Recipes for Living Rev. Ivan Bys

Rev. Ivan Bys was appointed to the Osceola United Methodist Church in 1971, and he and Ada served here until 1978. Because of their recent move to Oklahoma, it was impractical to be together for the life stories as they usually appear in the Recipes for Living books. As an alternative Ivan consented to offer the following. Received with gratitude, this is an experience he shares with readers and his invitation that others join him for a journey in:

TO: All the saints (Indians) in Osceola, Iowa (and Christians elsewhere):
"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ"

"Recipes for Living" is an interesting title for this writing of Fern Underwood. It is my pleasure, from a distance, to make this contribution as a former Pastor.

The past two years have prompted a serious "focus" in my life. I want to share it with you. I share it whenever and wherever I have the opportunity. Focus? "Spiritual Formation." It started two years ago this month at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. It took place on our United Methodist Assembly grounds in the annual "Prayer and Bible Conference" with the theme: "Becoming Faithful Disciples and Servant Leaders."

It was here that Ada and I heard:
*J. Ellsworth Kalas proclaim: "It's hard to save 'respectable people."'
*Susan Moto describes Guigo II's "Bible Reading": (d. 1188) "Reading" is "putting a grape into your mouth." "Meditation" is "chewing it."
"Prayer" is "ingesting it." "Contemplation" is "digesting it."

It was not long before something was "happening" in me!
I was "on the spot!" (Cornered?)
I began to question MY "honesty" and "integrity."

Then a seminar on "The Twelve Steps of A.A." summarized them:
1-3 Trust God!
4-11 Clean House!
12 Help Others!
I thought, "What a perfect way to describe what our Church is doing!"
I thought again, "Wrong! What do we do in the way of 'Cleaning House?'

OF COURSE: we "assume" this takes. Place in becoming "Christian."
We "assume" this CONTINUES TO TAKE PLACE all our lives.
But does it, really?

I returned from Lake Junaluska with something "brewing" within - "In-a-my-heart! In- a- my- heart."
Both Ada and I secured a new Bible (NOT that we NEEDED a new one!) "The Spiritual Formation Bible" (1999; Zondervan & Upper Room)
(This has kept me "on track" since.)

Soon after returning I was led (by the Spirit?) to hymn #413: "A CHARGE to keep I have; a God to glorify;
"A NEVER DYING SOUL TO SAVE, AND FIT IT for the sky." Wow! -I have a "charge?"- to "keep?"
I have a "soul?''- to "save?"

I began to ask myself some questions:
*"Am I not already 'saved' by the act of Jesus on the cross?" ANSWER: "Continue to work out your salvation" (Phil. 2:12).
*"How can I go about 'fitting my never-dying soul for (heaven)?"' ANSWER: Read ALL OF ST. PAUL'S LETTERS!

I began to understand what St. Paul referred to as "Sanctification": "Justification"-by faith- is our beginning! "Sanctification"- by the Spirit- is our endless Journey!

Today (Sunday 22 July, 2001) I worshipped in my new home church (as is my custom!) Scripture for the day: Luke 10:38-42 (Jesus with Mary and Martha)
Sermon Title: "Remembering the One Thing." Remember? -Hospitable Martha?
-Hospitable Mary? (In a "better way?")
-Upset Martha? (in her "distraction?")
-Wise Jesus: "One thing is needful; Mary chose it!" (We are prone to "set Jesus straight" with -
"But EITHER ONE-without the other- is INCOMPLETE!"
-AND WILL NOT SEE WHERE JESUS PUT THE EMPHASIS!)

I am convinced that in the proper balance between "Spiritual Formation" and "Social Action"
"Spiritual Formation" gets the "short end of the stick!"
YES! We DO attempt to set Jesus straight about WHICH IS "BETTER!"

So, this letter to the Osceola Indians has an appeal:
Could we, together, focus MORE of ourselves (time, effort, etc?)
on "Spiritual Formation?"

SOME POINTS TO PONDER:

QNE:"Spiritual Formation" defined:
"Spiritual Formation, that process whereby we grow in our relationship with God and become conformed to Jesus Christ..." (S.F. Bible, page v)
"Spiritual Formation in the Christian tradition, then, is a lifelong process through whichour new humanity, hidden in Jesus Christ in God, becomes ever more visible and effective through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual Formation at its best has been understood to be once fully divine and fully human- that is, initiated by God and manifest in both vital communities of faith and in the lives of individual disciples." (S.F. Bible, page xi)

TWO: "Spiritual Formation" MOST "lacking":
Jesus' biggest "hearing problem" in His day was in the "religious!"
How is it that the "religious" interfere with the coming of THE KINGDOM?
- (Note, now, the plural "we"- NOT "they!")
* We "know it all?" (At least "sound" that way?)
* We are "no longer open-minded?" (mostly TO the Holy Spirit?)
* We are over-confident? ("cocksure?")
* We ARE "self-righteous?" (Interfere with "God-righteousness?") I need SO VERY MUCH to re-read two verses of scripture:
-Psalm 23-"He leads me in paths of RIGHTEOUSNESS (rightness) for
HIS NAME'S SAKE." (NOT for "mine.")
-Rev. 3:20-"I stand at the door and knock If anyone opens.”
(It is so easy to become preoccupied!)

THREE: When is enough ENOUGH?
*Sunday Church Attendance (BOTH Worship and S.S.)- EVERY Sunday? Or....?
*Bible Reading- Daily? When needed? Many times/day? Or....?
* Prayer-Morning? Evening? Daily? Alone? Together? Or.....?
*Share the Bible- Church? Conversation? Politics? Or.....?
* Service to others- Family? Church project? "Feel like it?" Or.....?
I need to sing hymn 453 to help me in my Journey-
"MORE love to thee, 0 Christ ...this is my EARNEST PLEA: MORE love to thee; MORE love to thee."
We know and become concerned when the earth needs MORE rain;
DO WE KNOW WHEN our souls need MORE "water of life?"

FOUR: Do you suppose some at Heaven's Gate will be given a "bottle and nipple?"
* 1 Cor. 3:2, 3-"I gave you milk...for you were not ready for solid food."
*Hebrews 5:12, 13-"You need milk, not solid food..." An Astronomer confessed to his Pastor:
"All I need to know about right living is the Golden Rule." The Pastor replied:
"Then, I guess all I need to know about Astronomy is
'Twinkle, Twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are!"
In some locations United Methodist Churches have never tasted "Disciple." I have been teaching it ever since it was introduced in 1987.
"Too lengthy?" (34 weeks; 2Yz hour sessions)
TRY IT! YOU'LL LIKE IT!

FIVE: When will I become honest enough with myself to acknowledge WHEN THE PROBLEM IS "ME"?
The Holy Bible is the FIRST BOOK in "Psychology." Read Romans 2:1 -
"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at
whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because YOU
who pass judgment DO THE SAME THINGS."
(The Science of Psychology calls this "Projection.")
Someone showed me how we point accusing fingers - one points toward the "other"
and three others point back at ME!

SIX: When will I unload my "excess baggage?"
A serious response to "Spiritual Formation" reveals "excess baggage." (Will I try to sneak this into heaven???)
*Worry! (Ever hear of a "worry-wart?")
*Anger! (Ever hear of "righteous indignation?")
* Fear! (Ever feel fear "causing me fits?")
There is nothing more beautiful than a butterfly!
-That has "come out of its stifling cocoon."

SEVEN: Why do we ALLOW "human nature" to overshadow "divine nature?" Holiness is the "Call of God" from the beginning of time.
* "Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy" (Lev. 12:44; repeated in 11:45;
19:2; 20:7, 26; 23:20, etc.)
*Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt. 5:48)
*From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view..." (2 Cor. 5:16, 17)

EIGHT: Why do we ALLOW "selective reading" of the Bible? -Some of the reasons:
* Looking for "views" that fit my religious "platform."
* Looking over "views" that make me restless, uncomfortable, squirm.
* Looking for "acceptable answers" to my current problem/need.
*Looking for "my favorites!" (And re-read, re-read, re-read, etc.)
(Perhaps these are the most serious "deterrents" to "Spiritual Formation." (Here’s where we need detergents!)

NINE: "You have touched me- I have grown."
District Superintendent Frank Nichols gave this "banner" to the Pastors of the District one Christmas. I SHALL NEVER, NEVER PART WITH IT!
It reminds me of "growth" that takes place with another Pilgrim! (More often NOT by a ''Yes man!")

TEN: The Impossible is ALWAYS ACCOMPLISHED by God’s Holy Spirit!
I would like to have ALL THESE TRAITS in ME: "Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
*Galatians 5:22 tells me these are the "Fruits of the Spirit."
* Ada tells me that she thinks the last should top the list! Conversation in the hospital, Waterloo, Iowa; patient getting impatient:
"You'll just have to be a PATIENT patient."
"That's what I'm trying to be."
"Have you ever seen anyone get patient by trying to be?"
No response! Too embarrassing! "Excess baggage" I can't get rid of!

Enough is enough! (You add on your own "points to ponder.” Share with me.)
SO:
I focus my life on "Spiritual Formation"- the "one thing, needful."
I accept God's "charge" to "fit this never-dying soul for the sky." Whenever I encounter Jesus, I sit at His feet- a learner.
I know that I can never become the right Martha without first being Mary.
I choose to remain "open" so that I never become "Cocksure Peter." With the Holy Spirit’s help I get rid of my "excess baggage."
I crave God's "food"- And not satisfy my own appetites!
I remember: "The main thing is keeping the main thing THE MAIN THING!''
I want for my Epitaph what is written for Jesus (Luke 2:42):

"And he grew in wisdom (intellectual)
and stature (physical)
and in favor with God (spiritual)
and man (social)."

I WILL WALK WITH GOD! -In a conscious, persona} relationship with Him! Will you join me in this "Journey of a Lifetime?" Please do! Thank you!!

Ivan C. Bys
United Methodist Pastor since 1941
1210 Bryan Blvd. Tahlequah, OK 74464-9632
Tel. (918) 458-0867