Let's Go to the House

When they said, "Let's go to the house of God," my heart leaped for joy. And now we're here, O Jerusalem, inside Jerusalem's walls!
Psalm 122:1-2, The Message

"One of the afflictions of pastoral work has been to listen, with a straight face, to all the reasons people give for not going to church.... What is far more interesting than the reasons (excuses) people give for not worshipping is discovering the reasons they do." - Eugene Peterson

In "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction" Peterson states that there are "more people at worship on any given Sunday, for instance, than are at all the football games or on the golf links or fishing or taking walks in the woods. Worship is the most popular act in this land [US]." That seemed like a tall statement, so of course I started looking for footnotes, the year it was published, trying to find a hole in his argument; it couldn't be accurate in 2008, you should see the skeleton for the new Cowboy football stadium! Instead of rejoicing and being awed and filled with hope by the sheer numbers of that possibility, I was picking it apart. But why shouldn’t that be true? Where else can you go to be renewed, redeemed, and recreated? I’m finding the week incomplete without worship, vacation or not. It’s kind of like the quickening horse that knows it’s time to go towards home at the end of his work, just try and delay his gait. “Let’s go to the house.”

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Today we gather as two and more, in your name, and you are among us. You welcome us by name, and we are eager to learn the name you wish to be called. “I am who I am and I will be what I am becoming.” O great I Am, we look forward to our next meeting, our next gathering as a community. This week let us think of one person we missed today and contact them, or think of one person we could invite to our reunion again next Sunday. Let them know “I am” sent us, and wants us to worship together in this very place, the place we call home. Amen.
“For the sake of the house of our God,
God, I’ll do my very best for you.” Psalm 122:9

Three Seconds

Advertisers know they have three seconds to get your attention before you decide whether or not to continue investigating the message of the ad. Newspapers are written with the same knowledge in mind, using headlines and the first paragraph to initiate enough interest to get readers to go on with the rest of the story. We have been coached to pay attention to our first impulses when taking multiple-choice tests such as the SAT, but studies are showing that when answers are changed, it is often going from incorrect to correct. Les Parrott, author of "3 Seconds: The Power of Thinking Twice" says these decisions pale in complexity to the first three seconds of social interaction and first impressions. His book hopes to inspire you to take three seconds and evaluate your first impulse, and consider a second impulse especially when those decisions allow you to: empower yourself; embrace a good challenge; fuel your passion; own your own piece of the pie; walk the extra mile; and quit stewing and start doing. Sydney J. Harris is quoted, "The art of living consists in knowing which impulses to obey and which must be made to obey." How many times have we bought something at the checkout counter just because we had three seconds to wait before it was our turn? How many times do we regret saying something that we might not have said if we had waited three seconds before responding? How many times have I reacted out of anger instead of waiting for the impulse to subside? Waiting three seconds "requires a suspension of our natural inclination to remember we have a choice in what we will say, what we will do, and who we will be."

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You have our attention! Let us grow our concentration to spend hours with your words and discerning your will instead of expecting instant answers. For our safety and survival you have empowered us with quick thinking and instinctual impulses, but we have learned to invert our inclinations and turn our first impulse into powerless excuses allowing us to shirk from a challenge. O God, we spend more than three seconds deciding which flavor of gum to chew, let us begin to use at least that same amount of time to make the next, right decision, to consider if the words we say will harm or encourage, and to consider what your will is in that moment. Three seconds to transform. Three seconds to turn our attention back to you. Amen.

Close to the Truth

If you get close to the truth
– there will be consequences.
-Dorothea Lange?

I saw this quote on a PBS video but I haven't been able to verify the quote and source. The quote appeared in the documentary about a program initiated by the Farm Security Administration to share images of the migrant farmers, the soup lines, dust bowl conditions, etc. The photo of the Migrant Mother was taken in 1936 by Lange and is widely used in textbooks. Through the hundreds of photographs taken there could be no doubt the total impact of the depression on the economy, farming and lives. Photos help complete the impact of the words of a story. The images from Katrina showed the devastating impact from the hurricanes force and the flaws of planning systems. After getting close to the situation there are many that have vowed to improve the lives of those affected three years ago by Katrina, and to improve the plans for evacuation preparation. Gustav is moving up the Gulf of Mexico with expected landfall of Monday or Tuesday, but already planners have been meeting all week on where and how to evacuate patients and nursing home residents. Starting early Saturday morning there will be a response camp at DFW airport preparing to accept Houston's evacuated with medical needs. Jane saw the truth of Katrina and the consequences were life-changing. She has been on numerous mission trips to the area and served as a project manager in Pearlington, Miss. She left a few weeks ago to serve as project manager at a PDA camp in New Orleans for the next six months and now she is in the process of packing up the camp and moving inland. She's going to have an entirely different degree of closeness to the truth.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You are the truth of the world. Alleluia! The realities of our world are hard to absorb, hard to understand, and hard to ignore. The acceptance of these facts is often hard to face and harder to respond. It takes action on our part and sometimes we hope that it might just go away. Sometimes the need is so immediate, so hurtful, so damaging that even the most faint-hearted are moved to help. Give us the strength, the courage, and the endurance to remain vigilant and faithful to those needs. Give us wisdom to know right progress and to make clear decisions. Let us be ready to see the truths in our world and rejoice in the Truth that can free us all. We have moved closer to your Truth and the consequence is that we are called to be disciples. Alleluia! Amen.

Passwords

Passwords! When we were young you felt so special to have a password that allowed you to share secrets with your club members. Now it feels like I've got a million of them. There is a password to sign on for multiple work tasks: e-mail, service calendar, leave requests, 2 different testing pages, graphics site, Safety data base, ID software, security alarm and door entry. Then once I get home there are passwords for my personal e-mail, facebook, blog, Dallas Morning News, New York Times, Amazon, PayPal, Electronic checking, Toll tag, Cokesbury, i-tunes, travel sites, MusicNotes, and I'm sure there is more but I'm getting a brain lock just thinking about them all. It's no wonder that I have to sit for a few seconds thinking about the right password for that program entry. You are never supposed to write down your passwords, but when you only use it once a year it's almost impossible to keep them all straight. You can't always use the same one because of different requirements of length, special characters and number placement. At work we are forced to change our primary codes at least twice a year and the programs realize if you are repeatedly making the codes too similar and your new password gets rejected. You are encouraged to come up with a sentence and then use first letters to create the password instead of using actual words which could be easier to decode. It's all for our own security, which is a good thing with rampant identity theft, and perhaps another benefit is that the passwords may keep our brains alert as a memory puzzle!

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You are open and receptive to entreats at all times. You don’t ask us to supply secret words of fraternity whenever we wish to be in relationship with you, but accept us warmly and lovingly without limitations. What a treasure, to know that anytime we reach out, you are there. Even in your silences, there is still your love. Your kingdom is not a secret community but rather far-reaching and inclusive. We offer thanksgivings for the open invitation and gladly accept. Amen.

Dropping the Ball

I participated in some exercises today whose goals were to concentrate on communication, and since these were more like games or competition it was much more fun than training through tradition role play. For one set of exercises one big circle was made from the group of about 35 people. We raised one hand and a tennis ball was tossed around the circle with the simple instructions - "pay attention to who throws you the ball and to whom you give the ball." We lowered our hands once we caught the ball to help the group know who was still available. There was some confusion as the ball made its irregular path amid the circle because there were others with as much hand-eye coordination as I have, or don’t have. When the last person received the ball we were asked to repeat the pattern that had just been created. We got about ¾ of the way through and we hit a stalemate. Someone couldn’t remember to whom they had thrown the ball and no one else seemed to know to whom the ball had been thrown, not even the receiver. So with this valuable lesson learned – “pay attention” we tried again. We repeated the process of tossing the ball around the circle except this time at the end we were asked to reverse the pattern. This should not be a problem because we had just been reminded of the same instructions, to pay attention to how we got the ball and how we gave the ball away, and with the recent sting of failure fresh on our conscience it should have been a breeze. This time we only made it ¼ of the way and couldn’t go any further. There were too many people in the circle to try and remember the entire path and the confusion with balls that were not caught cleanly were repeated contributing factors in our dismal display of following rules. I was confident of my own part, but I didn’t have a clue about the responses of anyone else; I was concentrating so hard on my own connections and wary of the occasional wild throws as the ball made its way around the circle that I didn’t even pay attention to what happened to the ball after it left the hands of my receiver.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Thank you for your patience! We are a people with short memories and with awkward attempts at following your rules. Like the people of Israel given repeated reminders and guidance, we continue to fall into lapses of disruptive activities. We fail to further your work and your rules. Let us be mindful of your guidance, confident in our abilities, and attentive to our brothers and sisters. Your Word is meant to be shared and if we stop short when we think our duty is complete, we miss the bigger opportunity to follow your workings and the trail of your creation in the lives of those around us. Your Word has been passed along to us through family, friends, teachers, pastors and strangers on the street. We in turn need to pass the message of your love to the next person, paying attention to its secure delivery and to be prepared for the possibility of returning reconciliations of your grace. The circle of your love is forever. Amen.

Heart Zones

Heart Zone training separates heart rates into five different exercise zones, each one providing unique results. Zone One is like a brisk walk, one can get healthier in this zone but not more fit. Zone Two is like a slow jog. It’s a zone that takes commitment to stay on task, with eagerness to advance to the higher levels, but it is one that offers the greatest potential for burning calories. In Zone Three the size of your blood vessels and your lung capacity actually increase. You become faster and fitter in Zone Four, but you can only maintain this rate for about an hour before the lack of oxygen fatigues the muscles. Top athletes can only stay in Zone Five for a very brief amount of time and is saved for small bursts of running all out.
Zone 1: Easy/Recovery – Healthy Heart Zone
Zone 2: Endurance/Strength – Temperate Zone
Zone 3: Strength/Long hills – Aerobic Zone
Zone 4: Intervals/Hills/Race pace – Anaerobic Threshold
Zone 5: Speed/Racing (short) – The Redline Zone

Kelly Kannwischer considers what Heart Zone training would look like in the church.
Zone 1 – Walking through the doors / Fellowship
Zone 2 – Training disciples
Zone 3 – Leadership roles
Zone 4 – Vibrant Worship
Zone 5 – Mission trips, “mountain top” experiences

Training in every heart zone is important. Mountaintop experiences are just as life-giving and transformative as fun filled fellowship. However, the church can learn something from physical trainers about the importance of building endurance in Zone Two…where we learn the skills to persevere.

My prayer for the congregation?

Mighty God, You are my all in all. You are found in the zenith of our reach and in the steady beat of our heart. If we allow you to become our personal trainer, we can build endurance and exuberance, strength and tenderness, flexibility and fortification – being hard-pressed to higher ideas and allowed a full recovery. You know our hearts best and prescribe the right circuit of movements to exercise our heart muscles and improve our heart health. Build up our endurance and help us learn solid skills to persevere. Take us on wild runs to the mountain tops our heads spinning from physical exertion and dizzy from the nearness of you. But the view is fantastic! Amen.

First Day

Maybe kids are going to sleep more easily tonight. The first day of school is completed, the jitters have been lessened, and the goals for the year have been presented. The best thing about the first day of school is that everyone starts with a clean slate. There haven’t been any lost books or assignments, no grades deemed biased, no troubled calls to parents, and no surprise exams. It’s a honeymoon period where the possibilities outweigh reputations, both sides giving the other the benefit of doubt. Everyone comes with freshly-scrubbed faces and clean-smelling hair all on the same day. Teachers are eager to use skills that have been gained through workshops and to share new ideas achieved through study. There is an awareness of real growth as students graduate to a new grade, a new school, and a higher level of learning. It’s a time of fellowship and reconnection as summer stories are shared and memories repeated. It’s a time rich with hope.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You are the hope of the world! We come to you eager to sit at your feet and learn. You take us as we are, and know that anything is possible, that we can meet any goal you have set. Please don’t underestimate our mark! We long to please you and long to grow as Christ followers. Let us begin anew, wiping away our disbelief, our disappointments, our disagreements, to believe that starting today we can learn to do better, to be better, and to love better. Let us become tutors to one another, helping each other when needed. Let us keep hope alive! Amen

Touching Moments

We had a Diana Ross experience today – we reached out and touched someone’s hand. It’s hard to say which makes people more uncomfortable – extended silence or extended touch. A quick hug, a hand shake is fairly routine, but to continue to remain in contact for longer than a few seconds is foreign territory. We were asked to let the love and power of God flow from our hand into the next. Then we remained in clasped hands, spending a few minutes becoming accustomed to the deliberate touch and intentional sharing of personal space. We stayed on task and took time to think about what our hands do each day, we reflected on scars that tell about our past, and we accepted the offering of personal connection. Rev. Anne acknowledged that not everyone is open to that level of closeness and we need to respect their boundaries. It does seem heartrending to know that some find touch more damaging than the solace that it can offer through healing intentions and gentle hearts.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We love to be held in your arms, wrapped in your care, knowing the confidence of your ceaseless love. Let our hands carry this confidence in our interactions and exchanges. Let your love be shared through our hands. We ask for the blessings of our hands this week as we carry out our daily work and as we find opportunities to be your hands in our daily encounters. We especially seek comfort for those who need the love that only you can provide when they are unable to accept any other form of relief or assurance. We turn them to your care until a time when the wounds are healed over and no longer painful to the touch. Amen

…The more that I listened
The more I kept wishing
That I knew the right words to say
Can you reach my friend?
Bring his searching to an end
Lord I know you love him
Help him understand
Can you reach my friend?
You’re the only one who can
Help him give his heart to you.
- "Can You Help My Friend"
Songwriters: Billy Sprague and Jim Weber

Breath Prayers

Breath prayers are an attempt to yield to the biblical command to "pray without ceasing." The idea is to say part of the prayer as you inhale, and continue with the prayer as you exhale. The most famous of the breath prayers is "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." My problem is small lungs, shallow breathing, or both, but that's a lot to fit into one of my breaths. To pray without ceasing may seem to be an impossible goal, but by making use of this discipline, one can enter into prayer as freely, and as instinctively as one breathes. Richard Foster gives some suggestions to help begin one's own distinct prayer:

• Allow God to call you by name
• Allow this question to surface, "What do you want?" Answer briefly and directly
• Connect this phrase with the most comfortable way you have of speaking about God
• Write your prayer, making sure it can be said in one breath.
• Adjust your prayer, perhaps shortening it even more
• Begin praying your breath prayer as often as possible.

Foster notes that most breath prayers are discovered more than created. After a period of time, you may want to consider if another message needs to be addressed, and adjust your breath prayer accordingly. (Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home p 122-123).

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You are as near to us as our own breath. You breath life into dry bones, dry communities, and dry hope. As we breathe, let us incoporate our prayer into that life-giving action, and together create a stronger framework to encounter every day trials and triumphs as seen through your will. Until we can discover our own voice, let us share in needs of others that speak to us now.

God, guide me / Lord, take my hand / Lord, I need you /

Lord, be my Shepherd / Into Your hands, Lord /

Open my eyes, Lord / Have mercy on me, Lord /
God, teach me Your ways. / Father, give me wisdom. /

God, give me strength/ Father, Your will be done /

God, show me Your path / Lord, I can do this with Your help/
You are with me / I want to know you / For me to live is Christ /

You are my God / Fill me. Free me / With the help of the LORD

Let us pray without ceasing. Amen.

Whole Lotta Shakin'

We had a whole lotta shakin' going on tonight at FPC Rocks, our first installment of Friday night outreach events. We had four bands playing about 45 minutes each, and as I was leaving I heard one of the artists say "Let's do it again, but with more speakers!" It's probably good that we increase the speakers incrementally, because that was probably the most volume that the walls have withstood in years! From going to #2 son's gigs, I know things can get much louder, this was relatively tame for live bands. There was a whole lot of clapping in time to the music by the congregants with extra moving and jumping as the younger crowd reacted directly to the music. They actually left their seats to get closer to the stage. There were a lot of good songs, but I have the habit of continuing the last song I hear until another tune can shake its standing. Luckily, for me, the last song was a lot of fun -"One Heart" sang Lincoln Brewster's "Everybody Praise the Lord." The group was sizeable with 7 or 8 band members but singing with one heart, one purpose. And for over an hour I've been jamming with the chorus and giving my own private concert with my own private audience of one.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You are worthy of praise! Let us worship you through voice, body, and mind, letting no part lag in idleness. In response to an awareness of your grace, we are led to immediate praise, the only participants being ourselves and you, O God. We also share our praise in community, lifting our combined voices in unison as we speak with one heart, in wonder of your glory. Let us give thanks for the many talents that were brought together tonight, with the purpose of leading praises to you. Let us give thanks for the many guests and travelers that came together with the intention of offering praise to you. Let us give thanks for the many planners whose visions were to provide extended opportunities to praise you. Let us give thanks for the generations that gathered, whose bond of adoration resounds with a diverse chorus of praise. Everybody! Praise the Lord! Amen

Impressions

Today felt a little more like a vacation day. A good friend drove into the city, then together we drove to Ft Worth, ate at the Fuzzy Taco Shop near TCU, and went to the Impressionist Exhibition at the Kimbell Art Museum. Most of the paintings in the exhibition are on loan from the Art Institute of Chicago and include all the masters you expect to see for that artistic genre. It's probably one of my favorite styles, offering lighter palettes and unique techniques of applying paint to the canvas. The introduction of premixed paints allowed the painters to be more flexible and spontaneous. They moved their paints and easels out into the world instead of painting in a studio which allowed them to capture the colors of light more closely. Many of Claude Monet's paintings are the same subject, but each canvas slightly different as he followed the small, yet distinct variations of the light's impact on the subject. These artists became a set of segregated painters, not being accepted into the prestigious Salons and art galleries. At the time the preferred standards for French art required historical or religious images, using somber colors with the paint strokes being suppressed to conceal the painter's techniques and personality. One of the great joys of seeing a VanGogh in person is to stand close enough to see the generous, almost gluttonous allotment of paint on the canvas that illustrates his unique, yet dynamic perspectives through paint. I still value the Romantic and Renaissance artists whose paintings are the backbone of our western culture, interpreting historical events and giving visual imagination to biblical passages, but a trip to the museum doesn't seem complete until I've seen some Impressionist paintings as well. Of course, there have been multiple new periods after Impressionism; art didn't stop adapting and creating new ways of seeing the same world through different techniques and vantage points.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You are the great creator, providing a world of miracles and revelations. You are never stagnant remaining vibrant and pertinent while addressing contemporary life, yet maintaining a solid foundation of realistic truth. We are unable to imagine your total glory, but we can witness your interjections and interactions in our daily vigilance of your presence. Help us to create a palette of textures, colors, layers and words that help capture our praise and adoration of your motion in the world. Free our imaginations and liberate our hands to worship you with a generous and abundant spirit. Worship does not end with a song as we leave our sanctuary, but continues, celebrating your light's reflection in the world. Amen.

Retread Heroes

I'm taking a few days off work and one of the first things I did was turn off the alarm clock. Sometimes I wake up even before the alarm, so it's not that I'm averse to early hours, but the possibility of sleeping in just seems to be one of the benefits of vacation and retirement. Sadly, I seem to do better with structure to my day because I ended up watching a marathon of movies on TMC. (Who knew there were so many Edward G. Robinson movies??) But other people have the ability to seize the day and accomplish tasks of great use. It seems like our parents became busier after retirement, with more free time to take classes and volunteer. Retirees often swap one line of work for another, becoming a retread, a person who is called back or returns to service, and some with no monetary payment - babysitting grandchildren, sharing professional medical skills, maintaining buildings and grounds, or running disaster relief camps in another state. There are numerous retread heroes I know and they all seem to follow the belief that their opportunity to work didn't stop when their identity in the paid workforce changed to retirement. They aren't sitting back remembering the times they already gave, but they are planning ahead to the next task, the next aide, the next chance to be the hands of Christ.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, How diligent you work on our behalf! Your expert craftsmanship is evident before our eyes. Let us refurbish our skills when we think they have become stale. Let us rekindle our passion for giving when we think we have given enough. Let us restore our priorities to your primary concerns. Let us revive our energy to reflect the tasks at hand. There is a time to remember the wonderful acts of righteous deeds, but let us continue to add to the memory table and never be satisfied with a standard that does not meet your values and goals. We are called into your service, retread, renewed, and reborn. Amen

Break in the Weather

Our window of cool temperatures is about to close, and I feel like singing Camelot's finale "Where once it never rained till after sundown; By eight a.m. the morning fog had flown...Don't let it be forgot; That once there was a spot; For one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot." But instead of singing of delayed rain and risen fog we are singing because for a brief glorious moment in summer we have had an entire week with temperatures in the 80's. Unheard of in August! Even now the thunder is rolling and churning with the continued disturbances of air pressure. We were on a trend for record setting heat, and I had resigned to the fact that we would be in heat until late October. For a week I've been sticking my head out expecting to find the hot weather has returned, but I am met with unexpected cool winds, huge clouds, and pleasant temperatures. It's been like living in grace. We can't control it, we can't claim responsibility for the deliverance, and we can't decide where the winds will go. All we can do is accept it, actively live in the liberating climate as much as we can, and offer thanksgivings for our luxurious gift.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Your Grace comes rolling over the land like a summer thunderstorm, announcing your presence and making yourself known through a direct change in the world. We humbly accept your gift and cannot begin to understand how this gift has been bestowed upon us. We were prepared to live in bondage, but you have shown us unending mercy. Your love is not just a short respite, a temporary trial, but it is eternal. Let us make the most use of our gift, sharing it with others, and wearing it openly. Thank you God! Amen

with pardons to Camelot's lyrist, Alan Jay Lerner; open for revisions and further suggestions, helpin to tell it strong and clear:

Each evening, from December to December,

Before you drift to sleep upon your cot,

Think back on all the tales that you remember

Of God's love.

Ask ev'ry person if he's heard the story,

And tell it strong and clear if he has not,

That now there is a lasting life in glory through Jesus Christ!

Paradise! Paradise!

Now say it out with pride and joy!

Marathon Running

I was never a runner, not even as a kid when running is supposed to be second nature. It never felt comfortable. I can't imagine the mind-set, the discipline, the desire to run a marathon which is 26 miles and 385 yards. How do you convince your legs to run when your mind and lungs are pleading relief? In a way, we all run marathons as we get up each morning to go to work or school, prepare another meal, do another load of laundry, pay another bill, make another call, read the same children's book for the 30th time, mow the yard, or attend another meeting. The body says "stop," but the heart says "a little bit further." The head asks "why?" but the heart says "You can do it!" The Olympics is a great time to find inspirational role models, but there are some great examples of marathon runners in our daily lives. Those who keep putting one foot in front of the other, improving from the lessons of the challenge, enduring for the love of their supporters, and winning with fairness and respect.

In the end, it’s extra effort that separates a winner from second place. But winning takes a lot more that that, too. It starts with complete command of the fundamentals. Then it takes desire, determination, discipline, and self-sacrifice. And finally, it takes a great deal of love, fairness and respect for your fellow man. Put all these together, and even if you don’t win, how can you lose? – Jesse Owens

My prayer for the congregation? (You Tube link to song)

Dear God,

Guide my feet while I run this race.
Guide my feet while I run this race.
Guide my feet while I run this race,
for I don't want to run this race in vain!

Hold my hand while I run this race.
Hold my hand while I run this race.
Hold my hand while I run this race,
for I don't want to run this race in vain!

Stand by me while I run this race.
Stand by me while I run this race.
Stand by me while I run this race,
for I don't want to run this race in vain!

I'm your child while I run this race.
I'm your child while I run this race.
I'm your child while I run this race,
for I don't want to run this race in vain!

Search my heart while I run this race.
Search my heart while I run this race.
Search my heart while I run this race,
for I don't want to run this race in vain!

Guide my feet while I run this race.
Guide my feet while I run this race.
Guide my feet while I run this race,
for I don't want to run this race in vain!

Getting in Touch with Your Needs

We commented in class today how hard it is for us to receive, whether it is compliments, gifts, or assistance. We willingly offer help and are grateful for the opportunity to be of assistance, but many times we set aside our needs or walk away rather asking for help for ourselves. It may not be intentional, but rather because we don't even know what our needs are, or that we have buried them. It takes some soul searching to dig them out. I'm a pleaser, and it is hard for me to see that as a need, an incompleteness in my life, it seems like it should be an attribute. I've still got a lot to learn about myself, about my needs, and how to ask for help.

You are not who you want to be. You are not who you hope to be. You are not the person that others think you are. You are the person who is defined by what you choose and what you truly desire and what you really think and believe. That’s who you are. If you want to begin any kind of spiritual or metaphysical or personal journey, that’s where you should begin. You should begin by owning who you are.
- Gordon Atkinson (real live preacher)

Being aware of our incompleteness orients us toward God and his ways. It draws us to the spiritual where he awaits us with love, truth, support and all we need to grow and repair. This is called spiritual poverty. The more broken we are the more God can grow us up. Realizing our condition before God is an overwhelmingly emotional experience involving feelings such as dependence, grief and remorse. Psychologists call this being integrated. That is, having the heart and head in alliance with each other. God reminds us time and time again that he likes neediness.
- Cloud-Townsend "How People Grow"

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You are the great care giver, the great physician. You offer to make us whole if we bring our needs to you but we are a proud people. We honor those who are self-reliant and independent. We have learned to gloss over our needs or conceal our imperfections so that anyone can walk past and not give us a second thought of concern. God, are you sure you like neediness?? Do you know what that means? We will come to you battered and broken, unable to fix our own bruised egos. We may come ranting and crying, not calm and prepared. How does our church define its neediness, its need of repair? We come to you as needy individuals and we come to you, a gathering of needful people, seeking your healing. Let us be humble and gracious to allow others to serve and offer gifts in their response to love. Amen.

Fading Photos

My uncle made a simple request and it has started a spiraling chain reaction. All that he wanted was a copy of a photo of their dad in front of the home's pecan tree. That started boxes of old photos being dragged from closets, a search at my sister's house, and the search continues tonight at my own house. Even though boxes of old photos with generations who could not be identified have been pared down over the years by our parents, there is still a generous sampling of family history. (Let my dad make a plug for identifying photos that you take with names and dates!) Now there are photos pulled out on beds, stacks made for various family members, and the questionable un-named patriarchs. One is never quite sure what to do with these unclaimed photos. You don't really feel any connection, but know there must be one to have found their way into the family photo album. I started thinking about the future of family photo albums. Now we share the majority of our photos electronically either by e-mail or posting on web pages. My husband even suggested scanning some of the old photos I brought home and posting them on flickr. As computers crash, storage devices become obsolete, web pages meet their data limit, and memory cards are lost, we may not have the same problem of combing through old photos. The decisions may be made for us on what is kept and what is not.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You love each of us intimately and dearly. You call each of us by name and know our comings and our goings. Our great grandparents were cherished by you as we are held closely today. We do not fade from your concern or lose meaning in your design. We are grateful to be included and named in the gathering of those you call your own. We are blessed and kept close in your presence. Amen.

What Is Real?

Despair is presumptuous; hope, it is the final realism.
- John Claypool, Living Above 'See' Level,
30 Good Minutes, 1991

Claypool shares the message that he was taught by a rabbi who survived the Holocaust. "

Let me tell you, son, to a Jew there is only one unforgivable sin and that is the sin of despair." He said, "It is saying something we have no right to say. It is suggesting that any set of circumstances is more than an ingenious God can somehow work with to make good."

As the pollsters and statisticians seriously set to prove, the main-line denominations are fading in membership. That does not seem to be a false statement; we can see it with own eyes, in our own pews, in our own budget, in our own families. It can be downright alarming at times and it's easy to fall into survival thinking. "I'm not being negative, I'm being a realist" is one evaluation of situations. But Claypool shares an illustration of a Chinese farmer who encounters life experiences, but instead of making judgments about his situations, he accepts the mystery of unknown consequences yet to be revealed.

We can agree that there is a shift in church attendance, but we don't yet know the full spectrum. To quote the Chinese farmer "maybe good luck, maybe bad luck." Maybe it's a time to review the message that our church sends. Maybe it's a time to return to a previous model of community building. Maybe it's a chance to revise stewardship methods. Maybe it's a time for new voices to be heard. Maybe it's finding out that we have to be dependent. Maybe it's a prod from complacency. Maybe it's an opportunity for growth in faith. Maybe it's not even about us.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You are the hope of the world! We try to analyze the rise and falls of societies, cultures, budgets and standards of life. Sometimes with our numbers and graphs we can gain a better understanding of trends, but to understand long-reaching effects takes another type of vision. It takes Godly vision. We can not presume to know your ways. We have trust in your vision and in your divine power to touch and realign history. Use our hands to further your work. Use our mouths to promote your words. Use our minds to dream your desires. Keep despair as an enemy to our health, and hope as a life-giving cure. Amen.

Driving Senseless

I wouldn’t say I’m the best night-time driver simply because my eyes don’t work as well in the dark. Add a little weather and it is all the more limiting. I’ve heard stories of my parent’s escapades of driving through sand storms when we lived in El Paso, blindly steering the car to a stop only to find as the winds die down a car parked less than ten feet in front of them which had been invisible seconds earlier. Then there’s the story of my sister finding a patch of ice on the interstate. We made several revolutions before coming to rest and managing to miss nearby cars. I was the midnight driver in Colorado trying to make it to a wedding the next day and driving our Texas car with no snow chains over the divide during a February snow storm. We didn’t stay for the reception, already visualizing the drive back. I was the navigator for our Italian vacation. The hotels were perfectly located in the center of town for walking to the sights, but the task of initially driving to the hotel was a challenge I wasn’t sure I could attempt too many times. I rather like adventures, but something about steering a mass of expansive, expensive metal, traveling at any rate of speed, without a clear visual field of direction, no longer feels like an adventure. It feels like danger.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You have a clear vision of the world. From our vantage point we find natural restrictions and man-made interference that keep us from seeing the complete panorama. For the safety of our companions and ourselves we seek clear directions and unobstructed views. Our congregation is a community in motion, and sometimes it feels like the margin for error is dangerously close. When the view is completely blocked, grant us the wisdom to sit patiently until the hazard passes, but also give us the wisdom and courage to rely on the safety lines in place that allow us to proceed with caution and with diligence. Our church is a precious cargo, one we protect and support, but one that has a destination which is not always in our eyesight. We trust your vision of the world and seek to rely less on our own bearings, and more on your perfect sense of direction. Amen.

Destination Mwhere

A few years ago my sister called and asked about the chances of getting a week's leave on fairly short notice. So within two weeks we were on the road north, not knowing when we left Dallas if we were going to Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Montana or maybe Maine (Mississippi wasn't on the list because it was in the wrong direction). It was a little stressful for family members who wanted to keep tabs on our progress but we couldn't offer any consolation to them because the only firm decision we made was to cross Maine and Montana off the list and add Wisconsin (which is a M state upside down, eh?). Her son-in-law helped us provide a firm answer; we were headed to "Michconsota!" Yes, we were definitely either headed to Michigan, Wisconsin, or Minnesota. That was our firm decision!!! Some people, usually complete strangers, were intrigued and envied our trek. We told them we had room but no one could pull up stakes on such short notice. By the time we left Kansas City where our brother and family lives we had narrowed our choices slightly and continued due north on I-35. We had an early GPS unit, but basically it could only help tell us where we were, not where we were headed. By the time we made it through Iowa, the decision narrowed finally to the north shore of Minnesota. We drove almost to the Canadian border along Lake Michigan and toured one of more famous sites, Split-Rock Lighthouse.
It was a great trip! It was an adventure!

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You provide the inner compass we need to point us towards our next mission, our next learning opportunity, our return home. We remain puzzled how fishermen were able to lay down their nets to follow Jesus, with no destination, no guarantees, no logic, and no promised return date home. The fishermen were living week t0 week as most of us are today. Their family depended on them. But to take that liberating step of relinquishment, if only for a day, if only in a small measure of our life would be an exercise in faith. Jesus did not ask individuals to travel alone; as a congregation, let us journey together in a grand exercise of faith. Let us be open to unknown destinations and agree to put aside our nets, our excuses, our reluctance, and our security, if not for good, then in steady increments. Your truth beacons to us as a lighthouse, providing a coordinate for hope that we too will be disciples. Amen

Garlic Blessings

Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian; wine and tarragon make it French. Sour cream makes it Russian; lemon and cinnamon make it Greek. Soy sauce makes it Chinese; garlic makes it good. -Alice May Brock

I’m not a good cook, but I am a fan of garlic, and that alone can improve my meager stirrings. I think I first started using fresh garlic when one of my co-workers taught me to put garlic slices in the steak before it is grilled. I liked it so much that the next thing you know I’m roasting cloves of garlic and serving steak as a side dish! Who doesn’t have to take their entrée home in a “To Go” box from Olive Garden because they couldn’t stop eating the garlic bread with the salad? The one priority item our older son recommends to send in care packages to deployed soldiers? Garlic salt! It helps makes MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) more tolerable. Garlic is also used for countless medical remedies, in part because it has allicin, which has the property to destroy germs which are not killed by penicillin. And if you haven’t yet been convinced of the integrity of garlic, according to X. Marcel Boulestin (1878-1943) “It is not really an exaggeration to say that peace and happiness begin, geographically, where garlic is used in cooking.”

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You are the source of all of our needs. You season our lives with mercy, justice, righteousness, and love. You heal our souls in areas that medicine cannot be applied. You provide shalom in your presence and without exaggeration we are changed. We call to you by different names, and by different means, but at the center you are the Truth. You create a world with palatable possibilities. With sound doctrine in place, we are encouraged to try new combinations, new flavorings, if we keep our basic stock infused by your Spirit, being true to your Word, true to your vision, true to your will. You are the source that makes our lives meaningful and good. Let us feast. Amen.

Olympic Faith

While watching the gymnastics during the Olympics tonight the relationship between the sport and spirituality seemed obvious. There is a certain correlation with the disciplined life of any athlete, but the gymnast seems to embody those practices, and more.

• The hours of dedicated practice involved, urging muscles to react immediately and instinctively to the challenge at hand.
• The encouragement from fellow team mates, even after a disappointing exhibition.
• The dependency on a coach to provide guided, individual lessons, offering critiques and resolutions to perfect form.
• The discipline of letting go of the bar, trusting that the placement of the bar hasn't changed and that after the rotation one can return to hold on tightly again to the bar - until the next release.
• The confidence to take one's gifts and skills into the public for scrutiny.
• The belief that one's daily best efforts will reflect the practice and the willingness to be coached, but more importantly, the overwhelming desire that beats at the base of one's inner core.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You are our life coach; watchful for areas in need of correction and praising areas of accomplishment. You know what heights we are capable of reaching and hold that as our bar of victory. O God, we are not looking for medals of decoration, but the honor of living our true life, inspired by our devotion to you and the desire of our soul to be pleasing in your sight. Let us diligently offer our prayers and study to provide the muscles needed to continue in strength and endurance. Let us be agreeable to suggestions of correction of form, realizing that often we cannot provide a neutral, balanced opinion of ourselves. Let us bravely, release our grip, to fly unfettered, knowing that it defies our natural sense of survival and logic. You are there to spot our return, to applaud our safe return and to offer a hand up when we miss our mark, resulting in a hard landing. Let us try again, and again, for when everything flows as intended, coached and practiced, it is a beautiful sight! Amen.

Three Little

It's another far reach, but I'm feeling a little bit like one of the Three Little Pigs, but instead of having houses built of straw and sticks, I've got one built of whale skin and one built of onion skin. The whale skin is rubbery, thick and insulated. The onion skin is translucent, thin and breaks away easily. As we live through the hard work and energy involved in addressing and implementing changes, it seems like we have to choose between either the house built of seemingly non-penetrable insistence on change, or the house built on a seemingly endless peeling away of comfort for the sake of change. It's just hard to know when to have a little bit thinner skin, being sensitive to the needs and truths of an established community and when to have a thicker skin, being sensitive to the needs and truths of a changing world. In truth, no one wants to live in either house. We want to live in a house built on a cornerstone of God's will. We want to live in a home built reforming to God's will, not conforming to culture. I believe we are actively seeking God's will for our congregation through study, conversation, and prayerful intention. At our own home, we try not to leave without saying the three little words - "I love you." Wouldn't that be a wonderful way to leave our church home as well?

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You provide a dwelling for us built firmly on a rock of foundation; one built to withstand winds of change and outlast piers of weathered wood. We are honored guests in your dwelling, invited to stay as long as we like. We are not present in your dwelling to rearrange the furniture to our liking, but to keep the lights of invitation burning and the door wide open for others seeking a place to call home. We don't always get to choose our family, but you have provided an amazing church family. Let us appreciate and affirm our love as often as possible. O God, never let us leave doubt that your home is a dwelling based on, and filled with, God's love. Amen.

Early Church

We had our first early worship service with its newer format last week. The newer format doesn't fit neatly under a label. It's not fully contemporary, instead of a weekly praise band we will probably be led to sing accompanied by a single guitar. We are trying to introduce more media into the service, through movie clips, talking points, and photos, but still find songs where people can open a hymn book with newer choruses if they choose. Last week had a few rough spots, but early service often finds a few hiccups in the worship service order and honestly, it's one of the things I love about early service!! The gathering who meets for early service gives a wide berth of latitude for those little inconsistencies, and they seemed more than willing to accept the growing pains of an evolving service. Church has been evolving since man’s inception of religion. By assembling at tabernacles, Holy of Holies, mountain tops, tent revivals, home churches, cathedrals, open air, chapels, stadium-sized auditoriums, riverbanks, and 930 West Avenue B - all have tried to find their way to offer meaningful worship and provide a community of believers a place to gather to grow in fellowship, study and mission. We are not at such a different place in discovery than the early church fathers that grappled with decisions of how to share the Word in a changing world.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You are the same God yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Why do we find it so hard to remain in your presence? We have found more places to hide, more activities to distract, and more priorities to hold tightly. We think you must be as disoriented as we are and we try to arrange a common meeting place. Where can we find God? How will we recognize God? How will God know who we are? We cannot comprehend your totality. You are somewhere, you are everywhere. The tools and methods we use adjust to the changing world, but our desire to offer praise and worship is as ancient as the first conversation with Adam, the covenants with Noah and Abraham, and the devotion of the first disciples. Our desire to offer praise and worship is as present as our breath. Let us be joined in worship! Amen.

How the Story is Shared

As its intention, experiential worship hopes to set a scenario in which you can actively experience the Word through more than one of the senses, not just passively hearing the Word. It’s a type of worship that our staff is interested in pursuing, as opportunities arise within the context of the message. The point is not to offer a carnival side show on a whim, it’s to enhance the Word. It’s not forced, it’s an extension. Last week Clay had to choose between two passages - Jacob wrestling or Jesus feeding the 5,000. He used Jacob's story, but using my unrefined judgment and imagination, I jumped to the other story. I envisioned experiencing feeding the 5,000 with our resident caterer whipping up breakfast on the side. We would be able to hear the sounds of preparation, smell the fresh ingredients, and then, of course, taste the benefits of combining and stretching the food groups to create a meal! Who wants to wrestle and get dirty when you can eat?!? (There’s a reason Clay went to seminary, thank God!)

One of the blogs that I read regularly was considering my other story more theologically when he wrote:

When the disciples questioned if the five loaves and two fishes would be enough to feed everyone, Jesus told them to just start feeding people and trust they would have enough. The way I’ve always imagined the scene is, as the boy’s lunch was passed and the unabashed sharing became obvious, others who had food of their own thought, “Well, I could share my lunch,” and the next thing they knew they had leftovers. When I watch how inclined we are to hang on to what’s ours, I have no doubt that meal was a miracle.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You send constant invitations to join you and experience your participation in our world every day. Sunrise, waking toddlers, produce at the market, wild flowers, vistas of the land, and the look of one in need provide all the evidence our eyes can take in. Cleansing showers, comforting hugs, a companion’s hand, cold snowflakes, and the pain of loss afford the realization that we are alive, feeling, and connecting. Thunderclaps, laughter, crashing waves, bubbling brooks, birds singing, and cries for help call to our attuned ears. Baking bread, cut grass, rain showers, puppy’s bellies, and the souring smell of idleness supplement a bouquet of awareness. We are fed by your Word and we are sated. You bestow more than one can use in a lifetime. Let us share unabashedly. Amen

Banded Together

This morning a small band of volunteers, under the direction of a veteran of performing random acts of kindness, met at the downtown Garland DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) Rail station at 6am to pass out bottles of water. There were no tracts attached, no business cards, and no additional labels of any kind on the bottled water. We didn't even offer a reason why we were passing out the water unless someone asked. Then we would try to mentally organize a quick sentence with "Presbyterian" in it at 6am and hope it made sense! Luckily we were wearing t-shirts with the church's logo so it helped fill in some of the gaps. Most people were grateful for the water, some people left scouring the label looking for the promotion they were sure was the reason of the gift, and some people took alternate routes to bypass us all together. We were stationed near one of the street lights so most people were funneled from their cars past us to get to the train. One woman reached for a bottle of water as she approached us, and within in a matter of seconds of connecting we were both screaming and jumping up and down. One might think that perhaps with my reputation for graceful actions that I had spilled water on her, but luckily no, it was just the unrestrained joy of finding an old friend. Linda attended our church for many years and was one of the original women’s retreat formation team. I admire that small band who dreamed of organizing a retreat for the women of the church, weathered the initial queries, determinedly asked for money to be included in the budget, and built a retreat model (that has barely changed in ten years). These women prayed regularly for the retreat, the vision of the retreat, the impact on the women who would attend, and for the leadership of the congregation and the retreat team.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Today we were able to share small acts of kindness as an extension of the free gift of grace given to us. We have also received gifts of prayer, wisdom, dreams, encouragement, and hope from our own community. We have a model of praying actively, seeking spiritual growth, relying on God's will, and creating new trails. It is wonderful to reconnect with old friends, yet we are hopeful to connect with new friends; all of us bringing a gift for our common table, where all are served. Let us review our models so that we do not have to reinvent the wheel, but let us have an enterprising spirit to form new models to reach other untapped sets of people. We give thanks for those who have the clarity to hear and are impulsive enough to accept your call. Let us pray with renewed dedication, because others have prayed for us, before they knew us, because they wanted the best for our congregation. We are blessed. Let us pray for the next generation and for their relationship with the Church. We ask blessings for those whom we have yet to meet, because we too want the best for our congregation. Amen

Not We Who Pray

In the chapter "Prayer of Rest," Richard Foster explains that the work of prayer does not rest upon us. The work of prayer is in the "activity of the everlasting Trinity." (Prayer: Finding the Hearts True Home (p 98-99) Foster uses Romans 8:26-27 as the foundation for the idea that the Spirit accompanies us in our prayers, focusing our stumbling thoughts and straightening our motives until it corresponds to the will of God. In the book of Hebrews Jesus is called the High Priest; Foster reviews the role of the High Priest to intercede before God on behalf of the people. Jesus the Christ, is in continual prayer for us. The third collaborator in our prayers is God, who is in dialogue and communion with God. P.T. Forsyth is quoted "When we speak to God it is really the God who lives in us speaking through us to himself." ...In class we all set our books down, looked at each other and asked "God talks to himself???" Did you notice he's quoting Forsyth and not a Bible passage???

In a strange way it almost made sense. When I'm really concentrating on solving a problem, and humming and humphing haven't helped, the next involuntary action that occurs is that I start talking - to myself. I begin to verbally retrace steps, consider other options, offer words of encouragement, and deliver scowling lectures on missing the obvious. There could be someone else in the room, and when I realize that I'm carrying on a monologue I explain to them that I have to talk to myself because I'm the only one who will pay attention!

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You are at the heart of our prayers. You know our needs, you set a longing in our soul, and you follow our progress. Sometimes it must seem like we are not listening to you and you are left to voice your concerns in a void. Fill our emptyness with your wisdom and love. Let us never tire of hearing your call, of discovering your divine plan, and of being a faithful servant. As a congregation let our prayers be used to discern your vision and mission for our gathering. Let us be receptive to the Spirit, accepting of the love of Christ, and yielding to the will of God. Our prayers are not our own. Amen.

Safe Passages, eh?

My good friend left for the Canadian Rockies today, almost the exact time of year we traveled to Banff last year. I've learned to enjoy the beach, but I'm a mountain girl at heart, and in my mind I'm revisiting the thousands of acres of forests, mountains, wildlife and glacier lakes. One image that stands apart from my trip is the Inuksuk, which is an ancient Canadian Inuit structure. They are built using rocks and designed and stacked into the image of man. "Their strength of presence gives comfort to the traveler, assuring him his is not alone. They are also messengers indicating safe passages, natural shelter, and good hunting."

Once while hiking in the Colorado Rockies the trail crossed across a large expanse of rock surface and the only way to mark the trail was by the intermittent use of small piles of rock. Unlike the prominent trail in the forest worn down by countless steps, the path across the rock was open to interpretation and conjecture. When we found the next rock grouping it was like finding gold. I can barely begin to imagine the importance of the solid landmarks in the vast Arctic landscape.

I am probably using some vivid imagination, but I saw resemblances of the silhouettes of the Canadian Inuksuks with the cross. The wide stretched arms are a repeating, prominent feature in the formations built into the landscape of the country.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We are thankful for the assurances you provide along our journey. Sometimes we wish the message was as obvious as a protected green turn signal at an intersection, but if we are observant we can find the smaller, yet authoritative markings of safe passages. We are reminded of our small stature in the world when we review the expanse of a mountain range, but by leaving markings of a well-lived life for the next seeker, we can be messengers of encouragement and wisdom. We can retrace our own steps to find the last known indicator of the right path when we veer off-course ourselves. The Inuits phrase "a long time ago in the future" speaks of timelessness. You, O God, are eternal and your word is as life-giving today as it was given to Adam, Sarai, Noah, and Mary. We look for the next assurance of our right path. Amen.

Paper Tiger

One of the first daily e-mail subscriptions I signed up to receive was AWAD - A Word A Day. I wish I could say it has made a difference in my vocabulary, but sadly few words have made it into my everyday speech even though I read the mailings regularly. It's not the fault of AWAD. They include definitions, the word found in a published sentence, and include the origin of the word, all in connection to help provide a clear use of the word. Each week has a theme and metaphors are this week's commonality. "A metaphor is a kind of magical mental changing room, where one thing, for a moment, becomes another, and in that moment is seen in a whole new way." Today's word is paper tiger which means "one who is outwardly strong and powerful but is in fact powerless and ineffectual. The term is often used to describe countries. In 1956, Chairman Mao of China applied it to the US. Later it was used in the Western press to refer to China and its economy."

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We are dependent on your strength and power. We are thankful that your might is genuine and true. Let us be more than paper tigers of faith, saying what we believe, but not actively living our creeds. Let us read your word with dedication, letting your words find their way into our thoughts and our actions. In the safety of our congregation we know the words and the deeds that are expected but often have a difficult time repeating them at work, with friends, and as we meet new people. Let us be a congregation of resolve and confidence. We have been changed in a whole new way; let that change be permanent and continually evolving. Let us be Christians in more than a name written on a program but evident by our outwardly love. Amen

Walking Wounded

Naawuni yi kabigi a gbali, o ni wuhi a ni yen kpahi shem.
(Dagbani (Ghana) Proverb)
If God breaks your leg, He will teach you how to limp. (English)

The story of Jacob wrestling with an angel was the foundation of the sermon on Sunday. One of the truths we must face as we wrestle with decisions, callings, and actions is that there is a very good chance we will come away wounded like Jacob who was struck in the hip. Even if we are following our true vocation, there is always an opportunity that our soul will be bruised. Like Jacob we do not have to become stagnant and frozen in place by our injuries, we can prevail despite our struggles, wounds, and brokenness.

Genesis 32:24-31

Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that He could not defeat him, He struck Jacob's hip as they wrestled and dislocated his hip socket. Then He said to Jacob, "Let Me go, for it is daybreak."
But Jacob said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me."
"What is your name?" the man asked.
"Jacob!" he replied.
"Your name will no longer be Jacob," He said. "It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed."
Then Jacob asked Him, "Please tell me Your name."
But He answered, "Why do you ask My name?" And He blessed him there.
Jacob then named the place Peniel, "For," [he said,] "I have seen God face to face, and I have been delivered." The sun shone on him as he passed by Peniel —limping on his hip.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You provide a constant watch over us and we are re-named and re-made in your presence. There are no limits to your works. Let us continue to wrestle and deliberate your vision for our lives and for the life of our congregation. We are willing to walk wounded, marked by a limp, if we are only able to continue in passage with you. Our deliverance is living in your presence like the eye of a storm. Amen

Two Sides of Adoration

Richard Foster writes that there are two sides to the Prayer of Adoration: thanksgiving and praise. When we offer thanksgiving we are giving God the glory for what God has done for us; when we offer praise we are giving God the glory for who God is. It's amazing how often we still arrange for the world to revolve around us, even in our attempts to lift God's name in prayer. It is certainly right to offer thanksgivings, to promote the works of God in our lives, but do we mainly see God's intercessions when they are evident in our own journey, or can we appreciate God's creative influence in places which we cannot even pronounce, in spaces we cannot even see?

The prayer of adoration must be learned. It does not come automatically. Notice our own children! They do not need to be trained to ask for things... but to express thanks? That is a wholly different matter. What endless effort it takes to help our children cultivate a habit of gratitude. - Foster

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Our lives are filled with blessings, and if we are honest, we know that we are not able to manufacture these on our own, but through your continued guidance and grace. Once we realize our indebtedness then we can acknowledge your presence and activity in our lives. We can appreciate the small, daily intercessions until we begin to recognize that your ways and rules are constantly a part of our journey side by side. It is not my journey, but our journey. It is an excursion that leads us away from our inward selves, that rotates our gaze, turning our faces, until we are looking and moving in the world. We are thankful for the changes in our lives and we are amazed at the revelations of your grace in the world. We are able to walk with a magnifying glass and see the smallest details made evident. We cry out, "O God! How magnificent are your ways!" We cannot help but offer praise to the One who is Lord of all. Once we begin our humble "stepping stones" into the river of grace, we are surrounded by your mercy and filled with adoration. Amen

Knowing What to Want

We need to go car shopping with #2 son very soon, if not sooner. There are few criteria to meet: economical, low-profile, big enough to stow musical gear, and enclosed rather than an open bed truck. Two-door coupes are out along with taller, smaller SUVs. But other than that he doesn't know if he wants new or used, how much he can spend, what he likes, and most importantly, when he can physically go searching. Of course my main concern would be cup holders, duh! Wouldn't a salesperson love to tell us what we want?? Actually, we are probably the worst kind of potential customer, fresh on the lot with no direction, no experience, and guarded against the one lucky enough to ask the questions. Car shopping is pretty rare in our family, but even simpler decisions can bring a potential night out on the town to a sudden stop.

"Where do you want to eat?"
"I don't care, where do you want to go?"
"I don't even know what I'm hungry for, you decide."
"Well, I know what I don't want, but I don't know what I do want."
"Do you want to just stay home and eat a sandwich"
"That would be cheaper."

Somewhat eerily, this same conversation could apply, with few modifications, to congregational discussions, or even spiritual growth inhibitors.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We know that you can whet and fill our hunger, even when we don't know what it is that we crave. We are grateful for the buffet you provide. Let us be adventurous to taste boldly and fill our lives abundantly from the ample, creative and thoughtfully prepared table of communion. Let us prayerfully question what your desire is that we should want. Like a pregnant craving, let us continue naming the desires of our heart that will supply the needed nutrients to our newly created life. Let us seek out, and not be turned away, until we can name that which you have set as a treasure for us. Let us be clear in direction and vision. Let us know precisely what to want. Amen.