Cooked Rarely

My husband loves my mother’s cooking. Sadly, I don’t have the same talents. Tonight we had a four course dinner that was only supposed to be one. Before my dear one could offer to take me out for pizza (course 2) I had already placed some Chicken Cordon Bleu in the oven (course 1). It wasn’t too long before I noticed a different sort of smell coming out of the oven. Odd, I’ve never known Cordon Bleu to smell quite like that before. I reexamined the packaging and noticed it said Curried Chicken (course 3). We haven’t eaten much curry and I didn’t know what to expect. The one who eats my food with graciousness and gratitude took one bite and blamed himself for gaining a tender stomach for spicy foods as years have gone by. When in doubt – Chicken Pot Pie (course 4)! Nothing like chicken pot pie for weak taste buds and I try to keep a few in the freezer most of the time. To ease my conscience and to attempt to make the pie a little nicer I try to bake it in the oven instead of using the microwave. So I put the pot pie in the oven where I had recently cooked the first course and went to do something else. Fifteen minutes later I came back and realized I had not adjusted the temperature setting from warm to 400 degrees. I quickly bumped up the temperature and went again to do something else. Ten minutes later I returned to the crime scene only to find I had never turned the oven on! It’s been awhile, even for me, to have such a madcap antics in the kitchen. There’s a reason why my four basic food groups include boxed, take home, frozen and eat out.

Amos 5:9 It will be like a man running away from a lion
only to meet a bear.
He enters his house and rests his hand on a wall
only to be bitten by a snake.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You design crystals out of covered stone, galaxies out of twinkling stars and feasts out of garden fruits. Some days we seem to do more harm from our good intentions than act as benefactors. Sometimes if we acted a little slower, studied a little closer, thought a little clearer, communicated a little more understandable, and appraised a little more often, then we would not find ourselves in hapless situations that could have been lessened or terminated with a few minutes of careful planning and review. On the days when we feel as though everything we touch is a blight let us find a common ground to review, reset, and reconstruct. We turn to you to help reform our juvenile habits to life-affirming traits. Amen

(he who made the Pleiades and Orion,
who turns blackness into dawn
and darkens day into night,
who calls for the waters of the sea
and pours them out over the face of the land—
the LORD is his name-
Amos 5:8

Inconvenient Beauty

The Washington Post conducted an experiment in 2007 in which they asked Joshua Bell, an internationally acclaimed violinist, to play at L’Enfant Plaza, a busy subway court, during morning rush hour. The experiment was to determine, if in a banal setting at an inconvenient time, would beauty transcend? Almost 1,100 people passed by in the 43 minutes that he played timeless, classical pieces on a 3.5 million dollar Stradivarius. The acoustics were especially pleasing and beneficial for the performance, but the nearby lottery ticket sales, newspaper stand and shoe shine booth drew more attention than the virtuoso dressed in ordinary street clothes. He opened his case and threw in a few dollars of his own for seed money.

Things never got much better. In the three-quarters of an hour that Joshua Bell played, seven people stopped what they were doing to hang around and take in the performance, at least for a minute. Twenty-seven gave money, most of them on the run -- for a total of $32 and change. That leaves the 1,070 people who hurried by, oblivious, many only three feet away, few even turning to look.

One man does stop to listen for three minutes even though it made him run late for work. Later when he was interviewed Mortensen describes why he stopped: "Whatever it was," he says, "it made me feel at peace." The one constant category within the commuters who were drawn to the music was children who were there accompanying their parents. Each child was keenly interested and pulled towards the violinist and consequently had to be cautioned to remain in step with the parent. There was only one moment when more than one person stopped to listen at the same time. During the planning stages it was predicted that police would have to be called in for crowd control. Finally, in the final minutes a woman recognized him as the violinist who had given a concert at the Library of Congress. She stayed until the end not knowing why Joshua Bell was playing as a street musician, but knowing she wanted to hear him play again. She couldn’t understand why no one else seemed to even acknowledge his presence.

If we can't take the time out of our lives to stay a moment and listen to one of the best musicians on Earth play some of the best music ever written; if the surge of modern life so overpowers us that we are deaf and blind to something like that -- then what else are we missing?

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Beauty is your reflection. We are keen enough to acknowledge the grandeur of a mountain range, the infinite swells of the ocean, and the miracle of life, but we are not as astute when beauty is packaged unexpectedly and obscurely. Help us to be sensitive to the hidden, disguised moments of beauty in our day and have the presence of mind to doubt our perceptions and explore the nameless, mysterious, beauty before us, if we but open our eyes and minds. Once again, we are called to think as children, being pulled towards an uncommon prize in our ordinary day and responding to the sound of an undertone calling our name. Let us witness your spirit in each person we meet and offer our due respect and gratitude to be in your presence. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and you find loveliness in your people. We are blessed to be within your gaze. Amen.

Approaching Days

Sometimes the weathermen act as prophets from the Old Testament, warning us of impending affliction and rough days ahead. But when the weather reaches 75 degrees in January for an entire week, it’s easier to follow the rule of Ecclesiastes, “A man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and be merry." (Ecc. 8:15) And don’t think I wasn’t muttering that under my breath when the temperatures reached 80 on Friday and I was working instead of using some planned leave. But the day passed pretty quickly and the evening was still pleasant and the approaching cold front was still as a distant warning from Isaiah:

Danger ahead!
God's about to ravish the earth and leave it in ruins,
Rip everything out by the roots and send everyone scurrying:
priests and laypeople alike,
owners and workers alike,
celebrities and nobodies alike,
buyers and sellers alike,
bankers and beggars alike,
the haves and have-nots alike.
The landscape will be a moonscape, totally wasted.
And why? Because God says so.
He's issued the orders. Isaiah 24: 1-3

When we woke up in the morning, we found:

Isaiah 24:4The earth turns gaunt and gray,
the world silent and sad, sky and land lifeless, colorless.

The lifestyle of leisurely walks, shorts, talking to neighbors, and joining in sports turned into blankets unfolding, clothes being layered, drapes being drawn, and people scurrying from car to store with accelerated speed. Even with the warnings, and the expected return to winter temperatures, the abruptness always comes as a shock.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You are the judge of the nations. You do not rule capriciously, instead providing just guidelines, constant supervision, fair limitations, and righteous counsel. Your dominion is over all people, the young and the old, the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak. Let us be mindful of your ways, seeking to follow a virtuous life at all times, instead of being jolted into submission by cold reminders of your power. It is right to celebrate your world and your works and to dance and participate in the splendor of the day, but let us bear in mind that the day is yours and not ours. Amen

And here on this mountain,
God will banish the pall of doom hanging over all peoples,
The shadow of doom darkening all nations.
Yes, he'll banish death forever.
And God will wipe the tears from every face.
He'll remove every sign of disgrace
From his people, wherever they are.
Yes! God says so! Isaiah 25: 7-8 (The Message)

Armchair Theology

Because we spend so much time in front of a computer at work we were approved to get some chairs that are off-the-rack-custom, meaning the vendor has ready-made pieces for chairs and they pull out the sections needed to fit your body. It’s kind of like buying tops and bottoms separately to fit the upper and bottom sections of the body instead of wearing one-size fits all. Because the chairs were fitted for individual needs we made an agreement not to change settings on anyone else’s chairs, which is a struggle for those who like to manipulate each chair in which they sit. I believe my chair has improved my work effectiveness. I don’t have to cringe getting out of the chair or fidget playing with adjustments. It just fits, which is appreciated when your legs are a little shorter than the average person. Our computer chair at home is probably ten years old and has been through some rough times. It had no life and felt as flat as a tortilla. I went shopping for a new chair tonight and the one that felt above average in the store, is taking some getting used to at home. It’s great for sitting back and thinking, but I like to sit a little straighter most of the time. I'll never second-guess Goldilocks again!

Shane Hipps, a Mennonite pastor and one-time advertising executive, uses his unique gifts and training to share his views of spirituality through his distinctive perspective. I heard him on a podcast describing that even the furniture in the worship space sends a spiritual message. The church he was visiting had recently upgraded some technical applications, such as lighting and projection screens, but they had not changed their seating. The church probably could have afforded theater-style seating, but they chose to keep their simple, thinly padded folding chairs. The message Shane understood was that the leadership didn’t want the congregation to get comfortable. They were only supposed to stay for a little while within the walls of the church, but then be encouraged to get up and go out into the world.

What does our seating say about our church? And if something as simple as a piece of furniture can speak volumes about one's faith, what do our actions imply?

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You are the comfort of the desperate and the nettling of the stagnant. As we grow placated in our homes, in our jobs and in our church, let us become bothered and irritated to such a degree that we shed our favorite delusions that we are doing enough. Until we care to grow outside of the church as much as we treasure the inside, we are developing unbalanced. Let our actions and words relate our faith as clearly as our beautiful stained-glass, our peaceful open staging, and our repeating baptismal font trimmings. If stones can shout “You are Lord,” and chairs can instruct “Evangelize!” then surely we can muster whispers of support, prayers of healing, and praises of your goodness. Let us not grow so fond of our chairs, nor our lives that we fail to stand up and offer them to you. Amen

For Worse As Well

One pastor relates a personal story of a radical change in her life at a time when the timing was awkward, the consequences life-changing, and the outcome unpredictable. After a week of sharing duties at the hospital for her son, caring for a young daughter at home, and the busiest week at church for which to prepare, she walked into church Psalm Sunday with a heavy heart. One of the members preparing to join the church that morning asked her how she was, and impetuously she told the truth. Ironically, sometimes at church we feel uncomfortable to tell the truth. We feel we need to be a “Stepford” Member, exuding smiles, confidence, and control. It can’t be the right place to mention our own errors in judgment, doubts and failings. What kind of reference to personal character and church functionality would that send? But because life had superseded her plans, and she was too tired to hold character, the pastor told how she felt without sugar-coating the issue or lessening its reality. He ended up being exactly the right person to listen.

His friendship changed our lives in the years that followed, and none of that would have happened had we not been joined together in the body of Christ, not just in our good news but our bad…. He probably thought that he was joining the church that day because he needed it; but sometimes the reason you are joining the church is because somebody there, needs you.

My prayer for the congregation?

Loving God, You bear all. Teach us to trust that our church family is a place to share our weaknesses and faults along with our gifts and dreams. We hold ourselves to a higher level of judgment than we impose on others, and we determine our guilt and enforce penalty before allowing others to get a glimpse of our burden. But there is no hiding our lives from you. You are able to position healers for our injured souls, giving rest for the weary and teaching compassion and service to the supporter. Both roles have to be filled; we have to receive help to allow another to give help. Let us humble our pride and be reborn in mercy. Amen.

Some resurrections are enormous and get recorded in scripture to be read year after year. Other resurrections are smaller. They happen in the midst of ordinary lives. We witness one another’s resurrections in church all the time.

The entire account is worth exploring.

A New Chapter

Parade magazine ran a letter that Barrack Obama wrote to his children explaining why he led the family through two years of campaigning and now life in the White House. I think it help explains why the majority of the voters turned to him in November. There is a sense of hope that he will make a difference that can only help the country through difficult transitions to a new era. There are doubters, but as a hopeful person, I find the renewal of hope among such a wide spectrum of people incredibly fresh and joyful.

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

…She [your grandmother] helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better-and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be. I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much-although you do have that obligation.

But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential…. Love, Dad

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You are Lord of all. Until the day when your rule is supreme, we turn to leaders to help govern our nations. Throughout generations, your hand has led leaders to arise from the most unlikely circumstances. We are hopeful that our new president will follow your call for justice, renewal, accountability, and service. We pray for our country, but we also pray for this man and his family. Give them guidance, keep them safe, allow them to grow closer as a family, let laughter be heard at the dinner table, let peaceful sleep refresh their minds, and let a growing faith surround them. Let us as a country be called to the same challenges given to young children: righting wrongs and serving others. Let us find the potential that you have given to share your gospel. Let us find hope in our collective union today. Amen.

A Day On

As a Federal employee I can name the ten paid holidays; they are valued days and the period from September through February is my favorite because there is at least one holiday each month. The truth is that holidays are valuable to me as a long weekend, a chance to go out of town, or catch up on household chores. Sadly, there are several holidays that I don’t use the day to honor their namesake. The tenth holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, was first observed in 1986 and was added during my career. This observance started with contention but is evolving into a unique memorial to Dr. King. Several years ago the slogan “A day on, not a day off” began to be presented as the focus of the day, offering a day of service to the community instead of a day of leisure for individuals. The hope is that the goodwill then grows from one day of service into an ongoing practice of servanthood. The President elect is passionate about bringing change to the country through the commitment and service of individuals.

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

He is using the same power of the internet that helped him connect with voters in the election to now help align people with missions; www.usaservice.org asks for your zip code and they can connect you with local project. Locally, the Volunteer Center of North Texas can also help match your gifts with the needs in the community. Or, all I would need to do is look at the prayer list in the church bulletin and find someone who could use a visit.

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'” Martin Luther King, Jr.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, If we could honor your name every day by serving others, each day would be a celebration and feast of love. We would not have to sanction days on the calendar to remind us of our duty to the world. We are thankful for the dream that Martin Luther King, Jr. shared. In a time of chaos, strife and injustice, he saw visions of the promised land. Instead of pursuing hatred, he chose love, considering hatred too great a burden to bear. Let us chose love. Let us vision peace. Let us work for justice. Amen.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together. Martin Luther King, Jr.