Still Praying for Peace

A family flees Syria

As the conflict in Syria heightens, I hear the sound of swords being rattled again, as the powers that be plan yet another strike to meet this latest crisis.

Why must violence always beget more violence?

Look, folks, I don’t have an easy answer. Using chemical weapons on noncombatants is horrible, and it shows just how tragic things have become.

A U.S. Military Drone

Our leaders tell us we fight to promote democracy (and subtly that we fight to protect our economic interests—oil and the selling of arms). Sounds a bit like imperialism to me. But over the last few years, a few have realized the real U.S. policy: Despite the political rhetoric of presidents and parties and self-interested news agencies, we are quite comfortable with dictators around the world, as long as they stay in line and don't do anything that would upset the status quo. Stability, above everything else, is what is valued. Africa, South America, Asia, the Middle East—we don’t care who is in charge, as long as things are stable. 

Remnants of a U.S. Drone in Pakistan

But now things seem to be spinning out of control. There is disarray everywhere, and in the shifting sands, different factions jockey for power.

Hurray for Egypt! They got democracy, even without a violent revolution! But wait, the democratically elected president seemed too eager to take advantage of his new power, and so the military imprisons him AND releases the former leader, who I guess everyone now thinks wasn’t so bad after all. And the U.S. is going to great lengths NOT to call it a COUP because that would mean we can’t sell our bombs and guns and fighter jets to Egypt’s military!

Will we ever learn?
 
I must admit, my faith in humanity is waning. Why are people so unreasonable, so entrenched in their positions? I often throw up my arms and say that naïve and possibly childish saying:

Why can’t we all just get along?

And after saying it, I think of the passage (Isaiah 11:6) that says, “and a little child shall lead them.”

Of course, it is extremely rare that we ever truly seek the Lord’s direction. Some may claim to, but it seems to me they are really never truly open to God. They’ve already made up their minds, and often use religious talk to justify their attitudes.

When such times hit me, I always return to Jesus. Yes, Jesus. Talk of turning the other cheek, of extending mercy, of love for the enemy, and prayers for the persecutors—it all speaks to me of the challenging yet liberating Word of God, a voice that stands against the saber rattling, get even, human voice of violence that seems so LOUD today. Indeed, though there were plenty ready to put a sword in Jesus’ hand, our Lord and savior took up a shepherd’s crook and a cross upon his back in order to redeem the world. And he even told us to do the same.
  

He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. -Isaiah 2:4

 
Ron Trimmer is pastor of Hope United, a new church in Georgetown, Texas. Click here to visit Hope United's website.

Still Dreaming

On August 28, 1963, nearly 50 years ago, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in a march for jobs and freedom. Click here to watch this historic speech. Not only do his words still capture the long and painful struggle for equality and full inclusion in the American dream for people of color, but also they still speak to us of a dream not yet fully realized.

When I was in seminary taking preaching class (15 years ago now—wow!), we watched his speech as an example of quality preaching. I must admit my own bias and prejudice: I think people of color can preach a lot better than white people, myself included. For whatever reason, God is able to help folks who have been battered by this world rise up and speak the Word of God. Scripture confirms this, for God often speaks from the margin, healing the broken, giving grace to the undeserving, and life to the dying. Because the Lord is in such solidarity with the poor, the outcast, and the oppressed, these folks are better able to channel God’s redemptive message, like a voice crying out in the wilderness telling us what God really wants in this world. African Americans are great preachers. Just listen to the speech again—the oratory skill, the use of a repetitive phrase, the call and response of the congregation, the fiery passion at the climactic end. Powerful words made all the more impressive by the Spirit so evident in Martin Luther King, Jr. I’ve even heard (though I can’t confirm it) that the most powerful part of the speech—the “I have a dream” part, was totally off the cuff, away from his notes. If you watch him, you can almost see it in King’s facial expressions, as he formulates the next line in his “dream” motif. Of course, as a person of faith, I recognize the Lord in the process, guiding this modern day prophet with the power of the Holy Spirit.

So what now? We certainly honor the movement itself, King, and his words. With a black man in the White House, we know we have come a long way. I especially honor all the sacrifices that have helped us reach this day. So many people took up their own crosses and followed the Lord, sacrificing so much, even their lives at times, so that their children would come closer to this dream. Folks like me, who weren’t even alive back then, cannot comprehend how bad it had been, and older folks have likely forgotten.

But this is all to say that we still have work to do. If King’s dream is to become a reality, we must continue to fight for this dream. Sadly, the stench of racism and prejudice still lurk in the human heart. And though we make progress on one front, it seems there are always more challenges to face. We work so hard to get one door opened; then, it seems another door closes. And yet, we must realize that even the closing of doors can’t thwart the work of the Lord. If a door gets closed, I always look for God to open a window!

And so I ask us to claim again the dream. To remain vigilant in our devotion and in our willingness to make sacrifices (take up crosses) in order to co-create with God the world our children will live in. Though I am still dreaming, it is not a passive, lying-on-your-back-looking-up-at-the-clouds kind of dreaming that is needed. We must participate in the dream, work for it, build it. “I Have a Dream,” still has power for us, my friends, and I invite you to join me in reclaiming the dream for a better world, seek first God’s Kingdom.

“Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” -Amos 5:24

Ron Trimmer is pastor of Hope United, a new church in Georgetown, Texas. Click here to visit Hope United's website.

Praying for Peace in Egypt

So there is more violence in Egypt. My heart goes out to the people. I was reluctant to say anything about the conflict because quite frankly, I must admit I’m not that well informed. Sure, I read about it on the news, listen to stories about it on NPR, but I acknowledge my own limited perspective. But even so, it does seem like all sides are to blame for the conflict.

Certainly, when I encounter conflict in the church, whether from disagreements about church matters to domestic disputes between couples to issues of family dysfunction, I have quickly learned it is never all one person’s fault. We all bear some responsibility.

There are no easy answers. It would be so much easier if that wasn’t the case and it seems we even mislead ourselves by buying into simple answers, painting everything in black and white, or maybe red and blue. But there’s a lot of gray, purple too, as well as yellow and brown and green.

That’s one of the reasons I like Jesus so well. He didn’t settle for the conventional wisdom of his day. He saw things from another perspective, a third way if you will.

It’s sad that a popular and for the most part peaceful revolution has turned into such a chaotic, violent scene. I pray for peace, for understanding, for people to be reasonable.

Democracy is not a perfect political system, but I can’t think of anything better. It’s messy, and it takes time for things to work themselves out. But in a world of unyielding, ideological positions, people are often impatient to come to the table of diplomacy, and God forbid, reconciliation. The Lord weeps.

This reminds of a story. From The Christian Century (Sept. 6, 2011). In a sermon published in Journal for Preachers, Albert C. Winn told an old Hasidic tale (A Way Out of No Way: Exodus 14:5-31). According to the rabbi, the angels were rejoicing over the deliverance of Israel at the Red Sea—playing their harps and tambourines, singing and dancing as if right along with Miriam and her fellow Israelites. But then one noticed the Lord our God. “Wait,” she said. “Look, the Creator of the Universe is sitting there, weeping!” They approached God and asked, “Why are you weeping when Israel has been delivered by your power?”

“I am weeping,” the Great I AM said, “for the dead Egyptians washed up on the shore—somebody’s sons, somebody’s husbands, somebody’s fathers.”

Join me in praying for comfort for those who have lost loved ones, healing for those who have been affected by violence and war, understanding and reconciliation and mercy. And join me in asking God for forgiveness for all that we have done and not done that has led to conflict and pain. And join me in praying for peace.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” -Matthew 5:9

Ron Trimmer is pastor of Hope United, a new church in Georgetown, Texas. Click here to visit Hope United's website.

I'm a Toadie

So I love and follow the music of Toad the Wet Sprocket, a band I first encountered when I was in college more than 20 years ago! My roommate had purchased a CD sampler of alternative college bands, and one of the tracks was Come Back Down, by Toad, off their second album, Pale. Great, great tune. Soon it was finals time and we were both cramming. We stuck the song on repeat and must have listened to it a hundred times! I was hooked!

Talking with one of the band members later, he said at the time they were recording their second album, there were many homeless around the recording studio, and they literally had to step over them to get in the door. Come Back Down touches on that reality.

Toad the Wet Sprocket is certainly a unique name for a band; it turns out they took their name from a Monty Python skit, and before they could change it, it stuck.

I think it was the passion of their music that drew me to them; the subtle but intense feeling of their lead singer, Glen Phillips, that won over my heart. There were some wounds there, and he let it out through his music. Know Me off their first album, Bread and Circus, was particularly powerful.

I love music. I really do—I get into it. While in seminary, I actually wrote a paper on how listening to music was a kind of spiritual discipline for me, a way I connect with the divine. A song does not have to be overtly religious. Sometimes just a phrase or two or one line will make me think of God. But Toad got me through some rough patches in my life, and they were great to see in concert. At a time when I was not very “religious,” I realize now that God ministered to me through their music.

I already mentioned Come Back Down and Know Me, but some other favorites through the years: Is It For Me, All I Want, Fly from Heaven (we actually listened to this one in seminary), Windmills, Throw it All Away (I had Ginger play this is church once), Little Man Big Man.

Anyway, I bring up Toad cause they just completed a new album, New Constellation, 15 years since their last “hit”! I thought they had gone the way of the dinosaur, but this just proves there is still such a thing as resurrection! I’ve been listening to it a lot lately—I got an early copy cause I supported them on Kickstarter as they raised money to finalize and promote it. It really is quite good.

At Toad Concert, Austin, May 19, 2013

Jan went with me recently to see them in concert in Austin. Most of the folks in the crowd were my age. Ran into the drummer, Randy, in the bathroom before the show—great, down-to-earth guy. He’s a little guy (maybe even shorter than me), and he waddles up to the urinal and says, “Man, I need a step stool to reach this thing.” Hey—I’m a Toadie—these things are memorable! I enjoyed the show very much.

So a big Thank You to Glen, Todd, Dean, and Randy for bringing me some more music. You’ll never know how much your music has meant to me. God bless you.

Ron Trimmer is pastor of Hope United, a new church in Georgetown, Texas. Click here to visit Hope United's website.

Looking Back

I’ve been in a retrospective mood lately, especially when thinking about Hope United.

4 years. It was four years ago this month that Jan and I moved to Georgetown to start a new church. We didn’t even have the name yet, and the vision was still taking shape. Heck, we didn’t have anything but a dream and a willingness to jump off cliffs. I’ve been preaching on Abraham and Sarah, looking at the story through the lens of Hope United, so that has all contributed. In my first letter asking for financial support from friends, family, and colleagues, I mentioned Abraham and Sarah—kindred spirits.

We were crazy. No doubt about it—we were crazy! The height of the financial crises, and Jan doesn’t have a job, just a hope she’ll get employed by some school district here (everyone needs good school teachers, right? Not at that time. No one was hiring.). I was at the top of my preacher game (ha!). I met the perfect criteria: good preacher with a young family. And so I leave security and a pay check to start a church. We didn’t have any income coming in for 4 months, and then a small salary—just what I could string together from early fundraising.

Ben and Aaron, August 2009

When we moved, Aaron wasn’t even 1 year old yet. A baby. Wow.

Jan didn’t get a job that year, but she did start subbing, and in January of 2010, she got a long term sub at Annie Purl. She impressed the principal (she is an awesome teacher!), and he hired her the next school year.

We bought a house, put down roots.

February 2010

Meanwhile, the church grew from a vision to something a bit more concrete. Even though it’s just 4 years ago, it’s hard to remember how we got started. At the beginning it was all about contacts and making connections—networking. Contacts, contacts, contacts. Sell the vision, and garner support. We’d hold events to target folks who might be interested.

First Worship Service, Easter 2010

We held our first worship service at the library in the evening on Easter. I remember … I preached on the Walk to Emmaus text from Luke. Good stuff. And a little over a year later (October 2010), we started worshiping every Sunday.

I can’t take credit.  Really, I can't. I give my wife a ton of credit though … putting up with me, believing in me. But the real credit goes to God. The Lord is doing such amazing things now in Hope United. I stand back in awe.

Although I’ve had my days—planting a church is not easy and I’ve been through the emotional, soul-wrenching meat grinder a few times. But the mountain-tops have been utterly breath-taking, and I’ve caught a glimpse of the Kingdom.

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” –Genesis 12:1-3

Ron Trimmer is pastor of Hope United, a new church in Georgetown, Texas. Click here to visit Hope United's website.