Runyararo - A Song for Zimbabwe On Easter 6A

Was thinking of writing a prayer but found this on You Tube.
Here are the words:

Runyararo (means "peace" in Shona*):

Hold your hand out, child,
hold your hand out and I'll fill it
I know it's not much, but will it do?

It's a big world and we're two small people in it
If I could change it, I would for you
But all I have is love

Lift your head up, friend,
lift your head and don't you worry
Somehow we'll find a way to make it through

Put your gun down, man, cause we're not here for fighting
We're simply surviving, much like you
And all we have is love
All we have is love

Ooo, Runyararo
Ooo, Runyararo

Let your pride go, sir, let your pride go and help fix this
There will be no claiming, you never knew

Are you watching, world, do you see the people dying?
And are you trying, to do all you can do?
Have you not love?
Have you not love?

Ooo, Runyararo
Ooo, Runyararo


© 2007 Leesha Harvey
She wrote this song after speaking with her Mom who lives in Zimbabwe. She told her many stories of things she has seen in the past few months, and while thinking about these stories this song was born. The photographs are all from Zimbabwe--most of them are ones my mother has taken.
Go listen to Leesha sing this one and some others. Most are original and recorded on her own.
The video DISPATCH: ZIMBABWE - The Story inspired her as well.

The Gospel scripture today is John 14:15-21

Friday Five: Throughly Post Modern Milly

Singing Owl brings us the revgalblogpals Friday Five;

An Old Versus Modern (Postmodern?) Friday Five

"Yesterday I had two separate conversations in which people were musing about how much change is occurring. The WW II generation, of which my mom is a part, went from horse and buggy to automobiles, saw the lessening, or even the end of many diseases, went from widespread use of kerosene lamps and outhouses (in the country, and most folks were rural) to a totally electrified and plumbed society. The fastest means of communication was a telegraph. The second conversation--gulp--was about MY generation and how much change occurred in the last half of the 20th century. The person said his 13 year old had not seen a vinyl record album until a few days before, couldn't remember a time without cell phones, and on and on.

As for the questions!

1. What modern convenience/invention could you absolutely, positively not live
without? I am not so sure there are utter absolutes, because we are in such quickly changing times. However, I really like my bathroom conveniences, and electricity. I have had enough outhouses, holes in the ground, and no running water situations, including those at churches for a lifetime. That said, if I had to use one again, I would. But I am spoiled by what I have.


2. What modern convenience/invention do you wish had never seen the light of day?
Why? I like tv a lot, sometimes too much and I think it is the bane of our culture and life. My husband says this; "We let it influence us too much and especially our children." This goes with the bonus and I'll put my thoughts on the matter in the bonus section.

3. Do you own a music-playing device older than a CD player? More than one? If
so, do you use it (them)? I still own a record player, yes one of the vinyl playing machines, I also own tape players, don't know where the 8 track is. And we own a reel to reel tape deck that Bob bought in Viet Nam that I think every Viet Nam Vet owns due to the cost being so low. And it still works! We still play the record player sometimes because of some of the records we have, and because we haven't bought them in cd form yet.

4. Do you find the rapid change in our world exciting, scary, a mix...or something
else? I just want to say, "when can I get off this merry go around?" "Stop, the world is spinning too fast." And at the same time, I do find it exciting. I like new things. I like my techie toys. I like being connected with you all, which if we didn't have the changes that we have had; wouldn't be able to have. I love the global connection. It doesn't scare me into being fearful and going into a hole. I just would like sometime to catch up. I always feel behind, and then when I figure something out, we are already onto the next thing.

5. What did our forebears have that we have lost and you'd like to regain? Bonus points if you have a suggestion of how to begin that process. I am not sure exactly what we lost, did we ever have it? I listen to my mom and others who lived through the depression, it was not particularly happy times. I read about times before that, something seemed to be missing during those times too. I don't want to go backward. The 50's and 60's weren't that great either. So what is the answer?
The local paper got around to publishing a study about whether people were happy today or not. Unfortunately, I could not find the article on-line, and that paper was thrown away. It struck me because it talked about that even though we have more, have more money, more leisure time we are not happy. Why? The study seemed to point to that it is what we do with the money, the leisure time, relationships, and ourselves that makes the difference. (Sorry I can't find the study, wish I could. This is the closest I can get to it from WSJ)
I don't know all the answers and neither do the researchers, Psychologists, or Sociologist. But if it is what we do with ourselves, our money and our time, perhaps we start with our own evaluation of how we are utilizing what we have, how we spend our money, our time and ourselves? And then begin to ask what does it mean we spend more money here or there and not here? How does this effect how we feel or live our lives or our souls or our families? Keep a time line of our day or days? Ask similar questions of the data we have written? Perhaps ask our Pastor/Spiritual Director what it means, what needs to change, where to go from here? Keep some form of journal about ourselves and our relationships? Who are we spending time with? How are we spending time with them? Ask those we are in relationship with what they experience with us. Ask our souls what our souls experience and think and feel? Ask our creator ask Jesus about this. I am not saying turn off the tv totally, although I have met families who have done this. But perhaps keep a journal of the watching and what you feel or thought or experienced while watching and the same with family time spent watching and then being intentional about what you watch and how you watch.

The study's data on which activities we enjoy is enlightening. The five professors grouped activities into six clusters, based on the emotions associated with each.

The standout cluster was what the authors label "engaging leisure and spiritual activities," things like visiting friends, exercising, attending church, listening to music, fishing, reading a book, sitting in a cafe or going to a party. When we spend time on our favorite of these activities, we're typically happy, engrossed and not especially stressed.

"These are things you choose to do, rather than have to do," notes one of the study's co-authors, Prof. Schkade of the University of California, San Diego.

The obvious implication: If we devote more time to these activities, maybe we would be more satisfied with our lives. Yet the evidence suggests we've missed a huge chance to do just that -- which may help explain why Americans are little or no happier than they were four decades ago.

Did you ask for a sermon or something? I think I tend to leave out my soul, my children's souls, other people's souls, and forget the sweetness of the relationship with God in whatever I do, whatever I have, and that is what is missing. It is not just a doing it is a being. And now that I have preached to the choir, meaning me, I will now begin with the evaluation process of the above. I will also say, that part of what I have found in my relationship with my peers of rgbps is a connection with my soul and that sweetness of the relationship with God. (That is another post.)

Some useful links: The Happiness Institute's blog
The Happiness Project

Pictures: Outhouse
modern bathroom

Back from Vacation

Hi friends,
we are back from vacation. We had a great time. I had to turn around quickly and go to an all day training event, that is being required by the conference for those ministers who are moving. It is called the first 90 days, and is a really good workshop. It is based on the book by Michael Watkins with the same name. Then I had a meeting that night at my future church with the Staff Pastor Parish committee. Today I spent all day with staff, getting informed about my future church, roles, expectations. I came back to spending some time with the kids. I will be posting a more in depth post later when I am not so brain dead or saturated.

Saturday post before leaving town

Given that this Sunday is designated as Good Shepherd Sunday,
I am posting the song "My Holy Shepherd"

My Holy Shepherd

C Em F C
[1] My holy Shepherd, He watches over me
F C G
He watches over me everyday
C Em F C
My holy Shepherd, He watches over me
F C G C
He watches over me, everyday

[2] My holy Shepherd, He always understands

[3] My holy Shepherd, He hears my every prayer

[4] My holy Shepherd, He heals my broken heart

[5] My holy Shepherd, He holds me in His arms

[6] My holy Shepherd is worthy to be praised

picture of Shepherd

Friday Five:Moving

Mother Laura at RevGalBlogPals presents the Friday Five: We are right in the middle of a move--only twenty minutes away, but we're still a mix of busy, excited, nervous and surprisingly full of grief about what we're leaving, for me at least. So this week's Friday Five asks about your experience of the marvels and madness of moving...

1. How many times have you moved? When was the last time? Too many times. Lets see, as a child 6 times. As an adult 21 times. Two years ago. I am a Methodist Minister, remember. I am getting ready to move.

2. What do you love and hate about moving? Love: Dejunking, Newness, adventures, new friends, new home, new beginnings. Hate: packing, cleaning, loading, unpacking, cleaning, unloading, did I mention the cleaning? saying goodbye, and trying to acclimate to new systems, and ways of doing things. The stress. Helping the kids understand, and helping them pack and get ready for the move, and helping them with the transition. ( We are right in the middle of all this also, Mother Laura.)

3. Do you do it yourself or hire movers? In my younger single days, when it was just my stuff, I moved it with a little help from my friends. Now, I use movers.

4. Advice for surviving and thriving during a move? Get help as soon as possible for the packing and cleaning and fixing up. That way you are not having to sweat the small stuff and can focus on the big stuff. Make sure you are still taking care of yourself as much as possible; prayer time, sleeping, eating, your regular exercise routine. Make sure you take time to say good bye and get as much closure as possible so you can leave in a healthy manner and have a new start. If you got kids, see if you can have people to watch them or be with them so you can pack. Destress as much as possible. Pack a box of what is important to you and I am not just talking underwear, perhaps a transitional object, candle, something for your soul, your heart, your emotions, your mental well being. Go ahead and find and set up your sanctuary as soon as possible. Have a mantra or breath prayer you can use when things get really tense. Take deep breaths. And find time to play and be silly, let loose.

5. Are you in the middle of any inner moves, if not outer ones? Yes, and yes. As I said we are in the middle of a move with a June 11th deadline, but I have been in an inner move for sometime now to a more graceful place within.

Bonus: Share a piece of music/poetry/film/book that expresses something about what moving means to you. A cartoon about moving as seen above.


A theme song from the t.v. show "The Jeffersons". Ya got to be Optimistic.

or you could have the theme to the Beverly Hillbillies

And since we are house hunting to buy a house this time, I include an old Tom Hanks' movie
The Money Pit. Bob doesn't remember it. But it was the movie he made with Shelley Long, you remember her, don't you? She was in Cheers. The movie was made in 1986. There are several scenes at the You tube website to watch if you want a good laugh.

Geese flying back north and a poem

Yesterday, Bob and I were standing in the parking lot of the church discussing something. I looked up and saw not one but two v shaped formations of geese flying back North. What a beautiful sight. We paused to watch them fly on north. Bob then said, Summer is coming. That night what did the weather channel predict? Yes, more cold weather! And where were our winter coats and clothes? Packed away. We will be unpacking them today.

So as the birds fly back north we will be going Northeast for the kids' spring break to Banner Elk, North Carolina. I will be not blogging most of the week as there is not internet connection where we will be staying, there is in the next town. So if I have time, I'll stop by from time to time.

Picture of the the v formation of geese.

A poem I found while searching for pics of geese flying. Add yours as well if you like.

Then I saw the wild geese flying
In fair formation to their bases in Inchicore
And I knew that these wings would outwear the wings of war
And a man’s simple thoughts outlive the day’s loud lying.
Don’t fear, don’t fear, I said to my soul.
The Bedlam of Time is an empty bucket rattled,
‘Tis you who will say in the end who best battles.
Only they who fly home to God have flown at all.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES Patrick Kavanagh, Dublin 1943

WIM friends check up on me

Wow, I got phone calls, and emails from the women at the retreat wondering where I was and why I wasn't there. Its a wonder they didn't send a posse out after me too. That really feels good to me that they missed me and were that concerned. I missed them too. I called down to Camp Sumatanga to let them know the reasons. And sent an email. You can't call cell phones down at Camp Sumatanga.

I have been taking a bit of retreat here by going to bed earlier, getting the rest I need. I am feeling more rested. I had no idea I was so tired. Headache is going away. My muscles don't feel as tensed up either. Amazing what sleep and rest can do for you.

And I have been reading trying to be quiet, and calm at night. Although I will admit to watching the NCAA women's basket ball tournament. I want to be member of the Tenn. Volunteers women's Basket ball team. Although I am too short, I would be even willing to be the one that goes around wiping the sweat up off the floor. Amazing.

And I had Kate's ball game last night. But I do enjoy being at the ball field and cheering for my girls. At one point I yelled out "Way to stop that ball. Way to go." The girl playing third base was really good at stopping the ball, she just didn't know what to do with it afterward. Well one of the parents looked up at me like I was crazy. And I told the parent, you know you got to affirm them for even trying and learning to play the sports. And then his tone changed and he said that was true. I then started hearing parents cheering the kids for trying at playing. So many on this team, have never played before, and don't know what you do. But they are trying. They lost big time, the other team ran up the score. Oh well, but Kate was a little upset about it, and so we had to talk about it. She told me she needed to practice more, and that I had to get out there and practice with her. So I guess I'll be practicing ball also. But I don't mind, I love playing ball.

What no retreat?

Well wouldn't you know it, I didn't go.
All day, I kept hearing this thought, "Don't go, stay here."
My visit to the my member in the hospital took a long time, they were giving her blood to build up her strength. And they are trying to figure out what is going on. And She has been going back and forth to the hospital recently. Lots of family was there.

By the time I left it was late and I had a headache. I realized my body and my head did not want to make the long trip down to Camp Sumatanga, even if I wanted to. I stopped by the kid's dance studio where they were having lessons, and told Bob I had decided to stay home. Went home to get some meds and quiet. (Dance studios are noisy places.) Then went to the girl's softball game, which is noisy too. Came home and went to bed early. I feel better this morning, but there is the left over residue from the headache. Got lots to do.

I am sad I missed this retreat, and my friends. The saving grace is that vacation is around the corner beginning on Saturday. I just am going to have to be sure to get some more quiet time and not busy time on the vacation. You know with kids along that's a dream, unless Bob takes them for awhile somewhere. We may have to negotiate this since he will probably want some down time too.

Retreating for a day

Dear friends and family,

I am going away for a day for the clergywomen's retreat "One is the Body"
Women in Ministry Spiritual Retreatto my favorite place, where? Camp Sumatanga. We will be led by a sister clergywoman who has a ministry leading retreats, worship workshops, Kay Mutert called Day Spring. Kay was one of our leaders in the Clergy's Covenant Forums, that I took part in a couple of years ago. She was in charge of our worship times, and did a great job leading us in worship, introducing different ways to worship, and teaching us about personal worship. I missed the rgbp's retreat/BE, so I look forward to some time at this one.

I'll be back though, we got packing, moving, cleaning, ball games, dance classes, homework, etc on the home front.

At the church; I have those in the hospital, homebound, the grieving, and meetings this week.

Please pray for Daddy Bob, my sweet hubby while I am gone, he has a lot to do in the next few days. He is still struggling with allergies or something upper respitory. He is better, but still has something. And like most families, when one of the parents is gone, the children seem to push a little more on the one left behind. We are already outnumbered, so he is going to be really outnumbered. And pray for less anxiety for the kids with me being gone.

Blessings to you all today.

A prayer for Easter 3

I found this prayer in Alive Now and thought it fit today;




Cloudy Morning Prayer
by Ruth Naylor

Lord, walk with us
on this strange road
to Emmaus. It is so
hard to recognize purpose
and hope in the midst
of broken dreams
and death.


Our hearts ,
torn and confused
cry out to you.
"Lord, walk with us in this
place where earth's dust
swirls up to cloud our eyes
and threatens to choke us."

picture from Emmaus Catholic Ministry

40 yrs ago in Memphis, blood was shed

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." words by Martin Luther King



This Martin Luther King, Jr.'s last speech

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom. " Martin Luther King, Jr.

Here are the words to his last speech. "I've Been to the Mountaintop" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I was 14 years old when Martin Luther King Jr was killed. I was living in a small town that had just integrated the schools the year before. At the same time it was fighting tooth and nail to keep the blacks in their place as hard as they could.
They did not want them in the churches. In fact the church I went to had voted to not let them in the door, and if they tried to come in, they would be escorted out the door by the deacons.
And yet I can remember the news about him being shot, going to school the next day and the profound somberness at school.
I remember admiring him and reading about what he was trying to do and how he was trying to do it. My grandparents were active in trying to help civil rights to occur. They had a strong sense of justice. I must have learned some of it from them. But then I also knew you did not talk favorably about civil rights or be friendly with blacks back then.
It truly was a mixed up time in our lives. I think of his words and speech I have a dream, and I wonder how much of that dream was fulfilled? I realized what a prophet he was, and how prophets are not wanted in their own country. I wonder what God would have for us now? How God would want us to be now as a country? What would God want me to be doing?

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant. Martin Luther King, Jr.

from Martin Luther King's most frequently read book, Strength to Love, written in 1963. There is quote from that book at the top of the order of celebration, and, another on the back cover.
"I am convinced of the reality of a personal God. It is a living reality that has been vindicated in the experiences of every day life. God is a living God, with feeling, will; responsive to deepest yearnings of the human heart. (God is the one who) is able to make a way out of no way, and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows. This is our hope for becoming better human beings. This is our mandate for seeking to make a better world. "

Friday Five: Revelation

Sally at RevGalBlogpals brings us the Friday Five on Revelation.

With this Sunday's gospel reading in mind, that wonderful revelation of Christ to the companions on the Emmaus road. I wonder where you might have been surprised by God's revelation recently.

So with no further waffle I offer you this weeks Friday 5:

How has God revealed him/herself to you in a:

1. Book Bread And Wine: Readings For Lent And Easter God kept showing up in this book and even afterward as I would think about what I had read while going through the season of Lent and now Easter. I have also started reading the latest Miss Julia book "Miss Julia Strikes Back"
I see God in this woman's tenacity, her acceptance of people, her struggle with difficult situations, her openess and her learning to love all the while living in a Southern culture with a Southern religion.

Books let us into their souls and lay open to us the secrets of our own. ~William Hazlitt

2.Film Okay, I have to be honest, I just don't get to go to the movies. But we bought the movie; Enchanted. As naive as some of the philosophy was, it did have the idea of loving the person you marry, and showing the person you love them. Plus it has good winning over evil. The woman is the heroine. Some people choose to live in an unreal world and some to live in the real world. A plus was that both Patrick Dempsey and James Marsden are so handsome, and enjoyable to watch. Okay back to the original question; when you watch the struggle the character Nathaniel has with his integrity and choices you can see the transformation that comes in one's life meeting and coming to know Jesus. But if I must be really religious it would be the movie "Into Great Silence"

“On a simple level, movies are the stories and myths—the parables—of our times. There is no other medium or institution today that so broadly intersects our society, and there is no other medium as critical for us to understand. These stories and myths touch upon the deepest hopes of our generation.” God at the Movies A Sermon by Lanny Peters
Pastor, Oakhurst Baptist Church, Decatur, Georgia

3. Song Oh my with all the great music during Lent, Holy Week and Easter, plus music at Emmaus it would be almost impossible to point to just one song that God was revealed through.

Music is revelation; a revelation loftier than all wisdom and all philosophy. Ludwig van Beethoven

4. Another person Again, I got to choose only one? That is near impossible to choose. There are so many that I have seen God in.

The highest revelation is that God is in every human being. Ralph Waldo Emerson

5. Creation Oh the beauty of the springtime blossoms and buds along with the rains.

Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.-Martin Luther

Bonus answer: your choice- share something encouraging/ amazing/ humbling that has happened to you recently! I would have to choose as of right now, it would be how God has been at work in the appointive process, opening doors, paving the way, encouraging me through people, scripture, the Holy Spirit, and unexpected moments. I am truly amazed, humbled and lifted up.

"Some say God is nowhere. Others say God is now here. One space makes all the difference."

News Announcement

I am kind of surprised, but the North Alabama Conference Website already has the list of clergy appointments. I mean you usually don't see these until after or right before the June conference. So since it is out, you now know. I am moving to Trinity in HSV to be the Associate.

Tonight, we met to pray for the church, for the Pastor to come and for our moving. We plan to meet now every Wednesday night right before the bible study for prayer. The members felt led to do this, so they began it.

An Easter Walk

I thought this was a good cartoon for Easter 3A.

Aren't we like those disciples walking on the road to Emmaus, Jesus is walking with us and we don't even recognize him. We may be so deep into our own thoughts, or feelings or into ourselves that we miss who is with us? I am probably talking about myself here. I know I miss Jesus when I get so lost in my own thoughts or feelings or self. But we can also find him in our feelings, thoughts, and self as well. However, Jesus was incarnational, and our ministries are to be incarnational. Jesus is often seen in other human beings, in the flesh, real, someone who you can touch, breath, eat with and talk with. May we not miss Jesus today ...... The Back Pew Cartoon

If you want to read some more of my thoughts on this passage; go to my sermon blog, Preaching to the Choir. I'll be blogging there all week about this passage.

What Cruise?

Well, the revgalblogpals who got to go on our first ever Big Event and Retreat Cruise are back. Sigh, I had hoped to be able to go, but well, duty called. I instead have been doing funerals, and interviews for our Ordination candidates. They call it a retreat, but I am not sure it is much of a retreat. We did have some good worship, and good fellowship. And we had some good candidates. But I am glad to be home. Maybe next year I'll get to go with the revgalblog pals on their next retreat. Now it is time to say good night.

Earth Hour: Turn off those Lights!

Thanks to my friend Gord, who reminded me of Earth Hour, I will be turning off my lights for an hour at 8pm. How about you?

You can join millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund.

Earth Hour was created by WWF in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and in one year has grown from an event in one city to a global movement

One hour, America. Earth Hour. Turn out for Earth Hour!

Just turn off your lights at 8pm, your local time.

Earth Hour

The blog

Nothing said in the local paper however.
Here is the video for viewing:


I think we should be able to find something to do by candlelight.

Easter 2 and Springsteen's song Resurrection

Today as I was looking for a prayer for Sunday, I ran across the words to Bruce Springsteeen's song Resurrection. I thought of Thomas and the disciples behind the closed doors not knowing whether to believe if the resurrection is true or not. I thought of all the people today who struggle with whether the resurrection is true or not. I thought of the times I have struggled with my own doubts and beliefs.

RESURRECTION
Ever since I was a young man
I've known the devil too well
I can still hear my mama screamin'
"Boy you gonna burn some day in hell"
Drag me to church on Sunday
Head down, head down, head down on your knees and pray
When it comes you won't forget to call

Well I can't say that I'm a believer
I can't say that I ain't
Oh but three words on a piece of paper
It sure ain't gonna make no kind of sense
Drag us to church on a Friday
And we confess our sins
Special old price of three Hail Marys and your soul is clean again
Yeah!

You must believe what we are saying to believe for without belief you are dying
They told me you must believe what we tell you to believe and yours is not to question why
For the sisters never lie
Yours not to know or die
Might as well not even try
Hail, hail resurrection
You'll invited to come and dance on my grave
Oh I'm gonna have a lot of money
I'll say my prayers to the earth and the sunI
'll say my prayers to the earth and the sun
I'll say my prayers to the earth and the sun
I'll say my prayers to the earth and the sun
Hail, hail resurrection
Hail, hail resurrection
Hail, hail resurrection
Hail, hail resurrection
Hail, hail resurrection
Oh won't you come on now
Hail, hail resurrection
Whoa whoa whoa
Hail, hail resurrection
Can't you hear'em coming now
Hail, hail resurrection
I said can't you hear'em coming now
Hail,
hail resurrection
Hail, hail resurrection
Hail, hail resurrection
Hail, hail resurrection
Hail, hail resurrection

I wondered how many of us were dragged to church, abused by religion, by ministers, by believers, by family, by church members, and now now we don't go at all, don't even want to go, can't make us go? How many does Bruce sing for besides himself?

Forgive us our abuses, for now they don't understand the real meaning of your resurrection. Forgive us our abuses, for now they don't know your love, your grace, your mercy.
Forgive us our abuses, for now the abuse keeps getting passed on from one generation to another.
Forgive us our abuses, for we don't understand the real meaning of your resurrection, your love, your grace, your mercy, we haven't stopped the abuse, and we don't live as Easter People.

Help us live as Easter People. Help us to forgive as you forgive. Help us to stop the abuse. Help us to show others the real meaning of your resurrection. Help us to show them your love, your grace, your mercy.

Friday Five

I am back from Wadley, AL. I did a funeral for one of the longtime members who died of old age on Easter Sunday no less. I loved this lady. She was the chair of the Pastor Parish Committee. I had apparently told her I would have done the funeral when asked, but I did not remember it until the daughter called. It was a sweet funeral. It was good to see some of the members and towns people I had gotten to know. I spent the night as it was a long trip down and a long trip back. I am glad to be home but tired. On the way down there I got a phone call on my cell phone that one of St. John's charter members had died and they wanted me to do the funeral. So now that I am back I'll get ready to do it.

But in the meantime, here is the friday five from revgalblogpals. This time Singing Owl brings A Million Dollar Friday Five to us. Thanks Singing Owl.

Lingering effects of a cold have me watching more television than usual. There appears to be a resurgence of the old daytime staple--the quiz show. Except they are on during prime time, and a great many of them offer the chance of winning one million dollars.I think it started with Regis Philbin and "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" but now we have a half dozen or so.My husband and I started musing (after watching "Deal or No Deal") about what we could do with a million dollars. I thought I'd just bring that discussion into the Friday Five this week. It's simple. What are five things you would want to do with a million dollar deposit in your bank account?

Oh my a million dollar deposit in my bank account.

Does fainting count as one of the five things I would do?

Seriously

1. Tithe first

2. pay off debt

3. save some

4. spend some

5. be a little frivolous as well.

Does getting on my knees and thanking God count?

More thoughts on John 20:19-31

Today lets look at Thomas in this passage.

19-20Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you." Then he showed them his hands and side.
20-21The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: "Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you."
22-23Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. "Receive the Holy Spirit," he said. "If you forgive someone's sins, they're gone for good. If you don't forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?"
24-25But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, "We saw the Master."
But he said, "Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won't believe it."
26Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you."
27Then he focused his attention on Thomas. "Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don't be unbelieving. Believe."
28Thomas said, "My Master! My God!"
29Jesus said, "So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing."
30-31Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down in this book. These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.

The Message translation

Just where was Thomas the first time around? Why wasn't he in the upperroom with the rest? Hiding somewhere else perhaps? Maybe he had heard through the grapevine about Jesus being risen from the dead. Perhaps he had gone back to the tomb to see if it was true and then headed to Galillee. We don't know and can only guess. But we do know it was a week later that they all were together including Thomas. He hadn't met the risen Jesus like the others, and openly expressed his feelings and his doubts. Often when someone dies, we will say "I just can't believe they are dead." We say that right after it happens, and sometimes almost a year or more later. That feeling doesn't go away quickly. So in a way Thomas is expressing normal reactions to an unbelievable situation. What is it like for those when there is no body or when the body is so disfigured or unpresentable for a viewing, what are the family members to do? How do they feel.

I heard my grandad died. He had donated his body to science, and I did not see his body after death, it immediately went to the University of Florida Medical School. I did wonder a lot what happened to him, what he looked like. I wanted to touch him to have a way of saying goodbye. I didn't get it. I had to use my imagination.

Thomas was able to see and touch Jesus. And what happened? Reality set in and he was able to profess Jesus as his Master and God.

Sometimes for people who are grieving, they are not able to move into reality, and stay in the unreality. Sometimes the grief takes over and a person is not able to move through their grief and are stuck in what is called unhealthy grief. Sometimes, the person feels guilty about something they have said or done, or didn't do and that affects the person's ability to grieve in a healthy way. Sometimes, the person is separated, not talked with or has had a negative relationship with the person who died, that also can effect the grief process. We don't know all that was behind how Thomas felt, what he did and said. But scripture leads us to believe he was able to move to a point of reality about Jesus.

How can we help those who are having trouble with their grief?

How can we help those who have not been able to see the body for some reason, grieve?

Grief can effect so many areas of one's life from simple tasks to major tasks to relationships to health, you name it. How can we minister to those in grief?

How can we help the "Thomases" in our life?

How are we like Thomas? What do we need in our lives our own grief?

Tonsillectomy success!

Hi all, and thanks for the prayers and thoughts.

Zach is so much better today, in fact he has gone over the line to comedic, I think its left over from the anesthesia. I would rather have that then him being in pain or sick.

The Doc said the tonsils were absolutely nasty. He said he worked on the adenoids but did not remove them for speech reasons. And the ears were okay. Yea, he will be better and now be able to breathe through his nose.

Mom and dad were tired. Bob is still having allergy problems. I am tired from sleeping with the girls. Originally we had the kids in the same bed sleeping crosswise, but they were playing so much that we had to change that. We put Zach in bed with dad, and I slept between the girls
crosswise. I never found a good position to sleep in and the girls practically slept on me.

The girls were silly at the surgery center. But they were very caring toward their brother. It was too small of a room for all the noise and silliness. And they all were a hit with the staff.

So good to come home. Zach is not happy with eating soft food. Oh well. But this too shall pass.

Missing Easter Post, and Easter bunny

Did you notice I didn't post yesterday on Easter Sunday? I did. I kept thinking I was going to do it, but it never happened.

It was a full, wonderful and fun day.

The kids were great, played a lot, and didn't have too much of a sugar high. They did get candy from some of the members, which is a good thing, because the Easter Bunny slept in at our house. They were beautiful in their new Easter clothes too.

Worship went well. The Easter Tree was beautiful. The music good. Preaching was good.

We even held a blood drive on Sunday. I gave blood after the worship service. It wouldn't have taken so long except they couldn't get the vein in my one arm. After three tries they quit and went to the other arm. Believe it or not I am not too badly bruised. But I was wiped out further than I normally am on Sunday.

I hope your Easter went well, maybe the Easter Bunny showed up at your house though.

We go to Birmingham today to spend the night so we can be at the outpatient surgery center early in the morning for Zach's surgery. He will have a tonsillectomy. The girls are going with us too. Say a prayer for him and for us. Hopefully all will go well.

Holy Saturday

Today is Holy Saturday of Holy Week. On Holy Saturday the Church waits at the Lord's tomb, meditating on his suffering and death. The altar is left bare, the church is stripped of its decorations. All lies in wait. It is a time of silence. Silence as it was that Saturday so long ago. It has been called the "Second Sabbath" after creation. The day is and should be the most calm and quiet day of the entire Church year. Christ lies in the grave. After the great battle He is resting in peace, but upon Him we see the scars of intense suffering...The mortal wounds on His Body remain visible....Jesus' enemies are still furious, attempting to obliterate the very memory of the Lord by lies and slander. Mary and the disciples are grief-stricken, as are we.
Today we remember Christ in the tomb. This day is also called "Black Sabbath". On this day, as in no other, we are invited into the most profound silence of the life of God, whose Son, "of one being with the Father," lay buried in a tomb.

Matthew 27:57As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The Apostles’ Creed proclaims that Christ was not only “crucified,dead, and buried,” but also that he “descended into hell.”

Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

I Peter 3:18For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:19By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;20Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:and I Peter 4:6For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.


Icon of the Epitaphios Thrinos

The Stations of the Cross

Today on Good Friday, one of the things churches do is called The Stations of the Cross.

There are plenty of Stations of the Cross on the internet and at a church nearby. Find one to go to, and take time to go the way of the cross today.

Were You There 2

This video used scenes from the movie The Passion.

Were You There?

Johnny Cash - Were You There

Oh my I couldn't believe how many versions of this song there were on youtube.

Friday Five for Good Friday

RevHRod at RevGalBlogPals brings us the Friday Five: "As a child the designation "good" for today confused me. How could we call such a somber day, good? Holy, yes. Blessed, yes. But, good?

As an adult I understand the meaning of good for this day. It is a solemn day of remembrance but it is also a time for us to stop and recall the great gift of love that we received this day. And that is most certainly good.

Our worship today will differ from place to place. Some services will focus on the great litany of prayers. Others will use the seven last words of Jesus. Some of us will walk the stations of the cross. Others will participate in a Tennebrae service of shadows and light.

I hope that this Friday Five will be a meaningful part of your Good Friday. God's blessings to you on your journey.

1. Our prayer concerns are as varied as we are this day. For whom would you like us to pray? Pray for my mom, today would have been my dad's birthday, and he has been dead for 10 years now.
2. Are there things you have done or will do today to help the young ones understand this important day in our lives? yes, I got little ones that I want them to be able to understand.
3. Music plays an important part in sharing the story of this day. Is there a hymn or piece of music that you have found particularly meaningful to your celebrations of Good Friday? Too many to mention. I will say that I have had the old Spiritual "were You There" rumbling around in my head this week.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
Oh!Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

Were you There
4. As you hear the passion narrative, is there a character that you particularly resonate with? The women, in particular Mary Magdalene.
5. Where have you seen the gracious God of love at work lately? On the Emmaus Walk, with my family, and my friends.

Good Friday

Friday of Holy Week has been traditionally been called Good Friday or Holy Friday. The English designation of "Good Friday" is apparently a corruption of "God's Friday," although the term is a very fitting one since the Lord's death was for our eternal good.
On this day, the church commemorates Jesus’ arrest (since by Jewish customs of counting days from sundown to sundown it was already Friday), his trial, crucifixion and suffering, death, and burial. Since services on this day are to observe Jesus’ death, and since Eucharist is a celebration, there is traditionally no Communion observed on Good Friday. Also, depending on how the services are conducted on this day, all pictures, statutes, and the cross are covered in mourning black, the chancel and altar coverings are replaced with black, and altar candles are extinguished. They are left this way through Saturday, but are always replaced with white before sunrise on Sunday.

The Seven Last Words of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel traditions are often recalled as well.
"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)
"Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."(Luke 23:43)
"Woman, behold your son" ... "Behold, your mother!"(John 19:26-27)
"E'lo-i, E'lo-i, la'ma sabach-tha'ni?" which means, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34)
"I thirst." (John 19:28)
"It is finished!" (John 19:30)
"Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" (Luke 23:46)

Simply put in Mark 15:24. "And they crucified him." Jesus is believed to have died on the cross at 3 o'clock in the afternoon of Good Friday

At the Name of Jesus, every knee should bend
for the Lord became obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:10,8

And so today, on a day that is so beautiful outside, it becomes hard to get into the mood for remembering the events of Jesus' crucifixion. I find it hard to want to get into it at all, and yet it is at the very heart of what I believe and live as follower of Jesus.

Father forgive me...,forgive us....I am to forgive others as you have forgiven me,
70x7. Have I forgiven as you have forgiven me?

Jesus told the thief on the other cross that he would be in paradise with him today.
Lord, I too am a thief, will you forgive me and will I be in paradise with you also?
I know I have done wrong over and over again, but not you, you don't deserve this death, I do.

I am woman, I am to behold my son, my son in each one of you. We are all family in more ways than we realize. Do I behold you as my son? Do I behold you as Jesus?

Jesus, I feel so sad that you felt forsaken on the cross, and that you were forsaken by your followers. I have at times forsaken you too. It is so easy to give into the temptation to do so before I know it. There have been times I felt forsaken by God or that God was silent or not present, but God has not forsaken me. I can't imagine what it was like for you on the cross to feel the way you did and to cry out to God, "why have you forsaken me?"

Your thirst makes your death so real. And that they gave you a sponge soaked in vinegar, makes it all the more real. I thirst, and I drink water, tea, carbonated drinks. There was a time in my life I drank alcohol, too much, trying to numb my feelings. It is so powerful that not that long ago in your life Jesus you met the woman at the well and offered her living water that she would never thirst again. You thristed so that all may have that living water. May I too have your living water that I may never thirst again.

It is finished. Is it really? Is that all there is to the story. No more. No more parables to be told, healings to be done, miracles to be made, no more lessons for the disciples or the pharisee? Oh God it can't be, but you say, it is finished. We were just getting to know you.It can be over not yet.

Father into your hands I commit my spirit just as Jesus did his. I know no other one to commit my spirit too. Will you recieve me too?

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.