soulsprings

Really?

2010-11-17T04:17:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I participated in a surprise birthday roast for a pastor friend in Omaha. We had a great time. It was the culmination of a stressful week. They had officiated at a funeral for a teacher. Apparently the Phelps crowd from Westboro Baptist in Topeka announced they planned to picket the funeral. I guess there are not enough soldier funerals so they are focusing on teachers as lackeys of government propaganda or something.
There were only 4 picketers but there were many counter-protesters. My friend says the goal is to provoke reactions that could lead to litigation. It is a business strategy.

I find myself turning to Galatians 6: Don't be misled. No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants,he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others -- ignoring God! -- harvests a crop of weeds. But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life. So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.

The Thrill is Gone

2010-11-15T03:58:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the gracious generosity of folks from my former congregation, Christ UMC, Peggy and I went to Minneapolis last Friday for a BB King concert. He introduced his great-grandchildren to the audience who seemed to have gathered to celebrate his aura as much as listen to his music.
The blues are merciful to both instrumentalists and vocalists. The old guys in the band were having a good time and making fine music. BB talked more than he sang but when he cut loose with Lucille the power of the songs and singer emerged.
He spoke or sang several times about dying. The atmosphere was tinged with a bit of sadness. Near the end when he sang "The Thrill is Gone" I was tempted to extend the metaphor but I remembered years ago buying a vinyl album that included three cuts that I used to illustrate a Sunday message.
I used the Thrill is Gone to talk about the human condition; I'm a Born-Again Human to talk about the transformative power of love; and There Must Be a Better World Somewhere to lift up the promise of the Gospel. Still some of my better work and his.
Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Al Mohler is Mistaken

2010-11-06T05:43:00.000-07:00

My last posting mentioned the teaching of my tai chi instructor to "lean into the pain". I'm fairly sure that he is not Christian (probably informed by some "eastern" philosphy or religious practice). Remembering his gentle teaching got me thinking about recent media attention of a blog by R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and intellectual leader within evangelical groups and a proponent of five point Calvinism (TULIP doctrine). I keep reading about Mohler ( a big article in Christianity Today) and a piece in Christian Century, Oct. 19, 2010, which quotes his Sept. 20 blog: yoga begins and ends with an understanding of the body that is, to say the very least, at odds with the Christian understanding. ... Believers are called to meditate upon the Word of God. ... not to meditate by means of incomprehensible syllables."

Be still and know that I am God. Ps. 46:10. But the Lord is in his holy Temple; let all the earth keep silence before him! Hab. 2:20 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. Ps. 23: 2,3a Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. John 15: 4

Jesus and the scriptures teach spiritual discplines and practices of keeping watch and waiting; being ready and prepared; listening and staying open to the way and will of the Lord. The classic way of praying with scripture (lectio divina/divine reading) leads one from the head to the heart and soul into a time of abiding with God. Surely Dr. Mohler is not denying the long centuries of contemplative prayer practices of the church.

Not to mention that Christians have long borrowed and adapted symbols, concepts and practices from other cultures and made them Christian. In my limited practice of tai chi I found myself praying. I found myself wanting to develop a form of body prayer that would be rooted in the Word and become a healthy expression of adoration. Catholics use prayer beads. The entire Centering Prayer movement is not an attempt to follow eastern practices but to reclaim ancient Christian traditions.

It is my understanding that the Hebrew word for the name of the Lord (YHWH) is so sacred as to not be pronounced. I would encourage Al Mohler to devote his advent prayer time to the story of Zechariah in Luke 1. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:78, 79

Leaning Into the Pain

2010-10-30T06:27:00.000-07:00

My second therapy session began with confession: I have been working 15 hour days and have not been diligent with my exercises. Physical therapists are acutely aware of the human condition. They understand that few of us are willing to hurt ourselves on purpose. Yet the cliche is rooted in truthful reality: pain with a purpose.
She began with a deep massage of my wrist and arm to address swelling and to make it easier for ligaments or tendons (what's the difference?) to slide through tissues (some with scarring). She was careful but gently persistent in showing me how to stretch and move into the pain. To regain flexibility it will have to hurt.
I remember a lesson from my tai chi instructor. He would require us to stand in a position where the muscles would begin to burn. The body's natural response was to pull away from the pain but the instructor said: Lean more deeply into the pain and then relax.
We need a companion to guide and help us find our way toward shalom. A therapist who understands that for my wrist to turn more fully it may be necessary to address some issues in my elbow. An instructor who undersatnds the counter-intuitive/paradoxical way of body, mind, heart, soul and life.
Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. Matt. 10:39

The Cast is Off

2010-10-29T05:15:00.000-07:00

A week ago the doctor declared my broken wrist bone to be healed. The cast was removed revealing an arm that is smaller, weaker and much less flexible. The doctor recommended a month or so of hand therapy.

The cast was essential to stabilize my wrist and allow healing to occur. But one kind of healing created a different set of challenges. Scar tissue, constricted ligaments and tendons, and muscles debilitated from lack of use need to be massaged, stretched and strengthened or I will not regain normal use of my wrist.

Reflecting on my cast led to thoughts about other kinds of defense mechanisms that we use (consciously or not) in response to wounds or breaks in our life. We create walls or boundaries of denial; withdrawal; anger; depression; aggression that protect us in some ways and weaken us in others. Our retreat from confrontation or introspection may be needed for a season but creates challenges to full healing and a return to normal health and well-being.

The massaging, stretching and strengthening needed to regain health and vitality (body, mind, heart, soul and relationships) is difficult and crucial. Therefore, we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perserverance; perserverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Romans 5

Voices

2010-10-12T05:18:00.000-07:00

Recently I sat in a dental waiting room while my spouse had oral surgery. I picked up Sports Illustrated and began reading an article by Joe Posnanski who used to write regularly for the KC Star. His words are so carefully chosen. The sentences are well-crafted. I realized how much I missed his voice in my life along with his colleague, Jason Whitlock, whose style was so entertaining, direct, and occasionally courageous. I gave thanks for the way they enriched my life with their thoughts and words. I began to reflect with gratitude upon other voices who have brought light, encouragement and joy to my path.

My reflections of loss led to an awareness of a concurrent sense of yearning and anticipation of new voices emerging. Sam Mellinson's writing keeps my interest as he writes about area sports. Although she has been writing for years I have come to need Mary Oliver's poems as soon as possible. Staying open to new friends or fresh visions helps keep me alive.

The Word is alive and manifest in so many voices! Thanks be to God!

Discretion

2010-09-09T05:35:00.000-07:00

The apostle Paul wrote to the Romans: You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called frredom that destroy freedom. Romans 6: 16 MSG

Burning a Quran is a constitutional right but such choices have preditable consequences. Less severe or radical but just as predictable is the building of a (constitutionally legitimate) mosque near ground zero.

Discretion might be a mask for cowardice but more often is a recognition that our role and decisions serve God's greater values and aims.

I remember a fellow who attended the church I was serving. He seemed to be quite knowledgable about scripture. I heard he had started a Bible study. He came to me (supposedly to acknowledge my ecclesial authority) and discussed his study. I told him that although the people he was attracting were not confident in their knowledge of scripture, I trusted their hearts and the Spirit to lead their discernment. One by one they came to me with concerns. I helped them reach good decisions for their families. After a few months this fellow had moved on. ... Six months later he was back. He needed a place where his family was accepted. I told him that they were welcome but I expected real respect and deference to the beliefs of our church. He seemed relieved. It felt like grace.

moments and choices

2010-09-09T04:58:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday I spoke about living in the moment and the significance of our choices. On Monday as I approached the small ladder, it occurred to me that I should turn around and back down the ladder. But it was only two steps and I wanted to help Peggy so I hopped on. It was a short ride. Too brief to be called ladder surfing ... although the ladder did slide out from beneath me.

Now I experience new moments and choices. Shaving with my left hand. Probable surgery. Having my pants fastened by my bride. Typing with my left hand. Maybe finally testing voice recognition software.

As the doctor puts some scews in ... I think I'll request a search for those other loose screws to be tightened.

Transitions & Life Liturgies

2010-07-21T05:46:00.000-07:00

What William Bridges calls the neutral zone in transitions shows up in the disruption of daily routines or what I like to call life liturgies. I am in my fourth week in a new office but I still do not have a fully functional routine. I don't quite yet know where I put my cell phone. I don't have a routine for gathering my stuff before I head home. Most of the time ... all is well ... but I forget things, misplace things more than usual.

The in-between time creates subtle below-the-surface uneasiness that one simply has to live through. It helps to stay aware and attentive. For me it means slowing down and being full of care. It provides an opportunity to prayerfully consider fresh approaches rather than simply seek a way back to previous routines. It includes an invitation to pray which brings a better chance for the emerging routines to become faithful life litugies.

Jesus said: Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. - Matthew 6: 34 MSG Now, where's that cell phone!

Patriot Dreams

2010-07-05T08:13:00.000-07:00

My father was a first generation American. His mother, Clara, was from England (never quite lost her accent). His father, Samuel, was Scottish. He and his brother, James,remained in Scotland to work and pay passage for the rest of the family to come to America. James died in an railroad accident. Dad was named for his uncle whose dreams were unfulfilled.
My grandparents and father were proud to be citizens. This took shape in my life with my father's devotion to the flag. I remember helping him construct a homemade flagpole on top of our garage. My daily responsibility (as a young Boy Scout) was to raise the flag.
Dad had an inordinate trust of elected officials and persons in authority. The other side of my family (my mother is from Arkansas and her family roots go back to the early 1800's in North Carolina) seemed to distrust elected officials as fools and crooks. I don't know. Perhaps familiarity breeds contempt.
It's just that on Independence Day when I think of the freedom forged by those early colonists, I also think of the pride and devotion of my immigrant grandparents. And I hope the stream of persons seeking new life in America will be blessed.
O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years ...
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw, confirm thy soul in self control,
thy liberty in law.

When teachers become friends.

2010-07-03T05:04:00.000-07:00

A former professor, the Rev. Dr. Bruce Rahtjen, died recently in an unfortunate accident. Bruce was my professor of Biblical Theology at Saint Paul School of Theology. He was brilliant, charismatic and some of my best learning moments occurred in his classes. He also was tremendously supportive when my father died while his student.
Bruce transitioned away from United Methodist ordained ministry and became an Episcopal priest. His journey also led him away from the seminary into the parish. We found ourselves serving congregations in Independence and reconnected. It was interesting to experience the shift in relationship. I discovered that I had experience and insights that were helpful to this man who had not been responsible for a congregation for some time.
We became friends ... meeting regularly to discuss our ministry and spiritual lives. I celebrated his ministry at St. Mary's in the urban community in downtown KC. Bruce invited me to share in the school for deacons that he led in the diocese. Later I encouraged his reconnection with the UMC through the Melrose congregation.
There is something marvelous about the way relationships develop and mature. I learned much from Bruce; enjoyed the repartee that marked our conversations; and grieve his passing from this life and world.

Greed

2010-06-17T04:39:00.000-07:00

Like many midwest sports fans, I've been captivated by the drama around conference expansion. I also have been thinking about Sam Mellinger's article in the KC Star on Tuesday, June 15, 2010, titled: Cash Carries The Day Again. He's a fine writer with helpful insights on sports. But ... I reacted harshly to this observation and comment: Greed is why this conference formed. Greed threatened to rip it apart. And in the end, greed kept it together. There's nothing wrong with that.
Actually Sam, greed as a core value and motivation is more likely to lead away from the fulfillment of one's goals and priorities. It usually means short term gains at the cost of long term liabilities.
The Gulf of Mexico is filling up with oil because safety measures were bypassed or minimized in order to get the well online. The Great Recession brought huge losses because banks and Wall Street could not contain their greed and accept slimmer profit margins.
You don't have to be a Christian to observe that greed is a lousy core value. What is profoundly disturbing is that so many people of faith don't seem to get it.

Sanctuary 2

2010-06-14T04:29:00.000-07:00

Sanctuary also can be understood as a holy place set apart for the worship of God. Yesterday was my last day of leading worship at Christ UMC. Ideally worship in a "sanctuary" is worship in a space that represents the realm of God ... both today and the anticipated new heaven and earth.

When I came to Christ UMC part of the challenge was that I did not enjoy the worship space. The stained glass windows did not inspire me. Part of the Sunday morning rhythm has been to gather with a few folks in the sanctuary for silent prayer for the morning events followed by Holy Communion. These moments of silent prayer gave me opportunity to gaze upon the rectangular swatches of colored glass.

I realized my previous experience had often been for evening meetings which provided no sunshine to illuminate the windows. This made the sanctuary dark and uninviting. But after a few weeks of Sunday morning prayer, I began to associate each window as an image in a kaleidoscope (an important metaphor for spiritual formation in my journey). Each week the windows were different. I began to understand the chunks of stained glass as a person gathered to worship. Sometimes the light would shine brightly ... the yellows would stand out or a deep red or an aqua.

I began to associate the subtle changes of light through the stained glass with the presence and movement of the Holy Spirit within the life of the congregation. The Lord helped me learn how to worship in that space. I will miss the kaleiscopic shifts of light and love and grace within the people of Christ UMC along with the sanctuary in which we celebrated the grace of God in Jesus Christ.

Sanctuary 1

2010-06-14T04:14:00.000-07:00

Sanctuary can be defined as a place of refuge and protection from oppression. Years ago I had dinner in Jerusalem with a couple who were from the Netherlands. During WWII they were provided refuge from the Nazi's by a Christian family in the Netherlands. This kind of civil disobedience and risk-taking is joyfully affirmed when we talk about resistance to the Nazi's or discuss the Underground Railroad that provided refuge and escape for slaves in America.

Christians in Arizona may soon face similar choices. The current issue of Christian Century (June 15, 2010) outlines the challenges. UMC pastor Rosemary Anderson tells about a parishioner who has lived in Phoenix for 20 years. This woman has four children all born in the USA. She recently was stopped by police for driving too slow. She could not provide proof of legal residence. Nothing happened but it was an example of what may be coming. When Arizona SB 1070 takes effect, she could be deported.

I do not suggest that immigration issues are easily resolved. Clearly a criminal element needs to be addressed. But it will be easy to target church going illegals while those posing genuine challenges to civil society are left to their bad behaviors. Already people who support the Arizona legislation are withholding financial support for congregations whose leaders oppose it.

There are 35,000 United Methodists in Arizona along with many other Christians of other persuasions. Let us pray for their faithfulness in the midst of conflicted choices.
The Lord is our refuge and strength.

Mai Gray

2010-05-31T03:41:00.000-07:00

At his mother's memorial service on May 29, 2010, Jarrett spoke of her elegance. I remember seeing Mai Gray for the first time at an eighth grade orientation at Paseo High School. More than a typical school open house, this was my introduction to racial diversity. Mai was in the role of a host. Her son, Jon, was in my class but she had two older children and was already a parent leader.
When I saw her, I knew she was important. The way she dressed; the way she carried herself; her tone of voice; her confidence; and the way others responded to her. I remember the warm gracious greeting she gave my parents. For the last forty-five years we have never spoken without Mai inquiring about my mother.
I have witnessed the integrity of her careful affirmation of core Gospel values in many meetings. I have observed the way she brought people together and built bridges of hope and encouragement.
Even the memories are a blessing!

stems, pits and pods

2010-05-25T04:32:00.000-07:00

Fresh fruit are among the delicious joys of this life. But eating fresh fruits (or veggies) involves dealing with the stems or pits or pods. In the moment of slurping up the fruit, the stems or pits seem an impediment. But they are the connectors, seeds, and protectors of the fruit itself.
The Christian life bears the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control). Galatians 5:22. But the Christian life also includes our methods of communication and decision making which allow the fruit to form and ripen. We cannot have one without the other.
I am often frustrated by what I call "church work" ... which involves having care-full conversations (speaking the truth with love) and meetings that allow us to discern and finally make faithful decisions.
Abiding in the vine (part of fruit production) is vital to producing the fruit of the Spirit. Teresa of Avila once said of prayer: The purpose of prayer is to produce virtue. Prayer is the ultimate stem that connects us with the source of growth, life and Spirit.

Digging Deeper

2010-05-07T04:13:00.000-07:00

An ad on the morning news touted the hard work of R.J. Dutton as they claimed to dig deeper. Hard work and solid research are positive values. The ad closed with a shovel embedded in the earth at the edge of the Grand Canyon. It was a big hole they dug! Comparing themselves to the majesty of nature (not to mention Almighty God) betrays a misplaced sense of self.
Earlier in the morning my contemplation was seeded by these poetic phrases from Wendell Berry's Leavings:
Out of charity let us pray
for the great ones of politics
and war, the intellectuals,
scientists, and advisors,
the golden industrialists,
the CEOs, that they too
may wake to a day without hope
that in their smallness they
may know the greatness of Earth
and Heaven by which they so far
live, that they may see
themselves in their enemies,
and from their great wants fallen
know the small immortal
joys of beasts and birds.

the sanctuary

2010-04-25T04:05:00.000-07:00

Some churches call their worship space a meeting room or auditorium while other churches have a sanctuary. A sanctuary represents the realm of God ... a place where heaven and earth meet and mingle and where the people of God encounter the Holy.
One thing our medieval ancestors got right was placing the cathedral at the center or high point of the community. A cathedral took generations to complete but that did not matter since it was to the glory of God.
I have only lately come to really appreciate the promise of a new heaven and a new earth that runs through the scriptures. A deepening edge of my faith is that every act of compassion, mercy and justice; every time we speak the truth with love; every sacrifice made in the name of our friend and savior, Jesus Christ, will live all the way into God's new creation.
I realize all too well that we confuse today's organizational agenda with those eternal kingdom purposes. I understand that many are oppressed and wounded when the church forgets to work for kingdom purposes and the glory of God.
Yet, as I once heard Bishop Willimon affirm: Church is what Christ does!
Lord, may our worship this morning become a sacred meeting and celebration of your love. Amen.

Holding Hands with Suffering and Joy

2010-04-05T05:42:00.000-07:00

This morning I am working on next Sunday's message about the resurrection appearances of Jesus while also preparing to care for a family and congregation in the midst of a tragic death.
I take comfort from these words of Tilda Norberg's book, Ashes TRANSFORMED: As you heal more and more deeply, God invites you to be present to both crucifixion and resurrection. ... When you are passionately willing to hold hands with both suffering and joy, entering into the depths of crucifixion and resurrection, you may discover a new and astonishing truth: There is a place of contemplative rest and profound healing between the two. When crucifixion and resurrection mingle in a human heart, it is a sign of God making all things new. Resting here, you do not need to hold onto awareness; rather it holds onto you. You do not need to form words of explanation about what is happening -- indeed you cannot -- but you can allow God to penetrate your being with mystery. In this holy place, you begin to see the whole truth, both tragedy and its transformation. Suffering, seen through the lens of resurrection, is a birthing place of faith; in this crucible, suffering often turns into gift. Here you discover the peace that passes all understanding. here you know that God provides healing, not just for your individual comfort, as important as that is, but that God also reaches out in love to care for all humanity. From here you are sent, imperfect as you are, to become intoxicated with love for the world, reflecting the Christ you follow. And you will return to this place -- between cross and resurrection -- again and again to be healed.
Abide in me as I abide in you. John 15:4

Pony Express

2010-04-03T04:37:00.000-07:00

The current Smithsonian Magazine reflects upon the inaugural run of the Pony Express on April 3, 1860. The network of riders began in St. Joseph, Missouri, carrying a pouch with 49 letters and 5 telegrams to San Fransisco. The trip took 11 days, 75 horses and 20 riders ... which was 10 days faster than stagecoach.
The Pony Express lingers in our imagination but lasted only 18 months (when telegraph service linked the east and west coasts).
For everything there is a season ... a time for birth and another for death, a time to plant and another to harvest, a time to hold on and a time to let go.
What's hard are the in-between times ... what William Bridges calls the "neutral zone": Since a life transition is a kind of buried rite of passage to begin with, a person's life will take on, willy-nilly, symbolic overtones at such times. The value of reflecting on the symbolism and making up little private rituals is not for the sake of ceremony but simply to become more aware of the shape of the natural transition process. Dying, the neutral zone, and rebirth are not ideas that we bring to life; they are phenomena that we find in life. The only trick is to see them -- by looking beyond the reflected light of the familiar surface of things and seeing what is really there, working in the depths. (Transitions)
Lord, on this Holy Saturday, as we remember you within the tomb (between the cross and resurrection) help us to abide and endure our own transitions with hope and faith. Amen.

Suffering Love

2010-04-02T03:30:00.000-07:00

How can any good come from this? Certainly a question (more an exclamation!) from the disciples on the day of Jesus crucifixion. Little matter that in Mark's Gospel Jesus told them (at least 3 times) what was coming and what to expect. Little matter that John's Gospel relates the pains that Jesus took to assure them that all would be well.
The empire, the system, the boss, the bishop (whomever) seems to crush us and we forget the heart of the Gospel. Something happens that hurts us; disappoints us; challenges us ... and we cry out: How can any good come from this?
Walter Brueggemann reminds us: Friday, in Christian reckoning, is a null-point wherein the power of God is defeated by the empire of force. But the church has found in that Friday shut-down the transformative work of God, because this God works in and through weakness and vulnerability as the door to new life. It is a Friday truth that suffering love has transformative power that the "executioners" never suspect. (Soujourners, April, 2010)
The old, old story is true. The Lord takes our hurt, our disappointment and even death (in all its manifestations) and transforms them into the new life.
Lord, open doors to new life and refresh our faith on this Good Friday. Amen.

Spitting

2010-03-24T05:48:00.000-07:00

The last week or so has brought many opportunities to reflect upon the mocking and humiliation of Jesus by Herod's guard and the Roman cohort. Their disdain for Jesus of Nazareth included spitting on him. This act of disgust and disapproval seems nearly universal among human tribes. It is one of the worst things you can do to a person.
The last week also included debate about the health bill and some citizens chose to use the "n" word in regard to my Congressman and colleague, Rev. Emanuel Cleaver, II. Rev chose to respond with Christian grace ... in effect turning the other cheek.
What concerns me is how little I have heard about this. When Rev says something that upsets people or they disagree, folks have a way of letting me know their disapproval. Why have so few ( almost no one) expressed concern that a UMC pastor and their Representative in Congress was spat upon?
How can any citizen of this republic much less a disciple of Jesus Christ affirm such behavior?
John Wesley followed a core value/practice: In unity, essentials; in matters of opinion, liberty; and in all things, charity/love.

Cremaster

2010-03-02T03:52:00.000-08:00

Sue Monk Kidd continues to explore the metamorphosis of the caterpillar into a butterfly [When the Heart Waits] by discussing the development of its chrysalis. It begins with a little "protuberance" called a cremaster. The cremaster is the connection point. Kidd writes: My mind whirled to the poetry of T.S. Eliot, who wrote about a still point, a spiritual place where there's no going forward or going backward. A point within us where we're fastened, and around which everything turns. "Except for the point, the still point, there would be no dance." he wrote. The still point is our cremaster. Without it, there's no dance of tranformation. It's the place where all cocoon making starts. We need to find the point in our soul where we go neither forward nor backward but are fastened in our waiting. ... What is this still point? It represents the Center, the quiet core where God's Spirit dwells in us. "Do you not know that ... God's Spirit dwells in you?" (1 Cor. 3: 16)

I believe this spiritual cremaster ... our Christ connection ... can take shape in many ways. For some it is a moment of belief; a spiritual experience; a relationship of acceptance/amazing grace; the taste and sensation of eucharist; or a deep sense of the Holy.

I wonder about the spiritual cremaster of the blind beggar, Bartimaeus, who shouted his prayer to Jesus outside the Jericho gate. His prayer has anchored millions as they have discovered how the Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. (Romans 8: 26b)
Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me. Amen.

The Diapause

2010-03-01T06:12:00.000-08:00

I've been revisiting Sue Monk Kidd's When The Heart Waits. In her chapter on Letting Go, she discusses our resistance to change and spiritual growth. Her book explores the image/process of the metamorphosis of a larva into a butterfly: The most surprising thing I discovered is that catepillars don't yield themselves to the cocoon at the same rate. When the moment comes to spin the chrysalis arrives, some of them actually resist and cling to the larval life. ... This state of clinging has a name; it's called the "diapause." ... There is a natural diapause in the human journey of transformation -- a time when we hold onto the self we know. It seems that at the moment of our greatest possibility; a desperate clinging rises up in us. We make a valiant attempt to "save" our old life.

I remember watching my daughter, Leah, getting ready to crawl. She managed to get up on her hands and knees but seemed unable to move forward. She simply rocked back and forth. Her mother and I became worried. Was something wrong? Then we received our monthly newsletter on child development which explained that one set of muscles was needed to hold her up while another set of muscles had to be engaged to move her forward. When she finally tried to crawl ... she fell on her sweet face. She returned to her "diapause" for awhile but soon was crawling all over the house.

Our lives include a series of passages or transitions where we often resist the next step, stage, opportunity (select your descriptive word). We cling ... a diapause ... a temporary stopping point ... before moving through. Our life prepares us with multiple passages/diapauses for the final transition for this life to the next.

Yesterday in worship (while exploring the last 24 Hours of Jesus life) we spent some time with Jesus in Gethsemane. A diapause of sorts before saying to his disciples: Rise, let us be on our way.

The Second War

2010-02-26T04:15:00.000-08:00

A recent Smithsonian magazine article, Dolley Madison Saves the Day by Thomas Fleming, reminded me of America's second war of 1812. We skip over it quickly in school ... noting the burning of many buildings in Washington, D.C. (especially the White House) along with Dolley Madison's courage and Andrew Jackson's timely victory over the British in New Orleans.
The War of 1812 continued for six years. I had forgotten that five New England states seriously considered succession over Madison's conduct of the war. Many adamantly called for President Madison to be impeached.
Most revolutions are followed by counter-revolutions. Most change initatives are followed by a period of consolidation or a lack of follow-through. Congress refused to appropriate money that would provide for a national defense ... trusting ill-prepared and equipped state militias to defend the nation. We nearly lost the union.
I suppose it is human nature (read "sin") to relax and avoid responsibility. It is easy to label the problems. It is more difficult to craft a plan of action leading to a productive faithful future. People stand back watching and hoping for people to fail.
I give thanks for leaders who step up and take responsibility for the difficult choices that will bring blessings. I pray for national leaders who will set aside personal self-interest and seek policies that will bless our nation.
In scripture we read how God's people wanted to return to Egypt because the wilderness was full of challenges. We also read how the team sent by Joshua to spy out the Promised Land came back with a report that the challenge was too great!
Trusting the promises of God is seldom easy but faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. - Hebrews 11:1. Or as Paul wrote: ... we boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. - Romans 5: 3-5.

Church Work

2010-02-08T06:06:00.000-08:00

A quick reading of Acts or the Epistles or Revelation reveals that the early church spent a lot of time and energy trying to resolve quarrels and issues as they sought to live in the Way.
A typical work week in the local congregation brings numerous conversations about issues that on the surface have little to do with the mission of the church. Sometimes I refer to these distractions or interruptions as "church work". I probably use that phrase with an intonation of resignation more than upward lilt to my voice!
I also like to say that it takes a truck load of grace for the church to function effectively and faithfully each day! What is delightfully apparent is that most days, God's grace flows wonderfully through the body of Christ!
This morning will bring people to the church to rearrange altar flowers to be delivered to the homebound; yesterday's offering will be carefully counted; the sick will be visited; children will be cared for; it will be a good day.
Part of our church work in the next few weeks is to prayerfully discuss a proposal to renovate our sanctuary worship space. To move forward will require a very generous commitment from the congregation. The other day a person who is deeply committed to our community ministries and caregiving efforts walked me down the hall. "I have a plan, she said. If 100 people will give $1,000 to this project, the rest of the money will come." And then she handed me an envelope, saying: "And here is my contribution!"
Church work. Amazing grace. Every day. Thanks be to God!

The Means of Grace

2010-02-07T03:48:00.000-08:00

My father died on a Monday. The day before we were in church. For some reason Dad was sitting on the back pew of the balcony. It was a communion Sunday. My father was raised Episcopalian by his mother who came from England. I can still remember my father's posture as he approached Eucharist. He was old school ... high church. He also had been taught that it was necessary to be in a right relationship before approaching the altar/table.
Part of the turmoil in the weeks before his death included quarreling with my sister. Dad had not behaved well. Sitting on the back pew of the balcony suddenly reflected the distance between himself and the Lord. It became apparent that dad was not going to receive communion that morning.
I was in seminary. While watching the pastor [a fine man] serve ... for some reason ... there was something out of order ... my seminarian sensibilities were miffed. I chose not to receive communion. I stayed on the back pew with my father.
The next day Dad died. In the heartbreaking days of preparing to bury my father, I realized I had missed an opportunity to receive the grace of God. I realized that I should have implored my father to go and kneel at the throne of grace and partake the blessings of the sacrament.
So often pettiness prevails. So often we deny ourselves what we need most.
It is Sunday morning thirty-five years later. In a while I will be speaking about seeking shalom through covenant community/koinonia. I will offer the loaf and cup. I pray that no one will deny themselves (for any reason) this sacred means of grace. Come, Lord Jesus, come!

A Scrap of Grace

2010-02-01T05:39:00.000-08:00

Thirty-five years ago this week my father died suddenly from a heart attack at age 48. The weeks before his death had been tumultous. He was under pressure at work (we learned later). There was conflict between my father and sister about which we had harsh words. Despite the struggles our relationship was changing. We were beginning to relate more adult to adult. We had more conversations and fewer arguments.
In the days after his death my mother showed me a scrap of orange paper. It was a partial sheet of paper with a pencil sketch of a bonzai tree. Apparently my father intended to paint the tree as a gift for me.
Although I was in seminary preparing to become a pastor, my spiritual journey had led me to serious exploration of Zen Buddhism. My dad thought I was weird. Our worldviews were often in conflict. But that scrap of paper conveyed a desire on his part to connect with the core of my emerging self ... my soul.
It was the best gift my father ever gave me: A father's desire to accept, affirm and love his son. An amazing scrap of grace.

The Fullness of Life

2010-01-21T05:53:00.000-08:00

The past week has been a whirlwind of life and death. Two friends in Christ have come to the end of their journey. Our second grandchild was born last Friday and my youngest daughter turned twenty this week. Such a swirl of experience covering the entire spectrum from birth to death!
In each situation families gather to pray, to remember, to anticipate and celebrate. We remember lives well lived. We pray for a life just beginning. We give thanks for a life that is maturing and finding purpose and direction.
We thank God who knows each of us by name since before we are born; who promises to be with us always; whose grace makes all things possible.
I find myself praying in Ephesians 3: I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Being Snowed In

2010-01-06T05:38:00.000-08:00

January cold and snow used to be a welcome season to read, reflect and plan for the coming months. That respite from the hurry of other seasons has largely vanished. Today a bitter winter storm is coming. I hurry to get stuff done and I yearn for the time to wrap up with God.
Nancy Copeland-Payton's book, The Losses of Our Lives, includes a prayer that seems fitting for this day:

Settle me into this moment,
this once-in-a-lifetime moment, O God.
Quiet me.
Make me still.

Give me courage to sit with my longings.
Let me hear your whisper
calling me,
beneath the surface
to your undercurrents.
Amen.

How Hot?

2010-01-02T04:33:00.000-08:00

I knew I made a good choice in restaurants when each table offered five different kinds of hot sauce. I had no intention of using any of them (my body has demanded much more respect in such matters) but I had fun reading the content labels to distinguish what kind of hot I might have enjoyed!
I use the same criteria when it comes to barbeque restaurants. There is a very popular restaurant near my home that does not offer its own sauce but puts catsup on the table. I don't go there very often.
The entire ritual at dinner reminded me that the core of spiritual discernment is distinguishing between good choices. The choice between good and evil or right and wrong requires faithfulness ... not discernment. Discernment involves sorting through the shades of gray ... identifying the movement of the Spirit leading one on the way.
While reading the menu at Carlsbad Tavern in Phoenix, I found myself desiring the pork tenderloin with an apricot habaneros sauce. But first I needed to know: how hot is it? Our server checked with the kitchen who agreed to put the sauce on the side. Discernment!
It was great!

A Voice in My Head

2009-12-31T17:03:00.000-08:00

I had coffee yesterday in Phoenix with a voice in my head. You know what I mean? Some voices need to be ignored or understood or somehow resolved. But other voices provide guidance, support and encouragement for the spiritual journey.
I have a number of those mentor voices. It was good to share conversation with Tex Sample ... a retired professor from Saint Paul School of Theology who was on my doctoral commitee. Tex nicknamed me "Jimmy Zen" ... which made some sense 35 years ago. Tex had his seventy-fifth birthday this week but the conversation was about his current reading list and writing projects along with sharing about family, "conference gossip", etc.
A mentor doesn't intimidate but inspires. Tex and I don't always agree but his dedication to learning and research; his personal integrity and his commitment to excellence (whether it is understanding the best way to interpret Wesley and Paul or to play ball) ... all of this simply makes me want to do and be better.
Tex's approach to credo conference or a doctoral conference was to ask the theological equivalent of a high hard fastball ... giving the student a chance to hit a home run. In my doctoral conference (remember, Tex is a sociologist) he asked: Jim, you make extensive use of John Wesley and Carl Jung. What are the philosophical connections in the way you use those resources? My response was honest but inadequate.
I thank God for the voices in my head who remind me of the love of Jesus and the claims of the Gospel and provide a vivid incarnational model for how to live faithfully.

Keeping Watch

2009-12-24T03:20:00.000-08:00

I woke up early thinking about Peggy's son and our first grandchild whose birthday will be Christmas Eve. Mom and dad were at the hospital last night. Occasional text messages kept us updated on progress (or the lack thereof). Peggy didn't want to come to bed ... preferring to stay up and keep watch over events in Phoenix.
My waking thoughts were of this new baby and another child born long ago in Bethlehem. Tonight we will read about shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night. Our children's Christmas pageants belie the central role of shepherds as protectors (of their flocks and perhaps the baby Jesus).
For Peggy keeping watch was an act of prayerful presence. A mother keeping another mother and son in her heart. Years later Jesus asked his friends to keep watch ... more as presence than protection.
Lord, protect this child and his parents. Wrap them in your love and mercy. Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace ...

Savor

2009-12-15T05:04:00.000-08:00

Peggy and I recently visited a candle shop in Brookside. The small room is filled with freshly made aromatic candles of many shapes and scents. Although I was hoping for a short visit, I soon found myself lifting one candle after another to my nose ... sniffing the fragrance ... amazed by the variety. But soon my sniffer was overwhelmed by the choices. It became increasingly difficult to distinguish between the scents.
Discernment of spirits is akin to deciding on a candle. Discernment is less about good or bad/right or wrong and more about settling on a direction among multiple faithful choices. The Holy is present all around us. The leading of the Lord requires us to discern a path among many.
A favorite passage from the Psalms is: O taste, and see that the Lord is good. Ps. 34:8 In the rest of this sacred season, I aim to focus on a scent at a time ... to savor the distinct flavors ... to delight in particular moments and persons.
God chose to reveal the fullness of divine character and purpose in a particular life and person, Jesus. If we will watch and listen we can distinguish the imago dei within each other.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow ...

Light in the Darkness

2009-12-09T04:48:00.000-08:00

It is a bitterly cold snowy morning. I am reading Dr. Nancy Copeland-Payton's new book, The Losses of Our Lives. She writes of our yearning for the breath, light and love of God:
In the beginning God exhales in the darkness of a not-yet cosmos. Divine breath sends matter expanding outward to form the universe. But this is not a singular event. Sacred wind persists in sweeping over the waters of each not-yet moment.
In this divine out-breathing, we are created in sacred love. And in the way of creatures, we are conceived in human love. Love is deep-woven into our developing bones and sinews, our emergent mind and heart, from the beginning. If anything is our birthright, it is love.
Is this the root of our yearning? Do we long for the One who breathes us into life? Deep within our being, do we ache for our sacred birthright of love? ... Our small human voices call into life's darkening nights for the One we've lost. It is this birthright love, this first unconscious experience of divine love that echoes faintly for the three-year-old girl as she gazes on her newborn brother. "Tell me about God, I've almost forgotten," she whispers to the tiny baby boy.
O come, let us adore him.

Rest Along the Way

2009-12-05T04:38:00.000-08:00

Some time ago I read an article about a site near Bethlehem where Mary and Joseph supposedly stopped on their journey to the City of David. For centuries it was a place of worship venerated by Christians and also Muslims.
Mary needed to stop and rest along the way to Bethlehem. I am acutely aware of the weariness of so many this season. While this year is no busier than another I believe that people are worn down with worry. We are anxious about an uncertain future. Our patience may be thinner; our boundaries less clear; and choice of words less care-full.
I write on a Saturday/sabbath morning that will be full from early to late with preparations for the Lord's Day and this sacred season. I pray for moments of refreshment where we nurture each other with the lovingkindness of the Lord.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

An Advent Faith

2009-11-28T05:11:00.000-08:00

I have an advent faith. I seem to be looking for the new thing the Lord is doing in my life and the world. I have a sense that God's future engages our past in the present moment creating the opportunity for change. So we always have hope!
For a long time my advent orientation led me to look beyond this world but the Christmas story reminds us of the Lord's commitment of love to this life and creation. The Word became flesh. Even Easter is about God's aim and intention. Moltmann referred to the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the radiance of the imminent dawn. The promise of Christmas and Easter is a new heaven and a new earth in which the things of this life will not be lost but transformed.
Each new day is a gift that holds promise and hope. The love of Jesus rises to meet us. The Spirit leads us to the verge ...

Three Things

2009-11-20T05:07:00.000-08:00

This morning I'm thinking about a message to share with the children this Sunday ... a message I repeat from time to time and try to remember daily. Faithfulness in our daily routines require us to remember and practice three things: to say "thank you", "I'm sorry", and "I love you".
People need affirmation. So many struggle with tough burdens. We need to thank each other for the many gifts of grace that accompany daily life. We are God's gifts each to the other. Let us give thanks for our gifts and blessings.
People mess up. We make mistakes. We hurt and betray and neglect each other. It is important to confess our sins ... saying to each other and the Lord: I'm sorry. A truckload of grace is needed for families or communities to make it through each new day.
I remember an old pastor counseling: Don't ever let a day pass without saying "I love you". Declaring our love reconnects us with the One who has loved us so well in Christ Jesus.
Of course there are other sets of three things. John Wesley's General Rule that Bishop Job has articulated to well: do no harm; do good; and stay in love with God.
The prophet Micah offered another: to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.
This stream of trinities leads me to affirm that it all be done in the name of God: Father/Son/Holy Spirit ... Creator/Redeemer/Sustainer. Amen.

Letting Go

2009-11-13T04:37:00.000-08:00

Our decision to go to Arkansas last week included a faint hope that we might experience the last vestiges of autumn color. Actually there were more leaves and color in Independence than northwest AR. One of prettiest trees whose leaves continue to cling is just outside Watson Memorial Chapel at CUMC. It is a lovely oak with yellow leaves which seem to resist the wind of seasonal change and hang on for dear life.
Several years ago I stopped for a sandwich in Sedalia, MO. While eating and making a couple of calls I was looking across the street at a gorgeous maple tree with magnficent red leaves. To my amazement the leaves began to fall ... first a few ... then as if by agreement ... nearly all the leaves floated to the lawn creating an amazing crimson carpet. There was no strong wind. There was simple gracious release.
I visited with someone recently who prayed for just such a simple gracious release from this life.
O Lord, I seek the strength to cling tenaciously to your way and will along with the grace to let go and follow the flow of your Spirit from one season to the next. Amen.

I don't get it!

2009-11-12T06:01:00.000-08:00

I confess I don't know much about economics. I recall a professor saying something like: "If people have faith in the monetary system, it will work. If they don't, it won't." That sums it up fairly well for me.
What I really don't understand is why the stock market goes up at the same time unemployment rises. If more people are out of work why would the value of companies increase? The answer is fairly simple, I guess: Companies are making more money with fewer employees which means productivity has increased. Productivity and efficiency are good. I am not in favor of featherbedding. But let's not confuse any of this with the Gospel.
Jesus upset his disciples (Matthew 26) by allowing a woman to anoint him with an expensive oil. To those who objected that the oil could have been converted to cash for the poor, Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 15: ... you always have the poor with you. Deuteronomy 15 challenges the notion that productivity is the first priority of a culture's economy. This chapter insists that lenders have a responsibility to not be hard-hearted [every seventh year you shall grant a remission of debts] and that the community is responsible for caring for the poor [open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land]. The Law mandates a sabbatical year or year of release in which loans are forgiven. The Law demands a portion be set aside for those in need and for the Lord.
It will be good when people are able to start spending again. But our first fruits of our efforts should be for those in need and the purposes of the Gospel and the Lord.

Pea Ridge

2009-11-11T10:14:00.000-08:00

On this Veteran's Day I give thanks for the service and sacrifice of so many men, women and their families. The past eight years have brought tremendous struggle for our military as they have adapted to new challenges.
Last Saturday, as Peggy went to the baby shower (guys were not included), I toured the military battlefield at Pea Ridge, AR. In March, 1862, a significant battle effectively secured Missouri for the Union. Among the major battles west of the Mississippi, Pea Ridge provides a study in choices. The Confederate commander was positioned for a major victory but moved his troops without allowing for adequate provisions and supplies. When two of his generals were struck down in battle, no one stepped forward to assume leadership. Those choices brought major consequences.
Southwest of Pea Ridge is the town of Bentonville. In the center of the square is a fountain and statue dedicated to the memory of Confederate soldiers. One of the shops across from the monument is Walton's 5&10. This store (now a musem) was the beginning of the Walmart retailing empire.
Neither Pea Ridge nor Bentonville are on the main road to anywhere, yet plans and decisions in this region have impacted the country and the world. I am reminded that the Lord works most creatively around the edges and among the marginal. Places like Bethlehem and Nazareth. Perhaps even in places where we live and work.
We offer to the Lord who we are and what we have and trust in God's grace-filled purposes.

Choose Life

2009-11-09T06:06:00.000-08:00

I've been praying for the folks at Ft. Hood in the aftermath of the terrifying killings. Already the challenges stretch those families too far and now this grief and fear.
A memory emerges of a woman whose husband was posted at Ft. Hood. A young mother whose child was sick ... she was ovewhelmed by all of it: the heat, the incessant crying of her baby, the strange surroundings of a new military culture. One night she climbed on the roof of their base housing and wept in despair. She wanted to run away. She wanted to end it all. She wanted to do so many things. But she chose to climb down, go back in the house and hold her baby.
So many people face unacceptable challenges with faith, hope and love. Thank God for their witness.
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life ... Deuteronomy 30: 19

Peggy's Chocolate Chip Cookies

2009-11-06T04:17:00.000-08:00

Later today we drive to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for a baby shower. Two of Peggy's sons will present us with grandchildren this winter and we rejoice in this new season in our life!
Every culture develops rituals to signify and celebrate life events (birth, marriage, baptism, graduation, death, etc). Part of this weekend will include getting better acquainted with the in-laws. As they offer us hospitality we plan to respond with some host/hostess gifts. Simple hospitality rituals of sharing/gifting are among the nicer expressions of our imago dei.
Among our plans are to give Peggy's cookies. You need to understand that Peggy makes the best chocolate chip cookies in the world. I realize this is an extreme claim but has your wife's publisher stolen her cookie cookbook and advertised it in Oprah's magazine? (I rest my case.) People gush over Peggy's cookies. Couples fight over Peggy's cookies. Parents hide Peggy's cookies from their children.
She doesn't bake often. Mostly this is because it takes a great deal of time and attention. Peggy has finally learned exactly which pan to use in our house's oven. The cookies bake for exactly 13 minutes and then sit on the counter for exactly 5 more minutes before being placed on the parchment paper. I'm not sure if she only cooks in a certain phase of the moon ... but she is delightfully attentive to detail and the result is a blessing.
That's the point of hospitality, isn't it? To bless. The blessing of this new child's life seems to demand Peggy's cookies. :-)

Remember to Pay Attention

2009-11-04T04:04:00.000-08:00

I believe there are two basic spiritual disciplines. First is to remember daily the One who is the source of life, light and love. Remembering should be easy and natural. Truth is we are easily distracted. I recall Steve Sjogren explaining why he talked about his church's mission every week. He said something like: God is really smart. The Lord understands that we can only remember something for a short time. So we worship weekly to remind us of what is important.
The second discipline (once we've remembered) is to pay attention. Most of our practices simply remind us and provide ways to be attentive to the presence and power of the One who knows each of us by name.
My daughter, Catherine, gifted me with an introduction to a poet, Denise Levertov, who wrote about all this.

Flickering Mind - Denise Levertov

Not for one second
will myself hold still, but wanders
anywhere,
everywhere it can turn. Not you,
it is I am absent.
You are the stream, the fish, the light,
the pulsing shadow,
you the unchanging presence, in whom all
moves and changes.
How can I focus my flickering, perceive
at the fountain's heart
the sapphire I know is there?

I Wish the Bishop Were Here

2009-11-03T03:56:00.000-08:00

Last summer while walking around Maramec Springs the birds were especially joyful in their greeting of the day. Usually I am aware of the birdsongs but more as background to the flow of the water, the fish and whatever issue I am working on that day.
On this morning the birds demanded my attention. Being more visual than auditory, I was frustrated trying to find and identify the birds. I found myself wishing that my Bishop, Robert Schnase, was with me. Bishop Schnase is an avid bird watcher. He could teach me how to listen and observe the birds in the canopy of beautiful trees surrounding the springs.
Life is kaleidoscopic. If we shift our attention to another dimension we often are blessed with fresh insights, perspectives and experiences of God's presence and grace. It also helps to have a coach or companion to guide us through the blessings or challenges of that new dimension of faith experience.
Lord, help me pay attention to your presence in the midst of this day ... and accept the guidance and wisdom of my companions on the journey. Amen.

Meramac Mornings

2009-11-02T03:41:00.000-08:00

Morning Worship

Watching people gather
to fish
reminds me of the community
coming for worship.
A few settle into the pew
to prayerfully prepare

    Silently now I wait for thee
    Ready my God, Thy will to see

Most are talking
greeting family or friends
Others focus on the ligatures
of liturgy

     This is the day the Lord has made
     Let us rejoice and be glad in it

Maramec Morning

they gather quietly

each seeking a place

along the river bank

or in the current

some tinker with hooks and lures

others wait expectantly

listening for the signal

for fishing to begin

a siren's wail

shatters the morning silence ...

then a whispered whoosh

of casting lines ...

watch out -- fish!

Selling Water by the River

2009-10-31T05:24:00.000-07:00

One of the nice things that churches do is give away bottled water during hot summer months. Some congregations put labels that invite people to share in their congregation's ministry.

One of the stranger things that Christians do is try to bottle the water of life with denominational labels. In my library is a book left over from my Zen period. It is a training manual from a Zen monastery titled Selling Water by the River. Sometimes I reflect on rows of churches [like those along 39th St in Independence or thousands of other streets across America] as little kiosks set up along the river of the water of life ... trying to label and sell what is obviously available for free! I guess we each believe that we have a flavor or additive that somehow improves the grace of God! [I've thought of some fun labels: Robert Schuler's Orange County Soda; Jimmy Swaggert's Lake of Fire; an emergent always fresh/never recycled; Saddleback's Useful; Willow Creek's Each Time Like the First Time; of course my own Methodist/Always Lukewarm.]

I understand the need and desire to hold, contain, or understand something. Years ago in Israel I bought several little ceramic bottles of water from Jacob's Well. For $2 it seemed a nice sacramental reminder of ancient history along with my visit. You could hear the water swishing in the little clay pot. The cork was sealed with wax. Oddly enough ... even though the bottle was sealed ... the water evaporated before I returned to America. The bottle (wax seal intact) sits in my office as a gentle echo of Jesus encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well ... and his encouragement to drink from well-springs that will truly quench our thirst.

psalm 42

2009-10-30T07:09:00.000-07:00

In June, 1974, I skipped lunch and found my way to the garden next to the seminary chapel. While our class on death and dying had listened the the powerful music of Leonard Bernstein's "Kaddish" (in memory of John F. Kennedy), I found myself sinking into a spiritual abyss ... with an awful sense of being alone, abandoned and submerged into darkness. In the garden, I read Psalm 42: As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you O God ... The prayer poem expressed the deepest yearnings of my life. Then I began reading Mark's account of Jesus' crucifixion. Gently, quietly a sense of awareness and assurance emerged that what happened on the cross was intimately connected to my life and that Jesus Christ is risen!

I wish I could say that sense of assurance completely quenched the thirsting of my soul. It has taken over 30 years to realize that the promise of streams of living water are not symbolic promises but rather the clearest truth of Creation. Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. ... And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true ..." Rev. 22: 1, 6

2009-10-30T06:53:00.000-07:00

Boyhood visits to my grandparent's farm featured drinks of cool, fresh water drawn from a well and dipped out of a galvanized bucket on the back porch. The water was clear, cold and delicious on hot summer afternoons. Once my grandfather invited us to point a small tree branch toward the ground to search for the stream of water that fed the well and emerged near the creek that ran through the farm. With amazing, mysterious power I felt the branch pull my hands toward the earth! A small four inch wide channel was tracked by the tugging of the branch.
Little did I know my life would become a search for streams of living water flowing deep within me and through my life. Years would pass before I understood the truth of Jesus promise: The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life. John 4: 14 MSG