I read an editorial earlier this morning about how it is so easy to look back on a year and wonder where it went. I am relating to that premise, as I wonder where 2008 went and try to remember some of the stuff I did during it.
I golfed twice a week all summer, and even golfed into the fall during marching season. And I finally broke 50 - twice in a row. Of course, ending the season with my worst score - 65 - was a bummer, but I choose to remember those two 47s, and the time I parred two holes in a row.
The Worship Team's annual Prayer Summit was probably the best it's ever been.
I became president of my teacher's association, and it has been a great experience so far.
I traveled to Florida with my music students, and marched down Main Street USA at the Magic Kingdom. And discovered that other than doing that, I really don't care if I ever go to the Magic Kingdom again.
I not only played golf, I watched a bunch. I watched Annika eagle the 72nd of her last US Women's Open. And was there anyone who could not see how compelling golf could be when Tiger pulled a ... well, Tiger ... and won the 2008 US Open Championship?
I got a new convertible. Well, new to me, and my second one. And I found a bluetooth device that works in my car with the top down!
I got a BlackBerry, to which I have fast become addicted. Who knew? I will be forever grateful to my brother for selling me on the idea. My phone bill will not.
I discovered Viigo and Twitter, and am thinking about the best ways to use them, one as an information goldmine, and one as a method of connection with people.
I lost a dear friend, and gained a few.
And I got to 270 Facebook friends. Oy.
So, 2008 was pretty good. And more happened than I thought, as I sit and think about it.
May 2009 be as good, or better.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
bertie the alien dog
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Gone Quiet
Gone quiet.
A term used for when a submarine suddenly cannot be contacted and is not heard from. They say it's "gone quiet."
But as I drove to Mom and Dad's house for the Christmas festivities, I heard that phrase echo in my mind as I passed the malls.
Gone quiet.
This day, this one day, Christmas Day, is the one day in the year when everything pretty much stops. The majority of people have a day to spend with family. The commercial machine that sometimes seems like it IS our life, our country, comes to a nearly complete halt, and for one day it isn't about making money.
Oh, sure, I found an open Dunkin' Donuts at which to get my iced coffee. But they were running a short day. I was very grateful they were there, though I could have lived without it.
Oh wait, and there is LL Bean, open 24/7/365. And the Richdale downtown.
But mostly, we've gone quiet.
In the quiet, I hope we hear the voice of peace.
A term used for when a submarine suddenly cannot be contacted and is not heard from. They say it's "gone quiet."
But as I drove to Mom and Dad's house for the Christmas festivities, I heard that phrase echo in my mind as I passed the malls.
Gone quiet.
This day, this one day, Christmas Day, is the one day in the year when everything pretty much stops. The majority of people have a day to spend with family. The commercial machine that sometimes seems like it IS our life, our country, comes to a nearly complete halt, and for one day it isn't about making money.
Oh, sure, I found an open Dunkin' Donuts at which to get my iced coffee. But they were running a short day. I was very grateful they were there, though I could have lived without it.
Oh wait, and there is LL Bean, open 24/7/365. And the Richdale downtown.
But mostly, we've gone quiet.
In the quiet, I hope we hear the voice of peace.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Wiffiti - yet another new thing...
On my blog now, at the top, there is a screen. This screen will receive text messages and display them - live. This is via a new program, developed by some folks local to me, called Wiffiti. (Like wireless graffiti.)
All you have to do is send a text to 25622. The first thing in the message should be @spiralife, which is the name of my screen. (This applies when you discover other screens to use, as well.) Follow that with whatever message you want to display. If you want to have your name, or a user name, displayed, send "name xxxxx" to the same number. The Wiffiti system will remember your name for all future messages.
Just another fun thing to try out. Technology is so cool!
All you have to do is send a text to 25622. The first thing in the message should be @spiralife, which is the name of my screen. (This applies when you discover other screens to use, as well.) Follow that with whatever message you want to display. If you want to have your name, or a user name, displayed, send "name xxxxx" to the same number. The Wiffiti system will remember your name for all future messages.
Just another fun thing to try out. Technology is so cool!
Monday, December 22, 2008
me and cece
Took a drive and got a new one, started over, and all is well.
Sometimes snow is beautiful!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Peace
My sermon from this morning...
-----------------------------------------------------------
Peace
Sue Densmore
Maybe you’ve noticed that we live in a pretty loud, fast-paced, and sometimes violent world. And it isn’t just in business, or in schools, or in any particular profession. Everyone seems to be running in high gear almost constantly.
I have heard moms remark that their favorite room in the house is the bathroom because it’s the only place they can find some … peace.
I almost came to violence with my computer a few weeks ago. I got so annoyed I was ready to throw it out a window and start again. I even took a ride to Best Buy to see what I could see.
A very nice young woman spent 20 or 30 minutes with me, talking through my issues and my needs, and we worked out what I would need for a new computer and how much it would cost. And when I said, OK, let’s do it, she dutifully went off to gather the component parts of my order.
She came back after a couple of minutes, indicating she was having difficulty finding one of the programs I needed. And I said, “That’s OK – it’s a sign that I am not supposed to do this today.”
How did I know? Well, as soon as I pulled the proverbial trigger on the deal, I started to feel sick to my stomach, and the niggling doubts it had taken so long to talk myself around came rushing back as soon as I had a moment to myself to think about it.
It was by no means her fault, and when I explained to her what had been happening to me internally, she completely understood and we parted ways amicably.
I could talk myself around to the fact that a new computer was not an unreasonable purchase – after all, how could I be a music teacher without any sound on my computer? But I knew it wasn’t the right thing to do, and that God’s still small voice was arguing against it.
I knew because I just didn’t have peace about it.
Today’s Advent Candle is often called the “Candle of Peace.” Luke tells the story of the angels’ announcement, and they say they are bringing “good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people” and “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to all people on whom God’s favor rests.”
Peace on earth good will to men, the song says.
Peace.
Today’s reading was about the angel’s announcement to Mary that she would conceive and bear a son – a very special son, who would be given the throne to reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom would never end. She reacted to this news with what appears to be perfect peace!
I hear echoes of Isaiah in the announcement, and so might you. One echo in particular stands out.
Isaiah 9:6-7: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. And the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called wonderful counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
What’s peace?
The word for peace is one of the Hebrew words most often known by non-Hebrew speakers – shalom. It is used 237 times in the Old Testament, and is still used as a greeting by those who speak Hebrew. The corresponding Greek word is used extensively throughout the New Testament.
Where shall we start when we are talking about what peace is? When most people think of the word peace, it seems to me they would define it as the absence of conflict. Let’s start there.
If we are talking about the absence of conflict, then, certainly, one meaning of peace is the absence of conflict between nations – an absence of war.
I find myself praying recently for an end to war. I don’t think it was God’s intent for us to be taking up arms against one another in his world. He made the world and called it good, and before the entry of sin onto the scene there was no bloodshed at all, and I can’t imagine that God intended us to be shedding one another’s blood. I think war is one of the by-products of our desire to determine right and wrong for ourselves - of that choice the first people made to disobey God’s command in order to play out that desire.
At any rate, however they start, wars are largely out of our direct control, and we can pray, but it isn’t like we’re going to be the ones that get to sit down with the parties and talk about it. That’s for governments and their representatives to work out.
Another meaning might be absence of conflict between people. Romans 12:18 says, “If it’s possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Now, here we get to something for which we all bear responsibility and can actually do something to help. As far as it depends on us, we are to live at peace with everyone.
Everyone.
You mean all those people trying to get the last hot toy off the shelf at Wal-Mart?
Yep.
You mean the guy who cut into the line in front of you at the Starbucks order window?
Yep.
You mean the woman who almost wiped me out at the toll booth the other morning doing her makeup while driving? I am NOT supposed to overtake her so I can pull up next to her and give her a look which is at once intimidating and disgusted?
Yep.
You mean the boss who might not make decisions I would agree with? I am supposed to live at peace with him?
Yep.
Live at peace with everyone as far as it depends on you.
This concept could also apply to groups of people. People will sometimes separate into camps, and conflict can happen among several people at once. This kind of fire is frequently fed by unwise speech, something James addresses in his letter.
There is also, however, the concept of conflict within ourselves, like my internal conflict at Best Buy.
The thing is, simply defining the word as “the absence of conflict” doesn’t fully capture the biblical concept of the word peace.
“Shalom” is certainly the absence of conflict, but it isn’t simply meant in the sense of countries, or groups, or people fighting, or internal conflict over a purchasing decision.
It means peace in all areas. Peace within one’s heart, wholeness, peace with God.
Peace with God.
It can’t just be defined by its “negative” – the absence of conflict. It’s also a positive – an addition – of wholeness, completeness, and well-being.
It’s a huge word, a central concept of what it means to be in a relationship with God.
It is one of the oldest blessings – in Numbers 6, we find the blessing, “May the Lord lift His countenance on you and give you peace.”
It refers to the kind of well-being and wholeness that brings calm in the midst of a storm. We are told that God keep in perfect peace those whose hearts are stayed on Him. Does this mean a life without any kind of drama or conflict? Of course not!
It means we are supposed to keep our eyes and hearts set on God.
I remember when I was learning how to drive. I remember trying so hard to keep the car between the yellow line in the middle of the road and the white line on the right. And, if you know me, you know I wanted the car to be exactly centered, and travel in an exactly straight line.
Nobody ever actually does that. It was harder than it looked. I was looking at that road, and trying to measure the distance between the lines right in front of the car.
Of course, things got way easier when I took my eyes off the few feet right in front of the car, and kept them further along the horizon. Suddenly, I could drive a straight line!
If we trust God’s sovereignty, if we keep our hearts on Him, we will find it easier to navigate. And the peace that passes understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, as Philippians tells us.
Perfect Picture of Peace
Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide.
Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered. The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled.
As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd. A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.
The man with the vision (for the contest) uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace?
A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.
A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.
A Wardrobe from the King, Berit Kjos, pp. 45-46
We are looking to the horizon, waiting with eager anticipation for the return of Jesus. This season of advent reminds us to refocus our attention each year. When Jesus was walking on the water, and bid Peter to come to him, and Peter got out of the boat, he was just fine as long as his eyes – and his trust – were on Jesus. It was when he lost that perspective that he started to sink.
Peace comes from releasing the worry and trusting Jesus with everything – our lives, each day, knowing the end from the beginning. When we stop fighting God for control, we have peace in the midst of anything. Because, really, we have no control anyhow.
We will never gain that kind of peace – the peace that transcends understanding - if we are running as fast as we can from one thing to the next, keeping ourselves busy so we don’t have to hear God’s voice. As I look around me, and notice people going at warp speed, guzzling coffee to stave off the inevitable crash, I wonder if it’s the fear of stopping that makes us keep running. We worry that if we actually stop to listen to what God has to say to our hearts, to deal with those things that are the most deeply entrenched in us, we won’t like it. We think God might not have anything nice to say.
Well, if that’s you – and even if it’s not – I want to remind you of what God says. I’ll even use the words to a song, written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow –
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th’ unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor does He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Our God does not slumber or sleep, and He so loved the world that He gave His Son, because God desires that nobody should perish, but that all should gain eternal life.
Jesus is Himself our peace, who has broken down every wall.
And for all that we are instructed to be holy as He is holy, even more often we are told we are loved, and that we are to love one another.
To be at peace is to know the love of God in Christ, to experience that completeness, that shalom, that God wants to give us. Because the walls between ourselves and God have been broken down by the love of Christ.
I hope this season finds you knowing in your own life the words of the unbroken song - Peace on earth, good will to men.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Peace
Sue Densmore
Maybe you’ve noticed that we live in a pretty loud, fast-paced, and sometimes violent world. And it isn’t just in business, or in schools, or in any particular profession. Everyone seems to be running in high gear almost constantly.
I have heard moms remark that their favorite room in the house is the bathroom because it’s the only place they can find some … peace.
I almost came to violence with my computer a few weeks ago. I got so annoyed I was ready to throw it out a window and start again. I even took a ride to Best Buy to see what I could see.
A very nice young woman spent 20 or 30 minutes with me, talking through my issues and my needs, and we worked out what I would need for a new computer and how much it would cost. And when I said, OK, let’s do it, she dutifully went off to gather the component parts of my order.
She came back after a couple of minutes, indicating she was having difficulty finding one of the programs I needed. And I said, “That’s OK – it’s a sign that I am not supposed to do this today.”
How did I know? Well, as soon as I pulled the proverbial trigger on the deal, I started to feel sick to my stomach, and the niggling doubts it had taken so long to talk myself around came rushing back as soon as I had a moment to myself to think about it.
It was by no means her fault, and when I explained to her what had been happening to me internally, she completely understood and we parted ways amicably.
I could talk myself around to the fact that a new computer was not an unreasonable purchase – after all, how could I be a music teacher without any sound on my computer? But I knew it wasn’t the right thing to do, and that God’s still small voice was arguing against it.
I knew because I just didn’t have peace about it.
Today’s Advent Candle is often called the “Candle of Peace.” Luke tells the story of the angels’ announcement, and they say they are bringing “good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people” and “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to all people on whom God’s favor rests.”
Peace on earth good will to men, the song says.
Peace.
Today’s reading was about the angel’s announcement to Mary that she would conceive and bear a son – a very special son, who would be given the throne to reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom would never end. She reacted to this news with what appears to be perfect peace!
I hear echoes of Isaiah in the announcement, and so might you. One echo in particular stands out.
Isaiah 9:6-7: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. And the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called wonderful counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
What’s peace?
The word for peace is one of the Hebrew words most often known by non-Hebrew speakers – shalom. It is used 237 times in the Old Testament, and is still used as a greeting by those who speak Hebrew. The corresponding Greek word is used extensively throughout the New Testament.
Where shall we start when we are talking about what peace is? When most people think of the word peace, it seems to me they would define it as the absence of conflict. Let’s start there.
If we are talking about the absence of conflict, then, certainly, one meaning of peace is the absence of conflict between nations – an absence of war.
I find myself praying recently for an end to war. I don’t think it was God’s intent for us to be taking up arms against one another in his world. He made the world and called it good, and before the entry of sin onto the scene there was no bloodshed at all, and I can’t imagine that God intended us to be shedding one another’s blood. I think war is one of the by-products of our desire to determine right and wrong for ourselves - of that choice the first people made to disobey God’s command in order to play out that desire.
At any rate, however they start, wars are largely out of our direct control, and we can pray, but it isn’t like we’re going to be the ones that get to sit down with the parties and talk about it. That’s for governments and their representatives to work out.
Another meaning might be absence of conflict between people. Romans 12:18 says, “If it’s possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Now, here we get to something for which we all bear responsibility and can actually do something to help. As far as it depends on us, we are to live at peace with everyone.
Everyone.
You mean all those people trying to get the last hot toy off the shelf at Wal-Mart?
Yep.
You mean the guy who cut into the line in front of you at the Starbucks order window?
Yep.
You mean the woman who almost wiped me out at the toll booth the other morning doing her makeup while driving? I am NOT supposed to overtake her so I can pull up next to her and give her a look which is at once intimidating and disgusted?
Yep.
You mean the boss who might not make decisions I would agree with? I am supposed to live at peace with him?
Yep.
Live at peace with everyone as far as it depends on you.
This concept could also apply to groups of people. People will sometimes separate into camps, and conflict can happen among several people at once. This kind of fire is frequently fed by unwise speech, something James addresses in his letter.
There is also, however, the concept of conflict within ourselves, like my internal conflict at Best Buy.
The thing is, simply defining the word as “the absence of conflict” doesn’t fully capture the biblical concept of the word peace.
“Shalom” is certainly the absence of conflict, but it isn’t simply meant in the sense of countries, or groups, or people fighting, or internal conflict over a purchasing decision.
It means peace in all areas. Peace within one’s heart, wholeness, peace with God.
Peace with God.
It can’t just be defined by its “negative” – the absence of conflict. It’s also a positive – an addition – of wholeness, completeness, and well-being.
It’s a huge word, a central concept of what it means to be in a relationship with God.
It is one of the oldest blessings – in Numbers 6, we find the blessing, “May the Lord lift His countenance on you and give you peace.”
It refers to the kind of well-being and wholeness that brings calm in the midst of a storm. We are told that God keep in perfect peace those whose hearts are stayed on Him. Does this mean a life without any kind of drama or conflict? Of course not!
It means we are supposed to keep our eyes and hearts set on God.
I remember when I was learning how to drive. I remember trying so hard to keep the car between the yellow line in the middle of the road and the white line on the right. And, if you know me, you know I wanted the car to be exactly centered, and travel in an exactly straight line.
Nobody ever actually does that. It was harder than it looked. I was looking at that road, and trying to measure the distance between the lines right in front of the car.
Of course, things got way easier when I took my eyes off the few feet right in front of the car, and kept them further along the horizon. Suddenly, I could drive a straight line!
If we trust God’s sovereignty, if we keep our hearts on Him, we will find it easier to navigate. And the peace that passes understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, as Philippians tells us.
Perfect Picture of Peace
Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide.
Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered. The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled.
As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd. A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.
The man with the vision (for the contest) uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace?
A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.
A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.
A Wardrobe from the King, Berit Kjos, pp. 45-46
We are looking to the horizon, waiting with eager anticipation for the return of Jesus. This season of advent reminds us to refocus our attention each year. When Jesus was walking on the water, and bid Peter to come to him, and Peter got out of the boat, he was just fine as long as his eyes – and his trust – were on Jesus. It was when he lost that perspective that he started to sink.
Peace comes from releasing the worry and trusting Jesus with everything – our lives, each day, knowing the end from the beginning. When we stop fighting God for control, we have peace in the midst of anything. Because, really, we have no control anyhow.
We will never gain that kind of peace – the peace that transcends understanding - if we are running as fast as we can from one thing to the next, keeping ourselves busy so we don’t have to hear God’s voice. As I look around me, and notice people going at warp speed, guzzling coffee to stave off the inevitable crash, I wonder if it’s the fear of stopping that makes us keep running. We worry that if we actually stop to listen to what God has to say to our hearts, to deal with those things that are the most deeply entrenched in us, we won’t like it. We think God might not have anything nice to say.
Well, if that’s you – and even if it’s not – I want to remind you of what God says. I’ll even use the words to a song, written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow –
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th’ unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor does He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Our God does not slumber or sleep, and He so loved the world that He gave His Son, because God desires that nobody should perish, but that all should gain eternal life.
Jesus is Himself our peace, who has broken down every wall.
And for all that we are instructed to be holy as He is holy, even more often we are told we are loved, and that we are to love one another.
To be at peace is to know the love of God in Christ, to experience that completeness, that shalom, that God wants to give us. Because the walls between ourselves and God have been broken down by the love of Christ.
I hope this season finds you knowing in your own life the words of the unbroken song - Peace on earth, good will to men.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
So much time.
So much time has passed since my last update that it is really hard to call me an actual blogger. I think there are lots of folks who are better at this!
Since my last update, I broke 50 in my golf score - twice, did a marching season, started another school year, preached one more sermon, did a church Christmas Benefit Concert, and lost almost all track of the revgals, with whom I was so regular in the summer.
And, I have discovered Twitter. Which is what prompted me to get back over here for this short update. I added a Twitter section to my left sidebar.
OK. There it is.
Since my last update, I broke 50 in my golf score - twice, did a marching season, started another school year, preached one more sermon, did a church Christmas Benefit Concert, and lost almost all track of the revgals, with whom I was so regular in the summer.
And, I have discovered Twitter. Which is what prompted me to get back over here for this short update. I added a Twitter section to my left sidebar.
OK. There it is.
Monday, July 21, 2008
The Wheat and the Weeds
For the first time, I am posting here a sermon. I preached yesterday morning, and wanted to share. Comment or not, but be gentle!
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Today we are looking at another of Jesus parables. You’ll remember from last week, Bernie taught us that parables are stories about everyday things used by Jesus to make the people ponder spiritual concepts. He rarely explained them – and when he did, it was only to his disciples.
Today, as you know from the reading we just heard, we are in Matthew, Chapter 13, and are using two sections – the parable of the wheat and weeds, and its explanation. You could turn there now to follow along as we unpack this parable a bit.
We are told that a man sowed good seed in his field. Then we find that while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat. Both spring up and form heads, and the servants realize that weeds are growing among the wheat.
The servants come to the man about the issue. It’s interesting to me that they almost start off in an accusatory way. “Didn’t you use good seed?” Like it was somehow the man’s own fault that weeds had appeared!
The owner knows that and enemy planted the weeds. This was something with which one farmer would threaten another if they were enemies at that time. People would thus have understood this as a normal type of threatened action.
Then they ask if he wants them to take care of it. Like some bunch of tough guys, takin’ care of business. They thought they knew exactly what the owner wanted them to do, and were eager to get on with it.
They are told no, because while they are pulling weeds they may hurt the wheat.
Why? Were the servants incompetent? No. The weed referred to here is sometimes called “darnel,” and it when it starts out it looks just like wheat. By the time one can tell the difference – by the time the servants could have realized the problem - the roots would have become intertwined, and so pulling up one would also ruin the other.
The wheat was not going to be destroyed by the weeds. It might slightly diminish the amount of fruit the wheat would bear, but the owner would still reap a good harvest. What the servants proposed could easily have obliterated the entire harvest! Hence, the harvesters would wait until it was time, and take care of separating everything then.
This was one of the parables that Jesus decided to explain to His disciples. We find out that the “Son of Man” is the owner of the field, which is “the world.” Jesus owns the world, and sows good seed into it. The good seed stands for the children of the kingdom. That’s us – we are the good seed, if we are living as citizens of the kingdom of God.
But the evil one – the enemy – came and sowed weeds among the wheat. That seed stands for the children of the evil one. And all of us are to grow together until the end, at which time the harvesters will come and bring the good wheat into the barn and throw the weeds out where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
There are implications to this passage for us to consider this morning.
Apparently, there will, in fact, be a separation and sorting at some point when God deems the time is right. Harvest time will come, and those that are with God will be with Him forever, and those that are not won’t. It seems fairly clear. And it is right in line with other parables about things being sorted out – the sheep and the goats, the good fish and the bad fish.
Also, we see that the harvest and separation will not be done until it is time. Until then, wheat and weeds are to be allowed to grow together. And, yes, their roots will become intertwined. In a way, they will become dependent upon each other.
There are many people who go through life wishing they never had to interact or work with people that are “outside” the kingdom. One hears people lament about not being able to work in a “Christian environment.” They would rather insulate themselves, become part of some closed off community of only believers, people who “believe like me.”
But the field, you see, is the world. We are sown into the world – all over it, generously, God’s people placed in all the areas where God’s people should be. That’s all areas. That’s all over the world.
We are the seed in this parable. And we are sown where the master intends. There is nothing random about it, as we see form another of today’s lectionary readings, Psalm 139. You are knit together, fearfully and wonderfully, on purpose, by God Himself, who knows all of your days in their entirety before one if them even starts. You are placed where you are placed on purpose, and are simply supposed to be God’s person there.
Last week, we talked about looking to ourselves, and deciding what kind of soil we are for the seed of the word, generously sown by God, to grow in. This time we see we ARE the seed, and our responsibility is to become the best wheat we can be – bear the best fruit we can bear. Haven’t we read somewhere that we are to bear fruit, that we will be known by our fruit, even that God will help us to bear good fruit by the power of His Spirit?
So, good soil, good fruit. All connected.
However, as we live our lives, we should avoid the temptation to pull up the weeds.
And herein is the main point of the parable.
I imagine that this being Matthew, a Jewish-oriented book, written by a Jew, that the “servants” might have been taken by that crowd to be the religious leaders. They were very into making sure everyone knew what they had to do to be “in.” And, they were likely good at naming who was “in” and who was “out.”
I imagine that they had good intentions; they were trying to follow God’s law perfectly, and the traditions and interpretations they had developed over the years helped them decide how exactly to follow God’s law. Trouble is, they made their traditions of equal authority to the original words. And there were different schools of thought. So everybody’s going around trying to decide who is in and who is out, but nobody comes to the same conclusion.
Add to that the simple fact that people cannot see the heart, and God can, and we understand why it is far more preferable to let God handle the decision making.
Which is why the harvesters are NOT the servants. Did you ever notice that? The explanation of the parable does not say that the God will send the servants into the field to harvest and separate the wheat and the weeds. He says he will send harvesters – angels.
With good intentions, there are those of us who get very concerned with knowing where everyone is at spiritually. Which is a nice way of saying we would like to be the judges sometimes of who is in the kingdom and who is out.
The problem is, like the servants in the passage, we don’t really know weeds from wheat.
This past year I completed my 20th year teaching music. I have taught in two districts. I remember when I was back at my first job, and the music department was not as big and busy as the one where I am now, I served as the JV volleyball coach for a year. A freshman girl came in and tried out, and she wasn’t very good. I was going to cut her, but the head coach wouldn’t let me. She reminded me this girl was only a freshman, and we had no idea how she would do as she grew. So we kept her. By her senior year she was our best server, leading the team in aces.
Last year, I saw a trumpet player become a lead trumpet player in my band. Now, you have to know that band directors, with consideration of several factors, try to steer students to instruments where their odds of success are high. We look at facial and mouth structure, mainly. In fact, if you ever go to a college music department, you might notice that all the professors look like their instruments. The guy with the thin lips and the little round glasses? Always the clarinet guy. The guy who has longish hair and maybe a moustache or goatee? The guitar guy. At my college, in fact, the guitar instructor looked like Tom Selleck, so we called him “Magnum G.I.”
At any rate, I never would have thought this young man would be able to succeed on trumpet like he has. I had reasons for thinking that – facial and lip structure mostly. I really tried to convince him to change to a low brass instrument. But he wanted to play trumpet, and so he has worked hard, and become the lead. I must say I am impressed.
When you are in a field like mine, working on the development of people, you quickly see the proof of this parable.
Especially since, as anything under over-analysis would, the parable breaks down – even Jesus parables, if we read too much into them, aren’t perfect.
For this one, the one factor that isn’t mentioned, but that is very real, is that God can turn weeds into wheat.
How many of us, looking back, can see that we were headed for being weeds had God not changed our hearts and made us wheat – children of the kingdom? I look back at my life and say, “Total weed, man.”
Not that kind of weed – get your mind back on track…
I had another student several years back who, as a sophomore, was arrested for possession of drugs and taken out of school by the police in the middle of the day. He had been scheduled to join us on the music trip that year, and his parents (to their credit as they lost money) and I quickly agreed that this was a serious enough offense that this would no longer be possible.
This could have gone either way. There were those who were ready to write him off – and I have seen it happen where the people who would write someone off were proven right in the end.
But this young man stayed in the fight. He came back to school, stayed in the band, celebrated with us when we had a successful trip, and felt the love and forgiveness of his fellow band students, and me. He worked hard, ended up the leader of his section, succeeded in his other classes, and went to college. He still visits when he can. And he has turned into a fine man. And there is a level of faith there.
Some might have said upon his arrest that here, clearly, was a weed. Not so! He’s wheat all the way.
I say a level of belief, but I don’t know where or if he goes to church faithfully, what his doctrine is, or anything like all that.
But that isn’t my job. I am just supposed to be wheat, cultivate the garden, and try to live like a child of the kingdom. I am supposed to do that wherever God has placed me. I am not supposed to disentangle my roots from the rest. I am supposed to interact, love, work, and live with people who are not people of the kingdom. Does this mean that sometimes people might mistake me for a weed?
Probably. There are those who would think I was a weed just because of the worship music I like. Or how I dress. Or that I am perfectly content being single. Or that I sometimes get “passionate” in debate, or drive a little fast, or listen to – gasp – non-Christian music. There are plenty of people trying to decide who is in and who is out – building walls of doctrine and defending them brick by brick.
The problem is that when we are busy trying to keep out “the riff-raff,” we are seldom modeling the lives of love, grace, and mercy that God would want us to live.
We are sown into the world to bear God’s image to the world. It is a part of God’s plan of redemption for the whole earth. I mean, who else but the Great Redeemer would worry about turning weeds into wheat? Why not just take the wheat and run?
God loves the world. All of it. And He has planted us all over the world to show His image. Will everyone decide to follow God? No, some will reject Him. But that is for Him to deal with, not us.
Finally, I want to note one other thing. This phrase, “weeping and gnashing of teeth,” seems to be used almost exclusively by Matthew. And it seems to be related to the harshest of punishments, and these punishments are reserved for the people that had been inside the kingdom the whole time.
In other words, it is possible that what this means is that people who are outside the kingdom will receive less severe punishment than the people that are inside the kingdom but not bearing fruit. Because, maybe, they are so busy trying to decide about everybody else, they forget to look to their own soil, their own fruit bearing.
In the end, we are not responsible for the harvest. We do not need to weed God’s garden. An editorial by Bill McNabb in a magazine called The Door put it this way:
“I had an old seminary professor who began and ended his apologetics lecture with one sentence: "You defend God like you defend a lion -- you get out of his way." God, it seems, has never had much trouble with his enemies -- it's his friends who give him fits. . . . The theologian Karl Rahner put it this way: "The number one cause of atheism is Christians. Those who proclaim God with their mouths and deny Him with their lifestyles is what an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable." Perhaps the best defense of God would be to just keep our mouths shut and live like He told us to. The gospel would then have such power and attraction that we wouldn't have to worry about defending it.”
So in all our rush to do God a favor by weeding the garden, maybe we should pause and just be glad we aren’t the ones responsible for doing that, and just live like He tells us to live. Let’s remember that Jesus Himself didn’t weed out Judas who would betray Him, nor did He weed out Peter who would deny Him.
Nor did He weed out……me.
I, for one, am glad that decision isn’t mine to make. Or yours. Let’s rejoice in the fact that it’s God who decides in the end.
Let’s pray.
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Today we are looking at another of Jesus parables. You’ll remember from last week, Bernie taught us that parables are stories about everyday things used by Jesus to make the people ponder spiritual concepts. He rarely explained them – and when he did, it was only to his disciples.
Today, as you know from the reading we just heard, we are in Matthew, Chapter 13, and are using two sections – the parable of the wheat and weeds, and its explanation. You could turn there now to follow along as we unpack this parable a bit.
We are told that a man sowed good seed in his field. Then we find that while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat. Both spring up and form heads, and the servants realize that weeds are growing among the wheat.
The servants come to the man about the issue. It’s interesting to me that they almost start off in an accusatory way. “Didn’t you use good seed?” Like it was somehow the man’s own fault that weeds had appeared!
The owner knows that and enemy planted the weeds. This was something with which one farmer would threaten another if they were enemies at that time. People would thus have understood this as a normal type of threatened action.
Then they ask if he wants them to take care of it. Like some bunch of tough guys, takin’ care of business. They thought they knew exactly what the owner wanted them to do, and were eager to get on with it.
They are told no, because while they are pulling weeds they may hurt the wheat.
Why? Were the servants incompetent? No. The weed referred to here is sometimes called “darnel,” and it when it starts out it looks just like wheat. By the time one can tell the difference – by the time the servants could have realized the problem - the roots would have become intertwined, and so pulling up one would also ruin the other.
The wheat was not going to be destroyed by the weeds. It might slightly diminish the amount of fruit the wheat would bear, but the owner would still reap a good harvest. What the servants proposed could easily have obliterated the entire harvest! Hence, the harvesters would wait until it was time, and take care of separating everything then.
This was one of the parables that Jesus decided to explain to His disciples. We find out that the “Son of Man” is the owner of the field, which is “the world.” Jesus owns the world, and sows good seed into it. The good seed stands for the children of the kingdom. That’s us – we are the good seed, if we are living as citizens of the kingdom of God.
But the evil one – the enemy – came and sowed weeds among the wheat. That seed stands for the children of the evil one. And all of us are to grow together until the end, at which time the harvesters will come and bring the good wheat into the barn and throw the weeds out where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
There are implications to this passage for us to consider this morning.
Apparently, there will, in fact, be a separation and sorting at some point when God deems the time is right. Harvest time will come, and those that are with God will be with Him forever, and those that are not won’t. It seems fairly clear. And it is right in line with other parables about things being sorted out – the sheep and the goats, the good fish and the bad fish.
Also, we see that the harvest and separation will not be done until it is time. Until then, wheat and weeds are to be allowed to grow together. And, yes, their roots will become intertwined. In a way, they will become dependent upon each other.
There are many people who go through life wishing they never had to interact or work with people that are “outside” the kingdom. One hears people lament about not being able to work in a “Christian environment.” They would rather insulate themselves, become part of some closed off community of only believers, people who “believe like me.”
But the field, you see, is the world. We are sown into the world – all over it, generously, God’s people placed in all the areas where God’s people should be. That’s all areas. That’s all over the world.
We are the seed in this parable. And we are sown where the master intends. There is nothing random about it, as we see form another of today’s lectionary readings, Psalm 139. You are knit together, fearfully and wonderfully, on purpose, by God Himself, who knows all of your days in their entirety before one if them even starts. You are placed where you are placed on purpose, and are simply supposed to be God’s person there.
Last week, we talked about looking to ourselves, and deciding what kind of soil we are for the seed of the word, generously sown by God, to grow in. This time we see we ARE the seed, and our responsibility is to become the best wheat we can be – bear the best fruit we can bear. Haven’t we read somewhere that we are to bear fruit, that we will be known by our fruit, even that God will help us to bear good fruit by the power of His Spirit?
So, good soil, good fruit. All connected.
However, as we live our lives, we should avoid the temptation to pull up the weeds.
And herein is the main point of the parable.
I imagine that this being Matthew, a Jewish-oriented book, written by a Jew, that the “servants” might have been taken by that crowd to be the religious leaders. They were very into making sure everyone knew what they had to do to be “in.” And, they were likely good at naming who was “in” and who was “out.”
I imagine that they had good intentions; they were trying to follow God’s law perfectly, and the traditions and interpretations they had developed over the years helped them decide how exactly to follow God’s law. Trouble is, they made their traditions of equal authority to the original words. And there were different schools of thought. So everybody’s going around trying to decide who is in and who is out, but nobody comes to the same conclusion.
Add to that the simple fact that people cannot see the heart, and God can, and we understand why it is far more preferable to let God handle the decision making.
Which is why the harvesters are NOT the servants. Did you ever notice that? The explanation of the parable does not say that the God will send the servants into the field to harvest and separate the wheat and the weeds. He says he will send harvesters – angels.
With good intentions, there are those of us who get very concerned with knowing where everyone is at spiritually. Which is a nice way of saying we would like to be the judges sometimes of who is in the kingdom and who is out.
The problem is, like the servants in the passage, we don’t really know weeds from wheat.
This past year I completed my 20th year teaching music. I have taught in two districts. I remember when I was back at my first job, and the music department was not as big and busy as the one where I am now, I served as the JV volleyball coach for a year. A freshman girl came in and tried out, and she wasn’t very good. I was going to cut her, but the head coach wouldn’t let me. She reminded me this girl was only a freshman, and we had no idea how she would do as she grew. So we kept her. By her senior year she was our best server, leading the team in aces.
Last year, I saw a trumpet player become a lead trumpet player in my band. Now, you have to know that band directors, with consideration of several factors, try to steer students to instruments where their odds of success are high. We look at facial and mouth structure, mainly. In fact, if you ever go to a college music department, you might notice that all the professors look like their instruments. The guy with the thin lips and the little round glasses? Always the clarinet guy. The guy who has longish hair and maybe a moustache or goatee? The guitar guy. At my college, in fact, the guitar instructor looked like Tom Selleck, so we called him “Magnum G.I.”
At any rate, I never would have thought this young man would be able to succeed on trumpet like he has. I had reasons for thinking that – facial and lip structure mostly. I really tried to convince him to change to a low brass instrument. But he wanted to play trumpet, and so he has worked hard, and become the lead. I must say I am impressed.
When you are in a field like mine, working on the development of people, you quickly see the proof of this parable.
Especially since, as anything under over-analysis would, the parable breaks down – even Jesus parables, if we read too much into them, aren’t perfect.
For this one, the one factor that isn’t mentioned, but that is very real, is that God can turn weeds into wheat.
How many of us, looking back, can see that we were headed for being weeds had God not changed our hearts and made us wheat – children of the kingdom? I look back at my life and say, “Total weed, man.”
Not that kind of weed – get your mind back on track…
I had another student several years back who, as a sophomore, was arrested for possession of drugs and taken out of school by the police in the middle of the day. He had been scheduled to join us on the music trip that year, and his parents (to their credit as they lost money) and I quickly agreed that this was a serious enough offense that this would no longer be possible.
This could have gone either way. There were those who were ready to write him off – and I have seen it happen where the people who would write someone off were proven right in the end.
But this young man stayed in the fight. He came back to school, stayed in the band, celebrated with us when we had a successful trip, and felt the love and forgiveness of his fellow band students, and me. He worked hard, ended up the leader of his section, succeeded in his other classes, and went to college. He still visits when he can. And he has turned into a fine man. And there is a level of faith there.
Some might have said upon his arrest that here, clearly, was a weed. Not so! He’s wheat all the way.
I say a level of belief, but I don’t know where or if he goes to church faithfully, what his doctrine is, or anything like all that.
But that isn’t my job. I am just supposed to be wheat, cultivate the garden, and try to live like a child of the kingdom. I am supposed to do that wherever God has placed me. I am not supposed to disentangle my roots from the rest. I am supposed to interact, love, work, and live with people who are not people of the kingdom. Does this mean that sometimes people might mistake me for a weed?
Probably. There are those who would think I was a weed just because of the worship music I like. Or how I dress. Or that I am perfectly content being single. Or that I sometimes get “passionate” in debate, or drive a little fast, or listen to – gasp – non-Christian music. There are plenty of people trying to decide who is in and who is out – building walls of doctrine and defending them brick by brick.
The problem is that when we are busy trying to keep out “the riff-raff,” we are seldom modeling the lives of love, grace, and mercy that God would want us to live.
We are sown into the world to bear God’s image to the world. It is a part of God’s plan of redemption for the whole earth. I mean, who else but the Great Redeemer would worry about turning weeds into wheat? Why not just take the wheat and run?
God loves the world. All of it. And He has planted us all over the world to show His image. Will everyone decide to follow God? No, some will reject Him. But that is for Him to deal with, not us.
Finally, I want to note one other thing. This phrase, “weeping and gnashing of teeth,” seems to be used almost exclusively by Matthew. And it seems to be related to the harshest of punishments, and these punishments are reserved for the people that had been inside the kingdom the whole time.
In other words, it is possible that what this means is that people who are outside the kingdom will receive less severe punishment than the people that are inside the kingdom but not bearing fruit. Because, maybe, they are so busy trying to decide about everybody else, they forget to look to their own soil, their own fruit bearing.
In the end, we are not responsible for the harvest. We do not need to weed God’s garden. An editorial by Bill McNabb in a magazine called The Door put it this way:
“I had an old seminary professor who began and ended his apologetics lecture with one sentence: "You defend God like you defend a lion -- you get out of his way." God, it seems, has never had much trouble with his enemies -- it's his friends who give him fits. . . . The theologian Karl Rahner put it this way: "The number one cause of atheism is Christians. Those who proclaim God with their mouths and deny Him with their lifestyles is what an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable." Perhaps the best defense of God would be to just keep our mouths shut and live like He told us to. The gospel would then have such power and attraction that we wouldn't have to worry about defending it.”
So in all our rush to do God a favor by weeding the garden, maybe we should pause and just be glad we aren’t the ones responsible for doing that, and just live like He tells us to live. Let’s remember that Jesus Himself didn’t weed out Judas who would betray Him, nor did He weed out Peter who would deny Him.
Nor did He weed out……me.
I, for one, am glad that decision isn’t mine to make. Or yours. Let’s rejoice in the fact that it’s God who decides in the end.
Let’s pray.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Friday Five - What's In A Name?
So the Friday Five goes like this today:
And so, my play is as follows:
1. So how did you come up with your blogging name? And/or the name of your blog?
My title represents the idea that the human learning curve is not a straight line, but a spiral, where we learn similar things from different perspectives. We should cut ourselves some slack, therefore, when we are dealing with similar topics that we think we already should have learned or known.
2. Are there any code names or secret identities in your blog? Any stories there?
Not really. Maybe in a couple of posts I am referring to specific people or situations, but there are no "regulars" with code names.
3. What are some blog titles that you just love? For their cleverness, drama, or sheer, crazy fun?
Love the title of "Jesus Was Not A Republican." It grabbed my attention right away. And who doesn't love "Clever Title Goes Here." Genius!
4. What three blogs are you devoted to? Other than the RevGalBlogPals of course!
Jesus Was Not A Republican" is a story of the progress of an international adoption. Our own "Dancing With God" has been entertaining to read, following Emily's progress through school. I also check in on several of the revgals with some regularity.
5. Who introduced you to the world of blogging and why?
I no longer remember, actually. But I enjoy it!
Bonus question: Have you ever met any of your blogging friends? Where are some of the places you've met these fun folks?
Nope, but maybe someday.
If you are a regular reader of Songbird's blog, you know that "The Princess" has requested a new name. Her older brother changed his "secret identity" a while back and now this lovely young lady is searching for a new name on her mother's blog. This got me to thinking. How do we come up with all of these names? There must be at least a few good stories out there.
In honor of the Princess I have posted a picture of one of my favorite members of fictional royalty, Robert Munch's "Paperback Princess." She is a brave young woman who doesn't need anyone else to fight her battles. And she knows that what is most important isn't tiaras and finery but what's on the inside. If you haven't read this little fairy tale, I highly recommend it. But I digress.
And so, my play is as follows:
1. So how did you come up with your blogging name? And/or the name of your blog?
My title represents the idea that the human learning curve is not a straight line, but a spiral, where we learn similar things from different perspectives. We should cut ourselves some slack, therefore, when we are dealing with similar topics that we think we already should have learned or known.
2. Are there any code names or secret identities in your blog? Any stories there?
Not really. Maybe in a couple of posts I am referring to specific people or situations, but there are no "regulars" with code names.
3. What are some blog titles that you just love? For their cleverness, drama, or sheer, crazy fun?
Love the title of "Jesus Was Not A Republican." It grabbed my attention right away. And who doesn't love "Clever Title Goes Here." Genius!
4. What three blogs are you devoted to? Other than the RevGalBlogPals of course!
Jesus Was Not A Republican" is a story of the progress of an international adoption. Our own "Dancing With God" has been entertaining to read, following Emily's progress through school. I also check in on several of the revgals with some regularity.
5. Who introduced you to the world of blogging and why?
I no longer remember, actually. But I enjoy it!
Bonus question: Have you ever met any of your blogging friends? Where are some of the places you've met these fun folks?
Nope, but maybe someday.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Summer Camp Friday Five
Mother Laura wrote, over at RevGals...
1. Did you go to sleep away camp, or day camp, as a child? Wish you could? Or sometimes wish you hadn't?
Went to camp for a week for one or two summers. I remember the first time I was supposed to and I got the chicken pox and could not. But I remember winning the skit competition and getting a trip "off-campus," and winning an archery award. But I don't remember loving it all, and didn't make a habit of going.
2. How about camping out? Dream vacation, nightmare, or somewhere in between?
Not a dream, not a nightmare. But my idea of roughing it is going to a hotel where they don't leave a mint on the pillow...
3. Have you ever worked as a camp counselor, or been to a camp for your denomination for either work or pleasure?
Nope.
4. Most dramatic memory of camp, or camping out?
On one of those fateful trips to camp, I lost the top part of my bathing suit at swim time. That was a bummer.
5. What is your favorite camp song or songs? Bonus points if you link to a recording or video.
Green Grow the Rushes Ho, and the camp's theme song. But I not longer remember all the words to either one.
We're settling into our new new apartment, and after a lifetime at Montessori Katie is having a fantastic summer at YMCA day camp. Meanwhile, Nicholas is packing up for a week at Camp Julian, shared by the Episcopal dioceses of Los Angeles and San Diego. His lists of supplies and rules--except for the ropes course available to the teenagers and the ban on IPODs and cell phones--bring back memories of my own happy times weeks at Y camp Ta Ta Pochon, funded by selling countless cases of butter toffee peanuts. So, in celebration of summer, please share your own memories and preferences about camp.
1. Did you go to sleep away camp, or day camp, as a child? Wish you could? Or sometimes wish you hadn't?
Went to camp for a week for one or two summers. I remember the first time I was supposed to and I got the chicken pox and could not. But I remember winning the skit competition and getting a trip "off-campus," and winning an archery award. But I don't remember loving it all, and didn't make a habit of going.
2. How about camping out? Dream vacation, nightmare, or somewhere in between?
Not a dream, not a nightmare. But my idea of roughing it is going to a hotel where they don't leave a mint on the pillow...
3. Have you ever worked as a camp counselor, or been to a camp for your denomination for either work or pleasure?
Nope.
4. Most dramatic memory of camp, or camping out?
On one of those fateful trips to camp, I lost the top part of my bathing suit at swim time. That was a bummer.
5. What is your favorite camp song or songs? Bonus points if you link to a recording or video.
Green Grow the Rushes Ho, and the camp's theme song. But I not longer remember all the words to either one.
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Belated Friday Five
Fourth of July, and I missed the Friday Five. So, here I am, late.
1. Barbeque's or picnics ( or are they essentially the same thing?)
2. The park/ the lake/ the beach or staying at home simply being?
3. Fireworks- love 'em or hate 'em?
4. Parades- have you ever taken part- share a memory...
5. Time for a musical interlude- if you could sum up holidays in a piece of music what would it be?
1. Barbeque's or picnics ( or are they essentially the same thing?)
Barbecues conjure images of tables and chairs, rather than eating on the ground on a blanket. I'll take a table - not much of a ground sitter.
2. The park/ the lake/ the beach or staying at home simply being?
The lake - simply being.
3. Fireworks- love 'em or hate 'em?
Love 'em. Unless it's just noise in my neighborhood. That's really not much fun.
4. Parades- have you ever taken part- share a memory...
Oy, have I done parades. But on Memorial Day, not the Fourth. School's out, so my band isn't in season. Best parade memory? Marching with my high school kids down Main Street USA in Disney.
5. Time for a musical interlude- if you could sum up holidays in a piece of music what would it be?
Well, the 1812 Overture, of course! Right now...
Keepers
Sometimes you find a true friend. Somebody who takes all your good and bad, and lets you be yourself even when you aren't perfect. Who realizes that your faults just mean you're human. And real.
And when you talk, they hear what you say. And what you don't say. And know the difference, and know how to draw out what needs to be drawn and leave alone what needs leaving alone.
And they know and respect your boundaries. So for them, the boundaries start to move closer and closer to the heart of the fortress, as it were. And when you realize that you have allowed them to breach the wall, you find yourself grateful, because you know what they see inside the wall won't make them run away. It'll make them love you - and you them - more.
I have a few of those. A very few. And I plan to keep them.
And when you talk, they hear what you say. And what you don't say. And know the difference, and know how to draw out what needs to be drawn and leave alone what needs leaving alone.
And they know and respect your boundaries. So for them, the boundaries start to move closer and closer to the heart of the fortress, as it were. And when you realize that you have allowed them to breach the wall, you find yourself grateful, because you know what they see inside the wall won't make them run away. It'll make them love you - and you them - more.
I have a few of those. A very few. And I plan to keep them.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Friday Five Word Association
It's been a while, but let's give it a shot...
--------------
Think summer......are you there? Below you will find five words or phrases. Tell us the first thing you think of on reading each one. Your response might be simply another word, or it might be a sentence, a poem, a memory, a recipe, or a story. You get the idea:
1. rooftop
Julie Andrews and Dick van Dyke.
2. gritty
John Wayne
3. hot town (yeah, I know, it's two words)
New York in July
4. night
Night and Day...you are the one...
5. dance
A Chorus Line
--------------
Think summer......are you there? Below you will find five words or phrases. Tell us the first thing you think of on reading each one. Your response might be simply another word, or it might be a sentence, a poem, a memory, a recipe, or a story. You get the idea:
1. rooftop
Julie Andrews and Dick van Dyke.
2. gritty
John Wayne
3. hot town (yeah, I know, it's two words)
New York in July
4. night
Night and Day...you are the one...
5. dance
A Chorus Line
Monday, January 28, 2008
Summit 2008
We took a journey on this year's summit that culminated in my asking myself - and God - when I had decided to become half a Christian. I stopped calling on, leaning on, the power of the Holy Spirit, and as a result was going through the motions of living, but with no real power.
Thank God that He freely gives us the Spirit when we ask. Not that anyone who is a Chritian doesn't have the Spirit dwelling in them once they choose to follow the path of Christ. That's mysterious, but theologically true.
But there is something cool about awakening our awareness of the work of the Spirit to counsel, comfort, strenghthen, and guide, and to call on His power to help us in every circumstance. That is where deep joy and peace come from, as well as the ability to respond with grace and let mercy lead.
Which reminds me of a Rich Mullins tune off of his Brother's Keeper album.
I always loved that tune - particularly the idea of leaving footprints filled with drops of grace.
May it be so, not by might, not by strength, but by the power of the Spirit of God.
Thank God that He freely gives us the Spirit when we ask. Not that anyone who is a Chritian doesn't have the Spirit dwelling in them once they choose to follow the path of Christ. That's mysterious, but theologically true.
But there is something cool about awakening our awareness of the work of the Spirit to counsel, comfort, strenghthen, and guide, and to call on His power to help us in every circumstance. That is where deep joy and peace come from, as well as the ability to respond with grace and let mercy lead.
Which reminds me of a Rich Mullins tune off of his Brother's Keeper album.
Let mercy lead, let love be the strength in your legs,
And in every footprint that you leave
There'll be a drop of grace;
If we can reach
Beyond the wisdom of this age
Into the foolishness of God
That foolishness will save those who believe,
In that foolish grace of God they will find peace
And He'll meet them
In that place where mercy leads.
I always loved that tune - particularly the idea of leaving footprints filled with drops of grace.
May it be so, not by might, not by strength, but by the power of the Spirit of God.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Welcoming the New Year
Like we have a choice, right?
For some people this really is a welcome. For whatever reason, 2007 wasn't so great, and they are excited about the prospect of the fresh start a new year can bring.
For some people, maybe it's the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" inevitability of the passing of time and the turn of the calendar page. Not like you can stop the thing from happening, so you jump on board and ring it in.
And for some people, I imagine it's like dragging them kicking and screaming past midnight. Either 2007 was SO good they don't want to leave, or they are so afraid of what 2008 will bring because they are used to being beat up all the time.
Either way, I am thinking about something Brian McLaren wrote in one of the books in the New Kind of Christian series. He said that God was in the past, pushing us forward, and He is in the future pulling us toward Home, and he is with us right now, walking through whatever comes our way in this life.
I take comfort in the fact that no matter where I am, God is with me, and wherever I will be, God already was. He is the God who delivered me from bondage and slavery and set me free, and He is the God who makes all living worthwhile.
And even though I will never be able to keep every resolution, nor will I ever be able to stop letting Him down in some way, and even though I will never be perfect, His love is still boundless, His forgiveness is endless, His grace is still amazing, and His mercy endures forever, new every morning.
Bring it on, 2008. I've got all the help I need.
For some people this really is a welcome. For whatever reason, 2007 wasn't so great, and they are excited about the prospect of the fresh start a new year can bring.
For some people, maybe it's the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" inevitability of the passing of time and the turn of the calendar page. Not like you can stop the thing from happening, so you jump on board and ring it in.
And for some people, I imagine it's like dragging them kicking and screaming past midnight. Either 2007 was SO good they don't want to leave, or they are so afraid of what 2008 will bring because they are used to being beat up all the time.
Either way, I am thinking about something Brian McLaren wrote in one of the books in the New Kind of Christian series. He said that God was in the past, pushing us forward, and He is in the future pulling us toward Home, and he is with us right now, walking through whatever comes our way in this life.
I take comfort in the fact that no matter where I am, God is with me, and wherever I will be, God already was. He is the God who delivered me from bondage and slavery and set me free, and He is the God who makes all living worthwhile.
And even though I will never be able to keep every resolution, nor will I ever be able to stop letting Him down in some way, and even though I will never be perfect, His love is still boundless, His forgiveness is endless, His grace is still amazing, and His mercy endures forever, new every morning.
Bring it on, 2008. I've got all the help I need.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
2007
Let's see. The most recent Friday Five asked us to list five memorable moments from 2007. I am not sure I can remember 5 but I'll give it my best shot.
1) The gall bladder attack that put me in the hospital overnight last January. It was at a rural hospital, and I swear the surgeon wanted to cut me open then and there. But I made them wait.
2) The ensuing April surgery to remove the offending organ. I went back to work too early and slowed the healing process, but some changes I had been making throughout the year helped it all go smoothly.
3) Saying goodbye to yet another senior class.
4) Taking up golf again, and remembering what a great game it is and how I love it, and why I stopped in the first place.
5) As a result of the golf, renewing my friendships with some of the finest people in the world over at The Valley.
I did better than I thought.
I wonder what 2008 will bring.
1) The gall bladder attack that put me in the hospital overnight last January. It was at a rural hospital, and I swear the surgeon wanted to cut me open then and there. But I made them wait.
2) The ensuing April surgery to remove the offending organ. I went back to work too early and slowed the healing process, but some changes I had been making throughout the year helped it all go smoothly.
3) Saying goodbye to yet another senior class.
4) Taking up golf again, and remembering what a great game it is and how I love it, and why I stopped in the first place.
5) As a result of the golf, renewing my friendships with some of the finest people in the world over at The Valley.
I did better than I thought.
I wonder what 2008 will bring.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
And Just Like That...
...it's almost two weeks gone by. What is it about this season that gets people so busy? Good intentions, I think, with the shopping and the parties and the special events. And, to some extent, a "job hazard" for any kind of musician, music teacher, or clergy member.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Had any? I have. In spite of not having time to blog, and spending much time running, my inner peace is intact. Because busy doesn't have to mean not peaceful. There is a such thing as "good busy," in my opinion. I enjoy shopping for gifts for friends - so long as I have some idea about what I am looking for. And I like parties. Small ones, where I can talk to a few people at a time for something more than small talk. And special events are fun, even if I seem to be in charge of them a lot.
But it sure does make the time go by fast. As they say, time flies when you're having fun.
Wishing peace to all of my friends, from the Prince of Peace Himself.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Had any? I have. In spite of not having time to blog, and spending much time running, my inner peace is intact. Because busy doesn't have to mean not peaceful. There is a such thing as "good busy," in my opinion. I enjoy shopping for gifts for friends - so long as I have some idea about what I am looking for. And I like parties. Small ones, where I can talk to a few people at a time for something more than small talk. And special events are fun, even if I seem to be in charge of them a lot.
But it sure does make the time go by fast. As they say, time flies when you're having fun.
Wishing peace to all of my friends, from the Prince of Peace Himself.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Friday Five - Rejoice!
This week's Friday Five is about the third week in advent.
1. Waiting?
Realizing that there is something worth waiting for.
2. Darkness?
That it isn't actually a thing - just the absence of light - and at some point, dawn breaks through.
3. Winter?
The reminder when it snows that my sins have been washed whiter than snow.
4. Advent?
That we are celebrating and preparing for Christ's coming.
5. Jesus' coming?
That He is coming back.
Can you believe that in two days we'll be halfway through Advent? Gaudete Sunday: pink candle on the advent wreath, rose vestments for those who have them, concerts and pageants in many congregations. Time to rejoice!
Rejoice in the nearness of Christ's coming, yes, but also in the many gifts of the pregnant waiting time when the world (in the northern hemisphere, at least) spins ever deeper into sweet, fertile darkness.
What makes you rejoice about:
1. Waiting?
Realizing that there is something worth waiting for.
2. Darkness?
That it isn't actually a thing - just the absence of light - and at some point, dawn breaks through.
3. Winter?
The reminder when it snows that my sins have been washed whiter than snow.
4. Advent?
That we are celebrating and preparing for Christ's coming.
5. Jesus' coming?
That He is coming back.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Swapping
The Yankee Swap. I think in the midwest it is called the White Elephant trade or swap or something.
By some people it is basically seen an excuse to regift unwanted items. Why anyone wants to hang onto unwanted items jsut to inflict them on others is beyond me.
I really don't like the Yankee Swap. In fact, I have seriously considered revising my answer on one of the Friday Five - Grumpy Edition questions from a couple of weeks back. Question: "Tradition you hate." Answer: "The Yankee Swap."
But I am a good sport so I will participate for the social aspect of it, and laugh at the stupid things people open, and play the game.
Even if I do end up with a Bugs Bunny Chia pet.
By some people it is basically seen an excuse to regift unwanted items. Why anyone wants to hang onto unwanted items jsut to inflict them on others is beyond me.
I really don't like the Yankee Swap. In fact, I have seriously considered revising my answer on one of the Friday Five - Grumpy Edition questions from a couple of weeks back. Question: "Tradition you hate." Answer: "The Yankee Swap."
But I am a good sport so I will participate for the social aspect of it, and laugh at the stupid things people open, and play the game.
Even if I do end up with a Bugs Bunny Chia pet.
Friday, December 07, 2007
Sometimes I can't resist.
| You Are Apple Pie |
 You're the perfect combo of comforting and traditional. You prefer things the way you've always known them. You'll admit that you're old fashioned, and you don't see anything wrong with that. Your tastes and preferences are classic. And classic never goes out of style. Those who like you crave security. People can rely on you to be true to yourself - and true to them. You're loyal, trustworthy, and comfortable in your own skin. And because of these qualities, you've definitely earned a lot of respect. |
Friday Five - Preparation, Preparation
For this week's Friday Five, Sally wrote:
1. You have a busy week, pushing out all time for preparing worship/ Sunday School lessons/ being ready for an important meeting ( or whatever equivalent your profession demands)- how do you cope?
I am great at avoidance, and my house tends to be less cluttered and my blog more up to date when there's lots to do.
But seriously, I will do whatever is next, and leave the rest until that is done. Or, whatever is going to have me in front of people will come first.
2. You have unexpected visitors, and need to provide them with a meal- what do you do?
I do not have unexpected visitors. My friends know never to come to my house unannounced. It has become a running joke. I am a ball of stress when anyone is in my house, because my perfectionism makes me worry about every detail - is it too hot, too cold; do they need something else to drink, is what I have in the house adequate to offer; yada, yada. It just is not fun.
Because my job as a music teacher requires me to be in charge and entertaining all the time, my friends are very graciously sensitive to my need for my house to be my shelter and hiding place.
Three discussion topics:
3. Thinking along the lines of this weeks advent theme; repentance is an important but often neglected aspect of advent preparations.....
And it's something we should be practicing all the time. I don't know about the rest of you, but I keep doing things I have to repent of. Pesky sin nature. The cool thing is, God's forgiveness has no limit.
4. Some of the best experiences in life occur when you simply go with the flow.....
I went with the flow with a vendor the other day and ended up getting about $800-$1000 of free equipment. Sometimes keeping your cool and going with the flow pays off in unexpected ways.
5. Details are everything, attention to the small things enables a plan to roll forward smoothly...
I try to be vigilant about details, and my department generally functions at high efficiency in this area. But it is easier to catch all the details when you are working with a good team.
Bonus if you dare- how well prepared are you for Christmas this year?
Not. 'Nuff said.
This has been a difficult week for me, the death of a little six year old has overshadowed our advent preparations, and made many of us here in Downham Market look differently at Christmas. With that in mind I ask whether you are the kind of person that likes everything prepared well in advance, are you a last minute crammer, or a bit of a mixture.....
Here then is this weeks Friday 5:
1. You have a busy week, pushing out all time for preparing worship/ Sunday School lessons/ being ready for an important meeting ( or whatever equivalent your profession demands)- how do you cope?
I am great at avoidance, and my house tends to be less cluttered and my blog more up to date when there's lots to do.
But seriously, I will do whatever is next, and leave the rest until that is done. Or, whatever is going to have me in front of people will come first.
2. You have unexpected visitors, and need to provide them with a meal- what do you do?
I do not have unexpected visitors. My friends know never to come to my house unannounced. It has become a running joke. I am a ball of stress when anyone is in my house, because my perfectionism makes me worry about every detail - is it too hot, too cold; do they need something else to drink, is what I have in the house adequate to offer; yada, yada. It just is not fun.
Because my job as a music teacher requires me to be in charge and entertaining all the time, my friends are very graciously sensitive to my need for my house to be my shelter and hiding place.
Three discussion topics:
3. Thinking along the lines of this weeks advent theme; repentance is an important but often neglected aspect of advent preparations.....
And it's something we should be practicing all the time. I don't know about the rest of you, but I keep doing things I have to repent of. Pesky sin nature. The cool thing is, God's forgiveness has no limit.
4. Some of the best experiences in life occur when you simply go with the flow.....
I went with the flow with a vendor the other day and ended up getting about $800-$1000 of free equipment. Sometimes keeping your cool and going with the flow pays off in unexpected ways.
5. Details are everything, attention to the small things enables a plan to roll forward smoothly...
I try to be vigilant about details, and my department generally functions at high efficiency in this area. But it is easier to catch all the details when you are working with a good team.
Bonus if you dare- how well prepared are you for Christmas this year?
Not. 'Nuff said.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
You Tube - Potential Object Lesson?
There is such ease nowadays with filming things and sharing them. Everywhere we go, we should start making the assumption that someone with a cell phone could capture us doing whatever we are doing, and post it to You Tube, and, voila, everybody sees what we did.
Makes me want to make it good, just in case.
Makes me want to make it good, just in case.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Rebuilding Eden
In all my contemplation of needs and wants and choosing to be content, it dawned on me. Ever since we got kicked out, we have been trying to find ways of rebuilding Eden in our image. We've got all kinds of things to make our lives easier and more fulfilling. Most of it just makes us more isolated and annoyed, and doesn't bring the contentment we were meant to have.
Contentment is, at least to some extent, a choice. Hebrews 13 says, "Be content with what you have, because God has promised, 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.'"
The best part of Eden - intimate communion with God - is still at hand, through the greatest gift of this season. Maybe I will choose to be content with that part of Eden and wait for God to rebuild the rest of it when He's ready.
Contentment is, at least to some extent, a choice. Hebrews 13 says, "Be content with what you have, because God has promised, 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.'"
The best part of Eden - intimate communion with God - is still at hand, through the greatest gift of this season. Maybe I will choose to be content with that part of Eden and wait for God to rebuild the rest of it when He's ready.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Friday Five - Grumpy Edition
Will Smama returned to the RevGals for the Friday Five, and put out a whopper of a good time. She wrote:
1) dessert/cookie/family food
Fruit Cake. Anything that has to be soaked in bourbon to be edible isn't actually edible. Besides, I prefer to do my soaking in Sapphire.
2) beverage (seasonal beer, eggnog w/ way too much egg and not enough nog, etc...)
The punch that is served at the extended family holiday party. It has pulp. There is something wrong with punch that has pulp.
3) tradition (church, family, other)
I can't think of anything. Which is kind of amazing.
4) decoration
I agree that those huge blow-up things are...uh...unfortunate.
5) gift (received or given)
A gift certificate for half a theater ticket. Nope. Not kidding.
BONUS: SONG/CD that makes you want to tell the elves where to stick it.
Do You Hear What I Hear. Oy. No, I don't.
And the MercyMe Christmas CD. It is musically disappointing.
On a more positive note, I can recommend the Point of Grace Christmas CD, as well as Diana Krall, Avalon, and Harry Connick Jr.'s "When My Heart Finds Christmas." All have some great arrangements.
Parishioners pushing for carols before you digested your turkey?
Organist refusing to play Advent hymns because he/she already has them planned for Lessons & Carols?
Find yourself reading Luke and thinking of a variety of ways to tell Linus where to stick it? (Lights please.)
Then this quick and easy Friday Five is for you! And for those of you with a more positive attitude, have no fear. I am sure more sacred and reverent Friday Fives will follow.
Please tell us your least favorite/most annoying seasonal....
1) dessert/cookie/family food
Fruit Cake. Anything that has to be soaked in bourbon to be edible isn't actually edible. Besides, I prefer to do my soaking in Sapphire.
2) beverage (seasonal beer, eggnog w/ way too much egg and not enough nog, etc...)
The punch that is served at the extended family holiday party. It has pulp. There is something wrong with punch that has pulp.
3) tradition (church, family, other)
I can't think of anything. Which is kind of amazing.
4) decoration
I agree that those huge blow-up things are...uh...unfortunate.
5) gift (received or given)
A gift certificate for half a theater ticket. Nope. Not kidding.
BONUS: SONG/CD that makes you want to tell the elves where to stick it.
Do You Hear What I Hear. Oy. No, I don't.
And the MercyMe Christmas CD. It is musically disappointing.
On a more positive note, I can recommend the Point of Grace Christmas CD, as well as Diana Krall, Avalon, and Harry Connick Jr.'s "When My Heart Finds Christmas." All have some great arrangements.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Needs, Wants, and Contentment
I am speaking this week at a Saturday morning tea, and have been thinking about this topic for a while now.
I find myself saying things like, "I need a new set of golf clubs."
Now, if I am going to play golf and make any progress in my game, updating my clubs would be a good idea.
But I don't actually need a whole new set of golf clubs. I just think I do.
Much like I think I need anything else in this advertising-saturated society. I need a Rolex. I need a Mercedes.
I need another guitar.
Why? I can only play one at a time.
And when you play golf, and if you read golf magazines, or watch golf tournaments on TV, you find out you need all of the more expensive things. Because those are the advertisers for golf, because that's who they think plays golf. People that need a Rolex. Or a Buick Lucerne like Tiger's.
No wonder golf is so expensive. You need all this stuff to go with it.
Not.
See, I think we were created for relationship and community. With God first, but also with others. And not with stuff. But we were also created with the freedom of choice. So we get to choose the way in which we fulfill this need, and we often choose things rather than God.
As I enter the craziest season, I want to make sure I don't confuse my needs with my wants. Because I know I will only be truly contented when I find my rest in God.
I find myself saying things like, "I need a new set of golf clubs."
Now, if I am going to play golf and make any progress in my game, updating my clubs would be a good idea.
But I don't actually need a whole new set of golf clubs. I just think I do.
Much like I think I need anything else in this advertising-saturated society. I need a Rolex. I need a Mercedes.
I need another guitar.
Why? I can only play one at a time.
And when you play golf, and if you read golf magazines, or watch golf tournaments on TV, you find out you need all of the more expensive things. Because those are the advertisers for golf, because that's who they think plays golf. People that need a Rolex. Or a Buick Lucerne like Tiger's.
No wonder golf is so expensive. You need all this stuff to go with it.
Not.
See, I think we were created for relationship and community. With God first, but also with others. And not with stuff. But we were also created with the freedom of choice. So we get to choose the way in which we fulfill this need, and we often choose things rather than God.
As I enter the craziest season, I want to make sure I don't confuse my needs with my wants. Because I know I will only be truly contented when I find my rest in God.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Post Thanksgiving Friday Five
Singing Owl wrote:
1. Did you go elsewhere for the day, or did you have visitors at your place instead? How was it?
I went to Mom's after the annual football game. (I'm the band director.) The brother (and family) who just moved back from overseas was there, and it was great!!
2. Main course: If it was the turkey, the whole turkey, and nothing but the turkey, was it prepared in an unusual way? Or did you throw tradition to the winds and do something different?
Traditional all the way. My mom's stuffing is my favorite, and she always does "homemade" whipped cream to go with the pies. Mmm Mmm good.
3. Other than the meal, do you have any Thanksgiving customs that you observe every year?
Can you call it a custom that I work the game every year with the band? I haven't had Thanksgiving off in 20 years...
Actually, we go out to dinner the Saturday after to celebrate the beginning of the shopping season.
4. The day after Thanksgiving is considered a major Christmas shopping day by most US retailers. Do you go out bargain hunting and shop ‘till you drop, or do you stay indoors with the blinds closed? Or something in between?
I am home with the coffee and the blogs, and, yes, the blinds are down. Love it.
5. Let the HOLIDAY SEASON commence! When will your Christmas decorations go up?
If I get to them, they will go up sometime. It's different every year, because it isn't a big priority.
Ah, the day after Thanksgiving--groan! Fortunately, I love Thanksgiving leftovers.
Thanksgiving is the American holiday when the greatest number of people travel somewhere else to celebrate. I am posting this from my son’s home in Minnesota where we are recovering from the food shopping and the preparations and the meal and the clean up. It is difficult to think of anything requiring much energy today, and I am enjoying my sweet baby granddaughter, so I will keep it simple. For those of you not in the USA, I apologize for the nationalistic tone of this Friday Five!
1. Did you go elsewhere for the day, or did you have visitors at your place instead? How was it?
I went to Mom's after the annual football game. (I'm the band director.) The brother (and family) who just moved back from overseas was there, and it was great!!
2. Main course: If it was the turkey, the whole turkey, and nothing but the turkey, was it prepared in an unusual way? Or did you throw tradition to the winds and do something different?
Traditional all the way. My mom's stuffing is my favorite, and she always does "homemade" whipped cream to go with the pies. Mmm Mmm good.
3. Other than the meal, do you have any Thanksgiving customs that you observe every year?
Can you call it a custom that I work the game every year with the band? I haven't had Thanksgiving off in 20 years...
Actually, we go out to dinner the Saturday after to celebrate the beginning of the shopping season.
4. The day after Thanksgiving is considered a major Christmas shopping day by most US retailers. Do you go out bargain hunting and shop ‘till you drop, or do you stay indoors with the blinds closed? Or something in between?
I am home with the coffee and the blogs, and, yes, the blinds are down. Love it.
5. Let the HOLIDAY SEASON commence! When will your Christmas decorations go up?
If I get to them, they will go up sometime. It's different every year, because it isn't a big priority.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Inheritance
We are in 1 Peter in our current sermon series, and today we talked about the inheritance that will never perish, spoil, or fade.
When we think of an inheritance, we often think in terms of things - and appropriately so, when we are talking about earthly inheritances from human relatives, I guess.
I was thinking today, though, that maybe God wants me to inherit from Him a few items that are not "things." His compassion for the suffering, His care for the widow and the orphan, His provision for the needy - His character and nature.
If I am His family, should I not inherit that? If my identity is in Christ, then his character is my inheritance.
May I show it to be so.
When we think of an inheritance, we often think in terms of things - and appropriately so, when we are talking about earthly inheritances from human relatives, I guess.
I was thinking today, though, that maybe God wants me to inherit from Him a few items that are not "things." His compassion for the suffering, His care for the widow and the orphan, His provision for the needy - His character and nature.
If I am His family, should I not inherit that? If my identity is in Christ, then his character is my inheritance.
May I show it to be so.
Friday, June 29, 2007
What goes around comes around...
I have been involved in several conversations lately which have been about the deconstruction of, redefinition of, or lament about the word "evangelical." It seems to have picked up some baggage along the way, as all words do, really, and it is not always seen as a positive label, even among Christians.
Once upon a time, declaring yourself an "evangelical Christian" was a way to say that you were about a faith that was your own, that wasn't just your family heritage, and that being a Christian was more to you than going to church on Sunday. Keith Green's thing about the fact that "going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger" was part of the idea of "evangelicalism." It meant that you took the Bible seriously.
To many of us twenty-five or thirty years ago, the "evangelical movement" was the answer to the "problem" of being what one might call a "cultural" Christian, where you were considered a Christian if you went to church on Sunday.
Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, that word gained all kinds of subtext, much of which was a result, or maybe a cause, for it being usurped by a political agenda. Now, when someone uses the word "evangelical" it means "pro-life, pro-capital punishment, anti-welfare-loving, Republican." It means you are part of some weird churchy subculture, full of people that thought life was better in the 50's and wouldn't it be great if we could go back there. It means that your faith is little more than the answer to the question, "Do you know for sure you'll go to heaven when you die," a form of eternal fire insurance.
Too bad, because etymologically doesn't it actually mean something about bring a message of good news?
I think the original point of the evangelical movement was that our faith is supposed to permeate all areas of our lives. And that we are supposed to try to live like we are citizens of the kingdom, thereby doing something to bring a little of the kingdom of God to this earth. Now.
So what went around once is coming around again.
I go back and forth on this. I, too, am frustrated with the reputation which the "evangelical movement" has gained in the world. But I am equally frustrated by those that seem to want to throw the baby out with the bathwater, and sit back criticizing "the church" and taking pot shots at "the church" instead of becoming part of the solution for the church.
There is a balance to be had. I believe I am in a place that has achieved some measure of that balance.
But the best thing would be if we would all stop looking at what's wrong and just focus on moving forward into what's right, learning from what's gone before but pressing on into what's ahead, exchanging small minds for big hearts.
Once upon a time, declaring yourself an "evangelical Christian" was a way to say that you were about a faith that was your own, that wasn't just your family heritage, and that being a Christian was more to you than going to church on Sunday. Keith Green's thing about the fact that "going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger" was part of the idea of "evangelicalism." It meant that you took the Bible seriously.
To many of us twenty-five or thirty years ago, the "evangelical movement" was the answer to the "problem" of being what one might call a "cultural" Christian, where you were considered a Christian if you went to church on Sunday.
Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, that word gained all kinds of subtext, much of which was a result, or maybe a cause, for it being usurped by a political agenda. Now, when someone uses the word "evangelical" it means "pro-life, pro-capital punishment, anti-welfare-loving, Republican." It means you are part of some weird churchy subculture, full of people that thought life was better in the 50's and wouldn't it be great if we could go back there. It means that your faith is little more than the answer to the question, "Do you know for sure you'll go to heaven when you die," a form of eternal fire insurance.
Too bad, because etymologically doesn't it actually mean something about bring a message of good news?
I think the original point of the evangelical movement was that our faith is supposed to permeate all areas of our lives. And that we are supposed to try to live like we are citizens of the kingdom, thereby doing something to bring a little of the kingdom of God to this earth. Now.
So what went around once is coming around again.
I go back and forth on this. I, too, am frustrated with the reputation which the "evangelical movement" has gained in the world. But I am equally frustrated by those that seem to want to throw the baby out with the bathwater, and sit back criticizing "the church" and taking pot shots at "the church" instead of becoming part of the solution for the church.
There is a balance to be had. I believe I am in a place that has achieved some measure of that balance.
But the best thing would be if we would all stop looking at what's wrong and just focus on moving forward into what's right, learning from what's gone before but pressing on into what's ahead, exchanging small minds for big hearts.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Contextualization
We are fond of "culturally contextualizing" the tougher teachings of Jesus.
But what if He really did mean we should sell all of our possessions and give to the poor?
But what if He really did mean we should sell all of our possessions and give to the poor?
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Post Summit Redux
Interesting is the word I would use for this year's Summit. Thursday night and Friday were normal. We started with the whole needing to unwind thing, and then Friday had some great small group time.
Then I went to the emergency room after dinner Friday night. And they admitted me and I was there all day Saturday, as well. So I was gone for this big chunk of the Summit.
God answered the prayers of the group, and me, and I was back for Saturday night. But it was weird not having been there the whole time.
I led worship Sunday, and that was good. And the great thing is that I heard from God, and it confirmed what I had been hearing all along. Simplify, live more generously, and live more communally. Thank God I have friends who will help with the latter.
The clear message I have been hearing since we started talking about planning the Summit was "Rise, take up your mat, and go." As in, how often do we know the path we are to take, and we stand there looking at it instead of walking it?
Jeremiah 6:16, "This is what the Lord says: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient path; ask where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls."
It is when we start walking, that we find rest for our souls.
Then I went to the emergency room after dinner Friday night. And they admitted me and I was there all day Saturday, as well. So I was gone for this big chunk of the Summit.
God answered the prayers of the group, and me, and I was back for Saturday night. But it was weird not having been there the whole time.
I led worship Sunday, and that was good. And the great thing is that I heard from God, and it confirmed what I had been hearing all along. Simplify, live more generously, and live more communally. Thank God I have friends who will help with the latter.
The clear message I have been hearing since we started talking about planning the Summit was "Rise, take up your mat, and go." As in, how often do we know the path we are to take, and we stand there looking at it instead of walking it?
Jeremiah 6:16, "This is what the Lord says: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient path; ask where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls."
It is when we start walking, that we find rest for our souls.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Prayer Summit
This weekend I am going away with my church worship team for a prayer summit. This will be our sixth. Each one has been a unique experience, and God is so faithful to always meet us there.
I am going this year in a pretty good place, but with some things on which I have been challenged by God in the last year or so. A friend commented on one of my earlier posts and mentioned that she is discussing some of the same things I have been thinking about. Her group's discussion questions are great:
1)What if a fragile world is more attracted to God's vision of interdependence and sacrificial sharing than to the mirage of independence and materialism?
2)What does it mean to live incarnationally?
These are probing questions. Between this and the recent "Calling all Peacemakers" series by Rob Bell from Mars Hill, there is much to consider. What if America just up and gave clean water and sanitation to the entire underdeveloped world? We could do it for somewhere between 16 and 23 billion dollars. For a country as rich as ours, that isn't so much, I think, considering we spent 9 billion on Christmas gifts in one day - Black Friday.
Anyway, for me there are two questions. One is, "Am I living simply enough to give enough away?" And the other is, "How can I live more communally?"
I'll be thinking about it at Summit '07.
I am going this year in a pretty good place, but with some things on which I have been challenged by God in the last year or so. A friend commented on one of my earlier posts and mentioned that she is discussing some of the same things I have been thinking about. Her group's discussion questions are great:
1)What if a fragile world is more attracted to God's vision of interdependence and sacrificial sharing than to the mirage of independence and materialism?
2)What does it mean to live incarnationally?
These are probing questions. Between this and the recent "Calling all Peacemakers" series by Rob Bell from Mars Hill, there is much to consider. What if America just up and gave clean water and sanitation to the entire underdeveloped world? We could do it for somewhere between 16 and 23 billion dollars. For a country as rich as ours, that isn't so much, I think, considering we spent 9 billion on Christmas gifts in one day - Black Friday.
Anyway, for me there are two questions. One is, "Am I living simply enough to give enough away?" And the other is, "How can I live more communally?"
I'll be thinking about it at Summit '07.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Belated Friday Five
How appropriate that this belated Friday Five is about birthdays. I always seem to be the one wishing belated wishes! On with it now...
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1. "It's my party and I'll [blank] if I want to..."Favorite way to celebrate your birthday (dinner with family? party with friends? a day in solitude?)
I love dinner with friends and something musical of which I am not in charge. Several years in a row the friends and I have done this very thing.
2. "You say it's your birthday... it's my birthday too, yeah..." Do you share your birthday with someone famous? (Click here to find out!)
Drew Bledsoe, Florence Henderson, and Jack Benny, among others.
3. "Lordy Lordy look who's forty..."Milestone birthdays: a) just like any other birthday--they're just numbers, people; b) a good opportunity to look back/take stock; c) enjoy the black balloons--I'll be hiding under a pile of coats until the day is over; d) some combination of the above, or something else entirely.
Definitely b, but also d - an excuse to have an entire "birthday season." If the "holidays" can be a month, why can't I have at least two weeks? And, last year when I turned 40, I did. Three parties, six cakes, flowers, dinner, a pub, and a limo. Whoo-hooo! Let's be 40 every year.
4. "Happy birthday, dear... Customer..."Have you ever been sung to in a restaurant? Fun or cringe-worthy?
Well, I am the wrong person to ask. I am not the least embarrassed, but I usually cringe at the...er....terrible singing. Especially since when my high school band sings it is beautiful four part harmony.
5. "Take my birthday--please"Tell me one advantage and one disadvantage about your particular birthday (e.g. birthday in the summer--never had to go to school; birthday near Christmas--the dreaded joint presents)EDITED TO ADD: This could also simply be something you like/dislike about your birthday (e.g. I like sharing a birthday with my best friend, etc.).
It's Valentine's Day. So people steal my thunder. Plus I am not all that fond of Valentine's Day.
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1. "It's my party and I'll [blank] if I want to..."Favorite way to celebrate your birthday (dinner with family? party with friends? a day in solitude?)
I love dinner with friends and something musical of which I am not in charge. Several years in a row the friends and I have done this very thing.
2. "You say it's your birthday... it's my birthday too, yeah..." Do you share your birthday with someone famous? (Click here to find out!)
Drew Bledsoe, Florence Henderson, and Jack Benny, among others.
3. "Lordy Lordy look who's forty..."Milestone birthdays: a) just like any other birthday--they're just numbers, people; b) a good opportunity to look back/take stock; c) enjoy the black balloons--I'll be hiding under a pile of coats until the day is over; d) some combination of the above, or something else entirely.
Definitely b, but also d - an excuse to have an entire "birthday season." If the "holidays" can be a month, why can't I have at least two weeks? And, last year when I turned 40, I did. Three parties, six cakes, flowers, dinner, a pub, and a limo. Whoo-hooo! Let's be 40 every year.
4. "Happy birthday, dear... Customer..."Have you ever been sung to in a restaurant? Fun or cringe-worthy?
Well, I am the wrong person to ask. I am not the least embarrassed, but I usually cringe at the...er....terrible singing. Especially since when my high school band sings it is beautiful four part harmony.
5. "Take my birthday--please"Tell me one advantage and one disadvantage about your particular birthday (e.g. birthday in the summer--never had to go to school; birthday near Christmas--the dreaded joint presents)EDITED TO ADD: This could also simply be something you like/dislike about your birthday (e.g. I like sharing a birthday with my best friend, etc.).
It's Valentine's Day. So people steal my thunder. Plus I am not all that fond of Valentine's Day.
Wired for Community
I am listening to the most fascinating book on my iPod right now. It's called Blink, and it is by Malcolm Gladwell. You could check it out here on Amazon. The book explores that thing that we do when we "thin slice" input and come to decisions that we would call "going with our gut."
One of the studies Gladwell mentions is about autism. Studying the brain through focused magnetic resonance imaging shows that we use a very sophisticated part of our brain when we are recognizing faces, as compared to a much less sophisticated part of the brain which engages when we are recognizing object. This is why we remember the faces of our friends many years later, but will spend half an hour searching for our luggage at the baggage claim.
Later, I was reading an article in a magazine. Did you know there is actually a special hormone that gets released when we are around people that gives us the "warm fuzzy" about being with our friends? This same hormone turns down the hunger message. It's almost like when we are hungry, part of that hunger is not for food but for family. Think about that feeling you get when you spend time around the table with your friends or your family. That feeling is hardwired to your physiology. Cool, huh?
All of this should not be the least bit surprising to a Christian. God created humans to be in fellowship - with Him and with each other. We are meant to live our lives in community - we are wired for it, specifically.
The next time you feel yourself becoming isolated, make an effort to connect with someone. It's what our Creator intended.
He wired us for community.
One of the studies Gladwell mentions is about autism. Studying the brain through focused magnetic resonance imaging shows that we use a very sophisticated part of our brain when we are recognizing faces, as compared to a much less sophisticated part of the brain which engages when we are recognizing object. This is why we remember the faces of our friends many years later, but will spend half an hour searching for our luggage at the baggage claim.
Later, I was reading an article in a magazine. Did you know there is actually a special hormone that gets released when we are around people that gives us the "warm fuzzy" about being with our friends? This same hormone turns down the hunger message. It's almost like when we are hungry, part of that hunger is not for food but for family. Think about that feeling you get when you spend time around the table with your friends or your family. That feeling is hardwired to your physiology. Cool, huh?
All of this should not be the least bit surprising to a Christian. God created humans to be in fellowship - with Him and with each other. We are meant to live our lives in community - we are wired for it, specifically.
The next time you feel yourself becoming isolated, make an effort to connect with someone. It's what our Creator intended.
He wired us for community.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Happy New Year!
The beginning of a new year always feels hopeful to me. I look forward to what good things will happen, have that sense of expectation, always make a couple of private resolutions.
This year I have no resolutions, actually, because I had already started making some changes in my life. I really feel like 2007 is going to be a good year. And I know that whatever happens, God has it all in hand and "all things will work out for the good." So I guess in a sense, it is almost impossible for any year to be anything but good when you can depend on the sovereignty of God.
This year I have no resolutions, actually, because I had already started making some changes in my life. I really feel like 2007 is going to be a good year. And I know that whatever happens, God has it all in hand and "all things will work out for the good." So I guess in a sense, it is almost impossible for any year to be anything but good when you can depend on the sovereignty of God.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
What the World Needs Now...
...is grace, grace, grace.
Bigtime.
Not only do we need grace for ourselves, we need to extend grace to others. I was shocked at the undercurrent of frustration and anger as I shopped this holiday season. It seems like people went shopping mad and only got madder if things weren't moving fast enough, or if they couldn't get exactly what they wanted right away, or if the clerk was new and made mistakes.
In fact, it isn't just shopping. It's everywhere. An undercurrent of anger, lurking just below the surface. Look around on your morning commute - road rage waiting to happen. And I am not immune to it, either, I am afraid.
We have got to slow down and get gracious.
Bigtime.
Not only do we need grace for ourselves, we need to extend grace to others. I was shocked at the undercurrent of frustration and anger as I shopped this holiday season. It seems like people went shopping mad and only got madder if things weren't moving fast enough, or if they couldn't get exactly what they wanted right away, or if the clerk was new and made mistakes.
In fact, it isn't just shopping. It's everywhere. An undercurrent of anger, lurking just below the surface. Look around on your morning commute - road rage waiting to happen. And I am not immune to it, either, I am afraid.
We have got to slow down and get gracious.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Advent
I am leading worship this week at my church. I am doing some fun stuff with the "prepare" theme - Prepare ye the Way of the Lord; O Come, O Come, Emmanuel; My Hope is You; Rescue; I Know My Redeemer Lives; Joy to the World. It is a list meant to make the progression from expectation and preparation to the fact that Jesus has come, and will return. I enjoy linking Christmas and Easter songs together, because even while we celebrate the Child in the manger, we celebrate the eternal, risen, and returning King.
I think it will be fun.
I think it will be fun.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Distinct Roar
Saturday afternoon I found myself sitting where even a week ago I would not have bothered to go. On a log, by a river, after a little walk in the woods. It was beautiful.
A friend had mentioned hearing this generic roar, and following it to the river that was creating it. He found that where he expected a single, generic roar, there were actually a few distinct sounds combining to make that roar. Here the gentle whoosh of water rushing over the rocks. There a tiny trickle persevering to flow. Over there, a deeper pool with a deeper, more hushed swishing sound. All combined so that from a distance all one hears is a roar, but when one moves closer one discovers there is more there than originally met the ear.
In the constant rush of humanity, and the loud noise of life, one wonders how in the world God can hear all our prayers at once. But He hears every disctinct sound we make - be it the enthusiastic new believer praying like crazy, or the beaten down person fighting to hold on.
As I sat on that log, I found myself glad that God's hearing is so much better than mine.
A friend had mentioned hearing this generic roar, and following it to the river that was creating it. He found that where he expected a single, generic roar, there were actually a few distinct sounds combining to make that roar. Here the gentle whoosh of water rushing over the rocks. There a tiny trickle persevering to flow. Over there, a deeper pool with a deeper, more hushed swishing sound. All combined so that from a distance all one hears is a roar, but when one moves closer one discovers there is more there than originally met the ear.
In the constant rush of humanity, and the loud noise of life, one wonders how in the world God can hear all our prayers at once. But He hears every disctinct sound we make - be it the enthusiastic new believer praying like crazy, or the beaten down person fighting to hold on.
As I sat on that log, I found myself glad that God's hearing is so much better than mine.
Monday, November 06, 2006
My Accent
| What American accent do you have? Your Result: Boston You definitely have a Boston accent, even if you think you don't. Of course, that doesn't mean you are from the Boston area, you may also be from New Hampshire or Maine. | |
| The West | |
| The Midland | |
| North Central | |
| The Northeast | |
| Philadelphia | |
| The Inland North | |
| The South | |
| What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes | |
Is disagreement automatically intolerance?
That's my question today. Is disagreement automatically intolerance? How about hatred? Is disagreement automatically hatred?
Is it possible to be friends with someone who has chosen to live in a manner which might be considered to be outside of God's values?
Well, do you have any friends who are gossips? Who speed? Who have sex outside of marriage? (Ooohh - touchy one there...)
I think it is possible to love and respect people even while they choose to live a different way that you.
So why is it that if I think someone is wrong, I might get called a "-hater" or a "-phobe" or any number of things?
Just thinking.
Is it possible to be friends with someone who has chosen to live in a manner which might be considered to be outside of God's values?
Well, do you have any friends who are gossips? Who speed? Who have sex outside of marriage? (Ooohh - touchy one there...)
I think it is possible to love and respect people even while they choose to live a different way that you.
So why is it that if I think someone is wrong, I might get called a "-hater" or a "-phobe" or any number of things?
Just thinking.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Toothy Friday Five
Friday once again, and the Friday Fivers ask us to consider our dental tools...
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Friday Five: Nothing But the Tooth
We are in the throes of what will (hopefully) be the final set of braces in this family, and so my mind is on the tooth, the whole tooth and nothing but the tooth.
Please share your thoughts on the following:
1) The Tooth Fairy
Caught in the act when I was young! And she is conscious of inflation apparently, because my niece got four quarters recently...
2) Flossing
Painful sometimes, but necessary. Minty floss is my favorite.
3) Toothpaste Brands
Grew up on Colgate. Now I use Crest. I rememeber seeing Crest commercials on TV as a kid. Guess they worked.
4) Orthodontia for Adults
If adults want to go through that, they should go a head. I had braces as a kid, teeth pulled to make room, bands shoved between my back teeth...Ugh. But I appreciate not having impacted wisdom teeth.
5) Whitening products
Don't use them myself, but I've been thinking about trying them. At first I thought they were only for vain Barbie types, but I see the point. My teeth are naturally not white like magazine teeth. Of course, magazine teeth aren't either. Thank you, Photoshop and other like programs, for making us all think we need to look a certain way...
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Friday Five: Nothing But the Tooth
We are in the throes of what will (hopefully) be the final set of braces in this family, and so my mind is on the tooth, the whole tooth and nothing but the tooth.
Please share your thoughts on the following:
1) The Tooth Fairy
Caught in the act when I was young! And she is conscious of inflation apparently, because my niece got four quarters recently...
2) Flossing
Painful sometimes, but necessary. Minty floss is my favorite.
3) Toothpaste Brands
Grew up on Colgate. Now I use Crest. I rememeber seeing Crest commercials on TV as a kid. Guess they worked.
4) Orthodontia for Adults
If adults want to go through that, they should go a head. I had braces as a kid, teeth pulled to make room, bands shoved between my back teeth...Ugh. But I appreciate not having impacted wisdom teeth.
5) Whitening products
Don't use them myself, but I've been thinking about trying them. At first I thought they were only for vain Barbie types, but I see the point. My teeth are naturally not white like magazine teeth. Of course, magazine teeth aren't either. Thank you, Photoshop and other like programs, for making us all think we need to look a certain way...
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Choices...
OK - not the right word for the song reference - should be Changes. You know - David Bowie.
Anyhow, I was thinking about choices today. Mostly how we choose to respond to circumstances and situations. I had a big decision to make - choosing Drum Majors and Color Guard Captains for next season's marching band. We hold auditions and interviews, the staff and I confer, and I make the final decision. I am happy with my choices - I think the individuals who will serve in these positions next season will be great.
When I told the parties involved, they had a choice. They could accept or reject their appointments and the associated conditions. Or not.
They chose to accept.
Then I had to tell all the candidates - some of whom would be disappointed. They could then choose how to respond. We will see tomorrow how they did respond. One has already emailed me to find out why. I appreciate the question, and hope it comes with a teachable spirit.
Then I thought about how I responded in class today to the fourth, fifth, sixth, twentieth time a couple of kids made the same mistake - and were laughing about it. I chose...not exactly well. I went on too long, and I wish I had not. But I did get my point across, and they then hunkered down and succeeded three times in a row and I got to say good job. Liked that!
We have choices to make all day every day. Do we say something, so we remain silent, do we take that second brownie in the cafeteria line...all sorts of things.
Lord, give us the wisdom and will to choose Wisely.
Anyhow, I was thinking about choices today. Mostly how we choose to respond to circumstances and situations. I had a big decision to make - choosing Drum Majors and Color Guard Captains for next season's marching band. We hold auditions and interviews, the staff and I confer, and I make the final decision. I am happy with my choices - I think the individuals who will serve in these positions next season will be great.
When I told the parties involved, they had a choice. They could accept or reject their appointments and the associated conditions. Or not.
They chose to accept.
Then I had to tell all the candidates - some of whom would be disappointed. They could then choose how to respond. We will see tomorrow how they did respond. One has already emailed me to find out why. I appreciate the question, and hope it comes with a teachable spirit.
Then I thought about how I responded in class today to the fourth, fifth, sixth, twentieth time a couple of kids made the same mistake - and were laughing about it. I chose...not exactly well. I went on too long, and I wish I had not. But I did get my point across, and they then hunkered down and succeeded three times in a row and I got to say good job. Liked that!
We have choices to make all day every day. Do we say something, so we remain silent, do we take that second brownie in the cafeteria line...all sorts of things.
Lord, give us the wisdom and will to choose Wisely.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Proverbs 10:17
I have been thinking about Proverbs 10:17, because I will be speaking on it at one of the meetings of our youth group next month. I always enjoy speaking to the youth - maybe because I teach high school, and feel a natural affinity for them.
Anyhow, the verse is "He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but he who ignores instruction leads others astray." There is a lot to say here.
First, we are to be people who heed discipline. But it is more than just listening to someone who is correcting or rebuking us. It is also about living a disciplined life in general. If we do that, we are not only on the way to life, we are setting a good example. If we ignore instruction, we are not only on the wrong path, we are leading others astray. We never know when someone is watching us as a role model.
So this is not just about living in a godly way. It is about standing up for the godly way, living it "out loud," as Steven Curtis Chapman says. This is a really important message for high school students to hear, because to many of them standing out is a bad thing.
I hope I can help to bring the word that convinces them otherwise. Our society is starved for people who will stand and live right.
Anyhow, the verse is "He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but he who ignores instruction leads others astray." There is a lot to say here.
First, we are to be people who heed discipline. But it is more than just listening to someone who is correcting or rebuking us. It is also about living a disciplined life in general. If we do that, we are not only on the way to life, we are setting a good example. If we ignore instruction, we are not only on the wrong path, we are leading others astray. We never know when someone is watching us as a role model.
So this is not just about living in a godly way. It is about standing up for the godly way, living it "out loud," as Steven Curtis Chapman says. This is a really important message for high school students to hear, because to many of them standing out is a bad thing.
I hope I can help to bring the word that convinces them otherwise. Our society is starved for people who will stand and live right.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Renovations
You are in the right place. I have just jumped onto the renovation band wagon - a la Julie over at onehandclapping. She had this cool looking blog, and she gave the link to PannasMontata, where there are several formats for download. This girl does some great work! Check them out!
Halloween Friday Five
Greetings, all who drop by, and Happy Friday. I must say I am pretty wiped out this particular week. Marching season is winding down, and I am looking forward to recapturing some of my time. Even so, with the group we had this season, I actually find myself wishing for one more week. What a time we have had!
And now, on to the Halloween Friday Five...
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Reverendmother here...
I checked out last year's Halloween Friday Five, which dealt with candy and costumes. Great questions, supplied by Songbird. If you weren't around last year or didn't play then, feel free to do so now. Mmm. Candy.
Or...
You wanna see something *really* scary?...
1. Do you enjoy a good fright?
Nope. Hate it. A lot.
2. Scariest movie you've ever seen
Nightmare on Elm Street. Didn't want to drive home afterwards. It was the last scary movie I saw.
3. Bobbing for apples: choose one and discuss:
a) Nothing scary about that! Good wholesome fun.
b) Are you *kidding* me?!? The germs, the germs!
Well, as a kid I didn't mind. But as I get older, I am less and less attracted to the idea of putting my head in cold water to retrieve apples I could just as easily get off of a tree. And people's hair in the water first...Ugh.
4. Real-life phobia
Heights. And the dentist.
5. Favorite "ghost story"
Amityville Horror. I have not read it in a long time, but I was fascinated by this supposedly true story when I was a teen.
And now, on to the Halloween Friday Five...
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Reverendmother here...
I checked out last year's Halloween Friday Five, which dealt with candy and costumes. Great questions, supplied by Songbird. If you weren't around last year or didn't play then, feel free to do so now. Mmm. Candy.
Or...
You wanna see something *really* scary?...
1. Do you enjoy a good fright?
Nope. Hate it. A lot.
2. Scariest movie you've ever seen
Nightmare on Elm Street. Didn't want to drive home afterwards. It was the last scary movie I saw.
3. Bobbing for apples: choose one and discuss:
a) Nothing scary about that! Good wholesome fun.
b) Are you *kidding* me?!? The germs, the germs!
Well, as a kid I didn't mind. But as I get older, I am less and less attracted to the idea of putting my head in cold water to retrieve apples I could just as easily get off of a tree. And people's hair in the water first...Ugh.
4. Real-life phobia
Heights. And the dentist.
5. Favorite "ghost story"
Amityville Horror. I have not read it in a long time, but I was fascinated by this supposedly true story when I was a teen.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
A powerful - yet somewhat hopeless - story
I have finally seen Rent. The movie version, not the show. I enjoyed the music, particularly the opening song, Seasons of Love. I cared about the characters. I was captured by the powerful story of these young people, several of whom were basically making the most of life until they died. And I was deeply moved when I called to mind that there are people who really live like this.
The message in the story was that we must make the most of each moment, because any moment could be our last. For these Bohemians, that meant the pursuit of whatever carnal pleasures they desired. There was some reference to trying to help others less fortunate, and the plot device about the young man, Benny, who "got out" and got married and got a good job from his rich father-in-law was interesting. Benny was now trying to take over part of the old neighborhood to build a cyber-cafe. This was seen as "selling out." The Bohemians saw themselves as the less fortunate that others should be helping, I think, to some extent.
But aside from one event toward the end of the movie, there was not much hope to be found. Nothing about the reason that we should help others, nothing about faith in anything beyond the now. "There's only us, there's only this..."
Seems to me that for us there should be more to making the most of each moment than the selfish pursuit of whatever carnal pleasure presents itself. We have our mandate - to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.
Maybe instead of watching movies about it, we should try to help. Walking humbly requires getting off of our couches.
The message in the story was that we must make the most of each moment, because any moment could be our last. For these Bohemians, that meant the pursuit of whatever carnal pleasures they desired. There was some reference to trying to help others less fortunate, and the plot device about the young man, Benny, who "got out" and got married and got a good job from his rich father-in-law was interesting. Benny was now trying to take over part of the old neighborhood to build a cyber-cafe. This was seen as "selling out." The Bohemians saw themselves as the less fortunate that others should be helping, I think, to some extent.
But aside from one event toward the end of the movie, there was not much hope to be found. Nothing about the reason that we should help others, nothing about faith in anything beyond the now. "There's only us, there's only this..."
Seems to me that for us there should be more to making the most of each moment than the selfish pursuit of whatever carnal pleasure presents itself. We have our mandate - to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.
Maybe instead of watching movies about it, we should try to help. Walking humbly requires getting off of our couches.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Wise in Our Own Eyes
As the wind blew Friday night, gusting to 50 miles per hour, I found myself thinking that no matter how great our technology gets, how strong our buildings become, God always wins in the end. We cannot "out-power" God.
How often we go about our business, making choices, doing our thing, without consulting the One who knows all. How often we live as if our wisdom - human knowledge - were all we needed.
But if we are to live the lives we were meant to live, we are going to have to trust in God rather than ourselves. To live a Kingdom life requires Kingdom vision, Kingdom will, Kingdom courage.
The only place to get that is to consult the King.
How often we go about our business, making choices, doing our thing, without consulting the One who knows all. How often we live as if our wisdom - human knowledge - were all we needed.
But if we are to live the lives we were meant to live, we are going to have to trust in God rather than ourselves. To live a Kingdom life requires Kingdom vision, Kingdom will, Kingdom courage.
The only place to get that is to consult the King.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
"Wow" Moment
Last week I talked about having to tell my marching band that the show left me wanting more - as in volume, dynamism, passion - almost everything that would have made it a show.
This week I got to tell them that the show left me wanting more - as in can we please do that again because "THAT is what I'm talkin' about."
What a difference a week of hard work can make. There is so much in our society that says we have a right to instant gratification, and that if we want something we should be able to just go out and get it. Well, music doesn't work that way. That's why it's so good for people to be involved in music. You have to do the work to reap the benefit of a good performance and the good feelings that come from it. And nothing compares to doing a good show. I mean, there are a lot of good feelings in a pint of Ben and Jerry's, but not the kind of feeling you get coming off of the field after doing a good show, and realizing that the rest of the group was doing a good show right along with you.
Wow.
This week I got to tell them that the show left me wanting more - as in can we please do that again because "THAT is what I'm talkin' about."
What a difference a week of hard work can make. There is so much in our society that says we have a right to instant gratification, and that if we want something we should be able to just go out and get it. Well, music doesn't work that way. That's why it's so good for people to be involved in music. You have to do the work to reap the benefit of a good performance and the good feelings that come from it. And nothing compares to doing a good show. I mean, there are a lot of good feelings in a pint of Ben and Jerry's, but not the kind of feeling you get coming off of the field after doing a good show, and realizing that the rest of the group was doing a good show right along with you.
Wow.
Friday, October 20, 2006
October 20 Friday Five
Time once again to play the Friday Five. That means it's Friday again. Wasn't it Friday yesterday?!
--------------------
Below you will find five words. Tell us the first thing you think of on reading each one. Your response might be simply another word, or it might be a sentence, a poem or a story.
whirlwind
...romance. Don't know why - must be all those chick flicks I've seen in my life. Some seem to lead to whirlwind weddings, but then the marriage is a whirlwind of an entirely different sort...
foundation
...cracking. As in my friend's woke up to their foundation cracking this past week and we are praying hard for them.
lightning
...a DeMotivators series poster. It had a picture of lightning, and the caption was, "Every cloud has a silver lining, but lightning kills hundred of people each year who are trying to find it." I laughed so hard at that!!
den
...a room that my parents house never had. It was a playroom!
prey
...When you're this, you PRAY.
Happy Friday to anyone stopping by on this day.
--------------------
Below you will find five words. Tell us the first thing you think of on reading each one. Your response might be simply another word, or it might be a sentence, a poem or a story.
whirlwind
...romance. Don't know why - must be all those chick flicks I've seen in my life. Some seem to lead to whirlwind weddings, but then the marriage is a whirlwind of an entirely different sort...
foundation
...cracking. As in my friend's woke up to their foundation cracking this past week and we are praying hard for them.
lightning
...a DeMotivators series poster. It had a picture of lightning, and the caption was, "Every cloud has a silver lining, but lightning kills hundred of people each year who are trying to find it." I laughed so hard at that!!
den
...a room that my parents house never had. It was a playroom!
prey
...When you're this, you PRAY.
Happy Friday to anyone stopping by on this day.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Telling the Truth
My marching band had its first show this past weekend. Not first football game - we have had a couple of those. But the first marching band show, where people shush each other to hear the bands.
First I must note that I and my staff are placing more demand on the band members than anyone else we saw. Our music is more intricate, and our drill is, as well.
That noted, the band played a bit tentatively, sometimes played downright nervous, and the show did not come across as we had hoped it would.
Now, I always talk with them after the show, and I always like to be very upbeat. So it killed me to say what I said in the previous paragraph, even though we will all be better for it in the end. In fact, I am pretty sure they already knew what to general tone would be.
Either way, I was so proud of them! They work hard, and the crowd enjoyed the performance. And I know this group will come back in firing on all pistons.
On another topic, I am the teacher of the new friends and members class at my church. I enjoy it a great deal, because it gets me the chance to meet new folks coming in. This group is very tangential - holy cow, the questions! It is pretty fun, since I am a bit tangential myself.
Last week we ended with a question about how we read the Bible, and someone noted that we don't have any specific statment about the Bible being the Word of God in our statment of faith, which is simply the Apostle's Creed. We use the creed in order to avoid some of the non-essential points of "debate" among Christians. But this seemed to me (and to our pastor) kind of an strange oversight, which we'll have to do something about.
The Bible being the Word of God, and the final authroity for faith and practice, is an incredibly important Christian doctrine, and one that is being attacked.
Now, that said, we must always be aware of the lens we read the Bible through. We cannot read our assumptions into the text. We must be willing to conform to it, not make it conform to us.
It was an interesting day.
First I must note that I and my staff are placing more demand on the band members than anyone else we saw. Our music is more intricate, and our drill is, as well.
That noted, the band played a bit tentatively, sometimes played downright nervous, and the show did not come across as we had hoped it would.
Now, I always talk with them after the show, and I always like to be very upbeat. So it killed me to say what I said in the previous paragraph, even though we will all be better for it in the end. In fact, I am pretty sure they already knew what to general tone would be.
Either way, I was so proud of them! They work hard, and the crowd enjoyed the performance. And I know this group will come back in firing on all pistons.
On another topic, I am the teacher of the new friends and members class at my church. I enjoy it a great deal, because it gets me the chance to meet new folks coming in. This group is very tangential - holy cow, the questions! It is pretty fun, since I am a bit tangential myself.
Last week we ended with a question about how we read the Bible, and someone noted that we don't have any specific statment about the Bible being the Word of God in our statment of faith, which is simply the Apostle's Creed. We use the creed in order to avoid some of the non-essential points of "debate" among Christians. But this seemed to me (and to our pastor) kind of an strange oversight, which we'll have to do something about.
The Bible being the Word of God, and the final authroity for faith and practice, is an incredibly important Christian doctrine, and one that is being attacked.
Now, that said, we must always be aware of the lens we read the Bible through. We cannot read our assumptions into the text. We must be willing to conform to it, not make it conform to us.
It was an interesting day.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Friday Fiving
Once again, it is time for the RevGals Friday five. Can't tell you how much I look forward to this each week. Almost nothing can wreck a Friday! So, without further ado, away we go.
-----------------------------------
Reverendmother here...
Maybe it's the arrival of crisp October, my favorite month. Or maybe it's the fact that the divine little miss m has been sick all week (and if the baby ain't happy, ain't nobody happy). Whatever the reason, my thoughts have been turning to cozy creature comforts--those activities and spaces that just make a person feel good. And so...
1. Comfort beverage
Hot chocolate, of course. Is there another one? Oh yeah, maybe gin and tonic...
2. Comfort chair
My recliner in my living room, all cozied up with a comforter. No better place!
3. Comfort read
Blogs, or fanfiction. There are some decent writers out there.
4. Comfort television/DVD/music
Whatever I have recorded on my DVR that week. I happen to love Dancing With the Stars, Grey's Anatomy, and Battlestar Galactica. How's that for diverse?
5. Comfort companion(s)
My posse: Chris, Nancy, Carl, Pete, and Belinda. Or my dear friend CeCe.
-----------------------------------
Reverendmother here...
Maybe it's the arrival of crisp October, my favorite month. Or maybe it's the fact that the divine little miss m has been sick all week (and if the baby ain't happy, ain't nobody happy). Whatever the reason, my thoughts have been turning to cozy creature comforts--those activities and spaces that just make a person feel good. And so...
1. Comfort beverage
Hot chocolate, of course. Is there another one? Oh yeah, maybe gin and tonic...
2. Comfort chair
My recliner in my living room, all cozied up with a comforter. No better place!
3. Comfort read
Blogs, or fanfiction. There are some decent writers out there.
4. Comfort television/DVD/music
Whatever I have recorded on my DVR that week. I happen to love Dancing With the Stars, Grey's Anatomy, and Battlestar Galactica. How's that for diverse?
5. Comfort companion(s)
My posse: Chris, Nancy, Carl, Pete, and Belinda. Or my dear friend CeCe.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Always learning something
Today's job - figure out how to add the new RevGals thingy you now see on my blog.
I actually had to find the right spot in the blogger template code. Always learning something 'round here.
Someone over on Emerging Women started a great discussion about how we read the Bible. I take a fairly conservative position on this, figuring that it is the way in which God chose to reveal His story, and I should trust it. Some folks seem to think that we should almost "go with our gut," and that the Bible is a great collection of stories, but not a "rule book" or "owner's manual."
If you feel like putting in your two cents, feel free. Or go to Emerging Women and check out the original conversation.
I actually had to find the right spot in the blogger template code. Always learning something 'round here.
Someone over on Emerging Women started a great discussion about how we read the Bible. I take a fairly conservative position on this, figuring that it is the way in which God chose to reveal His story, and I should trust it. Some folks seem to think that we should almost "go with our gut," and that the Bible is a great collection of stories, but not a "rule book" or "owner's manual."
If you feel like putting in your two cents, feel free. Or go to Emerging Women and check out the original conversation.
Friday, October 06, 2006
RevGals Friday Five for October 6
Well, I find myself with time to blog on a Friday, so I will choose to do the RevGalBlogPals Friday Five, an always enjoyable diversion from normalcy, and downright fun to do.
--------------------------------
Friday Five: Civic Duties
It's that season of the year when lawn signs are sprouting as surely as flowers in the spring; elections are just around the corner. And so today we bring you a Civic Duty Friday Five.
1) How old were you when you voted for the first time?
I was 18, and it was 1984.
2) What was the contest at the top of the ballot?
President was the top of the ballot - Ronald Reagan v. hmmm...don't remember that. Was it Mondale? President Reagan won by a landslide. I was a young Republican, then, and I was always a Reagan fan. Boy, could he speak, and he reminded me of my dad. Plus, I liked that he stood by the law with the whole air traffic controller thing. A President should stand for and abide by the law, and it was illegal for them to strike.
3) Can you walk to your polling place?
Depends on the day and the weather. It is a little over a mile and a half.
4) Have you ever run for public office?
No.
5) Have you run for office in a club or school or on a board?
Well, does running for Vice President of my teacher's association count? If so, I did, and I won.
----------------------------
Well, that was fun. Happy Friday, everyone.
--------------------------------
Friday Five: Civic Duties
It's that season of the year when lawn signs are sprouting as surely as flowers in the spring; elections are just around the corner. And so today we bring you a Civic Duty Friday Five.
1) How old were you when you voted for the first time?
I was 18, and it was 1984.
2) What was the contest at the top of the ballot?
President was the top of the ballot - Ronald Reagan v. hmmm...don't remember that. Was it Mondale? President Reagan won by a landslide. I was a young Republican, then, and I was always a Reagan fan. Boy, could he speak, and he reminded me of my dad. Plus, I liked that he stood by the law with the whole air traffic controller thing. A President should stand for and abide by the law, and it was illegal for them to strike.
3) Can you walk to your polling place?
Depends on the day and the weather. It is a little over a mile and a half.
4) Have you ever run for public office?
No.
5) Have you run for office in a club or school or on a board?
Well, does running for Vice President of my teacher's association count? If so, I did, and I won.
----------------------------
Well, that was fun. Happy Friday, everyone.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Small Miracles
Just when we think God isn't paying attention anymore, something really cool happens on a scale we forget He notices.
My car heating system has been "healed." Yup. "Healed."
It had been malfunctioning. At the end of the last cold season - which ended in June, I think - ha! - I knew I would have to get some work done. The heat would not kick in until I got the car up to 2000 rpms, despite the fact that the engine was warm and that the temperature indicator was reading warm.
So imagine my surprise one day recently when I used the remote start - quite out of habit really - and subsequently got into a warm car! That was not "supposed" to have happened - I had not yet gotten the engine up to 2000 rpms. But the car was warm, the windows defrosted. And the heat has worked ever since.
"Healed." A car!
Thank God that He cares about all the stuff of our lives, because He loves us. Next time you feel like He isn't paying attention, look again. And if you need to, come on back and read this post again.
I know I will.
My car heating system has been "healed." Yup. "Healed."
It had been malfunctioning. At the end of the last cold season - which ended in June, I think - ha! - I knew I would have to get some work done. The heat would not kick in until I got the car up to 2000 rpms, despite the fact that the engine was warm and that the temperature indicator was reading warm.
So imagine my surprise one day recently when I used the remote start - quite out of habit really - and subsequently got into a warm car! That was not "supposed" to have happened - I had not yet gotten the engine up to 2000 rpms. But the car was warm, the windows defrosted. And the heat has worked ever since.
"Healed." A car!
Thank God that He cares about all the stuff of our lives, because He loves us. Next time you feel like He isn't paying attention, look again. And if you need to, come on back and read this post again.
I know I will.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Illiteracy in the Church?
I am concerned. Deeply concerned, actually. As I read emergent blogs, and hear about what some leaders are reported to have said at conferences and things, I am struck by the fact that the trend in the so-called "emergent conversation" is to take a low view of the Bible.
For 2000 years, it has been understood that the Bible is the very inspired word of God. God's story of God's intervention in human history - the history of the humanity that HE Himself created. 2Timothy 3, Hebrews 13 - other places - clearly indicate that this Book is what will guide us in belief and in faith and in practice.
So, if you disagree with the Bible, it isn't the Bible that's wrong. It's you.
Our understanding of certain issues may be adjusted as we learn more about the culture and language of the Bible. But none of the Apostles got it wrong in the Book. Ever. If you don't trust that, you don't trust God.
Need I remind you, dear reader, that He is all powerful? Do you really think He could not make sure that those men wrote what He wanted them to write? Do you really believe that the God of the universe could not make sure that the Word was preserved through the ages, and that He does not now guide the heartfelt seeker in understanding?
No! No! and No! again.
The Bible is the authority. If you throw it away, you throw away the rule, the measure, the standard that God Himself gave us.
So, not only should we not throw this book away, we should study it more, study it deeper, let it change how we think and act and believe, and let it help us become more and more like Jesus.
For 2000 years, it has been understood that the Bible is the very inspired word of God. God's story of God's intervention in human history - the history of the humanity that HE Himself created. 2Timothy 3, Hebrews 13 - other places - clearly indicate that this Book is what will guide us in belief and in faith and in practice.
So, if you disagree with the Bible, it isn't the Bible that's wrong. It's you.
Our understanding of certain issues may be adjusted as we learn more about the culture and language of the Bible. But none of the Apostles got it wrong in the Book. Ever. If you don't trust that, you don't trust God.
Need I remind you, dear reader, that He is all powerful? Do you really think He could not make sure that those men wrote what He wanted them to write? Do you really believe that the God of the universe could not make sure that the Word was preserved through the ages, and that He does not now guide the heartfelt seeker in understanding?
No! No! and No! again.
The Bible is the authority. If you throw it away, you throw away the rule, the measure, the standard that God Himself gave us.
So, not only should we not throw this book away, we should study it more, study it deeper, let it change how we think and act and believe, and let it help us become more and more like Jesus.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
RevGals Friday Five - the Rookie Edition
This summer I discovered a web ring called "RevGalBlogPals." There are some intelligent, caring women - and men - whose blogs are a blessing to read.
I decided to participate in this weeks "Friday Five," a weekly meme, because it was kind of fun.
The meme begins here:
"In the coming days, I'll be meeting my creative/artistic role model--a singer-songwriter who has been a part of my spiritual journey for some 10 years now. I'm psyched!David Letterman used to have a feature on his show called "Brushes with Greatness." Members of the audience would share stories of encounters with famous people. And so...
1. Tell us about a time you met someone famous.
I worked as an usher at a summer stock theater when I was in high school, and I have been a regular attendee of concerts since then, because nothing beats live music. I have met Robert Goulet, Rita Moreno, Livingston Taylor, Eddie DeGarmo and Dana Key, and Randy Stonehill.
2. Tell us about a celebrity you'd like to meet.
I would love to meet Michael W. Smith.
3. Tell us about someone great who's *not* famous that you think everyone oughta have a chance to meet.
Our worship pastor, one of my very dearest friends, and a man who personifies the word grace, Glen Boardman.
4. Do you have any autographs of famous people?
Yup - Eddie DeGarmo, Dana Key, and Liv Taylor.
5. If you were to become famous, what would you want to become famous for?
Singing or preaching.
Bonus: Whose 15 minutes of fame was up long, long ago?
Yeah...Tom Cruise, Angelina and Brad, and Paris Hilton.
I decided to participate in this weeks "Friday Five," a weekly meme, because it was kind of fun.
The meme begins here:
"In the coming days, I'll be meeting my creative/artistic role model--a singer-songwriter who has been a part of my spiritual journey for some 10 years now. I'm psyched!David Letterman used to have a feature on his show called "Brushes with Greatness." Members of the audience would share stories of encounters with famous people. And so...
1. Tell us about a time you met someone famous.
I worked as an usher at a summer stock theater when I was in high school, and I have been a regular attendee of concerts since then, because nothing beats live music. I have met Robert Goulet, Rita Moreno, Livingston Taylor, Eddie DeGarmo and Dana Key, and Randy Stonehill.
2. Tell us about a celebrity you'd like to meet.
I would love to meet Michael W. Smith.
3. Tell us about someone great who's *not* famous that you think everyone oughta have a chance to meet.
Our worship pastor, one of my very dearest friends, and a man who personifies the word grace, Glen Boardman.
4. Do you have any autographs of famous people?
Yup - Eddie DeGarmo, Dana Key, and Liv Taylor.
5. If you were to become famous, what would you want to become famous for?
Singing or preaching.
Bonus: Whose 15 minutes of fame was up long, long ago?
Yeah...Tom Cruise, Angelina and Brad, and Paris Hilton.
Friday, September 08, 2006
One down...
...and about 41 left to go until summer vacation starts again. I feel like I have been hit by a truck as I have come through the first week of school. And it isn't over - I have a game tonight, and a practice tomorrow.
The most ehausting thing is being in charge all the time - being the one to make decisions, on whom the liability rests, with whom the buck stops. Add to that the forced absence from small group until November 7, and it is hard to keep the spiritual equilibrium I spent all summer regaining.
This life is hard. And it is hard every day to be like Jesus. I must count on God's strength to make it through. I know that He is here through all of the craziness, but it is so easy to forget that simple fact.
It's no accident that Adam and Eve's first day on earth was a day off.
The most ehausting thing is being in charge all the time - being the one to make decisions, on whom the liability rests, with whom the buck stops. Add to that the forced absence from small group until November 7, and it is hard to keep the spiritual equilibrium I spent all summer regaining.
This life is hard. And it is hard every day to be like Jesus. I must count on God's strength to make it through. I know that He is here through all of the craziness, but it is so easy to forget that simple fact.
It's no accident that Adam and Eve's first day on earth was a day off.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Ready or Not...
Here i am at the end of another August, back around to the beginning of another school year. I can hardly believe it! I am not ready for the culture shock of running back into the fall schedule, but I have enjoyed the music at band camp again, and look forward to lots of great music this year - with my band and otherwise.
I've been reading some cool blogs this summer, and have recently discovered some centered on the "Emergent Conversation" in the church. I put that in quotes, because I am not even certain those who are "emerging" really want a name for the "movement." I mean no disrespect by it.
I think there are some very good things about this conversation. It challenges us to reconsider assumptions we have grown up with about church and faith and issues and what is really important. It makes us look more deeply at how we are applying our faith.
But sometimes it points out problems and then doesn't get constructive. That is too bad. Because we are all supposed to be part of the Church community, and we should be able to learn and grow together.
Maybe that's part of why I like my band so much. No matter what, they quite literally have to play together, and we must be constructive with each other. The church has a lot to learn from the band...
I've been reading some cool blogs this summer, and have recently discovered some centered on the "Emergent Conversation" in the church. I put that in quotes, because I am not even certain those who are "emerging" really want a name for the "movement." I mean no disrespect by it.
I think there are some very good things about this conversation. It challenges us to reconsider assumptions we have grown up with about church and faith and issues and what is really important. It makes us look more deeply at how we are applying our faith.
But sometimes it points out problems and then doesn't get constructive. That is too bad. Because we are all supposed to be part of the Church community, and we should be able to learn and grow together.
Maybe that's part of why I like my band so much. No matter what, they quite literally have to play together, and we must be constructive with each other. The church has a lot to learn from the band...
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