Helping hands…

When people on the street ask for a handout it feels lousy to say “no.” Yet many homeless agencies and food pantries encourage that response.

Many years ago, when our older son and I were walking towards a theater downtown, a woman told us she was hungry and asked for some money for a meal. We took her to the pizza place a block away and paid for her order of a personal pan pizza and salad. Her gratitude was substantial. That experience made a nice impression on our teenager and opened the doors to a nice conversation on many fronts.

For those of us who want to help out but NOT give cash to that person requesting cash, here are some possibilities…

  • offer to take the person to a local restaurant and pay for their meal
  • carry soft, easy-to-chew, snack/breakfast bars you can share
  • carry gift certificates/cards to a local grocery store (ideally, designated “for food item purchase only”)

ACTION: Maybe put a few soft granola or breakfast bars in your backpack, purse or briefcase to give to folks who ask for cash. The gesture of a snack will not always be met with appreciation, but it’s the thought that counts, right?!?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, September 3, 2017:


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Moses…with a little grin thrown in

Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, “because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.” ~ Exodus 2:9-10

This Sunday’s Lectionary reading from Exodus reminds us of the transition from Joseph and his dream leadership to Moses and a very different political environment. One thing I’d never noticed before – or forgot! – is that Pharaoh’s daughter really kept Moses out of her father’s sight until after Moses was grown.

Here’s a humorous little reminder about Moses from the show “Singin’ in the Rain” including a great dance routine by Donald O’Connor and Gene Kelly.

And on this glorious weekend, if you’re looking for a little more “holy humor,” check out the Christian Playbook humor section HERE and/or some quick-hitting stories HERE (the last one is about Moses golfing with Jesus)

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit (and maybe a chuckle or two?)


Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, August 27, 2017:


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The Poem of Your Life

What a blessing to have creative folks in our world, helping us to experience moments of WOW.

Today’s focus is on The Poem of Your Life music video featuring music by Michael Card. The lyrics and music are captivating. Then someone adds the visual images there and it definitely adds to the “worship God” moments.

ACTION: This day, maybe it’s an opportunity to hear the “music” around you and take a few minutes to enjoy the music video of your own poem of life…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, August 27, 2017:


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Stirring Up One Another…

As we prepare for the upcoming church “program year”, it’s a good time to mention one of the best Christian development programs in my life…

For many valued years, a group of MWPC men got together every Friday at 6:03 AM for fellowship, prayer and action. The FATHERS Team materials gave us opportunities to practice being better fathers, husbands and Christian citizens.

The nice thing is, most of these FATHERS Team materials easily fit a “gender neutral” team as well. Here’s one of the FATHERS Team “daily signals” that works for all Christians

“As for me and my fellow Christians we will consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, but encouraging one another, and all the more as we see the Day drawing near” ~ FATHERS Team signal taken from Hebrews 10:24-25, with CP change of  “Christians” in place of “Fathers”

ACTIONS:

  • Try saying aloud the “signal” above on a daily basis for this upcoming week
  • If you, your church or small group is looking for study materials or retreat possibilities that “upbuild men, women, and children in practical expressions of their Christian faith” check out Ron Rand’s website

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

P.S. This post written with thanksgiving to Ron Rand and MWPC FATHERS Team participants who helped to shape so many positive aspects of my Christian life!


Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, August 20, 2017:


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Taking the “Prayer of Relinquishment plunge!”

{This one from previous years is well worth repeating …}

Do you remember the old “NesTea Plunge” commercials like this one?

Richard J. Foster talks about this commercial as an example of how a fellow did a Prayer of Relinquishment one time…

“Strange as it may seem, he prayed a commercial. He described a popular advertisement of the day for NesTea in which different people, sweltering from the summer sun, would fall into a swimming pool with a thirst-quenching sense of ‘ahhh!’ on their faces. He then invited this man to fall into the arms of Jesus in the same way.” ~ Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, page 48

Foster later describes the fact that this prayer will come through lived experience and then goes through 5 prayers to help get there. Lots of good material in this book!

Foster then concludes the chapter by describing the beauty of getting to these Prayer of Relinquishment moments

“From every human viewpoint at times it looks like we have fallen over the precipice to our death. But we know better. We know that we are only falling into the arms of Jesus fully satisfied, fully at rest.” ~ Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, page 56

ACTION: Perhaps today is your day for a “Prayer of Relinquishment plunge,” falling into the arms of Jesus?

May we feel comfortable enough with our Christian lives that at least on certain days – and increasing the frequency all the time – we are fully willing to take the plunge…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, August 20, 2017:


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Don’t wish your summer away…

“Summer Has Come and Past” is a lyric from Green Day in their beautiful song Wake Me Up When September Ends… The song’s author would like to sleep away all of September.

Our mom has been known to say “don’t wish your life away.” Most of us do not really want to sleep through a particular month or season, but at times it might be convenient to sleep through some troublesome times… Hopefully your summer is continuing to go well and you’re not wishing for the next season just yet.

As summer has come – and not yet passed fully – we have the opportunity to enjoy some summer prayers, courtesy of Bob Hostetler and this Guideposts post.There are several written prayers and also this 99 second video prayer with music, pictures and words.

May this summer Monday find you enjoying conversation with God using one of these prayers and/or any of your effective communication approaches…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, August 20, 2017:


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“There are so many ways to get care right”

Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” ~ Matthew 14:28-33

This post on the UCC devotional site is too good NOT to share.

ACTION: May each of us feel empowered to make a suitable number of mistakes in the pursuit of “so many ways to get care right.”

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, August 13, 2017:


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Devotionals just where/when you need them…

Yesterday, a note from my good friend Bill brought a nice smile and reminder for us all.

“Today’s message {from d365.org} really helped me recenter and reminded me to face challenges with faith instead of fear.”

God’s word will be with us at just the right time in any number of ways.

Of all things, one way you may find valuable to receive God’s word is via email. Signing up for daily emails from d365.org and/or other websites can provide nice reminders to spend a few minutes focused on faith.

Here’s the d365.org post that Bill references. I really like this quote that starts off the devotional and relates in several ways with Heidi’s d365 message…

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”  ~ John Muir in Our National Parks (1901)

That imagery is fabulous – peace flowing like sunshine, cares dropping like leaves. What a nice contrast to the Lectionary verses – in the link below – from Matthew 14! 🙂

ACTION: consider adding a new devotional to your mix by subscribing to a daily email from one of the sources HERE Devotional

 

May your stormy seas become smooth as a carefully-ironed cotton shirt… Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, August 13, 2017:


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Musicals and faith…

This past weekend we were talking about how musicals have informed us about our faith. Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar continue to shape perspectives of audiences to this day.

This week’s Lectionary readings from Genesis 37 and Psalm 105 are reminders of another musical…

“he {God} had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. His feet were hurt with fetters, his neck was put in a collar of iron; until what he had said came to pass, the word of the LORD kept testing him. The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his possessions, to instruct his officials at his pleasure, and to teach his elders wisdom. Praise the LORD! ~ Psalm 105: 17-22, 45b

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat!

On stage and screen, we get a chance to see human redrafting of Biblical times through these musicals. While we know it’s not all true, these more modern looks at Jesus, Joseph, Judas and many other characters provide a modern-day take on stories that are lived out over many generations under different names and places.

Think about it. Have you met a “Joseph” over your lifetime; someone who didn’t seem to have a chance in life and yet ended up in a great position, helping so many others including those who helped him down (rather than up?) A Judas? A Mary?

ACTIONS:

  • Think back to “Bible musicals” you’ve enjoyed. Are there positive characters in your own life that remind you of these portrayals? If positive ones, consider a note or call to affirm those characteristics in that person, possibly even referencing the musical.
  • Maybe it’s time to watch one of your favorite “Bible musicals” over the next week or so? Or maybe one that you’ve never gotten the time to watch?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, August 13, 2017:


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Fill Your Head With God

Every morning I spend fifteen minutes filling my mind full of God; and so there’s no room left for worry thoughts. –Howard Chandler Christy, artist

While not knowing Howard Chandler Christy, he and I certainly see eye-to-eye relating to this idea of filling one’s head full with God. In fact, that’s the genesis of the Christian Playbook!

It seems that when I spend this Christian Playbook time first thing in the morning, my day goes so much better. And when I don’t, well… I feel guilty if nothing else! 🙂

 

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, August 6, 2017:


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