We’re called as Christians to optimism, and this is an always thing.

  • “We’re blessed to be a blessing”—Genesis 12:12
  • “99% of the stuff that put me here (i.e. the things I worried myself sick about) never happened”—AA fable of a tombstone inscription as advice for living better, possibly drawn from a George Jones & Kenny Rogers song entitled Ol’ Red.
  • “God hates visionary dreaming; it makes the dreamer proud and pretentious. The person who fashions a visionary ideal of community demands that it be realized by God, by others, and by themselves. they enter the community of Christians with individual demands, set up their own law, and judge the body and God, Himself, accordingly. Such a person stands adamant, a living reproach to all others in the circle of members. This individual acts as if they alone are the sole creator of the Christian community, as if their dream binds people together. When things do not go their way, such folk call the effort a failure. When their ideal picture is destroyed, they see the community as going completely to smash. So such individuals become, first an accuser of their fellows, then an accuser of God, and finally the despairing accuser of themselves”―Dietrich Bonhoeffer, from Life Together.

Howdy all. And just like that Summer is upon us. God’s new things spring forth all around us as plants send shoots which blossom, and our church’s leadership prepares itself for the upcoming year. And the first Sunday that I was absent from worship recently, I was not on vacation, but I was with leaders from all  over our Gulf Coast Synod choosing our new bishop and gathering excitement over what may be in the coming years based on what God has been telling us all together. 

And in the midst of that 4 day gathering, including travel days, I encountered a lot of anxiety and pessimism in the body of Christ’s leadership, so much so that I felt compelled to reach out to you all with a prophetic voice and declare the gospel promise again that God is with us and Christ is risen. And God will deliver us because God is with us, and so we ought to be able to weather any storms together as Christians. Some of the pessimists I met were new friends and some were familiar faces, but the message God calls me to broadcast still remains the same. So, some notes for your summer are listed above. 

God blesses us to bless the world around us, and we are called in our saved-ness to testify that God is trustable and will deliver; I mean consider Christ and all we have read together since Easter. It is always discouraging before dawn. We are called to rejoice in good faith for an already not yet promise, We are not called to worry and consider if God were not on our side perpetually on an hourly basis—this is not faith. At assembly, when I met folks discouraged at no one to  interview for their open pastor positions, I reminded them to stay positive and offered our church as an example of one that persisted and had their call answered and their pulpit filled. Do not be afraid, rather practice being hopeful; hopefulness is the stuff of life. It spreads light and makes room for faith to stand beside us.

Lastly let me also entreat you with the wisdom of Bonhoeffer to get in a good Christian summer groove as fast as you can, in as much as you’re able. I am calling us to enthusiasm and open-ended generous receiving of what God is cooking up, think joy of discovery here. The visionary dreaming that Bonhoeffer is talking about is coming to God’s table with demands and expectations which may be nothing more than pre-meditated regrets. Remember to approach the gospel with faith and love. What wonderful things will happen in worship today or this week is the tone; some of these blessings will be our bankable favorite God moments and others will be blessed surprises founded only in Christ’s Spirit yet just as sacred and holy as all the rest. So be of good courage and watch for God.  Surely God’s best is yet to come; be of good courage and have a great summer—don’t be a stranger, but come ready to rejoice and praise, not wallow and lament at the cost of community. God will show up and God will surprise us with good new things as well as old favorites. 

Prayers your way, Pastor Rich