To God be the Glory

Friends, keep up your prayers for us. 

1st Thessalonians 5:25

I have many friends to thank today, including the pastor and congregation of Beulah Church, for your thoughts and prayers for my trip to Pittsburgh, and for Joel’s success at his audition.  Prayer produces amazing results, one of which I would like to relate to you.

I was sitting in the great hall of the Fine Arts Building [a work of art in and of itself].  Joel had finished his theory test and was sitting a short way down the hall waiting for his ear training test.  A courtly gentleman walked up to me and inquired if I was a parent of one of the auditioners.  I replied that I was actually a vocal instructor.  He did not introduce himself, but asked me to point out my student, and I did so.  We then chatted for about 10 minutes, he telling me of the details of Carnegie-Mellon’s conservatory program, and I answering his questions regarding Joel and his family.  Finally, he smiled and said, “Well, I am really looking forward to hearing him.”  I must have been standing there staring at him, because he smiled and introduced himself as one of the four Master Vocal Instructors at the conservatory, and one of the adjudicators of the vocal auditions.  He then indicated that he wanted to go and speak to Joel, and proceeded to do so.

I sat in stunned silence.  I watched as he introduced himself to Joel, and spoke with him for 5-6 minutes.  Then this kind gentleman grabbed a bite of refreshment and went into the audition room.  I did not see him approach anyone else, although he very well may have at a later time. 

I have been in the teaching business for many, many years, and have attended auditions and competitions aplenty.  The adjudicators are always an inaccessible group, not wanting to prejudice their superior judgment with familiarity or sentimentality.  This gracious man broke down those barriers for one tremendously talented but shy student.  Joel went into that audition knowing that one of those faces at the back of the room would be familiar and friendly.  I sat outside the audition hall knowing that this man would be listening, not to a stranger, but to a young man of his acquaintance. 

To God be the glory, great things He has done.

Rest Day

Today is my Sabbath - a delightful day of rest and, for me today, exploration.  The trip to Pittsburgh was difficult at times - I do not have the best night vision, and the little sprayers that clean windshields do not work on my car.  But the Lord was with me, thanks to the prayers of many, and I arrived safe and sound.  After a wonderful night's sleep, am looking forward to my day of rest.

As many of you know, I am an avid photographer, and love any opportunity to utilize my camera.  The photos that are usually attached to this blog are mine.  Today, I am going to the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, as well as the Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens.  Each facility has plenty of indoor exhibits, which is wonderful, considering that it is snowing flurrying outside.  I look forward to a day of rest, wonder, and beautiful photos.

No matter which day is your Sabbath, I wish for you a day of peace today.  Peace is sometimes hard to come by, but Jesus has promised it, and He always delivers on His promises.  Blessings to you today.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.

Not as the world gives, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled,

Neither let it be afraid.

[KJV]

A Needed Journey

Pray without ceasing.

1^st Thessalonians 5:17

After I finish teaching at Thomas Dale High School this morning, I will be climbing in my old, trusted jalopy [1995 Corrolla] and heading off to Pittsburg in the rain, sleet and snow.  One of my voice students from Thomas Dale has an audition at Carnegie Mellon University on Sunday morning.  There are supposed to be “snow showers” on Friday and Saturday in Pittsburgh.  Just “light snow,” whatever that is.  Obviously not a great day to travel.

I would appreciate your prayers on my behalf on Friday, your prayers on behalf of the student and his family who are traveling on Saturday, and prayers for all of us as we return to Richmond on Sunday.  It doesn’t appear that the temperature will be above freezing all weekend.  Conditions are definitely not good, but we will trust in the Lord to enable us to arrive safely.  Thank you for your prayers on our behalf.

There will not be a blog on Saturday or Sunday unless I can gain access to a computer in Pittsburgh.  Blessings to you on this wintry weekend.

Sherrie 

God will take care of you,

Through every day, o’er all the way

He will take care of you,

God will take care of you.

Hidden Treasure

Good books don’t give up all their secrets at once.

-Stephen King

Stephen King is my daughter’s favorite author.  Because his genre is basically the macabre—horror fiction, I do not read his books.  A few years ago, however, she introduced me to a Stephen King book I could read:  On Writing.  In this book, King reveals his creative process, and gives fantastic advice to those of us who would love to be better writers.  His statement above is one of many excellent thoughts regarding the reading/writing process.

When I read a book that proves to be fascinating – an “I can’t put it down” book, it goes on the bookshelf in my bedroom. When I have a long appointment or an overnight stay, I grab one of my favorites to take with me.  Some books, such as Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, I have read dozens of times.  Its finely drawn portraits of men functioning under the extreme stress of war [Civil War] are always fresh.  Beyond that, there inevitably is something in dialogue, action or emotion that I missed on the last read-through.

The Bible is the king of “ah-ha!” moments.  No matter how many times you read it, noting connections and cross-connections, you will always find something that you did not recognize before – a comment, an inflection, a bond between Old and New Testaments, a fulfillment of prophecy, an understanding that you did not experience the last time you read that passage.  I am often guilty of thinking, “Oh, I’ve already read that!” or “Oh, I already know about that.”  Yes, I have studied the Bible a great deal; but No, I will never know everything it has to teach me.  It will always contain hidden treasure, just waiting to be revealed.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Hebrews 4:12 [New Living Translation]

Mowing in Winter

No winter lasts forever;

No spring skips its turn.

-Hal Borland

Sunday and Monday of this week, the temperature outside was literally freezing – well, far below, actually.  Sunday morning it was about 14 degrees. Today – it was 54 degrees.  It really didn’t feel that warm because of the breeze, but it was certainly a welcome departure from the deep chill of last weekend.  What did I do to celebrate?  I mowed two large back lawns.

  

Insane, you say?  No, not really.  One of my friends “hired” me to do her leaves this year.  I finished bagging the huge oak leaves in the front yard before Christmas, but did not get to the backyard before the temperatures dropped.  It has a beautifully even carpet of lovely round leaves [I haven’t a clue from what kind of tree].  I have a great mulching lawn mower, and we had agreed that I would mulch up the back leaves.  Even I, however, am not crazy enough to mow leaves in below freezing weather.  Yesterday was the perfect day to finish the job, and while I was at it, I dispensed with the leaves in my own backyard.

In the midst of a bleak winter landscape with snow upon snow or ice upon ice, it is difficult, sometimes, to remember that new life is buried beneath, quietly waiting to burst forth in the warmth of spring.  I often think of another of my favorite songs when I begin to feel that way:

When the night has been too lonely,

And the road has been too long.

And you think that love is only

For the lucky and the strong.

Just remember in the winter,

Far beneath the bitter snow

Lies the seed, that with the sun’s love

In the spring, becomes the rose.

In our daily walk, it can [and often does] feel as though we are in the wintertime of our lives, and there is nothing on the horizon of surprise or joy – only the continuation of cold and darkness.  Times of discouragement are no stranger to the human race.  When the reality of our lives is not what we planned, it is easy to forget that there is One who can take any circumstance and weave it into a glorious tapestry “for our good.” We see only the back side of the embroidery of our lives, with its knots and hanging threads.  We must trust the Master Weaver, who fashions all the threads – dark and light – into a beautiful life.

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

 –Romans 8:28

Brighten the Corner Where You Are

Do your little bit of good where you are; 

its those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.  –Desmond Tutu

While I was growing up, my mother used to tell me that because God had given me such wonderful gifts and talents, He obviously had big plans for me.  When God miraculously healed my oldest daughter’s heart when she was just a babe, Mom pronounced to anyone who would listen that God obviously had great plans for her life.  In reality, I have lived an ordinary life – no grand curtain calls, no stunning act of devotion.  My daughter still has most of her life ahead of her, but she, too, has received no lofty mission from God.

Whenever I think of my mother’s words, I reflect back to my small green chair in my Sabbath School class of long ago.  I learned so many little songs there that had a direct influence on my thoughts about life.  This was one of my favorites:

Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do,

Do not wait to shed your light afar;

To the many duties ever near you now be true,

Brighten the corner where you are.

Brighten the corner where you are!

Brighten the corner where you are!

Someone far from harbor you may guide across the bar –

Brighten the corner where you are!

I loved the thought of being my own tiny lighthouse in the corner of the world where I lived.  I would hold my little finger high in the air – visualizing my tiny beam of light helping someone find Jesus.  It was a powerful image for a young child, and it has stayed with me throughout my life.  God has never called me to a grand mission; He has not placed on me the mantle of missions to lands far and near.  I am content knowing that my little light flickers in this tiny corner of God’s great universe.

Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

The Fragility of Life

My humanity is bound up in yours,

for we can only be human together.

-Desmond Tutu

I watched 48 Hours last night – the portion that dealt with the aftermath of the Tucson shootings.  The woman being interviewed, Suzi Hileman, was the neighbor who invited 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green to go with her to the Congress on Your Corner event to meet her congresswoman.

I have thought of her so often in the intervening time since the shooting – of the grief and guilt that came from her innocent invitation to a budding politician to go and see how the process works. They watched Congresswoman Giffords drop to the ground, then followed her to the asphalt almost instantaneously.  Suzi lay next to Christina yelling at her not to die – not to leave her – even as life’s light faded from the little girl’s eyes.  The brutal “Oh my God, what have I done?” thoughts bore down on her, even through her own pain and suffering.  “I was responsible for her, Suzi said.  “It was my job to bring her home to her mom and dad.”

I cannot imagine such pain and guilt.  An unexpected [and huge] consolation presented itself at her hospital bedside—Christina’s parents, John and Roxanna Green.  They set aside their grief to reach out and console the one they knew would feel responsible for the death of their child.  They offered love, friendship and the complete absence of blame.  It was a precious gift to the woman who had been a surrogate grandmother to their daughter.

Suzi has written on her blog that she does not know if it’s possible to live with the knowledge that she watched the light go out of Christina’s eyes.  It will be a difficult challenge.  Hopefully the two sets of neighbors will continue to support each other and keep alive in their hearts the memory of this little girl.  We in the Christian community can assist – even though we are many miles away.  If you have a daily prayer list, put Suzi Hileman’s name on it.  Only God can heal her heart and give her the peace she craves. 

We give thanks to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Praying always for you.

Colossians 1:3

It is Lawful to do Good

Then he turned to his critics and asked, "Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?" But they wouldn't answer him.

Mark 3:4 [NIV]

Yesterday was my Sabbath – Saturday, the seventh day of the week.  I have observed this day from childhood, and it is a very special part of my life.  The church I was raised in has very strict rules for appropriate behavior on the Sabbath.  The Pharisees had the same tradition in Jesus’ time.  Neither group would have approved of what I did yesterday.

One of my voice students from the local high school where I teach has been nominated to attend Governor’s School this summer.  She was supposed to audition two weeks ago, but was on a mission trip to Guatemala.  She was rescheduled for last week, then rescheduled for today.  In the meantime, her accompanist [you have to bring your own] suddenly quit, and she could not find anyone who was willing to play the music [Messiah] or make the long drive to George Mason University.  So she contacted me.

I could have told her that I don’t do things like that on my Sabbath.  That would be standing up for the rules as well as “witnessing” about my day of worship.  That is, after all, the expected party line.  As I grow older, however, I find it harder and harder to spew forth the official policy.  What Would Jesus Do?  I’m not sure what He would have done in my circumstance, but I do know that He said it was “lawful” to do good on the Sabbath.  And someone needed to do this child a good deed and play for her audition.  So I did.

During the time we had to wait for her adjudication, we had a chance to talk about her interests in music.  She has been involved all her life in musical theater, but now is not certain she wants to go in that direction.  She knows that she does not want to be a classical singer.  She then shared a recent moment of conviction when she felt that God might be calling her to music ministry – as a worship leader, or a minister of music.  I had the opportunity to encourage her if she felt the Lord was calling her in that direction.  I started my own church ministry at the age of 14, as organist for a United Methodist Church in Phoenix.  I continue in that ministry to this day.  Would my young friend have opened up about her belief of a calling in another circumstance, such as school?  No, I don’t think so.  I was honored to share with her my own joy in musical ministry, and drove away from GMU with an assurance in my heart that I was in the right place at the right time.

Blessed Sabbath made for man,

Gift from the Creator’s hand.

The Cat Who Talked Alot

So God formed from the dirt of the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air.  He brought them to the Man to see what he would name them.  Whatever the Man called each living creature, that was its name.  Exodus 2:19 [The Message]

Cat (kat) n., pl cat or cats

1. Any of a family of carnivores characterized by a lithe body,

and, in all species except the cheetah, retractile claws.

2. a small, lithe, soft-furred animal domesticated since

ancient times and often kept as a pet or for killing mice.

I have two adult cats in my household:  George [6 years old] is actually a female [the reason she is called George is story fodder for another time], and is an extremely large cat. Sapphire [4 years old] is also a female, but she is a small feline – especially when you compare her to George.  The two cats have very different personalities:  George is sulky, somewhat mean, and very controlling.  Sapphire is happy-go-lucky, and a real talker.  For those of you who are not cat people, I am not talking about meowing. 

George meows.  Saph talks.

Sapphire begins the day’s conversation very early – as soon as she hears my alarm go off.  She sits in the hall, chatting and cajoling, trying to entice me to come into the kitchen and feed her.  Thirty minutes later, she is in my office, perched on the floor next to my chair, nattering away about one thing or another – usually a request to have her face rubbed. While I am at work, she spends her day in the front window.  The minute she sees my car pull in the driveway, she jumps down, meets me at the door, and launches the dialogue all over again.  She offers comments, makes demands, and asks questions.  This distinction is clearly audible in her speech patterns.  Sapphire is my first talking cat, and she is fascinating to live with.

Interacting with this intriguing animal often takes my thoughts back to the Garden of Eden.  God created Adam, set him in his garden home, then created streams of animals and birds – each one named by Adam himself.  Could he talk to them?  Was there a form of communication between man and the animals?  Did he have a little cat [or a big one, for that matter] who asked questions and waited patiently for his reply?  Only God can satisfy my mental meanderings, but one thing is for sure and certain.  The day I set foot in heaven, I will have my answer.

We speak of the realms of the blest,

That country so bright and so fair,

And oft are its glories confessed,

But what must it be to be there!

The joy of the Lord is my strength. 

Nehemiah 8:10

On November 20, 2010, I began this blog as a tribute and encouragement to three friends who were struggling with severe illness and quarantined at home.  I’m not sure what made me think of a blog in that circumstance.  I already had a blog—one that was rather dark and dismal, recounting the stories of my less-than-desirable childhood.  However, the thought struck me that my time would be much better served writing about the goodness of the Lord, illustrated with photos of the beauty of His creation.  Thus, the journey began.

This last week has been a wonderful time of thanksgiving around Beulah UMC.  Last Sunday, Alan returned to church and to choir, not exactly free of his disease, but definitely greatly improved.  Tom was also in church last Sunday, looking and feeling terrific—a far healthier man than the one who came to hear the Christmas cantata last December.  The last event of our triple crown of blessings happened on Tuesday, when Ben returned to work as the Associate Pastor following a stem-cell transplant.  The Miracle Worker of Galilee is doing His work in the lives of these three men, and we are grateful beyond measure.

I knew, starting out, that writing on a daily basis might be difficult and I will not deny that sometimes it is.  However, I love the Lord, I love photography, and I love the written word.  Putting the three together has become a source of joy for me, much more so than I expected.  It is a way for me to have a daily conversation with God [and myself] regarding what it means to walk with God.

I recently read an article by a noted health professional challenging his readers to commit to writing a daily blog for one year.  I have accepted that challenge.  I have no idea if anyone reads this blog beyond the seven loyal followers that have signed up to receive it.  Who reads it is not really my concern.  Even if this comes down to only a daily conversation between me and the Lord, it will definitely be time well spent.

To my three friends - Alan, Ben and Tom - your renewed health is a source of  thanksgiving and praise for those who know and love you.  May your lives continue to thrive under His gentle hand.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Praise Him, all creatures here below,

Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

The B I B L E

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Mark 16:15

Every Wednesday evening, the church where I work offers Music & Missions for children from age 3 through 5^th grade.  The music portion is provided by three choirs:  Cherub [3-4 yr. olds], Music Makers [K-2^nd Grade], and the Voices of Praise [3^rd-5^th Grade].  The mission portion is taught by the leader in each respective group.  This year, we have been studying missionaries: where they serve, who they serve, and why they serve.

Tonight’s lesson dealt with missionaries who translate the Bible into another language.  Although the Bible is the most translated piece of literature in the world, I was stunned to learn that 340,000,000 people do not have a even a portion of the Bible in their own language.  In 1994, it was estimated that of the then 3,000+ languages in the world, 341 had complete Bibles, 822 some parts of the Bible, and that Bible translation was in progress in an additional 1,000 languages.  We did a project paper with the kids that showed 7 words in the Balangao language of the Philippines – all of which meant “carry.”  The difference between the seven words hinged on how something was carried.  When we began to think of English words that we used for carry, we came up with: tote, transport, convey, move, conduct, cart, clutch, hold, lug – the meaning of which appeared to hinge on what was being carried.   It was clear that one needed to know the customs and social lives of the people in order to know what particular word to use in any given situation.  Obviously translating the Bible into the language of the people must be an exhaustive task.

I don’t know if the children learned anything, but I certainly did!  I am grateful for the copies of Scripture that I have at my disposal, and have a greater appreciation for the labor of love that brought the various translations into existence. I understand a bit better the cost in human time, talent and dedication, and pray that God will send the laborers into the translation fields to provide the Word of God to all nations, kindred, tongues, and people.

The B I B L E – yes, that’s the book for me.

I stand alone on the Word of God, the B I B L E.

No Spring Chickens Here!

Honor and enjoy your Creator while you’re still strong, before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes.  
 Ecclesiastes 12:1 [The Message]

My middle daughter called me on the phone during my allergy-induced meltdown the other night.   She has been physically present during previous episodes, so knew immediately what was happening.  She tried to be calm and quietly supportive, but she couldn’t hide the mixture of concern and irritation at me that colored her voice.  The question, “Mom, don’t you ever learn?” was never verbalized, but was hanging like a banner over the conversation none-the-less.

Finally, during a brief lull in the pain on my side and concern on hers, my daughter hesitantly said, “Mom, I really don’t mean to offend you or anything, but you know, you aren’t exactly a spring chicken anymore!”  Even in my misery I had to laugh!  Spring chicken?  What – are you saying I’m old??  What exactly are we implying here?  I felt my hackles rising as I searched my brain for a smart, snappy rejoinder. The next wave of pain brought that quest to a screeching halt.  She was, after all, just telling me that I am not getting any younger, a truth that confronts me every morning when I look in the mirror.

This text in Ecclesiastes continues with a vivid picture of older age – the “grinders” [teeth] stopping because “they are few,” and the eyes likened to window panes through which no light shines.  But there is no indication that the aging process brings anyone’s life [physical or spiritual] to a halt.  Rather, the extra time that we [theoretically] have when our duties slow down allows us to concentrate more fully on the Creator and His meaning in our lives.

I may not be a spring chicken, but neither am I the ancient of days just yet.  There is still time, God willing, to live a vibrant Christian life – having a thriving relationship with my family, my friends, and my God. 

My song shall be of Jesus, when sitting at His feet

I call to mind His goodness, and know my joy’s complete.

My song shall be of Jesus, whatever ills befall.

I’ll sing the grace that saves me, and triumphs over all.

The Rationalization of Chocolate

The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9 [KJV]

I have a long list of foods to which I am either allergic or intolerant.  Gluten intolerance is No. 1 on the list, but an adverse reaction to medication when I was in my 20’s left me allergic to just about everything to one degree or another.  An allergy test performed at Loma Linda University Medical Center when I was in my 20’s indicated that I could safely eat 6 different vegetables and pork.  Over the years, some allergies have faded, others have intensified. There are certain foods I just know better than to touch: chocolate, dairy, citrus, and anything with gluten, for starters.

Rationalization is a talent of the entire human race, but mine has been whittled to a very fine point.  If I sneak [yes – sneak] a bite of cake, bread, ice cream, little piece of orange or chocolate and nothing earth-shattering happens, I willingly convince myself that everything is OK.  Just a tiny bit once in a while won’t hurt.  But tiny bits have a way of snowballing, and suddenly there is the straw that breaks the camel’s back: for me, usually chocolate.  At that point, the stomach suddenly erupts into spewing acid, clouds of gas, excruciating spasms, and enough pain to last a lifetime.  Such was my lot last night – from 4:30pm to midnight.  Each time I do this to myself, I promise faithfully [to myself and to God] with a multitude of tears that I will never do it again. [Can you hear my rationalizing self chuckling in the background?]

Sin is exactly the same as my chocolate:  forbidden, hurtful, but oh, it tastes [feels] so good!  Somehow that desperately wicked brain doesn’t process the fact that the sin [taste, touch, feel] is over in a matter of seconds, minutes, hours – but the consequences can last a life-time.  I abhor pain, and have an extremely low threshold.  Why in the world would I willingly inflict it upon myself?  Sin can separate us from all the things we love – our true self, our friends, our family, our God.  The concept seems so easy – until we spot that next piece of chocolate.

Jesus! What a strength in weakness!

Let me hide myself in Him.

Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing

He, my strength, my victory wins.

MLK 25

…Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant…

 [Matthew 20:26 NASB]

Today is the 25^th anniversary of the first Martin Luther King holiday, established in memory of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Dr. King was many things to many people, but above all he was a man who gave his life in service to others. Dr. King once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"
 
Jesus did not have a great deal of time for self-promoters.  When Mrs. Zebedee came to Jesus seeking assurances of preeminence for her two sons, Jesus said to her, “You have no idea what you are asking.”  Jesus’ path to the throne would lead through the valley of the shadow of death, rather than the palaces of the rich and famous.  When the other ten disciples became incensed at the audacity of James and John’s mother, Jesus laid out the pathway to greatness:  humble yourself and become a servant.

"Martin Luther King, Jr. lived his life for others, dedicating his work to ensuring equal opportunity, freedom, and justice for all," President Obama said in a statement. "I encourage every American to observe this holiday in honor of Dr. King's selfless legacy by volunteering in their own communities and by dedicating time each day to bettering the lives of those around us."  He further challenged Americans to perform 25 acts of service to others during this 25^th anniversary year of the MLK holiday.

As followers of the Son of God, we should not need a presidential mandate to motivate us into service.  Jesus’ life was dedicated to reaching out to all those He came in contact with.  He “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  [Matthew 20:28 NASB]  We have the opportunity, every single day, to live our lives as He did.  In the end, that is all that will matter.

Then the King will say to those on His right:

Enter, you who are blessed by my Father

Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. And here’s why:

I was hungry and you fed me.

I was thirsty and you gave me a drink.

I was homeless and you gave me a room.

I was shivering and you gave me clothes.

I was sick and you stopped to visit.

I was in prison and you came to Me.

Then the righteous will say,

“Master, what are you talking about?”

Then the King will say,

I’m telling the solemn truth:

When ever you did one of these things

To someone overlooked or ignored,

That was Me –

You did it to Me.

-Matthew 25:35-40 [The Message]

We Are the Church Together

…The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.  
Acts 2:47 [KJV]

We are freed to free others

We are affirmed to affirm others.

We are loved to love others.

We are family – we are community

We are the church triumphant:

            You, me, anyone who would come to the Lord

            Renewed, redirected, empowered,

            To change things and lives

            Together in love and wholeness.

We are the Lord’s church

            The church of justice and mercy.          

The people sent to open prisons,

            To heal the sick

            To clothe the naked

            To feed the hungry

            To reconcile

To be alleluias when there is no music

The mantle is upon our shoulders.

Joy is apparent in our living.

We have been commissioned to be

The Church of Jesus Christ.

            -Ann Weems

            Kneeling in Bethlehem

Miracles

Though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him. John 12:37

I experienced something really strange this week.  I heard a man talking about miracles.  He was not just any man – this was a neurological surgeon from a major U.S. medical institution.  I was stunned that the word “miracle” came out of his mouth:  not once, but several times.  In today’s society, the word “miracle” [an event or action that apparently contradicts known scientific laws and hence thought to be due to supernatural causes or an act of God] is rather taboo.  Many sincere Christians no longer believe in the miraculous.  Tuesday, the world witnessed a prominent, highly-educated man who does.

Dr. Gerald Lemole is the gifted neurosurgeon in Tucson who operated on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords after she was shot in the head.  Journalist Diane Sawyers interviewed Dr. Lemole regarding the tragedy that unfolded last Sunday, and the progress of his patient, which has been beyond amazing.   She asked, ”Do you ever use the word miracle?”   Dr. Lemole replied, “I do.  Yes, I do.  I think she is a miracle in the way she presented to us…how unique it was that she was able to follow commands with this kind of severe injury.  That, in and of itself, is a miracle.  We can’t control that.  And when we are dealt that hand, we are very thankful.” 

A little later in the conversation, Dr. Lemole said, “Miracles happen every day, and in medicine, we like to attribute them to either what we do or others do around us.  But a lot of medicine is outside our control, and we are wise to acknowledge miracles.” 

Somewhere up in the endless starry realms, our Savior must have looked down on this interview with a huge grin on His face.  He, after all, knows all about  miracles.  He has been performing them every day for thousands and thousands of years.

My Father is omnipotent, and that you can’t deny -

A God of might and miracles, `tis written in the sky.

It took a miracle to put the stars in place,

It took a miracle to hang the world in space.

But when He saved my soul,

Cleansed and made me whole,

It took a miracle of love and grace.

John: I AM...The Vine

 I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vine grower.  

John 15:1 [NAS]

I love to garden – especially flowers.  Daisies, petunias, pansies, hydrangeas, roses, geraniums – I try to fill my landscape with flower beds, large containers of flowers, and the occasional flowering bush.  I used to grow lots of vegetables in Arizona, but have had neither the land nor the courage to try it here.  I appear to have a bit of a green thumb when it comes to flowers, so I stick with what I know.

My first home in Chesterfield County had a huge honeysuckle vine growing along the chain-link fence.  It was obvious that no one had spent much time pruning or shaping it, so it grew rather wild – completely intertwined in the wire of the fence.  A small rose bush in front of the vine didn’t have a chance – the vine covered the bush and the trees, and anything else that was climbable.  When I would get sick of the tangles, I would snip a couple of places and go my way.  The next day, the severed branches would be dead, and I could clean things up a bit.  It always amazed me how quickly the branches died when when they were cut off from the main stalk.

Jesus used the vine analogy to help us understand the beauty of connectivity.  He is the rooted vine stalk, storing nourishment and grace in His roots and lovingly tended by the Father.  We, His children, are the branches - connected to the Vine through heart and soul, gathering sustenance and strength to live our everyday lives for and through Him.  If anything or anyone severs our connection, our spiritual growth withers away.  The vigor of our Christian life is dependent upon our relationship with our Savior.

Chief of sinners though I be,

Jesus shed His blood for me.

Died that I might live on high,

Died that I might never die.

As the branch is to the vine,

I am His, and He is mine.

John: I AM...The Light of the World

I am the Light of the World.  He that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.  John 8:12

Are you afraid of the dark?  True fear of the dark, called nyctophobia, is an acute fear that something catastrophic will happen to a person if they are alone in the darkness. Nyctophobia is common among young children, with the feeling that something sinister is just out of sight [under the bed, in the closet], waiting for the opportune moment to attack.

As an adult, I find that I cannot sleep well if my bedroom is not completely dark.  However, that is inside my home.  Outside my house is another matter altogether.  I have five sets of outside lights that guarantee (if I remembered to turn them on!) that I will not return home to a darkened property. 

Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the Light of the world.  His statement is reminiscent of the very beginning of creation, when all was utter darkness until He spoke light into creation.  There was no world at that point, just glorious unending radiance.  There can be no darkness in the presence of the Savior, for He is light itself.  If we are walking with Him, we will be living in the “light of life.” 

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “I am this dark world’s light.

Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise, and all thy days be bright."

I looked to Jesus, and I found in Him my star, my sun;

And in that light of life I’ll walk, till traveling days are done.

John: I AM...the Bread of Life

I am the Bread of Life: he that comes to me shall never hunger, and he that believes on Me shall never thirst.   

John 6:35

I absolutely love bread – any kind, any form.  I learned how to make bread many years ago, and there is nothing quite like the smell of fresh baked bread to start the stomach growling and the mouth salivating.  There is a wonderful Montana Gold bakery in Carytown where you can experience not only the sights and smells, but tastes as well through their “free slice” policy.

How ironic, then, that I cannot eat most bread. I am gluten-intolerant, and cannot eat any bread that contains wheat, barley, or rye flour.  You can enter any grocery store, walk through the bakery or the bread aisle, and choose a loaf of bread for which you will pay $2.00-3.00.  If I want to eat bread, I must go to Carytown: not to Montana Gold, but to the health food store, where I can purchase gluten-free bread for $7.00 a loaf.  The cost is highway robbery, but the ability to eat bread is worth every penny.

Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life.  He is the everyday staple that we need in order to sustain spiritual life.  If we come to Him for sustenance, He promises that we will never hunger and never thirst.  This concept becomes especially clear if we link this verse with Matthew 5:6:  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled.   If we desire to be like Christ, He will pour into us His life, His character, His love.

Living Bread come down from heaven,

Broken, shared, distributed.

Feed us, gathered at this table

With Your grace unlimited.

John: I AM...the Good Shepherd

I am the Good Shepherd.   
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.   
John 10:11

My friend Diane and I have been cleaning up the church attic that is situated just above the choir room.  It is a huge room filled with advent decorations, Christmas trees, wreaths, plastic palm plants for Palm Sunday, racks and tubs and boxes filled with assorted nativity costumes, and a whole gob of left-over Vacation Bible School decorations.

On the children's costume rack in the corner are about a dozen tiny sheep costumes that are absolutely adorable.  Fuzzy, pristine white costumes matched with white stretch headbands with black ears attached.  So cute.  Problem is, sheep don’t look like that.  At least, the ones in our live nativity certainly didn’t.  The color of their matted wool was somewhere between café latte, rolled dirt and burnt umber.  Maybe they were supposed to be fluffy clean and white, but their actual appearance didn’t even come close.

Jesus made the statement, “I am the Good Shepherd.”  He also indicated that we, His people, are the sheep.  When Adam and Eve were created and placed in the Garden, their lives were innocent, pure and white, just like the proverbial wooly sheep. Sin changed all that.  Now, as Isaiah so eloquently put it, our lives resemble “filthy rags” – just like the café latte lambs.  The beautiful message of this text is that Jesus laid down His life for His sheep, for you and I – “…making them white in the blood of the Lamb.” 

He offers you an invitation today:  “Come now, and let us reason together,” saith the Lord.  Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  [Isaiah 1:18 KJV]

Savior, like a Shepherd lead us,

Much we need Thy tender care.

In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,

For our use Thy folds prepare.

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,

Thou has bought us, Thine we are.

John: I AM...the Door [Gate]

I am the gate: anyone who comes into the fold through Me will be safe.  He will go in and out and find pasture.  

 [John 10:9 REB]

I get very frustrated by my local Walgreen’s.  It sits on a corner property, and has two ways in, but only one way out.  The southbound traffic can enter directly into the front parking lot, but cannot leave the same way.  The northbound traffic must turn onto a side street and go in the main entrance/only exit.  You may not, however, turn left into the actual parking spaces.  Oh no – you must drive all the way around the back of the store, [passing the southbound entrance], and then park.  When you are finished, you must continue on around the front of the store and go out the way you came in.  It is a classic example of poor retail traffic planning.

Jesus referred to a common scene in His own community when He described Himself as the door, or gate of the sheepfold.  The animals grazed on the hillside during the day, but needed the shelter of the fold as the night descended.  There was only one way in, and the same way out, closely guarded by the shepherd.  Jesus declared, I AM the gate.  I am the only entrance into the fold.  I am the means of keeping My people safe.

Our Savior bids us to find our refuge in Him.  He alone is able to keep us safe from the wolves of temptation and the poacher of souls. 

You are my hiding place,

You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.

I will trust in You.

Let the weak say,

 “I am strong in the strength of the Lord,

I will trust in You.”

For You

It is 6:00 am on Sunday morning, and I am weary beyond measure!  Instead of being able to research and write, I spent a long day yesterday in Newport News, arrived home late, and went to bed even later.  After not near enough sleep, I am jolted awake by my irritating alarm, and get ready for a yet another long day [at work, this time!].

Regardless of my physical condition (or perhaps because of it?), my heart turns to God for inspiration, and as always, He does not ignore me.  I share with you today a scriptural paraphrase of Philippians 1:2-7a that was written by my daughter, Laci.  It came from her heart; I share it from mine.

I wish you peace and happiness from our Father God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank God for every memory I have of you.

I pray for you always, and do so with joy.

I’ve prayed for your friendship to me from the day we met until this moment.

And I know that even as God has created good in you, He will complete you as a person.

I think this is good for me, to think of you this way.

I hold you in my heart.

~ Paul