We must have received favorable reviews on trivago or travelocity or kayak or at least the "goose" version of these travel guides. The last couple of weeks we've been host to several groups of Canadian geese as they take a respite on their journey south.
I guess that the grass and trees and bird feed and puddles have made our church grounds an inviting place to take a break- though the squirrels- who eat most of the bird seed- will be glad to see them gone!
These geese are beautiful, though more graceful in the air than on the ground. While here you can't escape the fact that they are noisy, messy, and sometimes belligerent- with one another and with humans who wander too close. One minute they are fussing and squawking, the next they are preening one another's feathers.
After a time of rest and renewal they will venture off again together on a journey towards home- a journey none would dare take alone.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Speak, O Lord
This morning started with a song in my head. You never know where such things originate but I found myself trying to reconstruct "Speak, O Lord" by Keith and Kristyn Getty. Quite honestly, it was only that first phrase and a couple of lines of the tune that I could recall. That in itself was frustrating, yet motivating- driving me to the hymnal and the internet as soon as I reached the office.
Speak, O Lord, as we come to You to receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us; shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today in our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us all Your purposes for Your glory.
I am grateful that folks like the Gettys and their partner Stuart Townend are writing new hymns for the church. Our worship services have incorporated songs of theirs like "In Christ Alone," "Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer," "O Church Arise," and "The Risen Christ." The canon of scripture is closed- but the song-book of the church is still open! Music has a wonderful way of expressing our hopes, prayers, and worship. Sometimes what we can't shake from our heads takes root in our hearts.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds; help us grasp the depths of Your plans for us-
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time that will echo down thro' eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises, and by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built and the earth is filled with your glory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGg40zKRvAg
Speak, O Lord, as we come to You to receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us; shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today in our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us all Your purposes for Your glory.
I am grateful that folks like the Gettys and their partner Stuart Townend are writing new hymns for the church. Our worship services have incorporated songs of theirs like "In Christ Alone," "Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer," "O Church Arise," and "The Risen Christ." The canon of scripture is closed- but the song-book of the church is still open! Music has a wonderful way of expressing our hopes, prayers, and worship. Sometimes what we can't shake from our heads takes root in our hearts.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds; help us grasp the depths of Your plans for us-
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time that will echo down thro' eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises, and by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built and the earth is filled with your glory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGg40zKRvAg
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
An Afternoon at the Beach
Lat week I took something of a personal spring break as I traveled to Florida to visit with family for a couple of days. I enjoyed good time with my Mom, pleasant visits with my brothers and their families, and, of course, some time at the beach.
Walking the beach was something of a trip down memory lane. I couldn't help but smile as parents tried to keep-up with umbrellas, small children, and toys washed-over by unexpected waves. Memory lane was a bit longer than anticipated as I found myself thinking about my trips up and down the beach searching for shells.
My goal was always to fill the brightly colored pail, or my bathing suit pocket, or my Mom's hands with a collection of colorful, beautiful, perfectly-shaped shells. To make it into my collection they had to be worthy of an encyclopedia photograph! No imperfections, chipped edges, or faded color made the cut.
This trip, though, I found my attention drawn to a large chunk of a sand dollar and the curved remnant of a conch shell. Like all sea shells, these had already out-lived their usefulness to their original inhabitants before being violently being raked across the reef and dumped on shore. Yet, as I looked them over I saw beauty in brokenness and value in what had been discarded. Memories help us cherish what once was and give us hope for what yet be.
Walking the beach was something of a trip down memory lane. I couldn't help but smile as parents tried to keep-up with umbrellas, small children, and toys washed-over by unexpected waves. Memory lane was a bit longer than anticipated as I found myself thinking about my trips up and down the beach searching for shells.
My goal was always to fill the brightly colored pail, or my bathing suit pocket, or my Mom's hands with a collection of colorful, beautiful, perfectly-shaped shells. To make it into my collection they had to be worthy of an encyclopedia photograph! No imperfections, chipped edges, or faded color made the cut.
This trip, though, I found my attention drawn to a large chunk of a sand dollar and the curved remnant of a conch shell. Like all sea shells, these had already out-lived their usefulness to their original inhabitants before being violently being raked across the reef and dumped on shore. Yet, as I looked them over I saw beauty in brokenness and value in what had been discarded. Memories help us cherish what once was and give us hope for what yet be.
Monday, March 3, 2014
A Full Heart
"I am thanking you, God, from a full heart-" that is how The Message paraphrases Psalm 9:1 and it is my prayer this morning.
Our church's twenty-fifth anniversary celebration was a wonderful weekend of remembering and renewing, worship and fellowship, looking back and looking forward. For those who served on our Anniversary Committee it was the culmination of over six months of planning and praying- and I think the results far exceeded our hopes and expectations.
Our choir and all those involved in our music ministry honored God and lifted our hearts in worship. I still can't decide on a "favorite" song from the service. Our worship was enhanced by banners and pictures that acknowledged who we are and celebrated what God "is up to" among us. Each word spoken- from prayers to testimony to readings to sermon- communicated God's message for us both in what was said and who was speaking. Acted symbols speak powerfully.
Not all trips down memory lane are pleasant. Sharing life- and church- together is always a mixture of hopes and fears, hurts and healing, "what happend's?" and "what-if's?" But as God's family we walk that sometimes bumpy road together and days like yesterday remind us of what God has done, help us to see what God is doing, and give us hope for what God still intends to do. These days there seem to be many who are ready to give-up on the church... I don't think anyone there yesterday is ready to join them!
Our church's twenty-fifth anniversary celebration was a wonderful weekend of remembering and renewing, worship and fellowship, looking back and looking forward. For those who served on our Anniversary Committee it was the culmination of over six months of planning and praying- and I think the results far exceeded our hopes and expectations.
Our choir and all those involved in our music ministry honored God and lifted our hearts in worship. I still can't decide on a "favorite" song from the service. Our worship was enhanced by banners and pictures that acknowledged who we are and celebrated what God "is up to" among us. Each word spoken- from prayers to testimony to readings to sermon- communicated God's message for us both in what was said and who was speaking. Acted symbols speak powerfully.
Not all trips down memory lane are pleasant. Sharing life- and church- together is always a mixture of hopes and fears, hurts and healing, "what happend's?" and "what-if's?" But as God's family we walk that sometimes bumpy road together and days like yesterday remind us of what God has done, help us to see what God is doing, and give us hope for what God still intends to do. These days there seem to be many who are ready to give-up on the church... I don't think anyone there yesterday is ready to join them!
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