Thursday, November 26, 2015

My List of Thankfulness

This year, I share my growing list of things for which I am thankful…
  • ·      Sons who are enjoyable companions from whom I can learn…
  • ·      Bill who is a steady rock and who has begun to more fully express his passion in working with wood…
  • ·      Barbara, a sister of choice…
  • ·      Getting to be friends as adults with Ben and Kat…
  • ·      A family that is diverse and gifted…
  • ·      Friends who are gifts of courage and grace…
  • ·      A coach who helps me to see clearly…
  • ·      Opportunities to grow in understanding, in seeking and offering forgiveness…
  • ·      A vision of our Three-in-One God which infuses and suffuses my entire life…
  • ·      Being able to see how others are gifted and called even when we come at things differently…
  • ·      The willingness to open my heart and mind to learn new things…
  • ·      Being able to watch the children at church grow…
  • ·      Hugs that last at least 20 seconds…
  • ·      Even for painful encounters…
  • ·      Swimming and walking…
  • ·      The opportunity to serve and walk in ministry with the people of Christ Crossman…


For all these people and things, and much, much more, I give thanks.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Grumble, Mumble, Complain

A friend recently mentioned to me that the Rule of Benedict talks about how serious a problem grumbling is. In fact, Benedict mentions murmuratio no less than twelve times as a serious threat to the community. Moses had that problem with the Hebrews as they made their way in the wilderness. Constantly, they murmured, complained, about the lack of water, about food, about almost anything.  Can’t you just hear the soft murmurings start like whispers, then grow to a breeze, then almost a howling gale? It drove Moses crazy. God didn’t like it much either.

“Grumbling works as a slowly and subconsciously working social poison. It obscures vision, drains energy, and touches the heart. This is true for ‘internal’ as well as ‘external’ grumbling. Those who internally grumble and complain can no longer see clearly and listen—because another voice is already speaking, their attention and energy is directed to something other than what is going on at the moment, and therefore they cannot do their task any longer ‘from the heart.’ External grumbling is even more damaging, because it spreads like an unregulated division of cells; we call it griping for good reason. Grumblers seek each other’s company, strengthen one another and infect others; they act like sand and poison”[1] in the community.

I know we have all done our share of grumbling, mumbling, and murmuring in our lives. It is so easy to turn to the person next to us and complain about how long the wait is, about the temperature in the room, about how much homework the teacher gives out, about almost anything. I hate waiting in lines, or being stuck in a crowd. The problem is that when I grumble, then I add to the atmosphere of anxiety. How much better for me, and for everyone around me, if I were to hold myself in silence, and pray for the people around me, if I were to look at them with God’s eyes. For me, this would be living generously. I think I am going to make this a part of my discipline going in to Advent.

1 Peter 4:9
Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
Philippians 2:14
Do all things without murmuring and arguing.



[1] Derkse Wil, The Rule of Benedict for Beginners: Spirituality for Daily Life (Collegeville, Minnesota), The Liturgical Press, 2003, p. 35.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Going Overboard

You’ve heard the story about Jonah and how he ended up in the belly of a big fish. If you remember, God had a specific call for Jonah.  He was a prophet, so he should have expected a call from God, however he did not like what task God gave him. He was supposed to go to his enemies in Ninevah with a message from God to repent of their wickedness.

Jonah headed in the opposite direction, taking a ship that was bound for Tarshish. He thought he could get away from God, but while Jonah was asleep in the hold, the ship ran into a huge storm that threatened to break it apart. The sailors were frightened for their lives. They had to have prayed to every god they knew. The captain woke Jonah and begged him to pray to his god, not knowing to which one Jonah would pray. We don’t know if Jonah didn’t pray, refused to pray, or what. The crew then cast lots to see whose fault the storm was. It fell on Jonah.

As frightened as the crew was, they took time to ask him questions: What was his profession? Where was he from? Who were his people? They didn’t jump on him. They wanted to understand so they could decide their course of action. Jonah told them to throw him into the sea, and the storm would calm down. They didn’t grab at this solution. They tried as hard as they could to save the ship without throwing Jonah overboard, but the storm strengthened. Finally, with prayers to Jonah’s God, they threw him overboard. That’s how he ended up in the belly of the big fish.

Today, I heard a brand new insight into this scene. Jonah knew he was the one who needed to go overboard. He could have jumped into the sea himself to save the crew and their ship; instead he waited until in desperation they threw him overboard. Jonah could have taken responsibility for himself, but he made the sailors take responsibility for him.


How hard it can be to take responsibility for ourselves, and our own actions, rather than to make others take it for us! Jonah was trying to avoid responsibility all around. He didn’t want to go to his enemies with God’s message. He ran away. He made the sailors throw him overboard. Where in my life, where in your life, are the Jonah tendencies? How am I, how are you, holding back from answering the challenge? How can I, how can you, take responsibility for answering God’s call in this moment?

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Prayer Walking

You may know that as I walk I use the time for intercessory prayer, using an old form known as the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” After beginning with that prayer, I modify it to, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on ___,” using the name of a family member, a friend, a colleague, or someone else I know. The best I can offer is holding them within the light of God’s mercy.

This Saturday, we have the opportunity to take time to pray as we walk around our city. We will do this with folks from The Vine, a United Methodist Church plant in Dunn Loring. Together, we will take time to hold the people, businesses, establishments, and institutions within the light of God’s mercy. While doing this, we will also be holding each other in prayer as we get to know each other and explore working together to reach people who do not yet know God’s love in their lives.

So come on out this Saturday, November 7. We will gather at 11 a.m. in the Christ Crossman parking lot (or inside, if it is raining) to begin. Then in small groups, we will make our way across the city for 40 minutes. For those who cannot walk that far, or who choose not to walk, a small group can be in prayer in the church. This is for all ages. Those with children could easily group together and pray around the park. At 11:50, we will meet back at the church to share our experiences. Afterwards, folks who choose may eat together and talk it through more.

The best we can offer is to hold our community within the light of God’s mercy. Let’s do it together.

Isaiah 2.5:

O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!