Postmodern Singing

One of the largest divides between modern and postmodern needs in the church would have to be styles of music used in worship. I'm old enough to be grateful when we sing the older hymns from the "red book, "which means it was probably published in the 30s and includes "It Is Well with My Soul" and "I Surrender All." I also appreciate songs from our current hymnal which includes many global songs like "Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore " and "Santo, Santo, Santo." And I also enjoy praise songs with up-tempo and multiple instruments. Sometimes I videotape our contemporary band and from the back row I'm free to move with the music unchecked and unobserved. (except by the band???) I've attended several contemporary worship services at different churches and their volume is louder than ours, the singers are miked a little stronger to be heard over the instruments, and what I miss is the sound of the congregation. I find myself looking around to see if people's mouths are moving because I can't hear them. It's hard to imagine church without the strong communal voices singing "A Mighty Fortress is our God" or "Holy, Holy, Holy," but I also don't want to miss "Cain't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus." Research states that blended worship doesn't work; you aren't making either camp happy, but I like variety!

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Music reaches a part of our soul that the spoken word can only access from time to time. We hold fast to that music which makes us want to join in unrestrained voice. We carry those songs away from the service and find ourselves continuing to worship you in song for hours and days apart from the service. We find ourselves connected and blessed to further our veneration throughout the week in song and prayer. We bristle at new songs hoping instead to regale in our standards. We become disappointed and disengaged when we feel our own music has been displaced by another hymn, another style, another book, leading to another uncomfortable learning curve before we feel we can participate and experience wholly the holy. Let us grow in appreciation of a greater variety of songs that can encourage worship through fresh words and inventive chords. Let us build up tolerance for change yet also acknowledge that all generations have an equal voice to add to worship through music that brings connection and builds community. "How Can I Keep from Singing?" Amen

Modern Thinking

We've had numerous discussions in which we try to understand what is Postmodern, and how can Modern be outdated? It sounds like one of those terms George Carlin would have loved to twist around to show the crazy logic involved. Synonyms suggested are: progressive, up to date, present, enlightened, late... oops, there it comes around again. Does late mean the latest and greatest, or does late mean outdated? I was born in the last few years of the official Baby Boomer era, so I'm a Boomer, but just barely; not quite a Gen X either. I feel like I have one foot planted in each realm - the modern and the postmodern, but truthfully, it may be more like one foot is anchored in Modern thought, and the other foot is probing the ground of Postmodern thought trying to determine if its safe to put my foot all the way down without losing balance. My anchored foot gains balance through rational, logical steps and evaluation. That's totally Modern. Boomers were raised trusting science to supply our answers and the ability of science to research and explain with proper experimentation and sensible reason those questions yet unanswered. Sure TV is still a mystery to me, but someone can explain how those little people get put into every box. I may not know how to explain the process of photosynthesis, but my dad who reads encyclopedias for leisure is able to recall and share it as fast as the time it takes to turn on the computer and open a search engine. Mysteries remain, but modern Boomers offer explanations to help bring the secrecy out of the shadows and shove those uncertainties under the light of the microscope. I don't think postmoderns are that fixated on insistence of clarifications. My probing foot kind of likes the cushioned ground of acceptance of mystery and the spring of consent to live in its presence.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You gave us minds that can unlock medical miracles, that can manufacture goods benefiting communities, that can generate communication connecting continents, and intellect emboldened to reach beyond limits. You also gave us minds that create art, poetry and dance. Let us use all that you have given to us: our minds and hearts, our reason and faith, our persistence and submission, our laws and forgiveness, our loyalty and repentance. Help us to find our sure footing in your thoughts, your guidance, and your steadfastness. Let us trust more in you and depend less on our own modern, late thinking. Let us gain a spring into our steps by letting go of that which keeps us from living within your mystery. You are a God who is never outdated and whose love is beyond reason. Thanks be to God! Amen

Century

I've been looking towards this marker for several weeks: 100 prayers. It seemed like it might be a logical place to re-evaluate what in the world I thought I could accomplish, how long I could continue, and what could be an exit strategy. The problem is that it sounded more like a military exercise and less like a spiritual exercise, and I was getting ahead of myself, expecting to need an out. In college I dropped more classes than the normal student. Well, what was I to do? I couldn't do a flip in trampoline which was a requirement for passing. I enjoy being in control of myself and having my head below my feet did not seem controllable. I had to drop my summer tennis class due to an illness. I dropped a Spanish class when they were concentrating on teaching slang and street-Spanish after I had spent years trying to learn to conjugate and speak correctly. Even though I've been married for over 25 years, employed not only in the same agency, but in the same office for over 25 years, I still feel like there is a quitter inside waiting to be unleashed. I have a wanderlust heart and with all of my stable anchors, there's an itch to have some escape hatch, even if it's claiming my release on daily praying. Really, what do I think I'm doing??? I'm editing and writing as if each prayer were a manuscript for a book deal. I'm keeping some goofy hours at times to meet imaginary deadlines. After all, how many different prayers can there be? 100 seemed like a safe goal, (further than I might have imagined!) 200 sounds odd, and if you aim for 3oo then you might as well go for 365. What's a reasonable goal? But that was looking ahead, predicting my response, anticipating the need for release; today I'm not ready to quit.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, 100 days in your eyes is but a blink of an eye. 100 years in your sovereignty is but a sweep of the hand. 100 prayers in your presence is a song of everlasting relationship built on love, devotion and commitment. You are a gracious God, patient with our attempts at understanding the depths of your Spirit, the Wisdom of your ways, and the Sacrifice of your love. We stumble trying to describe you by our terms, only to find we are limiting the description of our own lives. You are eternal, O God, in love for your people, in commitment to a righteous kingdom and in pursuit of reconciliation. You never desert, instead remaining steadfast and tenacious in your guardianship. Let us practice a portion of your devoted care, knowing that portion is a gift of grace to be shared for as long as we breathe, 100 seconds more, 100 days more, 100 years more - in thanksgiving and awe, one prayer at a time. Amen.

Numb to Numb

Walter Brueggemann says "the job of the prophet is to free people from their numbness." On a Friday night I can relate to the state of being a little numb. Between the effects of a long work week on my stamina and the effects of a stronger than expected margarita on my thought processes - it would take the words of a fiery prophet to shed the level of comfort brought on by deadened sensitivities. Medicine uses the power of anesthesia to allow critical, but often painful, procedures to be done giving the patients a degree of temporary freedom of awareness and feeling, and allowing the physician to proceed with the liberty of taking corrective measures knowing the patient can remain calm and still. Even when a decision is made not to use any medication, as in natural childbirth, techniques are taught to alter the mind's reaction to pain through concentration, controlled breathing, and focal points. A problem arises when people choose to remain in a fog of unreality and escapism; dull to their own problems and insensitive to their neighbors.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We find so many ways to numb our response to your call of justice. We learn to glance over the poor, detour from uncomfortable truths, muffle cries for mercy, and insulate from the global community. We are comfortable in our isolation. Let us be a congregation awakened from a state of lethargy and coldness. Dull our instincts of selfishness and hone our attentiveness to others. Deaden our idleness and revive our energies to mission. Mute our distractions and speak directly to our hearts, creating a focal point that we can constantly use as an inner compass, steering us towards a reality of faith, hope and love. Let us fully experience the sorrow of loss, the disappointment of failed actions, and the hardened awareness of our own prideful shortcomings. It is through these painful extractions that we may come to realize that we cannot rely on our own resources of temporary numbness and avoidance to try to create peace, but we must surrender our will to yours for the greatest salvation. Let us fully experience your shalom. Amen.

Tumbling Tumbleweed

I'm not necessarily a list person. Before a big trip or before a big event I may make a list to help me organize my thoughts or to slow down my whirling mind so that I can sleep, but I rarely use it as an action plan. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I have a good friend who not only makes lists to complete goals, but will add an unnamed completed task to her list so that she can then cross it off. Any book whose goal is to provide organizational help would point to lists as a basic survival element, but in my case it's just one more thing to lose - and then try to find! I can spend time looking for lost lists or I can start doing the obvious things that have to be done, and if I happen to find the list along the way, then I can attach it to the refrigerator. That's a little harder to lose!! (Except getting lost behind all of the notes on its sides...) I know I'm like an unstable tumbleweed, being bumped and driven by the whim of the breeze; I'll never be an anchored signpost providing clear direction to others and to myself. Being a tumbleweed is a risk, sometimes you find yourself in awkward locations, or you might become gridlocked between other loose, random objects; occasionally you find yourself blown into conditions of grace and beauty. I don't think I've ever paid attention to the words of "Tumbling Tumbleweed" made famous by the Sons of the Pioneers, but there's pause for reflection in them there parts.

Cares of the past are behind
Nowhere to go but I'll find
Just where the trail will wind
Drifting along with a tumbling tumbleweed

(bridge) I know when night is gone
That a new world's born at dawn

I'll keep rolling along
Deep in my heart is a song
Here on the range I belong
Drifting along with a tumbling tumbleweed

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Thank you for giving the gifts of leadership, direction, and vision to members of our congregation. It is impossible to prepare for change, to arrange for missions, or to coordinate our worship and the activities of the church without their ability to plan, organize and complete goals. Our vitality is contingent on those with an eye for detail when reviewing our budget, our expenditures, our covenants with staff, and our assurances of safety, especially with our youth. It is easier to ask others to help and follow when there are determined goals and a clear plan on how to approach and complete those objectives. We seek Your direct guidance in our planning and our actions. Let us also be attentive to obstacles that refuse to yield, the unplanned God-incidence, or the direction of a breeze. Amen

The Quiet Servants

About 3-4 times a year I have to be at work by 6am. I'm always surprised by the amount of traffic already on the road: businesses start earlier trying to get the most out of the day, health care professionals are going to relieve the night crew, the morning TV and radio anchors have already been broadcasting for hours, construction crews are completing their last tasks to open the roads for rush hour, bus drivers are allowing sleepy commuters to ride in a half-awake stupor, donut shops have been cooking and preparing for hours, and various suppliers are stocking shelves to make sure customers have a supply of bread and milk. I'm kind of partial to the last one because my brother delivered bread for many years, waking up at 3 am in the cold mid-west to start the day's rounds. My grandfather had some dairy cows until the benefits of pasteurization made smaller farms obsolete; the dairy farmer has mornings like no other! The other day I woke up on my own at 4am and I was quite content, but to be awakened by an alarm clock at that hour is totally abrasive. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the quiet servants who take on the tasks that many people would refuse to do. They rarely are ones looking for accolades; instead they are complacent to know that they offer a service that keeps the rest of us moving.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, I am so thankful for those in our congregation who take on the tedious and laborious tasks that we take for granted. Lawns are mowed, floors are shampooed, bulletins are printed and folded, the kitchen is stocked with supplies, the air conditioner or heat is already primed so that a pleasant temperature awaits our arrival, and a suitable, moving sermon is prepared. We undervalue the work behind each detail, but quick to raise a raucous if left undone. Let us recognize the quiet servants through affirmations of words and deeds. We can share our own labors alongside their guidance, arise with purpose and intent, and work in anonymity pushing the aim of the spotlight on higher purposes and greater needs. Let us be quiet servants and robust, persuasive disciples. Amen

What Did You Learn Today?

Our class is studying Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home by Richard Foster. The Prayer of Examen is an opportunity to review the day and "discover how God has been present to us throughout the day and how we have responded." Next, follow with an inner reflection on "those areas that need purifying and healing." The prayer may be practiced in solitude, but it is ultimately about community, about our relationship to self, God and others. The prayer can be broken into four parts: presence, gratitude, review, and response. You can spend as much time on one section as you are inclined; the purpose is to increase awareness not to finish a fixed task. Throughout the Bible, God calls his people to remember: the covenant with Abraham, the covenant of the rainbow, the deliverance from Egypt, and the baby in a manger. At Eucharist we are called to remember as we share the bread and the wine. In our own lives we are called to remember our associations throughout the day with the Holy. The Prayer of Examen is a practice that helps us to recognize and appreciate those moments, and to allow those moments to merge into a constant presence. Richard Foster quotes Anthony Bloom in the chapter: "Your prayer must be turned inwards, not towards a God of Heaven nor towards a God far off, but towards God who is closer to you than you are aware."

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We are a people who think highly of ourselves but find it strange to think about ourselves in a reflective manner. We consider how the world is marked by large events and not how the world is changed through the smallest encounters. Give us the wisdom to learn more about ourselves through a daily examen asking: "Where were you God? Was my face pointed towards God or away? When was I most attentive to You God? When and how was I most closed to God?" We are amazed when the answers to our questions come from our own experiences, our own actions, and our own neglect. God, You were there! Where were we? Were we daydreaming of a different life, another day? Will we be ready to recognize you tomorrow and to grow from today? We ask to learn each day how we can live in full realization and full appreciation of your constant presence. Amen

Task Master

One of the reasons I seldom make a judgment about ANYTHING is that as soon as I do the same words turn around and snap back at ME! No fair!! I'm not kidding either. It takes all the fun out of being haughty. Sunday night I was simply giving loving, gentle reminders of a hard-nosed encouraging task master to Jane who is finishing a book. Finishing a book??? Wow! But I had also done my fair share of sending links to web pages and to other blogs that night which could only lead to hours of distraction, so I gently, lovingly reminded her a few times to get back to work! :-) Her husband is out of town so it's just the dogs left to give her directions, and they would rather have their ears scratched than have her scratching the keyboard of the computer. Yesterday I ended up working several extra hours so when I got home I thought surely I deserved an hour of distraction and turned on the TV. My favorite position to watch TV in our bedroom is to lay 90 degrees to the normal sleeping position. My husband is also out of town this week, so I had no one who came to say "You fell asleep (again). Can you move so I can go to sleep?" So my little hour of distraction turned into a night's sleep! I woke up at 4am, after an above-average 7 hour sleep cycle only to find Jane the task master had sent me an email while I slept asking where Monday's post was... :-[ Who knows, I may make more sense at 4am than 11pm! This will be a back-dated, "While you were sleeping" post - hey, maybe that's a new title for Jane's next book! Back to work!!

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, When left on our own, we fall back on our own conveniences, our own desires, our own time tables. When we work in community we have fellow colleagues who offer encouragement, advice and accountability. We have someone to help tug on the tow line when we have used our liberties to wade a little past our agreed boundaries and someone to run for help when we have taken apart the knot to appease our own cravings, unattended and unfettered. Let us be receptive, and not disdainful, when our own ways have been checked into balance, and let us post lookout for others who are in need of protected rest or for those who are in need of a reminder to whom they belong and to whom they serve. Let us be fair, yet strong task masters to one another, for there is much to be done! Amen.

Virginia is for Lovers

It seems like Virginia was the first state to coin the phrase and made t-shirts galore promoting their state in the slogan "Virginia is for Lovers." The original conception had several takes on the theme: "Virginia is for history lovers," "Virginia is for beach lovers," and "Virginia is for mountain lovers." The campaign started in 1969, the year of Erich Segal's "Love Story," Henry Mancini's "Love Theme" to Romeo and Juliet was played on all the radio stations, and Woodstock drew more than 300,000 for a weekend of peace, music, and mud. With all of that love in the air, the team eventually decided to use the universal campaign of "Virginia is for Lovers", and leave off the qualifiers of history, beach, etc. The first ad appeared in Modern Bride magazine, and today Viriginia is the tenth most popular tourist destination in the fifty states. Maybe after thirty years it's time to update the t-shirt with technology and print "Virginia is for blog lovers!"- probably not, but I am thankful for at least one! I was unsuccessful in finding a way to make a comment show as part of an earlier post, but I thought it was too pertinent to hide in a pop-up window. So tonight I thank Virginia for sharing this poem and for Sabbath rest. Shalom.

Anonymous said on June 19th...
I love your word "prikkelbaar" it kind of sums up that icky feeling. Thought I would share a poem with you that helps me out when I have those "prikkelbaar" feelings. - a friend in VA.

I Promise Myself
By Christian D. Larson

To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.
To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the bestand to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
To forget the mistakes of the past
and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times
and give a smile to every living creature I meet.
To give so much time to improving myself
that I have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger,
too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud words, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side,
so long as I am true to the best that is in me.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Let us be true to our promises to ourselves, that we spend less time on worry and anger and more time on growth and compassion. Let us be true to our pledge of faithfulness to you, that we become all that you have called us to be; to have agape love, a consuming passion for the well-being of others (F.F. Bruce). Christ is for Lovers - Agape Lovers. If we wear more than the shape of a heart on our shirt, instead showing our love through our actions, then our church can become a cherished destination for the weary and the joyful, the hurt and the healers, the seekers and the guides, the haters and the lovers... agape lovers. Amen.

The Power of One

If I were superstitious about pennies I would pay attention if they were heads or tails before I picked it up, but what I consider most important is that I pick up the penny. It has nothing to do with luck and has everything to do with being conscientious about the worth of that penny. I don't ever want to think that I'm so rich, so elite, or so lazy that I don't need to stoop down and pick up the coin. You never know when you're going to need that penny. #1 son found the value of a penny when his car payment was returned for using a .41 stamp. I stopped at the post office to buy some one cent stamps, but I was only one of five other people who had the same idea, and the machine was already totally sold out. The power of one penny holds back communication and commerce. Another example of the power of one is that a single, small magnet can defy the gravitation pull of the earth that keeps us so firmly grounded, and releases metal objects easily from its hold. From the TED conferences I heard the story of Larry Brilliant who was part of the UN project to eliminate small pox. By 1974 the disease was limited to a few countries, but India experienced a huge outbreak so a team 0f 150,000 workers was sent to India to go door-to-door, once a month for two years; one billion house calls. The results? After small pox killed 500 million people throughout history, in 1980 small pox was officially eradicated, one house at a time. The power of one.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We honestly ask what can one person do in the face of so many obstacles, trials, and injustices. We feel outnumbered, understaffed, overwhelmed and ill-prepared to act as solitary sentries against the weight of the world. O God, act as a magnet, releasing us from the strong pull of excuses and limited thinking and enable us to think beyond our own ideas of existing facts and solutions. Resurrection was not an option before Jesus and the disciples never made sense of the signs presented nor the words spoken in advance. Let us be aware of indicators of kingdom insights and signals of directional prodding. Help us to eradicate wars one nation at a time, and bring peace one family at a time. It may take repeated words of encouragement to finally allow them to hear they are a beloved child of God. You, O Lord, are the one, true God. Amen

TED: The World We Create

TED is an acronym for Technology, Entertainment and Design which is an annual conference that makes "rock stars out of physicists." I discovered "The Future We Will Create: Inside the World of TED" last Saturday when I woke up at 5AM and turned on the TV to see if I could go back to sleep; not a chance once the documentary started! It's airing this month on one of the cable channels. It's an inspiring, positive event where "leading thinkers and doers gather for inspiration." In 2001 Chris Anderson, whose parents were medical missionaries in Pakistan, bought the conference and since has infused a sense of social action to the conference. Each presenter gets 20 minutes to explain their thoughts on how to make the world a better place, and with Chris' expertise in media, these presentations are now accessible, at no cost, to millions of people via podcasts on i-tunes (TED talks) and YouTube. (I've been trying to connect to www.ted.com for several days, and I can only hope that the problem is the numbers of people trying to learn more since the showing of the movie.) You can find a myriad of topics that were presented since 2006; the ideas presented are amazing! A new element has been added recently to the event which offers three "wish" winners the privilege of sharing their wish to change the world in front of the audience of entrepreneurs, brilliant scientists, creative thinkers, and performing artists. U2's front singer, Bono was an early wish winner and when he presented his wish that Americans come to the aid of Africa, one.org was developed, bringing 2 million Americans to a greater awareness of the struggle of AIDS and extreme poverty in Africa. TEDs mission statement is "Ideas worth sharing," and they speak of taking the ideas back into the world with the zeal of first-century Christians who have been newly commissioned by Jesus.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, When two or more are gathered in your name, much can be accomplished! Let us be encouraged that people still seek to improve the world of those who are forgotten, to provide housing for those who are homeless, to provide protection for the earth's resources, and to improve relationships between sisters and brothers of the earth. Jesus was a model of unexpected translations of existing social mores. Let us act with enthusiasm for progress and renewal, and let us solve problems with the creative and unconventional energies of those who don't accept the routine and habitual means as their own perfunctory approach. Let us find our own wish of world transformation. Let it begin with a prayer to let your will be known and all glory be given to you. Amen

Junk in My Trunk

I actually saw the difference in gas prices go down today! Now I regret filling up the day before, but I didn't have an option since the warning light was on. I ran across some quick ideas on how to increase your gas mileage.

• drive the speed limit
• maintain correct tire pressure
• don't make sudden stops and starts; be a light foot
• plan local trips and condense errands
• keep the car tuned and aligned
• buy gas from busy gas stations, high volume stations that are refilled often have less chance for water, rust, or other impurities in the gas reservoir
• use the air conditioner instead of windows rolled down on the highway
• clean your trunk to reduce weight
• keep a log; track your gas mileage every time you fill up
• walk or ride a bicycle when it is an option

These aren't new ideas; my dad has always promoted most of these actions since I started driving in the mid 1970s. He also taught us to change our own spark plugs, change our oil, and made sure his daughters could also rotate tires (at least I can say I've done it once!) The one hint that seemed new, or perhaps it just speaks to me now, is to clean your trunk to reduce weight. So maybe I do have some items from the women's retreat left in my trunk since February... it was LATE February!! Sometimes I'm as baffled as the next person why I choose to keep some items; other items I'm still not quite prepared to let go. 90% of the time I'm the only person in my car, so the front seat becomes a collection of CDs, books, and jackets - until someone has to ride with me, and then I open the trunk and voila, a new closet.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Help us to live simple, unfettered lives. The fewer things that we hold between ourselves and you, will allow us to set them down and follow you. If we reduce the weight of our worries we can see more clearly the setbacks of others. If we reduce the baggage of our injuries we can more easily carry the ache of our sisters and brothers. If we reduce the excess resentment in our lives we can promote forgiveness more easily between those with whom we are estranged. If we decline to make hasty judgments we can afford the time to greet one another with fresh eyes more generously. If we consume less we can reserve our natural resources and regenerate our lands more profusely. If we cut back on kindness and compassion we will wither and shrink away from the model of justice revealed most purely through the life of Jesus Christ. Let us live freely in your presence, ready to abandon anything that would deter us from becoming whom you have called us to be. Amen.

Prikkelbaar

Prikkelbaar, that's what I am today, and I don't like it, especially when it becomes irrational and takes on a life of its own, muscling its false identity over my own. I have no problems with mystery, but along the way I expect prudence and good common sense. Prikkelbaar is none of the above. It starts with a small nuisance, a stimulus that causes a reaction, and before long there are fifty other annoyances waiting to attach like leeches. While the spiral started with a slight joke, it touched upon a deeper disdain for judgments instead of acceptance, and rigidity instead of flexibility. And all the red lights, harried drivers, and dirty dishes afterwards were only stoking embers; they were not the core source. Whew, I'm starting to regain my identity of sloth-like calmness by simply naming the obstacle. Now I can sympathize that the same characteristics that often bring negative reactions in me are also the same traits that I admire. Their quickness to make decisions is one of the disciplines that I desperately need! Maybe if I had a little more order to my life I wouldn't spend two hours looking for a misplaced item. I thought if I renamed irritable with its Dutch translation it might be more palatable, but you know..., prikkelbarr is kind of funny-sounding. Who can stay irritable saying that? Be gone ye Prikkelbaar!

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We are so human. We can lose focus by simple nuisances acting as gnats swarming near our face and lose sensibility by passing remarks heard through inflamed interpretations. Irritability is not necessarily a bad reaction. If there is enough stimulus or excitement applied, it will provoke a response. We may not be happy to have our cocoon challenged and infringed, but otherwise we could remain in a state of immaturity and isolation, not the abundant life of lessons and ventures that you have called us to engage. Let us be honest with ourselves so that we may address core conflicts within our own egos and not project inadvertent words as barbs. Let us practice statements and actions that will bring benevolence and refrain from making generalizations and jokes which may feed division. Make us irritable to the world's standards and seek the Balm of Gilead. Amen

There is a balm in Gilead,to make the wounded whole,
there is a balm in Gilead,to heal the sin-sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged, and think my work's in vain,
but then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.
There is a balm in Gilead,to make the wounded whole,
there is a balm in Gilead,to heal the sin-sick soul.

If you cannot preach like Peter,if you cannot pray like Paul,
you can tell the love of Jesus,and say, "He died for all."
There is a balm in Gilead,to make the wounded whole,
there is a balm in Gilead,to heal the sin-sick soul.
-African-American spiritual

Safari

One of the stories the news likes to feature right now is that many families are choosing to vacation closer to home this year due to the higher gas prices. I've been thinking of starting my own business and now may be just the right time! My unique commerce will offer a safari guide service for suburbanites over 40 years old to the foreign and mysterious world of inner-Dallas clubs for the rare occurrence of mingling with 20 years old in their natural habitat. I'm starting to learn the secret side trips that determine the difference between seasoned guides receiving generous tips and unproven guides leading naive travelers with terror-stricken eyes. For example, you simply must arrive a little earlier than the show to ensure that you will still have a car at the end of the night instead of a cab ride to the tow yard. But no 40+ can withstand the smoke and noise of the nightclub in large increments of time, nor can they stand on their feet for an exaggerated length of time when there are no chairs, much less recliners. The answer? The veteran guide who has personally attended the event and has investigated alternatives knows that you can arrive early, but instead of heading directly to the club you can stop and eat dessert at the fondue restaurant just a few doors down until it gets closer to the downbeat. Brilliant, no? I have references if you would like to travel to the wild and feral atmosphere of The Cavern.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We ask that we demonstrate Your house rules as we welcome visitors. We can each make a difference for someone who enters through our doors if we act as personal tour guides that take the time to share additional jewels that may not be apparent at first glance: the devotionals, the tables displaying additional fellowship and mission opportunities, the listening aides, the full coffee pot, the nursery beepers for nervous parents and children, the potluck dinner down the way or the delight of staying a little after the service to hear the entire postlude played unabashedly, full-strength on the organ. That's an experience to be shared! O God, above all, let us be guides that are eager to be fellow explorers and travelers through a new course; the unexpected, wild and untamed journey of faith! Amen

Depth of Field

"Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have! Matthew 6:22-23 (The Message)

With most point-and-shoot cameras you lose the ability to play with the lens separately, watch how it works, and in turn understand how you can make the majority of the photo crisp, or with the twist of the dial, just a shallow portion of the image.

"The bigger the number the smaller the hole.
The smaller the number the bigger the hole!"

I used to have to say that in sing-song voice to help remember the rule as a nursery rhyme. There's a mathematical formula but the simple song works best for me. The rule means that if you open the lens, you are likely to have an f-stop close to 4, and your image will have a selected area that is crisp and focused, while the remainder of the image should be soft and blurry. Maybe you want to have a portrait where the face is the focal point, but the background grows blurry making your eye concentrate on that which is clearest, the face. But if you have just turned around the bend of the road and the Grand Tetons have suddenly burst onto the canvas, you want to keep it all in focus: the horses in the meadow, the tree-line in the distance, and the powerful rock formations of the mountain peaks. Then you would make sure the lens was shut down to 36 so that you could ensure the largest depth of field. Most us shoot in program or automatic, and you may accidently get the effect you wanted, but it's so much easier to leave the math and the thinking to the camera. Sometimes the moment can be lost if you rely on your making your own adjusments, but even worse the verse from Matthew implies to me, that you have been looking through the lens with the lens cap still on the end! Then you don't get to see anything! No light can get through!

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We have selected focus which allows us to see clearly that which is close to us, our needs, our will, our family, our town, our world. It can serve a purpose as we attend to details or narrow the scope of a larger issue, chipping away at that which we have access. But sometimes we fail to see the whole picture; our needs side-by-side with the needs of those far from us, the same necessities as our enemies, the same essential air as all things living, the same gravitational pull of all things on earth. As we continue to widen our gaze of our world, let us pull back our vision and resolve even further so that we can include our will within Your will. Above all we ask that we are able to abandon our actions that leave us in darkness and live in light. Amen.

Dante's Prayer

Though we share this humble path, alone
How fragile is the heart
Oh give these clay feet wings to fly
To touch the face of the stars

Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me
Please remember me
-Dante's Prayer

The first time I heard this song was watching Michelle Kwan ice skate and the song was used as the audio backdrop to her graceful moves. The song is written and performed by Loreena McKennitt. It's haunting and beautiful, and to be paired with the almost magical movements on ice made the experience all the more memorable. We used the song as an introduction to our class discussion of the prayer of the forsaken; the dark night of the soul. The way that I read the chapter was that these prayers are not offered as a response to doubt, or anger, or disappointment with God, but from an absence of feeling. Some counselors know that couples reach a breaking point when apathy replaces anger. At least when you have anger, you care enough to fight, there is enough feeling left to call it anger; with apathy you don't care, there is a void of feelings. The biblical metaphor for this experience is the desert. We feel that we are left alone in the desert, rejected and abandoned. The prayer of the forsaken is a tool used to find a way out of the desert. The author, Richard Foster, is quick to point out, that this feeling of forsakeness is only that - a feeling. God is ever present. This evening a friend wrote that the lesson had followed him home, and several poems came to mind. One would have been a perfect ending to the class.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, remind us again, and again, whose footprints are in the sand when we call ourselves abandoned. You are faithful. Amen.

Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord,that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?” The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.” - Mary Stevenson 1936

le pièce de résistance - The Art of Existence

I have a book that describes the Jewish tradition of creating an Ethical Will. An Ethical Will helps distribute other riches besides monetary accumulations; it shares philosophy, theology and blessings. The following is not Rabbi Heschel's Ethical Will, but in a little over 100 words, he delivers a principal meal, le pièce de résistance, for those who come hungry for the meaning of life.

I would say to young people a number of things, and I have only one minute. I would say, let them remember that there is a meaning beyond absurdity. Let them be sure that every little deed counts, that every word has power, and that we can do — every one — our share to redeem the world despite of all absurdities and all the frustration and all disappointments. And above all, remember that the meaning of life is to live life as it if were a work of art. You're not a machine. When you are young, start working on this great work of art called your own existence.
- Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel quoted on Speaking of Faith

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Often when we think of the legacy we leave for others, we think of the many hours spent at our employment that defines what we do. We think of the heirlooms that have been passed down through generations that define our history. We think of actions and stillness that define our reputation. We think of resources shared and debts owed that define our accounting. We ask that you lead us towards a legacy shaped by open dialogue in which love, blessings, and wisdom are revealed. Let us share with our loved ones our hopes for their well-being, our recognition of their unique gifts, our belief in their power to transform, and our responsibility to protect and connect with the earth and all that dwells there. Let us emphasize the mystery and the joy of letting go. Let us name each one beloved Child of God. Amen.

That's Incredible

With our surprise inspection at work I couldn't help but think of a Bible verse that was a source of many lost hours of sleep when I was younger; "for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." (I Thessalonians 5:2) I was always convinced there was a burglar under my bed anyway with a knife poised to murder me, but having the Bible verify that fact was a little disconcerting! I realize I'm citing commentary from an imaginative youth, but you have to agree that verse is equal to "Rock A Bye Baby's" breaking bough as one of the most uncomfortable bedtime writings.... the thief verse still gives me the heebie-geebies...

Wait! After 30 years, instead of stopping at the verse that gives me such discomfort, I decided to read the entire fifth chapter of Thessalonians. And tonight I found the words that have come to anchor my weekly transition from Sunday worship to the start of a new week. It's incredible that the author included in the very same chapter, just a few thoughts away, what is now one of my most loved and affirming passages. Our Charge to the Congregation is based on the following verses from I Thessalonians and has become more than words printed on a page for our community. It's a united declaration of our stated intentions of how we will conduct ourselves throughout the week. Incredible. I've been robbed of my sentiment!

Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. Brothers, pray for us. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (12-28)

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, As we study your word, let us be mindful of how young ears will interpret our stories of faith and that at times our illustrations may need to be carefully crafted to portray the enduring messages of grace, hope and persevering love. As we study your word, let us be mindful of including entire passages in place of individual verses. As we study your word again, let us be mindful of new words that touch our spirit even though we've heard the story a hundred times. Let us live the words that we claim as our tenet. Amen

Go forth into the world in peace, have courage, hold onto what is good,
return to no person evil for evil, strengthen the fainthearted,
support the weak, help the suffering,
honor all persons, love and serve the Lord,
Rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ready or Not

As I was driving to work on Monday I received an automated phone alert that THE accreditation inspection team for healthcare providers was already on campus and would be reviewing our facility the entire week. The span of their standards, which touches upon minute aspects of the profession, seems infinite and the scope of their inspections is massive. The inspection process used to occur every three years with an appointed date known well in advance. Starting this year, the visits are unannounced encouraging a state of "constant readiness." It makes perfect sense when its definitive mission is to ensure that the public receives quality health care that is safe and consistent. We all tend to hustle and polish a little harder when we know company is about to arrive, and then we feel we are owed a chance to relax once they leave. With their new policy, there is no advance warning and there is no release of being safe for another three years. We have frequent mock surveys to find weaknesses and possible infractions so that any errors reported can be remedied before the real Joint Commission survey. If a system has too many violations, it could be devastating to their credibility and can force a closure. Even with so much at risk, on Monday the employees almost seemed relieved to have the official inspection in progress. Progress: a movement towards a goal, to grow or develop.

My prayer for the congregation?

Sovereign God, we do not know when Jesus will return and we are asked to remain on watch, to remain in a constant state of readiness. We have no ability to schedule or plan the great revival to conform to our convenience, but we can be his hands and his feet while we wait, serving those whom Jesus would seek. We can study the Bible and examine the vast span of its teachings as it permeates with our daily life. We can develop a commitment to pray for our family, our community, our nation, our allies, for our enemies, and for those who need to experience your love. We can tell others of the peace that we know. We feel the relief of progress. Amen.

Small Revelations

Passion is feeling in motion
Compassion is standing still
This isn't just a vocation
Hearing is letting it happen
But to listen's a work of will
Beware of cheap imitations
Thankful for small revelations.
- Small Revelations, performed by Chris Smither

I keep reading the lines to this song, finding new ways to read it, new things to appreciate, and new meanings to interpret. These beautiful words are sung with the blues and unexpected chords. I don't know if anyone likes songs in minor keys any more than I do, which seems a little surprising since I'm a sunny Pollyanna, finding the glass 3/4-full and offering to top it off. If the Bible were sung as a musical, which stories of the bible would be sung in the minors? The journey of Exodus? The road to Egypt? The walk of the Good Samaritan? God searching for Adam and Eve in the Garden? Solomon's songs of love? My vocation is usually one of quiet "compassion is standing still" but these minor chords allow me to touch passion, a "feeling in motion." We can find small, and large, revelations in each, if we take the time to hear.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You fill our days with revelations! You divulge your passion as you sweep through as a mighty wind, yielding the Spirit's course as it encircles those with willing hearts and ears. You impart your compassion as the still small voice yielding a listening ear for those who call your name. Let us follow Jesus, the genuine model of passion and compassion, who offers energetic, unrestrained actions of love and passion yet also, provides calming acts of inclusion and compassion. There is so much revealed about boundless love in each. May we find new ways to listen to your call in our lives and in the life of our congregation. We are indeed thankful for small revelations of your majesty. Amen.

My Own Private Wars

We were challenged by Sunday's sermon series to review our relationship with our enemies, two of which I am now ready to expose. It's true. I'm at war! I've been having a two-front battle for several years and what makes the strategies so complex is that neither of the parties has a clue they are even my adversaries! One is our ice-maker and the second is a revered public institution - the public library. >:-(

The ice-maker is erratic and undependable. It flares during inopportune times like family gatherings refusing to dispense ice at all, only to counter attack with overflowing water the next day causing a stalactite to form in the ice bin. I probably get more violent with the ice-maker than anything else I own. It does not bring out the best in me.

What is my conflict with the library? They charged me for books that were turned in on-time (which I recall very well because that act was its own major conquest) but the books showed still outstanding in their database. I found the books on the shelf myself, only to be accused of bringing the books into the library at that moment, and charged $10 each for the occasion of doing their job! As often happens in my life, during those rare opportunities when I experience the upper hand in righteous indignation, it all crumbles. I was lured back to the library by the volumes of books and information, but this time, I was in fact guilty of not returning the books on time. I was really late. But I still had not let go of the resentment of being unfairly charged, so I never paid the fees. Now I'm stalemated in a quagmire of fines owed against fines wrongly charged. The results? I can't use the library. Some victory party!

Perhaps the greater victory will be, that upon having openly named these trivial, but ongoing distractions to peace, that I can begin to yield my private war to a stance of détente.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We burrow in and defend so many battlefronts. We have perceived injustices, paralyzing pride, uncompromising attitudes, harsh reactions and preservation of grudges. Sadly, some must cope with genuine harm; please heal their bodies and their spirit. Mighty God, give us the desire to surrender our battles, our egotism, and our pain. Help us suppress hurtful words and refuse the weapon of spiteful silence; block actions of impulse and retard our feats of regret. Be with us for the realization that often our fiercest opponent can be seen in the mirror; steer us towards a more perfect reflection of your love. Amen.

For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then shall I know,even as also I am known. And now abide faith,hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. - I Corinthians 13:12-13

Maladjusted

I would say about individuals, an individual dies when he ceases to be surprised. I am surprised every morning that I see the sunshine again. When I see an act evil I'm not accommodated. I don't accommodate myself to the violence that goes on everywhere; I'm still surprised. That's why I'm against it, why I can hope against it. We must learn how to be surprised. Not to adjust ourselves.
I am the most maladjusted person in society.
- Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, quoted on Speaking of Faith

There are plenty of opportunities in our digital age to not only be surprised by acts of violence, disrespect, and blatant arrogance, but stunned into a state of shock. With each story we wonder if things can get worse. Rabbi Heschel suggests that we don't allow the initial acts of wrongdoing to become trivial when compared to the rapidly advancing degree of corruption upon our sensibilities. We try so hard when raising our children to make sure they are well adjusted. They are graded at school on their ability to bend with change and revise their expectations to meet the common end.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, There is nothing common about your kingdom, your love, and your peace. We are surprised when we encounter examples of random kindness and spectacles of deliberate harm; demonstrations of love and patterns of rejection. Jesus was maladjusted to many of his contemporaries. He refused to vary his ideals for the sake of getting along with those who sought to manipulate laws and situations to deliver their venom. We seek your strength as we combat a daily barrage of news clips and printed horrors and that we not become adjusted to its tenor. We ask for continued disbelief for injustices and surprise in the sunshine. Amen

Color Chips

I don't know which is more intimidating, choosing carpeting or exterior paint. You can use the theory of choosing colors that are neutral and that appeal to a wider range of buyers in case you ever needed to sell your house. Then there's the theory of adding color to your daily palette by adding more distinct colors that appeal to you as a family actively living in the space. It is one thing to paint an accent interior wall red, compared to another level of commitment to choose costly and labor-intensive carpet or exterior paint. A few years ago we took the bold step of using ceramic tile rather than carpeting in the majority of our house and we've been so happy even though it may not be the wisest re-sell decision. The majority of homes in Dallas are brick, so choosing an exterior paint color will be more of an accent for the brick rather than the main color of the house. We brought home about 25 different color card chips this weekend and I narrowed the choices down to 10 and taped them next to the brick. My eye kept going back to one color chip and the verdict is (drum roll) that we are going to add some color to our exterior! As an added step of research I drove around reviewing other homes with the intent of finding other homes of color, but beige wins by a huge landslide! I can envision the change, but I guess one concern is that our decision will also add a daily dose of color for our neighbors as well. If nothing else, our house can be used as a landmark!?!?!

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We have the luxury of reviewing, questioning, envisioning, dreaming and researching the different ways our congregation worships, studies, shares in fellowship and commits to mission; and concurrently, we have the mandate to pray without ceasing. Our church reflects the choices entrusted to our leadership, the fresh suggestions and observations of visitors and new members, the practiced eye of experienced parishioners, and the guidance of all those in prayer for our congregation. We do not seek change for the sake of change, but we also do not discount change as a viable answer to prayer. We struggle to include improbable, unlikely alternatives when safer options are still our first choice. O God, as we falter through unknown exploration or bypass opportunities for the sake of stableness, we may make choices that do not lead us closer to your vision. Grant us humility and wisdom to examine our process of judgments and our failings of intention so that we can ultimately become a landmark known because of our dedication to you. Amen.

Born to Play

One of our son’s life-long friends told his parents when he was only three that he was "born to play." I understand that feeling. Perhaps you've been asked the psychological question, "If you could be any animal, what animal would you choose?" It's supposed to give insight into your personality and usually people choose to be a tiger, bear, deer, dog, or cat. Me? An otter! No brainer! They do have natural predators that see them as dinner, but for the most part you would think their life was one big playground - sliding down embankments, jetting around under the water to the next escapade, or floating on their back with dinner on their belly. That sounds ideal especially knowing that I'll be starting a new work week in just a few hours. Last week when our church had an ordination service, the charge given to the newly ordained minister was to "pastor, pursue, and play." Play is as vital to a balanced life as rest and nourishment. Relaxing, rejuvenating play could also be considered another way to observe a Sabbath. After being with a 9-month old puppy, two 7-month old kittens, and a 4-year-old for a few hours, the traditional resting Sabbath may seem like a better course of action next Sunday, but for today, this otter got to fulfill what it was born to do - play!

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, In the course of our daily works, in the sweat of our missions, and in the serious study of your Word, also let us set aside time to play, to laugh, and to become light in spirit as a child. Recreation gives us the chance to re-create, to become something new. In our reformation, let us become closer aligned to the loving model of Christ, and distanced from the worried, harried, and anxious model of our former selves. We pray that our congregation finds time to laugh, to add joy to the lives of our children, and to play well with one another. We can accomplish so much more when we are gracious, companionable, and eager to share. Let us play near your watchful gaze, with enthusiasm and affection. Amen

Our Church

One of the listings I have on this web page is for Rob Bell's teaching at Mars Hill church in Michigan. I can't remember how I first heard about him; it could have been because I read Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith or by watching one of his Nooma video series, but eventually I found my way via the internet to the church that he pastors and their sermons on podcast . I usually wait a few weeks, and download several at a time so that I can put them on a CD for my drive to work. Rob Bell has a quirky sense of humor that resonates with my quirky sense of humor and I grin from the inside out - and he also has an infectious passion for mission and a desire to tell stories from the Bible with fresh eyes and creative analogies. I find that he ignites a spark to action in my own suburban life and I have shared his CDs with friends and family. But, I rarely find the same connection when he is out of town and other staff or visitors fill in. It's not my church. I benefit from listening to Rob Bell, but a church is more than one person, it's the people in relationship with each other and with God. I happen to have the complete package: pastors I like, admire, and who inspire me to further my faith development, joined with a congregation who all serve as shepherds, mentors and fellow journeyers on a united quest for study, worship and response to grace. Someday I wold like to travel around Michigan to see the coastland and the vineyards, and stop in Grand Rapids, Michigan to worship at Mars Hill (will Rob Bell be there???), but I would remain a visitor until I came home to our church.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We are thankful that we have a church home; a place where we receive support, encouragement and love. As part of a family we are also entrusted to do our share to maintain its foundation, develop better relationships, and invest in its future. Without your presence and guidance we would be a broken family, a church in disorder. When we walk humbly alongside your mercy and grace we are a united family, a church in concord. We pray that our church is a sanctuary from the world, and a refuge for the world. We seek your will, your mission for our church, and your intention that we share our congregation's blessings with others who need a home and want to join in the chorus as we journey through faith. We are all visitors until we find our home in your enveloping arms. "I'm home!" Amen.

Staring at the fire for hours and hours,
While I listen to you play your love songs
"Our House" Crosby, Stills and Nash

Hear and Now

I watched a documentary titled "Hear and Now" which follows an older couple who were both deaf since birth. At the age of 65 they decided to get cochlear implants in hopes of hearing. They were already very well adjusted to the hearing world. As an engineer he wired their house to alert them to babies crying, alarm clocks and doorbells and he was instrumental in creating TTY (TeleTypewriter) allowing the hearing-impaired to communicate over the telephone. When surgical technology offered the possibility of hearing, they decided to try it together. It wasn't an easy procedure, causing nausea, pain and emotional distress. They had to wait 3 weeks for the swelling to go down before they could even test the implant, but once the device was turned on, the evidence of sound was seen in their face. The audiologist asked what they could hear, but they had no words, nor experience to be able to define what they heard. There were days of amazement as they walked around their house listening to sounds. They would flip light switches, run their hand down a wall, and learn the difference between tiptoeing and walking heavily down a wooden hallway. She debated the need to buy a carpet to muffle the sound and Paul played air guitar when the family brought over a sound system as a present. It wasn't a perfect cure. They could hear sounds, but often it was noise, it was not perfect hearing. In the earnest hope of hearing and understanding, Sally would turn up her implant often to the point where the system would become overloaded and quit working. They did not know how to filter excess noises that the hearing world does automatically. They would often take off the device when they needed a rest from the barrage of clamor or if they wanted to concentrate. There was disparity between their successes of hearing. Paul seemed to hear more than Sally which left her frustrated. She never regretted having the procedure; her only regret was that it came so late in life.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We are a hope-filled congregation, eager to take the risky and sometimes painful steps to experience that which we have no knowledge to compare. There will be stages of wonder, frustration, joy and peace. May we be gracious and patient through each stage and encourage each other when the pace is a struggle and uneven. Let us filter our emotions and worries, allowing us to focus on the work of the church and our mission in your plan. Let us give thanks for our energy and our hope, and refuse regrets by claiming and taking part in your kingdom, here and now. Amen

Who Has Seen the Wind?

On the first page of one of the books I had as a child was the poem "Who Has Seen the Wind" by Christina Rossetti. The past few days it has been very easy to see the wind. Flags are flying straight out, hair is being thrust out of place and tossed across one's face, the trees are bending and leaning in response to the wind. The good news is that the winds have helped keep our 90+ degree temperatures a bit milder than stagnant, humid summer air. It has been going on for several days now and I keep wondering where all the wind is coming from. How can the winds be that strong, yet continue to be in our area instead of moving to other parts of the country? Some of my favorite memories are being on sailboats with the wind lifting the sails and the rush of the wind on my face. We saw a tree in Colorado that had been twisted artistically by the strength of the wind, which only makes me a greater admirer of the wind. I know the news broadcasts hope to intimidate the public when they show reporters bracing the hurricane winds and rain, but instead I am checking myself to keep from driving down and standing next to them! A couple of movies come to mind when I think about the wind. One is watching Lt. Dan facing the hurricane in "Forrest Gump." After challenging God to bring on the worst during a storm, Lt. Dan is humbled and changed. During the movie "Phenomenon" Lace is rocking on the porch, and it joins the earth's rhythm of the trees rocking in the breeze, and her own heartbeat. Who has seen the wind?

My prayer for the congregation?

Holy Spirit, you are compared to the rush of a mighty wind. We try to find words that express your power and we are left using words that describe another unseen force that can be seen through the elements with which it comes into contact. We pray that your power can be witnessed through our lives, both the gentle daily rhythms of grace and the bold occasions of humbling mercy. We are shaped as we yield to your constant presence. May our congregation be a force of enduring love. Our winds will subside, but the Spirit is eternal. Thanks be to God, Amen

Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you:
But when the leaves hang trembling
The wind is passing thro'.

Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I:
But when the trees bow down their heads
The wind is passing by.
- Christina Rossetti

The Kitchen Sink

At one point yesterday, our small office had four different service calls addressing repairs at one time. We had an outside vendor attending to our large copier/printer in one area, a technician making adjustments to a new ID system in another room, a mechanic making adjustments to a 30+ year old lighting system in the same room, and an in-house computer technician swapping computers throughout! At one point our boss asked if anyone else could be in our area? "The plumber!" was our comeback, to which we all groaned... "NO!" As many questions that arise with that many activities, repairs and changes, and even though there is a learning curve to use the new computers (which can be frustrating) - at the end of the day, when so much had been tackled, it felt really good! We've waited nine months to get our computers upgraded, but as an unexpected bonus, we are getting more software than we had before, and an additional work station! This is good!! I can't wait to go to work???? :-)

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Sometimes we're impatient when we think our needs have been overlooked or we are hurt when we think we have been ignored. We see other needs met before our own. After living in disbelief and mistrust, often we're not prepared mentally or physcially when our needs are raised as a priority and the wave of change comes into our lives like high tide, first tickling our toes in the sand and then strong enough to make breaking white foam that makes its power known. We reach down to the water, made closer to our reach, and playfuly throw it above our heads. We delight in the new experience, change the way we stand to adjust for the new surroundings, and marvel at what is brought along with the higher water. Gracious God, you are present in our low tides and our high tides, all as part of your rhythm and wisdom. Right now we thank you for our overwhelming blessings! Amen

Arches de Triomphe

I have one of those love/hate relationships with McDonalds. In part because I’m stubborn enough that I don’t like to feel as if I’m being bullied into a situation. Children who aren’t old enough to read can recognize the golden arches and start pointing their parents towards them. When our sons were young, McDonalds had started introducing the playgrounds on site, Chicken McNuggets, and Happy Meals. There was no question where they wanted to eat when given the choice! They saw fun and toys! I saw kids eager to eat, a possible struggle over when to leave, and sweet convenience. One of the things I admire about McDonalds is how quickly they move people in the drive-thru lanes. If someone tries to boycott the system by special ordering, then of course the sandwich will be made to order, but they ask that sticky cog to pull ahead so that the other well-trained customers can pull up and receive their orders as soon as possible. It’s a very well-timed process with a high standard of implementation. I find myself comparing other drive-thru waits to McDonalds when I feel I’ve been waiting too long for fast food. Hello! Fast food!! Although I may have mixed emotions about the restaurant, they do offer some wonderful charitable gifts such as the Ronald McDonald Houses which allow families to stay near the hospital where their critically ill child is receiving treatment and Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles taking health care to neighborhoods.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Our congregation does so many things so well. We are blessed. Some processes are well practiced and have stood the test of generations, while some methods are revised and critiqued for possible changes. It is a struggle to know when our ideas might border on the edge of awkward impulse and when we are living in the realm of unbridled dreams and visions. We dream that the children will point to the cross on the church and direct their parents to turn in. We hope that the parents will see the church as a home that offers fellowship, nurture and growth for their families. Let us hold our church to a high standard whose focus is the triumph of your kingdom and one that can be used as a gauge for vitality. Let our congregation be known for our united acts of love and for gifts of gratitude to the community in response to the grace in our lives. Let us create an arch of joined hands to welcome the Beloved. Amen

Vacation at the Dealership

There's nothing like a wait at the car dealership to just be. Oh, I could have made the wait more work efficient. I could have brought a laptop, made some phone calls, or made lists of things to accomplish, but instead I wrote an old-fashioned, hand-written letter to a friend. It's something I've been meaning to do for several weeks, just like getting the oil changed, and today it was possible to do both things. I was efficient! Philip Yancey commented that the beginning of the verse in Psalm 46, "Be still and know that I am God..." comes from the word "vacate" which is the root of the wonderful word "vacation." So Philip Yancey invites you to vacation with God. Be with God. It's hard to imagine taking a vacation at a car dealership in Dallas; there is no ocean breezes, no mountain vistas, nor fine art hanging on the wall to pass as a museum, but one thing they do offer is the opportunity to just sit still, and be. A dealership may not rate as a Top Ten resort, but it still offers the opportunity to vacation, if you will.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, May we find the time to vacation with you, to sit still in your presence, and to know that you are God. We have errands to run, tasks to accomplish, and great needs that you have set before us, but there is also your instruction to be still. "Be still and know that I am God." Your command, O God, brings us peace but also brings into alignment our priorities and our power structure. You are Lord when I am still and when I am running full steam. You provide a constant vacation, if we will accept your invitation to be with you. Amen.

Confessions

A public confession of sins is part of our faith tradition's worship service. It's not that we don't have private confessions through prayer, but our lives intersect with the printed public confession, and there are those sins that we have corporately as a community. I've never had a problem with the section of worship devoted to confession of sins and I find it surprising that some people find objection to being grouped into a public time of confession. I'm always able to find myself and my actions in those words. Thanks be to God for the Assurance of Forgiveness. We have a new intern who started today and his role during the worship service was to lead us through the prayer of confession. But here's my confession... today I had to smile during this holy time. To hear our confessions of sin with the eloquence of a proper English accent made the word "tawdry" sound tempting! Accents have a way of influencing your mood. An apology from a Carolina southern drawl is much more convincing than from a gruff New Englander. A cowboy joke told through the voice of a West Texas twang is much more entertaining than from a Canadian inflection, eh?

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We offer our confessions before you. We confess that we don't follow your directions whole-heartedly, we evoke our own agendas, and we try to use our own vision of how to complete the tasks presented to us. We are humbled by your enduring love and forgiveness. We are thankful that you do not listen to our voice and our stumbling sentences that we force together, but listen instead to the words of our hearts during our time of open prayer and reflection of our omissions and sins. We pray that we be in your presence and live following your will. Amen.