What is your favorite way to spend a lazy day?
Well, friends, that depends.
If a movie is out that I have been wanting to see, I am going to see it.
If there is nothing playing at the movies, I may be home playing video games.
If I'm not wrapped up in a story on a big screen, or playing one on a small screen I may be enveloped in one on a page, be it digital or hard copy.
If the written word hasn't grabbed me I may be sitting on the couch watching a movie or a tv show.
If those stories haven't taken ahold of me I may be in my office listening to music, be it on my ipod or on my record player.
If movie, video game, book, tv and music have failed me then I may just be napping.
If napping proves elusive I may be sitting right here typing out some thoughts as I am right now.
If my brain doesn't appear to be working at optimum levels I may be at Mounds State Park walking the trails.
If I have given up on home and park options I may be out of town, maybe shopping, maybe walking on a beach or swimming in an ocean or hiking on some trail or merely taking a drive.
But, more than likely I am wasting my day away flipping through Netflix vainly trying to find something to watch.
On a related note I was once in a band called Lazy Sunday and I hope that today may be a lazy Sunday for you.
Peace and Love,
Pastor K
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Prompting Creation 1: A Night in Motion
What is your favorite work of art? What do you love about it?
The correct answer is The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh.
There are few things in life that have caught my own attention more than the night sky. Don't ask me what constellation is which or what little dot in the sky is Venus, which according to something I read is depicted in The Starry Night, I won't know but ask me what it means to me and I might possibly go on forever. So on one hand I love The Starry Night because it depicts the night sky.
Secondly I love The Starry Night because it is actually the second one that Van Gogh painted, the first being what is usually called Starry Night over the Rhone, and that he never considered it among his greats, I love those facts about it because it tells me that we are never the final judge of how good or bad what we create is, beauty is quite literally in the eye of the beholder and I behold great beauty in The Starry Night.
Third, which could have been first and only, I love the movement that is depicted in what would traditionally be considered a calm, perhaps even normal night. It's the idea that the world is in constant flux, that things are always happening around us even when we don't notice it or we can't even perceive it. There is this sense that there is always more, more going on, more to experience, more to discover. It's the beauty of God not being able to be captured or quantified through out natural senses, but still such a present, over arching reality.
Do yourself a favor, tonight, look up.
Peace and Love,
Pastor K
The correct answer is The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh.
There are few things in life that have caught my own attention more than the night sky. Don't ask me what constellation is which or what little dot in the sky is Venus, which according to something I read is depicted in The Starry Night, I won't know but ask me what it means to me and I might possibly go on forever. So on one hand I love The Starry Night because it depicts the night sky.
Secondly I love The Starry Night because it is actually the second one that Van Gogh painted, the first being what is usually called Starry Night over the Rhone, and that he never considered it among his greats, I love those facts about it because it tells me that we are never the final judge of how good or bad what we create is, beauty is quite literally in the eye of the beholder and I behold great beauty in The Starry Night.
Third, which could have been first and only, I love the movement that is depicted in what would traditionally be considered a calm, perhaps even normal night. It's the idea that the world is in constant flux, that things are always happening around us even when we don't notice it or we can't even perceive it. There is this sense that there is always more, more going on, more to experience, more to discover. It's the beauty of God not being able to be captured or quantified through out natural senses, but still such a present, over arching reality.
Do yourself a favor, tonight, look up.
Peace and Love,
Pastor K
Friday, June 16, 2017
The Next Thing Unlike the Last Thing
So, it's Friday and I promised that come Friday I would explain what my next blog endeavor would be. If you have been following along for the past 8 months I have been working my way through the Psalms and as of earlier this week that particular journey is accomplished.
In light of that I was left with two options: 1) take a blog break 2) pick something else to do.
I came to the conclusion that I would take option 2, but then I was confronted by more options: a) follow another book of the Bible [perhaps Proverbs] b) look at different scriptures throughout the Bible [like I did with my Red Letters, Black Letters posts] c) do something that was not Biblically based.
I came to the conclusion that I would depart from my comfort zone and take option c, but then I was left with a decision about what, if anything I would use to guide me along my next path. Which led me to a book a purchased several years back with the idea I would start using it at the time, instead I wrote one entry. So, without further explanation [it's been enough, hasn't it?] I will be working my way through a book that looks like this
While this will not be Biblically based I assume that God and Godly things will pop up from time to time, its a part of who I am, no getting away from that, believe me, I've tried.
As far as timing I am not sure how often I will be posting. My thought is that it will be at least weekly, and perhaps even bi-weekly, we'll see how it goes.
One last thing before I leave you, a title. If you don't know, I like titles, I often come up with a title for my sermons before I come up with any of the details because a title, to me, leads me in the direction I want to go. I tossed a few around for taste, From the Ether and Out of Dusty Corners, but I landed squarely on one that brought a smile to my face. This is beginning from a book on writing prompts, but what writing is, at base, is creation and I firmly believe that when we engage in creation we become closer to the Creator.
So, welcome to Prompting Creation.
See you soon.
Pastor K
In light of that I was left with two options: 1) take a blog break 2) pick something else to do.
I came to the conclusion that I would take option 2, but then I was confronted by more options: a) follow another book of the Bible [perhaps Proverbs] b) look at different scriptures throughout the Bible [like I did with my Red Letters, Black Letters posts] c) do something that was not Biblically based.
I came to the conclusion that I would depart from my comfort zone and take option c, but then I was left with a decision about what, if anything I would use to guide me along my next path. Which led me to a book a purchased several years back with the idea I would start using it at the time, instead I wrote one entry. So, without further explanation [it's been enough, hasn't it?] I will be working my way through a book that looks like this
While this will not be Biblically based I assume that God and Godly things will pop up from time to time, its a part of who I am, no getting away from that, believe me, I've tried.
As far as timing I am not sure how often I will be posting. My thought is that it will be at least weekly, and perhaps even bi-weekly, we'll see how it goes.
One last thing before I leave you, a title. If you don't know, I like titles, I often come up with a title for my sermons before I come up with any of the details because a title, to me, leads me in the direction I want to go. I tossed a few around for taste, From the Ether and Out of Dusty Corners, but I landed squarely on one that brought a smile to my face. This is beginning from a book on writing prompts, but what writing is, at base, is creation and I firmly believe that when we engage in creation we become closer to the Creator.
So, welcome to Prompting Creation.
See you soon.
Pastor K
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
The Heart's Cry: Psalm 150
Psalm 150
Well, friends, we have reached the end of the Psalter and as is right, as is good, we end it with praise. Through these 151 Psalms and 152 entries we have crossed the gamut of emotions. We have spoken in shouts and whispers. We have spent time on the mountain and languished in the valleys and below. We have talked about history and the present and even occasionally the future. We have spoken of creation and destruction, love and hate, hope and hopelessness. We have rode the roller coaster that is the story of the Bible. We have sinned and been forgiven. We have spent time with Moses and Abraham and David and Adam and Jesus. We have delved into God the creator, God the grace giver, God the one who holds us up.
After all of that it is right, and good, to end with praise. Because all those moments that we traverse in this life are moments, some good and some bad, some godly and some ungodly, but before and within and after it all there is God. You may have doubts about God from time to time, and that is fine, even Jesus cried out Psalm 22 from the cross when he lamented "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" But like Jesus we must remember that Psalm 22, while lamenting God's absence also holds fast to the belief that God has sustained, that God has protected, that God is still worthy of our praise. So doubt it you must, but always come back home, to the God who has been with you since before your first post-womb breath.
+ How have you praised God in the midst of different life experiences?
p.s. I hope that you have found this journey to be helpful to your heart, mind, and soul. Peace and Love, Pastor K
Well, friends, we have reached the end of the Psalter and as is right, as is good, we end it with praise. Through these 151 Psalms and 152 entries we have crossed the gamut of emotions. We have spoken in shouts and whispers. We have spent time on the mountain and languished in the valleys and below. We have talked about history and the present and even occasionally the future. We have spoken of creation and destruction, love and hate, hope and hopelessness. We have rode the roller coaster that is the story of the Bible. We have sinned and been forgiven. We have spent time with Moses and Abraham and David and Adam and Jesus. We have delved into God the creator, God the grace giver, God the one who holds us up.
After all of that it is right, and good, to end with praise. Because all those moments that we traverse in this life are moments, some good and some bad, some godly and some ungodly, but before and within and after it all there is God. You may have doubts about God from time to time, and that is fine, even Jesus cried out Psalm 22 from the cross when he lamented "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" But like Jesus we must remember that Psalm 22, while lamenting God's absence also holds fast to the belief that God has sustained, that God has protected, that God is still worthy of our praise. So doubt it you must, but always come back home, to the God who has been with you since before your first post-womb breath.
+ How have you praised God in the midst of different life experiences?
p.s. I hope that you have found this journey to be helpful to your heart, mind, and soul. Peace and Love, Pastor K
Monday, June 12, 2017
The Heart's Cry: Psalm 149
Psalm 149
Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
In the beginning God said, let there be light, which means that for at least the span of four words there was no light. But then, there was. Imagine what that first pinprick of light must have been like for all of existence. The first experience of a sunrise. The first experience of a glowing moon. The first star that appeared as if from out of no where, because it literally appeared out of no where. I imagine that there was praise in the hearts of those who first saw light, the angels, the animals, the humans. I imagine that is the case because I remember singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as a child. Because where there is praise there also will be singing and where there is singing there also will be new songs.
With every new verse and chorus we join with the multitude that has come before us, stretching our minds and lifting our voices for the one who set it all in motion. In very short order, tomorrow if you are following closely, we will end this journey through the Psalms, it will be the end of these 150 songs for the moment, but I would invite you to re-read them down the road, not my words necessarily, but those of the Psalmist. Allow them to speak into your life from time to time, wrestle with them, kick them down the road a bit, scream and curse at and with them. Along with that I would ask that you continue the tradition and sing a new song to the Lord. You don't have to "know" music, it doesn't have to be written down, there is no lyrical or melodic requirements, you don't even have to sound good, Psalms are about the quality of the heart and soul they come from, not the pitch and volume.
Lift up a new song of joy.
Lift up a new song of curiosity.
Lift up a new song of sorrow.
Lift up a new song of rage.
Lift up a new song of doubt.
Lift up a new song of praise.
Lift up a new song of faithfulness.
Lift up a new song.
+ How have the Psalms spoken to you over these months?
+ Has your view of the Psalms changed at all?
Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
In the beginning God said, let there be light, which means that for at least the span of four words there was no light. But then, there was. Imagine what that first pinprick of light must have been like for all of existence. The first experience of a sunrise. The first experience of a glowing moon. The first star that appeared as if from out of no where, because it literally appeared out of no where. I imagine that there was praise in the hearts of those who first saw light, the angels, the animals, the humans. I imagine that is the case because I remember singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as a child. Because where there is praise there also will be singing and where there is singing there also will be new songs.
With every new verse and chorus we join with the multitude that has come before us, stretching our minds and lifting our voices for the one who set it all in motion. In very short order, tomorrow if you are following closely, we will end this journey through the Psalms, it will be the end of these 150 songs for the moment, but I would invite you to re-read them down the road, not my words necessarily, but those of the Psalmist. Allow them to speak into your life from time to time, wrestle with them, kick them down the road a bit, scream and curse at and with them. Along with that I would ask that you continue the tradition and sing a new song to the Lord. You don't have to "know" music, it doesn't have to be written down, there is no lyrical or melodic requirements, you don't even have to sound good, Psalms are about the quality of the heart and soul they come from, not the pitch and volume.
Lift up a new song of joy.
Lift up a new song of curiosity.
Lift up a new song of sorrow.
Lift up a new song of rage.
Lift up a new song of doubt.
Lift up a new song of praise.
Lift up a new song of faithfulness.
Lift up a new song.
+ How have the Psalms spoken to you over these months?
+ Has your view of the Psalms changed at all?
Friday, June 9, 2017
The Heart's Cry: Psalm 148
Psalm 148
Some people say that in heaven we will just be one big chorus singing songs of praise to God all day and all night. Personally I hope its nothing like that. Don't get me wrong, I love to sing, and I've been told that I'm fairly good at it, but I need variety in my life and in my music selections. In addition I love all types of music, pop, rock, classical, folk, hip-hop, rap, r&b, jazz, blues, country, world, pretty much anything that isn't screaming all the time, unless I'm really angry at the time. The thing about music though is that its a very emotion based medium, and if I'm singing praise songs all the time it may mean a minimum of emotional diversity.
Really, the more I think about it the more I wonder what heaven will be like, or maybe more truthfully I worry what heaven will be like. To be completely honest I'm not sure what an existence where I don't struggle with whether I'm interested in following God from moment to moment would be like. Perhaps it is just coming to a place where I am finally secure in the knowledge of who God is and what that means in my life and my world. But what does it look like in an existence where I don't make mistakes? Does being in heaven automatically make us perfect? And if so, what does perfection mean? Will I never stub my toe in heaven, assuming of course that my body is somewhat physical and that there are rocks or beds or legos that exist there.
We in the church talk about heaven a lot, without knowing all that much about the place. I doubt there with be pearly gates and streets of gold, those are both only important to people concerned about wealth and are natural elements found here on earth. But I want to believe that there won't be tears and pain, but what does that mean? Sometimes there is nothing better for the soul than a little tear shedding, either of sadness or joy. I think it might be best for me to end this right here, lest I keep going down this rabbithole until I finally get to heaven, assuming of course that I do.
+ What do you think of heaven? What will it be like, how will you be like?
Some people say that in heaven we will just be one big chorus singing songs of praise to God all day and all night. Personally I hope its nothing like that. Don't get me wrong, I love to sing, and I've been told that I'm fairly good at it, but I need variety in my life and in my music selections. In addition I love all types of music, pop, rock, classical, folk, hip-hop, rap, r&b, jazz, blues, country, world, pretty much anything that isn't screaming all the time, unless I'm really angry at the time. The thing about music though is that its a very emotion based medium, and if I'm singing praise songs all the time it may mean a minimum of emotional diversity.
Really, the more I think about it the more I wonder what heaven will be like, or maybe more truthfully I worry what heaven will be like. To be completely honest I'm not sure what an existence where I don't struggle with whether I'm interested in following God from moment to moment would be like. Perhaps it is just coming to a place where I am finally secure in the knowledge of who God is and what that means in my life and my world. But what does it look like in an existence where I don't make mistakes? Does being in heaven automatically make us perfect? And if so, what does perfection mean? Will I never stub my toe in heaven, assuming of course that my body is somewhat physical and that there are rocks or beds or legos that exist there.
We in the church talk about heaven a lot, without knowing all that much about the place. I doubt there with be pearly gates and streets of gold, those are both only important to people concerned about wealth and are natural elements found here on earth. But I want to believe that there won't be tears and pain, but what does that mean? Sometimes there is nothing better for the soul than a little tear shedding, either of sadness or joy. I think it might be best for me to end this right here, lest I keep going down this rabbithole until I finally get to heaven, assuming of course that I do.
+ What do you think of heaven? What will it be like, how will you be like?
Thursday, June 8, 2017
The Heart's Cry: Psalm 147
Psalm 147
His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
Really? God doesn't take pleasure in the pleasure that the creation feels? I disagree. One of the things about the God of the Bible is that God appears to be empathetic, in other words God doesn't just understand how we feel but can feel it as well. As one of my favorite songs by Eli says 'God weeps too' and if God weeps when we weep then God rejoices when we rejoice. And if that is the case when a runner feels the breeze caressing her face as she traverses the course is it not God surrounding her in her elation? When the artists puts a happy little stream through the middle of his scenic painting does God not also think of the same stream that is flowing inside of and through the artist? We are told that God loves us, and to truly love another means that you are wrapped up in their joys and their pains, and God is most assuredly wrapped up in ours.
And now we switch gears.
He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and ordinances to Israel.
He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his ordinances.
Praise the Lord!
As I have mentioned Israel thought of themselves as Chosen when they were really chosen. As I have also mentioned Christians often do the very same thing, believing that God is only concerned with our well-being, where else does a statement like 'God Bless America' come from? We can too quickly become engrossed in our 'special' standing to the detriment of other cultures and societies. We are told to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world and neither salt, nor light exist for their own good. We often use salt to make something salty, but the strongest aspect of salt is as a flavor enhancer, what you add it to is enhanced because of its addition. In the same way light illuminates the area around it, because of the light others can make out its surroundings.
We are to exist in order to enhance the world and to allow others to be able to adequately navigate the world around them. In other words, God's plan to deal with the other nations is through our beliefs and actions, spreading the message of Jesus to all nations.
His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
Really? God doesn't take pleasure in the pleasure that the creation feels? I disagree. One of the things about the God of the Bible is that God appears to be empathetic, in other words God doesn't just understand how we feel but can feel it as well. As one of my favorite songs by Eli says 'God weeps too' and if God weeps when we weep then God rejoices when we rejoice. And if that is the case when a runner feels the breeze caressing her face as she traverses the course is it not God surrounding her in her elation? When the artists puts a happy little stream through the middle of his scenic painting does God not also think of the same stream that is flowing inside of and through the artist? We are told that God loves us, and to truly love another means that you are wrapped up in their joys and their pains, and God is most assuredly wrapped up in ours.
And now we switch gears.
He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and ordinances to Israel.
He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his ordinances.
Praise the Lord!
As I have mentioned Israel thought of themselves as Chosen when they were really chosen. As I have also mentioned Christians often do the very same thing, believing that God is only concerned with our well-being, where else does a statement like 'God Bless America' come from? We can too quickly become engrossed in our 'special' standing to the detriment of other cultures and societies. We are told to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world and neither salt, nor light exist for their own good. We often use salt to make something salty, but the strongest aspect of salt is as a flavor enhancer, what you add it to is enhanced because of its addition. In the same way light illuminates the area around it, because of the light others can make out its surroundings.
We are to exist in order to enhance the world and to allow others to be able to adequately navigate the world around them. In other words, God's plan to deal with the other nations is through our beliefs and actions, spreading the message of Jesus to all nations.
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
The Heart's Cry: Psalm 146
Psalm 146
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
Do not put your trust in princes, [or presidents, or senators, or representatives, or governors, or mayors, or pastors, or priests]
in mortals, [you know, basically everyone] in whom there is no help.
When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
on that very day their plans perish.[so much for a legacy]
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, [a personal God, one who cares about who you are and what you are doing]
whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed; [you know, like any person or group of people that others attempt to hold down, or not allow in the halls of power, or not have the same rights, or are considered less then, like minorities, or women, or the LGBTQ community, or people of other religions]
who gives food to the hungry. [you know, like hungry people, God wants hungry people to eat, that doesn't sound right, I'm sure he meant the working hungry]
The Lord sets the prisoners free; [those who are in jails, those who are addicted, those who are abused by their parents, or spouses, or the government]
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. [those who can't see, and those who have 20/20 vision, but still can't see anything but themselves]
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; [those we bully, those we discriminate against, those we, once again, consider less than]
the Lord loves the righteous. [those who actually attempt to be little Christs, which is literally what Christian means]
The Lord watches over the strangers; [those who weren't born in your country but came to it anyway, those from war torn places, those looking for more freedom, those hoping for less persecution, those who left all behind for the sake of their children's future, you know like Syrians, or Muslims, or Mexicans and the like]
he upholds the orphan and the widow, [those who have been abandoned by selfish men and women, those who have lost their families due to war, disease, drugs and alcohol, those whose caregivers are in jail]
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. [that would be all those who do not do as God does, those who do not fight for the oppressed, the prisoner, the blind, the bowed down, the stranger, the widow and the orphan]
The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
Do not put your trust in princes, [or presidents, or senators, or representatives, or governors, or mayors, or pastors, or priests]
in mortals, [you know, basically everyone] in whom there is no help.
When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
on that very day their plans perish.[so much for a legacy]
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, [a personal God, one who cares about who you are and what you are doing]
whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed; [you know, like any person or group of people that others attempt to hold down, or not allow in the halls of power, or not have the same rights, or are considered less then, like minorities, or women, or the LGBTQ community, or people of other religions]
who gives food to the hungry. [you know, like hungry people, God wants hungry people to eat, that doesn't sound right, I'm sure he meant the working hungry]
The Lord sets the prisoners free; [those who are in jails, those who are addicted, those who are abused by their parents, or spouses, or the government]
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. [those who can't see, and those who have 20/20 vision, but still can't see anything but themselves]
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; [those we bully, those we discriminate against, those we, once again, consider less than]
the Lord loves the righteous. [those who actually attempt to be little Christs, which is literally what Christian means]
The Lord watches over the strangers; [those who weren't born in your country but came to it anyway, those from war torn places, those looking for more freedom, those hoping for less persecution, those who left all behind for the sake of their children's future, you know like Syrians, or Muslims, or Mexicans and the like]
he upholds the orphan and the widow, [those who have been abandoned by selfish men and women, those who have lost their families due to war, disease, drugs and alcohol, those whose caregivers are in jail]
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. [that would be all those who do not do as God does, those who do not fight for the oppressed, the prisoner, the blind, the bowed down, the stranger, the widow and the orphan]
The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!
Monday, June 5, 2017
The Heart's Cry: Psalm 145
Psalm 145
As a parent we have a pretty big responsibility, to laud the works of God to the next generation. In other words we are to tell our children of the God we worship. We need to impart what we believe in hopes that they will also believe. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I have known parents insanely proud when their child decides to not only believe but to go into ministry. I have known parents who have taken it personally when their child has turned away from the faith that they cling so desperately to. To both groups I would say, be proud, or sad, but remember it is each individuals choice to believe or not. Of course, it is easier to say to someone that they aren't the reason than it is for them to actually believe it.
My wife and I once had a conversation about our son and faith and we said that we hope that we don't teach him anything that he has to unlearn later in life. That is a tall order in any genre of knowledge, but is especially difficult when it comes to faith. I say this because almost everyone who has ever believed has changed at least some of those beliefs through the years. I know that towards the end of college I began to question almost everything in regards to my faith and my practice of that faith. Some beliefs I jettisoned easily, some felt like I was ripping off a big scab, some survived the testing and are the deeper for it. I had to unlearn and learn things like what 'the world', 'your neighbor' and 'your enemy' meant. I had to rethink some of the stories I learned in Sunday School, and to some extent that is just a part of being mature enough to handle certain aspects of the story.
And so, we try to teach the next generation the best we can, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. But as long as we aren't the ones causing the little ones to stumble we have done what we are supposed to do.
+ How are you passing on your beliefs to the next generation?
As a parent we have a pretty big responsibility, to laud the works of God to the next generation. In other words we are to tell our children of the God we worship. We need to impart what we believe in hopes that they will also believe. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I have known parents insanely proud when their child decides to not only believe but to go into ministry. I have known parents who have taken it personally when their child has turned away from the faith that they cling so desperately to. To both groups I would say, be proud, or sad, but remember it is each individuals choice to believe or not. Of course, it is easier to say to someone that they aren't the reason than it is for them to actually believe it.
My wife and I once had a conversation about our son and faith and we said that we hope that we don't teach him anything that he has to unlearn later in life. That is a tall order in any genre of knowledge, but is especially difficult when it comes to faith. I say this because almost everyone who has ever believed has changed at least some of those beliefs through the years. I know that towards the end of college I began to question almost everything in regards to my faith and my practice of that faith. Some beliefs I jettisoned easily, some felt like I was ripping off a big scab, some survived the testing and are the deeper for it. I had to unlearn and learn things like what 'the world', 'your neighbor' and 'your enemy' meant. I had to rethink some of the stories I learned in Sunday School, and to some extent that is just a part of being mature enough to handle certain aspects of the story.
And so, we try to teach the next generation the best we can, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. But as long as we aren't the ones causing the little ones to stumble we have done what we are supposed to do.
+ How are you passing on your beliefs to the next generation?
Friday, June 2, 2017
The Heart's Cry: Psalm 144
Psalm 144
This Psalm is part 'take care of us in the face of our enemies' and part 'bless us in all ways', which is well and good but I want to focus on two verses that ultimately leads to another verse. But first a question.
How often do you find yourself paying attention to an ant?
I know, it may seem like a strange questions, but seriously, how often do you find yourself paying attention to an ant? Unless you happen to be a scientist studying ants my guess is that your answer would be much like mine, hardly ever. After all we are so big that ants really don't make that much difference in our world, unless we are at a picnic or perhaps something sweet and sticky has spilled on or kitchen floor. And when we do pay attention to them it is usually to swat them away or to go to Wal-Mart and purchase some kind of ant murdering device, be it spray or sweet sticky poisonous stuff. Now, I know its not a one-to-one correlation, but one more question.
How often does God pay attention to us?
O Lord, what are human beings that you regard them,
or mortals that you think of them?
They are like a breath;
their days are like a passing shadow.
The answer, at every moment of every day. From the first breath we breathed, which God gave to us in the first place to the last breath we breathe and even beyond that one. God looks at us and cares about what we are going through and hurts when we hurt and is joyful when we find joy. God is always working through each moment to bring beauty from ashes, to make something wonderful grow in the manure that we sometimes think is our life. God is causing the sun to shine and the rain to fall on us, giving nourishment and potential to us in every moment.
And that is amazing.
Because God could look upon us the same way we look upon an ant, but instead God chooses to care, to interact, to sacrifice for us. And what should our response be to that kind of caring, that kind of kindness, that kind of grace, that kind of love?
Happy are the people to whom such blessings fall;
happy are the people whose God is the Lord.
+ How can you praise God in this moment for all that God does for you?
+ How can you be more mindful of God's presence and care in your life?
This Psalm is part 'take care of us in the face of our enemies' and part 'bless us in all ways', which is well and good but I want to focus on two verses that ultimately leads to another verse. But first a question.
How often do you find yourself paying attention to an ant?
I know, it may seem like a strange questions, but seriously, how often do you find yourself paying attention to an ant? Unless you happen to be a scientist studying ants my guess is that your answer would be much like mine, hardly ever. After all we are so big that ants really don't make that much difference in our world, unless we are at a picnic or perhaps something sweet and sticky has spilled on or kitchen floor. And when we do pay attention to them it is usually to swat them away or to go to Wal-Mart and purchase some kind of ant murdering device, be it spray or sweet sticky poisonous stuff. Now, I know its not a one-to-one correlation, but one more question.
How often does God pay attention to us?
O Lord, what are human beings that you regard them,
or mortals that you think of them?
They are like a breath;
their days are like a passing shadow.
The answer, at every moment of every day. From the first breath we breathed, which God gave to us in the first place to the last breath we breathe and even beyond that one. God looks at us and cares about what we are going through and hurts when we hurt and is joyful when we find joy. God is always working through each moment to bring beauty from ashes, to make something wonderful grow in the manure that we sometimes think is our life. God is causing the sun to shine and the rain to fall on us, giving nourishment and potential to us in every moment.
And that is amazing.
Because God could look upon us the same way we look upon an ant, but instead God chooses to care, to interact, to sacrifice for us. And what should our response be to that kind of caring, that kind of kindness, that kind of grace, that kind of love?
Happy are the people to whom such blessings fall;
happy are the people whose God is the Lord.
+ How can you praise God in this moment for all that God does for you?
+ How can you be more mindful of God's presence and care in your life?
Thursday, June 1, 2017
The Heart's Cry: Psalm 143
Psalm 143
First off, do you find it as interesting as I do the amount of enemies that David had? It really makes me question why anyone would desire to be a leader of a country, a king, a president, a prime minister. But, that's not what we're here to talk about today. No, verse 10 is what we are here to talk about.
Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
on a level path.
I think this verse is packed with good stuff, first off the need to do God's will and secondly the hope of a level path.
Did you know that you're ultimate goal in life is to do God's will? If not, now you do. Jesus shows us this goal when he taught us how to pray, asking that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven. You see, our ultimate goal is to bring little pockets of heaven to earth, which can only be accomplished through our partnership in God's will. Each good thing we do, from giving a cup of cold water to someone who is thirsty, to opening our ear to someone who needs to talk, to lifting each other up when we can't stand anymore brings moments of heaven to earth. Each smile, each moment of empathy, each feeling of love and grace and forgiveness ripples through the universe like a drop in water. Each moment of negativity, anger, and violence does the same, bringing pockets of hell to earth, which is why we must be diligent in pursuing God's will in the here and now.
The simplest way to pursue God's will in the here and now is by walking a level path. Now, its possible, even likely, that all David meant by a level path was a level path, in other words a path that was not steep, one that was easy to traverse. While he may have meant that, I do not. A level path is one in which we find ourselves being level in a out of wack world.
This existence can go from extreme highs to extreme lows in a matter of moments, just watch the news or peruse Facebook if you haven't noticed. In turn when the world goes from extreme to extreme we can find ourselves going along for the ride, up one moment, down the next, flipping upside down and screaming our heads off sooner or later. Instead we must ask God to help us to stay level, allowing joy its place, allowing pain its place, but existing on a level path. It requires God's help to do that. It requires God's peace that passes all understanding. It requires God's compassion, God's kindness, God's love, God's grace. By living in but being able to look past the moment we can better live level, which will help us to bring pockets of heaven to earth by doing God's will in the here and now.
+ How have you found it best to stay level from day to day?
+ What steps can you take in order to accomplish God's will more?
First off, do you find it as interesting as I do the amount of enemies that David had? It really makes me question why anyone would desire to be a leader of a country, a king, a president, a prime minister. But, that's not what we're here to talk about today. No, verse 10 is what we are here to talk about.
Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
on a level path.
I think this verse is packed with good stuff, first off the need to do God's will and secondly the hope of a level path.
Did you know that you're ultimate goal in life is to do God's will? If not, now you do. Jesus shows us this goal when he taught us how to pray, asking that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven. You see, our ultimate goal is to bring little pockets of heaven to earth, which can only be accomplished through our partnership in God's will. Each good thing we do, from giving a cup of cold water to someone who is thirsty, to opening our ear to someone who needs to talk, to lifting each other up when we can't stand anymore brings moments of heaven to earth. Each smile, each moment of empathy, each feeling of love and grace and forgiveness ripples through the universe like a drop in water. Each moment of negativity, anger, and violence does the same, bringing pockets of hell to earth, which is why we must be diligent in pursuing God's will in the here and now.
The simplest way to pursue God's will in the here and now is by walking a level path. Now, its possible, even likely, that all David meant by a level path was a level path, in other words a path that was not steep, one that was easy to traverse. While he may have meant that, I do not. A level path is one in which we find ourselves being level in a out of wack world.
This existence can go from extreme highs to extreme lows in a matter of moments, just watch the news or peruse Facebook if you haven't noticed. In turn when the world goes from extreme to extreme we can find ourselves going along for the ride, up one moment, down the next, flipping upside down and screaming our heads off sooner or later. Instead we must ask God to help us to stay level, allowing joy its place, allowing pain its place, but existing on a level path. It requires God's help to do that. It requires God's peace that passes all understanding. It requires God's compassion, God's kindness, God's love, God's grace. By living in but being able to look past the moment we can better live level, which will help us to bring pockets of heaven to earth by doing God's will in the here and now.
+ How have you found it best to stay level from day to day?
+ What steps can you take in order to accomplish God's will more?
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