Mike McCormack : March 9, 2010 4:58 pm : Mike's Blog
Every so often, maybe once or month, or maybe MORE often, I find myself murmuring the scripture verse from Psalm 118: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” I think that’s Psalm 118. Let me check. Yup. Psalm 118:24. The Message puts it like this: “This is the very day God acted—let’s celebrate and be festive!” That makes my point: God is active today in our lives. God is active everyday. What is God doing in your life TODAY? ”This,” the verse says, “is the day the Lord has made,” and not another day. You have today, so far, pretty guaranteed. What have you done? I’ve eaten macaroni and cheese, called church members on the phone, read biblical commentaries, returned emails, fed the baby and changed the baby’s diaper. All of this is part of the day the Lord has made. Can I accept all this? Yes. That’s the other part of the verse that grabs me: “This is the day the Lord has made (and not another); Let us rejoice and be glad (not resentful, not angry).” This has to do with accepting what God dishes out. Wow. This is obviously the most challenging thing about being a Reformed Christian. God is the one who does the dishing out. God gives us good gifts, challenges, trials, tests. I don’t always like that idea. I don’t always like what happens to me. But I am challenged by this Psalm, to “accept the things I cannot change,” as the famous prayer says, and become wise. Today is the Day the Lord has made for us, and as we walk together toward Easter–only through the tunnel of death–we will hear Psalm 118 on Palm Sunday. It is also a day the Lord made. Just like today. Rejoice a little. Help someone else rejoice.
Mike McCormack : February 23, 2010 11:42 am : Mike's Blog
I opened the sermon on Ash Wednesday saying something about “What are you giving up for Lent?” Lent is a time when so many of our brothers and sisters in the family of faith are practicing Lent by giving up a number of things: chocolate, ice cream, smoking, being generally nasty, etc. But it is also good to consider what we might TAKE UP. What practice might we begin? Praying the psalms throughout Lent? Contributing 2 cents a meal to the Presbyterian Hunger Program? Cleaning out our closets and giving unused and lonely clothes to the clothes closet? Sending a card to a shut-in, or maybe delivering it in person? We want to consider what practices might impact US as well as OTHERS. Jesus was concerned not only about private piety but public policy. What we do internally, privately, affects others externally, publicly. The most difficult thing about being a Christian, I think, is recognizing that not only does Jesus want me to change. He wants me to help change things in this world. Lent is about that. Lent is also about the cost of that. May Christ be with you as you practice your Lenten practices. Don’t worry–you can do it until you get it right!
Mike McCormack : June 23, 2008 10:27 am : Mike's Blog
Surprises abound. And they are good. I don’t know if you have been following the European Soccer Championship but I have. And if you had asked me, “Mike, who’s going to win?” I would have said, “Holland or Portugal. They will meet in the final and one of ‘em will take it.” Nope. They have been ELIMINATED! Shocking. Suprising. And yesterday, all the people that thought Italy would win–THEY were surprised when Italy was eliminated. Spain, Russia, Turkey (Surpise!) and Germany will play. Another great surprise happened for me when the Lonbergers signed up to share special music in church. I had no idea what they would do. Well, if you were there, you know: Frank played mandolin, Dan played Bass, and Treda played guitar and sang. A bluegrass trio in a Presbyterian Church. It was a wonderful surprise! As I sat and listened to Frank solo on the mandolin, I felt one of my ministry dreams coming true. The soccer, the music, all of it to say: God still suprises us each day. This, after all, is the day that the Lord has made. Let’s look for the suprises.
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Mike McCormack : May 1, 2008 9:10 am : Mike's Blog
Thursdays for college students are “the new friday.” For me, as a pastor, thursdays are also my fridays. I try and get ahead, anticipate needs, do some of next week’s work today.
There are at least two challenges in my work of ministry that may be similar to your work. One, you will accomplish many things you didn’t THINK you’d get done. You will not finish those things you thought you’d finish. If someone comes into the office that I didn’t expect, I am glad, but I have to set aside my expectations. I will not do what I THOUGHT I would do. I will only do what I will do. I know that sounds stupid, or tautological (who’s stupid NOW!) but it is true. Eugene Peterson, famously Presbyterian bible translator said something that I think applies. He was talking about the daily -ness of his work, all the lists he made, and how a dream changed his perspective. He writes, “I. . .started keeping a journal. At first, and for a long time, my journal contained only lists: people to see, letters to write, visits to make, errands to run. I put them int the journal rather than on scraps of paper, to give them some dignity, some semipermanence. And I prayed my lists: this is best-seller material.” (Under the Unpredictable Plant, 152-3) Peterson’s point is that the stuff of life is important. And often what we think is accidental, hap-hazard or incidental is not. An easy mistake to make, given that we are used to dictating the terms of our work or life. wrong.
The second thing that may be helpful in your work life, and something that I’ve found in Church work is that it’s feast or famine. I am either the busiest guy in the universe or it’s like after-hours at coney island. It is either Lent or July. Christmas Eve or Memorial Day. There do not seem to be many days or weeks that are moderate in their mood. Feast or famine. I have not found a solution. I don’t think there is one except to accept it. And maybe also to say, “O Lord, come to my assistance. O God, hasten to help me.” Or, “there is a time and a purpose for all things under heaven.” Saying those things give me comfort in the feast, and nourishment in the famine of my work. Maybe they will do the same for you. Blessings on this day of Work with or without Rain. mm
Mike McCormack : June 8, 2007 8:32 pm : Mike's Blog
Tonight is the last night of the Montreat Youth Conference. It has been a good week of prayer, reflection, playing ridiculous games and generally good times.
I am reminded tonight of how we change over time as people of faith. When I waited tables in high school, a man I served said, “Son, you’ll change every seven years.” And he has been right so far.
Tonight, I am a father, looking after his son. I have looked after Noah while worship was going on but as I sat doing my daily readings and catching up on some emails, I heard all 818 youth singing around Lake Susan. I went to the window and could see all the candles surrounding the lake. And I could hear them sing familiar songs, with a slight, echo.
Seven years ago, I was a seminary student, standing down there for the first time. I had never been to montreat and I was new to ministry, really.
It will be interesting to see what God has in store for me, for all of us, in another seven years.
