Wheeler Avenue Baptist Reviewed

Wheeler Avenue, Houston

Located in the Third Ward of Houston, and adjacent to both the main campus of University of Houston and Texas Southern,  Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church's worship is an experience of infusion with joy. I visited this vibrant church at a recent 1:00 PM Sunday worship. It was upon the invitation of the Lawson family, and Bill Lawson, who, as pastor, founded this church in 1960's.

 Wheeler Avenue has four services that run pretty close together, and there seemed to be real efficiency in getting folks in and out of the parking lot and main building. Upon driving in, I was greeted and told to hang out in my car, and a space would open soon, and it did. As I made my way up to the main entrance, I was guided to the real entrance, where I waited in line for a short time before going into the sanctuary. 

I was one of the very few over 50 in this gathering of mostly African Americans under 40, and many were in the 20's.  A few  parents brought their young children with them. The time, however, caters to students and young career folks, many of whom are single.

The church as a campus is very functional, not ornate or sprawling, comfortable. The worship center was full on the first floor. Arriving early, while I had my choice, I took a seat near the back. With balcony and main floor, the capacity is probably somewhere around 850. I was told that all four services are full most of the time. The bulletin I received was a calendar on both sides, with the announcements on the sanctuary screens. Announcements were made by the Senior Pastor.

The worship was exciting to say the least. The music was driving and upbeat, and top notch. The band and choir change somewhat for each service, and I recognized Hanq Neal as the music director and one of the lead vocalists. The choir and soloists were dynamite, and the opening singing reached out and grabbed me and didn't let go until I was fully present- body, mind, spirit, and voice-  in worship! 

The aspect of welcome was strong throughout, reiterated by both pastors present. I felt that my time and energy were valued and not taken for granted. The folks on my row and ushers were friendly, knowledgeable, and spoke to me without my having to speak to them. At one point the first time guests were asked to stand and the Associate Pastor Alex Johnson and those around us greeted each one of the first time guests personally. Pretty cool.

I was wondering if the preacher, Senior Pastor, Dr. Marcus Cosby, who looks to be in his 40's would have much left for this, the fourth of his sermons. Cosby seemed more fresh and energetic than most preachers would be on the first or second time.

The sermon on stewardship, was masterful, maybe the best I heard on the topic. It was grace-filled, not moralistic or guilt ridden, not easy to achieve when talking about managing money. it also wasn't prosperity gospel.  One of the points made: it's not about our trusting God to bless us, but rather, it's about God trusting us with the blessings God has already given us. If you like what he did, a guest can come back for Cosby's Bible Study Wednesday evenings. Or access his other sermons off their website.

By reputation, Wheeler Avenue leads other churches in service with its community. The church recently acquired a nearby center through its non-profit, and plans to make it a main hub for serving their closest neighbors and community, the Third Ward of Houston. A day of service and refurbishing is planned there on MLK Day, January 20, 2014.

I was lifted when I left this church. I would have to say that that the 1:00 PM worship time fits this pastor's schedule and I may be back sooner than later. It's apparently a great time for the younger crowd. Too, I enjoyed recording some of my experiences on their YELP site for guests, and I found their main website to be very helpful with directions, and loaded with apps of all kinds. All services are streamed live. 

The Fun Sin

“Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back--in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you.”  Fritz Buechner

When is anger no longer "fun?"

At some point, the pendulum swings on anger. It's when anger ceases to be fun. I remember one friend saying to me, "I'm just tired of being angry." There's energy depletion, exhaustion, depression, fatigue. 

Is it when you realize the toll it takes on your mind, body, and spirit? The Big Book mentions painful "resentment" or "being burned up" as not only very destructive to spiritual health, but the number one offender in drinking again.

The physical costs are well documented in Anger Kills. Almost all the time, we tell ourselves one of two things (or maybe both) when we get angry: 1) a situation is not fair and 2) it's not under control. Think about what we're telling ourselves and then ask: "Is my anger justified?" and "Is there anything I can do about it?"  Answering both of these questions first will provide further guidance on what to do with our anger. 

St. Paul advises to let go of anger every day, by writing in Ephesians 4: 26-27: "Be angry without sinning. Don’t let the sun set on your anger. Don’t provide an opportunity for the devil." A simple bed time examen can be used by naming three life-giving things experienced in the day, three life- draining things, then move on to confession and thanksgiving.

The Cenacle, Houston is featuring the well known author and retreat leader Rev. Matt Linn, SJ Thursday, January 30, 2014 on "The Fun Sin." Please check here to register for this professional day for spiritual directors. 

Will my healing ever be finished?

The light shines in our darkness...

I'm indebted to mentor and friend, Dr. Elaine Heath, who has given survivors of abuse and those who help them a framework for healing that is based in reality, and not denial. When we deny reality, we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit.

Some of the expectations for recovery are unreal, implying that "getting over it," or "moving on" or forgetting the past is even possible, much less  advisable. Abuse is one of those traumas from which psychological closure is simply not the same as healing and spiritual wholeness. 

What Heath says about recovery from sexual abuse, I find to be instructive about survivors of abuse of all kinds, that survivors' own experiences set the framework instead of some other agenda:

Recovery [from sexual abuse] is a gradual, spiraling journey, one in which we heal from a memory or a consequence, then circle around, and when our souls are ready, heal again at a deeper level. Our healing brings us freedom and compassion for others. Our scars become catalysts of healing for many others, in ways we see and do not see. Our journey is sacred and lifelong.

The invitation to continue healing is possible at any and all levels, and clergy are responsible for voicing it- simply and openly and faithfully. The goal is healing, however circuitous that may come, not "closure." There's no "getting over" a sibling who has raped you- or "closing the door" on being around by a drunk parent.    

Adults and adult children of all ages still wonder if healing is possible, or if they have missed the boat on ever being whole again. Why should I still be struggling with something that happened 30, 40, or 50 years ago? It seems that we have misrepresented healing, speaking of forgiveness as once and for all, or once in a lifetime. In reality it is almost never experienced as instantaneous, even in any of the less traumatic wrongs and hurts we regularly endure or inflict on others.

The experience of "how long, Lord?" couldn't be truer to the actual biblical narrative, and it's one question that can lead to deeper forgiveness, healing, and communion if we let it.

Epiphanies

Take a look- and marvel in God's love!

God's life is in us, but we hinder the movement. What of the gifts and people that are already in our lives?  They, too can be epiphanies for us.

As surely as God is in the waters of our baptism and in the bread and cup, so God is engraved on each proton of this space we inhabit- and share:

And truly, I reiterate, nothing’s small!
No lily-muffled hum of a summer-bee,
But finds some coupling with the spinning stars;
No pebble at your foot, but proves a sphere;
No chaffinch, but implies the cherubim;
And (glancing on my own thin, veinèd wrist),
In such a little tremor of the blood
The whole strong clamour of a vehement soul
Doth utter itself distinct. Earth’s crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes,
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries,
And daub their natural faces unaware
More and more from the first similitude.

from "Aurora Leigh," Elizabeth Barrett Browning