One of the adjustments to living in Arizona involves all the new creepy crawly things we don't have in Pennsylvania - most of those things also want to hurt or kill you. One creepy crawler that is new to our family is the Mosquito Hawk. They are a giant mosquito look-alike with gangly legs that somehow make their way by the dozens into your house when you simply open the door to enter or exit. And when your husband leaves the door completely open for hours “for fresh air”, you can certainly count on a colony moving in. 

After our most recent influx of house guests I did some research. Contrary to their common name, they are actually called crane flies and they are not a predator of the mosquito. Thankfully they are harmless. They die within a few days if they can’t escape leaving what can only be described as a crane fly massacre on the windowsills and floors of every room in our house. (Our vacuum cleaner is earning its keep this season.) 

Not long after Easter our 3-year old pointed out the most recent crane fly casualty on her bedroom floor. “Look mama!” “I know - it’s dead. I’ll clean it up.” I reassured her. Instantly she came back at me. “No it’s not dead! It’s alive. LIKE JESUS!” And so went the next few weeks after Easter in our household. Dead bird? No, it’s alive like Jesus! Roadkill on our walk to the park? Yup - that will live too. 

This has led to some thoughtful discussions and lots of reflection on my part. First, I’m amazed she’s learning the story of Easter and it’s clicking in her own small way. Credit to our preschool church school teachers! But I’m also thankful for the sweet and innocent reminders of new life that are actually around us each day. Reminders of how the Good News of Easter is not just celebrated once a year but every day and in every moment. 

The Easter season never ends because we live on this side of the resurrection. This is something I’m incredibly grateful for because we live in a world that reminds us far too often that death is around the corner and life is fragile. And yet because of Jesus we get to live as Easter people with hope that death does not have the final say.

I have a great-nephew, Chase, who at 12 years old knows more about the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel than I would ever hope to know. Why is this? Well, he participates in his Nazarene Church’s annual Bible Quiz. Chase competed at a national level last year and did very well. Truly, he would have been able to answer such questions as this: 

What had David just done before returning to Ziklag at the time of the death of Saul (2 Sam 1:1)? 
A. Defeated the Edomites 
B. Raided the Ziphites 
C. Defeated the Amorites 
D. Defeated the Amalekites

The answer is “D.” How do I know this? Well, I Googled it. These days, that’s how I know a lot of details about the Bible. I look them up. I am proud of my great-nephew and his family for supporting him in learning the Bible in such detail. There are certainly parts of the Bible I know better than 2 Samuel, but I think overall my great-nephew might win in a thorough-going Bible quiz over me, were we to go one-on-one. 

And yet, when I finished my doctoral degree at Princeton Theological Seminary 18 years ago, one of the things that the commencement dignitaries said to us doctoral candidates at graduation was, “Welcome to the company of scholars!” Part of my degree work was based in Homiletics, and the other was New Testament Studies. My thesis was based on retranslating Paul's Letter to the Galatians. I can tell you that I know that book of the Bible really well. 

In a recent sermon, I referred to myself as a “scholar of the Bible.” I could have more accurately said, “As a scholar of the Book of Galatians” and gotten away with it. What I believed I was trying to achieve was “comedic effect” by asserting that “bewitched, bothered, and bewildered” was a justifiable and beneficial translation of the Greek word ἐξεπλήσσετο (exeplēsseto) to help us understand the impact of the statement in Mark 11:18 “the whole crowd was spellbound by Jesus’ teaching.” I was using a bit of absurdity to startle us into a new hearing of the passage.

Was it appropriate to refer to myself as a biblical scholar, when a twelve year old could potentially beat me in a biblical knowledge quiz? Was it a fitting bit of comedy in the service of the preaching of Good News? I’ll leave that for others to decide.

One thing I know is that there are few (or no) genuine “biblical scholars” out there who would number me among their company. You see, biblical scholars write articles and books, and they teach at institutions of higher learning. They travel around to yearly conventions and wrangle over latest theories and perspectives on biblical literature. While I once earned a degree that marked my deep learning in a very narrow field of study, to continue to be a scholar, by the world’s measure, would mean my continuing to do publishable research. I have chosen to be a teacher, preacher, and pastor in a local congregation and to exhibit the passion for the learning I love to do. Much of the learning and teaching is focused on the books of the Bible and the meaning we as a community derive from these ancient texts, so that we can together ask, “How do we understand God better through engaging these texts? How do we understand who we are and what we are to do? How do the world of God and the human sphere interact in such a way that we are encountered by hope, faith and love, and most significantly, love of neighbor?”

It is my hope that I have certain capacities to communicate a love for in-depth learning of biblical texts and topics. This last Sunday we began a class called, “How We Got the Bible.” We had 50 people show up for that class. The first question I posed to the group was, “What good is it to study the Bible critically? Once we learn how the sausage is made, do we return to eating the sausage?” I remember just before I went to seminary 30 years ago, I had a church member say to me, “Don’t go off to seminary and do all that Bible learning, and lose your salvation in the process.” What I can say in response now is, “All that learning has given me a deeper appreciation for the world of the Bible, for the complexities of its texts, for the highly nuanced tasks of translation and interpretation, and for the world-making power of its poetry.” I have a deeper love for the Bible today than ever before, and I want others to join me on this journey of discovery.

So, how did the class respond to the question of “Can you learn too much about the Bible?”  I believe the consensus was, “As we learn together around the Bible, we learn more about ourselves, our neighbors in Christ, and the God to whom the biblical texts give witness.” 

The role of the biblical “scholar” in the church is to facilitate this kind of learning, and I pray that God’s Holy Spirit keep us on the path of faith as we do so.

Easter dawned with rain this year, a reminder of life's constant renewal. Amidst the showers, we are brought closer to the essence of Easter - the resurrection, a profound symbol of rebirth and new beginnings.

This rain, rather than dampening spirits, enriches the celebration of this sacred day. It mirrors the transformative journey of the resurrection, teaching us that renewal often sprouts from the depths of challenge and change. Just as rain revitalizes the earth, the resurrection renews our hope, reminding us that after every hardship comes growth and revival.

In this light, the Easter rain becomes a catalyst for reflection, nudging us towards embracing our own paths of personal and communal rebirth. It encourages us to look beyond the surface, to see the resurrection not just as a historical event, but as a daily invitation to live more fully, love more deeply, and embrace the transformative power of faith.

As we move forward, let the memory of Easter rain inspire us to open our hearts to change, to find strength in the promise of renewal, and to walk together in the light of resurrection hope. In this season of new beginnings, may we all find the courage to embrace the growth and renewal that lies ahead.

Excitement and delight fill me as I reflect on all who attended our VBS building and crafting events this past week. I was honored and thrilled that the right people for the job showed up every single time! Not only did they show up, but God used each person’s unique gifts to contribute something special. The funny thing about it was that people often took me aside to tell me that they didn’t have much experience and may not be much help. God has a sense of humor that way! 

It’s not so much that we accomplished great things, as we crafted underwater-themed creatures, built a giant arched box tower, and fashioned it into a creative coral reef. Those things were incredible to witness. However, I am more amazed at how God brought everyone together right when they were needed most. God built a community of volunteers from not only church members, but also those who attend the SAGE group, the women’s Bible studies, the MOPS moms, Pinnacle Teens, and Kids too! So many different seasons and walks of life came together for a single purpose and in that added richness and depth to our Pinnacle community. 

Working with the groups brought camaraderie and a sense of togetherness. Laughter and conversation swirled around us as we worked to tame supplies into spectacular creations. Seeds of friendship were planted and invitations were extended for continuing the togetherness that people experienced. It was heartwarming. To quote one of our VBS volunteers who experienced the joy of working together in a vibrant meaningful way, Susan Matura said, “It {VBS} was an amazing experience where I got to meet new (to me) members of our church community, and I felt like I made a difference just by being there and being me. It’s fun to see so many people come together to make a unique program by sharing their talents.”

As I take a step back and reflect on all the wonderfulness of the past week, I feel confident that this is the body of Christ in our community coming together for the children. Because of this, I can’t wait to see our community in action for Vacation Bible School this summer!

“There are different gifts. But it is the same Spirit who gives them. There are different ways of serving God. But it is the same Lord who is served. God works through different persons in different ways.

But it is the same God who achieves the divine purpose through them all. Each one is given a gift by the Spirit to use it for the common good. Together we are the body of Christ and individually members of him. We are called by God to be the Church of Jesus Christ, a sign in the world today of the new life that God intends for all.  In our life together, we are to display the new reality that sin is forgiven, reconciliation accomplished, and the dividing walls of hostility torn down.

The ministry of the church is shared by pastor and people, so that all together may fulfill the mission to which we are called by Jesus Christ.  The particular responsibility of the Teaching Elder as Minister of Word and Sacrament is to build up the church and serve the people of God, so that the Word may be rightly proclaimed, and the sacraments rightly celebrated.”

These words were spoken immediately prior to a lot of promises back and forth between me and the church at my installation service. I’ve been reflecting on them a lot, and on the promises, and I’ve found some remarkable beauty in them for a few reasons.

As we formally mark the beginning of my new role, we do so with the acknowledgment that my primary job is to build up the church and serve the people of God. And why? So that we might proclaim the Word and celebrate the sacraments. As we all bring our various gifts (they come with us … we don’t have to earn them or find them, as they are part of who we are), my job, and the job of each of your pastors, is to help you use your gifts to celebrate God’s forgiving love and live into our calling of a shared ministry in Jesus. I hope you noticed what I said there about your gifts … each of us have gifts that our Creator has given us to enable us to be a part of God’s mission. What a joy it is for us to help you find your gifts so that you, the church, can live out those gifts in our ministry.

Of all of the promises I made to the church in my installation service, the one that always stays with me (and is also shared by all ruling elders, teaching elders, and deacons) is the commitment to serve with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love. I love this promise because it reminds me where my energy should be going. I’ve committed myself to serving the church and God in ways that will utilize my mind, my heart, and my soul. I hope I’ve been doing that, but answering the questions again has reminded me of the importance of this and all of the promises!

One final thought as I reflect on the installation service and on my perspective on ministry at Pinnacle. I often return to the Pinnacle Mission Statement when I consider where my time and energy goes. My goal is to tie everything I do, in some way, back to the mission of our church:

In the heart of the Sonoran Desert, Pinnacle Presbyterian Church invites all people to hear God’s story and experience God’s love expressed in the life of Jesus Christ; and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we strive to equip the generations with the practices of our faith.

At the foot of the mountain we created a sanctuary.  We come together as God’s people, reaching out to make a difference in one another's lives, in our community, and around the world.  We express our faithfulness through excellence in worship, the arts, serving meals, building homes, crossing borders, and nurturing children and youth.

We are people who know the power of forgiveness, joy and love.

The Mission Statement, adopted in 2008, is our shared ministry put into writing. This is who we’ve chosen to be, in answering God’s call on our lives. My hope in the coming months and beyond is that we can look to this beautiful statement and see it as our guide as we bring our gifts together and use them to bring Glory to God.

Friends, the journey both begins and continues, and I couldn’t be more honored to be a part of it alongside you, in shared ministry.