Maundy Thursday/Holy Thursday

Today is Maundy Thursday of Holy Week

The Thursday of the Holy Week is associated with the Last Supper. The day is known as Maundy Thursday, or, Holy Thursday. It is the day before crucifixion. “Maundy” is a modernization of the Middle English maunde, which comes into English (via French) from the Latin mandatum, a “charge, commission or command.” On strictly linguistic grounds, the command is found in verse 34 (“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another”).

I'll be using tonight John 13:1-17, 31b-35 for the scriptures.
1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.[a]
2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

7Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

8"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

9"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

10Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

31When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32If God is glorified in him,[c] God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
33"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

“Do you realize what I have done for you?” No, I don't think I do, I am just like Peter.

Do we have to love the "Judases" of our group also? Yes.

I am not so sure about this foot washing thing that Jesus does, do we have to do it too? Yes, Jesus said: "you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow,so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

You've got to be joking, just whose dirty feet do I have to wash anyway? Each other's feet.

Jesus, you are scaring me. Your humility is overwhelming me, I should be serving you, washing your feet.

Picture from church powerpoint

Spy Wednesday of Holy Work

Perhaps today's question would be how much would we sell Jesus for? Jesus does not always say or do what we like either. His agenda is not always what we think it should be. But you know what there are sure lots of ways to betray Jesus and to betray ourselves, and we need to be on watch for those.

Picture from Jon Holato's blogOn the Wednesday the tempo of the Holy Week increases. This is the day widely known as "Spy Wednesday". For it is the day when Judas Iscariot, a disciple turned betrayer agreed to show the chief priests where they could easily capture Jesus.

Matthew 26:3-5, 14-16 14Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. 16From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

If we believe that Jesus knew all along what was going to happen, and if we believe that Judas was a mere puppet having to take his allotted role because he was part of the great plan laid down in Scripture, then I fear there can be no hope for us. This would mean that we are programmed, controlled, without freedom to grow or develop. It would also mean that we are quite beyond each other’s reach, unable to choose intimacy or separation, closeness or distance, love or indifference … So Jesus leaves the upper room and goes out into the night, his heart breaking for Judas and weighted down with sorrow at the apparent indifference of the others to Judas’ plight. It was as if they had been paralysed by the apparent powerlessness of his own love: if Jesus could not keep Judas within their company, what hope had they? For Jesus, I suggest it must have felt very different. Why was it, he must have asked himself, that nobody, not even John whom he loved so dearly, had been able to say to Judas: ‘We love you, you are one of us: where are you going? what are you intending to do?’ Why was it that not one of them had seen that Jesus’ impotent love needed the expression of theirs to regain its power? Why had they not been able to see that being truly human is impossible on your own?

Brian Thorne

Tuesday of Holy Week

The Tuesday of the Holy Week is the day when the famous incident between Jesus and Pharisees is thought to have taken place. This was when they tried to trap Jesus into making a blasphemous, or, anti-god remark.

This day is important also on another count; Jesus discoursed to his disciples on the Mount of Olives about the destruction of Jerusalem and the signs of the last day.

Mark 11:27They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28"By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?"

29Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30John's baptism—was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!"

31They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' 32But if we say, 'From men'...." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

33So they answered Jesus, "We don't know."
Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

Perhaps the question today for me is how do I try to trap Jesus? Try to make him say what I want him to say? How do I put him in a box so I can do away with him, and live the life I want to lead the way I want to do it? What would happen if I quit being like the Pharisees and accept Jesus for Jesus?

Icon is The Holy Face (The Vernicle) from the First Half of the 13th cen.

Monday of Holy Week

Picture at Flickr posted by Godly Women of Art

The scripture that is usually read on this day is about Jesus being anointed by the unnamed woman.

Mark 14:1-10 It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; 2for they said, “Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.” 3While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. 4But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? 5For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. 7For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. 8She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. 9Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.” NRSV

This is an awesome event. It is also in Matthew 26:6-13, Luke 7:36-50, and John 12:1-8. For one thing it is a precursor to Christ's death. He is eating dinner at Simon the leper. Lepers were ostracized people in Jesus’ day. It was amazing that Jesus was at the house of a leper. People were not to come into contact with lepers. In this version of the story, Jesus was having dinner with “one of them. Oh my, Jesus could be found with just about anyone, and he loved dinner invitations. Well not only is he at the home of one of the ostrasized, but a woman breaks in with her own agenda of a gathering of women. How dare she. And Jesus didn't even stop her. Not only that she pours this expensive oil on him, and he still doesn't stop her. Judas knew he should have stopped her, after all that money could have been used for something worthwhile, like helping the poor or at least Judas uses that excuse.
The woman wastes a whole alabaster bottle of the expensive oil on Jesus. When was the last time we wasted something on Jesus? When was the last time we did something for Jesus that got called a waste? When was it last that we did something extravagant for Jesus? When have we been poured out on Jesus? Have we been able to stop worrying about the money to instead love Jesus?

Palm Sunday

This image is from Christian Art Icons, Murals and Mosaics

Today as we were getting ready in the sanctuary for the waving of the palm branches, the kids came up to ask me a question. Kate asked me; "is the real Jesus or the fake Jesus coming today to church?"

So did the real Jesus or the fake Jesus show up at your church today?

Palm Sunday is coming, are you ready?

Palm Sunday Collage
set to the music of Chris Tomlin's "All Bow Down"

Palm Sunday is coming, Are you ready?
Are you ready for Jesus to come into your world? Your life?
He doesn't come in like an army, blowing you away, he comes in just as he did that day in Jerusalem long ago, riding on a donkey.
He comes bringing you his grace and mercy and love?

Friday Five: Time for Palms

Peace on Earth by U2- Palm Sunday
I am playing the Friday Five from revgalblogpals. I already did this once but Blogger eliminated the whole post. Don't know what happened.

I am back for the midweek Walk to Emmaus and need a little fun, play time. So here goes.

Mother Laura brings us the Friday five: Can you believe Daylight Savings Time is here already? It's hard to get used to the new, earlier onset. My family has been getting up and out a little late and a little sleepy in the mornings.

And can you believe that in two days it will be Palm Sunday for Western Christians? Our Lent is almost over, while our Orthodox sisters and brothers, whose liturgical year follows the older Julian calendar, are just starting theirs. Nicholas did a recent book report on George Washington, and we were surprised to find out that our first President's birthday was originally Feb. 11, since he was born just before the change to the Gregorian calendar. Apparently the change almost caused rioting, as some indignant people were sure that they were being cheated out of eleven days of their lives!

To help you adjust--and enjoy the process--here's a Friday Five about time and transitions....

1. If you could travel to any historical time period, which would it be, and why?

Don't know that I really want to go back, why would I, women were treated less than humane.

2. What futuristic/science fiction development would you most like to see?
I would like to see what they come up with to develop our natural resources.

3. Which do you enjoy more: remembering the past, or dreaming for the future?
Living in the moment.

4. What do you find most memorable about this year's Lent? I would have to say it was the Walk to Emmaus.

5. How will you spend your time during this upcoming Holy Week? What part do you look forward to most?
It will be a busy week with my children's activities and church activities.

Bonus: What will you do when the week is over? Get some rest.

De Colores

Oh wow, God is awesome and at work on this midweek walk.
My talk went well, and God spoke to a lot of the pilgrims through the talk. It was about 20 to 25 minutes long. In fact all the talks have been good. I am just tired from the lack of sleep, but charged up from the Holy Spirit.

Gone for the Walk to Emmaus.

I am gone for the next few days to Camp Sumatanga. I am an assistant Spiritual Director for a Walk to Emmaus. This is a spiritual renewal program intended to strengthen the local church through the development of Christian disciples and leaders. The program's approach seriously considers the model of Christ's servanthood and encourages Christ's disciples to act in ways appropriate to being "a servant of all." The Walk to Emmaus experience begins with a 72-hour short course in Christianity, comprised of fifteen talks by lay and clergy on the themes of God's grace, disciplines of Christian discipleship, and what it means to be the church.

If you want to know more, here is the link to the Walk to Emmaus website. You can find out if there is an Emmaus community in your area. You don't have to be Methodist to go to Emmaus.
My own walk was with the Living Waters Community. I have worked walks for them. This walk I am working is for the Alabama Community.

I am looking forward to it, but a bit antsy, this is the first time I have done the talk I am going to do. Please pray for a calmness of spirit, strength and energy, and wisdom during this week. I'll be speaking Tuesday at about 4pm. I do love Camp Sumatanga and it is always restful and renewing.

The Landscape of religion, it's a changing.....

If you happen to miss the news item on the survey done by the Pew Charitable Trust on the changing landscape of religion; you might want to click the link and go there to read it.
Based on interviews with more than 35,000 Americans age 18 and older, the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey finds that religious affiliation in the U.S. is both very diverse and extremely fluid.

More than one-quarter of American adults (28%) have left the faith in which they were raised in favor of another religion - or no religion at all.

44% of adults have either switched religious affiliation, moved from being unaffiliated with any religion to being affiliated with a particular faith, or dropped any connection to a specific religious tradition altogether.

The survey finds that the number of people who say they are unaffiliated with any particular faith today (16.1%) is more than double the number who say they were not affiliated with any particular religion as children. Among Americans ages 18-29, one-in-four say they are not currently affiliated with any particular religion.

It confirms that the United States is on the verge of becoming a minority Protestant country; the number of Americans who report that they are members of Protestant denominations now stands at barely 51%. Moreover, the Protestant population is characterized by significant internal diversity and fragmentation, encompassing hundreds of different denominations loosely grouped around three fairly distinct religious traditions - evangelical Protestant churches (26.3% of the overall adult population), mainline Protestant churches (18.1%) and historically black Protestant churches (6.9%). It also says that the Catholics have had the biggest net losses.

This link takes you to the full report. Also view the report's online section, which includes dynamic tools that complement the full report.

"Among Americans ages 18-29, one-in-four say they are not currently affiliated with any particular religion." This should be a big concern to all of us. We need to be doing all we can to reach out to all ages to share the good news. Our conference has made it one its four priorities to empower a new generation of Christians and for our church. When we wrote our Charge Conference reports, we had to answer what we were doing in the four areas. Our church had started a Sunday school class for young adults. The teacher has done a lot of contacting of this age group, and inviting them. But very few have come. The teacher has not given up on inviting them.

There are several books out that address this matter of why young people won't come to church and some things that we can be doing to reach out to them. Dan Kimball wrote the book "They like Jesus, but not the church"with complimentary study materials recently published. The book I am reading recently is called UnChristian which is about what this generation really wants, our DS suggested it. I am also reading Dear Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation by Sarah Cunningham.

Why am I reading these books? Because I realize I am way older than this generation. I was raised in the church, and have spent most of my life in the church, although for some periods I have rebelled against the church. I have become aware that most of my time is spent in church or with church people. I am so out of tune with this generation and their needs. I may not be the person called to reach this age group, but that doesn't mean I don't do my part to learn and try to connect. And it doesn't mean I forget the other age groups either. This age group may not come to church now, but maybe we are planting the seeds of faith in their hearts, and they will come when they are older. But there is no guarantee of that, and we as a church need to be opening our doors, our hearts, our lives to this age group as well. But this is not the only generation that is lost or disillusioned or hurt by the church. I find myself on a learning curve and having to work hard at this. I told someone I felt like I was back in school, back in seminary learing all new things, a new language and a new way of being.

How about you? What are you finding that works? What is your church doing? What is some of your understanding of this study? How will you introduce this and implement this in your church?

New Statistics on Church Attendance and Avoidance

Well Barna has released their latest stats on church attendance and avoidance. There are nearly 100 million unchurched people in the U.S. They have discovered that the old ways of measuring these figures are no longer applicable. So they have come up with some newer measures:
According to Barna, one way of examining people's participation in faith communities is by exploring how they practice their corporate faith engagement. Unveiling a new measurement model, Barna identified the following five segments:
Unattached - people who had attended neither a conventional church nor an organic faith community (e.g., house church, simple church, intentional community) during the past year. This segment represents one out of every four adults (23%) in America.

Intermittents - these adults are essentially "under-churched" - i.e., people who have participated in either a conventional church or an organic faith community within the past year, but not during the past month. Such people constitute about one out of every seven adults (15%).

Homebodies - people who had not attended a conventional church during the past month, but had attended a meeting of a house church (3%).

Blenders - adults who had attended both a conventional church and a house church during the past month. Blenders represent 3% of the adult population.

Conventionals - adults who had attended a conventional church (i.e., a congregational-style, local church) during the past month but had not attended a house church. Almost three out of every five adults (56%) fit this description.

Barna goes on to discuss the unattached and how to connect with them.

He calls them a unique profile and has this further to add: Six out of ten adults in the Unattached category (59%) consider themselves to be Christian. Even more surprising was the revelation that 17% of the Unattached are born again Christians - defined as people who have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that they consider to be very important in their life, and who believe that they will experience Heaven after they die because they have confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their savior.

Check it out, its worth the read, and may help in your ministry efforts. There are a lot of people in the unattached category that are more likely to feel stressed out, less likely to be concerned about the moral condition of the nation, much less likely to believe that they are making a positive difference in the world and less optimistic about the future. Sounds like they are a people who are in need of hope, real hope, not false hope, not just false optimism and not just false pollyanna attitudes. We don't need more stealing of sheep from other churches and denominations. We need to be connecting with those who are unattached and finding the ways to do it, which may not be the normal traditional ways.

Look before you Leap; Friday Five

Hello from your Fifth Friday Five team, will smama and Songbird~It's Leap Day!!

Whether you're one of the special few who have a birthday only once every four years, or simply confused by the extra day on the calendar, everyone is welcome to join in and play our Leap Year Friday Five.

Tell us about a time you:

1. Leapt before looked; Some guy I dated, I'm sure. Nuff said, don't you think.

2. Leapt to a conclusion; I am constantly learning not to do this.

3. Took a Leap of Faith; Answered the call from God to be a Minister. (Sometimes I call getting out of the bed in the morning a leap of faith..)

4. Took a literal Leap; How many do you want to know about? And would you like to know the results of said leaps? It isn't a pretty sight, and my body still reminds me of those leaps.

5. And finally, what might you be faced with leaping in the coming year? MMM Can't tell you just yet, but when I can, it will be right here on this blog.

Bonus: A friend told me yesterday, that since this day doesn't really exist, we should all take the day off. But sadly there is no day off for me today. So how about you what do you do with the leap year day? Frankly my leapster is leaped out.

Feel free to leap over any of the questions if you don't feel like answering them, says will smama,

More on Monday's post re Hate

Here is the link to Monday's post about the AME church whose doors were painted with racial slurs.

Yesterday the paper noted that it was decided by officials that it was not a hate crime, instead it was just a prank or vandalism done by some juveniles. (See the Florence Times article). However they are clear that their investigation is not finished.

In his editorial, the editor said this "Even if the the incident was intended as an ugly prank, it's difficult to view it as anything other than a hate crime."

Several things have come to my mind about this incident. First if the doors of our churches were painted with some slurs or symbols that put down Christianity, how would we respond?

Secondly in any prank or any sarcastic remark there is usually an edge of the negative, whether the person owns it or not. How would we help the person with the underlying negativism that is there?

Thirdly How are we the churches in the community to respond to this particular event and others that may occur as well to places of worship? One of the things that was said of the church during Hitler's reign of Germany was that the church stood by and did nothing and said nothing to stop the Holocaust and the other abuses his regime incurred. Will we do the same or be willing to speak the truth in love?

One of the things that stands out about Jesus was he was not afraid to speak the truth in love. Paul in Ephesians 4:14 -15 writes this; "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ."

Leviticus 19:17-18 reads this way: "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord." Jesus picks up these words in Matthew 22:37-39: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment and the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

Instead of letting hate dominate our thinking and our actions let's chose to love first the Lord our God and then to love our neighbor as ourself; including whoever spray painted these words on the church doors.

It is interesting, I am preaching Sunday on the Leviticus passage.

Hate can and does Live on

Down the road from our church someone painted words on a church
door of a mainly all black congregation. The pictures shows them.
They are words you would expect to see during the civil rights
movement. They are words that reflect hate in one's heart and in
one's hands. You don't think you would see them in this day and age. Maybe in private conversations, the words are used. It is sad to see those used once more toward people who are a different color. It is sad to see them used on the door of a church.
What would we do if they were painted on our doors of our congregations or something just as derogatory? How would we respond?

The members of this church responded with love. They prayed for the person(s). "I still don't bear ill will toward him or them," one of the members said. "I'd like to invite him to church, to fellowship with us."

The men of the church hoped that whoever did this did so more out of boredom than hatred.

"I know there can't be that much hate around still," the member said.

"It's 2008," Alexander said. "Back in 1966, when we first built it, I might have expected to see this, but it's 2008."

Here is the link to the news article in the Florence Times.

What do you think can there still be that much hate around? Can hate live on?

What is to be our response to hate?

Matthew 5:43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor^[h] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies^[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (New International Version from Bible Gateway.com)

I believe Love is a greater than hate, heals hate, and offers us hope beyond hate.

I Corinthians 13: 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Today: Flowers

Today, I got flowers. They came from 1800Flowers.com. Never have gotten flowers from them before. Mom sent them to me cause I was sick. What a nice surprice. Well it came at a good time, our sweet black kitty, Midnight got ran over this morning. That's the third cat we have lost on this road. The kids saw her dead in the road and were really upset, but they wanted to bury her. Bob saved her until they got back this afternoon. I kept expecting her to wake up. Dadgumit, three of them. I told Bob the next time somebody says something about Tygger being fat, I am going to tell them she's fat so she won't get over the fence and get run over. The kids and Bob had a sweet burial for her this afternoon. They came back and told me about it and told me they had said prayers for her. And of course they wanted a new kitty. We had to tell them no more new kitties for now. Well lo and behold there was another box of flowers on the front poarch. i thought it was a mistake, but it turns out that mom, my sister and my niece sent them. It sure made the kids feel better. They are really pretty and smell good too.

Hey mom, Denise, and Hannah thank you so much for the pretty flowers! What perfect timing. Now if I can just get over this flu stuff.

Silence is Golden. . . .

Or so they say. I have had a couple of days of quiet, especially after the kids went back to school. Its a bit unusual for me since having kids, my days are pretty noise filled, sound filled, and voice filled.

Today I watched the movie "Into Great Silence" in the midst of a quiet day. It is the movie we are going to discuss at revgalblogpals for Feb along with the book " An Infinity of Hours." by Nancy Klien MacGuire. I wasn't sure what it was going to be like to watch a film in silence for three hours, and yet it was well worth the time. It actually didn't seem like three hours. I loved the beauty of the scenery. It seemed as if we weren't just watching, but were partaking in the silence, the prayers, the meditative work, and rituals. I say we, because Bob watched it with me. It was comforting to me to watch this DVD. Not sure why, maybe the repetition of their tasks and lives, the simplicity, the prayers, the night office.

When I was in seminary I took a course in the Sociology of Religion. Part of what we did in this course were to go to different churches, different denominations. One of the places we went was down to Bardstown, KY to the Abbey of Gethsemani, a Trappist Monastery, where Thomas Merton was a Monk. When we went, I was told that I as a woman could go in to the area hidden from the monks view to watch their worship, but I could not go in and talk with the monks. I had to sit outside most of the time and wait for the guys to come back and tell me about their experience. I must say, after watching this video, I feel like I now have experienced what I could not back then.

Bob and I talked about what kind of person it would take to live in such a setting, we both used the word disciplined to describe that person. I told him, I don't think I am that kind of person. But I will say there are things I can learn from the Monks and their daily lives and prayers.

Silence is golden, because it does offer a way to hear God more clearly. This is the verse they used over and over in the film; "And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still, small voice" (I Kings 19:11-12).

At Taize they say this of Silence: "Silence means leaving to God what is beyond my reach and capacity. A moment of silence, even very short, is like a holy stop, a sabbatical rest, a truce of worries."

Mother Theresa is quoted as saying; "God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer."

Psalm 62:5 says: "My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him."

I grew up not learning much about being silent before God. I grew up with what I would call a "noisy religion". prayer is talking. Reading the bible as a devotional can be noisy, but doesn't have to be. The worship service is noisy. When I began to learn about being silent before God, it was very freeing, and became part of my life, my prayer time, bible reading time, and worship. However, with kids, my life has gotten noisy again. Sometimes it really is hard to stop, be quiet and know that he is God. This film showed me the importance, but also the beauty of it.

Doors opening for women who want to preach

Last week the Florence Times, our newspaper did a week long series on Front Lines of Faith. On Thursday they ran an article on Doors Opening for women who want to preach. If you read the article it talks about a women who serves as an Associate Minister, a female Rector and a woman who serves as Co Pastor of a non-denominational church. This is a big step for this paper considering the denomination with the most members in this area is C o C who don't believe in Women in Ministry at all.

I am proud to read about my sisters here in town. I think a lot of Joy, and she has done a bang up job with The Bridge, the contemporary service at First United Methodist. Don't know the other two ministers although I have heard of the Episcopal Priest. There are some others of us who got left out, like yours truly, but that's okay for this time.

Here's the article

And here is a link to the whole series on the Front Lines of Faith, including a video of Joy Morgan.

I thought they did a good job writing about the different denominations and non denominational churches. They also wrote quite a bit about youth and young people and their influence on the church.

And there are women who don't just want to preach, they are preaching! Preach on! The Doors are wide open in the Kingdom of God!

Time Flies when . . .

Oh my it really has been a long time since I have blogged. Well there goes one of my New Year's resolution to blog more regular. Sorry.

I appreciate those who wrote to me about missing my posts.

I hate to admit it, I have been under a great deal of stress that I can't blog about yet. And I can't blog about it for awhile. But when I can I will.

At the same time the Fly Lady has been keeping me busy with shining my sink, wiping and swishing, and decluttering. And boy has it paid off. I can see the floor in my room and the top of my dresser. And a real "biggy" is that the "hot spots", those places where paper, and junk just automatically accumulate have been put under some control. Kids' papers still get put out from their book bags, but we are doing better about what to keep and what not to keep. And Bob is doing better about not just laying stuff down just anywhere. He even helps me keep the Kitchen sink shining and wiping around in there.

We added one more thing since we have young kids at the house, the Fly Lady has a friend, called The House Fairy. The House Fairy now comes to my house to check on the kid's rooms. Now the beds are made, clothes picked up, trash in the trash can, and toys picked up without an argument. Imagine that. The idea is, the kids never know when the house fairy is going to come inspect their room. And if she comes and finds the room clean then its possible they might get a prize. If she finds it messy and bed unmade well no price. Where was the House Fairy when I was growing up? What a wonderful concept. So if you have you got little kids, I suggest you check her out. My kids love her, and I do too.

As someone said, you do get tired of her emails. I don't mind the reminders, its all the other emails.

I have been applying some of her decluttering tactics to my office. I threw out a whole bag of papers, magazines, etc the other day. I just haven't gotten the organization down yet.

In the meantime, Bob got the head crud and is getting over it. I got the flu this weekend. I don't wish it on anybody.

And so how about you? How goes it in your world?

That's no lady, that's the fly lady

And I am now taking flying lessons from her. Some of you have already gone through the beginning steps and are well on your way being able to fly freely. I can't remember if I read about the Fly Lady on one of your blogs or in Newsweek or somewhere, but thanks to whoever did write about her. I like her permission giving, and affirming attitude. Who would have thought that a shiny clean sink could be the perfect start to the whole act of decluttering, the Fly Lady did, and now I have a shiny sink. So the decluttering has begun in my house and my husband has even gotten into it, by cleaning out his pants. Bravo. He even made sure the bathtub was clean after the kids got through with their baths last night. Yea! I had told him what I was doing. If you recall I had written a post about my need to declutter. I had already started decluttering some things, but not ever really knowing how, it was a haphazard job and I found myself wanting to avoid certain areas. But not anymore, I now have the courage, the no how and the way to do it. I am not going to be able to do everything she says to do the way she says to do it, and that's okay. I'll do what I can when I can, I got to work too. Okay, got to run, the Fly Lady is telling me its time for more flying lessons. See you when I get through with this one.

The Year of the Bible

This is the Year of the Bible for St. John UMC.

God has challenged us to read through the Bible in a Year.

In order to do that we gave out a Reading Plan for a year.

We offered Disciple Bible Study on Sunday nights which takes you through the Bible.

We offered on Wednesday nights a Bible Study to follow through the Bible reading plan.

I am preaching sermons that go through the Bible for the year.

I made a plan that everyone would be on the same sheet of music, and that the sermons would fall in line with the readings. You know what they say about best laid plans of Mice and men/women. I forgot about the orientation session of the Disciple Bible Study and then the next session introducing the Bible. So the Disciple Bible Study group is just starting their reading of Genesis. We had a death in the church and the visitation fell on Wednesday night, so we delayed the start of their study. They start this week with a study of the first readings in Genesis.

I am already through the second set of readings as far as preaching goes.

My point in keeping these all together was that I was teaching, preaching and reading. Umm help I think I need another teacher or something or a reprieve or something. Any suggestions?

God is this your plan? You got any ideas, God?

Fridy Five:Read Any Good Books Lately?

REVHROD at revgalblogpals brings us this thoughtful yet challenging Friday Five. The website promoting this piece of art says, "For the first time, the worlds most influential religious texts are brought together and presented on the same level, their coexistence acknowledged and celebrated”. The shelf is made of reclaimed wood that contains seven religious books. The designers have put them – literally – on the same level.

Well, pish posh! I think that some books ARE better than others! How about you?

1. What book have you read in the last six months that has really stayed with you? Why? To be honest, I had major problems with concentration and memory the last six months, so not much stayed with me from my reading. So I'll just share what I read that I can remember I read. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, The Daring Book for Girls, The Big Book of Girl Stuff, Blue Shoes and Happiness (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Book 7), Friends, Lovers, Chocolate: An Isabel Dalhousie Mystery, The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs, and a lot of children's books. Can you tell I like Alexander McCall Smith's writings?) Did I mention that I read books on Natural Church Development, Now Discover Your Strengths, and the Bible?
2. What is one of your favorite childhood books? The Adventures of Raggedy Ann and Andy, The Wizard of Oz books, The Encyclopedia, World Book's Child Craft, any book I could get from the library and the Children's book of Bible stories.
   
3. Do you have a favorite book of the Bible? yes Do tell! Psalms
   
4. What is one book you could read again and again? The Bible, The Harry Potter books and The Chronicles of Narnia.
   
5. Is there a book you would suggest for Lenten reading? I don't. What is it and why?

And because we all love bonus questions, if you were going to publish a book what would it be? The Daring Book for Female Ministers. Who would you want to write the jacket cover blurb expounding on your talent? Barbara Brown Taylor. She would write that she would have never left the church had she read this book first, instead she would be planting a new church! And you too can be a Daring Female Minister. Abi, where were you in the midst of my Pastoring crisis? You new female ministers pay heed, and you too can be a Daring Female Minister.

Breath

I wrote this on Wednesday but my computer froze and was unable to post this until today, Thursday.

Tonight is visitation at the funeral home for one of my members who died of Emphysema. She inherited her condition from her family, but complicated it by smoking at one time in her life. She was in ICU for quite a while, and I had been visiting with her and her family since we got back from vacation. They had her hooked up to every machine, line, iv possible. She struggled most of the time and didn't like all that, I wouldn't either. It came to the point that the Doctors began to talk with the family about that all important question of beginning to remove meds., and life support. Her living will stated she would have wanted that so it was done. After every thing was removed she was breathing on her own, her numbers looked better, and she was peaceful. They did keep her on pain medication to keep her comfortable. The family was less anxious, but the Doctors had been honest with them it could be a few hours or a few days. It was a few hours and she took her last breath. Tomorrow we bury her.

It got me to thinking about breath and breathing. I don't have lung problems, its not in my family. I have two other members who have lung problems due to family genes. I will admit I did smoke in my younger days. I wanted to be cool, it seemed to help with the stress of late night studies. And then I was hooked. It was hard to quit and for a long time after I quit, there were times I wanted one. But I have not started back ever and that wanting a cigarette has gone away. Now why can't I do the same with food and compulsive eating, I am not sure, but this post is about breath and breathing, and the other is for another day and time.

It is interesting I do often find myself not breathing, holding my breath, and taking shallow breaths. I do that a lot, especially when I am stressed. I have found I have to be mindful of my breathing. I used to meditate regular with deep breathing as part of that time. I have gotten away from that, but I am wondering if I need to bring it back into my time of prayer and meditation. As I have been de-cluttering, it has made me wonder how the weight of all the clutter on me makes it hard for me to breath. As I have kept my time usage journal, it has made me wonder how much my busyness keeps me from breathing properly. And as I look at how little I exercise these days, I wonder how little good oxygen I am taking in. And I wonder about my weight what effect that has on my breathing. Lots of questions, that again lead to being mindful, being aware of myself and my most natural thing I do, breathing.

I used to have a prayer taped to my computer that was about breathing in the Holy Spirit, breathing in the good and breathing out the bad, etc. In the two moves, I have no idea where it is. I think I'll have to find it and tape it up again or carry it around with me to remind me to breath....

Dust if you Must

Since I have posting about resolutions, time wasters, time drainers and decluttering. I thought I would share this with you all. You might have already seen it, but I thought I would send it on anyway. It appears as I have been decluttering the house and my office that there is a lot of dust that was hidden. Maybe that was the purpose for the clutter after all. My husband doesn't think to dust, I don't take the time to dust, but put a clothe or one of those feather dusters in our children's hand and they will dust away and then get in a fight over who dusted what and that they wanted to do that piece of furniture. Fine I quit. Mom she's being mean to me.

So without further adieu; Dust if you Must

Remember...a layer of dust protects the wood beneath it. !! ?(OR) ?Dust is God's protective covering for fine furniture! ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Dusting

'A house becomes a home when you can write
'I love you' on the furniture.' AMEN !!
And my house is sure a home!!
I can't tell you how many countless hours
that I have spent CLEANING!
I used to spend at least 8 hours every weekend
making sure things were just perfect --
'in case someone came over.'

Then I realized one day that no-one came over;
they were all out living life and having fun!
Now, when people visit, I find no need to
explain the 'condition' of my home.
They are more interested in hearing about
the things I've been doing while I was
away living life and having fun.

If you haven't figured this out yet,
please heed this advice

Life is short. Enjoy it!
Dust if you must,
but wouldn't it be better to
paint a picture or write a letter,

or do some Bible study,
spend time with a friend
bake a cake or

plant a seed, go play golf,
ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there's not much time,
with rivers to swim and mountains to climb,
music to hear, songs to sing and books to read,
friends to cherish and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out
there with the sun in your eyes,
the wind in your hair, a flutter of snow,
a shower of rain.
This day will not come around again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
old age will come and it's not kind.
And when you go -- and go you must --
you, yourself will make more dust!

I think I'll skip the dusting part of this.....

De-cluttering

One of the things I have been reading about a lot in relation to making resolutions is the importance of de-cluttering. Most post will say if you want to be happy or successful for productive you need to de-clutter your space.

I have always had a cluttered office, but I could usually find what I was looking for.

My house has always been cluttered, but it really has gotten worse with the three kids, and less time spent on tidying up.

My car has become a mess, my kids keep telling me I need to clean it out, and they are right. Its like a second office.

My kids have been seeing this commerical on tv for a purse that you can organize everything in, and they keep telling me I need to buy it. They are probably right, my purse is even a mess.

My sister on the other hand is neat and tidy. When we shared a room growing up, she put the dressers up between us so she didn't have to see my messy side. Her house is still neat and tidy except for her teenage daughter's room. It looks like the way my side used to look during my teen years.

I have begun to declutter my desk and file things from 07 to make room for 08 files. But I need to go through my books and get rid of old ones that I don't need anymore. And I need to clean out the files of papers I don't need anymore. I would say this is going to take me some time to do this.

And I need to declutter my house of books, old clothes, toys, things, you name it, papers. It is amazing how much mail we get that is just plain useless. Ya got to file 13 it right then and there, cause if you don't it grows on you. I figure it will take a year or more to go through and declutter everything. But I am guess it is also a lifelong work. I figure that this isn't just about living simply, or having a Martha Stewart house, this is also a spiritual matter. And maybe I wrote this before, that Decluttering the "thing" does have to do with becoming less consumeristic and less being owned by the things. I think also there is a decluttering that goes on inside of me as well as I declutter the things around me. Perhaps as I declutter it will creat more space for the Holy in my life. Perhaps it will show me the treasure that God created called me. Who knows where this will lead.

I will say for those who wondered, I have started a journal of how I spend my time. I'll let you know what I Learn.

A Christmas present for me?

Ah how nice, thank you.

My husband snores. I mean really snores, but not as bad as my dad. You could hear my dad all the way to the other side of the house. But there are times it is so bad, I have to go sleep on the couch. He doesn't have narcolepsy or a sleep disorder or need the surgery you can have for snoring, He just snores. He got an idea for a Christmas present for me, thinking it would help his snoring, and my sleep problem. He got me one of those sound therapy sound machines with 10 "soothing sounds".

It is interesting to me that he is sleeping better, is not snoring as badly and is more rested since we got the machine. I on the other hand am having to adjust to the "soothing sounds". I grew up with open windows and could sleep with all the country noises we had around us. But that was a long time ago. Last night was the first night I was able to sleep through the night. Lets hope that tonight I can do the same, I think I found the sound that works for me.

I do appreciate the gift, but it makes me wonder who this was really for; sort of like the birthday present, the GPS that is still in his car. Tee hee.

And besides that the kids like it, and they go in our bedroom and change the sounds to listen to them. I may have it set on one sound, but when I get ready to to bed, they may have it on something else. I like sounds of the waves, and the rainfall. I got in there last night and it was a thunderstorm. That is not restful.

Friday Five: Those New Year Resolutions

Sally over at revgalblogpals brings us this Friday Five:
Well it had to be didn't it, love them or hate them I bet you've been asked about New Year resolutions. So with no more fuss here is this weeks Friday Five;

1. Do you make New Year resolutions? Not anymore.

2. Is this something you take seriously, or is it a bit of fun? A bit of both

3. Share one goal for 2008. To quit wasting time so much.

4. Money is no barrier, share one wild/ impossible dream for 2008. Money no object, adopt another child.

5. Someone wants to publish a story of your year in 2008, what will the title of that book be? "Not that again"

Those things that suck our energy

When I was writing my last post on time wasters, I came upon an article about those things that drain our energy. Lifehack called it the 7 Energy Sinkholes. Now I grew up in Florida and have seen many a sinkhole. I have seen where they swallowed houses whole. I have seen where they have swallowed up streets. It can happen quickly and without warning. There is no way of knowing ahead of time. One of the things they are talking about with the drought in Florida that they could possibly see quite a few sinkholes. But what about the Energy sinkholes in our lives? The article hit a nerve in me because I think it is something we as ministers have to deal with constantly in our work.



The article at Lifehack.org says the following; Energy sinkholes are situations that repeatedly drain your energy and stress you out. Unfortunately, it is often hard to see sinkholes since they rarely cause a drain all at once. Instead they slowly leech away at your lifeforce until your stressed, depressed and apathetic.



Here are the big seven that may be stealing from you right now:
1 - Disorganization


2 - Poor Diet and Lack of Exercise


3 - Problem Contacts


4 - Focusing on Your Weaknesses


5 - Squeaky Hinges


6 - Blog/E-Mail/Facebook Addiction


7 - Pleasing People



Ouch, Ouch and double ouch.


But we could add to these;


Too many commitments


Being controlling


unfinished tasks


negative people


doing things that are not our passion or our strength


meetings for meetings sake


dealing with a lot of sickness, death and crisis sitations


Fear


Resentment


Unresolved grief


worry


negative thoughts about our selves


shame


Hopelessness and/or despair


Guilt


Being overresponsible


Perfectionism


Too high of expectations


overwork


Too many people around you


Too few people around you


financial issues



The list could go on. And no wonder the energy drinks are big sellers. Maybe its important to know the things that drain you, so you don't end up sunk into some sinkhole either. Maybe it is important to know what are your energy boosters are also, so you are getting re-engerized and not depleted. I certainly don't want to be sunk in any sinkhole.

I think that along with keeping up with how I spend my time, I am going to keep up with what drains me as well as what energizes me.

Time Wasters

In my post on the new year, I mentioned the matter of wasted time. I have been thinking about that more today. I have been asking myself, just what is it I waste my time on, and what do I need to do to change it.

Christianity today has a survey asking What is your biggest time waster?

• Rabbit trails in my sermon prep
• Getting lost in my own thoughts
• Phone calls and people interruptions
• Paperwork or administration
• Long, unnecessary meetings
• The internet
• Other

David Allen, Getting Things Done, Author said "You can't manage time, it just is. So "time management" is a mislabeled problem, which has little chance of being an effective approach. What you really manage is your activity during time, and defining outcomes and physical actions required is the core process required to manage what you do."

One book recommended keeping a journal of how you use your time in one week keeping track of it in 15 minute increments. Then they suggest you take a hard look at that list of doings and divide your activities into three categories:

• Daily Definites: things you absolutely have to do like drive to work, pick up the kids from school, etc.
• Distractions: computer backgammon, obsessively checking email, talking on the phone. Tell the truth.
• Goal-Oriented Actions: activities that contribute to the life you’re committed to creating.

If by chance you noticed that your goal-oriented actions are curiously absent from your daily doings, what is your prescriptive choice? What can you give up to make space for your real life to occur? Are some of your Distractions disguised as Daily Definites?

So before I say, that definitely certain things are my time wasters, I think I am going to keep a time journal and then review it as suggested. I think I am going to go back an read the "GTD" book and see what I need to use from it.

So what are your time wasters? Have you ever kept a Time Journal? And have you been successful applying the "GTD" principles to your life?

Happy Beginning to 2008

I was thinking about the making of new year resolutions. I realized, I have made them and not fulfilled them. And I keep making them. There is something about a beginning that gives us the resolve to start new, try change things, be better. And we certainly all know we can do better.

I have also, prayed the covenant prayer of John Wesley.

I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,

exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

thou art mine, and I am thine.

So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

I have found that helpful in setting a spiritual pattern. I like to use it at the start of the new year in worship. I have also been thinking of how much time I waste, and I am praying with God to not waste these days this year. I am praying to God to not let me waste my time I spend with my family this year. And not to waste my time with God. I am also aware that I have not always done a good job of taking care of this body that God gave me, this earthly temple. I am praying that I do a better job taking care of myself, my body, my health this year. And I have been thinking about how I don't always listen to God, I get myself going in so many ways, I just don't get still, close out the all the other things from my mind and stop and listen. I pray that I do a better job of stopping, centering, and listening to God. These are a few things I have been thinking about, and praying about. And these I covenant with God.

Last post of 2007

Here it is the end of 2007. Wow, I can't believe it. Wasn't it summer just a few months ago or something like that? It has been year of learning and growing and stretching myself. Everything I learned in Seminary well, almost everything seems to be obsolete these days. Now it seems like you have to have a degree in business administration, management, social work, pastoral care, preaching and etc. I have had to keep reading, going to seminars, attending conferences to learn the new ways of Pastoring. And I feel like I am still behind the curve.

I love watching my kids grow and learn and play. And even with that I have had to learn things about parenting. Learning doesn't stop does it? God help us if we choose to stop learning. My kids are learning things in school at their age that I didn't learn until later, and they are learning it in a different way. I can't help them with the new way so they are teaching me. All three are in dance, and well, I never had the opportunity to learn dance, so I just watch and clap and cheer. Kara is learning piano, and I did learn piano, so I have been able to help her with piano. They played softball and machine pitch ball, so I could help them with that since I was a good ball player. When we return, they will be playing in the community league basketball games. Uh I was pretty short, so this was not one of my forte, and I even broke a finger playing. I'll leave that one for the coaches.

We had a really good visit with my sister and mom. Now we are up in Columbus with son and family. I get to go visit with a friend this afternoon. Then we will see the new year in with John and Liz. Yea.

I wish you all a Happy New Year!

The itchies and playing cards

Well the shingles have turned into major itching spots. I have pain med but not itching med. It is quite uncomfortable. Could not sleep last night for all the itching. I almost took some of the pain med to put me out of my misery but opted not to. Finally fell asleep early this morning. I will now buy some itching meds. I cannot stand it. Somebody better put socks on my hands, so I don't make it worse.

We have been playing lots of cards with my mom. I have not won any games. This used to really bother me. I would get mad and huff off, sometimes even throw my cards everywhere. I was very competitive and had to win. In fact I was that way with any game I played and any sports I played. It was not a pleasant site to see in me, and people didn't like playing against me or with me. I have had to work on it a lot. I have to make choices in the middle of games that it was okay to lose. I had a mantra for awhile, it is okay to loose, you are here to be with the other people. But now I can play and loose every game and it doesn't matter, because I am enjoying being with the other people.

I have to do a genogram for the class I am taking on Healthy Family Systems. I have been interviewing my mom about her family and dad's side of the family. I asked her where I got the competitiveness from. She thought about it and remembered I used to play cards at my grandparents and that they were always competitive and that I probably learned some of it from them. I think it is also because I was insecure and wanted to be number one, not be a loser because I already felt like one inside. I hope that I can be competitive when I need to, but not in a bad way, but also enjoy the people I am with. And I hope I can keep liking myself and being comfortable within myself too.

Friday's Five: "Auld Lang Syne Version"

Singing Owl brings us this RGBP's Singing Friday Five; It is hard to believe, but 2007 is about to be history, and this is our last Friday Five of the year.
With that in mind, share five memorable moments of 2007.
These can be happy or sad, profound or silly, good or bad but things that you will remember.

Bonus points for telling us of a "God sighting"-- a moment when the light came through the darkness, a word was spoken, a song sung, laughter rang out, a sermon spoke to you in a new way--whatever you choose, but a moment in 2007 when you sensed Emmanuel, God with us. Or more particularly, you.

Oh my, I got to remember back that far and through all those events?
1. This is actually in answer to the Bonus Question; At the beginning of the year I went to a week long Prayer Retreat with other ministers in my conference. I felt led by God to go to this. I have always believed in prayer, but wasn't sure about how this was going to work and how one could pray for a week. We did though and it was a very powerful time that stayed with me throughout the year. The hope was to break down some of the barriers and differences in our conference and I believe it did. I know that God was with me then, and with me all year long. The prayer retreat is being offered again this year, and I plan to go to it if I am able. (If you want to read my posts about the 07 Prayer Retreat, then you can read Prayer Summit, Day One, and Day Two)

2. Funniest moment was trying to Baptise a child in the Baptist Baptismal. At least I didn't drown anyone doing it. I have got to get some of my own waders if I am going to keep using the Baptist Baptismals or ponds or lakes or creeks or rivers.
The funniest moments though for me are at our Supper Table. We just have a good time together eating, talking, listening to the kids tell their stories, and getting tickled with each other. And to me these are also God moments.

3, Sad moment was the death and funeral for my Grandfather, P. T. Carlisle, although we called Pop. He lived to a ripe old age of 101. He had a profound impact on me. He had a sense of humor that wouldn't stop. He also had some thing that kept him alive and going through all the losses, dissapointments, tragedies in his life. I will really miss him.

4. Festival of Homiletics stands out to me as one of the highlights of this year. I got to be with my RGBP's friends, friends from this conference and got to hear some of the Rock Star Preachers. It is just an awesome experience all the way around.

5. The other highlight has been vacation times in the moutains with my family. Although the first night on Sugar Mountain I thought was our last night. The wind blew so hard we thought we were goners. But it is always nice to spend some relaxing fun time with them. To take them to see some of the beauty of the mountains. To do some hiking with them now that they are older. But I got to tell you they love the swimming the best and the NASCAR Fun Park. I like the mountains and the Tenn. Aquarium. But most of all I like being with them.

6. But if you asked me about other highlights, I would say how this little church inspite of the number of deaths and aging people have been willing to try to do some new things in their ministry to this community, the world and been willing to listen to and follow God. I honestly think that the Evil One has tried very hard to keep them from being the church God wants them to be, but I see that there are enough of the faithful here to turn their hearts and minds to God and let God be at work in them. I don't think the Evil One will succeed. If you have ever been in this battle you know it is a difficult one, but one where God is actually doing battle. When I read and watch Harry Potter in his battles with the Dark Lord, I think of this battle. This church has started the NCD process and have continued in it, even though like all the other churches they had to take a hard look at their weakness. But they also found out they have strengths, strengths that God can use to help them work on their weakness. This church has started Angel Food Ministries, which is a servant ministry and does take a lot of people being involved in it, and they have gotten involved. In the last children's activities they have hosted they have made it a priority to have good PR so that the community knows about it and will come. They had a successful yard sale to raise money to upgrade our facilities for the disabled, work which will begin in Jan. They even built a new playground to show the community we love children and are open to them. I see God at work here, people of faith at work here, and it is hopeful.

7. But you know I am going to write this, the best highlights are the every day things that happen with family and friends. Enough said!

A trip to the Doc-in-a-box

For those who haven't heard the term before, the Doc-in-a-box is an urgent care Doctor or a walk-in-clinic. I had to go to one this morning. I thought I had some flea bites, but no...yes you guessed it. I have Shingles. Yep, I woke up in the middle of the night uncomfortable and decided to check WebMD about my symptoms. I had already guessed it, but I guess I didn't want to know it was true. This morning I told Bob he was going to have to take me to a Doctor. We got there before the crowd, so we didn't have a long wait, and weren't there long at all. He gave me the necessary perscriptions and off we went to get them filled. The long wait was getting the insurance to pay for the perscriptions. The anti-virus is very expensive. But they did pay. So now I am back at my sister's and started a course of the medication. The Doc thought we had caught it soon enough for the med to be effective. Rats, on vacation and I get sick. Poohey, but at least we caught it before it was a major breakout. I came home to get mom, Bob and my sister to play some cards. I don't care if I win, just something to take my mind off of it. Denise and mom took the kids swimming and on a picnic. They said they were pretty good until it was time to come out of the pool.

Post Christmas day let down?

Nahhh. Not here. We had pancakes this morning. My sister is taking the kids swimming in a few moments. She has hinted at possibly taking them to a movie later, oh bliss a few moments without. Actually they have been pretty good. Zachary was playing with his remote control Pirate ship this morning and the sisters were too. The remote control is in the shape of a skull, aargh me matey. And they were playing with all the Hannah Montana dolls , Barbie Dolls, and High School Musical dolls they got along with the extras. Denise's house now looks like mine, a mess. Yea, her house never looks like a mess.

I have been thinking about Christmas day and missing my dad and my Pop. Dad has been dead since 98, but all the little things he did at Christmas and all his baking is missed. Plus he was good at present giving. Pop, well was Pop, he had a sense of humor that never stopped, not that he made fun of you, but just enjoyed life. Plus he liked to play card games with us. He was pretty good at them even when his eyes started to fail him. He died this last year and I have really missed him. I am so grateful for all the days I did have with them in my life.

I was thinking also for those grieving that are more in the news; like those who lost family and friends in the Tsunami three years ago. Those who lost family and friends on 9/11; that held their last mass at the site for Christmas eve, because all the building around the site will make it impossible for them to do it again. Those who lost family and friends on the Gulf Coast due to Katrina or lost homes and jobs. Those who lost family members and friends in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Well, the list could go on, couldn't it. I forgot the football player and others of notoriety. Soooo.

But for those who grieve the whole holiday scene can be a let down. I have been there at the holidays when it was, and when I was so depressed nothing was uplifting. But through the years as I have let myself more experience the grace of God in my life, the love of friends and family, and focus on the Christ child, it hasn't been such a downer. I hope if it has been that way for you, that you too can let the grace of God come in, and feel the love from your friends and family and focus on the Christ Child or find whatever it is that God has for you that sustains through this time and throughout all time.

Merry Christmas day

Shhh. I have snuck away to the computer room for a few minutes to write a post. Don't tell anyone especially the kids.

My fingers are worn from undoing all the little tie thingies they use on children's toys to keep them from being stolen. The kids are having a good Christmas, and they have even said so. The stockings were even full.

They also have been swimming already, what can I say it is really warm here.
I am having a good time. I finished reading the book I brought with me, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. I highly recommend it, as did my friend Cathy at Cathy Grace Notes, she is such a reader. It isn't one of our RGPB's book club readings, but I still recommend it. I did bring one of those along to read, An Infinity of Little Hours: Five Young Men and Their Trial of Faith in the Western World's Most Austere Monastic Order , so hopefully, I'll get it read. It is so rare that I get to read an adult book or see an adult movie.

Last night we went to my sister's church for the Family Christmas Eve service. For all my Presbyterian blog friends, it is a Presbyterian church. My sister is the Christian Ed Director and was in charge of the service. It was really neat. There were a lot of families and children. The service involves the children and families. It doesn't matter if the babies cry or the little ones get restless and talk, because it is set up for families. Our kids got to have a part too. I am so glad I got to worship on Christmas Eve with my family.

And now I want to wish all a wonderful day; A Merry Christmas and the gifts of the Christ child today and everyday for yourself! And then remember to tell others about what Jesus has for them too.

Merry Christmas Eve

It is with such joy that I wish all a Merry Christmas. I hope all of your Christmas Eve services go well. We are traveling today down to my mom's in Florida. We left after worship yesterday and headed to our halfway point in Columbus, Ga to spend the night with our Son and family. We passed out our gifts to the grand sons and they to us. It was great fun. The big hit with everybody was a remote control pirate ship for the 4 yr old. He had to fight off the big boys and adult boys to be able to play with it. But he finally got to play with that. Grandma takes credit for getting that one.

The kids are playing wildly around here this morning. That's good, they can get some of it out before we hit the road. We'll come back here on our way back and spend a few more days here.
Right now its off to Grandma's house we go, and the kids are so excited. I am too. And we get to see our nephew who is in the marines and headed to Iraq in the next couple of months. Now seeing him will be worth the trip.

So whether you are traveling or staying, be safe, and have a great time. And may Santa bring you what you asked for. But most of all may you receive in your heart the gift of the Christ-child!

Down for the Count, but not out

What does one do when they are hit with a sinus infection? They go to bed, take medicine, and sleep alot, at least with this one. Sunday a week ago, I just thought I had a cold. I looked out in our congregation and it was slim pickings. As we did our prayer requests, I heard, oh they are out with a sinus infection, oh they are too, oh them too, along with all the other requests. We had a little one home with strep as well. Monday I went to be with a family during surgery at a local hospital, but the surgery was delayed, so I went to the minister's meeting. The longer I was there, the sicker I felt, I just had to leave and come home. Got an appointment with the Doctor, thinking I had gotten the strep because my throat hurt really bad. No, not strep, which I was glad of, but a Sinus infection. Thank God he started me right away with meds or it would have been a lot longer and a lot worse. It made me think about my older folks getting hit with it and how hard it must have been on them. This Sunday we had many back, but many were still out with sinuses, flu and colds. It is that time of year. I was able to preach Sunday which is a blessing.

On other notes:

• Our kids were in the local Christmas Parade on their Dance Studio float on Friday night. I got to go watch. It was a lot of fun.

• Our orders for Angel Food ministries quadrupled this month. What a blessing.

• We have three families on our "Christmas Bear Tree", like an Angel Tree, we are helping with Christmas. We took three of the kid's little bear tags, one for each of our kids. Kara and I went shopping for the one girl's tag. She just had a hard time understanding why we were buying for this little girl. I had to keep talking to her about it. Zack wanted to know why his name wasn't on the tree. Help.
• We had a great time at our St. John Christmas Dinner and Hanging of the Greens.
• Our worship team has been doing some different things this Advent in worship and in the decorations which are really meaningful.
• I have really enjoyed the Isaiah passages for preaching this Advent.
• My husband taught the Wednesday night Bible Study for me. What a great husband. He said he didn't do a good job. And I asked him "well did they discuss the passage?" and he said "yes", I said,"then you did a good job."
• I was blessed with doing our District Committee interviews of our Local Pastors and others.
• I missed the revgal's Friday Five and the Saturday Preacher's Party. Come to think of it, I have missed a lot this last week. I missed alot of your bloggin too. Hope to get around to visit you all.
• Hope you all are well, and if not a speedy recovery.

Comeback edition of Friday Five

WILL SMAMA says: Alright, so I'm dropping by for a brief return stint as contributer. Please, hold down the applause (also please don't forget NOT to cut and paste this part)....

Parishioners pushing for carols before you digested your turkey?

Organist refusing to play Advent hymns because he/she already has them planned for Lessons & Carols?

Find yourself reading Luke and thinking of a variety of ways to tell Linus where to stick it? (Lights please.)

Then this quick and easy Friday Five is for you! And for those of you with a more positive attitude, have no fear. I am sure more sacred and reverent Friday Fives will follow.

Please tell us your least favorite/most annoying seasonal....

1) dessert/cookie/family food It is a toss up between the fruit cake and the Stollen. My dad liked both and baked both for Christmas, and you ate them or died. I think it was the forced eating, I actually didn't like.

2) beverage (seasonal beer, eggnog w/ way too much egg and not enough nog, etc...) All those sweet sweet Fruit punches. Non alcoholic here.

3) tradition (church, family, other) I think that it was the one when I was growing up with my grandma, and I think I have shared this one before. It was on Christmas Eve, we went to Grandma's house and sang Christmas Carols and such and had a bowl of Oyster stew. To me as a kid, it was just yuck.

4) decoration I have pretty much disliked how people fill up their yards with tacky decorations just to have something out there with no rhyme or reason.

5) gift (received or given) Any dirty Santa bad silly gift. I seem to be the one that gets stuck with the most tackiest gifts.

BONUS: SONG/CD that makes you want to tell the elves where to stick it. O my, we are being snarky aren't we, I get really tired of the music being played over and over and over everywhere and anywhere, especially the MUZAK stuff.

I know, I know.... pretty grumpy for November but why not get it out of our systems now so we are free to enjoy the rest of the festivities.

Well I can say is thanks, now that I have that out of my system, let the good times roll.