Holy Week

This is Holy Week, and perhaps no words express the sentiment better than this great hymn by Isaac Watts. Written in 1707, this hymn was originally intended to be sung at a communion service. Charles Wesley, the prolific writer who himself penned over 6000 hymns, is said to have told a friend that he gladly would have given up authorship of all of those hymns had he written this one hymn.

Spend some time during this Holy Week reflecting on the message of Watts’ hymn.

Pay special attention to the final verse, which expresses so well our response to God’s amazing love.

When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the cross of Christ my God:
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

May God’s love touch us all on this most holy of weeks.

Dr. Lane Alderman
Roswell Presbyterian Church
www.roswellpres.org

Foundations

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.”  Matthew 7:24-25

The house I grew up in has just gone on the market.  In his online listing, the owner has posted 27 pictures of both the interior and exterior of the house.

When I was young, my father’s Naval career kept us on the move.  I lived in six different homes by the time I was in second grade.  In the sixth grade, we moved to McLean, VA, and stayed in that house until I was a senior in college.  That’s the house that is now on the market.

It was fun this weekend to look through those online pictures and reflect on that house in which I lived so many years ago.  In many ways, that house is a paradigm of my life.  It was clear from the picture that many things have been changed.  They’ve added on to the house, they’ve updated many of the rooms, and in many ways it is a completely different house.

But it didn’t take much for me to recognize the basic plan of the house.  There was the lawn I mowed for so many summers, and there was the driveway where I played basketball in the summer and shoveled snow in the winter.  The basement where I hung out with my friends still looks the same, and the basic layout of the house hasn’t changed.

Yesterday in worship forty seven of our students were confirmed as members of the church.  Last Monday they shared their faith statements with our Session, and yesterday they were formally confirmed during worship.

As I watched our confirmands in worship, it dawned on me that when I was their age I was living in that house in McLean.  Since then, just like my house, there have been some additions to my life, a few renovations, and, hopefully, a little updating from time to time.

I’m sure that for these students the next forty years will bring similar changes.  Who knows what challenges life will bring to them?

But I also know, just like my house, the foundation that was set years ago in my life is still solid.  Some of the rooms of my life may have been reconfigured, but the basic layout is still the same.  The values and the faith that I claimed years ago have sustained me through the years.

My prayer for our confirmation students is that over the years, the foundation which has been set in their lives will remain secure and solid as well.  As their lives change and mature, I pray that the basic foundation will remain sound. 

I hope you’ll join me in that prayer.  God has set a strong foundation in their lives… and, I pray, in yours.  As the winds of life blow and the storms of life rage, may that foundation keep you secure in the presence of God’s love.

Dr. Lane Alderman
Roswell Presbyterian Church
www.roswellpres.org

Even Me?

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord;” I Corinthians 12:4-5

Can you imagine a world without jealousy?  Can you imagine a world in which everyone does his or her part in making the world a better place? Can you imagine a church in which everyone is invested in the ministry of the church?

I can.   And joining with others in allowing God to build that world is an important part of our mission at Roswell Presbyterian Church.

Paul’s picture of the church as a body has always been an important image for me. In the twelfth chapter of his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul reminds us that we each have an important role to play in the overall ministry of the church. Some are hands, some are feet, some are eyes, some are ears.

“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’, nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you,’” Paul says in verse 21 of that chapter. We all need each other. Each person has an important role to play.

That’s the implication of our current “Every Member… Even Me” campaign. We’re challenging every household to make a financial pledge for the work of God through the church in the upcoming year. Specifically, we’re asking those who have never made a pledge to join us by making a pledge of at least $10 per week, and we’re asking those who do currently pledge, if they are able, to increase their pledge by at least $10 per week.

Paul pictures a place where each person offers his or her gift, whatever it may be. Two important things happen when we step up to Paul’s challenge. First, the church is a stronger place. When each person is involved and serving, the overall body becomes stronger.

But secondly, our individual lives are enriched as well. When I’m serving and giving and sharing the way God calls me to serve, I have the joy of knowing that I am being used by God to make the world a better place. I experience the joy of the life for which I was created.

Each of us has a role to play. I don’t need to be jealous of the gifts you have, and I don’t need to downplay the gifts God has given to me. We need each other, and the work of the church needs us all.

That’s the challenge. That’s the call. Every member… even me!

Dr. Lane Alderman
Roswell Presbyterian Church
www.roswellpres.org

Even Me… Even You!

As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 
I Corinthians 12:20-21

Flyers are going out in the mail this week introducing people to our “Every Member – Even Me” campaign. It’s a short, three week season challenging every member of our congregation to make a financial pledge for the work of God through Roswell Presbyterian Church.

On or before Easter Sunday, April 8, we’re hoping that every household will make a commitment to join in the work God is doing through the ministry of our congregation.  Make sure and check out the flyer… there are some great stories about life at RPC, and there is a powerful challenge that involves every one of us.  “Every Member – Even Me.”

I didn’t come up that slogan, but I think it’s a clever one.  It communicates the message we’re hoping to send… every household is important.

But I’ve been thinking about another important message as well.  Along with our financial pledge campaign, I want to promote the “Every Member – Even You” campaign. 

I was off this weekend without about 60 other men at our annual Men’s Retreat (it was an outstanding experience… men, make sure to join us next year!).  As part of my preparation I re-read I Corinthians 12, that great chapter in which Paul reminds us that the church is like a human body… one body with lots of different parts.  Each part, in its own way, is important to the whole.  As Paul says, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you.’”

I looked out at the diversity of men at this retreat, and I gave thanks to God for the health of Roswell Presbyterian Church.  RPC is a place in which we recognize not only our own responsibility (Every Member – Even Me), but we also are able to celebrate the work of others (Every Member – Even You!). 

In too many settings I’ve seen jealousy and envy destroy an organization.  Someone else gets credit for something and I’m hurt because no one recognized my accomplishments.  Someone else gets praised and I’m disappointed because I didn’t get singled out for my work.

I’ve decided a healthy church is one in which we can each recognize our personal responsibilities to serve and to give (Every Member – Even Me), but we can also celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of those around us (Every Member – Even You!). 

Given that definition of health, I can honestly say that RPC is one of the healthiest churches I know!  Every day I give thanks to God for the opportunity I have to serve with these wonderful people!

What about you?  What signs of health do you see at the Roswell Presbyterian Church?

Dr.Lane Alderman
Roswell Presbyterian Church
www.Roswellpres.org

Thank You, Noah

Thank you, Noah Smith, for reminding us what really matters in life.

If you were in worship yesterday you heard the story of our church member Noah Smith, who when he went to first grade this year in a local public school had to answer questions about himself.  He had to share his favorite color, his favorite movie, those sorts of things.  But his best answer was to the last question.  “The most important thing about me is ________”

To which Noah wrote, “That God made me.”

Noah learned that from his parents, but he also learned it from the church.  It was one of our themes at Vacation Bible School last summer, and thanks to you, that lesson made a difference in his life.

Among the many things for which I am grateful, I give thanks for Sunday School teachers and VBS workers and OnCore leaders who spend time helping our children grow up knowing that they are created and loved by God.  It really does make a difference in their lives.

And I give thanks for the hundreds of people who are praying for our children, and who are supporting this ministry with their financial gifts.  God uses our gifts to make a difference in the lives of children like Noah. 

In fact, I’m constantly amazed at the stories I hear of ways in which the ministry of Roswell Presbyterian Church impacts people’s lives.  Thank you for the gifts you give which enable that ministry to continue. 

Noah was right on target with his answer, and I can’t help but think what a difference it would make in the world if we all treated ourselves and each other that way.  Think what a difference it would make if we all knew that we were children of God, created and loved by God.  Prejudice and bigotry would be gone.  Dignity and respect would be restored. Bullying would be a thing of the past, and verbal insults would end. Civil discourse would return, and we would learn once again how to “disagree agreeably.”

Thank you, Noah, for reminding us what really matters.  And thank you, Roswell Presbyterian Church, for committing your time, your energy, and your financial resources to help us all be taught that important lesson. 

We’re not there yet, but we’re learning.  And it really does make a difference.

Dr. Lane Alderman
Roswell Presbyterian Church
www.roswellpres.org

Heroes

“I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.”  Philippians 1:3-5

I confess there were tears in my eyes as I listened to Frank Deford the other day on National Public Radio. (Click HERE to listen to Deford tell the story.)

Deford told the story of Cory Weissman, a basketball player at Gettysburg College, a Division III school in the heart of Pennsylvania. Cory, now a senior, had suffered a major stroke when he was an eighteen year old freshman. For four years he had labored through intense physical therapy, and while he was nowhere near the player he had been, Cory was able to be part of his team once more.

It was senior night, and Gettysburg was playing Washington College, a school from a town in nearby Maryland. As a tribute to Cory, the coach put him in the starting line up, although he only played a few seconds at the beginning of the game.

It was the end of the game that got to me. Gettysburg was way ahead, and with less than a minute to go, Weissman went back into the game. At that point, Washington’s coach, Rob Nugent, called a time out and instructed his players to intentionally foul Weissman. With seventeen seconds left in his career, Weissman sank a free throw to put his name in the scorebook.

In a world of sports heroes, neither Cory Weissman nor Rob Nugent will ever get named in the same breath as LeBron James or Mike Krzyzewski of Duke. But they should be.

In the kingdom of God, the real heroes aren’t the people who receive all the publicity and the accolades. They’re the Cory Wiessman’s and the Rob Nugent’s who do extraordinary things outside the spotlight.

I realize that every Sunday. I stand at the door after worship and people come and (usually!) say nice things to me. But I’m keenly aware that I couldn’t preach without a whole host of staff members and church members who make Sunday morning possible. From the Program Assistant who prepares the bulletin to the volunteer who sits in the sound booth, there are literally dozens of people who make my work possible on a Sunday morning.

They are my heroes each Sunday.

Who are the heroes in your life? Who are the people who labor outside the spotlight and make life special for you? I’d love to hear about them!

Dr. Lane Alderman
Roswell Presbyterian Church
www.Roswellpres.org

Celebrating Lent?

 “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.” Psalm 51:1

Lent begins this week.  The date of Lent is based on the dating of Easter, and I confess I can never remember how the date of Easter is set. The formula was established by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, and it has something to do with the vernal equinox.  I trust that someone else remembers the rule, so I don’t even try to remember it.

Just as a side note, our orthodox friends (Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, etc.) don’t celebrate Easter until after the Jews have celebrated Passover.  Some years that’s the same day we celebrate Easter.  This year, we’ll celebrate Easter on April 8, but the orthodox Easter won’t come until April 15.

The dating of Lent is slightly easier to understand than the dating of Easter.  Lent is forty days long, excluding Sundays.  The forty days are to remind us of the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness facing the powerful temptation of Satan.  In the early church these forty days were a time of fasting and praying in preparation for the joyous celebration of Easter.  The fast was broken each Sunday, which was considered a “mini-Easter” of its own. 

Over the years the idea of fasting diminished, and in its place people began to talk about “giving something up” for Lent.  The original idea was that these sacrifices would represent a total and complete fast. 

Lent begins this Wednesday with a day called Ash Wednesday.  I grew up as a faithful, active Presbyterian, but I don’t remember my church ever doing anything special on Ash Wednesday.  I certainly don’t remember getting ashes put on my head on that day.  That was something only my Roman Catholic friends did.

In recent years, however, Presbyterians have begun to realize there is a very special meaning to the day and to this season.  We’ll mark the beginning of Ash Wednesday with a special service at 6:30 this Wednesday, but if you’re not able to be with us, I hope you will take a moment wherever you are and remind yourself of this special time of the year.

In the words of the old hymn, Ash Wednesday is a day to be reminded that “it’s me, it’s me, it’s me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.”  It’s not only “those sinners out there” who are in need of God’s grace. It’s me.

When King David wrote his powerful Psalm 51, he was keenly aware of his own sin.  His affair with Bathsheba and his set up murder of her husband had left his life and his kingdom in disarray.  After he was confronted by Nathan, the sin in David’s life was fairly obvious.

I suspect for many of us, however, our sin might not be quite as obvious as it was for David.  But it is just as real.  And we are in need of forgiveness just as much as David was.

Lent is a time for honest confession.  Perhaps it’s my anxiety and my worry that the future may not really be in God’s control.  Perhaps it’s my pride… I know I’m better than a lot of people out there.  Perhaps it is something I’ve gotten caught up in that I know I need to stop.  Perhaps it is something I’ve left undone… some person I need to forgive, some phone call I need to make.

Lent is a time for honest confession.  And it begins this Wednesday. 

Typically as we head toward a special event I would say something like, “I look forward to celebrating with you…”  But in this case, I’m not sure I’m looking forward to celebrating a season of honest confession.

But I know I need it.  And I suspect you know that about your life as well.

And I know one other important point… My honest confession, coupled with Jesus’ overwhelming forgiveness on the cross, is going to make Easter an even more glorious celebration than I could ever imagine!

And that’s a day I am looking forward to celebrating!

Lane Alderman
Roswell Presbyterian Church
www.Roswellpres.org

Life Matters

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Matthew 6:21

For the past six weeks, I’ve preached a series of sermons entitled, “Discover Why It Matters.”  I’ve tried to make the point that what we believe impacts the way we live our lives.  Here’s a link if you want to read or listen to any of the six.  http://www.roswellpres.org/sermonsmedia

We’ve talked about various issues… why it matters how we read the Bible, or what we believe about sin.  Yesterday I concluded the series by talking about why it matters what we believe about the resurrection.

Each week I’ve tried to make the case that what we say believe on Sunday impacts the way we live our lives on Monday and Tuesday.   I firmly believe that.

But I can’t help but point out that on at least one occasion, Jesus made exactly the opposite point.  In the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made the observation that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  In other words, where we spend our money is where we will place our value. 

Or another way of putting it would be, “How we live on Monday and Tuesday is a reflection of what we really believe when we gather for worship on Sunday.”

On Sunday we say that “Jesus is Lord,”  but do our lives really reflect that?  Or is anxiety and fear really our Lord? 

On Sunday we say that everything belongs to God, but would our check books and our credit card statements reflect that?

On Sunday we say that we are all God’s children, but do we treat others with the respect and dignity due the children of God?

Over these past six weeks, I’ve tried to make the case that our beliefs impact the way we live our lives.   In his brief few words, Jesus challenged us to take a look at the way we live our lives, and to see what those actions say about our beliefs.

So what about it?  Does your Monday life reflect your Sunday faith? 

None of us is perfect, and we each have a long way to go, but here’s my prayer for today…  Lord, may today’s thoughts and actions reflect yesterday’s affirmations.

Dr. Lane Alderman
Roswell Presbyterian Church
www.Roswellpres.org

 

Tumor Markers

Over the past few months, I have learned more about cancer than I ever wanted to know.  One of the things I have learned is that while there is no definitive blood test for cancer, there are “tumor markers” present in our blood which can indicate the presence of certain types of cancer.

In the past year, my marker has continued to creep slowly higher. It has never gotten to alarmingly high levels, but it has been higher than desirable.  Because of the continued increase, my doctor ordered a follow up PET scan a few weeks ago.  The scan essentially measures size, location, and intensity of any tumors in my body.

The good news (and it is very good news!) is that in the year and a half since we have been monitoring the cancer, it has not spread to any new sites.  For that we are very grateful.  We were disturbed, however, because the intensity of the cancer had risen in a few locations.

Because of the increased intensity, I was shifted to a different, stronger medicine.  I am currently taking an oral chemotherapy which  I take it for fourteen days and then let my body rest for seven days.   Last week I completed my first fourteen day cycle, and we were thrilled that there was a significant drop in my tumor markers.  That was reason for celebration!!!

I’m back on my fourteen days of taking the medicine, and since I had minimal side effects on the first cycle, my doctor has increased my dosage for this next round.

This may be more information than you want, but I’m sharing it with because you are my church family, and I promised to keep you informed on how I’m doing.  Most of all, I continue to be grateful for your prayers.  They mean more than you can ever know.

I am grateful for so many, many blessings.  I’m thankful for the outstanding  medical insurance you provide to every full time member of our staff.  There is no possible way I could afford this treatment without that insurance, and I am proud of the fact that we offer it to every member of our team, from the pastors to the facilities staff.

I’m grateful for each of you! What a special blessing it is to serve with you.

I’m thankful for the fact that I am feeling good, that my energy remains high, and that the tumor markers are on the way down!   I continue to walk regularly for exercise, and I look forward to seeing many of you on the path at Roswell Rec!  

God’s blessings continue to overwhelm me every day, and for that I give thanks!

Lane Alderman
Roswell Presbyterian Church
www.roswellpres.org

Revenge

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:19

Some verses are so important they get repeated multiple times in the Bible. This is one of them. In three different places, the Scriptures admonish us to leave the revenge to God. (As an aside, the other two are Deuteronomy 32:35 and Hebrews 10:30)

I’ll be talking about this verse on Wednesday night as I conclude my five week walk through Romans. In those closing chapters of his letter, Paul offers some very practical, down to earth guidance about how to live out the grace of Jesus Christ in our relationships with others. This is one the verses which stands out as especially relevant in today’s world.

Too often, the ethic of our modern world is captured in that bumper sticker, “Don’t get mad; Get even.” That seems to be the operative response for too many people. If you say something hurtful to me, I’ll zing you back with something even tougher. If you hurt me in some way, I’ll make a point of looking for an opportunity to get even. If something you have done angers me, I’ll make sure to get you back.

I had a man in a previous church who said to me, “Don’t give me any of this ‘turn the other cheek’ stuff. You mess with me, and I’ll drive up on the curb to get you back if I have to.” Sadly, he was one of the most bitter men I’ve ever known.

Anger is too great a burden for any of us to carry. I know from personal experience that when I’m angry about someone or something, it ends up eating me up and hurting me much more than it hurts the other person. “Getting even” never works, and inevitably only makes the problem worse.

And why is it that we think “turning the other cheek” is a sign of weakness? The reality is that any one can hit back. It takes real strength to respond with control and with a thoughtful response rather than a knee jerk attack.

Far better to leave the revenge to God, which, after all, is Paul’s guidance all along. We’re going to talk more about this on Wednesday evening at 6:30. I hope you’ll be able to join us. In the meantime, when the desire arises for that hurtful, sarcastic response, why not take a deep a breath, offer a prayer for God’s strength, and then leave the revenge to God?

I suspect God can take care the problem in much better fashion!

Dr. Lane Alderman
Roswell Presbyterian Church
www.roswellpres.org