First Presbyterian Church

Out of My Mind ~ for May 2009
Ponderings from Pastor John

It’s May … and a man’s thoughts turn to … well for me it’s Kentucky Derby time! I learned a great deal, and grew a lot, in my time in Kentucky and I want to share one learning with you all this month.
Let’s begin with a familiar quote from St. Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi:
Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Do you know where the phrase “got your goat” came from? As I’ve said, I’ve learned some interesting things while in Kentucky!
The phrase has to do with racing horses. These carefully bred, intense animals are very high-strung and reactive. Years and years ago, trainers found that by keeping another animal in the stall, the horse would bond to that animal and be more peaceful and less reactive. They found that the best animals for stall-mates were goats. So, all being fair in love and horse-racing, unprincipled, intent-to-win-at-all-costs trainers would steal the goat from their competitor, just prior to an important race. The bereft horse would be too distraught to run effectively. When asked how come “Shining Glory” wouldn’t run, the trainer replied, “Oh, someone got his goat!” So, when someone “gets your goat” they take something away from you that helps you stay calm and focused on the passion of your life!

In light of our two passages above, let me suggest to you …
The Measure of your Maturity is the size of what gets your goat!

How big a provocation does it take to have you move your mind off: “true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy” things..?
What gets your mind going on things that are: judgmental, harsh, untrue, distasteful, fearful, anxious and unloving … ? Often, for me, something that feels like a slight to me bumps me right off my gratitude for God’s Love and into some sort of dark, seething soul-mess that is angry, upset, or afraid. I

imagine that some of you, too, get knocked out of God’s Grace and into something that is not graceful or kind. How big a thing does it take to make this fall from Grace … for you … ? I find that both little and big things do that for me … someone cuts in front of me in traffic; misjudges my motives; says a stinging word … How about you? What gets your goat?

The Measure of your Maturity is the size of what gets your goat!

Two more thoughts for this month:

First, we are hosting more “Getting to Know You” groups. The majority of our congregation has not had the opportunity to meet in this delightful way, so you all will be hearing about the coming groups. We gather in one of our homes, and center our conversation around three questions:
First, “What do you want your new pastor to know about you the most?”
Next, “What do you want to know most about your new pastor?” [I might not answer, depending on the question, but you are free to ask whatever … ]
Finally, “What are your dreams and vision for FPCGC?”
I’ve had a great time getting to know some of you better in the previous groups, so I invite you to gather with us for some conversation, as the opportunity presents!

Finally, I’ve received feedback from both Virginia and our Elders that some of you don’t feel free to speak to me directly about concerns that you have. Let me encourage you, when you have some thoughts or feelings in your mind about me or what we are doing together, to be bold, and talk with me about it! I hardly ever bite, and even then I make a point to keep my teeth scrupulously clean at all times …
Seriously, our Biblical mandate for Christian conversation comes from Ephesians 4: 15: “Speaking the truth in love, we grow up into Jesus Christ.”
My short-hand for this is: “We speak to one another: directly, kindly and constructively.”
Talking about someone [not-direct-conversation] is a strong Biblical
concern. We read about gossip, making bad reports and bearing false witness … SO, Christians talk directly to each other, not about one not present.
From the Ephesians verse above we learn that speaking truth is surrounded by love. This means that the ONLY context to offer a criticism is if we are firmly surrounded by God’s love for the person we are speaking truth to.
Finally, the clear intent of Paul’s message is growth … into personal congruency with Jesus Christ. Hence, I say that our conversation is to be ‘constructive’ …
I’m asking each of you to practice the same discipline that I hold myself to: we never talk about another person. Instead, we have direct conversations with each other … kind, constructive conversations.

My prayer for you this month, as we move through the Easter Season and on to Pentecost … is that we will speak directly, kindly and constructively with one another and continue building our future together here at FPC!

Through the depth and suffering of Holy Week, into bright Son-Shine of Easter morning … is that you will both resolve to and be effective in keeping your Faith, Hope & Love front and center in your living … no matter what comes … !

Work for our common good … love openly … and get to know Jesus better this month,
Pastor John

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