Pastoral Ponderings

When I started writing Pastoral Ponderings nearly four years ago, I did so with a bit of trepidation. I knew the congregation was heaped in wonderful traditions. It was bad enough for a new person, relatively unknown to the congregation, to become pastor so soon, but then to try something new right away was a big risk. My second concern was that I never considered myself a good writer. I admire Rich Brown and others who have a flair for writing. I was a math and science major in college and hardly ever took a class that required me to write a paper. So I was trying something that I knew was one of my biggest weaknesses.

I started the practice of letting Sarah see the first draft of a pondering. She is a much better writer than I will ever be. She gets out her figurative red pencil and corrects my misspellings and punctuation errors. At times Sarah vetoes a portion or a whole Pondering and gives me a good reason that I had not thought about. Sometimes I send the Pondering to the Pastorate for review. I don’t want to inadvertently touch a raw nerve from the past that would offend someone. After I sent out a few Ponderings, a retired teacher in the congregation recognized my good intent, but some of my dangling participles and lousy sentence structure apparently was like scratching fingernails on a blackboard to her. She volunteered to edit future editions, which I gratefully accepted. Recently Rich Brown has served that role.

Psychiatrists tell us that the parietal cortex of our brain is the control mechanism. It is what stops us from saying what we are thinking. (Pastors have a bad habit of wanting to tell others what is best for them.) The parietal cortex stops us from doing all the crazy things that come to mind.

Recently a boyhood friend whom I grew up with contacted me. As we reminisced, he reminded me of one of my worst moments in life when my parietal cortex was not functioning very well. Apparently this happens a lot with teenage boys. I won’t go into the details of what my friend and I did because it is too embarrassing to recount.

We all seem to find experiences in life when our parietal cortex isn’t functioning very well. We say things we should not say or even really mean. We respond to others in a way we wish we had not done. We hit the send key on an e-mail too fast. Sometimes we act like out-of-control teenage boys.

Sure would be nice to have Sarah, the Pastorate and Rich around all the time to monitor my tongue and actions before I get out of control.

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“If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.” –James 1:26

Garland Land, Pastor

A newspaper story caught my attention. It was on a cost benefit analysis of ethanol blend E85. John Graham was presenting his research at the National Academy of Sciences energy roundtable the day after I presented at a National Academy of Sciences workshop on voter registration databases. I was also interested because John Graham used to be with the Harvard School of Public Health. I sort of keep track of people with a public health background.

His study found that diesel fuel provided the best performance and fuel economy for the price of all fuels including ethanol E85. This came at a time when automakers were lobbying Congress for legislation to support E85-compatible vehicles. Of course, finding a way to move toward energy independence is a major United States issue. E10, E20, and E85 ethanol blends, along with other alternative fuels, are all under consideration. All alternatives have benefits and drawbacks. There doesn’t appear to be an obvious solution.

As Christians we have the same perplexing dilemma: What is the right blend of energy usage to get us where we are trying to go?

• What percent of time should we devote to our occupation versus our family? • Is it better to stay at home and have more personal and family time or attend church school, Bible study class, or priesthood class? • How much time should be devoted to daily prayer or scripture study? • Do we pay the bills first and give to the Lord what is left at the end of the month or are we first-fruits stewards who pay the bills after we give to the Lord? • Do we encourage our children to attend church school and church youth activities as much as we encourage them to play in the band and sports and participate in other activities? • Do we devote time to community needs or is our time focused on ourselves?

What is the right mix of energy consumption? How do we determine if we have the right energy blend without doing a complicated cost-benefit spiritual-life analysis?

Far be it from me to tell anyone what is the right answer. Looking back, I know my energy blend has been out of whack on various occasions. Possibly, we can test our spiritual energy blend by asking:

• Are we worn out from our personal and family schedules? • Are we becoming more or less: impatient, judgmental, accepting, joyful, giving, forgiving, angry, hopeful, loving, peaceful? • Are we learning new understandings of the Christian way each week? • Do we have a personal walk with Christ each day? • Are we primarily concerned about self and family or also with community?

If we are honest, our personal assessment may not be very comfortable, as I expect was the negative reaction that Graham received from automakers and corn growers. We know if we continue to stick with gasoline-fueled automobiles, somewhere down the line there will be grave consequences.

Is the same true if we stick with our current spiritual energy consumption? If we have to make a spiritual blend change, the good news is that with God’s help I expect we’re much more likely to be successful than getting concurrence with industry, scientists, interest groups and politicians on the energy problem.

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“Listen carefully to your own journey as a people, for it is a sacred journey and it has taught you many things you must know for the journey yet to come.” –Doctrine and Covenants 162:2

Garland Land, Pastor

I used to fly once every two weeks to Washington, D.C. When I attended conferences they added to my frequent flyer mileage. I always tried to sit on the aisle for more comfort. On a couple occasions Sarah went on a trip with me. She would sit by the window. I would read a book and she would look out the window and point out something fascinating to her. Actually it was kind of amusing to see her interest in flying, which for me is just a routine experience.

On one trip I was flying back from Philadelphia after attending a two-day meeting at Princeton. Somehow on that flight, I was sitting by the window. After doing some “church work,” I looked out the window and noticed the rivers below. They didn’t go in a perfectly straight line but meandered back and forth. There were streams that had many branches, almost like the branches of a tree. Then I saw farm fields in perfect squares or rectangles. They weren’t in circles or ovals or hexagons—always squares and rectangles. We flew over a city and the roads were, for the most part, straight lines, except for the Interstate clover leafs.

God’s creation meanders back and forth. Rivers and streams branch out with no particularly organized pattern. But we determine that, in order to maintain efficiency, we need squares, rectangles, and straight lines.

Most of us have a hard time living in the confines of a perfect square or traveling a straight line, even if we know better. So maybe it’s good that God created the potential for meanderings, and when they do occur they do not defeat divine purposes. God just seems to find a way to make something beautiful out of them. Maybe that is what the resurrection is all about.

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“The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God can not be frustrated, neither can they come to naught, for God doth not walk in crooked paths.” –Doctrine and Covenants 2:1a

Garland Land, Pastor

When I park my car at the Kansas City airport parking lot, I try to find a space close to one of the shelters where the bus picks up the travelers. I am not alone in this. Most of the parking spaces close to the shelters are occupied.

There are two reasons why I park close to a shelter. First, this allows me to more easily find my car when I return from my trip. The second reason is less defensible. Parking close to where the bus drops me off means fewer steps to my car when I return home. I say this is less defensible because I need all the exercise I can get, and if I parked my car a quarter mile away it would be beneficial to my health.

As you can perhaps see, my theology does not agree with those who claim God helped them find a parking place right next to the store they entered. I believe God is more concerned about me having a healthy life (spiritually and physically) than a convenient one. I must constantly frustrate him when I choose convenience over health or some other worthy attribute.

Recently I noticed a car in parking lot B that was not parked close to one of the shelters, like all the other cars. It was all by itself a long distance away. It was an older car so the owner was not concerned about getting it dented from closely parked cars. The car was very noticeable because no other cars were close to it, and it was a long distance from the shelter.

I don’t know if the owner decided the walk to the shelter would be good for his or her health or if there was some other reason for parking the car there. All I know is that a nonconforming car in the parking lot made me take notice. People who choose good nonconforming ways stand out.

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“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. –I Peter 2:9

Garland Land, Pastor

I was sitting in the Washington, D.C., airport waiting to board a plane to go back home. I recognized that the Kansas governor and one of the Kansas senators were going to be on same plane. I overheard the conversations with some of the people preparing to board the plane. I realized that many of the occupants were from the Kansas state legislative delegation. I found it interesting to watch people’s interactions with their politicians. People appeared to take pride in saying “Mr. Governor” or “Mr. Senator.” Their recognition of someone in power seemed to elevate their own status.

I oftentimes see congressmen and senators from Kansas and Missouri while in the Kansas City or Washington airports. I recently observed two strikingly different interactions. One senator was very engaged with the people who greeted him. He seemed embarrassed when people referred to him as “Mr. Senator.” The other congressman would act cordial for a brief time when people came up to him and then would cut off the conversation by quickly going back to reading his Blackberry.

When the plane was 30 minutes out from Kansas City, the seat belt light turned on which meant that everyone should be in their seat with their seatbelts fastened. The flight attendant announced that everyone should take their seats. A short time later she again announced that everyone should be in their seats. When she repeated her announcement a third time I looked to the back of the plane and saw a man in a white shirt in the aisle deep in conversation with someone else. I then saw the flight attendant, with a determined facial expression and fast pace, walk from the front to the back of the plane to inform the inattentive traveler to take his seat.

I don’t know if the political delegation was involved in the unacceptable behavior. I don’t know if arrogance, sense of power or lack of attentiveness contributed to the situation. But as I observed the simple drama I began to ponder. I wondered if God finds our arrogance, sense of power or inattentiveness is a barrier when trying to communicate with us and wanting us to listen.

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“Listen to the Voice that echoes across the eons of time and yet speaks anew in this moment. Listen to the Voice, for it cannot be stilled, and it calls you once again to the great and marvelous work of building the peaceable kingdom, even Zion, on behalf of the One whose name you claim.” —Doctrine and Covenants 162:1b

Garland Land Pastor

I like to track how our family investments are doing on the Fidelity Web site. Recently, Fidelity added a feature which shows the balances by month for our accounts and also shows what the balance would have been if we had not been invested during the period. It is like how our investment did in comparison if our money had been hidden under a mattress. I can look at that comparison for last year, the last three years, the last five years and since we first started investing. When I look at the past year, when the stock market has been up dramatically, I look like a pretty savvy investor. However, when I look at the graph for the past three years when the stock market took a big nose dive in the latter part of 2008, I wish I had had a lumpy mattress. But then when I look at the longer time periods of five years and since I first started investing, I am glad I chose investment instead of hoarding. Of course, the counsel of all financial advisors is to invest for the long term and not to focus on short-term ups and downs.

I have often thought of the short-term ups and downs of people. I have only known people in Colonial Hills during a relatively short time period. I have often wished I had been part of their lives over the long term to see their contributions of the past. Looking at each of us during a short term can give us a distorted picture because of the particular life events during that period of our lives.

Monitoring my financial investments is fairly straightforward. It is easy to determine if we are making or losing money during any particular time period. The rate of return is also calculated.

However, I wonder what my spiritual graph looks like. What metrics are important to God? I doubt he is overly concerned about how much money I have made or lost. Although in one sense my financial bottom line is indicative of how good a steward I am of the resources God has provided me to manage. So what are the spiritual metrics that God is monitoring? Possibly they include:

• Amount of time spent in meditation, prayer and scripture study for spiritual renewal • Percentage of income provided to worthy causes • Number of cards, e-mails, smiles, and hugs given to others • The investment we have made in the lives of our family • Number of times when we have said “yes” when we would really have preferred to say “no” • Number of ways we have contributed to the cause of Zion • Times we have reached out to the poor

There may be times when our spiritual investments are like my financial investments were in 2008. However, I expect God is looking at the long-term investment he has made in us.

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“No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works, and give glory to your Father in heaven.” —Matthew 5:15-16

Garland Land, Pastor

The question keeps coming up: What are you doing now that you are retired? It is a hard question to answer. I have not quite figured it out yet. I still go to my office at 8 o’clock each morning and sit down at my computer. Old habits are hard to break. When I started thinking about retirement I made a list of 14 things I would like to do. I grouped my plans into categories: cultural, educational, health, hobby, outreach, pastoral, professional, recreation, relationships, and spiritual. I have always admired people who had a balanced life. I figured this was a good time to start over again because most of my previous efforts had failed.

I have started a few items on my list: I am doing consulting. I have signed up for the seminary class on Christian Theology. I am preparing to participate at my daughter’s children’s consignment show in March and her antique show in June. Some other items, such as home visiting more members of the congregation and exercising more routinely, are still on the “to do” list.

One thing has occurred that I did not expect: I have assumed a minor role of being “house husband.” Sarah and Dana Speigle are busier in their estate-sale business. They take responsibility for an estate by cleaning, pricing, displaying, advertizing and selling the items in an estate. At the beginning of the year they began a large estate. I offered to help, but it was their business and so I have been a bystander except to take out the trash.

Sarah has been working at the estate house nearly six days a week for several weeks. Her only day off has been to babysit the grandkids on Mondays. That leaves me with doing the grocery shopping.

Sarah prepares a list of what I am supposed to buy. She tries to order the items in sequence with the aisles. However, it still seems like a scavenger hunt. Oranges—does she want the medium-sized cheaper ones or the large juicy ones? Potato chips—I decided she wanted sour cream and onion even though she never buys that kind. I couldn’t find the chopped beef so I bought corned beef. She explained to me later they are not the same. She told me where to find the boneless ham. What I bought was boneless but it didn’t taste like ham. I had to go back and get the cream of mushroom soup a second time. This time she made it clear that it was not to have garlic. I feel a sense of accomplishment as I scratch off each item on the list even if the item is not exactly the brand and type she told me to buy.

Before I knew I was going to become Colonial Hills pastor I asked Rich Brown what the hardest thing was about being pastor. He said it was finding people to do all the jobs. Actually, I have been pleasantly surprised that most people who have been asked to do something have been willing to give it a try, even if they have never done it before.

I expect some would be more willing to try out a new role as grocery shopper than being pastor. But I look forward to someone accepting this role. I am sure there will be many people willing to provide long grocery lists of things that need to be done and who are willing to help do them.

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“I am pleased with the measure of response many have made, in faith, to new responsibilities in priesthood and leadership. For them are awaiting the rewards and satisfaction which service in my name always brings.” —Doctrine and Covenants 157:14

Garland Land, Pastor

I recently heard a public person went on YouTube and used a three letter abbreviation to discredit another public figure. When the news media reported it I couldn’t understand what the fuss was all about. I don’t text and I am not on Twitter, so I was unfamiliar with the abbreviations that are commonly used. One of the TV commentators made obvious the vulgarity of the one of the letters. Once again I realized how naïve I am sometimes.

Our six-year-old granddaughter was telling us that the Disney Channel program, “Shake It Up,” sometimes has bad words. I asked her what bad words she heard. Riley explained, “Well, sometimes they use the “S” word.” I was a bit confused. She explained they sometimes say “stupid,” which is a word she’s not allowed to say.

Riley has accepted the fact that sentence structure is important when she visits Grandma and Grandpa. While it is common to hear on TV “Me and someone did something” her grandma quickly corrects her, “Someone and I did something.” I suspect her cartoon characters reinforce bad grammar. Unfortunately, bad language is not restricted to cartoons.

Our granddaughter Georgia recently helped with the children’s moment at church. The book that was read referenced each letter of the alphabet to a scripture or Christian characteristic. Georgia pointed out to the kids and the congregation that A is for apple. I was afraid she was going to explain each letter as she knew them. Fortunately she didn’t, but if she had I am sure she had a different understanding of “S.” and letter used on YouTube.

Learning what is appropriate to come out of our mouth is important to grandmas and grandchildren. I wish it was equally important to adults.

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“To watch over mouth and tongue is to keep out of trouble.” —Proverbs 21:23

Garland Land, Pastor

I have been reading the national bestseller, Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell. The thesis of part of the book is that we can often rely on our instincts to make decisions, or what Gladwell refers to as “thin slicing,” instead of getting all the facts first. Being an evidence-based person who likes to have the facts, I found this book to be a challenge to my normal decision-making process.

One of the chapters discusses how people make initial judgments based on their first impressions of others. In this case, first impressions are often based on past unrelated experiences, prejudices, biases and looks. First impressions are called the “Warren Harding error.” Warren Harding was a tall, handsome man. He had heavy black hair and a bronze complexion. He was a kind, good-natured man. However, he was not a particularly intelligent person. He liked to play poker, drink and was known for his sexual appetite of chasing women. He rose from one political office to another without distinguishing himself. His speeches were once described as “an army of pompous phrases moving over the landscape in search of an idea.” While in the U.S. Senate he chose not to be on the floor when the two biggest issues of the day—women’s suffrage and Prohibition—were debated.

In 1920 Harding was persuaded to run for the Presidency because of his good looks and rumbling voice. The Republican convention was deadlocked between the two leading candidates. Several votes did not break the tie. The Republican Party bosses gathered in the smoke-filled back rooms of the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago and agreed on Harding because he “looked” just like a presidential candidate. Harding was elected and served two years before dying unexpectedly of a stroke. Most historians agree he was one of the worst presidents in American history.

I remember when Sarah and I first came to Colonial Hills. We had met a couple of persons in the congregation more than 30 years earlier. However, we were essentially strangers in a new congregation. I still remember my first impressions. Some members reminded me of people I previously knew, so my impression of them was influenced by their looks. Others made good impressions when they introduced themselves or invited us to lunch after church. For some, the first sermon I heard them give gave me an impression of who they were.

Over time I had to reshape my first impressions. My understandings of individuals in the congregation became more experience-based. Fortunately, some of my positive first impressions were reinforced as I saw them live out their Christian discipleship.

As guests come to our congregation I still think about those who made us feel so welcome and how those first impressions made such a difference to Sarah and me. Fortunately, first impressions don’t have to be based on good looks and a baritone voice. However, our guests form first impressions based on the type of hospitality we show to them.

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“Each disciple needs a spiritual home. You are called to build that home and care for it…” Doctrine and Covenants 162:7d

Garland Land, Pastor

Last year at a Mission Center Pastor/Financial Officer meeting I overhear the following conversation between two financial officers (FO) from other congregations.

FO1:  How is your congregation doing financially?

FO2:  We are really struggling to pay our bills this year.

FO1:  Same here.  We have a few elderly families, some of whom are widows that are carrying much of the financial load of the congregation.

FO2: Like the world church, 20% of our families are giving 80% of the offerings.

FO1:  What surprises me is that we have some families that have good jobs, live in nice homes and drive nice cars and come to church every Sunday but never contribute financially in a meaningful way.

FO2:  I have seen the same in our congregation.  They contribute in other ways, but somehow they have not understood the joy and importance of financial stewardship yet.

FO1:  On the other hand we have families that I know have really struggled during this recession and they continue to contribute.

FO2:  I really appreciate their dedication to their Lord.

FO1:  I also appreciate when I see some of our children have their own envelopes and their parents have taught them to regularly give even a small amount each month.

FO2:  It doesn’t seem like we talk much about tithing being 10% of our income.

FO1:  I don’t remember the last time I heard a sermon on tithing.  I suppose I need to take responsibility for that.

I don’t know how that conversation relates to Colonial Hills other than that I was encouraged to preach a sermon on tithing last year. But from Jeremy’s financial reports we know that Colonial Hills was a very generous congregation in 2010, despite the fact that the recession affected several of our families.

Nearly $86,000 was contributed to Local Ministries. For at least the fourth year in a row income exceeded expenses

• Over $68,000 was contributed to World Ministries.
• Over $51,000 was contributed to the Building Fund.
• Nearly $13,000 was contributed to Oblation and World Hunger.
• Nearly $7,000 was contributed to Lake Doniphan and the Doniphan swimming pool.
• Over $2,000 was contributed to Community Services League and its food pantry.
• Over $500 was contributed to Outreach International through the children’s tube.
• Our total contributions this past year were nearly $239,000, an increase of $44,000 over last year. The average contribution per family was about $2,843.

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“Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts.… Give generously according to your true capacity.  Eternal joy and peace await those who grow in the grace of generosity that flows from compassionate hearts without thought of return.” —Doctrine and Covenants 163:9

Garland Land Pastor