Okmulgee First Church of the Nazarene

Good News (Wednesday June 22nd, 2011)

How is your day going? Tired? Barely able to open this newspaper as you drink your coffee? Listen carefully to what I have to say: Shake it off. Open your eyes wide, and remember that this is the day you have waited for. You are alive!

I know that seems like an insignificant statement, but if it does, you are who I need to talk to. You have been given a glorious gift! At this very moment, you have what countless celebrities and giants of history no longer possess: life, and the capability of changing things for the better. At this very moment, the great libraries of the world with all their masterpieces are open to you. For nothing, you can read the great books, listen to the works of Mozart or Beethoven, or perhaps even discover a masterpiece of a person to fall in love with.

Today is the day, and God has given us all an amazing and priceless gift. Seize it! You have the capability to enjoy what you’ve been given and to make a change today. Don’t be bored – it’s almost a crime in this amazing world we’ve been given! Go out and build something, have a conversation with someone, go eat in a restaurant and pick whatever you want to eat, no matter what others say! This is liberty and freedom. Our loving father God has given us all these things to enjoy, and our valiant armed forces have worked hard to ensure you and I continue enjoying those liberties. Honor what they’ve done, and make it a true independence day this year.

Of all the wonderful things that await you out there, I have one in particular I want you to think on. If you never have, I want you to go by the library, a bookstore or www.biblegateway.com. There you can access a wonderful book – it’s called “The Message”. It’s the Bible written in common, everyday terms, no Shakespeare allowed. I suggest one small act: read the book of Luke. It gets right into the action, it tells the story of Jesus in plain language and it’s exiting. But here’s the kicker, here’s the main thing about it: don’t tell anyone you are reading it. Sure it’ll take half an hour or so, but just read it – after all how many bible lay collecting dust? Seeing what it says in a whole new way, through easy to understand language, then ask people about it. Just be curious. See what others think about Jesus or the Bible.

I’m willing to bet that you’re going to have the same experience as with Mozart or Beethoven – many have heard the most famous lines, but have they really taken it in? I say this because one of the most precious gifts of this life is Jesus Christ. Without people annoying you, or some super-churchy people in your face, just see what it says on your own, and ask your friends what they think. You don’t want to go your whole life hearing about something, only to find out you like it too late? I’ve heard many people talk about flying in planes, but nothing beats doing it yourself. Listen to the great music, read great books and get back into nature – but take a little time to hear from the Master who created all these things. It isn’t about being “religious” or doing it for someone else, it’s learning from your creator what you were made for. It’s your life – use it and enjoy it for what it was created for, honoring what those men and women gave their lives for so long ago, so that we could enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

VBS ANNOUNCEMENT! Been to everyone’s VBS by now? Kids crawling the walls? Eager to send them for some growth in the Lord while experiencing the exhilaration of uninterrupted sleep or shopping? Send your munchkins to this year’s VBS at Okmulgee First Church of the Nazarene! July 19th-23rd (Tuesday through Saturday), so mark your calendars now. The kids will learn and have fun all week long, then meet on Sunday morning for a presentation and performance for the parents. They need fun, you need a break. Let’s minister to the whole family, what do you say?

- J. Cole Weston is Lead Pastor at Okmulgee First Church of the Nazarene at 711 N. Okmulgee. You can contact him via email at okmulgeenazarene@gmail.com or 918-213-0359. Services are held Sunday at 10:30, with Sunday School at 9:30.

I do not do this often (nor have I ever before), but I must recommend an article to all of you – accessible on a website if you have the means, and if you do not, the library stands ready to assist you. The article is “Rethinking the American Dream” accessible at http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2009/04/american-dream200904.

The author, David Kamp, led me to a deep reconsideration of what I pursue in my private life as “the good life” or the American dream. In some of the more salient points, he addresses Norman Rockwell’s paintings of The Four Freedoms. Issued after a speech by Roosevelt pre-Pearl Harbor, the freedoms were depicted in paintings including one you’ve no doubt seen many times, Freedom from Want, an image of an American family eating Thanksgiving dinner around the table. David Kamp points out the simpleness of the curtains, the ordinary nature of the room and the adequate nature of the meal – appropriate to the number of people there, but not extravagant. As he points out, the American dream is freedom from want, not freedom to want.

In these days, we’ve all come to worship success, and have a skewed vision of what the dream was for our forefathers: a place to live, a home of one’s own, enough food and clothing, and peace and quiet enough to raise your children while you went to work and earned your pay. The American dream is not so alive and well as it is twisted and sick now – a shadow of its former self, afflicted by a dread disease: selfishness. But it is not dead yet – still alive, it has endured before and will flourish again, given the right treatment, humility and attention.

As you may now, I am a pastor, and the general perception is that pastors aren’t paid especially well. I looked up my salary in an inflation calculator once, and figured out that my salary is equivalent to your average middle class man in 1955. I could be considered poor by today’s standards, which shocks me! The man in 1955 had to supply a wife and children out of his money including whatever they needed. Unsurprisingly to me, I have a wife and children, and my wife stays home. How do we make it? Because we are well provided for for our needs.

Cable TV is not a need, nor is the latest automobile (though sadly I still make payments on mine). Divorced of the litany of perceived “needs” in America today, one can live comfortably and even happily. Our pain comes in trying to be who we are not – rich mansion owners with the latest trends. Why pursue that life? Could they really be happier than we are? We should really consider.

Our children these days, growing up in the massive shadow of our selfishness, come to see that they cannot fail, and so they cannot deal with it when it happens. My generation was brought up hearing we could be president, astronauts or titans of business. I felt a little alone when, deep inside my self, all I wanted to be was a Dad, and have a good job with a nice home. I have news for this next generation, now teenagers and struggling to come to grips with the disconnect between TV and real life: what you see on television are lies. Not even the people depicted truly live that way, they put on a show. Sure they are wealthy, but marketing makes sure you have something to want.

For our children, the most responsible thing we can do is to tell them that they can pursue anything they want – they simply might not get it. There are humble professions in this world – pastor, janitor, grocery store clerk, barber. But if we tried getting on even one week without these professions, we’d be in sorry shape. If you truly value your children and your future in their world, teach them well. Teach them to aim for the stars but keep their feet planted on the ground, because the truth is we need everyone at Warehouse Market, Ralph and Capitola’s Barber Shop, the Library and the Church. Our town, life and even America itself are richer for the fact that, rather than be failures at something great, we have greatness in our midst – artisans and good hearted people who steadily work at becoming masters of their business and art everyday. This town is America, and it is time to dream anew.

VBS ANNOUNCEMENT! Been to everyone’s VBS by now? Kids crawling the walls? Eager to send them for some growth in the Lord while experiencing the exhilaration of uninterrupted sleep or shopping? Send your munchkins to this years VBS at Okmulgee First Church of the Nazarene! July 19th-23rd (Tuesday through Saturday), so mark your calendars now. The kids will learn and have fun all week long, then meet on Sunday morning for a presentation and performance for the parents. They need fun, you need a break. Let’s minister to the whole family, what do you say?

- J. Cole Weston is Lead Pastor at Okmulgee First Church of the Nazarene at 711 N. Okmulgee. You can contact him via email at okmulgeenazarene@gmail.com or 918-213-0359. Services are held Sunday at 10:30, with Sunday School at 9:30.

Do you want to come to church? Do you want fellowship with other believers, or just to explore faith in God? Chances are if you aren’t free on Wednesday evening or Sunday morning you’ve found that difficult.

Lately in my church’s life I’ve been thinking on how to reach those people who are simply unavailable on these two days. Time was in our society that Sunday was sacred – everything closed, because even the non-believers knew we all needed rest. But time passed to where we didn’t value people’s lives in society, and we decided that weekends off and a living wage were luxuries to be aimed for, but not achieved in the first job you get. How far we’ve gone astray in caring for our bodies and minds is not the focus of this article, however.

Here at our church we are trying to examine the way things are done, and to change them to fit real needs. I have often wondered if there are any out there who would be interested in a Friday or Saturday night service – or really any night that a majority of people would be free. Would prayer time in the mornings, during the days or at a gathering in a restaurant be something people would enjoy? The great thing about ministry is creativity – you don’t have to do it the same as everyone else. I have an email address here at the bottom of this article. If you want to attend or be included in a church family but have unusual time restrictions, let me know. Are you a waitress or waiter? Do you often have to serve the church crowd, but never be a part of them? I want to hear from you.

We are currently working on an organized effort of visitation for those members of the church who are home bound, or who do not get out as they once did. This is our struggle: to live up the life that Christ has for us. If you want to come and experience that life with us, we invite you to attend church here. We aren’t perfect, and we’d love to have more imperfect people to grow alongside. But the church is not a church without people, and that’s why we need you. We need workers and followers, attenders and lay leaders. We need you! We want to make certain we’re not just working on our time table. If you need different times to meet, or you want to get your kids together during the week, please tell us how we could best minister to you. Suggestions do not make a contract that you have to attend, it’s just you telling us what you need.

God loves you, and designed you specifically for a purpose. If you want to discover it, you’re going to have to go out and get it. It won’t just fall in your lap, this life is meant to be seized! God didn’t make you for sitting around being bored. If you are falling asleep – in church, in life, at work and on the couch, it’s time to wake up. Life is a precious gift given to us, and we can only truly realize what it means to be alive through understanding what the creator made us for. It’s not about just talking – it’s about living. I welcome your thoughts by email or letters.

VBS ANNOUNCEMENT! Been to everyone’s VBS by now? Kids crawling the walls? Eager to send them for some growth in the Lord while experiencing the exhilaration of uninterrupted sleep or shopping? Send your munchkins to this years VBS at Okmulgee First Church of the Nazarene! July 19th-23rd (Tuesday through Saturday), so mark your calendars now. The kids will learn and have fun all week long, then meet on Sunday morning for a presentation and performance for the parents. They need fun, you need a break. Let’s minister to the whole family, what do you say?

- J. Cole Weston is Lead Pastor at Okmulgee First Church of the Nazarene at 711 N. Okmulgee. You can contact him via email at okmulgeenazarene@gmail.com or 918-213-0359. Services are held Sunday at 10:30, with Sunday School at 9:30.

Good News (Wednesday June 8th, 2011)

Recently I read an article on CNN.com about a man named Kirk Murphy, who as a boy, was sent to a research group at UCLA in the 70s. The man who “treated” him was named George Alan Rekers, who earned his PhD through this research. Kirk, as a boy, was subjected to a treatment to try to
make him more “masculine” – presumably for that time a cover for changing his presumed (and later confirmed) homosexuality. The treatment involved such tactics as spanking and the withholding of maternal affection, which are no longer allowed in any ethical course of study.
As a young man, Kirk Murphy lived a life overshadowed by his early experiences, coming out as gay in his twenties, but later committing suicide alone in his apartment. It turned out that the “therapy” to do this included his mother not talking to him or not holding him – punishment if he selected a “girl toy” from a table instead of a “boy toy”. Later at home, he was beaten by his father with a belt based upon a system of poker chips – blue were accumulated if he was “masculine” and red if he was “feminine”.
Kirk made it to 38 years old before he killed himself – fundamentally convinced that he was broken inside, different from everyone else because of his experience. Whether or not the treatment was responsible can never truly be determined, although it seems obvious it played some role. As I read deeper into this story, I wept for this case of tragic misunderstanding and the detrimental effects on a young boy and later man.
When I was a child I had many playmates – perhaps as many girls as boys. While I enjoyed playing army and blowing up enemy fortifications, I was not above playing with my friends next door who had dolls. Often Ken exhibited a bent for wanting to join the Marines, but we played together as innocent children do. I am glad that based upon who I was I was not sent to some camp because I was not as “masculine” as someone thought I should be. I was terrible at sports, read a lot, and generally didn’t want much to do with guns or most of those sorts of things. How I evolved into someone who shoots a rifle on an occasional basis and wound up in the Air Force is a different story – but the story that I was allowed to live out by becoming who I was meant to be. Kirk Murphy didn’t get that chance because he was not loved, he was manipulated and abused by a system that should have helped him.
What is the point of me telling you all this? In my church, the Church of the Nazarene, we affirm that the Bible says homosexuality is a sin. But our highest law is the law of love – to love one’s neighbor as oneself, and not to place yourself in the judgment seat, for that is the place of God. For homosexuals or “less masculine men” in our town, our chief requirement is love, not judgment. God tells us our sins are equal – a lie to your boss is the same on the scale of sin as any other that someone else does, but some sins are easier to hide than others.
I think to a large extent in this department, the church has failed in teaching its theology as well as it should have. Withholding love is as great a sin as homosexuality. We must decide if we want to lead the life that Jesus had for US to live, rather than trying to force someone into it themselves. Once we can lead our lives full of love and compassion, we will be the examples that draw people TO God and do not drive others away.
How did this story come to my attention? Because as it turns out, George Alan Rekers, outspoken anti-gay activist, was photographed returning from Europe with a male escort. I don’t bring this up to call derision upon this man, but to show that when we fail one person, we often fail many others. Had Mr. Rekers been educated as to how Jesus told us to love first, he might not have hurt so many others in his life and perhaps been able to accept himself so that he could work out his relationship with God. That hope remains for him still – and the hope that God in his just wisdom knew how to love and care for his creation Kirk Murphy in death, whose life and time here was cut tragically short.

- J. Cole Weston is Lead Pastor at Okmulgee First Church of the Nazarene at 711 N. Okmulgee. You can contact him via email at okmulgeenazarene@gmail.com or 918-213-0359. Services are held Sunday at 10:30, with Sunday School at 9:30.