Looping Puccini

On Tuesday my job required me to travel to another campus, about 70 miles north-east of Dallas. It's an assignment for which I am always ready to volunteer. It does my soul good to get out of the city and see countryside. My favorite part of the drive is when there are no other cars on the road, just an occasional cow in the wildflowers, and listening to my favorite traveling CD, Coldplay's "Rush to the Head." But for a change in routine I pulled out a CD with arias by Puccini. I'm not usually an opera buff, but there are a few songs that are near perfection: "O, Mio Babbino Caro" & the 3rd Act of "Nessun Dorma." It doesn't bother me if songs are in another language. I tend to let the words become part of the whole song and not a section on which to focus. I used the repeat button to loop the songs over and over... and over again.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You provide a perfect rhythm that calls our name and we never tire of hearing our name from your voice. Sometimes we may not recognize the exact words, but in times of grace, in times of cooperation, in times of miracles we understand that the undercurrent of your presence has been there all along, offering hope, seeking justice and reconciling wrongs. A perfect composition! Let us listen for your contagious melody in the life of this congregation. Let us join in refrain and let us never grow tired of your name resounding from our lips in continuous prayer. Amen

Giving In

Sometimes you just have no choice but to give in. Yesterday I got so sleepy driving home. I mustered the energy to fix dinner, but was asleep by 9pm. I woke up a little around 11pm, gave a thought to this exercise, but gave in to sleep again. I feel like I'm at a member from an AA meeting, and declaring, "I'm Nancy, I'm undisciplined." Now that I've skipped a day I have to start counting at the beginning again. By no means am I comparing this prayer/writing discipline to the victory that a recovering alcoholic achieves when they are able to count the days they are remaining sober; if anything it makes me appreciate more the struggle and dedication to be able to count continuous days of fighting something they want so badly. I gave into sleep. One could argue that my body needed it, but isn't their body screaming to give in to something it is sure it needs? How do you know when to give in and when to fight?

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, help us to maintain the daily discipline to stay healthy in our spirit and strong in our dedication. It is easy to reassign our priorities and to welcome the relief of a lesser goal. But at times we do have to listen to that inner call for rest and for reflection. Help us to be wise to know when to give in to those needed times of contemplation and when to fight the good fight past our concerns of self-interest. Let the days be numbered endlessly as we mature in our faith and stronger in our walk. Amen.

Windows 98

I woke up at 4AM on Friday and because I hate to lie in bed when I can't sleep I decided to spend some time on the computer. I could have stayed on the computer for another 8 hours; one link led to another, which led to two more... it was a pyramid scheme in perfection! I've added a host of new links to my favorites so that I can revisit. There is so much!! So much!! I like to think I'm semi-computer literate, but then a wave will hit me and I'll realize I'm still living in Windows 98. The first time I heard of blogs was about five years ago and I was incredulous that this whole forum had escaped me. Yes, I know about My Space and Face Book, but Friday morning was the first that I knew about Twitter. Again, I'm dumbfounded.

Twitter "brings you closer to those to whom you want to stay connected, 140 characters at a time."

This could possibly invoke an entire dissertation on relationships and I don't know whether to embrace it or to hope it will fail. The video on the home page gives a pretty creative example of the reason to use Twitter. It's a way to stay connected between blog postings and e-mail, but with this tag line, I wonder how much more distance it can create instead of a bridge of personal touch.

My prayer for the congregation?

God, today we honor the Sabbath. The weather said "stay home" but we gathered in your name for worship & fellowship w/ cakes & brisket. (136 characters, whew!) Amen (140)

or

God, we long to walk in your light, live by your truth and keep your commandment to love each other. Be with those who seek your peace. Amen (140)

Y U TXT?

My sister and I both have Nintendo DS. One of the features is that if you have multiple DS games within a certain distance then you can wirelessly text to the other.... Why? Why don't you just say it? You are in the same room! I have to admit that I am generationally challenged when it comes to texting. I just don't get it. I used my cell phone to text for the first time Friday night and that was to let #2 son know I wouldn't be going to his show. I knew he couldn't hear in the club and that he didn't have the time to talk, so, for the first time it made sense. Since I was on a roll I sent another TXT 2nite and he sent a reply message asking if I had watched a "60 Minutes" special to help parents text. He couldn't figure out my recent change of attitude. That's okay, he hates my BlueTooth. How in the world do you marry the radio generation, with the BW TV generation, with the Atari generation, with the cell phone generation, with the next generation??

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, our heads are spinning. How do we serve those with so many different needs and different traditions? How can we arrange a common space with such diverse tastes and furnishings? How can we bridge generations that have such fundamentally divergent points of reference? How can we possibly predict what the next generation will require? Our heads are spinning with confusion, frustration and helplessness. In our times of uncertainty, we can stand in confidence that we are your people. When all else seems to fall in shadows and blurred desires, we can proclaim with cohesive assurance that you are our God. We are thankful that you provide a centering point, a uniting universal starting point for conversation and fellowship. PTL! Amen.

On Strike

Every so often a story will appear about a mom who has decided to go on strike because she is underappreciated, and extremely underpaid. The article then makes a tabulation of all of the jobs that the mom does in the course of a week (chauffeur, housekeeper, tutor, cook, etc) and the cost of hiring out all of those positions is overwhelming! One study I don't think I've ever seen researched is to calculate the cost to replace a pastor who might consider going on strike. Their roles are many, and none are simple tasks!

I know I'm going to leave off some tasks, but this is a start (in no particular order):

Counselor

Judge/Mediator

Accountant

Office Manager

Property Manager

Fiscal Officer

Teacher

Consultant

Peace Officer

Computer Technologist

Visual Aids Specialist

Motivational Speaker

Social Worker

Event Planner

Wine Steward

Hospital Chaplain

Sales/Marketing

Vision planning

Writer (technical and creative)

Editor

Volunteer Coordinator

Student

Hospitality Agent

Juggler

Food Service Worker/Distribution

Logistic

Carpenter/Mason

Cheerleader

Forecaster

Spiritual Advisor

Healer

Translator/Interpreter

Security Officer

Shepherd
- And what is truly imposing, is that we too are all called to be ministers!?!

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We indeed must rely on you if we are to try to fulfill your call to minister to each other and to the earth. One human cannot possibly assuage the many pleas for aide all by themselves. We are thankful for those who have followed a career in ministry. Forgive us when we ask too much of one person to complete and create unfair expectations. Gracious God, you have provided a community of individuals with many gifts and talents. Help us piece together a mosaic of skills and artistry to create an environment of learning, working, sharing and speaking of your love. One person can make a significant contribution, but together we can become a force of change. We seek your help as we minister to the world. Amen

Viva Tortillas!

We usually have some tortillas around the house. They make quick snacks if you add cheese and breakfast if you add egg. Actually, I prefer a tortilla with grilled bratwurst instead of a hot dog with bun! There I said it! I'm messing with all that our culture holds dear from the 60s: Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet (The Texas Rangers are taking care of the first ingredient). The one disturbing thing, not only with most tortillas, but bread goods in general, is that they seem to have increased the amount of preservatives that are added. Our family probably keeps bread longer than most people, so whenever I open a bag of bread, I automatically smell the bread first, expecting to get that unique smell of mold. When that test passes, I move to visual inspection. Still no mold! Bread items seem to last longer and longer. However... last week I bought some fresh tortillas from the deli section and imagine my surprise when mold started showing up while my other tortillas that were opened quite a bit earlier still seem unblemished and ready to use.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, if we preserve our worship to you in such a way that things become routine and synthetic, then we risk the possibility of missing the mystery and wonder that arises when we are open to fresh ideas and new programs. Help us to sustain our prayers, our worship, and our programs but with an appreciation for the authentic and relative. Let us continue our courses not because it's historical but because they are still needed and still valuable. We are thankful for all that has been preserved through the years through the campfire teachings by the story tellers, the illuminated and detailed words of the scribes, the poignant testimony of the witnesses, and the bold actions of the saints. Give us fresh voices to offer a glimpse of the living God in our lives to those who think of faith as stale and irrelevant. You, O God, are bright and unblemished and genuine. Amen!

Bucket Seats

As a young girl, with romantic inclinations, I can remember longingly watching couples sitting so close to each other in the front seat of the cars that it almost looked like there was one two-headed form in the front seat instead of two separate people. Before strict seat belt laws and center consoles, the girl could slide over and sit as close as she could and still allow the boyfriend to turn the wheel safely. It was obvious that they were in love and inseparable. I wanted to be the one sitting so close that no one could tell if there were two of us or one. One of my favorite anecdotes uses this imagery.

An older couple is driving down the road when they get behind a car with two people sitting very close to each other. The older woman shakes her head and asks why they don't sit that close to each other any more. The driver replies "I haven't moved."

In a few years this illustration won't mean as much to a younger generation that only knows of cars with bucket seats.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, you remain constant and steadfast as we move closer and farther away from your presence. Often we ask ourselves why you have left our company while it is our own actions that have created the distance. We also create distance in our own community when we assume that what we value and what we connect to will also evoke the same response to another set of ears and eyes. Help us to find common goals and to have a generous acceptance of each others unique origins and viewpoints. O God, we longingly seek to be inseparable from you and we desire to follow so closely to your will that it will seem as though we are one body, journeying together in the image of Christ. Amen

This not That, Here not There

My friend introduced me to "Eat This not That" by David Zinczenko. One of the great things about the book is that it gives you several options of what you should eat at restaurants. Eat the Egg McMuffin (300 calories) and not the Hotcakes (600 calories) when you go to McDonalds. Choose red bell peppers instead of green peppers and you'll get twice the amount of Vitamin C and nine times the amount of Vitamin A. For someone like me, who is decision impaired, this is a great book to have on hand! You wouldn't believe how much time I can spend on making decisions, considering options, and worrying that I'll regret my choices. I can get paralyzed in indecision and overwhelmed in frustration. Yes, I welcome a guide that can narrow the selections to the wisest and best choices and get me started on the right path.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, you have given us your Word to be our guide, but we live in such a complex world that it seems we need an amplified version of the commandments to help us sort through our actions and decisions. Give us wisdom to weed out the trivial and small worries and to focus on the essential judgments that lead to living a righteous life. Quiet the noise that brings unwanted and unnecessary complications. Intensify the quiet, constant voice of love that knows the simple truth of choosing justice and compassion. Uphold Christ's principles as our model and our guide. Amen

You will hear your Teacher's voice behind you.
You will hear it whether you turn to the right or the left.
It will say, "Here is the path I want you to take. So walk on it."
Isaiah 30:21

Throw Out a Line

Sunday evenings are our favorite nights for grilling. Yesterday we tried to think of something that we hadn't had in awhile. We were ready for a change in menus. Pork chops? Salmon? Trout? "Yes! I was just thinking of trout!" Wait!! I've never even eaten trout much less cooked trout, and we live in Dallas! How could you be thinking of trout too? MVP hubby went to Central Market for the best chance of fresh trout while #1 son and I looked for recipes. Seems there are some basic ingredients: olive oil or butter, garlic, salt and pepper, lemon and foil. So we used no recipe, and just had the supplies on deck and started experimenting. My back-up plan was to buy big baking potatoes so that if the trout was less than edible, we would still be full. At the end of the meal we were quite satisfied and content, and some plates had leftover potatoes instead of leftover fish! Who knows what you're going to catch when you throw out a line in the open waters; you might be fed beyond your limit.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, give us the boldness to throw our nets into the open waters and bring back a new way of sharing, a new way of thinking, a new way of being fed. Guide us as we seek a new approach to growth, study and worship while we hold true to our basic elements of praise, confession, offerings, time in study, prayers for the people and outward mission. It's easy to follow existing steps, but grant us an adventurous spirit to sample different interests, and a creative mind to fashion something unique and specially made for our congregation. All will be nourished if we keep our intentions on the life and teachings of Grace made real in Jesus. Give our leadership wisdom as they struggle to meet challenges. Be with our members who are throwing the nets into the neighborhoods to help us learn more about our community. Be beside us as we pull in the nets and share in the joy of discovery and wonder of an unexpected harvest, and that in return we develop that which is presented. All glory is yours! Amen

Seeking Harmony

I think I've always been an alto. I come by it naturally; I grew up hearing my mother and sister singing alto and it fits my limited range. On a really good day I can reach a "C" but it has to fall at the right place in the breath. The alto notes are the ones I key into when the organ starts playing the hymns. I'll try and sing the melody, but midway through the first verse I'm already searching for the lower registry and finding the notes that accompany the melody. Unfortunately, I'm just an average singer, and I can easily be influenced by the person sitting close to me, and sometimes I sit in quiet frustration when I can't find the right notes. So then I go back to the melody, but again I'm discouraged because it's not my place, it's not my voice. The wonderful part is when the harmonies do meld. Those completed chords can create an added dimension in the room, another real presence. In our weekly Taize service we usually end with "Ubi Caritas" and the altos have the absolute best line in the song. By the end, the chords have meshed and formed into a resonating wave in the air that remains long after the last voice has quieted. I stay in the room as long as possible with our lasting harmony in voice and in prayer.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, there is power in being together in unison, following the same lead, reinforcing each other, and creating a stronger voice. It allows us to be heard from a great distance. But God, there is also room for other voices and other leads. Even in the tension of discords, there is an unfeigned relief when the notes resolve. When we can compliment each other's voice, finding a balance that enhances the main declaration, we allow a richer, fuller harmony to resonate across the land. O God, we long to lift your name in our songs, in our words, and in our actions. Help us to listen carefully to each other so that our voices will engage and improve each other. Be a presence in our attempts to reach that lasting note of harmony in voice and prayer. Amen.

Mom's Radar

My flickr account for my photos uses the name "Mom's Radar." I told our sons we had a mind meld and that I could sense something was up. Not what a teenage boy wants to hear. My radar would start picking up slight differences in behavior, things said or not said, and then I might say it's time to have a sit down.... How often do we think we can fly under the radar unnoticed? What type of interference do we use hoping to jam the sensors?

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, When like Adam and Eve, we try to disguise our transgressions, you reveal the truth and we are humbled. We are sure that we can do what we want, say what we want, or hear what we want because we are cloaked in the masses of apathy and disrespect. O God, you know our actions. We are not hidden nor are we unaccountable. Help us to step apart from the crowds and sense more clearly your ideas of justice, compassion and love. Help make our actions ones that allow us to stand openly with no cause for regret nor shame. Let us be a congregation of high flyers! Amen

And Now All Was Well

These are finally the photos
That followed the delayed blog
That followed the Day Off
That followed the missing card reader
That followed the borrowed camera with leaking batteries
That followed the lost battery charger
That followed the drained batteries in my dead camera
That followed two shots at #2 son's gig
That followed the video tape left in the car
That followed the invitation to participate

I thought I was going to be sooooo clever. I wrote the walk in the park that Friday evening, and the final touch was going to have a link to the photos. Good idea, but one complication led to another and nothing was working the way I imagined. I was somewhat disappointed already because I didn't have my good camera for the Arboretum, but it's such a pretty place that the point-and-shoot worked just fine. It could have been special, instead it's almost a week later. Humph!

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, help us to be prepared to follow your call for our lives. We find ourselves falling behind as we chase bad leads, make wrong assumptions, and muddle in mediocrity. Sometimes we try to control the variables ourselves, and it only causes delays and frustrations. We should instead be filled with an innocence of details and an eagerness to accept your invitation to participate fully in your vison for our lives and for our congregation. Help us to recognize that in your care, all is well! Amen!

Copying is the highest form of compliment -
"A Fly Went By" by Mike McClintock

. . .The fly ran away in fear of the frog -
Who ran from the cat, who ran from the dog.
The dog ran away in fear of the pig
Who ran from the cow. She was so big!
The cow ran away from the fox,
who ran as fast as he could in fear of the man.
That man heard a thump, And away he ran!
It was just a sheep, with an old tin can!"
I looked at them all, and then I could tell
They all had no fear, and now all was well.
Random House - 1958

A Walk in the Park

Friday morning I went to a funeral for a friend who had lived a simple, great life - or is that a simply great life? I had an unplanned holiday the rest of the afternoon because who should argue when the boss says, "No need to come in, it's quiet. Take the rest of the day off." I've told one of our sons that for my funeral it would be great to have Louie Armstrong's recording of "What a Wonderful Life." I know I'm a Pollyanna, but Friday could have been a textbook reason why - It's April, the weather is spectacular, and with camera in hand, I'm out in it! In an unexpected burst of brilliance I decided to go to the Dallas Arboretum. A lot of the bulbs were a little past their prime, but that just made me look other places for beauty. It was a microcosm of life: first outings for newborns; tots playing in the water fountain; school-age children rolling down a hill; young ladies in Cinderella gowns getting Quinceanra photos; people in love having picnics; numerous women with white dresses lifted high as they journeyed from site to site for bridal photos; wedding rehearsals with bored groomsmen and bridesmaids aerating the grass with their heels; Conestoga-style trains of baby carriages pulled into a circle for playtime; pockets of friends enjoying an outing; individuals taking a day for themselves; generations of family walking hand-in-hand, or pushing wheelchairs; seniors taking time on the benches to look over the lake. What beauty there was to be found! Come join me! What a wonderful world!

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, please be present in our comings and our goings. You knew us and loved us before we were born and you receive us at the end of our days. It's a circle that never leaves you. We come to you to bless our notable days of birth, baptism, confirming our faith, marriage and death. Gracious God, with glimpses of the vision of the world you envision, help us to do our part to stay in community with each other as families and as neighbors. Make us mindful of the great beauty all around in the budding of spring, the breeze from the lake, the smile on a child's face, the appreciation of a senior receiving help, the remembrances of days well lived and well loved, and the beauty of a continuous grace-filled life when we live in connection with you. Let us never grow weary of giving thanksgiving for all we are given. Amen

String Around My Finger

I wonder if males have any idea the struggles many females have when they leave the house. Thank goodness I'm the first in our family to leave for work, or else I would spend another five minutes turning around half-way down the street to come back to make sure the garage door is down. Even then, I would have to look in the rearview mirror to make sure I wasn't kidding myself. In more high maintenance days I had similar issues with the iron and the electric curlers. At work I go around with a finger in the air to remind myself that I'm thinking of something. If I waited until I could find some string I would probably forget what was so important. Sometimes there's more than one finger in the air keeping track of questions on the good chance I become distracted. I could take some comfort in the fact that I'm not alone, but I don't know if I want to align myself with the forgetful people of faith. In the Old Testament the prophets were forced to grow hoarse, repeating themselves like a broken record "Remember the covenant! Remember the laws! Remember the Passover! Remember! Remember! Remember!"

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, If we consent to remain in your company then we won't run the risk of forgetting to whom we belong, what laws to respect, where to seek righteousness, and why we love. We should not have to keep looking backwards, like a child seeking attention who needs to make sure their parent is still watching. We should not doubt what we know to be true. We should not squander our time duplicating useless actions and repeating mistakes. Gracious God, we know that you are present in our lives and that you provide. We know that you made a covenant with your people and all living creatures of every kind. Hold our heads and our hearts high, like the finger with a string, recalling a God that loves us without measure. Help us to grow to be a confident, responsible, and remembering body of faith. Amen

Counting to Three

One of the eight Gosselin children on Discovery's "Jon and Kate Plus 8" decided that for her special day with her parents she wanted her ears pierced. It reminded me of my own experience. Back in the day, it wasn't quite as simple as it is now. You either had to get a doctor's appointment or you found someone to help you do it at home. My sister and future sister-in-law were my sponsors. You could either put a clothespin on your earlobe or else ice down the earlobe as the local anesthetic. We used the ice to deaden the area and sterilized the needle over an open flame on the stove. The right ear was done, but then came the harder part of making the left ear match the right. The first poke was a little low. The second poke was a little too far out. I had tears running down my face, but I was prepared to go the distance. By the third attempt my mother had seen enough and promised that if I let my ears heal that she would take me to get it done. She couldn't believe I was prepared to sit there as long as it took.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, we are prepared to suffer for our own desires, but often we are too queasy to endure discomfort for your mission. We give in too quickly and find excuses why our needs are more pressing than your appeals for justice and compassion. O God, like a parent who has reached their threshold of tolerance; stuggle with us to fulfill the work you have charged us to do. We can have great endurance and stamina when our minds are resolute. Help us to have a mindset for righteous living and for patience because working towards a call to justice and compassion will take multiple attempts to balance this wavering world. We know that you act as a constant source of symmetry and love. Amen

Cup Holders

Today someone asked me about my car. We bought a Hybrid about 6 months ago and I volunteered some information that I regularly tell people: the gas mileage (it keeps a running tally); part of the increase in gas mileage is by re-training the driver (I get a grade each time I finish driving); the trunk space is a little smaller (battery storage); and there are other non-Hybrid cars that get equally good mileage, but that one of my incentives was to use my dollars to show I want to find alternatives. (Yahoo! I'm an activist! :-) Then he pressed to know some particulars. "Is it a 4-Cylinder or 6-Cylinder behind the Electric Motor?" "How often do you have to replace the big batteries and how expensive will it be to replace?" Good, legitimate questions. My reply? "I know where the cup holders are!" Last year I helped my sister find a car and we teasingly scolded the salesman because he never even opened the engine in pretense of showing us the engine. He could see right away that we were more interested in finding all of the cup holders than the heart of the engine.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, to be good emissaries of your message we must know what we believe, and why we believe that you are Lord of all. People will be able to see through a facade of empty words and shallow actions. We must be able to answer our questioners with conviction, with thoughtfulness, and with truth. You have provided the tools that we need; your Word, your Spirit, your Son. Fill us with a craving to further study and understand the texts so that we are able to declare in our own minds and to others what we hold true. Make us receptive to the Spirit and its inscrutable moments in our lives that splinter our reality so that we are able to reflect your image instead of our own. Force us to look at the Cross; the substance and the reality of the price of the life of Jesus. Help us to live beyond the veneer of saying we are a Christian, to being a Christ follower. Amen.

Earth, Wind and Fire

You make the winds your messengers, fire and flame your ministers.
Psalm 104:4

Sometimes it all depends on your perspective. When we were discussing possible verses for our women's retreat, this verse from Psalm 104 was one that was listed. Part of choosing the right verse for the retreat means that you can expand the verse into a theme. To me it had beautiful imagery and implied power to share our faith with others, with a secondary benefit of having wonderful possibilities for the artwork, publicity and gifts. All together it seemed quite reasonable and perhaps even a favorite! However, our seminary student took umbrage because all she could see in her mind was one of a minister being tarred and feathered with fire lapping at her heels. No, this was not even a remote possibility in her esteemed opinion. Did she even pound the table with her shoe? Was this going to be another United Nations moment of incompatibility? Well no, I stretched the truth a bit, because actually we all got a huge laugh when we stopped reading with our own interpretation of the verse and looked again using the emphasis that she understood as most important. But there are issues that can't as easily be swept aside.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, we know that we all read the Bible with different perspectives, different histories, and different goals. Help us to set aside our prejudices and opinions and be open to hear and discuss other ideas. Help us to understand your words through an honest interpretation of study. Curb our tongues to share our ideas without demeaning others, for words can hurt to the quick when used unwisely and selfishly. Form the words in our mouth that soothe, heal and offer compromise. When we find ourselves at moments of impasse, give us the wisdom to have patience, and allow your will to come to the top. Help us to be humble and gracious, willing to admit mistakes and laugh at our shortcomings. Use us like the wind to carry your message throughout the lands, and may we act as ministers who burn, not from flames of discord, but with an ardor to make your will be known in our lives and in the life of this congregation. Amen.

Have you not heard?

I know, I know, out of all the noble characters, out of all of the available rich stories, why in the world would I become so transfixed on Balaam? I think in part, because it's a fresh story to me - perhaps that is a sad reflection on my Bible reading/study, but I don't remember it. I feel like I'm a 1960's version of Isaiah (ala Edward G. Robinson) elbowing people in their ribs saying,

"Dig This! 'Have you not heard?' There's this donkey,see,and the donkey is the first one conscious of an angel, see, and the donkey suffers for taking correct actions, see, and he talks to his owner who doesn't even seem surprised that his donkey is talking to him just like Mr. Ed, see..."

The donkey can see the angel and submits to the angel's intervention. The donkey talks reasonably, using words, yet neither Balaam nor the donkey is even surprised? You're trying to tell me this story has been in the Bible all these years? As a bit of trivia, there is only one other instance of an animal talking, so it really POPS out. It's kind of like when you read one of the really steamy stories of seduction and lust; at first you kind of are taken aback and then you wonder, "If people knew what kind of stuff was in the Bible, would more people read it?"

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, when we become stubbornly transfixed on side issues, distracted from the main message, and focused on questions that aren't the real concern; force us to submit to your purpose. Bring us back to the central theme and put words in our mouths that declare: "God loves and cares for you!" "Love your neighbor!" and "Jesus has risen!" O God, help us to read the Bible as though each story were read for the first time and use our enthusiasm to encourage others to read, study, and follow your message. Bring forward the words that best express your purpose and make them alive in our thoughts and actions. Let us pronounce your glory using Isaiah as inspiration. Amen

Do you not know? Have you not heard?
Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth.
God never grows faint or weary;
there is no limit to God's understanding.
God gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless.
Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall,
but those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength;
they will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary;
they will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40: 28-31

Imagination

Every once in awhile there are signposts that point that man is not the center of the universe. It's easy to get put into that mode of thinking when we have so many conveniences to free up our time, we have roads designed to take us from one destination to another, and we have products thrown in front of us all vying for our attention. So every once in awhile when a small word, a glimpse outside of ourselves, sparks our imagination - for me it equals possibilities. The possibility that anything can be a part, no IS, a part of a bigger plan just makes me smile from the inside. It reminds me of the Celtic tradition of finding a spiritual nature in all things. The Celts would not have been surprised to hear a talking donkey, they would be surprised to find there are donkeys that don't talk!

Nothing is more humbling than to look with a strong magnifying glass at an insect so tiny that the naked eye sees only the barest speck and to discover that nevertheless it is sculpted and articulated and striped with the same care and imagination as a zebra. Apparently it does not occur to nature whether or not a creature is within our range of vision, and the suspicion arises that even the zebra was not designed for our benefit.
-Rudolf Arnheim, psychologist and author (1904-2007)

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Stir our imaginations to think beyond our limits. Help us to set aside our inward thoughts and away from our self-centeredness. Open our minds to recognize the sacred in all things and that nothing is too obscure or too minute to be placed out of your realm of possibilities to create greatness, even ourselves. Help us to be agents and the laborers of your workings. O God, we give thanksgivings that your visoin is indeed more than our minds can fathom. There are so many chances to break away from our own routine and our small insulated world that it boggles the imagination and awakens us to new possibilities! Amen

Prophets

I've started investigating more of the Balaam story, an on-line Encyclopedia has some great paintings of the scene. It's also taken some unexpected paths as I try the different search results: There is a web page devoted to Balaam Totally Explained; A missionary's family named their web page using the donkey as an illustration; There are explanations that Balaam is a stand-in for Christianity; and Balaam is used in comments to respond to a pastor who considers their role as that of a prophet:

The job of the prophet is to challenge our presumptions and understandings.
If we aren't constantly being challenged, we aren't paying attention!

But the prophet can never be full of himself/herself or have any sense of self-importance. After all, if God could speak to Balaam from the mouth of the beast he was riding, then the prophet must realize that it's the message that's important, not the fact that it's coming from him or her.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, the life of a prophet is certainly not an easy one. They are required to challenge - to evoke a change. They are not always welcome in their own town. O God, help us to welcome prophets in our midst. Give us the wisdom to discern between the many messages that reach us each day, to seek those that ring true of your teachings. Help us to recognize that your words may come to us from unexpected sources, yet even still, that the message is yours, and that we can recognize them as truth. Help us pay attention every day to the sounding trumpets and the quiet nudges. Help us face our challenges with boldness and enthusiasm. Amen

Eyes closed

As part of our 2 Peter study, there was a reference to the Old Testament story of Balaam (Numbers 22: 21-30). There is much more to Balaam's story than these few verses, but these were the ones referenced. The Balaam story intrigues me, and I feel sure there must be some wonderful Midrash to explain the story beyond what was recorded while Balaam rode his donkey. Oddly enough, I noticed a similarity with the sermon which focused on Luke's writings of the Walk to Emmaus. As part of each reading, the main characters were oblivious and could not see another character until their eyes were allowed to see. Finally, when they are allowed to see, they realized they had been in the presence of something holy, and had no idea how it escaped them before.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, we think we can see the obvious. We can see our hands, we can touch our desks, and we can read the text. Sometimes, like Midrash, we think we can even read between the lines and fill in your thoughts. We can see what needs to be done around the church, we can evaluate charts and graphs, we can picture the next event, but until our eyes are opened with your power, we are simply walking with blinders. Help us to realize that until we stop relying on our rational vision and until we lose sight of our own interests, that we will find it hard to realize that we are not seeing the whole picture. When it is in your time, please open our eyes to the attendance of something holy, and we will wonder how we could have missed it all along. Amen

Motives

It's not the only time in my life I've had to question my motives. Usually I'm satisfied with the final analysis, but there were enough questions that I had to consider was I trying to fool myself? The reason I write every day is because I've made a commitment to pray for the congregation, and if you've ever heard my speak, you know that I can say more in writing than I can using my voice. Also, it's a mixture of journaling, paying attention to the world around me, and searching for God's will in the process. So, if I'm doing this as a prayer, then why would I bother telling anyone else? Do I want someone to read and agree? Do I think someone will offer a book contract? Do I want someone to know what grand thoughts are in my head? No. There are no grand thoughts in this head. By sharing as I have, hopefully it will keep me accountable, hopefully it will illustrate how seriously I am taking this commitment to the congregation, and hopefully it can build with other prayers towards a grand community of pilgrims.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, As we grow towards the vision of the church you hold for us, help us to keep our motives closer to your intentions than our own. Help us to set aside what we want a church to be and instead be open to a church we could not imagine; A church that defies our expectations but doesn't abandon our gifts and our history. Keep us under your watchful gaze and offer corrections if we begin to fool ourselves by thinking we are acting in your will when we are only keeping our own interests at heart. Keep our motives pure and holy. Keep our resolve strong and praiseworthy. Amen

Algebra

I know this hits home since my kids and I struggle with numbers, but this is also an excellent example of why I read Don't Eat Alone.

"Algebra" by Milton Brasher-Cunningham - April 5, 2008.

Here's my favorite verse:

Jesus walked the Emmaus Road and
asked, “What are you discussing?”
and they began explaining the algebra
of resurrection, even though most
of the equation was still unsolved.
Jesus broke the bread in two and
their hearts open and on fire.

Stop and Look

Driving to church this morning, we could see several police cars with their lights flashing. I could tell it was right in front of a bank. Maybe there had been a robbery! Maybe there was danger!! As we approached, we could tell that yes, there were indeed two police cars blocking two lanes of traffic on Broadway and we could see police officers walking hurriedly. Yes, a bank robbery!! But as we got even closer we could tell there was something lying in the road ahead of the police cars. As we drew parallel with the mass on the road, one of the police officers approached the dark body with his hand outstretched, and then you could see a hopeful head lift up and a grateful tail start to wag. That was the parting image, but it is still just as clear as it was this morning. We don't know the end of the story, but I did find it ironic that the building representing money and power stood forgotten as a bystander to the poor one on the street.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Help us to stop our routines, our busy lives, to look around and see those around us hurting and in need of an outstretched hand. God of forgiveness, we know that there are times we give an animal more sympathy and attention than we give our fellow brothers and sisters. Help us to stop in our tracks, and with a sense of urgency, affect others to stop and recognize those who don't have a voice or who don't have the power to help themselves. Give us the wisdom to know the best way to help heal their wounds, to give them a voice, and to regain their dignity. Help us set aside the attraction for wealth, thrills, and distractions and instead center our attention towards those in need, draw our satisfaction from the smallest blessings, and focus our vision on the next, right thing to do. Amen

Detours

Earlier this week my sister and I went on an excursion using mostly country roads instead of the interstate. I had done a little research, scouted a path, and printed out some pages of a brochure. As I reviewed the brochure, there was an ad for a town that called itself "The Norwegian Capital of Texas." So, we decided to make the detour and find a new pearl. Being raised to use the rational and skeptical parts of our brains, we knew that this was an ad, paid by the town, to encourage people to make a detour. Even knowing all that, we were disappointed when we drove through the town. We couldn't find any evidence of Norse heritage in the architecture, in the restaurant selection, or in the names of the stores. To be fair to the town, we never even got out of the car. If we had stopped to talk to the antique store owners, or stopped to eat, we might have found the "it factor" that we were hoping to find. Also, we visited in April, and their main festival is in late November. If we went during their main festival, we would have seen all of the costumes, the smorgasbord of food, and the idyllic picture we had painted in our head when we first read the ad.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, in our excitement to let our community know more about our church, help us to be careful with our words, monitor our ideas, and guide our actions to help portray a true likeness of your vision for this congregation. In this modern world of motion, sounds, and visual overload we struggle with ways to interrupt the stream so that people will know that we are here and make a detour to our front doors. Help us to live true to your word, so that when guests arrive, they feel that we are living true to our promise of being a caring congregation. Help us to be a congregation of constant Easter-life, not just put on display for annual holidays. Fill us with a vibrant and genuine love that invigorates our daily life and overflows to share with others. Make our church a detour that provides respite, renewal, and reformation from a road mostly traveled. Amen

Transitions

I escaped from suburbia last night! Number Two Son plays in two bands and last night one played at the Cavern on lower Greenville. It's been awhile since I've been in nightclubs and I had to make the transition to a different set of traditions: I took a nap to prepare for the 11pm downbeat; prepared to carry only cash, keys and driver's license (and camera as the other world mom); find parking where you don't get towed; pay a cover fee and get a hand stamp; get carded (he was kind enough to look); and stake your ground on the floor. My escort, Number One Son gave me the lecture about giving up your ground - it seems that I was moving aside too easily when people started coming in to hear the band. I enjoyed hearing the band play, and I was glad Number Two Son invited us to come. This morning I'm making the transition back to another world, my 8am downbeat called work: washing the smoke from my hair, the stamp from my hand, and the cobwebs from my head.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, help us to remember that each community has a set of traditions. We have a set of traditions that over the years has formed a rhythm that can induce a setting of reverence, anticipation of worship, and a calming in our souls. We see the stained glass and the cross, hear the sounds of the music and familiar texts, touch the Bible and the wooden pews, and we know instantly where we are. Remind us, that these are traditions that man has created to aid in our worship, and you only require that we draw near to you and feed your sheep, as you continue to feed us through the taste of the bread and the wine. Help us to remember that not everyone knows instantly the traditions of our faith. Not everyone is automatically drawn into worship by our rhythms. Some follow the beat of a different drummer. Help us to blend the two beats into a chorus of praise in your name. Help us to transition all of our worlds into your world. Amen.

The Good News Is...

On Tuesday my sister and I took a bluebonnet road trip, however, 650 miles later (average Texas road trip don't ya know) we had not even take one photo! It's not the best of years for bluebonnets. We even made an effort to go by the LBJ ranch near Johnson City. Lady Bird was famous for her promotion of wild flowers, but there was nary a bluebonnet on the ranch! We saw more bluebonnets in the 30 mile stretch between Austin and Bastrop than we did on the 250 mile stretch down 281 through Burnet, Marble Falls, etc. But still, we never found the fields of color that we had traveled so far to see.

My sister and I travel well together. We have the same temperature comfort level, the same bladder control, the same appreciation for silence, the same preference for country roads, and we both have the same habit of sharing good news. "The good news is that we started in the west, so we won't be driving into the sun." "The good news is that we found the cheapest gas in the state." "The good news is that we didn't have to work today." "The good news is that next time we'll know to start on the east side of 35." "The good news is that the construction on 71 was done before we had to come through." "The good news is that...."

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, require us to share the Good News! Help us set aside the personal proclamations of our conveniences and instead direct our focus towards your majesty and declare that you are Lord. Especially in those desperate times when the situation might seem more likely to produce despair and anger. Gracious God, help us to remember that you have not left our side, and that it is not your desire to let frustration, bitterness, and fear take hold of our lives. Instead you have the power to turn something good from a bleak situation and restore hope. We may not see the transformation immediately, but as we steady ourselves, pause and look back, make us aware of the strands of your works that reveal a new foundation, one that is stronger and surer than before. Give us the voices to proclaim, "The Good News is that God cares deeply for you. Know that you are loved!" Amen

Kueser Kindness

Today there is a memorial service for a member of our congregation. Jane gives a wonderful depiction and one of her favorite memories in "A Sermon Without Words." We came up with almost the same description, a gentle soul wrapped in a large package. You might picture a teddy bear, but he wasn't someone that sits on a shelf or waits to be hugged, this was a man of action, compassion, and second chances. He saw to it that any one could be assured of a place of honor and was worthy of his time and conversation. Not saying that he thought that he was mighty by sharing his time, but that he saw every one as his equal and encouraged others to join them at the common table. Alliteration works in this case: Kueser Kindness. What is his great vision of a memorial service? That the church joins in a big pot luck dinner afterwards! Perhaps we should set an empty plate as some faiths do for the expectant Elijah. We could set an empty plate at the head table for any one who might come and be in need of a meal. I won't be surprised if someone does show up. It would be fitting, and it would be grand to welcome them to the table of honor as the personal guest of Dick Kueser.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, thank you for the living sermon in our midst. Help us to learn from Dick's examples, and help guide us into action to live as examples for a new set of eyes that didn't get the opportunity to know and love Dick. Help us support the family, be present in their grief and be a witness to the celebration of his life. Insist that we become a congregation of action and compassion. Persist with sending people to our congregation who may be in need of second chances. Gracious God, you know we are all at that common table! Help us to have the same passion to understand and wrestle with your words, and the same passion to commit to action those readings. Thank you for the life of this man! Amen.

Potential

Potential is one of those words that can create different emotions depending on the context. When you say that you see great potential in a person, in a house, or an opportunity - you are filled with hope and anticipation of the possibility of greatness! But when you say that someone is not living up to their potential, there is such sadness at the loss of a missed opportunity, a missed occasion to witness something of significance. Potential energy is the stored energy of an object. Stored... As often as I clean closets (and I have some deep, packed closets), it could be awhile before I can unpack my storage.

My prayer for the congregation?

O God, help us to live up to our potential as individuals and as a congregation! There is only sadness and regrets when we miss opportunities to be useful, to provide a meal, to be your hands. Help us to live remembering your expectations for our lives. Dear God, with your promises and grace, we can live as a people filled with hope for our potential and delight in being a part of something greater than ourselves. Help us to focus on opportunities at hand, and learn from opportunities missed. Help us to keep our potential in the open, at the ready, so that we are equipped to spring into action. Amen.