Discovering the Power of "Yes"

Everyone I know is stretched beyond their limits.  There are so many things that need to be done.  There are so many people who want something from us.  There are so many plans to be made and opportunities on which to follow through.  There are assignments to complete and people to please.  There are so many...

Our lives can get so out of whack because of all of these demands.  As the people we love see us running around trying to complete every task and accomplish other people's goals, they will often offer this sage advice, "You know, you really need to learn how to say, 'No.'" 

If only it were that easy, but it isn't.  Sometimes it feels as though it is impossible to tell people "No." 

So, what about a little different take on the situation?  What if the problem isn't that we don't know how to say "no"?  What if the problem is that we haven't clearly defined that to which we are compelled to say "yes"? 

Let's be clear right from the start. I am not talking about the easy yeses that are quick to come by.  Neither am I talking about the yeses that can prove to be harmful or injurious at times. The yeses under discussion are the yeses to which time, deliberation and intentionality must be given. 

Take a moment to consider your yeses. 

What are the things to which you feel called to respond in the affirmative?
What are you willing to commit to?

Say yes to...

Faith
Hope
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Gentleness
Faithfulness
Self-Control
Life
Forgiveness
Justice
Healing
Hope

Things like these do not come easily.  They take commitment and intentionality. 

However, they also have the power to transform and frame that to which we must say "no".

To what will we say "yes"?

Great Cloud of Witnesses

The following are the words I shared on the floor of presbytery on Wednesday, May 11.  This was the day on which I was examined and voted on as a candidate for Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA).  I am humbled and thankful for all that has transpired over the last several days.  This is my way of saying "Thank you" to all of those who made it possible.
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“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us”

A small giant of a man, William James was born March 29, 1908 in a tiny Texas town. WJ, as he was called early in his life, became an itinerant minister in the Assembly of God Church. He faithfully served churches in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana for over 60 years. I was privileged to call this man “Grandpa.” The birth and life of William James have impacted and continue to impact my life in ways that I may never fully understand.

In his early 30’s William James committed his life to Christ and to ministry on nearly the same day. He enrolled in Central Bible College and was soon ordained to ministry in the Assembly of God Church. Brother James, as most would call him, was the patriarch of faith for the Shivers family.

Grandpa was my earliest example of what it meant to be a minister. He lived his call on a daily basis before family and his parishioners. His influence and the ripples of his ministry and life have touched four generations and will touch many more.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…”

From as early as I can remember, Beulah Mae Shivers, my grandmother and wife of William James, had a habit of introducing me to friends and congregants alike as “her little angel, who was going to be a minister one-day.” And from as early as I can remember, I HATED IT! In fact, at sixteen years of age, Jennifer, my wife, and I began dating. When I brought her along with me to a family get together to meet the extended family, my grandmother, with all sincerity and candor seized the opportunity and asked her, “Honey, what do you think about being a minister’s wife?” I wanted to crawl into a hole! And poor Jennifer would have run home if she thought she could find the way. I still find it hard to believe that Jennifer stayed with my sometimes wacky but always entertaining family.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…”

My father, James Shivers, a preacher’s kid, carried the torch of the faith into my immediate family. His faith and his life shaped my own faith development in ways that I am still discovering to this day. His willingness to ask the tough questions of himself and his faith, the kindness of his eyes, the passion in his life, the love in his words, and the compassion in his hands challenged me to grow into a faith that is alive and vital.

At seventeen, my father, in typical fashion, asked me a question that has continued to help form and inform my faith and the calling on my life. His question was “What difference does it make that you are a Christian?” I am not sure how I answered that day, but I have never forgotten the question and it has never forgotten me.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…”

This may seem to be an unusual way to tell the story of my journey of faith. However, I can think of no better manner in which to tell it. In fact, I would be kidding myself this morning if I thought that my faith and calling into ministry is not inexorably linked to these wonderful people and the way in which they lived out their faith and life.

I was at a wedding not long ago when the minister asked the bride and groom to turn and face the congregation during the meditation. She then said, “Now imagine that these pews before you continue out onto the horizon line as far as your eyes can see. Then imagine those pews filled with people. These aren’t just any ordinary people. These are the people who have been a part of your life. These are the people who have nurtured you.” So today, I encourage you to do the same. Turn and look toward the doors of the sanctuary. Imagine the doors being open and the pews continuing out onto the horizon as far as the eye can see. And these pews are filled with people. These aren’t just any ordinary people. These are the people who have taught you about faith. These are the people who have cultivated your call into ministry. And the pews go on and on and on. This is your “great cloud of witnesses.” Do you see them?

When I consider this day and all that it means, this is what I see; row upon row of people who have had a hand in getting me to this point. I wish that time would allow me to mention each one by name, like Jerry Pattengale, my youth minister from College Wesleyan Church. This man of faith helped me, a high school athlete, understand that the grace of God in Jesus Christ is for everyone, even a confused teenager from Marion, Indiana; or Dr. Gary Newton, who encouraged me to get involved as a youth director at Westminster Presbyterian Church in my hometown. Following college, I was led to accept a call to Second Presbyterian Church as the Director of Youth and College Ministries after much prodding and more than a little prayer by my friend and mentor, Dr. Robin Chaddock. Throughout the succeeding twenty-one years, this congregation and staff have supported, encouraged and influenced me as God continues to reveal a more complete picture of the call placed upon my life. Faith and ministry examples like Dr. Howard Stone, Dr. Ray Bowden, Dr. Tom Walker, Dr. Joan Malick, Dr. William Enright and Dr. Lewis Galloway have played a more than significant role in helping me understand myself, my gifts and the God who has called me to serve. All of this and I haven’t even mentioned my seminary professors, my colleagues and the hundreds of youth with whom I have had the privilege of working; row upon row upon row.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…”

The call on my life to Ministry of Word and Sacrament is one that has involved a lot of time (too much time according to many), a lot of different voices, and a significant amount of prayer. Through this process I have come to understand that the expression of God’s call on my life is continuing and will continue to unfold.

One might ask, "Where do you sense God calling you now?" Since age seventeen I have sensed God’s call on my life to ministry with and among young people. Throughout this process this call has only deepened and grown. I cannot tell you exactly where it will lead in the future, but I can tell you that this is where it has led me in the present. I am called to minister to and with the youth of the church. I believe this to be a lifelong call, but I also know that it will continue to develop as the mystery of my life does the same.

I know that I will never fully “arrive” at a complete understanding of the call that is placed upon my life nor will I ever completely understand myself. There will always be a certain mysterious quality about both. However, I humbly and fearfully step into the depth of these mysteries relying on the strength and grace of the One who has called.

I am humbled by this day and by this time spent with you. I am grateful to the great cloud of witnesses who have led me to this place at this time. And yes, somewhere in the back of my mind, I admit that I can still hear my grandma say, “This is my little angel, who is going to be a minister one-day.”

Thank you!


Laying on of hands at Brian Shivers' Service of Ordination



One Moral Imperative

This week I had a wonderful breakfast with one of my dearest friends.  We have known one another for about twenty years.  As is typically the case for the two of us, what was supposed to be an hour meeting turned into more than two hours and resulted in a complete overhaul of our calendars.  I would have it no other way.  I simply love our conversations and frankly cannot wait for the next one. 

Somewhere in the middle of our time together we drifted into a theological conversation about issues within the church and our culture as a whole.  Then this statement was made across the table and stopped us both in our tracks as we considered its implications. 

"There really is only one moral imperative after all." 

Without saying another word, both of us understood what was meant.  Nothing else was said.  Nothing else was needed.

Concerning this moral imperative, the author of 1 John wrote, "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:7-8).

The Apostle Paul echoed, "And I will show you a still more excellent way.  If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends" (1 Corinthians 12:31-13:8).

And it was reflected in Jesus' actions and words over and over again. 

However, somewhere along the way, we have allowed the moral imperative of love to get crowded out by our favorite list of do's and don'ts, smothered by our pet projects and damped by our preferred soapbox. I admit that I find it is much easier to fall into these old, familiar and comfortable habits than to be reminded of the covenant of love I am called to live into each and every day.

As much as we would like to dismiss this conversation as tired and cliche, when we really consider its implications, it should stop us all in our tracks.

What would our church, our world, our lives look like if we allowed ourselves to remember our one true moral imperative and lived our lives as if it were true?

Would enjoy hearing your thoughts...

It Changes Everything

The resurrection of Jesus changes everything!

Death no longer has a foothold in our world.  It is not the final answer. 

What does this mean for those of us who believe?  There are many important answers to this question.  However, neither space nor time allows for a full treatment of them all.  Therefore, I will focus on this...

The belief that Jesus got up means that our lives should be characterized by the hope of the resurrection.  Wherever death appears to reign, we should be proclaiming and bringing life.  When you read death, do not simply think about the end of physical life.  Instead, think of all of the places and ways that people live with the pain of emotional, mental, spiritual, economic, psychological, physiological, educational, political and nutritional death everyday (not by their own choosing most of the time). 

It is our calling as people of the resurrection to proclaim life and bring life into these situations - all through the life giving power of the risen Christ. Resurrection people are called to be the hands and feet of justice, freedom, healing, grace and love in our world. 

This is not about having the "right" answers. If it were, we would never act; we would only argue (hmm, we have seen this before, haven't we?). The resurrection should move us to move!

Come on Easter people.  Christ is risen!  Risen, indeed.  Now let us all pray that we can find the courage to live as if it is true.

Yes, the resurrection of Jesus changes everything!

How might we be agents of the resurrection?  Would love to hear your thoughts.

God of the Grave

Today is Holy Saturday.  This is the day of Holy Week that is often missed.  It is the day that most of us would rather ignore.  This is the often forgotten day between the cross of Good Friday and the empty tomb of Easter Sunday.  This is the day of an entombed savior.  This is a day of separation and sorrow.  This is Holy Saturday, and it is heavy. 

However, let's a new look at this day.  Not only is all of the above true, but this day can also remind us that God is a God who is with us in every way. The proclamation of "Emmanuel" - "God with us" - is not only true in the manger but also in the grave! God is a God with us even in our deepest sorrows, feelings of separation and seasons of grief. 

This is a theme that is echoed in the voice of the prophets.  Isaiah proclaims that the promised one is "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief...he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows" (Isaiah 53:3, 4 RSV).  It is also picked up in the songs of the psalmists. The author of Psalm 139 writes, "if I make my bed in Sheol (the place of the dead), you are there" (Psalm 139:8 NRSV).  We can also find it echoed in the pen of the author of the book Hebrews when we read, "Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are" (Hebrews 4:14-15 NRSV).  And Jesus is recorded as having said,  "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30 NRSV). 

On this Holy Saturday, a day of sorrow and separation - a day when Jesus lies in a borrowed tomb - we can celebrate the God of the Grave.  In our celebration, we can be reminded that God will never leave us or forsake us; not even in the darkest night nor in the shadow of the grave.

And tomorrow, with Easter's rising, we will shout our "Hallelujahs" all the more.

First Century Tomb in Israel