A Second Chance.

Several years ago, I went in the hospital for what was supposed to be a simple mastoid (ear) repair surgery. When I came to, six hours had passed and I was surrounded by my wife, a daughter, the surgeon and another doctor. The second physician introduced himself as an infectious disease specialist and explained that I had suffered for some time from a leak in my skull. This leak was allowing spinal fluid to seep out through my ear. He then said "I don't know why you're still alive."

As I lay awake that first night, his words kept coming back to me. I realized I had been the recipient of a miracle I didn't deserve. The emotions swept over me in waves that night, as I knew how unworthy I was to have received such a precious gift. By the time the sun came up, I knew with complete certainty that God loved me beyond my ability to comprehend. I like to think that as morning broke, I was not the same person I had been the day before.

For whatever time remains for my journey here, I want to always remember that night, and my heavenly Father who loves me without condition.

Gary Brown
Walking the Road 

Gary and his wife Marilyn lead relationship counseling ministry for couples planning to be married at Asbury. They live in Overland Park. 

Meeting new friends on a journey.

My 40th birthday was an amazingly happy and amazingly sad experience…at the same time. I’m not talking about “aging” or “giving up youthful thoughts” or anything quite so trivial. In fact, my wife threw me an amazing surprise party, and about 70 people showed up, from all aspects of my life.

As much fun as I was having, something even more beautiful took place that didn’t involve me one bit…well, maybe just a little bit. I don’t know that many saw it, after all, you’d have to have known all the players to understand the connection that was happening, but I carry this moment with me still, three years later. Two very good friends of mine (both about my age) attended the party. They were great guys, but I would have called each of them ‘loners’ in a sense. I mean, they each had great friends and families and all, but neither spent a lot of time just hanging out with other guys. One lived out of town, so he spent a lot of time commuting, the other was a deep intellectual who worked three jobs and was very busy all the time. And at this party the two met for the first time.

Although they had little in common, socially or politically or hobby-wise, they quickly found that they were on a similar journey. They had both been diagnosed with cancer. And if there was a ‘good’ kind of cancer to have, well, neither had it. Both were facing terminal illness with poor survival success rates, but they were hopeful. My wife and I were hopeful for them as well. They each had been through surgery to remove tumors, both were in various stages of treatment. So they had a common problem, and instantly connected. They spent the evening talking to each other about the process, the trials, and the accomplishments.

It was great to see these two friends of mine become friends with each other, even if their connection was because of illness. Over the next year and a half, they didn’t ‘hang out.’ But they often e-mailed each other, and each asked me about the others progress regularly.

I know that some may see it as coincidence, but I don’t. That great party allowed them to find each other, to talk for a couple of hours and share their issues. And even if only a short while, help each other through what must have been a frightening experience. Those two friends of mine are gone now. I'd like to think they finally have time to hang out together, and to talk about more cheerful things. And I’m so glad I got to know them both.

Alan Murray

Walking The Road

Alan is the Director of Music and Emerging Ministries at Asbury, and lives with his wife Catherine and several cat-children in Kansas City, Missouri. Email him at alanm@visitasbury.org. 

Memories of the Bible.

When I was a child, I loved visiting doctor's offices that had magazines and books to read. I was a voracious reader, and the doctor's offices always had such interesting things to read that I had never seen. What I remember most about these stacks of books and magazines, though, was The Bible Story.

The Bible Story was a compilation book of various stories of the Bible, set to brightly colored, extravagantly detailed pictures that went along with each story. In my creatively focused child's mind, they were characters in an epic fictional tale that made me feel alive. Jonah in the Whale, Daniel in the lion's den, Esther defending her people, Jesus and his betrayer. I loved them all.

I didn't have a Bible of my own until I received my Good News Bible in third grade. It was harder to read, though not nearly as hard as my mother's pocket King James Bible that she was given as a teenager. I searched for the fabulous, fantastical stories I had treasured from The Bible Story. But I had trouble finding them, there was so much more boring stuff in between, and even the updated language of the Good News Bible made it hard to stay focused.

When my children were born, I wanted them to begin to know the stories that I had loved from The Bible. I bought them cardboard picture books with simplified versions of the stories I loved. One had a handle and a velcro closure, and my son carried it around with him like a little briefcase, a favorite treasure for a while. I wanted my boys to be just as familiar with these stories as they were with the tales of Bob The Builder and Sesame Street. I wanted them to have a road map of faith that they could understand, even at a young developmental age.

I like to think my efforts made a difference in the faith of my children. For a school project, my oldest son put that he believes in God as part of a self-portrait description, without any adult prompting. It's something he wants people to know. It's a part of who he is, and he wears it proudly. As do I.

Jenny Meade

Walking The Road

Jenny Meade is the Director of Family Life at Asbury. She often finds Starburst candies stuck to the inside of her children's pants pockets in the dryer. Email her at jennym@visitasbury.org.

The Hard Road.

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7: 12-14

The other day, the youth and some of the adult sponsors were digging through the youth closet on the third floor. We came across an old board game called “Choices." As one of the youth Sunday School teachers, I’ve had the opportunity to 'play' this game with the youth a few times. It’s a lot of fun. Someone reads a card that describes a situation and the youth decide which choice of behavior they will respond with. Since it is a biblical-based game, there’s a “cheat sheet” with pertinent biblical verses to assist in arriving at an answer that would model what Jesus would do.

I am very impressed with the choices the youth made during this exercise. We all have choices we make every day. Some may seem trivial to you, but they have an impact on someone else. The ‘right’ thing to do may not be the ‘easy’ thing to do. Sometimes, the gate isn’t wide. Sometimes, the road is hard.


Roger Peck  
Walking the Road  

Roger serves on the Staff Parish Relations Committee for Asbury. He lives in Overland Park with wife Kim and son Colin, and enjoys camping with Boy Scouts in all temperatures.

A GPS for Life.

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalms 119:105 
 

Today, there are all kinds of high-tech tools to give us directions and help us find our way. There’s MapQuest, Google Earth, and Apps for your smart phone. GPS devices for our cars map our routes and tell us where to go. GPS devices on our wrists tell us where we are, how far we’ve run, and how many calories we burned in doing so.

What about our spiritual life? How do we find our way along that path? Fortunately, there are many things which help connect us spiritually: worship, a church home, prayer, fellowship, and service to others are some important ways to stay on track. Another is the Bible. For me, the Bible is the compass that helps show me True North.

The first Bible verse I remember knowing is “God is love” from I John 4:7. When I was a child of three or four, my grandparents gave me a ceramic figurine of an open Bible with this verse painted on it in gold, which sat on my dresser throughout my childhood. There were always Bibles around our house, as my father owned a small business which sold Bibles and educational books. My parents read Bible stories to us from a large book with colorful illustrations, and I often would see my Dad reading his personal Bible at night before sleep.

But I didn’t really ever begin to read the Bible for myself much until I came to Asbury. I joined a Bible study group led by one of the associate pastors, and found I was both intellectually stimulated and spiritually nourished while learning about scripture. I discovered that the Bible is the living Word, and it still speaks to us today. I have since completed Disciple I and II, which were a wonderful foundation, and also great experiences. I have participated in various other Bible studies in my Sunday School class and other small groups, and I am currently participating in the Asbury study of the New Testament in a modern translation.

While I am certainly not as consistent as I would like to be in daily reading, I know that when I am regularly spending time in the Word, my life is better, and I am more grounded. As we say in worship, after reading the scripture: “The Word of God for the people of God; thanks be to God!”

Karen Nugent
Walking the Road

Karen Nugent serves on the Youth Ministry Team at Asbury. She and daughter Caroline live in Roeland Park. 

All things new.

I've been reading devotionals and doing some thinking about what I could write that would be inspirational and meaningful during this time of Lent. I read about a pastor who spent hours staring at a blank piece of paper as she tried to write an Easter sermon. She couldn't fill it with words because of the death of her son. But on the day before Easter she got up in the morning with a feeling of peace, comfort and joy and was finally able to write a joyous Easter sermon.

Then I read about Jesus in Gethsemane asking Peter, James and John to be with him because He was afraid. He knew what was coming, and He wanted His friends to be there as he struggled in prayer. They fell asleep and failed him. They weren't listening to His request. How often do we listen to others trying to communicate their suffering? All they ask is for a loving touch and an attentive ear, but instead we offer advice or try to solve their problems.

As Lent progresses, God is making all things new (Revelation 21:5). Spring is emerging with flowers, green grass, budding trees and birds. We are invited to a new spirituality and new life. Is this not what is meant as we walk with Jesus through to the resurrection? But we must be listening for God's call. Do not respond with doubt and fear, but believe in God’s transforming power. Be open and do not get caught up in the busy pace of life. Experience God’s transformation taking place in you. Receive the grace He gives to all.

Fran Schrunk

Walking The Road 

Fran Schrunk is Asbury's Parish Nurse. Fran and husband Al live in Prairie Village. 

God's gifts.

The other night I received a phone call from my daughter. She had experienced a particularly good day selling pharmaceuticals for her company. She then told me how God had truly blessed her! Not everything in her life was going well, but that she was going to make an effort to concentrate on the good things in her life as well as the many blessings she had received.

We agreed that God would be pleased if she used her God-given talents to help others in need. In particular, we spoke about how she might use her contacts to help a particular lady find employment. She has since reached out to this person, and good things are happening.

I was reminded of 1 Peter 4:10. "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."

Many of us get so caught up with daily trials and tribulations, and forget what wonderful gifts we have been given by God. These same gifts can easily be used to help others.

What God given gifts do you possess? How can they be used to help others?
With a little effort, we can help God change peoples lives for the better!
Reach out and allow God to work through you to help others!

John Ballard
Walking The Road

John Ballard serves on the Finance Team at Asbury. He and wife Cindy live in Overland Park.

Full Throttle Worship.

During Lent I find myself thinking more intentionally about my relationship with God. Some years I add an activity or a practice to my life. This year I feel a need to be more intentionally aware of God's presence in my daily life. I have given up snacking between meals. When I am tempted to grab a cookie or a candy bar, I pause and breathe in deeply, saying: “Light of the World, fill my mind with your peace” and then I breathe out, saying “and my heart with your love.” This simple act centers me so that I am more aware of God.

I treasure worshiping weekly with the Asbury community! But I think there is more to worship than what happens on Sunday mornings, and I don’t want to come to worship with a completely run-down battery!

John Shelby Spong has written that to worship God is to:

Live fully…because God is the source of life; to
Love wastefully…because God is the source of love; and to
Be all we were created to be…because God is the Ground of our being.

I find this understanding helpful. Asbury used to have a summer Music, Arts, and Drama (MAD) Camp for elementary children. I vividly remember feeling “fully alive” after directing the performance at the end of a hectic week of preparation. I have also unexpectedly experienced that “fully alive” feeling at the end of serving and cleaning up at the Cross-Lines food kitchen. For me it is a blessing to define that “fully alive feeling” as worship.

And what is the mission we are called to by this understanding of worship? I believe it is to do all we can to make sure that all of God’s people also have the opportunity to live fully, love wastefully and be all they were created to be. That is no small task, but it is one Jesus modeled for us very well. With the help of the Holy Spirit, may we follow Jesus’ example.

Libby Schoeni

Walking The Road 

Libby Schoeni sings weekly with the Chancel Choir, serves with United Methodist Women, and is Asbury's liaison to the Cross-Lines ministry. Libby and husband Terry live in Overland Park.

A Parable for Tough Times.

Once a donkey fell in a well. The farmer pondered how to get the donkey out. He couldn't figure out any options. Since nothing could be done, he asked his friends to come and help him fill up the well with dirt. But something wonderful happened. Every time a shovel full of dirt landed on the donkeys back, he would shake it off and then step on it. Eventually the donkey was able to step up and leave the well.

We've all felt like we were being buried by our problems. The dirt of life with names like debt, disease, grief or divorce. The lesson of this parable is that we can sometimes shake off these problems and use these lessons to rise above our circumstances.

Lord, we thank you for the gentile rains that nourish the earth, and for the many ways that your love nourishes the soil of our souls. When our burdens become more than we can bear- lift us to new places and give us strength and courage to face them with new determination. Amen.

Diane Young Myers
Walking the Road

Diane is the Director of Discipleship at Asbury. She lives in Lee's Summit with husband John, son Jackson and a very active puppy. Email her at dianem@visitasbury.org.  
 

God In Our Midst.

I believe that the present suffering is nothing compared to the coming glory that is going to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

I am at an age when bad news seems to come my way all too frequently. My father moved to a skilled nursing facility last fall, and mom is fighting loneliness without Dad at the house. My brother-in-law suffers from chronic pain from injuries he sustained when hit by a car years ago. My best friend and a work colleague are living with cancer. Another work friend died of lung cancer last fall. And the world news gets grimmer every day from terrorism, to war, to global warming. Some days it’s overwhelming and I can’t help but question why people suffer, and where God is in all this misery.

Then, in the midst of all this, I witness a beautiful sun rise on the way to work. I think of all the magnificent natural places we’ve visited, such as the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. I observe people reaching out to each other in kindness. I see my son’s smiling, sometimes ornery face; my son who keeps me laughing. I see my husband who still tells me I’m beautiful after 25 years of marriage. I think of my sister who loves me just as I am and tells me what I need to hear.

In all these things and people, I see the face of God and my hope and faith are restored. I don’t know why people suffer, but I know that God is with us in the good times and the bad, in our healthy days and our dying days and until the end of time.

Kim Peck
Walking the Road

Kim works for the Community Blood Center. She lives in Overland Park with husband Roger and son Colin. Find a place to donate blood at esavealivenow.

Listen to the Whisper.

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

Several years ago I took a Bible study course that our then Associate Pastor Lee Johnson was leading. During the evenings we all met for this study, one major topic seemed to hit me upside the head. In our reading for the week the author talked about how we have to really listen for God to speak to us.

How many times had I heard in my life be still and listen? In our discussions, we all talked about how out of nowhere sometimes a thought will frame in your mind to do something on the spur of the moment, call an old friend or family member, inquire of someone’s health, say a prayer for someone, call and make a doctor’s appointment, give someone a hug and a smile, invite someone to dinner, and the list goes on and on. The author of our series called this “listening to the whisper.” I truly believe that God does speak to all of us if we only listen for the whisper.

Prayer:
Lord I know that my fast pace in life makes it too easy sometimes to ignore the whisper and continue on my way. During this time of Lent help me to take the time to truly listen for God to speak to me and to continue to listen for God’s whisper throughout all the seasons. Amen

Connie Phipps
Walking the Road

Connie is a long-time member of Asbury, and enjoys spending time with her grandkids. 

Who dropped the ball?

Who dropped the ball?

I suppose that was the question that my sister and I asked most often. Over the years we both blamed my father for how he managed my mentally ill mother. She is now diagnosed as having Bi-Polar mood disorder and schizo-affective disorder. It became apparent to me as I entered grade school that my mom was not like all the others. And every time she went into a rage or a paranoid state, I resented my father for not taking care of the situation.

My mother spent many years in and out of the hospitals and had little counseling with drug therapy. As I entered high school my biggest fear was that I would not find a way to leave the home. My sister is eight years older and was able to enter college and make a life of her own much sooner then I. When the day finally came - I rejoiced for God had delivered me to a college campus complete with a dorm room, cafeteria, the world of academia and above all, rational people!

As I progressed through my adult life, I harbored resentment toward my father. My sister and I would agree over and over that he dropped the ball! As years passed, I married, had children of my own and prayed for "typical" children. I wanted my life to be clean of all mentally ill people forever. God blessed me with four boys, two of which have been diagnosed on the autism spectrum. I resented always being plagued with bizarre relations. But, God did give me the knowledge to love and care for my children in a way that was not modeled in my childhood. He blessed my sister and me with the ability to love unconditionally despite our anger. Furthermore, He led me to understand love more then I thought I ever could.

My parents are retired and live in Florida. My mom has been declining into a state of dementia over the years, but I didn't understand the extent of her problems because we just don’t visit that often. My dad was firm about spending Christmas together this year. Within 30 minutes of my parent’s arrival I could see that my mom was far worse then I had realized. She had lost the ability to dress herself, complained that our silverware was too heavy to eat with and could not orientate herself. I watched my dad care for her every need in a way that was so proactive and loving. At that point I realized that no one dropped the ball. My mom did not ask to be born with a mental illness and my dad was doing the best he could. There was grace in how my dad cared for my mom, there was grace in having our Christmas together, and there was God’s grace in teaching me how to love a mother who is not capable of loving.

The other day she sent 24 bowls via FedEx. It didn’t make much sense. We already had dishes. But that was her way of loving me. It was what her mind led her to do. So, the phone call ended… mom… thank you so much for dishes… how did you know we needed the bowls so badly… how thoughtful…

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (ESV)

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful..."

Jill Lowery-Robinson
Walking the Road 

Jill serves on the mission and green teams of Asbury. She lives in Lenexa with husband Josh and four active boys.

Finding Strength on a Daily Journey.

 

Wolf Creek pass photograph, courtesy of Continental-Divide.net.

"I can do all things through Him that strengthens me" Philippians 4:13

Twenty years ago, as I labored over Wolf Creek Pass on my bicycle during Ride the Rockies with my son Jon and his friend Chris, I often glanced down at my handlebars. There I had taped Philippians 4:13. The trip was daunting and I needed inspiration.

In January 2010, I started working with seven at-risk youth and 11 adult mentors. We transformed an old race car into one powered by lithium-ion batteries. We covered it with a transparent skin and recorded a test-track mileage efficiency equal to 300 miles per gallon.

One day I pointed my camera’s telephoto lens at one young man’s arm so I could read his tattoo. “I can do all thing through Him that strengthens me,” it said. I sensed that we might share a deeper connection and it has proven to be so.

My friend watched slideshows of my grandchild, and I listened to his rap lyrics. His words were insightful and poignant, but sometimes rough, like his life. Our spirits connected with an invisible bond. Today he’s in business with a friend and plans to launch a music CD.

In early March the car was on display the Kansas City Auto Show. This once-shy young man engaged the public with a quick handshake and a bright smile. He radiated confidence. Much more than a race car had been transformed in the last year.

Our race car doesn’t have a number, but if it did, it would be 413.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, open our eyes to the possibilities that you set before us. We know that as we travel life’s road, you are always with us, sometimes in ways that we could never foresee. We succeed only by your strength.”

Tom Strongman
Walking the Road

Tom Strongman is a journalist for the Kansas City Star, where he has been writing about cars for over twenty years. Tom lives in Leawood with his wife Susan, and enjoys having grandkids nearby. 

Along the Path To Giving

As we welcome spring we also welcome the season of Lent. It is a chance to simplify our day-to-day living and focus on our relationship with God and Christ. Our lives are filled with school, family, friends and activities (even March Madness) that often distract us from living a life with Christ. Lent is a time to shift from the chaos and focus on what God wants us to be. Tradition asks that we remove and simplify – perhaps we might consider Lent as removing distractions to giving- giving to yourself, others and God. For example, I gathered a can of tuna for each day of Lent to donate to the food pantry.

Some ideas to consider:

• Say something nice to at least one person each day.
• Pray for others while you're in the car, waiting for the kids to come home from school, or even while you are waiting in line.
• Volunteer as a tutor, gather food for the food pantry, help with IHN or visit an elderly church member.
• Forgive someone.
• Use your Starbucks or snack funds to purchase tuna, peanut butter or pasta for your local food bank.

Lee Svet
Walking the Road

Lee serves on the Worship Arts team of Asbury. She lives with husband David in Leawood, and is very glad to have son Clark home for spring break.

Forgiving Fellow Travelers.

Scripture Matthew 6: 9-13

This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

In January, Asbury began the New Testament Challenge. I was excited. THIS was the year that I was finally going to read and better understand scripture! I stopped short, however, at the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6. Though I had said the prayer in church numerous times, I had not paused to really examine the text, specifically concerning "forgiving others."

Though many years had passed, the pain from a previous relationship still lingered. I realized that I had not fully forgiven the individual. Denying forgiveness was keeping me chained to the past. The Easter promise reminds us of new life; when we fully forgive others, we can truly live our lives as God intended. Praise God!

Alicia Wolff
Walking the Road

Alicia Wolff teaches middle school music in the Raytown school district. She lives in Overland Park with husband Doug and two little girls.

Click here for The New Testament Challenge blog. 

A Companion for the Journey

Journey, path, road, byway, street, route... how many words describe our way? What footsteps can we follow? In the recent snowfall, footsteps are easy to find. Footsteps of the creatures that inhabit our backyard. Footsteps that find their way to our front door. My husband's footsteps as he heads to the bird feeders to provide food for the feathered neighbors. The postman's footsteps as he faithfully delivers our mail.

I have often been inspired by the familiar image of the traveler leaving footprints in the sand. There are two sets of footprints- one mine and one the Lord's. The story tells of the many times when the two become one, and the Lord answers, "my child, I never left you, for you see when the footprints become one set, I was carrying you."

The Lord has indeed carried me. Through my childhood, I experienced the loneliness of being an only child. Yet many of my happiest memories are associated with the love and devotion bestowed on me and my mother by our church. The strength of those church teachings and relationships led me to meeting my dearest soulmate- my husband. Through separations brought about by the aftermath of war, and the struggles in establishing our family in a new location in the country, I have always felt blessed with the companionship of Christ.

This does not mean I have not many times cried out with "why me?" But with growing experiences of faith I have learned that He indeed has carried and continues to carry me on my roadway.

Phyllis Sullins

Walking the Road 

Phyllis Sullins is a long-time member of Asbury. She and husband Russ live in Prairie Village. 

The Difficult Journeys.

Despite the efforts of those who love us, sometimes our clearest childhood memories are defined by the great tragedies of our time. I distinctly remember the day Ronald Reagan was shot – my family and I were in the car on the way to visit distant family, listening to every word from the radio announcer about what was happening at the scene. My parents tried to be steadfast as we listened, but their fear and grief was obvious.

I was in my 8th grade science class, watching live as the Challenger Shuttle exploded into an arc of white smoke across a clear blue sky. I remember, aside from the total shock, feeling bad for my teacher, who had this grand plan of giving her students an amazing, first-hand lesson in science, and instead gave us tragedy, imprinted forever on our brains.

Not to mention being a child growing up in the Midwest before the Iron Curtain fell, nervous about those nuclear weapons hidden in silos dotted across the peaceful farming landscape. An anxiety brought to the forefront this week, as I listen to the news about nuclear meltdown in Japan.

In the age of Twitter and Facebook, news and images travel at lightening speed. Last week's earthquake and tsunami in Japan are just the most recent images of devastation, and will leave a mark on my children. Generation Y remembers 9-11, Hurricane Katrina, the Thailand Tsunami. It’s earthquakes in Haiti, and political uprisings in Egypt and Libya, with pictures snapped with camera phones and uploaded to the internet within seconds. As a parent it’s hard to keep up. And it's hard to remember to turn off the TV, and not over-expose our children to the images of devastation.

Sometimes, the tragedies are ever so much closer and more personal, than what plays on the news. Kate Braestrup, a mother turned chaplain after the car-accident death of her husband, explains it to her children, in this way, in her book Here if You Need Me:

My children asked me, "Why did dad die?"
I told them, "It was an accident. There are small accidents, like knocking over your milk at the dinner table. And there are large accidents, like the one your dad was in. No one meant for it to happen, it just happened. And his body was too badly damaged in the accident for his soul to stay in it anymore, and so he died.

"God does not spill milk. God did not bash the truck into your father’s car. Nowhere in scripture does it say, ‘God is a car accident’ or ‘God is death.’ God is justice and kindness, mercy, and always - always – love. So if you want to know where God is in this or in anything, look for the love.” 1

God is in the helicopters, dropping bottles of water on the tops of buildings marked with SOS. God is with the 60 year old man found floating on the roof of his house, 9 miles out to sea. God is in the beauty of the smoky white jet streams, zigged-zagged across a sunny, blue sky as planes across America turned around looking for a place to land, almost ten years ago.

God does not cause natural disasters, or terrorists. Sometimes the only thing we need the kids to remember is not to look for God in the tragedy, but to look for God in the love.

Jenny Meade
Walking The Road

Jenny is the Director of Family Life at Asbury. She is married to Trip, and has two young boys. Email  her at jennym@visitasbury.org.

1  Kate Braestrup’s website is http://www.katebraestrup.com/

Hope for the Journey

I was in the hospital with atrial fibrillation. My husband and I were nervous about the procedures I would be facing. It was snowing outside and was extremely cold . My husband glanced out the window behind me.

Then he grinned he said "look Marilyn, there's your Cardinal."

My symbol of hope is the beautiful, elegant Cardinal. This one must have flown in from Florida, just to put me back on the Believer's road, replacing my fears with trust.

GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME!

Marilyn Brown
Walking the Road 

Marilyn Brown serves on the Worship Arts Team. She and husband Gary live in Overland Park. 

A Crowded Journey

Not long ago, I was at the airport in Kansas City and then in San Diego. At both airports the crowds were incredible. When I would try to get to my gate, there were hoards of people all around me, walking in front of me, beside me, bumping into me with carry-on luggage, baby strollers, and back packs. I had a destination in mind and I wanted to get there with as little hassle as possible. I wanted to enjoy my trip and not have to pay attention to what everyone else was doing. But there they were! In my way!

So much of my faith journey has been that way. I want to have this leisurely stroll with Jesus that draws me closer and closer to God. I want to move toward God and the kingdom that God talks about, but people keep getting in my way. People keep bumping into me. People keep cutting me off and stopping right in my path. Some of those people are hungry. Some of them are lonely and frightened. Some of them are injured or sick. Some of them are lost and don’t know where they are going. Some of them are angry and hostile. Some of them are rude and disrespectful of others; living in their own little self-centered world.

I would like to ignore the people around me who get in my way. But I keep hearing Jesus say, “…for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.” (Matt. 25:35-36)

Why can’t the kingdom of God look more like a stroll on the beach than a crowded airport? Why can’t the kingdom of God look more like a sunset than a thunderstorm? Why can’t the kingdom of God look more like a cute baby than a homeless person sleeping in a doorway? Or perhaps….the kingdom of God looks like all of those.

Rev. Jerry Tubach

Walking the Road 

Jerry Tubach is Asbury's Director of Development. He is a retired United Methodist Clergy and former District Superintendent. He lives with his wife Sheila in Lenexa.  Email him at jerryt@visitasbury.org.

By the side of the road

Jesus met a woman at the well. He was thirsty and she was there to draw water. She came to the well at noon to avoid the other women in the town of Samaria. She was not well thought of by the others in the community. Jesus engaged in conversation with her and said that living water was available to her and she would never be thirsty again. She asked how she could have the living water and thirst no more. He told her to get her husband and return. She told him she didn’t have a husband. Jesus knew this was correct and told her that she has had five husbands but the man she currently lived with was not her husband. She said that Jesus must be a prophet to know that about her and she knew that the Messiah, the one called Christ, was coming. Jesus said, “I am he.”

This woman was an outcast in her community because she had been married five times and this was not acceptable. Jesus offers her living water which changes her and she goes to tell her friends.

Is it five husbands? Divorce? Economic worries? Anger? Bankruptcy? What are the things which are keeping us from Jesus? What messages have been given to people to make them feel like an outcast? Did Jesus judge the woman harshly and send her away in disgrace? No, he gave her living water to transform all that is in her life. She then told her friends and they came to believe because they also met Jesus and found the Savior. Who is waiting to hear about Jesus in your community? Who is thirsting for the Living Water? Who is alone at the well at noon?

Jo Mead

Walking The Road

Jo Mead is a seminary student at St. Paul's School of Theology, and assists Asbury with our Senior Care ministry programs.

A Path Less Traveled

The Pathways To Joy Sunday School class (AKA Stairway To Heaven) is studying Bridges To Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton this Lenten season. It’s full of intellectually challenging ideas that I find pretty exciting and want to share. Let’s look at Lent.

The Lenten season is a time of preparation. Through prayer, penitence, giving and self-denial we prepare ourselves for the Holy Week observance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that culminates on Easter Sunday. Wow. That’s a mouthful, and sounds pretty serious. For me, penitence or repentance is a pretty negative idea - it’s feeling bad about what I’ve done and vowing to never do it again. It’s about leaving a place I wanted to be when I admit that I shouldn’t have been there in the first place. Self-denial is about doing without something I am used to having.

Is this what God really wants from us? Maybe we just need a different point of view. Sin hurts us, it causes pain and really isn’t fun, yet we are drawn to it anyway. God wants us to be happy and knows sin hurts us. He doesn’t want us to sin. Sin separates us from God. God wants to be with us. God loves us. God gave his only Son for us. So, we repent when we sin. We feel guilty. We make all manner of sacrifice in hope of gaining God’s favor. Does that work?

Take a look at Psalm 50:7-15 (NIV):

“Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel: I am God, your God. I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

God doesn’t want us to sacrifice what is His, He wants us to give thanks and be with Him. He wants our hearts and minds, not our stuff. We offer sacrifices in a paranoid delusion that God will be mad and punish us. But God loves us unconditionally and welcomes us with open arms. Our fear and angst are misplaced.

Thomas Merton says Lent is a season for metanoia - a change of mind. Metanoia is different from repentance and sacrifice even though it’s often used interchangeably. Repentance focuses on what is bad, while metanoia focuses on what is good. Meta is a Greek word meaning "outside of," or "bigger than." Think of metaphysical - beyond physics, or metamorphosis - beyond the current state. Noia is also Greek for "to think or perceive." So, metanoia is beyond, or greater than, your current mindset. Metanoia is also related to paranoia, but in a good way. Paranoia replaces rational thought with other thoughts that are a delusion. Metanoia also replaces thoughts. It is about going to a higher plane, a greater way of thinking, a connectedness with God.

Psalm 50 says that all things belong to God, even us. All things are connected. Sin is a delusion that lets us believe we can live separately from God. So this year, don’t approach Lent as a negative time of feeling bad, riddled with guilt over your sins, hoping to make a sacrifice to God that might make it all better. Approach Lent as a time of metanoia, a thankful transformation of your heart and mind to a better place - one that thankfully accepts your connection with God.

David Svet

Walking The Road

David Svet serves on The Leadership Team of Asbury. He lives in Leawood with his wife, Lee; son Clark is away at college.

A Different Road this Lent

Some of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and even some of us, sometimes "give up" things for Lent. I’ve always understood that idea to be that if you give something up – each time you experience the imposition of that limit, you think about God ...and about Jesus…and about what they both “gave up” for you. If you really do that, it can be life-changing. But if you’re like me though, sometimes you’re just counting down to Easter, so you can start doing the thing again. I’m pretty sure that’s not the right idea.

So, my challenge to you is to add something during this Lenten season. Something that will help you grow in your faith life. I’m adding three minutes of prayer time. Three minutes. Strictly prayer. Talking with God. Every day. For me, that will probably most often happen right at the start of my day. I’ll talk to God – think about my day – and ask for His guidance in showing me the way He would have me act. If I add prayer – and reflection time on God’s plan for me – my hope is that by Easter, it’s just part of my routine and that it will be something that feels natural to continue.

In a recent sermon, Pastor Steve quoted a poster on the wall of Kansas City’s Healing House. "Live in such a way that those who know you but don’t know God, will come to know God because they know you."

During Lent, I’m going to strive to make this be true of me. If I’m successful, what an awesome testament to God’s strength and love!

I’m probably still going to give up fast food for Lent, knowing that I’m not giving it up forever. But, more importantly, every day I’m going to add prayer and strengthen my relationship with God. That’s what it’s all about.

May God bless each of you and strengthen you on your journey.

Mary Moyer
Walking the Road

Mary Moyer is the Director of Administrative Ministries. Email her at marym@visitasbury.org.

The Journey Begins

I am reminded of your sincere faith…For this reason
I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within
you…for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice,
but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-
discipline. (II Timothy 1:5, 6, 7)

Movie actor Tommy Lee Jones was being interviewed about his work. He said, “It’s not up to me to decide what the character does. My job is to play the character in the way the director wants to see.” My job and yours, as those who follow Christ, is not to write our own script. Our job is to play our character in the way our Lord wants to see. As Wesley put it, we are no longer our own, but His. He is the Director.

When we were baptized we were blessed with gifts of the Holy Spirit suitable to our ministry. (Read I Corinthians 12) God does not ask us to do anything that we are not also enabled to do. Our task is to faithfully use what we’ve been given. To rekindle and maximize the gift that is within us. Not someone else’s gift. Ours.

Debatable in some theological circles, suppose one day we stand before God in judgment to be accountable for our life. I am confident God will not say, “Why were you not Mother Teresa?” or “Why were you not Saint Francis?” Rather, God will ask, “Why were you not you? I didn’t create you to be someone else. I created you to be you.”

When black ash is marked on your forehead today reminding you of your mortality, begin again to rekindle the gift that is within you. Ask God to remind you what it is and to make you strong. To fill you with love. To encourage your resolve to be self-disciplined. Ask God to help you play your Character in the way the Divine Director wants to see.

Steve Langhofer
Walking the Road

Steve Langhofer is the Senior Pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church. Email him at stevel@visitasbury.org

The Believer's Road

The Christian life is a journey. During the next seven weeks this blog will share encouragement and insight from fellow travelers on the road of life. We invite you to walk with us and discover a community forever changed by the power of an empty tomb.

Diane Young Myers

Walking the Road.