Circa 1968

I'm sitting here this evening, at the end of a very long (but productive) week, and I'm watching "Bewitched" (circa 1968). Yep....I recorded it and now I'm watching it. Before you think me a goof, you have to know a few things. Bewitched is almost like a comfort food for me. It was my favorite show when I was a child...by then the show was in syndication. My mom used to tell me that I'd run around twitching my nose like Samantha wishing for this and that. I can remember playing make believe that I was a witch and anything I wanted or needed was only a twitch or hand motion away. It was a great way to pass the summer days.

As I sit here and watch the opening credits, with the cartoon of Samantha riding on her broom, turning into a cat and jumping into Darrin's arms, it takes me back many years to my living room in my childhood home. I just hear the theme song and I'm sitting in front of my TV with my mom cleaning the house in the background somewhere. Ah! The memories. There's something about the show. You know...the show where all the problems of life are solved in 30-minutes. Afterall, you could twitch anything you wanted, whenever you wanted. Who of us wouldn't want to twitch ourselves to work each day in order to miss the rush hour traffic. Who of us wouldn't want to twitch up supper to save us the task of cooking? Who of us wouldn't want to twitch up a dress or suit to save us the bill of new clothes. That would be nice wouldn't it?

But I grew up and realized, there are no magic powers that get you through life. At least not like Samatha's. No special twitches to conjure up dreams or desires. No spells to put on people to get them to do what you want. No witchcraft. But Jesus offers us something special...very special indeed.

Some people thought Jesus was a magic spell maker. Simply a wandering man that new "witchcraft". And there were people in those days that claimed that magic power for themselves. But Jesus was different. When people encountered Jesus, their life changed. Something about him re-presented God to those he met. When they met this Jesus character, it was as if they were meeting the God of Israel. That must have been magic! Imagine a life that encountered Jesus, and in a moment, was changed forever. It happens folks. It happens all the time. I can't explain it really....I just know it happens. I know it happens because I've read about it happening to people in scripture. I know it happens because I ave witnessed it in others. I know it happens because it happened to me. Some 2000 years ago, people met this man named Jesus, and after that encounter they were changed. Some were blind, but could now see. Some were possessed, but were now freed. Jesus had this "power" about him. It happened then and it happens today.

It is my hope, my life's work, as the Apostle Paul might say, that you would feel it too. If I can be an instrument of God's grace in the life of another, then I would consider it a great honor and priviledge. For someone to feel that power of grace and love that changes a person from the inside out. That feeling when you come to know a God that meets you where are. That feeling when you come to experience a God that loves you enough to accept you for who you are, but loves you too much to let you stay there.

Call it magic, call it grace, call it the Holy Spirit. It is the love of Christ that flows in and through you. May we all be "Bewitched" my the power of the loving Creator we call God. Pastor Robyn

Dew'ing Without

It's Day 6 of my Lenten release of Diet Mountain Dew and Diet Pepsi, my two prized caffeined companions.  And it's not easy.  First, there's the taste of the sodas that I love.  Especially the Mountain Dew....that burst of sweet citrus when you're parched (but I digress).  And then there's the "pick me up" that it offers.  I crave them, I long for the taste, I MISS MY drinks!!!  (Side note:  in the south, all sodas are called "Coke" - it's a category of drink....i.e., waitress asks you, "What'll you have to drink"...you reply, "a coke"....she asks, "What kind?"....you answer, "Diet Mountain Dew"...I'm not making this up!)

 

I do, however, look forward to the challenge of a Lenten Fast.  I don't know why I don't do it more often?  Perhaps it's the definite start and stop of Lent that makes it a convenient exercise in the disciplines.  Perhaps it's knowing that others are sharing in my sacrifice.  I always feel better, spiritually, after a fast...if I do it right.  For me, giving up these pleasures is a way to seek the pleasures of Christ my Lord and Savior.  It's easy to seek pleasure and pick me up from a can.  It can be a little more difficult to discipline one's self to seek pleasure in your relationship with Jesus.  When I want a drink, I run to the fridge and grab one; easy, no effort (unless I'm out - arg!  I hate when that happens).  But our relationship with Jesus is a little different.  It takes effort.  It takes time.  It takes a commitment to seek him out.  But I know that those pleasures far outweigh what I could get from a silly can of soda, right?  And that's why I like the Lenten Fast.  It's another reminder of the precious treasures that I seek and find in my relationship with Jesus Christ. 

 

I know that some are choosing to change behavior vs. give up a food/drink or activity.  Whatever we do, don't do, or give up, the point is that it offers us the opportunity to contemplate our relationship with Christ.  What would Jesus do/not do/give up in this situation? 

 

Who else is fasting?  What have others opted to sacrifice?  I'd love to hear!!  Whatever you're doing, I pray that your time of fasting will provide you with the grace and comfort found in the assurance of knowing Christ loves you!  At the end of the day, that gives me more energy than my beloved drinks!  Pastor Robyn

 

  
 

Lenten Season

Next week is Ash Wednesday, which begins the season of Lent.  Lent is a time of fasting as we prepare our hearts and minds for Easter.  Yes, Methodists can and do fast (I'll talk about that in a second).  Lent is the time that we consider our walk with Christ.  In the early church, it was the time to prepare and instruct new converts for baptisms.  In those days, Easter was a baptism day, to signify the dying to our old selves while being resurrected in Christ.  Lent is celebrated the 40 days prior to Easter and is symbolic of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness being tempted by Satan.

 

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten season.  If you were in New Orleans this week and next, you'd be engaging in one long stream of indulgence, ending that time of fun and party with Fat Tuesday.  Fat Tuesday is the day of total indulgence because on the following day, Ash Wednesday, everyone enters into a time of repentance.  Lent is the time when Christians typically fast. 

 

Fasting is an often underused and misunderstood spiritual discipline.  When a person fasts, they give something up that is loved and cherished.  Typically it is a meal during the day.  You give up one of the meals and the time spent usually eating is spent in prayer with God.  But, what many do not realize is that fasting can mean giving up a number of different things.  Perhaps you are a TV watcher, or a gamer, or a person that loves the crossword puzzles.  During the 40 days of Lent, you may choose to give up that beloved activity, and spend the extra time getting closer to God. 

 

The point is giving up something you enjoy doing, and using that time to grow closer to God; to repent to God, and to listen for God's direction in your life.  It can be a very meaningful time.  But it needs to be something you enjoy doing; a real sacrifice.  For example, I'm not a fish eater.  So for me to give up fish during Lent really wouldn't mean much.  But if I had to give up my favorite TV show each week, now that would be a sacrifice.  But the benefit is using that time to get closer to God.

 

I pray that as we enter into this time of Lent that it may be a time of deeper relationship with the God of all creation.  May it be a time where you come to know that personal God in your life a little better.  May it be a time where you better understand God's will for your life.  May it be a time where you come to know that God is always present in your life.  Are you willing to sacrifice something you enjoy for a deeper relationship with God?  I hope so….Happy Lent!