Additional Thoughts on Eschatology

Upon reflection of the previous post some additional clarification may prove to be helpful in how we wait with hope. More importantly is how do we engage actively in waiting.

For me Jeremiah 29  helps with solid biblical eschatology balancing hope and reality and how we respond in faith. First the often quoted verse out of context:

11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 

Jeremiah 29:11-13 English Standard Version (ESV)

Jeremiah spoke these words to a people facing 70 years of captivity. This was not a "get out of jail" free card. There was no swift exit. They had to be resolute in their faith, hopeful all would be well, seek God with all their heart and not cease calling upon the Lord. Our faith is never passive, it wrestles with God, with his word, as we seek to press forward his vision despite what we think we see or feel. It was the resolute faith of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. every time he spoke the grief/ hope laden words, " I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!" 

Dr. King in his message "I've Been to The Mountain Top" said these words: It's all right to talk about "long white robes over yonder," in all of its symbolism. But ultimately people want some suits and dresses and shoes to wear down here! It's all right to talk about "streets flowing with milk and honey," but God has commanded us to be concerned about the slums down here, and his children who can't eat three square meals a day. It's all right to talk about the new Jerusalem, but one day, God's preacher must talk about the new New York, the new Atlanta, the new Philadelphia, the new Los Angeles, the new Memphis, Tennessee. This is what we have to do."

This is the message of Jeremiah. There is the future hope but by faith we must live it as reality until we see it or our children see it. 

Julian of Norwich facing of death, struggling with her thoughts of sin, wishing to die, calling upon God heard these words from heaven: “But Jesus, who in this vision informed me of all that is needed by me, answered with these words and said: ‘It was necessary that there should be sin; but all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.'

Her words are in agreement with Jeremiah and John in exile on Patmos, "I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus..." Revelation 1:9

There is the suffering but there is also the kingdom and the patient endurance that are ours in Jesus. We are companions together in all of it - the suffering, the kingdom, and the patient endurance with the resolute hope that we will get to the promised land. It may be 70 years, 40 years, or any amount of time. Time is irrelevant all that matters is our prayer "Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory both now and forever." 

We are brothers/sisters and companions in the kingdom and for the sake of all people we must live by faith that all manner of things shall be well. It happens when we press forward in God's power for God's glory into the reality of the kingdom of God that is it hand. Take Jeremiah's words and place them in the following context: For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Jeremiah declared God knows the plans he has for us to give us  a future and a hope. There are people waiting for us to demonstrate the kingdom of hope.

ESCHATOLOGY

The blog has sat quietly waiting for words to be added but they have been few and far between. The words have been rattling and echoing in my mind and deep within but they bubble up to the surface at less frequent intervals. It has been the season of silence, listening, hoping and not allowing my self to give way to fear. That is why a recent reading on the topic on Eschatology by Kathleen Norris jarred open some long closed doors. Kathleen Norris' take on eschatology resonates with my journey and life. Eschatology is a good word but unfortunately has been taken hostage by not so meaningful religious practitioners with one goal to assure they are burn free while others unlike themselves would face the largest wienie roast in history in which no one will be singing "I wish I Was an Oscar Mayer Wiener." Very inspiring theology and possibly why Teddy Roosevelt abandoned church for a time because he was afraid the "Zeal of the Lord was going to kill him."

I digress and some are saying but 'hell' is a reality and you can not dismiss it. I would not think about dismissing because I see it daily in the trauma at our border, in mass shootings, and in the incivility that has cast a pall over our land.  I could go on but I believe in eschatology.

For me my eschatology has already centered on one verse "I am confident that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord..." Psalm 27:13-14. There is no need to have a misplaced cataclysmic theology that sorts out the losers and winners in the life to come nor in this present life and misinterprets dominion that leaves the earth vulnerable and the mass of humanity exploited.  This view of eschatology is void of the mind, heart and voice of Christ and has lead to brutal suppression and displacing of countless millions, apartheid, segregation of those outside the norms and brutal wars in the name of religion, This same false eschatology props up empty, useless, hopeless and futile talk and false misrepresentation of First and Second Amendment rights, gun controls and the protection of our borders. This false eschatology of the acceptable and unacceptable, the losers and winners, and to misinterpretation of dominion is kept alive by those who have enjoyed the power and the glory of their privileged life but it's not the power and the glory of the kingdom now or in the life to come.  I abandoned that years ago but will never abandon my hope in God and the utter beauty and decency of God who came to us, comes to us, and will come to us. Christ simply asks that we pray His kingdom come daily and then stand back and behold the power, the glory, and the beauty of that kingdom in the land of the living.

I have beheld the glory of the Lord in the land of the living in my life time. I am still taken aback every time I listen to recordings of Martin Luther King Jr., the power and the glory of God overflowed his life. Dr. King interpreted Psalm 27 in four simple words, "I have a dream!" I have experienced the glory of the Lord in the land of the living each time I read a book by Mother Teresa. Her words are just an overflow of the glory and goodness of God she saw in the most cruelest places each day.

For 34 years my vocational calling placed me in the midst of people facing cancer, tragic deaths, and utter despair. I have sat though night watches of loved ones final hours and in those difficult moments the Lord's Prayer has been recited and the glory of the Lord rushed in to catch those falling in despair. I have been with parents holding their still born children and have seen those parents not lose faith that they will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living even if it would be a mere shadow of the glory their child is experiencing.

In my own life I have experienced a life time of sleep related problems and all the health issues that come with that. I spent a year with Shingles and now I am having a round of Bell's Palsy. Seeing the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living does not dismiss us from the trials of this life, it simply calls us to refuse to allow our pain to become the front windshield of our life that obscures our forward view. God can redeem all the suffering we experience by his grace and set before us the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living and we can participate in the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living no matter the circumstances.

A few years back while in Utah I was looking for the goodness of the Lord in the land  of the living when God led me to Kim Correa who was founding and launching a Homeless Hospice Center called The Inn Between in Salt Lake City, Utah. The goodness of the Lord overflows that place daily providing grace, shelter and care to the forgotten. Those they serve are not the losers now or in the hereafter, they are God's beloved. Those being served and those who serve them are together seeing the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. That is good eschatology - The trust in God to make all things new now and forever. God invites us to live and display this hope.

I site this one example and could name many others demonstrating the goodness of God in the land of the living and practicing practical, honest eschatology. All it requires is to be present in the land of the living. It is a simple process. If you are alive this moment, you are in the land of the living. And being alive is all that is necessary to be present. There is no requirement to be whole, perfect, right or anything but simply eternally grateful for the overabundance of God's grace who loves me for me and and every single person I will encounter in the land of the living. The next time you desire to see the glory of God in the land of the living, look into the face of your neighbor, those you work with, those you go to school with, or someone on the street corner, homeless shelter, prison, hospital or crises center and recognize in your neighbors, people who are deeply loved by God and believe as never before in the communion of the saints.

Words

Words

Transition. Diana's and my life since 2011. It followed 25 years of stability in North Dakota. First, the flood. That is when we moved into my office for temporary shelter. Change was initiated by circumstances outside of ourselves. That is life. Two years later we were off to Austin, Texas. A new geographical area of the country for us but who doesn't love an adventure? Actually, many of us. Abraham and Sarah struggled with their reassignment late in life. But the good news is, neither of us has had a visitation revealing that we would also have a child late in life. You always need to look for the positive aspects of any situation.

One and half years in Austin and more transition. This time to Utah. Beautiful state and another new geographical area of the country. It did afford us closer proximity to North Dakota and our family and friends. North Dakota is home for us even though we do not currently reside there. The prairie speaks to us.

One and half years later we are now back in the Austin area. The Hill country of Texas is beautiful. Many changes over the past five years. It might be best to reserve those changes for earlier in life and then settle down. That seems more normal but the last several years have proven there is no normal for anyone any where in the world. The only grounding is the unchanging God, who calls, moves, creates, and sustains Creation in his care, mercy, and grace.

Downsizing. That has been the theme over the past five years. We have made every effort to live with the basics. That will be tested when our furniture arrives and we will have to put all of our belongings in a one bed room apartment. This will be a six month adventure until we can find permanent housing. Diana and I have a nearly 40 year track record of getting along so it should not be a problem living in close proximity.

Reality. See the previous paragraph; we needed to down size more. I am hopelessly optimistic. Regroup. It will be fine, really. We will deal with it. It could be worse or maybe it could be better? No, comparisons do not apply in this situation. It simply is what it is and life moves on.

Donkey. Yes, in the middle of no where in New Mexico there was a small donkey on the side of the road. There was no sign of life for miles. He seemed fine, we really didn't have time to stop and talk. It would have been possible (for reference see talking donkeys in the Old Testament). I think the donkey was more surprised to see us.

Questions. Our children are grown right? We didn't leave any kids at the Travel Stop did we? Wait, we have grandkids. Great, the kids are safe. No its not that means we are old! We are not old are we? We are old and its already Thursday? No, I said we are not old and I am thirsty. Who is Bob? And why do we care if he has a job? Presidential election? Who has time for that? We will vote independent and do everyone a favor. I am still backing the Kingdom, the power and glory. I have a lot of questions and concerns but not about my Father. That is a relief.

Tacos. So many tacos, beans, brisket everything, migas, huevos rancheros delicious fried stuff, kaloches, German food and beer, HEB, Willy Nelson, Gackles every where, yes we are back in Texas.

Methodist. Back at our church and that has been refreshing. They even left the porch light on for us and had donuts waiting. Let's see, what is it they say in Texas? Yes, bless their hearts. Our grand son starts kindergarten at a Methodist church in North Austin this week. He is very methodical so this should go well.

Theology. What about predestination? It is losing viability if we have to believe Hilary and Donald have to be the choice for president. I know Charlie Strong wants to believe in predestination. He is praying the University of Texas  is predestined to have a winning season. But they open against Notre Dame. He might want to study the theology of suffering. Can Alabama and Ohio State both  be predestined to win it all?  No, that is not even logically possible. So maybe it is predestined Clemson wins it all and Gary Johnson becomes president. Theology. I like the doctrine of hope and faith.

Documentaries. The Eagles, Three Dog Night, The Carter Family, Muscle Shoals, Grand Funk Railroad - I have been on a musical journey. Music speaks to all of us and it knows no barriers or race or religion. It moves us and calls to the deep places of life. I propose that the Government do something worth while for a change and sponsor a week of free concerts in every major city in America. Book every major artist and every small time band. Furnish a free picnic. Let's just picnic and listen to music for a week. No internet, no news, just fellowship.

Chronicles of Narnia. Listened to the entire series on the way from Utah to Texas. The last time I read the entire series was in a class on works by C.S. Lewis. It was like hearing them again for the first time. It fuels your imagination and it is life giving. I highly recommend this book on tape series.

Prayers. All kinds of prayers. Help prayers. God what is going on prayers. Walk in the midst of their suffering prayers.  Angry prayers. Prayers of frustration. Prayers of peace. Every emotion running to and fro in my mind. At least it is working. Our grand daughter made it much more simple. In one of her nightly prayers she thanked God for food and her legs. Hallelujah!

Connected. All of the above could be taken as ramblings. In some ways it is and then in other ways it is not. It is all connected through God and his grace. It is the life that is happening right now in God's presence. In all of it I hear the voice of God. It even seems disconnected to me many days. But I press on adjusting to the different rhythms and sounds and sometimes the discord hoping ever and staying focused on the one promise that has propelled my life forward. I am confident I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living. (Psalm 27) Amen

James Shackelford

A New Glass Ceiling
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Four words: Gary Johnson, William Weld. Back to that in a moment. In a year where, after much tumult in the primaries,the Democrats have given us Hillary and the Republicans have given us Donald. Each have been right only once in my estimation. Hillary, when she called Donald a bigot and racist. Donald, when he called Hillary crooked. Other than that, they leave us bankrupt and in the same political quagmire we have been in for the last 16 years. We have had two Presidents, Bush and Obama, that have ruled by Presidential fiat. Bush doubled the debt and Obama not to be outdone doubled it again. He will leave office with a 20 trillion dollar debt. That is absolutely outrageous, unacceptable and immoral.

Early in the year I gave support to Bernie, not because I agreed with all he proposed but because we need a new voice in Washington. Now, I find myself very disappointed as Sanders and Warren have coalesced their voices behind Hillary who betrays everything they have said must be corrected in Washington. That leads to but one conclusion and that is to realize it is party partisanship that is killing us on both sides of the aisle.

There is no reason to be locked in the continual party pettiness that leaves many people without faith in the political system. Have we not seen the face of Reid and McConnell enough? We are at a serious crossroads in this country. The Democrat and Republican parties will engage us in empty rhetoric that will not change the current division, but it will ensure that the powers to be; remain the powers to be. Which will lead to more immoral debts, more investigations, more acquiescing to Wall Street, more Clinton foundation scandals and a more hostile and divided nation.

It is time to break the real glass ceiling, the choice of only Democrat or Republican. It is time to let those who have failed to lead, failed to act honestly, and failed in the very act of integrity, sit this election out. It is time we stop letting the media herd us to one political persuasion or the other and in broiling further the unrest in this country.

The real glass ceiling in this election is Gary Johnson and William Weld. They are qualified, level headed and lead us away from all the recent gridlock. If all those who wanted a voice with Bernie, and all those who feel loss at the thought of Trump, then we can add our voices that take us away from politics as usual, professional politicians and the hope the dialogue in this country can change for the better. As I see it we have no choice, when we consider the divide in this country and terrorism abroad.

Our current debt is not sustainable, the Democrat or Republican offerings in this election only exacerbate that debt and will be our undoing. At a critical time in our country we cannot afford to be landlocked for the next four years with Hillary's investigation nor of putting out the flames of Donald's inflammatory rhetoric. Hillary's unethical behavior and Donald's very core have already disqualified them but we find both parties rallying to support them. It is absurd, it is politics as usual, and it is disheartening. It is time to give the Democrats and Republicans some time on the bench to think about their poor performance and behavior, Let's break the real glass ceiling this election and choose neither Democrat or Republican. I think all the voiceless in this country deserve that. There is still hope and there is a way forward and I believe it is Gary Johnson and William Weld. Gary was born in North Dakota - maybe it is the reincarnation of Teddy Roosevelt - Bully!

The Flood / Burlington


It's hard to believe that five years ago this month, Burlington, Minot and all along the Souris River suffered a catastrophic flood. Recently I visited the area and saw homes still boarded up. It was a reminder to not forget the loss, but also a reminder to look all around and see the recovery and rejoice. I reflect on the flood in the following illustration. Right after the flood, Diana and I were living in my office and taking showers at the school. About two days into the process, Jerry W (Weazzy) decided it would be best to create a maze of shower rods and curtains in the men's bathroom. Fair enough. But he placed them all at his height, right about neck height for me. Jerry also decided to place a rod right over the entrance to the shower area. I cannot see without my glasses and had not taken note of Jerry's little shop of horrors he had created when I entered the shower the next day. Then it hit me, literally, right in the neck and knocked me down. I was a little stunned, on the floor in my best attire, the one I was born with, and then looked up to see what was going on and there it was the dreaded shower rod.

Prior to the flood we were just going along day to day, sand bagging many of those days, and staying hopeful. Then out of no where, it seemed, it hit us - the flood. It knocked us to the ground and we all felt naked, stripped of everything and afraid. After we got our bearings we got up, and by God's help and strength, overcame. There are scars that remain, loss that cannot be regained, but there is hope and joy and peace that has come through the travail.

There were times that I questioned if would we make it  and there were times I thought, "Do we have the strength to recover?" There were days that I just sat outside the school and wept and I know all of us had those days. But as a community we spurred one another on in love and Burlington has recovered and flourished. To our family and friends in Burlington I remember with you and celebrate and thank God He gave us strength to not only get up but to flourish in His grace.

 I wish we had escaped the flood, but if it was to be, and it was,  I am glad that I went through it with you. It is folks like you that get up and move forward in faith that bring hope to others. No hard feelings, Jerry, about the shower rod - it really brought into focus all that our community was experiencing.

Pastor Shack

Tortured Beauty

Today, I saw my first cotton field in bloom. It was beautiful, in the present tense. I pulled over taking in the beauty of the cotton plant but my eyes could not look past the past. Cotton once turned our nation red. All I could think was how tragic. The cotton plant is not the blame - man and his greed alone are culpable. Value is attached to a plant, mineral, natural resource or whatever and people are exploited and subjugated to harvest, mine or assemble the valued resource with no regard to the human labor. A plant, mineral, or product is now valued more than human life.

That is the past I see in this cotton field. I saw a field of tortured beauty. What God had created was good. What man can do with this good is often unthinkable. My present and past tense with this field is one God shares. God looked upon the Son on the Cross - tortured beauty. The good God had given in Christ was exploited and subjugated to the cross.

Until the kingdom comes on earth we must be satisfied to witness beauty even if it is a tortured beauty.

A Change is Coming

There are times you just want to stop the bus and get off. When you think the world cannot get any madder - it one ups crazy and a whole boat load of insane spills out. Insane killing, racism, prejudice, and the list can go on and on unfortunately. But I am as I tell people "a hopeless optimist."  Yes, that is a conundrum of words together but I remain steadfast. What do I do in times like these - I calm my fears as best as I can. I pray. And I listen to Patti Labelle sing "I Am Your Friend / What a Friend We Have In Jesus". If you have never listened and watched Patti sing this then do so my friend. Then watch her sing, "A Change is Gonna Come"(Yes, I know Patti is in the news for a fray with Aretha Franklin and for ordering her security guard to ruff up a guy but let's not jump to conclusions)  Don't get off the bus and give up in cynicism - get off the bus and believe that change is gonna come. I have to do that from time to time so I don't  lose hope and so I press on in my belief a civilized world is gonna come. It is rooted in the very prayer Jesus taught his followers to pray. The belief in justice and God's kingdom come on earth has driven women and men of faith in every age to demand change. To demand justice and mercy for all people. It is what steady's the hand of every unknown person of faith, wiping away every tear of injustice until the day there are no more tears nor sorrow.

I Am Alive

I keep a mental check list to remind my self to make an account for the day and recognize that I am alive in a wild and unpredictable world. It is not a hard task. It is something simple anyone can do. It goes like this:

I am awake, in my bed, in my house and that is very good.  I have somewhere to lay down - it doesn't matter how I slept. I have a roof and bed.

I have breakfast, it doesn't vary much - oatmeal, cereal and on occasion I will go wild and fix a hot breakfast. Again I am awake and fed and I am thankful. Right now mostly for coffee.

I go to work, I have provision. The job is good/bad, rewarding/frustrating, meaningful/maddening all rolled into one. Sometimes it is hard to tell what is good. My manager is a crazy maker, passive/aggressive, perfectionist/control freak who micro manages every detail of our day. Everyday it is a struggle to find peace in this environment but I do - sometimes better than others. But for now I am going to work and I am thankful.

Today I have driven through canyons, desert areas and mountains. I have been in and out of rain storms. I have seen snow in the mountains. I have seen unbelievable views of sunshine breaking through valley floors. In short I am not distracted from the beauty that surrounds me.

I am on my way to meet a 16 year old girl in Juvenile Detention. It is painful to see so many youth incarcerated. Many of these kids have no parents they are wards of the state. I am awake, nourished, provided for and I have witnessed creation at its finest but I also am made of aware of the suffering of life. It is all good together in some mysterious way. One cannot exist without the other.

I think of Nepal throughout the day and the miracle that a 101 year old is pulled from the rubble. I know basic necessities like food, shelter, and provision will be hard to come by for the people of Nepal for some time. Somehow they will find life is good in the maddening destruction and the balance of life will be restored. This story repeats itself throughout all lifetime. It is a mystery.

I think of my mother whose dementia is overtaking her life. It is hard facing death but losing someone who is living is very hard. I am still thankful for the day even if parts are very hard.

Some people find the existence of God impossible. I find the thought of God being nonexistent utterly improbable. Everything today has reminded me of God's presence. It is the only reason I can be thankful in the midst of so many different realities that span the prism of joy and pain. Only God can hold both of those together in a purposeful way.

I suppose I do my mental check list each day to remind my self how daily God is. Joy nor sorrow define my day. Finding God in the ordinary occurrences of life defines my day. And I am thankful.

Marriage

As the Supreme Court nears giving an opinion on marriage, I will add my voice to the dialogue. Lest any one, on any side take offense before reading the entire blog, let me state I share a voice for all. And before those who hold to the Christian faith get up in arms, I do have three theology degrees and you have the right to say at the end, "That did not do him any good".

The first and last words of the New Testament are grace and love. I believe those who hold to the Christian, Muslim, or Jewish faiths should have the right and protection to practice that faith even if they believe marriage should be between one man and one women (the Church hasn't done any better in society in maintaining only one man and woman but that is another blog). No judgement on any who have experienced divorce. The Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions hold a high view of marriage according to their faith and practice. But they should not dictate that view on others. And they should not have the sole authority by the State to perform weddings. They should be able to perform marriages and sanctify marriages according to their practice. Christian/Jewish faith should not be forced to violate their conscience. But as of now, all marriages performed in a Sanctuary, Temple, and Mosque begin with the couple going to the court house and getting a marriage license. All clergy sign this, validating the marriage on behalf of the State. So let's take religious opinion out of a State sanctified act and let there be "liberty and justice for all." It is "we the people" of the United States and that includes all of us and our right to practice 'family' with our chosen partners.

I do support the right of all citizens to choose their own partners and engage in marriage and not be judged. Whatever one's position on marriage, no one should force their ideal of marriage on each other. There is room in this country for us to once again be civil and live and grow in our differences and uniqueness.

 We need separation of Church and State over this issue more than ever. The State should grant the right for all who seek marriage to do so with no barriers. Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths (and all others) should sanctify unions according to their traditions. They should not be judged and those unions should be valid and upheld by the State. Those who seek union with their partner (same sex) should not be judged and their marriage should be valid and upheld by the State. There should be equity for all. People are afraid we are changing traditional Christian/Judeo understanding of marriage. That is not a issue. Those who hold to a traditional Christian/Judeo understanding of marriage should be free and protected to robustly practice their faith. Those who embrace a different understanding of marriage and union should be free and protected to robustly practice their beliefs. Christian/Judeo beliefs on marriage have held dominance in our country. But the constitution while granting freedom of religion does not afford any faith group dominance or preference in enforcing the marriage ethic of the country. There is freedom for all.

What ever we do, let's cease the name calling, judging and treating one another with less than common decency. May the Supreme Court uphold the Constitution granting everyone the right to chose one partner (hopefully for life - respecting the dignity of the union) and live as happily ever after as they can. What ever you believe about faith, marriage takes prayer.

My prayer is for a more civil union in the days ahead.

Photo Ops

"It's a wonderful day in the neighborhood..." - not! House Speaker Boehner is embarking on a frivolous lawsuit against the President and the President is in Austin and his response to the border crisis is he does not do "photo ops". But he does do a photo op in  Dallas playing billiards, another with a young girl at a restaurant in Austin, and at Franklin's Bar-B-Q. He also does a $36,000 per plate fundraiser while in town. There is more than enough blame to pass around in Washington. Everyone has their tried, true, and now very old responses of why nothing is being done. But while everyone in government is doing nothing and blaming the other party, something IS being done.

After waiting for an hour at a coffee shop because all north/south access in Austin was closed so the President could do a fund raising breakfast and two photo ops, I made my way to my destination. The destination - The Hope Center; and that was the literal name and it became the prophetic word of the day. The Hope Center is a ministry of Trinity United Methodist Church. They serve a very needy community on Thursday and Fridays. There are hot meals, bags of groceries and a number of other caring ministries taking place in their building. They will not erase the issues of poverty in their area two days a week, but they will sow seeds of hope among the lives of some very desperate people. The Hope Center obviously was birthed because caring souls refused to sit on the side lines and believe nothing can be done - they have been emboldened by faith and by the grace of Christ, they will do all they can.

It was such a stark contrast to the political sparring of the day and it reminded me once again that we do need our government but the government cannot do everything. And the one thing the government lacks on both sides of the aisle is the ability to get on the streets where it is needed most and do something - something caring and compassionate. That is why, with all of its flaws, the church is where I still place my hope. Through the grace of Christ, care can be given and transformation of lives is possible - it births hope.

On this day at the Hope Center a florist had donated bouquets of flowers. For those taking home groceries they would also leave with flowers to adorn their tables. They not only received hope they also received honor. They were worthy of flowers - their lives were beautiful.

As I watched people looking through their grocery bags while waiting for the bus, their faces brimmed with joy. Today there were fresh strawberries and bakery treats. It was a good day all around and for this moment, there was hope.

The one thing it takes for this to happen is people - lots of them - to give of their time and do something. Dozens of people were all hands on deck this day making sure the vast needs were being met. In a remote neighborhood of Austin the most important thing of the day was taking place - hope and mercy. It did not make the headlines since more distinguished guests were in town. But for millions less of taxpayer's money and through the equity of sweat and giving what they had, Trinity brought hope to their neighborhood. And I believe God looked down and said, "It was very good."

Purposeful Piddling

In recent weeks the news of horrific violence has dominated the news. Violent civil wars raging across the globe; innocent children in Africa abducted; children driven from Central America because of drugs and violence, shootings at schools; police officers gunned down; and various storms, fires, and mudslides. It makes you think who can survive and where is there hope?

All of this was fresh on my mind when I went for a walk with my grandson Sam. I use the term "walk" loosely. Sam does not walk - he piddles, wanders, and talks. You might see or hear a firetruck or ambulance and Sam has to stop make that sound and acknowledge they are going to a fire. Sam might find a small hole in the rock wall and stop and say, "Look at that" in a high excited voice. Sam does have a purpose in every outing to get to our pond. Then he can throw rocks in the pond and the trip is complete. We are not that far from our town-home but it is time for Sam to say to me, "I carry you." That does not mean Sam is carrying me, it means I am carrying Sam home.

Where is the hope in this world? In innocent children who can piddle on purpose and who see the world as a place of discovery. Soon enough they will know the violence of the world. For now there are no fears just all the time in the world to wander. That should be enough to  inspire all of us to do everything thing possible to prevent the gates of hell from spreading so all children in the world can just piddle with purpose. The secret may be for us all to take time in our day and say to someone, "I carry you." I carry you in my prayers, thoughts, and concerns. I hear, see, and feel your pain and loss.

The news does not lie, I see it and hear the suffering and pain. The walk with Sam is just as real and I see the hope and joy in life. I have to believe that the truth in my grandson will prevail even on the worst day in the news.

How Old is Dirt

It is early on a Saturday morning and I am surprised any of my senses are working. A  light mist  fills the air, it is warm and everything around me seems to be alive. All creation is awakening and now I simply need to follow suit.

I walk across a grassy area that is now mostly dirt from the foot traffic. It is this dirt that makes me stop and awaken. The mist has settled ever so lightly and now I can smell the dirt. It is fragrant, a distinct smell I cannot describe but it is recorded I believe in everyone's brain. We smell earth, we smell home, we sense where we have come from - the dirt. The dirt teems with life and it speaks of beginnings for  us all.

This morning I would say both creationists and scientists are wrong on dating the beginnings of the earth. A date of several thousand years or several million years will not suffice. I smelled the dirt this morning and it smelled fresh, I would say not more than a few hours old. It is futile arguing a date on creation just smell the dirt and move on - God is not done creating. It's fresh, before us, all around us, simply stop and breathe it in.

More Bathroom Wall Messages

I never set out blogging thinking I would post three blogs concerning bathroom graffiti but it appears to be the chalkboard of life. The latest posting at my place of work was the following: "Jesus may love me but everyone else here thinks I am an ass hole". I never moved past that for the remainder of the day.

I do not know who penned those words or their life story but it is easy to hear pain coming from his life and a sense of failure. I can sympathize with his emotions because we work in an environment that values production and profits over its people. It seems this has become corporate America.

This bathroom scrawl was a plea to be heard and the only place available was a bathroom stall. Some may interject that this person could be a hothead, someone hard to get along with, or a general malcontent. I suppose any of those are possibilities but the messenger is not completely cynical he still senses that "Jesus loves him." Yet, I would wager there are days he even doubts that.

I will never meet the bathroom wall author and his voice of complaint will never be discussed in the corporate office nor published in a letter to the editor, but I am glad he took what space he had and emoted his thoughts. I pray he senses that in some way he was heard and that his life is of worth. I continue to believe that very raw and real expressions of pain are heard by God as acceptable prayers.

Practicing Spiritual Disciplines for Lent

First Sunday of Lent

March 9^th, 2014

The Spiritual Practice of Fasting – Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7/Psalm 32/Matthew 4:1-11/Romans 5:12

“It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”

                                                                                                                                       Matthew 4:4 MSG

“If death got the upper hand through one man’s wrong doing, can you imagine the

breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant

life gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides?”

                                                                                                                                       Romans 5:17 MSG

The Lectionary texts for this first Sunday of Lent wind their way from the Garden of Eden and the fall of mankind, onward to a confession of sin and lament by the Psalmist, arriving at last in the desert where Jesus faces temptation before the inauguration of his ministry.

In Genesis we find Adam and Eve in paradise and in Matthew we find Jesus in the desert. But no matter the location, one of luxury or lack, temptation is present. Temptation is real and it is common to all of us. Life can be difficult to navigate even when we consider ourselves to be in the lap of paradise. The ancient practices of discipline are needed to keep us attuned to the voice of the Spirit.

 Having been led by the Spirit into the desert, Jesus faced temptation and forty days of fasting. In the wilderness Jesus would have to incarnate,  “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased.” I am grateful that those words of grace precede all of our trials, temptations and any attempts at obedience.

During forty days on the mountain, Moses received the Law on tablets of stone. Jesus, during his days in the wilderness, became the Word made flesh. We have moved from stone to flesh. Fasting is more than abstaining from food; it is a time when we allow the Word to take on flesh in us.

Three things speak to me in the texts: paying attention/ listening to your life, trust, and grace. First, fasting calls us to pay attention to the activity and revelation of God in our midst. Fasting sets the spiritual table enabling us to listen to our own lives, to touch, taste, and sense our way into the depth of God’s love. Fredrick Buechner declares, “Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and in the pain of it no less than the excitement and gladness; touch, taste, smell your way to the holy hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments and life itself is grace.” Fasting enables us to pay attention and to hear all the mysterious ways God is already at work in our lives.

Second, fasting, as with all the spiritual practices, helps us to learn trust. Jesus did not yield to his flesh in the desert. His strength and trust were in God alone. Jesus believed the blessing the Father spoke over him at baptism. . Katherine Marie Dykman in her book “Inviting the Mystic” states, “Spirituality consists not in becoming more and more responsible in the fulfillment of duty, but in becoming more and more faithful in a love relationship…not so much a question of running up a steep hill…as it is of letting go…falling backward in trust, believing that we will be caught up in loving protective arms.” Fasting is not duty, it is an opportunity to let a myriad of things go and to fall back in trust into God’s protective arms.

Third, grace runs through each text. Fasting is a time to give room for the experience of grace and to be filled with that grace in the depth of our being. Fasting and all spiritual practices find voice and meaning for me in Denise Levertov’s poem The Avowal;

“As swimmers dare

to lie face to the sky

and water bears them,

as hawks rest upon air

and air sustains them,

so I would learn to attain

freefall, and float

into Creator Spirit’s deep embrace,

knowing no effort earns that all surrounding grace.”

 Heavenly Father, in this time of fasting, give us faith to let go of the daily things that occupy our lives allowing us to fall into the mystery of your love more fully. May we emerge from the Lenten season full of grace and truth.

Surrender

"Please sign here to surrender your license." Wait. Surrender? Did I hear that right? Was there a battle and I lost? Have I been abducted by the state of Texas? The words spoken to me at the DMV as we were getting our Texas license startled me. I have only had one state of residence for the past twenty six years. It is the place that I consider home. It seemed harsh to have to surrender my license. It reminded me anew of the many changes that have occurred in our lives over the past year.

We like to be from somewhere, to have a place we call our home. We do not easily embrace the term "pilgrim" -  those who journey through life, and their home is God. No state or country adequately describes our place of residence because what we are really looking for is, a city whose architect and builder is God. That really is our only permanent residence.

I thought of Abraham when God called him to a new land.  Abraham also must have struggled when he was told he would have to surrender his camel license in Haran. "Trade in your tents, your father's gods, and everything you have known, and follow me. I will be your new home."  These are the words Abraham heard. The dinner conversation in the tent that night must have been exciting. "Well, Pop, it's been real, hanging out with you and the family, but I am surrendering it all to follow God in a new land," Abraham announces. "You are doing what? the dad asks. "The other day while at the oasis watering the live stock, I heard God call me to a new life in a new land." Abraham continues. "Just like that, after a day in the desert sun you are leaving everything you know behind?" the father asked. "That is the long and short of it, and it does seem somewhat strange, but I sense in my spirit it is right."

I am certain other things were discussed and all parties involved were still a little confused and full of many questions. It was, after all, a complete break from Abraham's childhood home and a move in the direction of the unknown. Not exactly the same situation, but I could feel Abraham's angst when I was asked to surrender my North Dakota license.

 Right at their fishing boats, the disciples felt the same emotions when Jesus called them to follow him. They left their father and the nets on shore and marched into the unknown. James and John's father must have thought, "Seriously, you are leaving me with the nets and the boat, and surrendering your fishing license at one invitation?" Just like Abraham's dinner, the scene on the shoreline must have been priceless.

In truth, it is not as much where we live, but where God dwells. Psalm 84:5 declares it best: "And how blessed are all those in whom you live, whose lives become roads you travel." You and I will have to surrender our license and open ourselves up to a journey; not to a new house, state, or job, but to God traveling in and through our lives. God with us, in us, and before us. And since the whole earth is the Lord's, where ever God is leading in us, we are always at home.

You're In This Place

This week I have had the privilege to enjoy the company of a brilliant full moon on my morning commute to work.  One morning as I was considering the beauty of the moon I heard these words;

"Word of God speak

Would You pour down like rain

Washing my eyes to see

Your majesty

To be still and know

That You're in this place

Please let me stay and rest

In Your holiness 

Word of God speak"

My thoughts went immediately to Psalm 8 and I hear the words, "When I consider the heavens..." David, recognizing God is in this place. On this morning I recognized anew that God is in this place. And what is that place? Any place we might find ourselves. The place of lack and the place of plenty. The place of sorrow and the place of joy. The place of angst and the place of peace.

God is in this place I heard anew in my spirit. God was with me, with all of us in Austin and with all of us in our place; in our fears, in our calm, in our doubts, in our confidence, in the place we now find ourselves. God never leaves or abandon's us. A move, a change of employment, or a change of address does not move us closer or farther from God - he is in this place. God is with us, before us and after us.

This day I did not come to new revelation but what I call re-revelation. I have recognized God in my place and space many times. It is more like God's place and space. Circumstances often cloud the view of our hearts and we find ourselves in a place where we experience the absence of God. This period of absence has been called many things including "the dark hour of our soul." And as others before us, we find that even in our "dark hour of the soul" God is in this place.

It was good to receive re-revelation this morning and to be reminded that God is in this place. My place this morning was a place of being very tired but at complete peace. My prayer for me and for you is that whatever place we find ourselves that the word of God would speak and that we would know God is in this place.

"I Must Have Done Something Good"

In recent weeks I have been revisiting the story of the Puritan founders who came to America. They had many admirable qualities and risked their very lives traversing the ocean on less than adequate vessels. As an added bonus, children everywhere get to make construction paper Pilgrim's hats in school for Thanksgiving. The Puritan's also brought their dire Calvinistic faith to America. It can be best summed up by saying, "They only felt good about themselves if they felt utterly miserable." Nothing can make your mornings brighter than to get up and think I am a miserable wretch, not worthy of being saved and today I find myself in the hands of a Almighty God who may do with me as he pleases. And then you say to yourself, "Well, today may be actually good after all."

Along with this contemplation, one evening I was flipping through the TV channels and happened upon the Sound of Music. They were at the garden scene where Maria and Captain Von Trapp sing their sweet nothings to each other. I realized that the Puritan's prevail again - even in the Sound of Music. The song Maria sings is beautiful in voice but the words could not be more dire. Maria sings:

           "Perhaps I had a wicked childhood, perhaps I had a miserable youth,
           but somewhere in my wicked, miserable past there must have been a moment of truth.
           For here you are, standing there, loving me whether or not you should
           but somewhere in my youth or childhood I must have done something good.
           Nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could,
           so somewhere in my youth or childhood I must have done something good."

Could any song be more pathetic? Great movie -  bad song - yea Pilgrims! They have even influenced the German immigrants Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.  It is sad that people think they can only be loved because they did something good, once, maybe even a long time ago. It is tragic to live by the belief that nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could. That is a repudiation of everything from Genesis to Revelation. Those who believe such a tragic hopeless gospel have the right to their opinion, but when I want to watch a singing, hopeful, love opera where everyone frolics through mountain fields, yodels and gets strudel in the end, all I ask is that you don't rain on my parade.

I have two daughters and of course I think they are the most wonderful girls there ever could be. They are grown but I will always think of them as my little girls. I can honestly say that as they grew up I never thought about what they would be, what careers they would choose, if they would marry, or any of those things. Not that those things were not important, I simply knew from the first day I saw them that I would always love them. Nothing from the day of their birth could make me more happy nor more proud. I knew from that day on that what ever life would bring. I would love them. I also knew that they would accomplish great things not by anyone else's standard but again simply because I would always love them. I am not canvassing for father of the year or advocating that I have always displayed perfect love. But in my own short comings and failures (I am not a miserable wretch but I have enough sense to know that I am not perfect) the one thing I do not doubt is that God has always loved me. Nothing does come from nothing - God simply loves me. And God simply loves you, simply because you are. Enjoy the day!

The Muddled Spirit: Fingerprints

The Muddled Spirit: Fingerprints: As we are cleaning today I have found our grandson's fingerprints on our pictures, computer screen and various items in interesting plac...

Fingerprints

As we are cleaning today I have found our grandson's fingerprints on our pictures, computer screen and various items in interesting places. I am reluctant to dust and rearrange because it is proof he has not only been here but enjoyed himself thoroughly.  The wooden Nativity from Christmas is still out and he has enjoyed that immensely. The Shepherd's staff is now broken but that is more realistic. Shepherds had a tough life - their staff's were probably a little worn.

I realized today, many people clean and arrange too much (I am not advocating we live in a hovel). Our homes need to look lived in and like they are places to relax, live, and share life. When did we decide to have designer homes that serve more as a museum of our tastes, not as comfortable dwelling places. We dust, decorate, and rearrange too much. It transfers over into our personal lives. We face lift, get beauty treatments, try wrinkle creams and a various assortment of other things. In advertising, they airbrush, crop and arrange so everything is beautiful and perfect.

Are we afraid of dust? Wrinkles? A bowl or dish out of place? A broken Shepherd's staff? What is it that we are really afraid of? We are afraid of chaos and we are afraid of life. Chaos is not to be feared; it is the place God hovers over most. Order and perfection does not come by our attempts to recreate Eden. Order comes because God hovers over our chaos and speaks life into our midst.

The Psalmist declares, "When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, Yahweh is rock-firm and faithful...I'm in the very presence of God - oh, how refreshing it is!" I say let's let our skin sag and the dust collect and just find out how refreshing life is in the presence of God. Go to a department store today and stand in front of the cosmetic counter and shout, "Hallelujah, my skin is sagging!" Go out afterward for coffee and a treat. If anyone asks what you are doing, simply say, "Just enjoying the day so some more dust can settle in my house." And if they ask, "Are you serious?" You reply, "Yes, It seems God does his best work with dust."

Enjoy the fingerprints, a book left out, a broken Shepherd's staff, a glass on the counter they are reminders that life happens and God declared that is good.

Modern Circuit Riding Preachers

Circuit riding preachers blazed trails across America bringing good news or bad news depending on your perspective. Several months ago I published a blog titled "JHN 3:16". You can reread that if you need to refresh your memory. It seems that my first encounter with this inscription on a bathroom wall would not only be my first but also not my last. In Starbucks's on the bathroom wall was neatly written once again in the grout "JHN 3:16". It has to be from the same pen it is too coincidental. This person is giving new meaning to circuit riding preachers in the 21st Century. Who ever it is, they are dedicated to their mission and in most causes I would agree graffiti of any kind is defacing public property but as I said before, can anyone deface a public restroom?

I know what you are thinking. Is this blogger obsessed with public restroom's? Is this blogger a germaphobe? No, on the first account and yes, on the second account. But now after four months sharing public facilities with thousands of factory workers, I am just about over it. I have come to realize there is no way to share human life without contact, some good and some bad. Many who pursue some type of vocational ministry have some choice in their placement but not total latitude in the arena of ministry. The bathroom circuit rider has intentionally chosen the domain of his ministry and seems quite happy to circuit Austin spreading the gospel in bathroom grout. This is the new writing on the wall. It calls forth images in the song 'The Sounds of Silence". Relive those words and hear the God of the ages call out through unlikely prophets who write on bathroom walls.

"Hello darkness, my old friend,
I've come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
'Neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence.

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence.

"Fools," said I, "You do not know –
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you.
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the walls of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming.
And the sign said, The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls (and bathroom walls)
And whispered in the sound of silence."

God's still small voice is not silence, it is simply a chance for the voice of God to echo off the walls of our heart. It is heard in the eternity that is set within our heart. The reverberation of this interior echo is heard in a life of justice and mercy and occasional bathroom scrawls of JHN 3:16.