (Romans 8:15b-16)

Here are two real-life encounters of people who attended a church for the first time:

1) From a Catholic Church in Scotland: “After I had stood (hanging around) for a few moments, someone came over to say hello. We talked for several minutes about what I was doing there, her impressions of the community, etc. She introduced me to a few other people, and I was invited to a ... barn dance taking place that evening. But the thing that really touched me was that, on finding that I was very new to the area and alone here, she gave me her phone number and offered to meet me for coffee mid-week if I felt in need. ... (What I’ll still remember in one week) is the kindness of (that) stranger.”

Every once in awhile, it’s good for Christians to pause to take a spiritual growth assessment. As Lutheran author Fred Lehr says, “Stifling the maturity process by denying it the fresh air of new insights and knowledge is (an) attachment that ensnares us.”

In my years of ministry, I’ve come to learn a lot about not just older adults, but about society’s attitude towards aging and older people.

For the anthem last Sunday, our chancel choir sang, “I Love To Tell the Story.” As I was singing with them, I looked out over the congregation and noticed that a number of people were mouthing the words along with us. Clearly, it was a favorite of many, however old-fashioned it was. So, as we got down to the final chorus, God led me to just invite the congregation to sing along and they did with such gusto that they clapped at the end!

A little over a week ago, all Starbucks stores everywhere closed for three hours, from 5:30 to 8:30 at night.

Why did they close down? In the words of CEO Howard Schultz, Starbucks shut down to open up and own up to its “first love.” Starbucks shut down to rediscover and rededicate the company to the “love, passion, and commitment” of the coffee experience.

“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Mt 6:16 ff)

My computer-illiterate husband called me from work the other day. It seems that one of his co-workers got an email warning about a new virus hitting computers everywhere. His co-worker insisted that it was truth and my husband called me to warn me about it.

“Hurry up and wait!” is the sardonic phrase a lot of us use to describe the phenomenon of having to rush to get someplace on time only to have to wait before whatever event it is comes to pass. In the past 10 years, I’ve come to think of the season of Advent illustrating that very phenomenon.

I’ve enjoyed some of the reality shows on PBS. They get some families together to reenact some of the American history. One series is called “Colonial House.” Producers found an undeveloped piece of land in New England and brought several families, couples, and single people together to build a colony, as the early settlers did in the 1600s. They wore the same kind of shoes and clothing, used the same kind of tools, and brought the same amount of food provisions.

Did you ever agree to do something before you realized how hard it would be? This is one of those times for me. During a planning meeting for our upcoming (Sat, Nov. 3) Perlieu Stew, one of the planners asked me to mention it in my column. I said, “Sure!” Now, as I sit to write the column, which is to be a religious column that I pray inspires people and draws them closer to Christ, I’m wondering how to make Perlieu Stew inspiring for the sake of the Gospel. Other than being a fund raiser for the Christian mission, there’s not too much about it that could qualify as “religious.”

“Be prepared.” It’s the motto of both the Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts. I had a friend in my Brownie Troop (back when we wore beanies and brown dresses with orange neckties) who took this to heart. We were at day camp and one sunny day we were to go on a nature hike. She brought her rain coat and galoshes. The leaders tried to explain to her that there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and that we wouldn’t be gone long. She wasn’t hearing it. “But it might rain and we’re supposed to be prepared,” she said.

So Mother Teresa doubted! Wow. I found this out today while I was on the Internet. The woman whose faithfulness and dedication to God’s work inspired the world, no matter what the religion, had faith struggles. I don’t know why this surprised me so; everyone who seeks more than a cursory relationship with Christ has crises of faith. I guess it surprised me because she didn’t seem to be anything but an incredible woman of God and a tireless worker for his kingdom.

Mark 12:38 – 44

Dear Yahweh,
Only You will know what I hold in my hand as I stand here with all the important men of the synagogue — Scribes, Pharisees, wealthy people. I clasp my fingers around these two half-pennies so no one will see what a pitiful offering I give to you, but, really no one seems to see me, anyway. Interesting how since my husband died I became invisible except for a few kind-hearted people who give me some of their leftover food or coins. Don’t get me wrong; I’m grateful for those leftovers because I know it’s You who put Your kindness into their hearts.

I have been a small-membership church pastor for about 12 years now. My first appointment was waaaaay out in the country, which was a small cultural shock for a city-slicker Yankee like me. However, I tried to get into the spirit of things. I learned to quilt, to crochet, to sew and eventually to can tomatoes and make salsa. I even made ketchup once just to say I did it.

There’s a saying, “Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” Usually this refers to our families and the general frustrations of getting along with each others’ quirks and idiosyncrasies, but it also refers to our relationship with God.

I was at worship with a number of my sisters in Christ recently and the leader started talking about boxes. Isn’t it strange how insistently we try to put God into some kind of box, as if we could contain God? One thought led to another and I got this image of a toddler playing with a jack-in -the-box.

I got this quiz in an e-mail not long ago:

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.

A small-membership church is defined, by some, as a church that has fewer than 150 worshipers per Sunday. Most small-membership churches (“small-membership” because there is no such thing as a “small church”) I know would love to see 150 at worship. Something like 75 percent of churches in America can be defined as “small-membership.” Some church-development experts find this a disturbing trend and are calling for small-membership churches to be more deliberate about outreach and evangelism. The adage is, “if you’re not growing, you’re dying.”