Gulf Oil Spill

Here is a link to a letter/prayer from the Presbyterian Church (USA) regarding the ongoing tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.pcusa.org/oga/newsstories/oil_spill_2010.htm

Nashville Surprise

This past week I had the great joy of gathering in Nashville for a week of continuing education at the Festival of Homiletics. (Homiletics is the art of preparing and preaching a sermon or "homily"). It is so good to be nourished, inspired and challenged through worship, lectures and conversations with many of the top people in this area. It is good to be reminded again of the joy and awesome responsibility that is preaching--the task of being a vessel for the Word of God in weekly conversation with God's people.

Of course this year's festival was special in part because we gathered in Nashville three weeks after historic floods devasted the city and surrounding areas. Signs of cleanup were all around us, and people had flood on the brain and on the tongue. The buses were running a reduced schedule because many MTA buses were damaged. The good news was that the bus was also free all week--the machine that opened the fare boxes was also damaged! We contributed to Nashville relief efforts through special offerings. Some of 1250 attendees spent Thursday afternoon volunteering in various parts of the city. My group ended up in the Bellevue area near Bellevue Presbyterian Church. We moved wet, moldy sheetrock, wood and household items out to the street for pickup. Nasty, smelly work. The shoes I wore that day remained in Nashville!

Our conference opened up with the news that one of the featured preachers, Otis Moss III of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, had received threats so he thought it best to stay home with his family. A reminder that the gospel is a scandal in a world that often prefers lies and violence. A highlight for me: John Bell of the Iona Community in Scotland (and the Wild Goose Worship Group whose songs we sing in worship) led a discussion (via Skype) on imagination and creativity as essential to ministry and spirituality. In the midst of floods and threats and Skype and songs and stinky sheetrock, the Word always sustains and inspires us.

Joyful in the Lord, David

What is God's Blood Type?

One of our cats is unfortunately not feeling well. During a visit to the vet, the doc drew blood to assess his health (results pending). The blood talk prompted Justin to ask, "What kind of blood do you have, Mom?"
"B+" I replied.
"Being positive is good, Mom," he responded.
As I started to explain a bit about blood types, he interrupted to say that he and his Dad both have brown eyes so they have the same type, and Jonathon and I have green eyes, so we're the same.
(I see that I'll have to circle back a bit...)
But before I could, Jonathon picked up on my comment about rare blood types and asked, "What kind of blood does God have?"
Hmm.....
He followed that up with, "Well, he's special and unique, so he has the rare kind, right?"
Now we know that rare with regard to blood types doesn't confer any special characteristics with regard to the bearer of said blood type.
Justin concurred. "God is DEFINITELY AB negative, Mom...and so is Jesus, even though Jesus was more famous than God."
(Sidebar: my boys frequently pull God into discussions as a measuring tool to talk about the "extreme" of something...ergo, I'm frequently flummoxed...).
In the end, we concluded our discussion of God's blood type with a vague, "I don't know, " and "Blood type doesn't determine the kind of person that you are."
To which they pulled the "God extreme card" saying, "Well God's must be the most rare, special blood..."
OK

Love Our Youth!

Our congregation continues to be blessed with our vibrant children and youth program. Natalie and Jennifer have led the children's choir again this year, and the children enrich our worship with their singing and their very presence. Kate and so many youth leaders like the ***, the *** and the *** keep our youth busy and growing in their faith.

Yesterday's Youth Sunday inspired me with the themes of Kids Under Construction and Shine for Christ. I was reminded of the song by Billy Joe Shaver (Texas outlaw country singer and songwriter) in which he sings: "I'm just an old chunk of coal, but I'll be a diamond someday." This is perhaps one of the best summaries of our doctrine of sanctification that I have ever heard. We are all under construction, adults and kids alike. And the Spirit of the Risen Lord works within us to strengthen us and guide us along the way.

There are many ways in which we as a congregation can be grateful for our youth program. One way is to express your apprecation to Kate and the other youth leaders who work behind the scenes in loving them and providing an anchor for them.

Another way is to support Camp Wyoming by donating to their annual fund--or to their 50th Anniversary Celebration fund. Make sure your children and grandchildren and their neighbors and school friends are signed up to particapate in this great camp.

Another way is to continue to express an interest in the youth, spend time with them, ask them questions and discover the many talents, gifts and ideas they have. Invite them to church on Sundays! Christianity is nothing if it is not a relationship!

Children and youth are a great gift to all of us. They remind us that we are all a work in progress, but God can use us, even in our incompleteness, to shine the light of Christ with love, compassion and grace each and every day.

Brightly, David

Click Here to Listen

listen to my sermon from Confirmation Sunday April 18, 2010; based on Luke 10, the story of the good samaritan. as I say in the sermon, the text and the title were picked by the confirmation students.

Moving to, and moved by the Music

Daily activity that's moderately vigorous.
Appropriate food portions.
These basic guidelines for optimal physical health are no secret. So why don't I get with the program?
I've been thinking more about this since reading health information related to body mass index (Ugh!), portion sizes, and daily activity guidelines for cardiac health.
When considering the triad of ingredients for successful skill performance-knowledge, skill and attitude-my behavior breaks down along skill lines. How do I incorporate an hour of physical activity into my life? What may have to change?
And what about my spiritual health? My daily behaviors that strengthen my faith? My prayer and service skills?
Nike's catch phrase, "Just do it" comes to mind, because getting bogged down with questions and details does me no good. Sometimes music helps where exercise is concerned. It's more motivating to complete an activity program with accompaniment. Music can also help me keep a thankful, service oriented attitude.
Here is one of my favorite tunes, "Edelweiss" with a new twist on the words. Whenever this tune runs through my mind, I hear these words instead of the original lyrics...and I think about how blessed I am.

Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ
Every morning you greet me,
Soft and wise, clean and bright,
You look happy to meet me.

Blessings they flow may they bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever,
Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ,
Bless my homeland forever.

Amen and thank you Lord for all of your blessings!

Church as Aspen Grove

This past month the session (council) met on a Saturday morning at the Environmental Learning Center for a morning retreat. Part of our discussion centered around 4 different models for church (outlined by C. Kirk Hadaway in his book "Behold I Do a New Thing: Transforming Communities of Faith" 2001).

The 4 visual images for the different models are: Factory, Recliner, Guided Missile and Aspen Grove. According to Hadaway, the goal for every church is to be the Aspen Grove. The Aspen Grove is ideal because it has its purpose in place. It understands the church is here to change people. The Aspen Grove is also ideal because its goals are "diffuse and intangible," which means that the church culture is open-ended and permission-giving rather than goal-directed and outcome-oriented (people are not widgets). With both the right purpose and the right approach, the model church is a culture of transformation, where lives are changed and people are nurtured in their faith. While the Recliner defaults to satisfy its members, the Aspen Grove transforms one another, constantly evolving.

The Aspen Grove is a beautiful image for church, because it maintains a strong sense of community--that we are all connected. Also, the Aspen Grove is beautiful because it realizes that the church leaders provide direction without controlling the results. It is more fluid in character than a Factory. The true church realizes that we are not in control, but that Christ is the head and the Spirit is working among us.

These past few weeks, I have felt the inter-connectedness (roots of the trees) of our church at work. More than a handful of you have experienced losses of loved ones--mothers, aunts, grandmothers. More than a handful of you are experiencing major life transitions with job changes, moves, and illnesses. You have cared for one another. You have reminded yourselves and the world that God is working among us, doing a new thing, and that we help each other along the way. For that I am grateful.