This year I've found myself a little bit fixated on the concept of 'Joy'.
The Joy of Christmas.
The Joy of Advent.
The Joy of Family.
The Joy amidst sorrow.
The Joy that follows as the next thing after "the Peace that passes understanding."
I'm finding that, at least for me, Joy is getting quieter and quieter.
Not that Joy is lessening. That's not what I'm saying. No.
Rather, in a strange way perhaps, the opposite entirely.
Joy is simply becoming a quieter thing within my life, though still intense.
Yes, that makes it somewhat easier to overlook if I'm not careful.
Yes, that can cause me to forget to portray it outwardly for others to observe.
(Two situations that I've been encouraging the little ones at church to avoid.)
The Joy of the Advent of Christ - 'Christmastime' as its most widely understood - has become like the white-hot glow of the campfire's insides... after the big flames have died down.
The entire month of December is a 'Busy-mas' of church service preparations, classroom devotions, family arrangements, decorations everywhere, and songs that you can't help but sing along with on the radio ("Thanks a LOT, Bing Crosby!").
...but under it all, at least for me, is that final and almost overlooked present that got stuck down at the toe of your stocking.
Its a nugget that, once it's found, you can't take your eyes off of.
You hold it for a prolonged moment before life starts swirling around you again, and lose yourself in the warmth of awe.
HE has come!
THIS is why it's all happening!
...we're going to be okay. Really!
And your heart whispers with the Angels:
"Gloria in Excelsis Deo!"
...
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Apology & Forgiveness
Yesterday I messed up...
Nothing huge, I suppose, but I made a mistake that caused me to miss something on my schedule that a lot of people look forward to and depend on.
I missed my scheduled "Pastor Time" with the Pre-Kindergarten class.
(And it makes it a little worse that that is my son's class here at school... so not only did I disappoint kiddos, but one of them was my kiddo!)
However, it gave me good opportunity to re-schedule for today - and it gave me a great topic for today's rescheduled edition of "Pastor Time":
No, I didn't force the 5 year-olds to grab their hymnals and recite with me from the liturgy - they're still working on the whole literacy thing - but we did talk a lot about what it means when we say "I'm sorry." and "I forgive you."
Kids get the concept of repentance pretty well...
...at least until the next time they want to do something wrong.
But are we any different?
Its really easy to say you're sorry - especially to God, since he's not literally staring you in the eye with an angry expression on His face - but there's more to confessing our sins than just trying to get out of trouble. Just like our parents' told us when we hit our little sisters, we have to say we're sorry, "like you mean it!"
Which is all well and good, to sound like you mean that you're sorry, but to actually mean it (and agree with everything implied with an apology) is quite harder for us.
Jesus said to the woman after the crowd had dispersed and dropped the stones they'd intended to throw at her,
"Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Nothing huge, I suppose, but I made a mistake that caused me to miss something on my schedule that a lot of people look forward to and depend on.
I missed my scheduled "Pastor Time" with the Pre-Kindergarten class.
(And it makes it a little worse that that is my son's class here at school... so not only did I disappoint kiddos, but one of them was my kiddo!)
However, it gave me good opportunity to re-schedule for today - and it gave me a great topic for today's rescheduled edition of "Pastor Time":
Confession and Absolution
No, I didn't force the 5 year-olds to grab their hymnals and recite with me from the liturgy - they're still working on the whole literacy thing - but we did talk a lot about what it means when we say "I'm sorry." and "I forgive you."Kids get the concept of repentance pretty well...
...at least until the next time they want to do something wrong.
But are we any different?
Its really easy to say you're sorry - especially to God, since he's not literally staring you in the eye with an angry expression on His face - but there's more to confessing our sins than just trying to get out of trouble. Just like our parents' told us when we hit our little sisters, we have to say we're sorry, "like you mean it!"
Which is all well and good, to sound like you mean that you're sorry, but to actually mean it (and agree with everything implied with an apology) is quite harder for us.
Jesus said to the woman after the crowd had dispersed and dropped the stones they'd intended to throw at her,
"Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Getting free grace that we don't deserve - sounds great!
Leaving our life of sin - that's hard.
So what are we to do?
Know two things:
1. Your sins are forgiven. Said and done!
There's no getting around grace, whether good or bad. If we know that Jesus has done it and trust in Him to save - you're 'good'! Especially when we feel we don't deserve it.
2. We keep trying, not because He's going to love us less - but because we continue to love Him more!
Being perfect in our actions isn't a requirement of our Heavenly Father to be saved (see above), but since that's how He initially made humanity, and that's how He is, we strive toward pleasing the one who's made us pleasing.
The kids were eager to forgive me, by the way.
Which is good, because otherwise I'd have to have talked to them about the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant... and they're not ready for that just yet.
Monday, October 4, 2010
The Church Blog
This will be a quiet "roll-out" if you will...
Introducing:
We're going to try doing some general updates and info-sharing, along with the idea of sharing the weekly readings, sermon themes, etc. with the entire world through the magic of the inter-webs.
For example, if you happen to go there today, you'll find a very brief devtional thought on how Christ Didn't Come to Judge.
...and who knows what you'll find in the future?
(Hopefully something useful and relatively up-to-date. Pray for us, please.)
Introducing:
We're going to try doing some general updates and info-sharing, along with the idea of sharing the weekly readings, sermon themes, etc. with the entire world through the magic of the inter-webs.
For example, if you happen to go there today, you'll find a very brief devtional thought on how Christ Didn't Come to Judge.
...and who knows what you'll find in the future?
(Hopefully something useful and relatively up-to-date. Pray for us, please.)
Thursday, March 11, 2010
The Valley of Fear
Psalm 23:4 (NIV)
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
[Though this story isn't directly from my experience, I'd ask for you to indulge me in the re-telling in the first person perspective. In light of our walk through Psalm 23, and my preaching on verse 4 (see above) last night, I thought that this might help us to see just what it means that God leads us through such valleys in life. - Matt]
He told us that he would take us to where we needed to go. This wizened old shepherd, with ragged clothes on his back and what I suppose you could once have called boots on his feet. His steps fell with a confidence that echoed through the hills, though the mosses and lichen made the actual footfalls silent as night. There were two loyal dogs that hovered loyally around him – their tails un-wagging and their eyes searching his; keenly aware that this was a hike for business, and not pleasure – and they awaited his word of command.
We’d wandered far over the course of the day, our party following a map that had been adequate for the area’s many hikers for centuries. But somehow, amidst our wonderment and sidetracks for photography, we’d found ourselves lost and at the bottom of the world – with no discernable way back to the safety and visibility of the high ridges surrounding us.
It was a lush land, and apart from the cooling temperatures and our emptying stomachs there was little concern for our long-term safety. Still, the afternoon was long past and our little group couldn’t even offer a decent argument for a locale.
In a day when our youthful exuberance thought it highly unnecessary to go through the expense of a GPS unit, and our new hiking poles made us feel far more confident than we should have allowed for… our last resort had finally realized itself, and we had disturbed ‘our’ shepherd – the only human we’d seen for hours – and he’d consented to lead us out of the lowlands and back onto our map.
As we began to ascend an unworn and un-grazed hillside, our feet slipping from underneath us in surprising contrast to his steady cadence, we looked one to another in questioning glances; “Where were we going?” “Who were we following?” And “How could this be the way?”
Occasionally we took a moment to look away from the treacherous footings of what was now becoming a rocky slope and we observed nothing but a wall of ancient stone pockmarked by rebellious tufts of greenery grasping to fissures and ledges with the skill of a true climber. There was no visible outlet, and our fears began to realize themselves.
Nearing the wall, one of the dogs ran ahead to disappear behind a corner that we’d not been able to see – His steady pace never changed, and the shepherd led us through what must have been this familiar route in his memory. This simple corner opened up to an expanse – a narrow ‘V’ in the landscape – equal parts of rock and plant aiming us straightway toward the heavens.
“Thank you so much!” I said, breaking what had been nearly forty minutes of silence, “If you need to get back to your sheep, we can probably figure it out from here.”
‘Our’ shepherd paused for only the amount of time for us to take the five steps to come even to his progress, and he simply said, “We’re not there yet. I’ll see you to the top.” And He continued up the way.
As the walk drew itself out much longer than we’d anticipated, the sun continued its course – and the last of its rays were only touching the tip of what we realized was the Eastern half of our ravine. The dogs lagged back now, dutifully keeping their charges on the best path as laid out by their master – and we, the ‘sheep’ tried not to stumble as the rocks grew larger. As odd as it seemed to us, we realized the shepherd’s commitment to us only in its fullness when we looked down to realize that we were barely finding our way and we were as of yet only halfway up the valley.
And what an odd valley it was! Without the shepherd in our sights it seemed as a yawning mouth, wanting nothing more than to swallow us down to its belly. Looking back, it was almost hypnotic for its terrible nature.
A sharp sound of wood rapping on a rock woke us from our moment of weary delirium, “Well, shall we finish the journey?” the old man asked.
Cresting the hill at the top had taken us nearly to darkness, the last flecks of the honest part of sunlight were disappearing over the Western rim of the hills. Looking back one last time, the chasm appeared as little more than blackness.
“What you just walked up,” said our noble guide, “is on your map, though you didn’t know it. Its on the very bottom edge, well away from any main trail – and that’s for a reason. We locals call it ‘The Valley of Fear’. I do apologize, because its not the easiest way out of the lowlands, but it is the fastest – and for you, it leads directly to where you needed to go.”
He gestured vaguely over his shoulder to lights that were turning on, not two-hundred yards away at the very place we’d planned to spend the night.
“I’ll ask you not to come back here exploring on your own tomorrow – there have been some bad things down here for those without a guide …or a dog” he added, his hand on the head of the older of his two canine servants.
After the few words of thanks that he allowed us to give him, he and his two helpers turned their faces back down to the valley and instantly were lost from our sight as they descended into the shadow.
We turned ourselves toward the welcoming lights that He had led us to – each one of us silently wondering how often he’d led the lost safely through the Valley of Fear.
And how much more, does our God lead us through the valleys in our lives? David knew of great stresses, anxieties, dangers and despair - and yet he knew that God, the Divine Shepherd, would not leave us on our passage through such low points.
The valleys of our lives are NOT the destination that the Shepherd leads us to. Instead, His goal is to take us to the safe places; whether those consist of safety for the time being, or the pleasant revival of eternal rest in heaven. ...and sometimes we don't even realize what we've come through until we look back over our shoulder at what He's led us safely past.
Thanks be to God for His guidance through what would otherwise be a lonely and terrorizing journey - but with Him, is just another hike for a weary traveler!
...
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
[Though this story isn't directly from my experience, I'd ask for you to indulge me in the re-telling in the first person perspective. In light of our walk through Psalm 23, and my preaching on verse 4 (see above) last night, I thought that this might help us to see just what it means that God leads us through such valleys in life. - Matt]
He told us that he would take us to where we needed to go. This wizened old shepherd, with ragged clothes on his back and what I suppose you could once have called boots on his feet. His steps fell with a confidence that echoed through the hills, though the mosses and lichen made the actual footfalls silent as night. There were two loyal dogs that hovered loyally around him – their tails un-wagging and their eyes searching his; keenly aware that this was a hike for business, and not pleasure – and they awaited his word of command.
We’d wandered far over the course of the day, our party following a map that had been adequate for the area’s many hikers for centuries. But somehow, amidst our wonderment and sidetracks for photography, we’d found ourselves lost and at the bottom of the world – with no discernable way back to the safety and visibility of the high ridges surrounding us.
It was a lush land, and apart from the cooling temperatures and our emptying stomachs there was little concern for our long-term safety. Still, the afternoon was long past and our little group couldn’t even offer a decent argument for a locale.
In a day when our youthful exuberance thought it highly unnecessary to go through the expense of a GPS unit, and our new hiking poles made us feel far more confident than we should have allowed for… our last resort had finally realized itself, and we had disturbed ‘our’ shepherd – the only human we’d seen for hours – and he’d consented to lead us out of the lowlands and back onto our map.
As we began to ascend an unworn and un-grazed hillside, our feet slipping from underneath us in surprising contrast to his steady cadence, we looked one to another in questioning glances; “Where were we going?” “Who were we following?” And “How could this be the way?”
Occasionally we took a moment to look away from the treacherous footings of what was now becoming a rocky slope and we observed nothing but a wall of ancient stone pockmarked by rebellious tufts of greenery grasping to fissures and ledges with the skill of a true climber. There was no visible outlet, and our fears began to realize themselves.
Nearing the wall, one of the dogs ran ahead to disappear behind a corner that we’d not been able to see – His steady pace never changed, and the shepherd led us through what must have been this familiar route in his memory. This simple corner opened up to an expanse – a narrow ‘V’ in the landscape – equal parts of rock and plant aiming us straightway toward the heavens.
“Thank you so much!” I said, breaking what had been nearly forty minutes of silence, “If you need to get back to your sheep, we can probably figure it out from here.”
‘Our’ shepherd paused for only the amount of time for us to take the five steps to come even to his progress, and he simply said, “We’re not there yet. I’ll see you to the top.” And He continued up the way.
As the walk drew itself out much longer than we’d anticipated, the sun continued its course – and the last of its rays were only touching the tip of what we realized was the Eastern half of our ravine. The dogs lagged back now, dutifully keeping their charges on the best path as laid out by their master – and we, the ‘sheep’ tried not to stumble as the rocks grew larger. As odd as it seemed to us, we realized the shepherd’s commitment to us only in its fullness when we looked down to realize that we were barely finding our way and we were as of yet only halfway up the valley.
And what an odd valley it was! Without the shepherd in our sights it seemed as a yawning mouth, wanting nothing more than to swallow us down to its belly. Looking back, it was almost hypnotic for its terrible nature.
A sharp sound of wood rapping on a rock woke us from our moment of weary delirium, “Well, shall we finish the journey?” the old man asked.
Cresting the hill at the top had taken us nearly to darkness, the last flecks of the honest part of sunlight were disappearing over the Western rim of the hills. Looking back one last time, the chasm appeared as little more than blackness.
“What you just walked up,” said our noble guide, “is on your map, though you didn’t know it. Its on the very bottom edge, well away from any main trail – and that’s for a reason. We locals call it ‘The Valley of Fear’. I do apologize, because its not the easiest way out of the lowlands, but it is the fastest – and for you, it leads directly to where you needed to go.”
He gestured vaguely over his shoulder to lights that were turning on, not two-hundred yards away at the very place we’d planned to spend the night.
“I’ll ask you not to come back here exploring on your own tomorrow – there have been some bad things down here for those without a guide …or a dog” he added, his hand on the head of the older of his two canine servants.
After the few words of thanks that he allowed us to give him, he and his two helpers turned their faces back down to the valley and instantly were lost from our sight as they descended into the shadow.
We turned ourselves toward the welcoming lights that He had led us to – each one of us silently wondering how often he’d led the lost safely through the Valley of Fear.
And how much more, does our God lead us through the valleys in our lives? David knew of great stresses, anxieties, dangers and despair - and yet he knew that God, the Divine Shepherd, would not leave us on our passage through such low points.
The valleys of our lives are NOT the destination that the Shepherd leads us to. Instead, His goal is to take us to the safe places; whether those consist of safety for the time being, or the pleasant revival of eternal rest in heaven. ...and sometimes we don't even realize what we've come through until we look back over our shoulder at what He's led us safely past.
Thanks be to God for His guidance through what would otherwise be a lonely and terrorizing journey - but with Him, is just another hike for a weary traveler!
...
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The un-used devotional thought for today.
Today, as they do every month, some of the ladies of the congregation invited the two pastors out for lunch. It's often customary that we 'sing for our supper' by bringing along a devotional thought.
Since our other pastor had a wonderful thought in January, today was my turn.
As it turns out, the conversation never waned enough to do too much in the way of devotionals before the food came, so the following brief thought has as of yet been unused.
(aren't you lucky to be on the inside track?)
One of my facebook friends recently posted a status that went something like this;
"Wasting time at work; playing Rock, Paper, Scissors with Jess."
(normally I wouldn't include names, but you'll see that it's significant in a moment)
I read this status, and laughed out loud - myself at work, momentarily wasting time. But my laughter came even a bit louder when I re-read the post, because I'd managed to perform a mental typo...
When I first read her post, I'd added a 'u' to 'Jess'...
"Wasting time at work; Playing Rock, Paper, Scissors with JESUS."
Now that would be a challenge!
I mean, come on! Not only can he know your thoughts, but I'm thinking that "Paper beats Rock" doesn't quite work the same way when you're up against the omnipotent Son of God.
Jesus always wins!
But then again, He's the personification of mercy and compassion. His very role in coming to save the World would seem to make such an arbitrary form of bargaining unnecessary. I mean, we could just pray and trust that things will work out.
You know, it sort of makes you realize that BECAUSE Jesus always wins,
You never lose!
What a reassuring thought as we come into the first Friday in Lent. Whether you give anything up or not, He's already settled the score by His sacrifice.
...
Since our other pastor had a wonderful thought in January, today was my turn.
As it turns out, the conversation never waned enough to do too much in the way of devotionals before the food came, so the following brief thought has as of yet been unused.
(aren't you lucky to be on the inside track?)
One of my facebook friends recently posted a status that went something like this;
"Wasting time at work; playing Rock, Paper, Scissors with Jess."
(normally I wouldn't include names, but you'll see that it's significant in a moment)
I read this status, and laughed out loud - myself at work, momentarily wasting time. But my laughter came even a bit louder when I re-read the post, because I'd managed to perform a mental typo...
When I first read her post, I'd added a 'u' to 'Jess'...
"Wasting time at work; Playing Rock, Paper, Scissors with JESUS."
Now that would be a challenge!
I mean, come on! Not only can he know your thoughts, but I'm thinking that "Paper beats Rock" doesn't quite work the same way when you're up against the omnipotent Son of God.
Jesus always wins!
But then again, He's the personification of mercy and compassion. His very role in coming to save the World would seem to make such an arbitrary form of bargaining unnecessary. I mean, we could just pray and trust that things will work out.
You know, it sort of makes you realize that BECAUSE Jesus always wins,
You never lose!
What a reassuring thought as we come into the first Friday in Lent. Whether you give anything up or not, He's already settled the score by His sacrifice.
...
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Merry Christmas!
January 7th is, as I'm absolutely confident that you know, Christmas Day
(for the Eastern Churches of Christianity.)
So, "Merry Christmas!"
(since life around here was apparently too busy to think about my blog on or around December 25th)
With the Wise Men now around the Nativity Scene, and the snow piled high upon the donkey, sheep and even baby Jesus himself...
(With more snow on the way tonight, as I understand. By the way, no credit can be given to the pastors on this one, my colleague actually described "Shadowy Figures" putting them into place yesterday, on Epiphany)
May the love of God be yours, as He blesses and redeems His creation!
(for the Eastern Churches of Christianity.)
So, "Merry Christmas!"
(since life around here was apparently too busy to think about my blog on or around December 25th)
With the Wise Men now around the Nativity Scene, and the snow piled high upon the donkey, sheep and even baby Jesus himself...
(With more snow on the way tonight, as I understand. By the way, no credit can be given to the pastors on this one, my colleague actually described "Shadowy Figures" putting them into place yesterday, on Epiphany)
May the love of God be yours, as He blesses and redeems His creation!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Mission Month
The Book of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts) chapter 1, verses 6 through 9.
6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
Its Mission Month at our church.
We're going to dwell for a while on Acts 1:8; the idea of being witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the Ends of the Earth.
That's a lot of witnessing!
I imagine that it would've been pretty imposing for the disciples as well.
They get this command to do all this work (with the help of the Holy Spirit... which they currently do not fully understand) and then they have to watch Jesus leave them! And He does so in one of His miraculous and amazing ways... ascending into heaven.
So there they are - as we are today - literally stunned into silence and staring up at the sky. Too afraid to lower their eyes, for fear that they'll have to get a gameplan together in order to get that job of witnessing done. When along comes one of my more favorite moments in scripture (the angels always have the fun jobs) ...
10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
If I'd been one of the disciples, caught up in the momentous awe and wonder, I would've jumped out of my skin!
So why do we stand there and look into the sky?
He's just told us that the times and the dates aren't for us to know... so we might as well get a move on. ... Commence the witnessing!!!
But that's not easy or fun, is it?
No, not on our own.
But we're not on our own...
May God's Holy Spirit be with you and with all of us, as we seek to make good on the opportunities to witness that God provides for us this month!
(more to come later... maybe.)
6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
Its Mission Month at our church.
We're going to dwell for a while on Acts 1:8; the idea of being witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the Ends of the Earth.
That's a lot of witnessing!
I imagine that it would've been pretty imposing for the disciples as well.
They get this command to do all this work (with the help of the Holy Spirit... which they currently do not fully understand) and then they have to watch Jesus leave them! And He does so in one of His miraculous and amazing ways... ascending into heaven.
So there they are - as we are today - literally stunned into silence and staring up at the sky. Too afraid to lower their eyes, for fear that they'll have to get a gameplan together in order to get that job of witnessing done. When along comes one of my more favorite moments in scripture (the angels always have the fun jobs) ...
10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
If I'd been one of the disciples, caught up in the momentous awe and wonder, I would've jumped out of my skin!
So why do we stand there and look into the sky?
He's just told us that the times and the dates aren't for us to know... so we might as well get a move on. ... Commence the witnessing!!!
But that's not easy or fun, is it?
No, not on our own.
But we're not on our own...
May God's Holy Spirit be with you and with all of us, as we seek to make good on the opportunities to witness that God provides for us this month!
(more to come later... maybe.)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Cleaning the Fish Tank - The Hidden Filth Within
This morning I had a light schedule at church, so I decided to free my fish from their murky waters and stop pretending that the visitors to my office "didn't mind'' looking through sweet-tea colored water to admire my golden lovelies.
I had attacked the small tank yesterday. Simple bucket-and-syphon tactics to replace 40%-ish of their water and a paper towel to the inside glass did the trick for those guys... no problem. And today was the 20 gallon job.
I wish now that I'd taken pictures.
Allow me to paint the scene:
Me - grey dress pants and a startlingly white polo shirt
The tank - the color and (light) scent of an accidental pond-puddle that swells up in your backyard this time of year. Especially here in Ohio... oh wait, that's just the pool that's been too wet to properly collapse and put away.
Same approach - a couple of buckets worth of water out, taking things down to 65% full or so, swipe the sides pretty thouroughly, and check the filter for gunk...
Bucket fills - check
Wall cleaning - check
Filter maintenace - ... oh my goodness gracious!
As I pulled the carbon filter up from the basin, it became apparent that there was a LOT of gunk. Enough that one of the ladies here in the office said, "I think they're growing that stuff for alternate energy sources now, you should give someone a call." It was quite a harvest.
But not the strung together sea-weedy kind, no this was like old green paint.
(I'll take this moment to remind you of my "startlingly white polo shirt"... yeah.)
Needless to say, the job took a slight bit longer than initially anticipated - but amazingly, the shirt remained clean.
The deep thought for today; How could I have known that there was that much gunk, when the water only looked a 'little'* bad???
* little being a relative term
I've had opportunity to talk to some of the little ones as well as the new members here about sin recently. And I think that my fishtank holds a good illustration for this.
You look at yourself and see some algae on the walls, maybe the water is murkier today than yesterday, but you can generally convince people that "I'm not that bad, really."
But open up your heart - where everything flows through - and on our own there is just an unimaginable amount of gunk. Sin. Grossness that cannot be removed without some major intervention.
So you get in touch with some guy in a white shirt... except unlike me, He does a really thourough job and gets every speck out of the water, the filter and he even scrubs the plastic plants clean (which is annoyingly difficult, and never undertaken by me personally... I contract that out to snails when they're in town.). He puts in the effort for you to clean things up, and wouldn't you know - His shirt doesn't stay clean. He has to go home wearing YOUR gunk... and you're left with crystal clear water.
I had attacked the small tank yesterday. Simple bucket-and-syphon tactics to replace 40%-ish of their water and a paper towel to the inside glass did the trick for those guys... no problem. And today was the 20 gallon job.
I wish now that I'd taken pictures.
Allow me to paint the scene:
Me - grey dress pants and a startlingly white polo shirt
The tank - the color and (light) scent of an accidental pond-puddle that swells up in your backyard this time of year. Especially here in Ohio... oh wait, that's just the pool that's been too wet to properly collapse and put away.
Same approach - a couple of buckets worth of water out, taking things down to 65% full or so, swipe the sides pretty thouroughly, and check the filter for gunk...
Bucket fills - check
Wall cleaning - check
Filter maintenace - ... oh my goodness gracious!
As I pulled the carbon filter up from the basin, it became apparent that there was a LOT of gunk. Enough that one of the ladies here in the office said, "I think they're growing that stuff for alternate energy sources now, you should give someone a call." It was quite a harvest.
But not the strung together sea-weedy kind, no this was like old green paint.
(I'll take this moment to remind you of my "startlingly white polo shirt"... yeah.)
Needless to say, the job took a slight bit longer than initially anticipated - but amazingly, the shirt remained clean.
The deep thought for today; How could I have known that there was that much gunk, when the water only looked a 'little'* bad???
* little being a relative term
I've had opportunity to talk to some of the little ones as well as the new members here about sin recently. And I think that my fishtank holds a good illustration for this.
You look at yourself and see some algae on the walls, maybe the water is murkier today than yesterday, but you can generally convince people that "I'm not that bad, really."
But open up your heart - where everything flows through - and on our own there is just an unimaginable amount of gunk. Sin. Grossness that cannot be removed without some major intervention.
So you get in touch with some guy in a white shirt... except unlike me, He does a really thourough job and gets every speck out of the water, the filter and he even scrubs the plastic plants clean (which is annoyingly difficult, and never undertaken by me personally... I contract that out to snails when they're in town.). He puts in the effort for you to clean things up, and wouldn't you know - His shirt doesn't stay clean. He has to go home wearing YOUR gunk... and you're left with crystal clear water.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Noah's Rainbow - the promise of hope
Tomorrow's Old Testament lesson is about the end of one of the most harrowing,uncertain and terrible 150 days in the history of the world. (roughly Genesis chapters 6-9) I can barely attempt to imagine the emotions that Noah and family went through as they built the infamous 'ark' and boarded it with all those critters, knowing all the while the fate of the rest of the world - their extended families, friends, neighbors... everyone and everything!
...
I wrote a while back about the mouse crossing the road, and how scary and treacherous that experience must be - for a mouse or for a man - and there are men (and women) living that experience all around, believe me.
Personally, I've not yet been asked to endure such things.
But I have been privy to observe the resolve that is given by the LORD to those who have been!
Its impossible to apply logic to tragedy.
The explanation for grief is too simple to be satisfactory.
A 'bad' thing cannot be justified, no matter how thick the silver lining.
But at the end of the floodwaters' rage -
near the moment of utter despair -
...there comes the Rainbow, a promise of hope!
It isn't merely a pretty thing that is made from the refraction of the Sun's light; the scientific understanding of God's rainbow could never compare to the fact that with it God has attached a promise - a covenant declaring that He would never again do as He (justly) did in Noah's day.
This leaves us the opportunity to revel in God's other promise...
...that He would save us from the terrible sin which we'd brought into this world.
The sin that brings despair.
The sin that causes hurt.
The sin that makes our bodies maliciously impair themselves.
The sin that would otherwise cause not only our earthly deaths, but keep us that way forever.
...
The rainbow promises hope through sustenance and opportunity.
The Cross of Christ promises salvation through the perfect blood of God's Son.
...
...
I wrote a while back about the mouse crossing the road, and how scary and treacherous that experience must be - for a mouse or for a man - and there are men (and women) living that experience all around, believe me.
Personally, I've not yet been asked to endure such things.
But I have been privy to observe the resolve that is given by the LORD to those who have been!
Its impossible to apply logic to tragedy.
The explanation for grief is too simple to be satisfactory.
A 'bad' thing cannot be justified, no matter how thick the silver lining.
But at the end of the floodwaters' rage -
near the moment of utter despair -
...there comes the Rainbow, a promise of hope!
It isn't merely a pretty thing that is made from the refraction of the Sun's light; the scientific understanding of God's rainbow could never compare to the fact that with it God has attached a promise - a covenant declaring that He would never again do as He (justly) did in Noah's day.
This leaves us the opportunity to revel in God's other promise...
...that He would save us from the terrible sin which we'd brought into this world.
The sin that brings despair.
The sin that causes hurt.
The sin that makes our bodies maliciously impair themselves.
The sin that would otherwise cause not only our earthly deaths, but keep us that way forever.
...
The rainbow promises hope through sustenance and opportunity.
The Cross of Christ promises salvation through the perfect blood of God's Son.
...
Friday, July 3, 2009
What happened to Jesus' hiking stick?
Its a little odd to think about, but I'm looking at the gospel lesson scheduled for this Sunday, Mark 6:1-13, especially verses 8 and 9:
These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic..."
So my question; Since this statement assumes that the disciples (who were being sent out for missionary practice) had staffs/walking sticks, what about Jesus? Did Jesus have a walking stick? What happened to it? and Why don't we put that into our paintings of him more often?
I think it's plausible that Jesus could've had a walking stick. I mean, he did a TON of walking - and the terrain wasn't just flat and smooth by any means! I would have a walking stick if I were Jesus!
And if anyone has ever had a walking stick/cane/staff/etc., you know that those items become sort of special to you. And EVERYONE who's ANYONE had a walking stick: Moses had one, Elijah had one, Gandalf had one... (um, forget about that last one... sorry)
So who got to keep Jesus' walking stick? Or did it just get left behind when he was arrested in the Garden of Gethemane? Or maybe John grabbed it and Jesus ended up taking it back into heaven with him as a memento of his travels...
The point of thinking about this today is really to take a moment to consider the fact that, yes, while Jesus was amazing and authoritative and awesome as God's Son incarnate... he was also, in a very 'normal' way, fully man. A man like us... a man who would've appreciated having a walking stick to lean on.
How 'bout that?
...
These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic..."
So my question; Since this statement assumes that the disciples (who were being sent out for missionary practice) had staffs/walking sticks, what about Jesus? Did Jesus have a walking stick? What happened to it? and Why don't we put that into our paintings of him more often?
I think it's plausible that Jesus could've had a walking stick. I mean, he did a TON of walking - and the terrain wasn't just flat and smooth by any means! I would have a walking stick if I were Jesus!
And if anyone has ever had a walking stick/cane/staff/etc., you know that those items become sort of special to you. And EVERYONE who's ANYONE had a walking stick: Moses had one, Elijah had one, Gandalf had one... (um, forget about that last one... sorry)
So who got to keep Jesus' walking stick? Or did it just get left behind when he was arrested in the Garden of Gethemane? Or maybe John grabbed it and Jesus ended up taking it back into heaven with him as a memento of his travels...
The point of thinking about this today is really to take a moment to consider the fact that, yes, while Jesus was amazing and authoritative and awesome as God's Son incarnate... he was also, in a very 'normal' way, fully man. A man like us... a man who would've appreciated having a walking stick to lean on.
How 'bout that?
...
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The White Pigeon Hope - Seeking to "Normalize" the work of the Holy Spirit since 2008.