How They Should Settle Local Church - Denomination Property Disputes

The question of who retains property rights of a local church that decides to leave a denomination is in the news again, in light of the Virginia court's recent ruling that the historic Falls Church building belongs to the Episcopal denomination, rather than the local congregation.  Falls Church  is now seeking a rehearing.

Property deeds in many denominations (including ours) are not held by the local church, but rather by their governing bodies.  This arrangement works fine as long as everybody is in harmony with each other, and in many respects is a safeguard agaist a few rogue members taking over and stealing a church way from it original, intended, historic path.

However,  what happens when the denomination strays from its original, intended, historic path and the local church departs in protest?  Who should get the building?

The way I see it, in disputes like this, church property should always go to its primary investors.

If the denomination was the primary source of funding for the property (purchase, maintenance, repairs, projects, etc.) then it should go to them.  If, however, the local congregation carried the burden of paying for it, then they should retain the right to keep it -- regardless of which entity holds the title.

The responsibility of the courts in such cases, then, should be determining the primary investors.

Bible Thumper

This woman is a Real Bible Thumper.

How to Get Along With Others

It is always more pleasant when people get along. As the Bible says, “Behold how pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.” One mother recently told her children, “I only want one thing for Mother's Day – Just one full day when you all get along with each other without squabbling!” They didn’t make it. (You could say they gave her half-a-present!)

Ask anybody, and they will tell you they want to get along with others. However, more often than not, we find ourselves embroiled in controversy of some kind or another. Usually it’s because of misunderstandings.

Understanding what frustrates others is the first step towards peaceful relationships. What gets people upset?

Abrupt Change:
Mark Twain said the only person who likes change is a baby with wet diapers! Normally, however, people are not totally opposed to change. They just get worked up if it is sprung on them!

Unclear Expectations:
When we assume they know what we’re thinking, we’re asking for trouble. It’s aggravating to walk on eggshells around an unpredictable and inconsistent person.

Broken Commitments:
Every time a person breaks their word, they also break a trust.  It is better to under-promise and over-deliver.

Violation of Rights:
Ignoring basic courtesy and respect usually bring an angry response. Every human being has the right to be treated with dignity.

Poor Communication:
People are always down on what they’re not up on. You can’t just say something once in passing and then think you’ve communicated. A true communication does not occur until the one receiving it gets it!

When it’s Not Done Right:
Normally, when someone is upset about something not being done “right” they mean “MY WAY!” It pays us all to remember that there is more than one way to look at just about every issue. There are very few things in life that must only be done one way.

_____________________________:
I left this one blank so you can fill it in! Whatever and Anything! There are some folks who will get upset about anything. You can’t do much about that except try to be patient, love and understand the best you can.

So, how do we go ahead and get along? Here are a few suggestions:

1.  Get alone with God and pray about it. It’s hard to stay mad when you’re prayed up.

2.  Make peace with yourself. Most conflicts are caused by inner turmoil.

3.  Assume 80% of the responsibility for getting along. That means be proactive in the relationship. If you think it’s 50% your responsibility (or less) you will wait around when you should be doing something.

4.  Fix the problem, not the blame.
5.  Never judge motives (unless you are assuming they mean well.)
6.  Attack issues, not people
7.  Look for common threads. Find what you agree on and put your energy there.
8.  Go back and patch the holes. This means to apologize, the make amends, to reconcile and iron out the differences.
9.  Make sure they know you care about them.
10.  Remember, love covers a multitude of sins.

11.  Use the 7:1 ration (seven affirmations to one correction)
12.  Refuse to be consumed by negativity
13.  Be easy on people when they fail
14.  Put God first, and the other things will fall into place.
15.  Forgive 70 times 7.

Here, But Not Yet

Last week's May-day winter storm is something northwoods folks will remember (and brag about) for a very long time, though last I heard,  the weatherman joined Salman Rushdie in hiding for his life.

Where is spring? That's what I want to know! Everybody around town has been asking the same question, too.

This Sunday's Mother's Day, for heaven's sake. Last year, we were sunbathing. This year, we're still wearing long johns and tossing snow balls  (kids, don't throw one at your mother!)

Last year, the crocuses bloomed. This year, we feel like croaking as we shovel the bloomin' sidewalks. . . again.

Last year, we caught fish all day on opening weekend.  This year, we vicariously watched Pete Maina catch them on  t.v. instead.

The robins are going to need extensive therapy I'm afraid.  And just yesterday, I saw two Canadian geese flying south!  

Again I ask. . . where is spring?

And here's the answer: spring is here! Beneath the surface of the earth, she has already sprung! We just haven't seen the full evidence yet.

I guarantee you, though, before too long, she will arrive in full splendor.

In just a short while, our gray landscape will burst forth in reds, purples and, greens. The crusty snow will melt away under the sun's vernal gaze!

There will be a resurrection of nature, and the good folks of the northoods will emerge from their caverns once again into the great outdoors to bar-b-que, ride bikes, swim and play softball.

Yes, spring has begun, and is coming soon in fullness. Just wait. Just wait. You'll see.

Here -- but not here yet; in hopes of better days to come; that's how it is with spring this year -- and also the Kingdom of God.

One Pastor's Greatest Regret

In her beautiful book, One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp relates one pastor's answer to the question, "what is your greatest regret?"

Being in a hurry.  Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me.  I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained by being in a hurry.  But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing. . .  Through all that haste I thought I was making up time.  It turns out I was throwing it away.  
(Quoted from Mark Buchanan's Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Your Sabbath.)

When You Go Through the Valley of Baca (Hardship)

"Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee, in whose heart are the ways of them, who passing through the valley of Baca, make it a well; the rain also fills the pools. They go from strength to strength—every one of them in Zion appeareth before God."
--Psalm 84:5-7 (KJV)

Some time ago, after I'd preached on this verse, my friend, Jim Burmeister, loaned me a casette tape by Jack Hyles on the "The Valley of Baca."

Now, Jack Hyles isn't exactly my type. He's a snortin', yellin', narrow minded, independant, fundamentalist Baptist preacher. (Actually, he was that -- but a few years ago, he went home to glory, his rough edges have been sanded off and he's probably a Wesleyan now!)

However, driving to the hospital, ol' brother Jack really preached a good sermon to me -- snortin' and yellin' all the way. My heart was blessed. "Even though he's dead, yet he speaks."

Basically, there were two points:

1. Everybody, sooner or later, has to go through the Valley of Baca.

Baca is the place of weeping -- sickness, sorrow, trouble, loss.

2. When you are in the Valley of Baca, Dig a Well!

Dig a well for those who will follow after you -- those who will experience the same sufferings. Don't just waste your trial -- dig a well to be a source of hope and blessing to others who will follow the same path.

20 Ways to Ruin a Perfectly Good Day

1. Take the day for granted. Fail to recognize that it is a special gift from God.

2. Focus on the problems rather than the possibilities.

3. Complain! Complain! Complain! You can always find something to gripe about.

4. Recount the ways others have mistreated you and throw a pity party.

5. Forget to say "please" and "thank you." Be rude.

6. Don't take time to pray. There is not peace for an "un-centered" heart.

7. Cram every minute full of busy activity. Eliminate margin (breathing room.)

8. Criticize and belittle your family members. As Disraeli said, "to belittle is to be little."

9. Spend the entire day watching television. Contentment will evaporate as you vegetate.

10. Count your burdens rather than your blessings. Focus on the negative rather than the positive.

11. Be sure to whine when things go wrong. Whining is the cry of a shriveled soul.

12. Lose your temper! Let it explode in angry tirades.

13. Be a perfectionist. Refuse to be happy unless everything is just right.

14. When you don't get your own way, stick out your bottom lip and pout.

15. Refuse to admit your mistakes. Eliminate "I'm sorry" and "I was wrong" from your vocabulary.

16. Cry over spilled milk. Be absorbed with problems you can't fix.

17. Make excuses. This is much easier than making progress.

18. Find fault with every and situation. Be sure everybody knows what's wrong.

19. Blame other people for your own mistakes.

20. Fail to read and apply the Bible. When you ignore God and try to manage life on your own -- you're sure to mess it up!