Algebra

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

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

Here's my favorite verse:

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

Stop and Look

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

My prayer for the congregation?

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

Detours

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

My prayer for the congregation?

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

Transitions

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

My prayer for the congregation?

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

The Good News Is...

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

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

My prayer for the congregation?

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

Kueser Kindness

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

My prayer for the congregation?

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

Potential

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

My prayer for the congregation?

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