Returning a Gift, Part 5

Spirituality Column #59
December 25, 2007
Current in Carmel (IN) newspaper

Returning a Gift, Part 5
By Bob Walters

One of the unique things about a gift is that you can’t earn it.

You really can’t deserve it, either.

If you earn it or deserve it, then it’s a wage or a prize, not a gift.

If you give and expect something in return, then it’s a bribe, not a gift.

A gift is one of the ultimate expressions of freedom. I give because I want to; I receive because I am free to.

Whether I return a gift … now there is an act of will and discernment.

I’ve been writing this Christmas season about how my friend and long-time Indianapolis minister Russ Blowers, who died last month (November 10, 2007), gave me the gift of courage a few years ago in finding Christ. Christ on the Cross and our eternal salvation is a gift from God; the courage to make that truth part of my life was in large part a gift from Russ.

It was more a gift of his overall demeanor than a neatly wrapped Christmas stocking stuffer – not, “Here Bob, have some courage.” But I must say it was a far larger gift than I understood at the time.

To take a slightly different track …

When I was six I asked Santa for an electric train. Christmas morning in the living room … no electric train. I threw a fit. Got spanked. Turns out Santa had set up the electric train in the basement because it was too big for the living room.

Some gifts are just too big for the living room … and turn up in unexpected places. I feel that way about courage and Christianity and salvation.

There are many things one can do with a gift: Appreciate it. Use it. Ignore it. Say thank you (always say “thank you”). Re-gift it. Return it. Share it. Grow it. Praise God for it.

With Christmas over and as we start this brief season of gift returning, let’s also consider the joy of gift-sharing. Return the gift of courage to those around you. Be brave and ask to understand the gift. Be brave and share your story as a Christian.

It is the kind of gift return that explains why so many people know who Russ Blowers was … and who he will always be to us.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) knows the electric train story doesn’t exactly fit this “return a gift” context, but it’s a true story. Christmas is about a true story.

Returning a Gift, Part 4

Spirituality Column #58
December 18, 2007
Current in Carmel (IN) newspaper

Returning a Gift, Part 4
By Bob Walters

Certainly the gift of "salvation and eternal life with God" is the greatest gift on record.

This is a gift we get – if we want to receive it – because of Jesus Christ, not a gift another human can give to us. So as I write about the greatest and best gift I ever got from a person, it’s not the gift of salvation. We have that gift because of Christ on the Cross.

Russ Blowers, my good buddy who died in November, was a dear friend and giver of great gifts to many people. Whether in finding one’s faith, finding Christ, walking with Christ, persevering in Christ or abiding in this life amid both wonder and horror, so many of us have Russ or some other wonderful pastor, minister, priest or spiritual mentor to thank for facilitating that direct, personal and eternal connection through Christ and the Holy Spirit with God Almighty.

So the gift I got from Russ wasn’t religion in general, Christianity in particular, or specifically the incredible church home – independent East 91st Street Christian Church in Castleton – that Russ shepherded through 55 years of ministry. He retired as senior pastor in 1996, but he never quit the ministry. His impact on Indianapolis, the nation, and the global body of Christ was enormous.

His impact on me – his gift – was specific, powerful, and critical to everything that has happened in my faith journey.

I only just met Russ in September 2001, and he died last month, November 2007 … the youngest 83-year-old I’ve ever known. I won’t go into the details of meeting and befriending Russ, although it involved his inviting me – a quite imperfect stranger at church – to lunch, which also isn’t the gift I’m talking about.

The gift Russ gave me (and probably to many, many others) – without me recognizing it at the time or him knowing it until I told him later when I finally figured it out – was that in his demeanor, assuredness, intellect, grace, faith and resolve, he had given me the gift of courage to go and find Christ, and to become a Christian.

He communicated all that by simply praying over lunch, something I'd never ever done before in a public restaurant.

The courage to find Christ. Starting with a prayer.  It was the greatest and most important gift another person has ever given me.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) will conclude this five-part series next week, and discuss returning this gift. May you and yours have a merry and meaningful Christmas. John 1:14.

Returning a Gift, Part 3

Spirituality Column #57
December 11, 2007
Current in Carmel (IN) newspaper

Returning a Gift, Part 3
By Bob Walters
Author of (click) Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

So I’m sitting in church with that tear rolling down my cheek and I could not begin to compose a coherent explanation for it. Nor could I ignore it.

Mature Christians can tell you what that tear was … it was my heart breaking for the Lord. That’s how you become a Christian: your heart breaks, in an odd mix of shame, thanksgiving and love, recognizing why and what Christ was willing to do to save each of us from eternal death.

And it’s too real to shake off.

Wonderful Russ Blowers, this kindly, commanding, calm, cheerful Christian preacher, was up front talking about Faith, Hope and Love; not hellfire, damnation and judgment. And it got to me. It was my conversion experience.

To someone who hadn’t been to a worship service in 30-odd years, it was a very scary moment.

The hardest thing about not being a Christian, you see, is when you decide, or are called or wake up or whatever it is, to become a Christian. We have lots of church phrases for this … “following Christ,” “giving my life to the Lord,” “accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Savior,” “being saved,” “born again,” “I saw the light,” “made a decision for Christ.”

Very nice. And all gibberish to a non-believer; proof that words won’t save you. But that tear, its journey beginning in my heart … that was persuasive.

Russ, I am convinced, was a master – without really trying – of meeting people where they were in their faith. He could cut through the gibberish and encourage one’s deepest hope, and do it with sincere love that revealed Christ.

Then once you got it, once you owned it, you knew Russ was willing to share it with you, to teach you, to strengthen you. That’s why so many thousands of people over the years thought Russ was their best friend.

But I’m telling you, that tear wasn’t the greatest gift.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) notes that Russ never stopped pastoring his flock, which was everyone he ever met.  To read parts 1 and 2 of this series, see www.commonchristianity.blogspot.com Classic entries for 11-23-12 and 11-30-12, or buy the book, Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary. 
 

Returning a Gift, Part 2

Spirituality Column #56
December 4, 2007
Current in Carmel (IN) newspaper

Returning a Gift, Part 2
By Bob Walters

The first time I saw Russ Blowers was Labor Day weekend of 2001 on the exact 50th anniversary of his ministry with East 91st Street Christian Church.

Though he retired in 1996 at age 72, he continued as Senior Minister Emeritus of the huge Castleton-area independent Christian church in Indianapolis and was a faithful, friendly and familiar face in church nearly every Sunday. He offered comfort and counsel by phone, card or visitation virtually every day.

Russ loved and was loved, and he died this year (2007) on November 10.

Dave Faust was E91’s senior minister in 2001 (he is now president of Cincinnati Christian University). To celebrate those 50 years, Russ was invited to share that Sunday’s sermon as the two marvelous ministers discussed the abiding Christian values of Faith, Hope and Love.

His pulpit appearances rare since 1996, the huge sanctuary throng went stand-up-and-cheer crazy when Russ was introduced. E91 is one of those churches that cheers.

I didn’t know what to make of it. I grew up traditional Episcopalian, where we didn’t cheer; and on that particular Sunday attended church for basically the first time in 30 years. The music was different, communion was different, worship was different … and Russ was different.

As quickly as the cheers rose, Russ stepped forward, smiled, made a gentle “sit down” motion with his hands, and the crowd quieted … almost instantly. Amazing command of an audience.

Russ briefly told of his start with the congregation in 1951, when it was a struggling church of 150 or so on East 49th Street. He joked that the hardest thing he did initially was cancel the annual fish fry fundraiser.

He insisted that the little congregation would praise God, promised that he would preach Christ, and unceasingly prayed for the leading of the Holy Spirit. The church grew and grew.

As to Faith, Hope and Love – 50 years later – Russ’s basic message was:

Faith is formed by our past,

Hope is formed by our expectations of the future, and

Love is what governs our actions today.

Simple and true, Russ got my attention.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) is writing a Christmas series about the best gift he ever got and his hopes to return it. More next week.