greetings...
just finished my thought for tomorrow for the tampa underground community...
and for YOU!!!
"His name was John…
He was dying…
He was old as dirt – about 90 or so…
But he was still charming…
Steely blue eyes that danced when he talked – and flirted – with the nurses…
And he was always flirting with the ladies…
He still had his sense of humor…
His full head of silky gray hair gave him a distinguished air…
He had been a politician in his earlier life up north – he was a gracious gentleman…
I think he used to sell ice to the Yankees in Maine during the wintertime [ha! ha!]…
He was a favorite of the hospice staff – especially the women…
John was my patient – then he became my friend – we developed a rapport…
One day as the journey was winding down – our chat turned more serious…
'John, what do you think happens after you die?'
'Well Guy, that’s pretty simple – I know just what happens… I die – they stick me in a box – then chunk me in the ground – then worms eat me – it’s all over at that point after I become worm food…'
I was shocked… Really shocked… He was so sure…
John was a reasonable, intelligent and reflective man – not an idiot or a moron…
I had never thought of him as worm food…
And yet his end-of-life 'hope' seemed so lame…
In fact, I was missing the hope altogether…
And John is not the only one…
So many people are anticipating a less-than-glorious future as worm food…
There must be hope… There has to be more… MUCH MORE!!!
I am not exactly sure what that MORE is [and I tend to be afraid of those who already know-it-all about the end times – I usually run the other way from these modern day Gnostics] – but I do want to suggest a couple of thoughts on this Maundy Thursday…
First, I believe there is something beyond this life – this life simply is NOT all there is…
I believe that 'something' is very personal – a welcoming home by a loving Father on the other side of the 'valley of the shadow of death'…
Maybe an image is even better than many words of explanation…
Henri Nouwen expresses the mystery beyond in this way: 'Dying is a gradual diminishing and final vanishing over the horizon of life. When we watch a sailboat leaving port and moving toward the horizon, it becomes smaller and smaller until we can no longer see it. But we must trust that someone is standing on a faraway shore seeing that same sailboat become larger and larger until it reaches its new harbor. Death is a painful loss. When we return to our homes after a burial, our hearts are in grief. But when we think about the One standing at the other shore eagerly waiting to welcome our beloved friend into a new home, a smile can break through our tears.'
Worm food? Not so much!
A personal welcome awaits the beloved children of the Father – God is the One standing on the other shore – we will finally be home in a way we have never been before…
It is at this point that real life – life the way God has always intended it – bursts forth for all eternity…
There is NOT nothingness…
There is something to look forward to – something to live for!
Secondly, I believe that what we are doing right now counts – really counts – not just for now, but for the future as well…
I love 1 Corinthians 15 – especially verses 50-57 – but until last year I never could figure out why Paul included verse 58. It did not seem to fit for me… I actually wondered if it might have gotten misplaced – maybe it belonged somewhere else…
'So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless [or in vain]…'
What does this have to do with all his talk of the resurrection???
Consider this…
It is a mystery, but the power of the resurrection is so awesome that it means our work for the Lord counts today – for sure – but is also futuristic…
It is paid forward in ways beyond our comprehension into the kingdom to come…
Our lives and missions really do matter!
Laying everything on the line is no waste – it is what we are created for!
YES, it really counts – in this world and in the coming kingdom!
That pumps up my enthusiasm – how about you???
So, let’s GO FOR IT – let’s make a difference now and forever!!!
Guy
By the way, I also shared with John a third thought as well – the hope of a brand new body – but that’s another story and is for tomorrow…"
more later...
my eyes are heavy [and Jeep is ready for bed]...
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Wednesday of Holy Week...
greetings...
hope you had an awesome day...
here is my devotional thought i wrote for the tampa underground community...
"I just turned 51.
It was a great birthday – they really do seem to get better as you get older… At least that has been my experience the last couple of years… Maybe I am finally growing up? Maybe I just like myself better? Maybe I finally realize that I am the beloved of my Father [and nothing else really matters]…
I got some neat gifts, but one of my favorites was a book from Jennifer… I liked the book, but it was even better that she wrote a personal note in it – way cool… She said I was her “favorite chaplain” – that felt really good [but I’m not sure how many chaplains she knows?]…
Since Jennifer gave me this book – Theirs Is The Kingdom: Celebrating The Gospel In Urban America – I decided to actually read it… Very soon…
Have I told you how much I hate dentists?
Until my last toothache from hell a couple of weeks back, I had successfully avoided going to a dentist for 17 years – NOT VERY SMART! I do not recommend it…
So, there was a very long list of stuff the dentist needed to do to me – mostly penance for years of inattention – stuff like a root canal, fillings, resurfacings, etc. and etc. I am sure the bill will cover his office rent for at least a month – ouch…
When you get to be 51, things start to wear out – like your teeth – and other stuff I can’t remember right now…
Last Monday was the root canal – the first installment of pain… I was scared – like really scared… It bugged me all day on Palm Sunday – I had trouble sleeping on Sunday night… I woke up Monday and wanted to go to work – yes, I was that scared…
I got to the office before 8 a.m.
I knew I would have to wait and wait and wait… So I took my prized book – the gift from my friend… I finished the whole book while I was waiting and waiting and waiting… I read in the waiting room… I read in the exam room… I was still reading when the dentist finally entered… I just kept reading while he was arranging all his tools of torture…
I was in the chair – I had already been needled – THANK GOD for pain meds… I could no longer feel the whole right side of my face – even my ear was numb… Then, there was this quote from Robert Lupton that literally jumped off the page…
'But the church has no future. We have only the present. In this present moment we must spend, lavish and give away our tomorrows for the sake of the kingdom today. In short, we must die. Today. That is the only way to save our lives. The church is called to live at Golgotha. If perchance tomorrow morning we discover that our depleted spirits have a new supply of energy, that the emptied offering plate is full once again and from sacrificial dreams whole new dimensions of life have burst forth, then we will begin to understand something of what the resurrection is about. On the other side of death, each death, stands our risen Lord. And he beckons us…'
Easter is coming this Sunday…
But the resurrection is a reality 24/7 EVERY day…
Be on the lookout TODAY – let’s take note of “what the resurrection is about” in the flow of our lives and missions throughout Holy Week and beyond…
Maybe it has something to do with the “other food” Brian talked about last weekend…
Are we hungry – really? Are we eating the missional manna? Are we feasting on Jesus?
Maybe the reality of the resurrection means that there is always sufficiency and abundance in Jesus – when our trust is in him alone…
Maybe we really don’t even discover the deepest meaning of the resurrection until we risk – go beyond our own capacities and comfort zones…
What about us – YOU and ME – what are we willing to risk for the kingdom NOW???"
Guy
"By the way, have you made your list and begun to ask your friends to “come and see” Jesus this Sunday at the Centro Asturiano – 'we have only the present' so let’s just do it!"
hope you are having an awesome holy week...
hope you had an awesome day...
here is my devotional thought i wrote for the tampa underground community...
"I just turned 51.
It was a great birthday – they really do seem to get better as you get older… At least that has been my experience the last couple of years… Maybe I am finally growing up? Maybe I just like myself better? Maybe I finally realize that I am the beloved of my Father [and nothing else really matters]…
I got some neat gifts, but one of my favorites was a book from Jennifer… I liked the book, but it was even better that she wrote a personal note in it – way cool… She said I was her “favorite chaplain” – that felt really good [but I’m not sure how many chaplains she knows?]…
Since Jennifer gave me this book – Theirs Is The Kingdom: Celebrating The Gospel In Urban America – I decided to actually read it… Very soon…
Have I told you how much I hate dentists?
Until my last toothache from hell a couple of weeks back, I had successfully avoided going to a dentist for 17 years – NOT VERY SMART! I do not recommend it…
So, there was a very long list of stuff the dentist needed to do to me – mostly penance for years of inattention – stuff like a root canal, fillings, resurfacings, etc. and etc. I am sure the bill will cover his office rent for at least a month – ouch…
When you get to be 51, things start to wear out – like your teeth – and other stuff I can’t remember right now…
Last Monday was the root canal – the first installment of pain… I was scared – like really scared… It bugged me all day on Palm Sunday – I had trouble sleeping on Sunday night… I woke up Monday and wanted to go to work – yes, I was that scared…
I got to the office before 8 a.m.
I knew I would have to wait and wait and wait… So I took my prized book – the gift from my friend… I finished the whole book while I was waiting and waiting and waiting… I read in the waiting room… I read in the exam room… I was still reading when the dentist finally entered… I just kept reading while he was arranging all his tools of torture…
I was in the chair – I had already been needled – THANK GOD for pain meds… I could no longer feel the whole right side of my face – even my ear was numb… Then, there was this quote from Robert Lupton that literally jumped off the page…
'But the church has no future. We have only the present. In this present moment we must spend, lavish and give away our tomorrows for the sake of the kingdom today. In short, we must die. Today. That is the only way to save our lives. The church is called to live at Golgotha. If perchance tomorrow morning we discover that our depleted spirits have a new supply of energy, that the emptied offering plate is full once again and from sacrificial dreams whole new dimensions of life have burst forth, then we will begin to understand something of what the resurrection is about. On the other side of death, each death, stands our risen Lord. And he beckons us…'
Easter is coming this Sunday…
But the resurrection is a reality 24/7 EVERY day…
Be on the lookout TODAY – let’s take note of “what the resurrection is about” in the flow of our lives and missions throughout Holy Week and beyond…
Maybe it has something to do with the “other food” Brian talked about last weekend…
Are we hungry – really? Are we eating the missional manna? Are we feasting on Jesus?
Maybe the reality of the resurrection means that there is always sufficiency and abundance in Jesus – when our trust is in him alone…
Maybe we really don’t even discover the deepest meaning of the resurrection until we risk – go beyond our own capacities and comfort zones…
What about us – YOU and ME – what are we willing to risk for the kingdom NOW???"
Guy
"By the way, have you made your list and begun to ask your friends to “come and see” Jesus this Sunday at the Centro Asturiano – 'we have only the present' so let’s just do it!"
hope you are having an awesome holy week...
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Tuesday of Holy Week
greetings...
the following is day 2 of my devotional thoughts for the tampa underground community as we journey toward easter together...
so glad you are with us as well!!!
"My family has a new white Boxer puppy named Jeep – and yes, with all humility, he is one of the most handsome dogs in canine history. He adds such joy to our lives… Jeep would love to meet you – he wants everyone to be his fan!
Jeep has not been able to attend a Crucible at the tampa underground – I guess there are reasonable limits on inclusivity [ha! ha!]… Maybe when we have an outdoor Crucible in the future???
Last Saturday night, our crew attended Crucible, so we were free on Sunday morning – Palm Sunday…
What a blessing after 25+ years of being a pastor…
So, Jeep and I decided to go worship at Rivercrest Park on Palm Sunday morning. It was glorious – I love overcast weather [weird huh?]. We walked four laps and then we sat down in the clover on the bank of the Hillsborough River.
God was there…
And he was speaking…
So I took some notes for us on my phone – here goes…
Spring has arrived. The trees were alive with green – many and varied shades of green. There were signs of growth all throughout the park as far as we could see. And there was pollen – loads of it…
Only the dead trees were barren [and boring]…
God was speaking to me about growth.
Now is a season for living things to grow – there were unmistakable signs of growth everywhere. Green leaves… Pollen… More pollen… Did I mention pollen? Spring is so beautiful – new growth bursting forth is so appealing, so engaging and so appropriate. Living things grow – it’s just part of being alive…
Not all the growth looked the same – individual trees each had their own color – their own shade of green. Yet they were all growing – at least, all the living ones. Dead trees don’t turn green with growth – they just stand there dead and wait to fall over… Every shade of green had its own beauty – its own loveliness – its own spring magic…
So what???
There is a rhyme and reason to the liturgical calendar – Holy Week is ALWAYS in the spring! Easter is ALWAYS in the spring! The season that explodes with growth, fruitfulness and LIFE – ALL creation is a willing and enthusiastic witness to the power of Holy Week and the centrality of Resurrection Sunday…
So how is it with us – with you and me?
Are we spiritually green with growth and fruitfulness – both in our character and in our mission? Growing in the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Growing in the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Is there clear and unmistakable evidence that we are fully alive? Are we bursting forth with the life of Jesus for all to see and enjoy? Are we an authentic witness of the Resurrection? Are we able to celebrate the growth of others – even when it may be a different hue of green – even when it may not look just like us? Or, do we find it too easy to spiral into condemnation of others who are growing, but may not be growing just like us – are we open enough to embrace their difference?
One more thought as we were leaving [Jeep was getting bored with solitude – he is still a youngster]…
While enjoying a final view of the river, I heard God remind me that he made the river flow – there was no need for me to push the river – he could handle the flow just fine. I think he meant the Hillsborough River AND the river of my life – another way of him gently reminding me that he is God and I am not!
I opened my hand right there by the river and released the control of my life once again to God – life always works best when I am living with an open hand… Not sure why I keep on grasping it so tightly and so frequently – guess I am still on the journey toward trust and release…
Is your hand clenched today – or, is it open?
Opening your hand releases control to God and it leaves us in a posture of receiving so that God can fill our open hand with his sufficiency…
A better way to live…"
have a blessed holy week...
guy
thank you for your prayers for my root canal -- i am doing OK...
the following is day 2 of my devotional thoughts for the tampa underground community as we journey toward easter together...
so glad you are with us as well!!!
"My family has a new white Boxer puppy named Jeep – and yes, with all humility, he is one of the most handsome dogs in canine history. He adds such joy to our lives… Jeep would love to meet you – he wants everyone to be his fan!
Jeep has not been able to attend a Crucible at the tampa underground – I guess there are reasonable limits on inclusivity [ha! ha!]… Maybe when we have an outdoor Crucible in the future???
Last Saturday night, our crew attended Crucible, so we were free on Sunday morning – Palm Sunday…
What a blessing after 25+ years of being a pastor…
So, Jeep and I decided to go worship at Rivercrest Park on Palm Sunday morning. It was glorious – I love overcast weather [weird huh?]. We walked four laps and then we sat down in the clover on the bank of the Hillsborough River.
God was there…
And he was speaking…
So I took some notes for us on my phone – here goes…
Spring has arrived. The trees were alive with green – many and varied shades of green. There were signs of growth all throughout the park as far as we could see. And there was pollen – loads of it…
Only the dead trees were barren [and boring]…
God was speaking to me about growth.
Now is a season for living things to grow – there were unmistakable signs of growth everywhere. Green leaves… Pollen… More pollen… Did I mention pollen? Spring is so beautiful – new growth bursting forth is so appealing, so engaging and so appropriate. Living things grow – it’s just part of being alive…
Not all the growth looked the same – individual trees each had their own color – their own shade of green. Yet they were all growing – at least, all the living ones. Dead trees don’t turn green with growth – they just stand there dead and wait to fall over… Every shade of green had its own beauty – its own loveliness – its own spring magic…
So what???
There is a rhyme and reason to the liturgical calendar – Holy Week is ALWAYS in the spring! Easter is ALWAYS in the spring! The season that explodes with growth, fruitfulness and LIFE – ALL creation is a willing and enthusiastic witness to the power of Holy Week and the centrality of Resurrection Sunday…
So how is it with us – with you and me?
Are we spiritually green with growth and fruitfulness – both in our character and in our mission? Growing in the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Growing in the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Is there clear and unmistakable evidence that we are fully alive? Are we bursting forth with the life of Jesus for all to see and enjoy? Are we an authentic witness of the Resurrection? Are we able to celebrate the growth of others – even when it may be a different hue of green – even when it may not look just like us? Or, do we find it too easy to spiral into condemnation of others who are growing, but may not be growing just like us – are we open enough to embrace their difference?
One more thought as we were leaving [Jeep was getting bored with solitude – he is still a youngster]…
While enjoying a final view of the river, I heard God remind me that he made the river flow – there was no need for me to push the river – he could handle the flow just fine. I think he meant the Hillsborough River AND the river of my life – another way of him gently reminding me that he is God and I am not!
I opened my hand right there by the river and released the control of my life once again to God – life always works best when I am living with an open hand… Not sure why I keep on grasping it so tightly and so frequently – guess I am still on the journey toward trust and release…
Is your hand clenched today – or, is it open?
Opening your hand releases control to God and it leaves us in a posture of receiving so that God can fill our open hand with his sufficiency…
A better way to live…"
have a blessed holy week...
guy
thank you for your prayers for my root canal -- i am doing OK...
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday of Holy Week
greetings!!!
well, this morning was the root canal...
it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be...
makes me wonder why i hadn't been to the dentist in 17 years???
dr graddy was A-OK...
i was almost hoping it would be worse so it might diminish my appetite for a few hours -- no such luck -- ha! ha!
the following is a reflection i wrote for my spiritual community -- the tampa underground [www.tampaunderground.com] -- as we prepare our hearts for easter worship next sunday...
hope you enjoy it...
"Today, we begin our journey together toward Resurrection Sunday…
The authenticity of our celebration depends on the preparation of our heart for Easter worship…
Our first step begins with a reflective question from Franciscan Richard Rohr: when have I consciously chosen to move downward in my life?
His thoughts are searching and provocative…
'I am going to direct you today toward the great parabolic movement of descent and ascent described in Philippians 2:6-11, the second reading on Palm Sunday. Most consider that this was originally a hymn sung in the early Christian community, and certainly an inspired one on many levels. The hymn artistically, honestly, but boldly describes that “secret hour” when God in Christ reversed the parabola, when the upward movement preferred by humans became the downward movement preferred by Jesus. It starts with the great self-emptying or kenosis, that we call the Incarnation in Bethlehem, and ends with the Crucifixion in Jerusalem. It brilliantly connects the two mysteries as one movement: down, down, down into the enfleshment of creation, into humanity’s depths and sadness, and finally into identification with those at the very bottom (“the form of a slave”) on the cross. Jesus represents God’s total solidarity with, and even love of, the human situation, as if to say, “Nothing human is abhorrent to me.” This is what we walk through together in this, our great Holy Week.'
This is a “riptide” thought – it goes totally against the prevailing flow of our culture…
What about us – you and me this Holy Week?
Have we followed Jesus in this powerful “reversal of the parabola” – have we exchanged the upward mobility obsession of our culture for the embrace of the downward mobility of Jesus?
What are some of the things we must personally “self-empty” if we are to become missional agents of the Incarnation in our city?
Let’s do an agape [love] check in our hearts – are we living and loving as if “nothing human is abhorrent to me?”
I still have a way to go – how about you?
That’s why I am so glad we are on this spiritual journey TOGETHER…"
more tomorrow...
love ya!!!
guy
tomorrow may be better -- i may be full of vicodin -- ha! ha!
well, this morning was the root canal...
it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be...
makes me wonder why i hadn't been to the dentist in 17 years???
dr graddy was A-OK...
i was almost hoping it would be worse so it might diminish my appetite for a few hours -- no such luck -- ha! ha!
the following is a reflection i wrote for my spiritual community -- the tampa underground [www.tampaunderground.com] -- as we prepare our hearts for easter worship next sunday...
hope you enjoy it...
"Today, we begin our journey together toward Resurrection Sunday…
The authenticity of our celebration depends on the preparation of our heart for Easter worship…
Our first step begins with a reflective question from Franciscan Richard Rohr: when have I consciously chosen to move downward in my life?
His thoughts are searching and provocative…
'I am going to direct you today toward the great parabolic movement of descent and ascent described in Philippians 2:6-11, the second reading on Palm Sunday. Most consider that this was originally a hymn sung in the early Christian community, and certainly an inspired one on many levels. The hymn artistically, honestly, but boldly describes that “secret hour” when God in Christ reversed the parabola, when the upward movement preferred by humans became the downward movement preferred by Jesus. It starts with the great self-emptying or kenosis, that we call the Incarnation in Bethlehem, and ends with the Crucifixion in Jerusalem. It brilliantly connects the two mysteries as one movement: down, down, down into the enfleshment of creation, into humanity’s depths and sadness, and finally into identification with those at the very bottom (“the form of a slave”) on the cross. Jesus represents God’s total solidarity with, and even love of, the human situation, as if to say, “Nothing human is abhorrent to me.” This is what we walk through together in this, our great Holy Week.'
This is a “riptide” thought – it goes totally against the prevailing flow of our culture…
What about us – you and me this Holy Week?
Have we followed Jesus in this powerful “reversal of the parabola” – have we exchanged the upward mobility obsession of our culture for the embrace of the downward mobility of Jesus?
What are some of the things we must personally “self-empty” if we are to become missional agents of the Incarnation in our city?
Let’s do an agape [love] check in our hearts – are we living and loving as if “nothing human is abhorrent to me?”
I still have a way to go – how about you?
That’s why I am so glad we are on this spiritual journey TOGETHER…"
more tomorrow...
love ya!!!
guy
tomorrow may be better -- i may be full of vicodin -- ha! ha!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Palm Sunday 2010
greetings!
technically, today marks the end of the lenten season...
it is palm sunday...
40 days removed from ash wednesday...
it has flown by...
it has crept by...
it is gone...
how has this time span impacted us?
spiritually?
now, the beginning of holy week...
time for the "creasters" to get out their sunday best...
[creasters are those who faithfully attend worship ever christmas and easter...]
time to make plans for easter...
new clothes...
family gathering plans...
where will the kids stalk the eggs?
who has the best jesus "show" for the weekend...
where is the most audacious production...
who will give the best gifts?
who will spend the most for the delight of the consuming "community"?
and, almost as an afterthought...
it is easter sunday...
it is resurrection sunday...
easter is all about jesus being raised from the dead...
physically...
miraculously...
eternally...
or, will this true truth get lost in the celebrations of the other stuff???
maybe our preparation this week will free us to keep the main thing the main thing...
althought the lenten blog ends today with this entry...
[by the way, THANK YOU for reading and for your encouragement throughout the journey...]
i plan to blog through holy week...
[hope you will hang with me...]
i want my heart to be ready for next sunday...
and yours too...
from henri nouwen...
reflecting on the "path of waiting"...
"passion is a kind of waiting - waiting for what other people are going to do.
jesus went to jerusalem to announce the good news to the people of that city.
and jesus knew that he was going to put a choice before them: will you be my disciple, or will you be my executioner?
there is no middle ground here.
jesus went to jerusalem to put people in a situation where they had to say "yes" or "no".
that is the great drama of jesus' passion: he had to wait for their response.
what would they do?
betray him or follow him?
in a way, his agony is not simply the agony of approaching death.
it is also the agony of being out of control and of having to wait.
it is the agony of a god who depends on us to decide how to live out the divine presence among us.
it is the agony of the god who, in a very mysterious way, allows us to decide how god will be god.
here we glimpse the mystery of god's incarnation.
god became human not only to act among us but also to be the recipient of our responses.
. . . and that is the mystery of jesus' love.
jesus in his passion is the one who waits for our response.
precisely in that waiting the intensity of his love and god's is revealed to us."
can you feel the love???
HAPPY PALM SUNDAY!!!
guy
technically, today marks the end of the lenten season...
it is palm sunday...
40 days removed from ash wednesday...
it has flown by...
it has crept by...
it is gone...
how has this time span impacted us?
spiritually?
now, the beginning of holy week...
time for the "creasters" to get out their sunday best...
[creasters are those who faithfully attend worship ever christmas and easter...]
time to make plans for easter...
new clothes...
family gathering plans...
where will the kids stalk the eggs?
who has the best jesus "show" for the weekend...
where is the most audacious production...
who will give the best gifts?
who will spend the most for the delight of the consuming "community"?
and, almost as an afterthought...
it is easter sunday...
it is resurrection sunday...
easter is all about jesus being raised from the dead...
physically...
miraculously...
eternally...
or, will this true truth get lost in the celebrations of the other stuff???
maybe our preparation this week will free us to keep the main thing the main thing...
althought the lenten blog ends today with this entry...
[by the way, THANK YOU for reading and for your encouragement throughout the journey...]
i plan to blog through holy week...
[hope you will hang with me...]
i want my heart to be ready for next sunday...
and yours too...
from henri nouwen...
reflecting on the "path of waiting"...
"passion is a kind of waiting - waiting for what other people are going to do.
jesus went to jerusalem to announce the good news to the people of that city.
and jesus knew that he was going to put a choice before them: will you be my disciple, or will you be my executioner?
there is no middle ground here.
jesus went to jerusalem to put people in a situation where they had to say "yes" or "no".
that is the great drama of jesus' passion: he had to wait for their response.
what would they do?
betray him or follow him?
in a way, his agony is not simply the agony of approaching death.
it is also the agony of being out of control and of having to wait.
it is the agony of a god who depends on us to decide how to live out the divine presence among us.
it is the agony of the god who, in a very mysterious way, allows us to decide how god will be god.
here we glimpse the mystery of god's incarnation.
god became human not only to act among us but also to be the recipient of our responses.
. . . and that is the mystery of jesus' love.
jesus in his passion is the one who waits for our response.
precisely in that waiting the intensity of his love and god's is revealed to us."
can you feel the love???
HAPPY PALM SUNDAY!!!
guy
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Lent day 39
greetings...
our micro church on sunday pm is reading donald miller's new book...
"a million miles in a thousand years"...
pretty cool story...
it is about the process of turning don's life story into a movie...
writing a story line...
editing...
establishing a message...
here are five thoughts...
miller: "the saddest thing about life is you don't remember half of it. you don't even remember half of half of it. not even a tiny percentage, if you want to know the truth..."
have you ever tried to stop and remember...
maybe make some lists...
i know i just lost some of you -- ha! ha!
a list of your ten most important decisions...
your ten most strategic friends...
your ten happiest moments...
your ten saddest moments...
your ten milemarker events [standout moments] to this point in your life...
miller: "the thing about trying to remember your life is it makes you wonder what any of it means. you get the feeling life means something, but you're not sure what. life has a peculiar feel when you look back on it that it doesn't have when you're actually living it..."
the spiritual masters claim that one's life is shaped and formed by a very small number of extremely strategic events...
ben johnson calls them "milemarker events"...
if you looked back at your life now...
with an eye toward discerning what it means...
could you write your life's story with ten bullet points...
ten strategic events...
ten milemarkers...
can you see the flow more clearly???
can you make sense out of it???
can you discern the meaning???
miller: "not all the scenes in my life have been pleasant, though, and i'm not sure what god means with the hard things..."
what do you think god is doing with the "hard things"...
what is the meaning of suffering...
YOUR suffering???
miller: "we were about to explore my same old places in a way that might make them feel new...dream it all up again. everybody wants to go back, man. everybody wants to make their life right. we get to edit your story so it has punch and meaning. that has to be an incredible feeling..."
WOW!!!
if you could edit your life at this juncture...
how would you do it?
what would you change?
what would "making it right" look like???
miller: "it is all about the story...in a pure story there is a purpose in every scene, in every line of dialogue. a movie is going somewhere. that last line rang in my ear like an accusation...without story, experiences are just random..."
what about your story...
the narrative of your life...
is it going somewhere???
where is it going???
are your current experiences "fitting" into your story line???
how???
is this a struggle for you???
join me in reflecting...
blessings!!!
guy
let me be the first to wish you a HAPPY PALM SUNDAY in the morning!!!
Holy Week is here...
Easter is in sight!!!
But then again, the Easter experience is a 24/7 reality for the children of God!!!
our micro church on sunday pm is reading donald miller's new book...
"a million miles in a thousand years"...
pretty cool story...
it is about the process of turning don's life story into a movie...
writing a story line...
editing...
establishing a message...
here are five thoughts...
miller: "the saddest thing about life is you don't remember half of it. you don't even remember half of half of it. not even a tiny percentage, if you want to know the truth..."
have you ever tried to stop and remember...
maybe make some lists...
i know i just lost some of you -- ha! ha!
a list of your ten most important decisions...
your ten most strategic friends...
your ten happiest moments...
your ten saddest moments...
your ten milemarker events [standout moments] to this point in your life...
miller: "the thing about trying to remember your life is it makes you wonder what any of it means. you get the feeling life means something, but you're not sure what. life has a peculiar feel when you look back on it that it doesn't have when you're actually living it..."
the spiritual masters claim that one's life is shaped and formed by a very small number of extremely strategic events...
ben johnson calls them "milemarker events"...
if you looked back at your life now...
with an eye toward discerning what it means...
could you write your life's story with ten bullet points...
ten strategic events...
ten milemarkers...
can you see the flow more clearly???
can you make sense out of it???
can you discern the meaning???
miller: "not all the scenes in my life have been pleasant, though, and i'm not sure what god means with the hard things..."
what do you think god is doing with the "hard things"...
what is the meaning of suffering...
YOUR suffering???
miller: "we were about to explore my same old places in a way that might make them feel new...dream it all up again. everybody wants to go back, man. everybody wants to make their life right. we get to edit your story so it has punch and meaning. that has to be an incredible feeling..."
WOW!!!
if you could edit your life at this juncture...
how would you do it?
what would you change?
what would "making it right" look like???
miller: "it is all about the story...in a pure story there is a purpose in every scene, in every line of dialogue. a movie is going somewhere. that last line rang in my ear like an accusation...without story, experiences are just random..."
what about your story...
the narrative of your life...
is it going somewhere???
where is it going???
are your current experiences "fitting" into your story line???
how???
is this a struggle for you???
join me in reflecting...
blessings!!!
guy
let me be the first to wish you a HAPPY PALM SUNDAY in the morning!!!
Holy Week is here...
Easter is in sight!!!
But then again, the Easter experience is a 24/7 reality for the children of God!!!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Lent day 38
greetings...
i used to have so much energy on friday night...
party time...
fun time...
go out and about...
but that was then...
now is now...
i am so tired on friday night...
all i want to do is veg out...
and hit the sack...
i would not have even walked today when i finally got home...
but there was jeep [our boxer pup]...
standing at the door looking for me...
with that look in his eye...
his tail wagging...
his whole body was doing the doggie wave...
how could i say no to him...
i survived the walk -- barely...
now it's nap time...
for about 8-9 hours...
PTL!!!
but, before i sign off...
listen to richard rohr...
"spiritual life is a matter of becoming who you truly are...
it's not becoming catherine of siena...
or some other saint...
but who YOU are...
it sounds easy enough...
but being who you truly are is work, courage and faith..."
in my early days...
i tried to "copy" my spiritual heroes...
be like billy graham...
be like wayne lee...
be like floyd mcclung...
be like bill hybels...
be life mark rutland...
just be like someone spiritual and successful...
but that armor never fits...
so glad i am free of that mindset...
free to be me...
to be the me HE wants me to be...
that is truly spiritual...
to be the real me...
there is only one of me...
there is only one of you...
god made us unique...
god made us special...
god made us to be fully ourselves...
the point is discovered in the becoming...
wanna join me on the becoming journey???
let's just do it!!!
TOGETHER!!!
nighty night...
guy
remember that sunday is palm sunday...
the beginning of holy week...
let's prepare our hearts...
easter is on the horizon...
and that makes ALL the difference...
JESUS IS RISEN!!!
i used to have so much energy on friday night...
party time...
fun time...
go out and about...
but that was then...
now is now...
i am so tired on friday night...
all i want to do is veg out...
and hit the sack...
i would not have even walked today when i finally got home...
but there was jeep [our boxer pup]...
standing at the door looking for me...
with that look in his eye...
his tail wagging...
his whole body was doing the doggie wave...
how could i say no to him...
i survived the walk -- barely...
now it's nap time...
for about 8-9 hours...
PTL!!!
but, before i sign off...
listen to richard rohr...
"spiritual life is a matter of becoming who you truly are...
it's not becoming catherine of siena...
or some other saint...
but who YOU are...
it sounds easy enough...
but being who you truly are is work, courage and faith..."
in my early days...
i tried to "copy" my spiritual heroes...
be like billy graham...
be like wayne lee...
be like floyd mcclung...
be like bill hybels...
be life mark rutland...
just be like someone spiritual and successful...
but that armor never fits...
so glad i am free of that mindset...
free to be me...
to be the me HE wants me to be...
that is truly spiritual...
to be the real me...
there is only one of me...
there is only one of you...
god made us unique...
god made us special...
god made us to be fully ourselves...
the point is discovered in the becoming...
wanna join me on the becoming journey???
let's just do it!!!
TOGETHER!!!
nighty night...
guy
remember that sunday is palm sunday...
the beginning of holy week...
let's prepare our hearts...
easter is on the horizon...
and that makes ALL the difference...
JESUS IS RISEN!!!
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