Ornery Okie

Two of my colleagues at the Interfaith Counseling Center gave me a new moniker, “Ornery Okie.” Thanks Lisa and Jennifer. I will own that moniker. My parents and grandparents told me that I was a strong-willed and independent child. They report that I would often say, “No, I’ll do it my way.” Of course, I own the “Okie” title as I am from Norman, Oklahoma, and a life-long fan of the OU football “Sooners” team. When I graduated from Norman High School I went to Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma, where, you might say, my orneriness continued. My folks were from Shawnee, Oklahoma, as were all my grandparents. My parents were married in Shawnee’s Immanuel Baptist Church where they were Sunday School teachers and Dad was a deacon. My Granny, mother’s mother, was a charter member of the Immanuel Baptist Church. So, what did I do when I went to Shawnee to attend Oklahoma Baptist University? I joined the First Baptist Church of Shawnee, Oklahoma, and not the Immanuel Baptist Church. Why? Because I did not want to be known as Russell and Irene’s son or Granny’s grandson. I wanted to be known for who I am. Ornery? Yeah, Lisa and Jennifer are correct. So, I will own the “Ornery Okie” moniker. Sometimes the phrase or moniker your friends put on you is more accurate than you may realize.

A Perfect Saturday and Sunday Morning

Thanks to Lisa for the gift of a book about books. A perfect Saturday and Sunday morning involve a book or books, a cup of Earl Grey with a splash of honey, a dark and silent house before sunrise, a lamp beside a favorite chair and something to read. This weekend I am permitted to travel with Madeleine Engle’s The Irrational Season through the Church seasons and ponder the question Do I Stay Christian? with Brian McLarin, both of which I recommend. Recommending books, when not asked for, is called “Book Bossy” by Anne Bogel in her delightful read, I’D Rather Be Reading, which I recommend, thanks to Lisa’s gift. The weather does not make for a perfect Saturday and Sunday morning, at least not for me on this weekend. A bonus is the reality that both the Kentucky “Wildcats” and the Oklahoma “Sooners” won their football games. Now really, can it get any better than this?

The Planes, Buses and Jesus

I read about a Governor who flew a couple of planes full of immigrants to another state in the east. This Governor is not the only Governor who has engaged in this type of activity. I am angry. Such action is unconscionable if not evil. I can envision Satan being overjoyed. The “slavery spirit” that sees people who are not like me, i.e., white nationalist Americas, preferable in the upper social classes or at least in the middle class, is unacceptable. It is a spirit of fear and hatred that fuels the attitude that ‘those who have the power can do as they please.’ This “spirit of slavery” is clearly alive, operative, and public without shame today. The “spirit of slavery” deprives others of their dignity. The “spirit of slavery” refused to treat others as a child of GOD. The Biblical truth is everyone, regardless of their skin color or national origin, carries the image and likeness of GOD. Jesus said “…Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me.” (Matthew 25:40, KJV). The Governors, as well as the people who support him, are saying to Jesus, “Get on those planes and buses and get out of our State because we don’t want you.”

How To Do Our Ministry Has Changed

This recent pandemic caused us to think about how we do our ministry. The Interfaith Counseling Center has a building. The COVID pandemic caused us to 'move' out of our facility for our ministry. For us that meant Teletherapy. As a result of these past three years of COVID as well as a new way of thinking, i.e., outside the familiar ‘box,’ we now have “clients” not only in Lexington and central Kentucky but, also, throughout Kentucky, for example Morehead, Somerset, Hopkinsville, Louisville, etc. In addition, we have had clients who have moved and asked if they could continue so we also have clients who live in North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio, Florida, and Texas. Because of international work with missionaries, we also have clients in Europe and Africa. At least one half of our clients now use teletherapy. With apologies to the movie, “Field of Dreams,” it is no longer true that if you build it or program it, they will come. In another movie, “The Graduate,” Mr. McGuire was suggesting to Benjamin Braddock, played by Dustin Hoffman, that the future of making money and a career was in the plastic industry. I think Mr. McGuire was say that today, i.e., 2022 and beyond, the future is through cyberspace. I believe the future of any ministry will involve significant cyberspace. I am grateful that God has pushed us at the Interfaith Counseling Center into a new way of thinking (which was neither easy, pleasant nor comfortable) and thereby is using us to help fulfill the Great Commission of sharing His Gospel to the furthermost parts of the world. Who could have imagined five years ago?

Why Won't Jesus Entrust Himself To Us?

In John’s gospel, Jesus’ first “miracle” was turning water into wine so the wedding celebration could continue. The second reported incident was cleansing the Temple of the money changers and sellers of animals. The money changers and animal sellers were doing the Temple a service by providing money that did not have the Roman emperor on the face, i.e., no graven images, and animals for the sacrificial requirements. Although John’s gospel reports that many believed in him, John’s gospel also says that Jesus would not entrust himself to them, (John 2:24, NRSV). John’s gospel reports that Jesus went from a joyous, wine drinking, party to chasing out the merchandise sellers at the Temple. A stark contrast in Jesus’ behavior. We have always had a challenging time figuring out exactly who Jesus was/is. So, what would Jesus be doing today? Would he be partying Saturday evening and then disrupting our Church services on Sunday morning? Kind of sounds like it, according to John’s gospel. Why would Jesus not “entrust” himself to us? Jesus knew that our beliefs, and even our worship practices, could be more about us and our preferences or likes and dislikes then about Jesus. There is always the temptation to make Jesus into who we want Him to be rather than accepting Him as He reveals Himself and then, following Him as He is in the Gospels. A Jesus follower or just a believer?

Unity rather than Uniformity

My great desire is for unity, not uniformity. When I was considering doing an advanced degree, a professor recommended that I attend a school that was not Baptist. He said that I was raised and taught as a Baptist, and I needed someone who would challenge my “Baptist beliefs.” My Baptist beliefs can be described as my “imbedded theology” or “what mama and them taught me.” So, I ended up in a school of another denomination. I valued and respected the folks I knew from that other denomination even though I did not know much about their history or beliefs. I enrolled and, sure enough, there were times when I would share my thoughts and beliefs and someone would ask, “Rick, where did you get that interpretation of those verses? That is not how I interpret them.” In those gentle but challenging questions and relationships, my learning and spiritual maturity began to deepen. I began to grow more deeply in the spiritual life rather than more isolated with my imbedded beliefs. Uniformity may look like certainty, and it is our ego nature to want the security of certainty. Our spiritual nature however values the questions, more than certainty. If I have no questions and everything is certain, then why would I need faith? I am grateful for that wise professor’s guidance. There is an enormous difference between unity and uniformity.

Eastern Kentucky Flooding and Coal Companies

The floods in eastern Kentucky have been devastating. People have lost everything. That is beyond my imagination. I am wonderfully amazed to read and see all the volunteers who have come to help. They have helped in so many ways. I am also amazed how people have responded with their gifts and money. Unfortunately, I am aware of a missing piece. Where are the coal companies with their big trucks and heavy machinery as well as volunteers and money to help the families in eastern Kentucky? The coal companies are responsible not only the way they have treated, or shall I write abused, the beautiful mountains and streams but, also, the people of eastern Kentucky. Now that there is a national tragedy, they seem absent. What ethic is it that says I will take money from your resources and leave you with the consequences. You may pretend to care but you cannot pretend to show up. I hope that I am wrong, and the television and newspapers have just not shown pictures of your heavy equipment. Come on coal companies, show up!