hope you have enjoyed the advent blog as much as me...
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
nancy is riding with me to ft pierce in the a.m.
i am preaching a new year's message entitled LETTING GO...
then, off to PA...up I-95 [hopefully NO blizzard]...
we are looking forward to seeing our northern family...
HAPPY 2011...
blessings!!!
guy
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Advent day 27...making promises...
christmas eve...
i was to be off from work...
running some errands...
buying some gifts...
chilling...
but, a request from a patient...
"is there any was we could renew our wedding vows on friday???"
"could you please do it???"
i called and asked nancy's permission for a couple of hours to "work" [yes, i am getting smarter as i age!!!]...
we met at 3 pm at the chapel at the melech hospice house...
everything went beautifully...
we ended with a sweet time of communion...
sealing the deal -- once again..."
the primary caregiver [the patient's wife] was thrilled...
"this was the most beautiful thing ever...it touched me so deeply...i don't know how much longer we have, but this will make the end of our journey even more special..."
it was worth it...
another KAIROS moment...
have a blessed christmas eve...
guy
i was to be off from work...
running some errands...
buying some gifts...
chilling...
but, a request from a patient...
"is there any was we could renew our wedding vows on friday???"
"could you please do it???"
i called and asked nancy's permission for a couple of hours to "work" [yes, i am getting smarter as i age!!!]...
we met at 3 pm at the chapel at the melech hospice house...
everything went beautifully...
we ended with a sweet time of communion...
sealing the deal -- once again..."
the primary caregiver [the patient's wife] was thrilled...
"this was the most beautiful thing ever...it touched me so deeply...i don't know how much longer we have, but this will make the end of our journey even more special..."
it was worth it...
another KAIROS moment...
have a blessed christmas eve...
guy
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Advent day 26...
from Fr Richard Rohr...
"When the Scriptures are used maturely, and they become a precursor to meeting the Christ, they proceed in this order:
They CONFRONT us with a bigger picture than we are used to, 'God’s kingdom' that has the potential to 'deconstruct' our false worldviews.
They then have the power to CONVERT us to an alternative worldview by proclamation, grace and the sheer attraction of the good, the true and the beautiful [not by shame, guilt or fear which are low-level motivations].
They then CONSOLE us and bring deep healing as they 'reconstruct' us in a new place with a new mind and heart."
[adapted from Preparing for Christmas with Richard Rohr...]
Christmas Eve is almost upon us...
Blessings!
Guy
We are going to the contemporary Christmas Eve Service [CONNECTION] at Palm Ceia Presbyterian Church...can't wait!!!
"When the Scriptures are used maturely, and they become a precursor to meeting the Christ, they proceed in this order:
They CONFRONT us with a bigger picture than we are used to, 'God’s kingdom' that has the potential to 'deconstruct' our false worldviews.
They then have the power to CONVERT us to an alternative worldview by proclamation, grace and the sheer attraction of the good, the true and the beautiful [not by shame, guilt or fear which are low-level motivations].
They then CONSOLE us and bring deep healing as they 'reconstruct' us in a new place with a new mind and heart."
[adapted from Preparing for Christmas with Richard Rohr...]
Christmas Eve is almost upon us...
Blessings!
Guy
We are going to the contemporary Christmas Eve Service [CONNECTION] at Palm Ceia Presbyterian Church...can't wait!!!
Advent day 25
greetings...
check out this short message from Henri Nouwen as he reminds us about the importance of "Active Waiting" especially during Advent...
"Waiting is essential to the spiritual life.
But waiting as a disciple of Jesus is not an empty waiting.
It is a waiting with a promise in our hearts that makes already present what we are waiting for.
We wait during Advent for the birth of Jesus.
We wait after Easter for the coming of the Spirit, and after the ascension of Jesus we wait for his coming again in glory.
We are always waiting, but it is a waiting in the conviction that we have already seen God's footsteps.
Waiting for God is an active, alert - yes, joyful - waiting.
As we wait we remember him for whom we are waiting, and as we remember him we create a community ready to welcome him when he comes."
from Bread for the Journey...
blessings...
guy
check out this short message from Henri Nouwen as he reminds us about the importance of "Active Waiting" especially during Advent...
"Waiting is essential to the spiritual life.
But waiting as a disciple of Jesus is not an empty waiting.
It is a waiting with a promise in our hearts that makes already present what we are waiting for.
We wait during Advent for the birth of Jesus.
We wait after Easter for the coming of the Spirit, and after the ascension of Jesus we wait for his coming again in glory.
We are always waiting, but it is a waiting in the conviction that we have already seen God's footsteps.
Waiting for God is an active, alert - yes, joyful - waiting.
As we wait we remember him for whom we are waiting, and as we remember him we create a community ready to welcome him when he comes."
from Bread for the Journey...
blessings...
guy
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Advent day 24...
greetings!
jeep and i only did 4 miles today...
the good news -- i hit 260 this a.m.
down 55 pounds...
60 more to lose...
PTL!!!
some have asked me what i have been doing...
i began by reading three books by Dr Dean Ornish the renowned cardiologist who specializes in reversing heart disease through lifestyle [and the Rice Diet and the Duke Diet]...
from these resources, i established the following...
1. reduce my fat intake to less than 10-20 grams per day [this means no meat, no fried foods, no grease, etc]
2. reduce my salt intake to 500-1000 mgs per day...
3. reduce my sugar intake severely [drink water]...
4. exercise at least 1 hour per day [walking]...
5. the last component which i will add in january is basic strength training with a bowflex to build / tone muscle...
6. pray for God's strength when I crave BBQ and want to binge...
7. be very intentional and journal EVERYTHING i eat...
i have been FAITHFUL not to cheat and it has worked...
blessings!!!
guy
i pray for your success as well...
jeep and i only did 4 miles today...
the good news -- i hit 260 this a.m.
down 55 pounds...
60 more to lose...
PTL!!!
some have asked me what i have been doing...
i began by reading three books by Dr Dean Ornish the renowned cardiologist who specializes in reversing heart disease through lifestyle [and the Rice Diet and the Duke Diet]...
from these resources, i established the following...
1. reduce my fat intake to less than 10-20 grams per day [this means no meat, no fried foods, no grease, etc]
2. reduce my salt intake to 500-1000 mgs per day...
3. reduce my sugar intake severely [drink water]...
4. exercise at least 1 hour per day [walking]...
5. the last component which i will add in january is basic strength training with a bowflex to build / tone muscle...
6. pray for God's strength when I crave BBQ and want to binge...
7. be very intentional and journal EVERYTHING i eat...
i have been FAITHFUL not to cheat and it has worked...
blessings!!!
guy
i pray for your success as well...
Monday, December 20, 2010
Advent day 23...the gift of release...
ms sadie lives in the 'hood...
deep in the hood...
the kind of place that looks better in the dark but you can only go there in the broad daylight [safely]...
her family is poor...really poor...like generationally impoverished...
their living quarters double as a family-run childcare center...
most of the time little kids are running all around...with energy...with joy...
ms sadie is old...really old...and her room is right there in the action of it all...
her ebony skin is weathered...stretched tight...
she only has a couple of teeth left...way in the back...
she is mostly skin and bones...emaciated...
she had a stroke a few years ago and has been declining ever since...
she babbles...but, it is nonsensical...
she smiles...it is beautiful, but mostly vacant...
she is bed-bound...she is at home but nobody is really "home"...
as of late, her slow decline has turned into a plunge...
she is speeding downward fast...
she is "actively dying" in hospice-speech...
the water is swirling in the drain...just about to disappear...
sadie's daughter is one of life's real angels...she is so faithful...
her care for her mom is impeccable...
"i wish i could do more for mama..."
"it ain't hard to care for her...what will i ever do without her???"
she is holding on...tightly...with a death grip...
but, ms sadie is struggling to die...
the end is near...
better call the hospice chaplain...
so, last week the daughter shows me in...takes me through the kids to sadie's room...
i just sat there...
read scripture...
prayed...
sang hymns [very quietly -- ha! ha!]...
i lingered...no hurry...
listening...
i heard God speak as clearly as i ever had...
"it is her time..."
"i am about to take her home..."
"my arms are open..."
"it is time to let her go..."
"i think you should talk to her daughter..."
really God???
why me???
"just do it guy..."
so. i did it...
a long heart to heart with a clinging daughter...
i waxed eloquent...
quoted henri: "the greatest gift a family can give their loved one at the end is to release them...let them go...bless them to go home to God..."
i wasn't sure i got through...
i gave it my best shot...
we prayed...
i left...
then, the daughter left and went to the florist...
she bought a bouquet of live flowers...
spring-time looking flowers...
living, colorful flowers...
easter flowers maybe???
a veiled expression of her hope of the coming resurrection???
she brought the living bouquet home...laid it on her mama's chest...wrapped her limp hands around it...
and had a talk with mama...
"i love you, and i want you here with me...forever..."
"but, the preacher says God is ready for you..."
"i thinks so too..."
"so, i bless you...go on home...i release you to Jesus..."
"goodbye..."
she walked out of the room...
within moments, i get a call...
"sadie is dead...the family is asking for you..."
the power of release...
the power of letting go...
the beauty of loving God with an open hand...NOT a clenched fist...
what do we need to let go???
have a good evening...
guy
isn't it amazing that God shares his sovereign decisions with us???
it is his call...he makes the final decision...he is in control...
but he gave sadie's daughter a chance to participate...to work through it...surrender...
she opened her hand...God welcomed sadie into his open arms...
what an awesome God!!!
deep in the hood...
the kind of place that looks better in the dark but you can only go there in the broad daylight [safely]...
her family is poor...really poor...like generationally impoverished...
their living quarters double as a family-run childcare center...
most of the time little kids are running all around...with energy...with joy...
ms sadie is old...really old...and her room is right there in the action of it all...
her ebony skin is weathered...stretched tight...
she only has a couple of teeth left...way in the back...
she is mostly skin and bones...emaciated...
she had a stroke a few years ago and has been declining ever since...
she babbles...but, it is nonsensical...
she smiles...it is beautiful, but mostly vacant...
she is bed-bound...she is at home but nobody is really "home"...
as of late, her slow decline has turned into a plunge...
she is speeding downward fast...
she is "actively dying" in hospice-speech...
the water is swirling in the drain...just about to disappear...
sadie's daughter is one of life's real angels...she is so faithful...
her care for her mom is impeccable...
"i wish i could do more for mama..."
"it ain't hard to care for her...what will i ever do without her???"
she is holding on...tightly...with a death grip...
but, ms sadie is struggling to die...
the end is near...
better call the hospice chaplain...
so, last week the daughter shows me in...takes me through the kids to sadie's room...
i just sat there...
read scripture...
prayed...
sang hymns [very quietly -- ha! ha!]...
i lingered...no hurry...
listening...
i heard God speak as clearly as i ever had...
"it is her time..."
"i am about to take her home..."
"my arms are open..."
"it is time to let her go..."
"i think you should talk to her daughter..."
really God???
why me???
"just do it guy..."
so. i did it...
a long heart to heart with a clinging daughter...
i waxed eloquent...
quoted henri: "the greatest gift a family can give their loved one at the end is to release them...let them go...bless them to go home to God..."
i wasn't sure i got through...
i gave it my best shot...
we prayed...
i left...
then, the daughter left and went to the florist...
she bought a bouquet of live flowers...
spring-time looking flowers...
living, colorful flowers...
easter flowers maybe???
a veiled expression of her hope of the coming resurrection???
she brought the living bouquet home...laid it on her mama's chest...wrapped her limp hands around it...
and had a talk with mama...
"i love you, and i want you here with me...forever..."
"but, the preacher says God is ready for you..."
"i thinks so too..."
"so, i bless you...go on home...i release you to Jesus..."
"goodbye..."
she walked out of the room...
within moments, i get a call...
"sadie is dead...the family is asking for you..."
the power of release...
the power of letting go...
the beauty of loving God with an open hand...NOT a clenched fist...
what do we need to let go???
have a good evening...
guy
isn't it amazing that God shares his sovereign decisions with us???
it is his call...he makes the final decision...he is in control...
but he gave sadie's daughter a chance to participate...to work through it...surrender...
she opened her hand...God welcomed sadie into his open arms...
what an awesome God!!!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Advent day 22...
Greetings...
A great Advent Sunday...
Spent some time in Plant City on the farm [along with Jeep]...
We cut some firewood in the cold drizzle...
So glad now...we have an awesome fire in the fireplace...
I LOVE IT!!!
Check this out...
From SABBATICAL JOURNEY by Henri Nouwen...
"I think that we have hardly thought through the immense implications of the mystery of the incarnation. Where is God? God is where we are weak, vulnerable, small and dependent. God is where the poor are, the hungry, the handicapped, the mentally ill, the elderly, the powerless. How can we come to know God when our focus is elsewhere, on success, influence, and power? I increasingly believe that our faithfulness will depend on our willingness to go where there is brokenness, loneliness, and human need.
If the church has a future it is a future with the poor in whatever form. Each one of us is seriously searching to live and grow in this belief, and by friendship we can support each other. I realize that the only way for us to stay well in the midst of the many 'worlds' is to stay close to the small, vulnerable child that lives in our hearts and in every other human being. Often we do not know that the Christ child is within us. When we discover him we can truly rejoice."
AMEN!!!
Guy
A great Advent Sunday...
Spent some time in Plant City on the farm [along with Jeep]...
We cut some firewood in the cold drizzle...
So glad now...we have an awesome fire in the fireplace...
I LOVE IT!!!
Check this out...
From SABBATICAL JOURNEY by Henri Nouwen...
"I think that we have hardly thought through the immense implications of the mystery of the incarnation. Where is God? God is where we are weak, vulnerable, small and dependent. God is where the poor are, the hungry, the handicapped, the mentally ill, the elderly, the powerless. How can we come to know God when our focus is elsewhere, on success, influence, and power? I increasingly believe that our faithfulness will depend on our willingness to go where there is brokenness, loneliness, and human need.
If the church has a future it is a future with the poor in whatever form. Each one of us is seriously searching to live and grow in this belief, and by friendship we can support each other. I realize that the only way for us to stay well in the midst of the many 'worlds' is to stay close to the small, vulnerable child that lives in our hearts and in every other human being. Often we do not know that the Christ child is within us. When we discover him we can truly rejoice."
AMEN!!!
Guy
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