Evangelism NOW!

Back in my days as a rocking baptist, at my former faith community, just above the choir loft hung a purple banner with gold letters that read "Evangelism Now."  It's funny how I never thought much about that purple banner at Elevation Baptist Church until after leaving.  Maybe at that point, I just looked at it as just church decorum.  But after having had several contemplative experiences with God, I really do believe that T.L. Carmichael, Senior Pastor at Elevation Baptist is really on to something.

Evangelism by definition means zealous preaching and dissemination of the gospel through missionary work, and militant zeal for a cause.  All baptized christians are ministers of Jesus Christ, and our individual lives are  sermons of just how good God has been to us.  The questions that I raise before you are:  How do you disseminate the gospel?  What cause do you have a militant zeal for?  Here in the Bible Belt, there are all kinds of Christians, COGIC, evangelicals, pentecostals, holiness, Catholic, anglicans, baptists, methodists (United, AME, AME Zion) non-denominational and so on and so forth.

In more simpler terms, I think that evangelism is sharing of yourself with others, making connections with others, so that they will see your little light shining and realize that they want: the peace, love and joy that you have.  I don't do this very often, but recently when I was approached by someone in need of assistance, rather than saying "NO" I took time to talk to them and to connect with them.  Every so often I see this particular young man downtown and we hold conversations.  He has a long way to go, but he's on his way.  I don't think that evangelism is thumping our bibles, hymnals and prayer books at those in need, but rather exercising faith filled works for the overall betterment of our world and the times in which we live.  Remember the words of Jesus, "As you have done unto the least of these, you have done unto me."

I am not suggesting that you do a Saturday morning door-to-door neighborhood canvas with bible in tow, but if that is what God leads you to do, then by all means do it.  Think about the people that you have the potential to reach and things in life that you are passionate about and GO make a difference.  As I was looking at the word evangelism, I could not help that in the middle of the word we find "ANGEL."  As you evangelize, be angelic about it.  Be an angel that someone on of the cusp of despair and chaos may need to subside the drama in their life.  Be the angel that an organization or your local church could use to spread the gospel of Jesus, not only in word, but in deed as well.  Evangelism NOW!  Thank you, Pastor Carmichael.

Peace,
Karsten

unChristian and Holy Confirmation

Last week I blogged on the “real church” experience in reference to the Day of Pentecost.  Yesterday was Trinity Sunday, which in the Roman Catholic and Episcopal liturgical calendar always falls the Sunday after Pentecost.  Yesterday at church, the bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, the Right Reverend Michael Curry celebrated eucharist with us, as well as Holy Confirmation.  Besides being an awesome and dynamic preacher, Bishop Curry is one of my spiritual mentors, to whom at some point, I will directly report to as a deacon after ordination. 

For those of you that are unfamiliar with Holy Confirmation, in the Catholic, Episcopal and even some Methodist churches, confirmation is a holy sacrament with the laying on of hands by a bishop, in which after an individual has reaffirmed their faith in God, and followed a brief course of study (God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, catechism and church history), and the renewal of their baptismal covenant, they are officially welcomed into the church.  This does not say that they were never welcomed into the church prior to confirmation.  For my Baptist friends, I would liken this to receiving the right hand of fellowship without the handshakes, but with the presence of a regional or jurisdictional minister, the bishop.

Yesterday at St. Ambrose, we were fortunate enough to confirm 13 individuals, youth and adults alike.  We had an awesome worship experience with the bishop.  The primary text of Bishop Curry’s sermon was “The Great Commission,” which comes from Matthew 28:18-20.  “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.  And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  What a powerful statement!  According to Matthew’s gospel, the last thing that Jesus said to his followers before going to heaven was “get busy, make disciples, teach them everything, and if you have any doubt, I’m still here.”  

Question – What is this business of making disciples about?  In his sermon yesterday, Bishop Curry referenced a book “unChristian” which is basically a sociological study of the fastest growing religious group.  I bet that you’re probably thinking: the evangelicals have finally taken over.  Or possibly, the Muslims have gotten out of control.  You may find it interesting that the fastest growing religious group is people who identify themselves as “unaffiliated.”  Bishop Curry also mentioned that within the book a group of religiously unaffiliated people was asked in a survey what comes to their mind when they hear Christian?  The responses were just unbelievable but at the same time a bittersweet pill which had to be swallowed.  Some of the responses were narrow minded, intolerant, bigoted, closed minded, hypocritical and homophobic.  Now, is that how you would want someone to describe you?  We were urged by the bishop to be Jesus Episcopalians, to walk in his ways, which primarily is the way of LOVE.  We have to be willing to love and give without counting the cost.  Love is the very essence of our law and the foundation for what we believe.  Do you want war or coexistence?  At the conclusion of his message, Bishop Curry reminded us that “They will know we are Christians by our love.”

Love is one of those things that if you give it, it will come back to you.  Even a dog is capable of giving love.  Trust me, my four-legged dependent, Rasul is very capable of loving, not because I feed him, give him treats and take him on walks, but just because.  Love is the reason that we are here today.  I echo the words of my bishop and say that not only do we need Jesus Episcopalians, we need loving Christians worldwide to redeem these times in which we are living through the power of the Holy Spirit and the love of almighty God.

Peace,

Karsten

Healing...

Today's blog entry comes from the June 16 reading for "Acts of Faith" by Iyanla Vanzant.  Be blessed.

June 16 --  Luke 9:2  "And he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick."

We must realize the healing power of the Spirit is within each and everyone of us.  We each have the power to heal not only ourselves, but our world and all those around us.  Spirit expressing through us as a kind word, a caring touch or a simple smile may be all it takes.  When we realize who we are, the blessings we have been given, the power we embody, we have tapped into the source of our healing ability.  Every day we have at least one opportunity to help a friend, a loved one or even a stranger.  Regardless of our political philosophy, it is our responsibility to do what we can, when we can to assure that someone else does better.  Today, let us become aware of the healing power within and dedicate ourselves to uplifting those we touch.

"Through the healing power of the Spirit within, I bless others today."

Peace,
Karsten

Happy Belated Birthday, Church!

This past Sunday ushered in the liturgical season of Pentecost.  In simple terms, Pentecost is the birthday of the Church as we know it.  On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit introduced himself to the followers of Christ.  This is the long awaited gift that Jesus himself promised the disciples that they would receive.  In Acts chapter 2, we are given a very vivid account of the reception of the Holy Spirit by the followers of Jesus.  There was a mighty rushing wind, tongues of fire, different language, presumed drunkenness and transformed lives.

Happy Birthday, Church!  but when you think about church or "the" church, what comes to mind?  For some of us, we may think about the Roman Catholic Church, a preacher, choirs, music, prayer, communion and so forth.  Yet for some of us, we may think of isolation, exclusion, judgmental  people claiming to be christians or a weekly social club.  Last week my priest, the Reverend Kimberly Lucas attended The City of God Urban Ministries Conference in Washington, DC.  From this conference, she brought with her a new perspective in which she shared with us.

For me what stuck out most in her sermon was this:  "Jesus promised us a kingdom and what we got is the church."  In other words should be an extension of the kingdom of God here on earth, more specifically, the church is not the building, but rather the church is in the baptized ministers of Christ, notice that I did not say the ordained, because we are all ministers of Christ and his kingdom, with or without a collar.

Rev. Kim continued, "Church is about being Christ."  We need a real church and not a social club.  Real church requires the Holy Spirit.  As followers of Christ, we have to invite the Holy Spirit to move in and through us.  We have been called to live in the spirit of Emmanuel or "God with us."  We are the Emmanuel for the world, because the sad reality is that there are many people that will probably not step into a church, but through your example and witness they too can experience the life transforming power of God.  It is up to us to manifest real church.  The real church involves prayer.  The real church is multicultural.  The real church is loving.  The real church embodies the fruits of the spirit -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  In essence we have everything that we need to be the real church and an authentic representation of the kingdom of God.  Happy Belated Birthday, Church!

Peace,
Karsten

An evocation from Psalm 139

Some of you may be saying an evocation?  Don't you mean invocation?  These words are very closely related though.  Most of us that have been to any religiously based worship service may notice that the opening prayer is called "the invocation."  By definition, an invocation is an appeal to a higher power for assistance.  However by definition, an evocation is the summoning of a spirit, or imaginative recreation.  I look at it like this, if I am visiting my mother and she needs me for something, she calls to where I am.  "Karsten, can you take out the trash?"  She knows where I am, and has summoned that I come assist her.  However, if I am needed by a love one, say my nephew for example, he will call me and say: "Uncle Karsten, can you pick me up from school today?"  That is an invocation, because, I am not readily accessible to my nephew and he had to call me and invoke my assistance.  Now that we've cleared that up, let's get on with it.

One of my newly found heroes of the Episcopal Church, is the Reverend Canon Robert C. Wright, Pastor and Rector of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Atlanta.  A couple weeks back, during the Baccalaureate Service of Commencement Exercises for Morehouse College.  He offered a powerful evocation to God based on Psalm 139, in which I will paraphrase what he said.  Before I begin, let me summarize some key points from Psalm 139 for you.  In this particular psalm, David writes: "You have searched me and know me. where can I go from your spirit? I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  How precious to me are your thoughts?  Pretty powerful psalm, read it sometime. 

The Paraphrased Evocation of Father Robert C. Wright

Psalm 139 suggests to us that there is no place that God is not. His presence is with us as we are assembled here today.  Therefore since the spirit of God is in this place, we don't have a need for an invocation, but rather an evocation.  So, listen with your hearts then, since God is already here, there is no need to invite God here.  God is here.  We are here, the hopes and dreams and answered prayers of abolitionists and slaves alike.  We are here.  And because God is here, love is here.  We give thanks for all of God's immeasureable love for us, for our creation, our preservation and for all the blessings of life.  Because God is here, there are no strangers among us. We are closely knit by the most precious blood of Jesus.   Since God is here, dignity must abound, and respect for every human being.  Since God is here, there are no strangers among us, we are brothers and sisters in Christ.  Let us show God our praise not only in our lips, but in our lives.  Because God is here, let us pledge to offer ourselves to God, the only true worship. So, our evocation then should be:  Spirit of the living God fall afresh on us!  Spirit of the living God fall afresh on us!  Spirit of the living God fall afresh on us.  Make us, mold us, use us, meld us, mend us.  Spirit of the living God fall afresh on us.  We ask this in the name of the one they call Jesus the Christ. And all God's Children said; Amen.

May the spirit and the peace of God fall fresh on you,
Karsten

Summer Breeze!

Without a doubt summer has definitely arrived.  While watching the national weather report, it was interesting to see that nearly two thirds of the the country is blanketed in a pre-summer swelter of 90 plus degree temperatures.  The sad reality is that summer officially begins in roughly two weeks.  The summer is not my favorite season, however my birthday falls smack between Independence Day and Labor Day.  Go Leos! 

For many, summer is a time to slow down from the norm.  Traditional ten month schools take a break.  Teachers recharge their batteries and students, do what students do during the summer, nothing.  Most corporate and government employees schedule their much needed vacations with family during the summer months.  However in the South, the summer heat can just be unchristianly intolerable, so for the most part, many of us find ourselves doing indoor activities as we try to beat the heat.

I want to encourage you to utilize the slower pace of the summer time to do things that you rarely have time to do from September to May.  Cherish and embrace the summer.  Amusement parks prime season is summer.  Jump on a roller coaster, my personal favorite is the Shock Wave at King's Dominion.  Enjoy the taste of summer, fresh peaches, watermelons, strawberries and corn are all in abundance during this time.  These are only available in the summer.  If you like fishing, go fish!  Here in North Carolina, we have a plethora of beaches.  I love beaches and mountains.  But most importantly, check in with yourself, friends and family.  "Summer breeze, makes me feel fine."

Peace,
Karsten
 "Summer time and the living is easy"

Say it Loud!

One of the things that I really like about being black, is that people have tendancies to think that you can sing and dance really well, or may be athletically inclined.  Sometimes this proves to be true and at other times it's nothing more than a stereotypical myth.  Here's a tidbit of information for you.  June is Black Music Month.  But imagine with me if you would, a world in which black artists were silenced.

It's odd to think that there would be no Jazz, Blues, R&B, Hip Hop, Spirituals, Gospel, Raggaeton and the list goes on and on.  I'm sure that my mom's world would have been so diiferent without Diana Ross, Sam Cook and countless others growing.  Tina Turner would have never asked us "What's love got to do with it?"  The Queen of Soul would have never demanded that we give her some R-E-S-P-E-C-T!  Marvin Gaye would have never asked us "What's going on?"  Of course, I could not leave out the Godfather of Soul, James Brown.

In my generation there were a plethora of musicians who shaped our culture, The King of Pop, Michael Jackson.  My "MJ" jackets are still packed away in my mama's attic.  Salt n' Pepa's Push it was the highlight of my Seventh Grade Dance.  Mary J. Blige, Boys II Men and countless other artists ushered me into the nineties and early adulthood.  

Growing up in Church, I would have never heard the songs that got me and my family through some tough times.  There would not have been The King of Gospel music, The Reverend James Cleveland, Keith Pringle and Dottie Peoples.  The Clark Sisters would have never told us that "You brought the sunshine.  Walter Hawkins would have never urged us to "Be Grateful"  Even in 2011, Maurette Brown Clark would never have assured us that "It ain't over."

So that brings me to feeling like I am really a thirty-something, when I hear titles like the First Lady of Crunk, The King of Crunk, King TIP and the list goes on.  I am grateful for Beyonce, Rhianna, R. Kelly, Ne-Yo, Janet Jackson, and Prince.  I find it hard to imagine my life without these musical influences.  It would have been different, perhaps that void would have been filled with something else.  Gregorian chants?  Celebrate and embrace black music in all its genres.  One voice, one people!

Peace,
Karsten 

Soul Food

At the mere mention of soul food, some of us begin an insatiable drool with visions of collards, fried chicken, smothered pork chops, macaroni and cheese, spoon bread, fried corn and the list goes on.  I have not even mentioned the desserts yet.  Many of you may remember the movie Soul Fool, which starred Irma Hall, Vanessa L. Williams, Vivica Fox, Mekhi Phifer and Michael Beach.  In this movie, Mama Joe held her family together for forty years with Sunday Soul Food dinner.  Skipping through the drama and sibling rivalry, Mama Joe is hospitalized from Diabetes complications, ending the weekly soul food observance, and the family is torn apart, but reunited in the end with a soul food repast.

 When was the last time that you had a meaningful meal with your family?  When was the last time that you fellowshipped at meal time with a friend, in which you were not constantly looking at your electronic noise maker ie Smart phone, iPhone, blackberry, iPad, Droid or whatever?  Back in the Bible times, meal time was important.  One could even consider it sacred.  The Greek word "koinonia" means communication by intimate participation or breaking bread in a manner similar to Christ during the Passover meal, or as Christians refer to, The Last Supper.  I'm sure that Jesus did not have all the comforts and worldly luxouries that we have today.  He may have had a heavy travel itinerary throughout Judea and the Kidron Valley, but he always made time for dinner with his family, friends and even 5,000 strangers.

In the May 2011 issue of Guideposts, there is a story about Father Leo Patalinghug, of Emmitsburg, MD.  In this article, he spoke of the spirituality of cooking and food preparation and how meals bring families together.  He's done cooking classes in conjunction with youth confirmation, as well as other classes in which the stove becomes his pulpit.  The 21st century is a fast paced rat race, I'll give you that.  But the challenge for today is over the course of the week, try to have a family meal without electronic interruption or distraction.  Enjoy the company, conversation and food in which you are sharing your most precious time.  Remember that family is not always biological.  You may find that after you've had your "koinonia" experience that you'll feel a greater sense of satiation that the food alone could not provide.  "To eat and drink and find satisfaction in all your toil -- this is the gift of God."  Ecclesiastes 3:13

Peace,
Karsten