meetings

Had lunch with a guy from our church board today.  Got to try "Wild Bill's" pizza, very good!  Then I got to visit with a pastor friend.  Have you ever had lots of people who know you and then there are the few who 'get' you... ya, it's good to be understood.  It's good to be listened to.  

I've been trying to learn, practice and get better at listening.  Some days are better than others.

Here's a little bit from one of the books I'm currently reading;

"After he had received the last sacraments, a brother asked him if he were easy and what his mind was busied with.  This was the reply: 'I am doing what I shall do, through all eternity - blessing God, praising God, adoring God, giving Him the love of my whole heart.  It our one business, my brethren, to worship Him and love Him, without thought of anything else.' "

p108, The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence 

How often do we think like that?  That each moment was full of thankfulness and praise for God. I am aiming to be like that, blessing, praising, adoring my God without thought of anything else; wouldn't that be something?

  

A verse or two.

Something I read this week that jumped out at me.

 James 3:17-18 (The Message)

"Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor."

today

Today, how do I describe it?

This morning, some email, more than a little prayer for the people in our church. I don't know everything that's going on with people, but God keeps prompting me to pray.  

Lunch, preparation for the two lodge services in town.  I expected to have a memorial service at each, turned out to be only the one.  At the first (without the memorial service) some enjoyed it (or so they said afterwards), some fell asleep, and one talked loudly unintelligible words throughout.  

For the second service, the one at which I was to lead a brief memorial, some of the people there, well, for them the grief was not just at the surface, but all over, crying throughout our brief time together.  It's sometimes hard when you don't know the people there, all you see is their grief.  The longer I do this calling of Pastor, the more I think the words "God be with you" are about the best thing I can offer someone in difficulty.  

Psalm 23:6 (NIV)

 Surely goodness and love will follow me 
       all the days of my life, 
       and I will dwell in the house of the LORD 
       forever.

Now, I prepare for the home group I'll be leading tonight on James 2:14-26.  

God be with you, whatever is going with you.

One might wonder why...

... I'm posting this.  'Tis simply my current attempt at facial hair.

The Man behind the Log

An interesting story, and might I add, some great photography, here (six minutes and twenty one seconds worth of story).

thoughts in my head

For some time (a little more than a year) I have been following Post Secret.

It's a project where Frank, reads hand made post cards that are sent to him anonymously.  On the post cards people share secrets they have.  

I find that it's something that helps me stay compassionate when I tempted to throw up defenses around me.  A lot of people carry secrets.  Some are silly, some are scary.  Secrets, I think, can be heavy to carry with you. 

Lately I've been reflecting on the love of Christ for all.  Certainly not a new thought, certainly not the makings of a blog post that will cause all else to stop what they're doing and flock here to read it, but even after being a Christian since I was four, I uncover more about it.  I remember things, things I know the Scriptures say, things I have said/done that don't measure up to that rule of love and yet, to borrow a phrase from "The Shack" - God is still fond of me.

In spite of everything this world would have that would seek to undo us, tear us down, God loves us, he likes us (maybe not what we do), he is fond of us, he cherishes us.

So, ya, no new thoughts here, but thoughts that my heart has needed and I'm willing to bet that a few others need it to, if not everyone.

God is fond of "them" too, whoever "them" is.

these days

... I've been growing a goatee.  If you live near me, you'd know that (the stuff on my chin is what I'm referring too).  Maybe I'll take a picture sometime.

Lots going on, or so it seems.  Have to fight the tendency to withdraw, to become numb.  

One of my tendencies is that when I'm am feeling overwhelmed, or tired, or fed up, or whatever, I withdraw into my own little world.  Sometimes, you might not even be able to see or sense why, so I pray.  I pray for people, in my family, in my church, friends scattered all over.

I received word today of two deaths, one a person I've never really met, but they are related to someone I know, the other a person far away.  I'm sad.  I somehow wish I could do more than just say a prayer, and make a phone call.  Those things seems so, insufficient in the face of such loss.

Was with a few people today at lunch and we talked of death, of Christ and of Enoch.  

 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 
       but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

-Psalm 20:7 (NIV)

Even so, come and take us home Jesus.