Birthday Seeds

I've claimed that it is hard to buy presents for my husband - not because he isn't appreciative, but because he tends to get things that he needs as they arise. But I think I may be harder. I too buy things that I need, or want, throughout the year. I wear the same pair of earrings 98% of the time, I don't wear cologne, I don't get massages, I don't enjoy shopping that much so gift certificates are not hardly an option. What's a guy supposed to do??? He listens! He listens to the verbal clues from weeks earlier: "I bought my own birthday present this year, a Nintendo DS, so don't get anything else." And he listens to the non-verbal clues. He gave me seeds! Not because I have a green thumb, but after reading the entry about the Angel charm that can carry seeds.



My prayer for the congregation?


Dear God, May we have ears to listen attentively, and to find small meaningful ways to let others know we heard and understood their concerns. I pray that families listen to each other; that our congregation listens to each others hopes and joys; that we listen as a whole to our community and hear their distress and needs; and that we listen to the earth's sounds of vitality and the call for replenishment. May we listen for the call in our lives and the call for our congregation. Let us be mindful of the obvious, and alert for the quieter undercurrents of your presence. Let us know of the love of others in our lives and give the gift of love to our families and to our enemies. Amen.

The New Colossus

We talked about the elephant in the room at our Friday night service. You know, the familiar idiom that describes an obvious truth that is being ignored or goes unaddressed. It is based on the idea that an elephant in a small room would be impossible to overlook. It's obvious, it's present, but everyone acts as if the elephant is not in the room. In church, that elephant is often our doubts. You can't voice them for fear of being seen as unfaithful or wandering from the community, but they are there. For some reason I was reminded of the poem "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus whose last lines are usually associated with the Statue of Liberty.

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

The Worship Team invited us to bring our tired souls, weary of keeping pretense and a stiff upper chin; to bring our huddled masses yearning to voice freely our doubts and our fears; and to bring our homeless thoughts of not belonging to the community if we owned those doubts. The lamp was lit, the doors were held wide. Bring your doubts! We are a faith tradition that welcomes questions! God is big enough to handle what concerns you have! And if you just can't set aside your doubts, then the community is there to encourage, and hold you until you can find peace with your prayers and questions. Just now I'm taken aback by the poet's name - Lazarus! We are raised from our doubts!

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, It is natural for us to question and doubt, especially when we experience change and suffering. Our congregation has questions about our mission and our process of transforming through the new millennium. How do we face our fears? How do we release the stifling bondage of worry? How are we raised anew from a huddled mass yearning to breathe the fresh air of new life? Only through your grace is it possible, O God, only through your wisdom and patience and love for your people. I pray that the imposing colossus in our faith journey will not be a statue devoted to worry and doubts, but that we become heroic in our growth and our faith in your mission, and that we light a beacon for those who are seeking safe passage home. The new colossus - life with Christ! Amen

Seeds of Life

One of the cool things about having a name like "Angel Band" is that there are plenty of opportunities to find little "thank you gifts" for each other with angels as the theme. "Thanks for sharing this experience! Thanks for being my friend! Thanks for being you!" At Jane's great weekend escape, Deb reached into her pocket and pulled out four silver angel charms as soon as we were all together. Each one was a little different and the angel with the star was selected just for me. (I have a history with stars.)The really cool thing about the charm is that it has a hinge and can open up. I thought that maybe it was a variation of the prayer box charms that open and you can place a prayer on a small piece of paper inside the charm and close it to hold your prayer. But Deb had found them at a garden store. She thought it was more probable that they were designed to store seeds in the compartment. If you went for a walk and found a particularly lovely flower that you wanted to transport closer to your house, you could harvest some seeds and stow them in the handy inner cubby. Or if you had great success with a flower in your own garden and wanted to share the good seeds along your path, just as Johnny Appleseed did, then you could open up the compartment and sprinkle a little beauty all along your journeys. You may not pass that road again nor see the fulfillment of your plantings, but the evidence of your generosity partnered with the grace of rain will be witnessed by those who happen upon your trails. They will know that something significant was planted and nurtured where there used to be colorless, untended fields.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, May we be a part of your design to transform the plain, unyielding ground into a rich, fertile bed of beauty and blessings. We don't have to know what will grow from our seeds of faith, but we ask that many people will witness and know they are in the presence of something holy that will change their lives and ours. Amen.

Johnny Appleseed (public domain)

Oh, the Lord's been good to me.
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need:
The sun, the rain
and the appleseed;
Oh, the Lord's been good to me.

Oh, and every seed I sow
Will grow into a tree.
And someday there'll be apples there
For everyone in the world to share.
Oh, the Lord is good to me.

Oh, the Lord is good to us
And so we thank the Lord
For giving us the best of friends
The kind of love that never ends
The Lord is good to us.

What's in a Name?

When the girls and I started singing together, and then started to get requests to sing again, we decided we needed a name to put in the bulletin and on our tour t-shirts. We spent an entire weekend at Jane's house practicing songs and tossing around names for our little group. Usually I'm pretty agreeable, but I was finding exception with almost any name tossed out. I was no help! There were several disagreeable factions arguing in my brain:

1. Naming ourselves seemed so official and implied that we were really a group - which meant I was part of singing group! Still unfathomable!
2. Proper names are instrumental in the process of forming first impressions and once printed become a piece of history. It's what people call you and that to which you answer.

Even though we considered other names, we could never find consensus on anything else and we stayed with the name of "Angel Band" which was the first song that we all sang together. The Angel Band tour shirts have never actually been ordered, but we're still packing in the crowds :-) and racking up the towns: Garland, Gilmer, Longview, and Mabank! There are a few more Texas towns I'd love to list on the back: Utopia, Friendship, Poetry, Loving, Welcom, Temple, Earlywine, Burning Bush, Blessing, Paradise, Unity, Mission, Hope, Weeping Mary, and Harmony. What's in a name? We usually don't get to name ourselves - what would you name yourself?

My prayer for the congregation?

O God, you named your prophets and you name us as your children. If we name ourselves Christian, we must do more than wear a name badge to let people know who we are and to whom we belong. We must live our faith and follow the teachings of Christ to be called Christians. If we name ourselves friend, we must listen, be present, and share to become a true friend. If we name ourselves evangelists, we must open doors, talk to neighbors and share the good news before we can claim to be evangelists. Blessed is the name of Jesus; "God is Salvation." Amen.

"Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name
under heaven given among men,
whereby we must be saved."
(Acts 4:12)

Epilogue

I pulled a book that has over 12 post-it notes tabs sticking out around the edges marking passages to which I can easily refer back because as I read the book the words resonated and seemed to speak directly to me. The book is "Life of the Beloved" by Henri J.M. Nouwen. Reviewing the book tonight reminded me that Fred, a friend of Nouwen, wanted help finding the spiritual connection that he knew Nouwen possessed. Fred was not participating in any religious practices and asked Nouwen to write a book that would speak to him, along with his friends, in the secular world.

The chapters that follow are earmarked and underlined and I remember telling people that this book had made me feel as if I had been hugged. I bought extra copies of the book for graduation gifts.

In the epilogue, ten years of friendship and writing have passed. Fred gently shares the news that the writings had not been able to bridge the gap between his own secular world and Nouwen's life as the beloved. "Although it is clear that you try to write for me and my friends from your own center... you do not realize how far we are from where you are. You speak from a context and tradition that is alien to us, and your words are based on many presuppositions that we don't share with you. You are not aware how truly secular we are. Many, many questions need to be answered before we are able to be fully open to what you say... Who is God? Who am I? Why am I here? How do I get faith? When you do not help us to answer these questions, your beautiful meditations on being and becoming the Beloved remain dreamlike for us." (p 115-116)

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Let us be aware that the words spoken to each other in our church community that bring comfort and counsel may sound as drivel and meaningless to our neighbors and acquaintances that do not have our religious heritage. Before we can have conversations about a shared spiritual life, they may need help addressing you, or express questions about you. Let us find these circumstances not as an epilogue to our conversation, but as a prologue to bridge a relationship with those whom we seek to share a common table. Help us find new words to honor the fundamental quest that drive men's search for meaning in their lives. They recognize the faint cry, "You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests," and long not to strain to hear their blessings. Give us a heart for those whose faint of hearing has left them in a muffled world. Amen.

Bear Witness

To use Memorial Day as a starting point, I thought I would review some Christian martyrs who gave their lives to further the Christian message. In Greek, the word martyr means "witness" and the verb form, martyred, means to "bear witness" or "give evidence." I focused on Apollonius who was a Roman senator, renowned for his learning and wisdom. When one of Apollonius' slaves publicly denounced him as a Christian the case was remanded to the Senate where a remarkable debate took place between the prefect and Apollonius. "Are you bent on dying?" asked Perennis? "No," said Apllonius, "I enjoy life; but love of life does not make me afraid to die." Apollonius went on to give an eloquent apologia that clearly outlines the beauty and the value of Christianity. He argued that Christianity is superior by its concepts of death and life: death is a natural necessity which has nothing frightening about it, while the true life is the life of the soul. Above all, Christianity surpasses paganism through the work of Christ, the revealing Word of God and teacher of moral life, who became man to destroy sin by his death. Despite his eloquent defense, Apollonius was condemned to death in 186 A.D.



My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, May we be ready to bear witness and give evidence of your teachings and our salvation through Jesus Christ. In this country, where men and women have died to protect our freedoms, we may be challenged socially and economically because of our religious convictions, but we do not have to risk torture or fear that our lives are in jeopardy. Let us not take for granted our freedom to meet and worship, but instead greedily take advantage of our opportunities to meet as regularly as possible and to share openly our faith. Let us hear the words of Apollonius as he gave evidence to his faith:

O Lord Jesus Christ,
give us a measure of Thy Spirit
that we may be enabled to obey
Thy teaching to pacify anger,
to take part in pity,
to moderate desire,
to increase love,
to put away sorrow,
to cast away vain-glory,
not to be vindictive,
not to fear death,
ever entrusting our spirit to immortal God,
who with Thee and the Holy Ghost
liveth and reigneth world without end."
-Apollonius (from part of his defense before Perennis)

http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0418.shtml
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0418.shtml

Joy to the World

All of a sudden, summer has arrived in Dallas. It's the sticky, humid, oppressing kind of heat that makes people grumpy, and because it only generates more heat, you don't particularly want to sit close to others. So when we sang "Joy to the World" this morning it definitely did not synch with Christmas. It's one of our Parish Associate's favorite songs and he refuses to let it sit idle for a few weeks in December and January. When you sing the hymn out of the Christmas season you can look at the words with different expectations. Some sections particularly stand out with a sense of urgency and call to mission.

Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room

Joy to the world! The saviour reigns.
Let us our songs employ...

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love.
Issac Watts, 1719

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Let us prepare our hearts and receive the King regardless of the season or the conditions. We have words to employ and mercies to share; let us sing out rather than hum quietly to ourselves. Let our congregation find ways that mirror the glories of righteousness, that will rule the life of our church with truth, and exhibit grace towards others. Let the wonders of your love figure prominently in the mission of our church and within our own lives. There is joy in the world! Thanks be to God! Amen.

Be Careful Out There

Tonight's prayer is a little different. I've been on the roads around Dallas quite a bit this weekend, and I have to say, if you trust the law of averages, either I will witness or I will be a part of a serious traffic accident with the current trend of driving antics. People are being careless, making poor choices and others are left in their wake trying to recover quickly and safely. Earlier this week #2 son had to quickly swerve to avoid a reckless driver and ended up on the side of the road with a busted tire. More people moved to Dallas-Ft Worth area last year than to any other metropolitan area in the US. (CNN Money) With more people on the roads it's even more important to practice a little safety, offer quite a bit of patience, and be eager to forgive. And to quote the sergeant in Hill Street Blues -

"Hey, Let's be careful out there!"

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, During this holiday weekend people have travel plans that take them out of town and extra events that require more trips for people within the metroplex. I pray that we leave a few minutes early when we have gatherings to avoid the need to speed and risk making poor decisions to try to get there on time. I pray that we have an awareness of unpredictable drivers and that we are able to make wise decisions and practice safe driving when we are in their vicinity. We pray for level heads, patient tempers, and a forgiving disposition. Let us remember that each of us is a sister, brother, mother, father, son or daughter. We all desire to make it home to our families safe and sound. We ask for traveling mercies for family and friends coming and going out-of-town. We seek your peace in our lives. Amen

In front of the lens

The wonderful thing about working with Photoshop at work every day is that I can salvage some photos that might otherwise been snipped away from the rest of the film negatives and discarded, I can take a normal exposed photo and enhance the tones throughout the image, I can add people who weren't originally in a group photo, I can subdue some wrinkles and I can work on those annoying red-eye and glare on glasses from the flash. It's rare that you can push me in front of a camera. So when I read Jane's journal entry and saw my face front and center, I wanted to pull out my Photoshop tools and correct some of my obvious flaws. I can do that! (I've done it before!) I can whip out the paint tool and add some color to the gray, stamp out some of the lines under the chin, and smudge a little off the sides of the neck to make it look thinner. Lately people have been asking me whose ID I am wearing at work because the ten-year old badge doesn't match who they are seeing. Well perhaps they should get their eyes checked! I don't see the difference! It's not just the appearance of gray and pounds that make me avoid the camera, I've been that way as long as I can remember. Luckily I was the third child in our family and the frantic need to capture childhood on film had been eased by the older two. Hopefully search and rescue teams won't ever have to try to find me as a missing person because they might have to rely on my high school senior photo, and even I'll admit I don't match that photo.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You have made us each beautiful and unique with our own flaws, and our own strengths. We are not each made as a high fashion model. You know of each gray hair on our head, each chipped tooth in our mouth, each scrape on our knuckles, and love us still. You know who we are created to be, what we are capable of becoming, and how we can help further your missions. The questions remaining are when and where? Those questions can be answered or averted by our own flaws and strengths. Help us to welcome our assets and work around our faults to respond to your call and love in our lives. Help us to stand in front of your cause and accept our part in the picture. Amen.

Our Song

There's a song, that when it is played, makes my head snap to attention and turn towards the instrument that is playing "Wondrous Love." It's almost an involuntary reaction as if the song is a beacon and I'm the receiver. I may be distracted, reading, or concentrating on a task, but once the first few bars are played my attention is crisp and focused, and I feel as if I'm being called home, to a familiar place, a loving place. It's our song, the Spirit and me. I have this vision of "Wondrous Love" being played during Holy Week; a single cello playing the melody while the song's lyrics are given in sign language next to the cross.

"What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul...
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!"

The third verse calls to me tonight as a great thanksgiving of a dear friend. I can imagine his own song might include a fiddle playing the melody while he finds accompanying notes on banjo. I can pray that I'll be journey proud and singing unabashedly in response when "our song" is played as my Invitation Hymn. (raised Baptist ya know)

And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on, I'll sing on
And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on;
And when from death I'm free,I'll sing and joyful be,
And through eternity I'll sing on, I'll sing on,
And through eternity I'll sing on!

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, I pray that each person recognize a song, Bible verse or prayer, that when heard, is an instant confirmation that they called to be in direct relationship with the Spirit and they are abiding with you. We give thanks that our "Charge to the Congregation" is one such connection that our church community has as a whole and with each other, living in your presence. We hear the charge and experience its bond. Let us believe whole heartedly in what we are called to do, and go forthright into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit! What wondrous love is this! Amen!

Vigil

Tonight there are families holding vigil. They are watching the minutes pass as hours and cherishing the seconds as years.

When our #1 son was headed for boot camp two days after high school graduation I stayed awake the entire night. I wasn't about to waste one second while he was still home by sleeping. It was time that couldn't be recovered and I knew there was a finite period of time left. Other families would have the summer to buy sheets for dorm beds; create small pantries of popcorn, mac and cheese, and hot chocolate; and research the newest computer for high-tech papers and contact with home. The Marines only let them bring the clothes on their back, and I heard rumors that they mailed even those few reminders back to their homes. As an ironic plot of the twist, once the recruits arrive at their destination, usually late in the evening, they are not allowed to sleep; their new family not wasting any seconds to indoctrinate the new rules and new way of life.

I know of one family holding vigil because time is limited due to a disease meaner than any Marine drill sergeant ever was. No one could muster the imagination or the force that it would take to reduce an active body to a shadow in five months. The earnest vigil continues through another night where minutes pass as hours, and seconds ripped away as a stolen treasure.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We pray for those in vigil. We pray that they know of your comfort and love, and that a level of peace can be issued to their anxious minds. We pray that these restless days can be restored to days of connection, days of confirmation, and days of time well spent; that even these days can be seen as a witness of our faith and trust in you, O God, and also can serve as testimony of your deep and true engagement in our lives. We are reminded of the vigil Jesus spent alone while those he trusted slept. Dear God, let us be solid sentries for those who seek our presence and our help. We pray for those in vigil and for those whom vigil is kept. Amen.

Not Because No One Knew

Yesterday I mentioned the "Entertainment Weekly" expanded feature on the upcoming movie "Sex in the City." You can't go through the day without watching a commercial, driving past a billboard, flipping past a print ad, or channel surfing past an interview with one or more of the actresses promoting the movie opening. If this movie tanks, it won't be because no one heard of the movie or knew when it was opening. I know it's billed as more than just a film about four women and their counterparts: shoes, fashion, romance and THE City. The real victory of the movie is that it's about four women over the age of forty. Ground breaking! Revolutionary! A hallmark of filming history! Okay, I was raised with a cynic (oops, I mean a realist) who would be raising an eyebrow right about now wondering if all the glitz and drama promoting the film is a bit overkill. I start wondering if all of the energy that has been invested to promote the movie could be channeled into a different campaign, what could be accomplished. It's not that I'm virtuous and can brag that I've never seen an episode when it was on TV. I have. Several! It's not that I will take a stand and refuse to go to the movie - I don't go to any movies because I fall asleep (even through Independence Day). It's just a bit of sadness when I see so much energy and money devoted to any entertainment release, fragrance unveiling, soft drink additive or floor wax improvement! They eventually will succeed or fail by their own merit, but they won't fall short because no one knew, or did not hear of their product.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Let us be bold with our energy, with our words and with our actions to lobby for the advancement of your kingdom. Let us concentrate our efforts on issues that will enhance people's lives and replenish your creation. Let us be wise in the choices we make to expend our energies and to set our priorities. We pray that our nation's leaders follow the path to charity, and bypass the highway to greed. We pray that our congregation's leaders make choices that reflect fair trade and equality. Victory does not resolve using our terms, but is pronounced by you alone. Above all, O God, let us be bold in our declarations of your love and majesty, so that not one person can cry out in despair that they did not know of your grace and did not hear of your love. Amen.

Real Women

"Entertainment Weekly" published a special double issue; out of the 128 pages of the magazine, 63 pages are devoted to the movie, "Sex in the City." The magazine provides an episode guide of every show from the six seasons on HBO, a special pull-out map of New York highlighting all the landmarks from the show, a montage of the men the girls dated, and of course - their clothes and accessories. I know I would never pass for a fashion plate; I'm too practical in my choice of clothes, plus adding the klutz factor and stilettos are out of the question. I remember when gas stations started making the switch from full-service to self-service. There was a motto, "Real women don't pump gas," which I guess was supposed to demoralize those women who chose to stand in the cold or the heat getting their hands dirty so they could take advantage of the better prices. The motto never held any real weight with me. When I think of real women that I do admire, they don't show up on the cover of "Entertainment Weekly," they can be seen in the mission field building homes; in the free clinic supplying medical help; in the nursery changing diapers so mothers can attend worship; on scaffolding high above the ground painting the education center; outside digging in the flower beds to add color to the grounds; in the kitchen washing the line of dishes from a pot luck dinner, and standing at the gas pump filling their car to visit the shut-ins.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We are thankful for the women who set aside comfort for labor, set aside fashion for dungarees, and set aside personal time for the community. We value their gifts and their willingness to share their talents and time generously. Let us draw inspiration from their actions and repay their contributions by offering our own talents; creating new opportunities and new missions. Let us be a real, genuine people, getting our hands dirty, reaching out to other real people who have needs, disappointments, and a desire to know of your love. Remind us to value the hearts of those we meet, not to consider the style they wear. Amen.

On the Seventh Day

My family has come to expect, and request, that I take a Sunday nap. By the time 1pm rolls around on Sunday my body starts reacting automatically in anticipation of the pillow much as a mouth starts salivating in anticipation of a favorite dish. Over the past months we've also slowed down as a family on Sunday nights; we like to stay home and grill our dinner meal. It's a nice resolution to the week, and a fresh start for the week ahead. Opportunities abound, and it would be easy enough to squeeze in another service, another visit, or another chore, but we try to rest. Not everyone needs an exaggerated nap as I take, but everyone needs to have a time set aside to rest and re-set, to rest and re-center, to rest and re-connect. To rest in trust and faith.

My prayer for the congregation?

This is a prayer by Frank Topping that I printed and keep in my Bible. May it also inspire you to rest in the Lord. Amen.

Lord,
teach me to rest in you.
Teach me to see the sky
and to think of nothing else
but the joy of it.
Teach me to look
at field and flower
and be soothed
by colours and seasons.
Teach me to close my eyes
and to rest
in the Love that has supported me
all my days.
Teach me, Lord,
to rest in you.
"Resting" by Frank Topping

Five Part Harmony

Until about five years ago I had not been in any kind of choir since elementary school, so imagine my bewilderment that I am singing as part of a quartet. It started off as a friendly pledge between two non-choir members to start going to choir. I needed a lot of coaching both technically and emotionally since I have the rhythmic timing of a lumbering walrus on land. Then, as part of a friendly heave into faith, four of us came together to sing during an offertory. We've been singing together ever since. When the four of us sing together, one plays the guitar and after a quick look at sheet music it's relegated to the back of the notebook for reference. From then on we play and sing from the heart of the words, from harmonies that come as dreams, and from the connection that happens when you look in each other's eyes instead of the page. Even though I am slow to admit when I'm part of something good, I'm truly amazed every time we sing together; the voices fuse with each other tightly and sweetly. We feel free to experiment, to improvise, and to adapt a song until it has our signature. It's evident to us that there is a fifth partner in our harmonies. There is no other way that I can explain how this walrus is transformed into a replica of one of the flock of swans, gliding across the smooth lake - unless the fifth partner is the Spirit.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, How can we know what we are capable of reaching unless we include you in the planning and the execution of our dreams and our actions. We would halt at our limitations and suspend any further growth thinking we had reached our summit when in fact it was just a foot hold to the next zenith. Forgive our lumbering steps of faith; even the walrus becomes agile when placed in the right environment. We welcome the Spirit as partner and guide towards the many steps and levels of envisioning the mission of this congregation. May we be truly amazed by what is revealed in our faith and by your Grace, Amen.

Prayer Team

This week I've seen different types of prayer teams. As I was standing in a cashier's checkout lane, two people ahead of me started talking and the fact came out that the man had just been laid off. The first response of the woman was that she would say a prayer for him that night. He said he would appreciate it since he had a lead on an interview the next day. I was impressed, but I also distanced from the situation a little because she just came off as a bit odd. She was probably very sincere but she chatted so much that you couldn't tell if offering a prayer was just something else to say. Then yesterday I was in a group of four people waiting for an event to start and one girl asked us to include a prayer when we said our nightly prayers for her grandmother who was about to undergo heart surgery within the hour. One second later one of the men held out his hands and there was no question but that we were also supposed to offer our hands to make a circle. The prayer was short and simple, but its immediacy spoke of earnestness and sincerity.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Help us to remain in prayer at all times and not limit ourselves by hours or protocol. Hear our prayers which request attention for the care of the earth, reflect concern for citizens beyond our borders, pursue peace with neighbors, seek wisdom for our nation's leaders, petition discernment and energy for our congregation, beseech healthy bodies for our families, implore guidance for our children, and heed our desire to be in your presence all the days of our lives. Tune our ears towards the anxious needs of those around us. Let us be bold and generous in our prayers. We are blessed that our prayers and concerns are ever in your vigilance. Let us remain on watch for opportunities to pray and to offer the hand of fellowship, in Christ's name we pray, Amen.

Camping in the Suburbs

It's been a lovely spring in Dallas. Due to allergies in the household, sleeping with the windows open is not an option, but nights like this (especially when you know how fleeting and rare these nights will be, possibly as soon as next week) make me seek out options for soaking it in. We have a porch that faces west and for much of the year is not a place you care to spend much time. But tonight is different, and since I have the lucky family genes that permit opening windows, I will open them wide to get a cross-breeze and I'll probably end up sleeping there for what I call "pretend camping." I get the benefits of camping, the cool air, the croaking frogs, and the silky feel of the sleeping bag, but I also have the advantage of household amenities such as an alarm clock, screens to keep away bugs and critters, and a nearby bathroom. I can also go "camping" any night of the week; I don't have to wait for the weekend or take off from work and I don't have to pitch a tent! It's camping in the suburbs! To me it's a win-win situation!

We have a friend that is camping for REAL in the hill country of Texas this week. There will be so many stars that it will be hard to find the constellations within the magnitude of the night sky. He will experience wild life scurrying through his campsite and marvel at the flowers that are native to that area. In the past he has befriended the camp rangers who seek out his company and as a partner in dominoes. He'll sit in silence so powerful that stones will be heard.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We try to simulate your world in our world. We try to duplicate the experience without living the experience. We try to contain your miracles and make them fit our comforts and our pleasures. Help us to discern the difference between authenticity and plagiarism. Do not let us settle for make-shift relationships, provisional evangelism, and crude spirituality. None of these are native to your kingdom. You offered a model of righteous living in human form through Jesus. If we must try to duplicate your creations, then let us encounter a phenomenon in our lives that sets down our own comforts to hold up another's needs. Let us strive to acknowledge your dominion and yield to a practice of living in full acceptance of your authority. O God, it may take a miracle. Amen.

Make Someone Happy

Can you hear Jimmy Durante? I can! Hupmph, I guess that means I'm old enough to remember Jimmy Durante! Yet another cultural divide! But shouldn't we all know about Jimmy? From the movie "Sleepless in Seattle" another generation leaves the theater smiling and swaying to "Make Someone Happy." "Fame, if you win it, Comes and goes in a minutes, Where's the real stuff in life, to cling to? Love is the answer." I also remember another catchy song: "Ink a Dink a Do." "Now here's a little tune that's goin' 'round,You can hear it all over town" Yesterday we had a new set of volunteers on our campus at work. Clowns! They went around to various waiting areas and helped bring smiles to people who were tired from waiting, weary from finding their way around our huge campus, and drained from absorbing all the different information they were expected to remember when they get home. So when clowns come into the room making balloon hats, roses and fishing lines - it turns their outlook from depleted to energized. I never was good at blowing up balloons, and the little knots at the end gave me problems, so I probably won't look into making balloon art, but I can smile! "It's so important to make someone happy.
Make just one someone happy...One smile that cheers you. One face that lights when it nears you." An acquaintance of Jimmy Durante remarked "You could warm your hands on this man!"
The good news of Jimmy Durante. Share it!

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Help us to be aware of the people we meet each day who could be energized by a nod of acknowledgement and a simple smile. Help us to be mindful of the legacy that we leave, and the first impression as we meet. Let people see the joy of our Christian life in our eyes and in our countenance. Let us make one person happy each day. Love is the answer! Amen.

Selah

Selah. It's one of those awkward words that appears in the Bible, and you're not quite sure how to say it, or even if you are supposed to say it. It appears about seventy-four times in Scripture, usually in the Psalms.

• "Beyond the fact that Selach is a musical term, we know absolutely nothing about it." Dr. W. Smith (Bib. Dict.)
• "Its meaning is doubtful. Some interpret it as meaning 'silence' or 'pause;' others, 'a louder strain,' 'piano,' etc..." - Easton's Bible Dictionary

Some interpret it to mean silence while others interpret louder? How did selah make it past the editors??? I can't tell you how many times in high school English I would get a returned paper marked with red ink: "no such word." I was utterly surprised that once again I had used a word that didn't exist. It existed in my world! So in my vocabulary, selah is going to mean silence or pause. I need to pause tonight. I stayed late at work and then brought work home with me on top of that. Can you say "pause"? Can you say "pause" with a loud voice? SELAH! Maybe I'll hear that!

Actually, last night the soft word selah came to mind after reading a comment from one of the posts:

"...It's amazing how long reaching gods arms! A friend in Virginia"

Selah. It sounds like a breath prayer. "Se" (breathe in) "lah" (breathe out). Virginia did make me pause and take a deep breath. selah. First to consider the truth of the statement, second to consider how connected we are, and how suddenly smaller the world gets. One minute you're all by yourself with a keyboard; the next minute you're being blessed from a thousand miles away...
se(in)-lah(out).

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Help us to pause from our busy days to recenter ourselves to you. Like a breath of fresh air, you bring new life into our soul. When our minds are racing, bring to mind a word that can be our governor. Selah! When our anxiety is such that we can't sleep, bring to mind a word that can be our comforter. Selah! When our hope seems far away, bring to mind a word that can fly like a dove to lift our spirit. Selah! Help us to share words of connection to those near and far. There is no doubt that your name is above all names. How reaching your arms. Selah. Amen.

The Happy Wanderer

I'm wearing a t-shirt that says, "Not all that wander are lost." It's an affirming message to me that helps explain the wanderlust of the bend around the corner. I'll never forget rounding one curve and having the majestic Tetons revealed. One minute earlier we saw nice landscapes, but we had no idea we were about to behold a vision unlike anything ever seen before by our limited experience.

Every so often I have to find an alternate route home on my drive after work. Not because of traffic or bad weather, but just because I have to switch things around from time to time. I like to see where a road leads, I formulate a shortcut, and sometimes I determine that's an area I won't revisit. Lesson learned. Even though I don't own a GPS, I don't get stressed as I'm scouting out new leads. I know that eventually I'll run into a road that I know, or that my keen (?) sense of direction will face me in the right direction. And sooner or later, those excursions pay off when there is a traffic snarl or if the interstate bridges are iced over. Maybe if my car were less dependable I might be a little more cautious in my adventures; and as much as I enjoy taking new roads, I equally dislike being the lead car and having someone follow me as I change lanes, make U-turns, and flounder in choices. I'm fine when my choices only affect myself, but once my actions domino into other people's courses, I'm less likely to gamble on a new route and I question the routes that I do know. The questions arise - Will we arrive together? Does everyone drive the same speed? Will someone be uncomfortable with the course that we're on? Will we still be speaking to each other?

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We are not the first to wander, nor the first to wonder as we wander! We grow impatient as we sit in traffic gridlock much less tolerate the forty-year wait of the Israelites in Exodus. O God, we do not like to wait. We look for short cuts to rebuild the church and we plot an itinerary for rebirth. As we advance, the road begins to curve, and just around the bend your majesty is unveiled and we are reminded that you are Lord of all. Dear God, We have time, but you have eternity. We have schemes, but you have a mission. We have goals, but you have grace. Let us seek the roads less traveled and the roads mostly traveled, and give us the foresight to agree on a haven where we come back as one to share our joys and our lessons learned. Together we can learn more about that which we have yet to conceive. Amen.

Flaming Appetite

“Color! What a deep and mysterious language,
the language of dreams.”
Paul Gauguin, French Post-Impressionist Painter, 1848-1903

Everywhere you looked today you could see waves of red throughout the sanctuary. On Pentecost we wear read as a visual reminder of the flames of the Spirit that appeared (When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a noise like a strong, blowing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw something like flames of fire that were separated and stood over each person there. Acts 2:1-3)Marketers and restaurants intentionally use color in their products and settings to create a certain mood, to affect a subconscious reaction in their consumers. Psychologically, red is a powerful, active color. The color red effects us mentally and physically by: increasing enthusiasm; stimulating energy; encouraging action and confidence; and creates a sense of protection from fears and anxiety. Sometimes when I go to work, and I'm aware of the fact that I'm exceptionally tired, I will deliberately wear red to help boost my energy level and add some color to my face. One of my co-workers is color blind with red-green deficiency. Instead of a vibrant red he sees a muddy brown. It's hard for me to imagine life without red!

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We are hungry for the Spirit! As remembered on the day of Pentecost, the words of Joel: "God says: In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams." We long to envision, to dream and to prophesy. Help us to give vibrant descriptions of your grace, so that even those who are blind to your miracles will be able to see them more clearly. Supply the words that we need to share so that their ears can hear the calling of their name to participate in the kingdom. Let us be bearers of the truth, clothed in red from head to toe, full of energy, excitement and a hunger for sharing the good news. Amen

Wallpaper

One of my favorite scenes from the movie "Toys" is when Captain Patrick Zevo, in his perfect camouflage with the wallpaper, steps away from the wall. No one knew he had been in the room. An odd scene to remember, especially considering all of the unique toys, the incredible sets, and Robin Williams as the main character, but it's one that resonates with me. If I could, I would rather be camouflaged into the wallpaper than sitting in a seat of prominence, with eyes focused towards me. Oh, I do find myself in that focused position rather frequently, but that only confirms to me that it's not my own desires - but that I'm giving into, and relying on the Spirit. On Monday I posted a photo that I took at the church picnic. I'm a visual person and I thought it was time to incorporate a little interest beside the text. I made deliberate choices about which photo to use; I cropped and manipulated levels to help make the photo as neutral as possible but still demonstrated that rock climbing was involved. I contacted the mom to make sure I wasn't crossing any boundaries, and assured her that only about 10 people even knew that I was posting. This is why I don't live in the world of absolutes: You make a statement, it gets cut in half. :-) Two days after that posting, that specific entry was mentioned in Jane's Journeys as an alternative reading for the day. Well, everyone knows that Jane has millions of faithful readers! (I don't live in absolutes anymore) What about my private little space? What about the photo? What happened to my camouflage? It's okay... I'm at peace. I'm sure of grace. It's not about my desires, it's not my page. It belongs to the congregation. In the movie, when Captain Zevo steps away from the wallpaper he joins forces with the heroes of the story. They are the champions of the toys that had been cast aside, that had no voice, that had no hope. You know, it may be time to rent that movie again, I think I've changed since the last time I saw it.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, when we allow your vision to surpass our own misgivings and shortcomings, we can marvel at the changes within us and around us. Help us to be mindful of those who linger on the edges, who are waiting for the nerve and the encouragement to step into their role in your greater mission. When we think in absolutes we are shortening our horizons and limiting our responses. Open up the myriad of challenges, opportunities, and possibilites to further your kingdom. Our God is an awesome God! Amen.

These Are Called What?

I hate to admit there's a league in our church that I know very little about. They are a bit of a mystery to me and I don't feel that I have a good point of reference with which to connect. They are a happy lot, a generous group, and they generate a loving community. They are a blessing indeed, but I can't quite figure out how they function, what makes them tick. It's my problem; I'll be the first to claim the blame. I think they are called youth??? As any good psychological study would set to prove, part of my issue probably goes back to my own childhood. I didn't have much to do with the youth at church then either. I would guess a mixture of being an introvert combined with not necessarily wanting to be there at all, didn't bode well for fond memories. I have gone to an early worship service ever since I was in high school and that's not exactly the prime setting of most teenagers. When our sons reached high school age I sent them to Synod Youth Workshop, a week-long youth retreat that is often a life-changing experience for most participants. They never met this family before!! #1 son hid in the bathroom for most of the week, and the next year #2 son felt the need to make up stories during small group time. I didn't see the point of furthering the mockery. Raising teenagers was not exactly my forte so I never engaged in impairing other family's children. I do keep tabs from afar, watch them grow, and appreciate their gifts and individuality, but recently, I've had more direct contact with these mystifying organisms. Do you know what I've found? They are pleasant, easy to talk to, and are gracious to me - even if I am like the odd aunt from the awkward side of the family. :-)

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You have entrusted our children at their baptism to the entire community of faith. Oblige us to uphold our commitment to the children, to their parents and to the congregation and actively assist in raising them, nurturing them, and loving them. Help us create an environment of curiosity, of study, of mission, and of living in relationship with each other and with the world at large. These children are only in our homes for a short while. During the time that we share, help us mentor and encourage them to be mindful of your laws, to listen for the call in their lives, to treat others fairly and with respect, and to go forth into the world in peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In the Gap

One of the most important responsibilities that we have is to support those who are facing medical issues and to build up their care givers. Tomorrow we have two close friends who are entering the hospital to receive care. One should recover quite well in a short while; the other may not have the option of recovery. As a couple, we discussed and signed Advance Directives at the same time we made our wills years ago. Logically, my decision makes complete sense for me, but when I saw the Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) bracelet on my aunt's arm, logic went out the window as my heart realized what that meant. Two totally different scales were used to measure the same practice. When one faces critical diagnoses, or the loss of a loved one, it can feel like the ground beneath your feet is not sure. You exist between the gap of reality and the gap of coping; not quite in either realm. I recently read a journal entry of a mother who is living in this gap of Job; trying to wrestle with her own big questions and the "helpful" answers of friends. At the end she concludes:

Interestingly, my bravest friends, be they Christian pastors or confirmed heathens, have tended to explain the least. Instead, they have quietly anointed us with their kindnesses. They have prepared meals for us in the presence of our bitter enemy. They are holding our hands as we walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

How many times do we hear our friends express the fact that they are not sure how they could have endured if not for their church family. How do those without a church family cope?

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Our hearts pour out for those who are suffering, who are coping with medical concerns, and for those who are providing their care. Often we struggle to find words to express our sorrow; we want to remedy the situation and we feel useless and powerless against such an adversary. How often do we hear it wasn't the words that made the difference, it was the hand being held or the quiet company of coupled souls. O God, while we may experience tribulations and hardships, we know that ultimately we are never alone. Help us to share what we know so well, that you bridge the gap from grief and distress to comfort and peace. Use us to provide a meal, a hand, a quiet presence, a force of continual prayer. Amen.

It's Not My Fault

I really did write a prayer on Tuesday, but the system wouldn't cooperate. Clearly, not my fault!I spent a good thirty minutes looking on the web for the audio from a Mac computer saying, "It's not my fault." It's rather amusing to hear a computer beating you to the punch when you've just lost an hour's worth of work. Then I hoped I would find some Top Ten Excuses for use when it's clearly not my fault. Instead I found excuses for not saving (can anyone say recession?), excuses for not exercising (only 10?), excuses for not turning in Math homework (but that involved knowing enough math for the excuses to be funny), excuses for not blogging (too close to home). Just when I was about to give up on excuses I found The Heart of Innovation . They posted 100 excuses for not innovating, but then they offered these solutions to quell excuses:

1. Make a list of your three most bothersome excuses.
2. Turn each excuse into a powerful question, starting with the words "How can I?" or "How can we?" (For example, if your excuse is "That's R&D's job," you might ask "How can I make innovation my job?" or "How can I help my team take more responsibility for innovating?"
3. Brainstorm each question -- alone and with your team.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, How can I make my life more faithful and how can I take more responsibility in making our congregation more vibrant and more serving? How can WE offer outreach, share the gospel, connect with the community, mentor our youth, serve the suffering, and find ways to unite the disengaged? How can we prioritize our actions to bring about your vision and mission? Help us to find a way over, around or through whatever obstacle is in our way. Let excuses fall aside for innovation and remedying actions. Amen.

No One Said It Would Be Easy

On our last day in Canada last year, hubby and I found an ideal spot on the Kananaskis River to watch rafters and kayakers manage a small waterfall. It proved to be one of the best, and cheapest, entertainment packages of the trip! The seasoned kayakers could row back into the surf and after they paddled like crazy they found the sweet spot where they could sit on top of the water and ride it out like a surfer. Then with one small error in paddle placement they would be spit out like a watermelon seed back into the turbulent swell. Not all of the kayakers were experienced however, and they struggled to make it out of the eddy.

After posting "The Well" it reminded me of the years I participated in a small group for Spiritual Formation. It was quite a challenge for me. There were hard questions asked, feelings explored, and participation was expected. I couldn't stay quiet as my natural defenses dictate. I often felt out of my league, like the kayaker being held under the pounding surf and trying to find which direction is up to grab at seconds of pockets of air. It was a challenge, but I think those hours out of my comfort zone, the kind but firm insistence to participate, and the self-imposed anxiety also proved to be a gift. Creativity became my outlet, others found their own voice.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Following the model of Christ can be challenging. When we get tossed around by circumstances and distractions, help us to find the way back to you. We welcome those first, fresh, saving gasps of air when we realize that we are back in your presence. Like any kind of growth, there are no promises that it will be easy, in fact it rarely will be. Let us be aware and appreciate our growing pains and find our own voice in the process. Amen.

The Want To

This could have been me.... maybe a few years younger, and definitely a few pounds lighter, but other than that... it could have been me. I had the "want to." In college I took a class in back packing and we got to take a field trip to the Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma to go rock climbing. It was great! You reach a point where you aren't sure you can go further, but that really isn't an option. Going back down is not any easier than going up, so you might as well go up. You can't exactly quit either. I've never been particularly successful at athletics, so to make it to the top rated as a day of remembrance. At our church picnic we had a bounce house, a dunk tank and a rock wall. There was still that 19 year-old voice saying "Rock Climbing! Way cool! Do it! Do it! Do it!!!" But then there was the 40+ voice of rationality saying "You weigh too much. You'll bring down the tower. You can barely lift your feet to put on socks much less raise your leg higher than your waist!" The good news? Our kids (and our Parish Associate) had neither trepidation nor doubts. If they didn't make it up one side, they tried another side. They climbed higher than anyone could reach, and were lifted by words of encouragement rather than words of protest. I didn't hear one person complain that it was their turn.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We have the "want to." We want to do better, we want to reach higher, we want to dream bigger but sometimes we listen to our doubts and we question the practicality of the situation. We reach a point where we have to decide which direction to go, and quitting is not an option. Let us follow the lead of the youth who boldly proceed, trusting that they are secure with a church family that will offer guidance, soften the landing, and remind them of their goal to move upwards. We have remarkable youth who exhibit the confidence of being loved unconditionally. We want to be what you want us to be. Amen

The Well

Today's lectionary had a common theme of water. I tried to find a poem I wrote several years ago that starts:

"From the source the river flows,
and all around it beauty grows"

I can remember those opening lines clearly, but the remaining lines may be lost. Maybe that's all it's meant to be now. But in my notebook I found another poem, still with water as its theme.

The Well

I put in my bucket
and raised it up -
But the bucket was empty,
There was no water inside.

The people beside me
held their cups to their lips,
They walked away nourished
and smiled as they left

Again I put in my bucket -
Lowered it further than before
I tested its weight as I raised it,
There was no water to be seen!

Quickly, I put my bucket back into the well -
Now it was an issue of pride!
Others were able to fill their cup
I wanted mine filled too!

Then a man came and asked me for water!
"Perhaps, sir, you should ask someone else
My bucket is empty, I have no water to give
You'll be disappointed - I have nothing to share."

But the man urged that I draw water again.
"Close your eyes and take your need," he offered
"Down into the well of my soul."
And there, I found, my cup was filled.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, let us thirst for your righteousness and be filled by your spirit. When we think we having nothing to offer, remind us of your power to transform. O God, you are our source, and all around you, beauty grows. Amen.

Fresh Fruit

#1 son and I took advantage of the beautiful Saturday weather and spent the morning with no particular plan and ended up at the Dallas Farmer's Market. He looked at me cross-ways when I asked if we should get some strawberries. The last batch I bought got moldy before I could even use them. I really don't know that much about picking fresh vegetables and fruit. I know avocados should give in slightly when pressed; I know you're supposed to thump on watermelon, but I don't know what sound equals good; I know I like thin asparagus, whether or not that's the best kind; I know I don't like stringy oranges, but have no idea how to pick against that factor; I know it's hard to go wrong with bananas - but it's even safer to go with Oreos! No guess work, no variation. You know what you're getting when you open a bag of Oreos! Sugar, flour, hydrogenated soybean oil, cocoa, high fructose corn syrup, whey, corn starch, baking soda, salt, soy lecithin, vanillin, chocolate...

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, like fruit that goes unused or stays on the vine too long, so our gifts can become addled and useless. It may not always be obvious what gifts we have, but through study, prayer and the willingness to push, dig, and listen we can discover the fruits of our spirit. We pray for a genuine life that does not fall into a cookie-cutter package of what we are told Christian lives are like. We do have variety, different tastes, different strengths, and different weaknesses. We long to savor in the harvest of the fruits of the spirit; an ambrosia of congregational vitality. Amen.

Sharing semicolons

My work has taken me to two banquets this week honoring the volunteers at our campuses. Some have been volunteering for over 25 years! The dollar amount that is realized by the amount of volunteer hours working in our system alone is over $4 million this year! Shane Hipps is a Mennonite pastor who describes (Jan 15, 2006 "Generous Spirit") how he views the differences between gifts and talents. Talents are skills that are innate, and they may or may not be used. Spiritual gifts are abilities that you have and they are used with the purpose to promote the common good of the kingdom of God. Gifts are never burdensome; they give us life. Gifts are dynamic; they change as the Spirit matches God's mission with the needs of the community. So how do we nourish our gifts? Shane's recipe is: 1) use them; 2) enjoy them; and 3) hold them with open hands, being receptive to new gifts or gifts changing. It seems I have become receptive to the use of my newest gift - the semicolon! What's your newest gift?

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, our church is vibrant because of the volunteers that work with our youth, buildings and grounds, mission trips, office help, visitation, and the music program. What a lifeless building it would be if only we were served instead of becoming the hands of Christ. We are given life as we offer a portion of ourselves. Help us to recognize gifts in others and encourage their growth and participation. Drive us to share our own gifts issuing a spirit of joy and gratitude. Like shifting sand dunes that create new landscapes, so let our gifts change and adapt as the needs around us create a new portrait of what it means to be living a Christ-filled life. Amen

Caro Mio

I really don't need to know the lyrics of songs, but I assumed that "O, Mio Babbino Caro" must be a song about a mother's love of her baby. Mio = my, Caro = heart, Babbino = baby??? So when I did review the lyrics to both songs ("O, Mio Caro Babbino" and "Nessun Dorma") I was surprised to find that both songs speak of a deep, passionate longing for a romantic lover that may not be fulfilled. In both Puccini songs the lovers contemplate death as the only alternative if they cannot be with their beloved. What hopeless romantics! We shake our heads and mock them in sing-song tones, "I'll die if I can't be near him!" We roll our eyes. We've heard it before. My father would say we're forgetting what it's like to be young. We have a hard time relating to our teens when they seem all consumed with some boy/girl. We tell them: "It's a phase, it will pass. Go do homework for your career path; that's what will really pay off in the end. Feelings change, work remains. Someday you'll thank me."

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We are familiar and comfortable to consider your love for us as: the love of a parent; the love of a brother; the love of a friend; the love of a savior; but as a passionate lover?? How surprising! How disconcerting! ...How lovely!

O God, caro mio, you seek us with a zeal of a love-struck youth.
You delight in time spent together; you anxiously endure time apart.
You rush to bridge any distance; you cling tightly once united.
You fawn over gifts offered; you bestow a dowry of riches.
You cherish every word prayed; you supply our unspoken needs.
You revisit memories shared; you visualize our future.
You marvel at our successes; you extend our potential.
You laugh at our stories; you cry at our distress.
You defend our honor; you believe in our goodness.

You, O God, are a passionate God! We are left swooning in your presence.

We are awestruck and humbled by your deep devotion.

Help us to be worthy of your abiding love in us.

Dearest God, we thank you for passion, for reckless love, for romantic hearts in place of moderation, safety and cynical hearts. We are blessed. Amen.