Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Judges 9:8-15
The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ 9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?’ 10 And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’ 11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?’ 12 And the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’ 13 But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?’ 14 Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’ 15 And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Crazy Talk
Have you ever had a conversation with a crazy person?
I did, just the other day. Usually I don't commit the time to talking to confrontational people for long. I usually find out what they want or need and if we have it, give it, if not try to send them on to someone who does. But for some reason this one had me captivated!
It began after I asked, can I help you.
For twenty minutes I listened as this lady told me (without knowing who I was), that the pastor of this church was a racist, that he doesn't help people, that he doesn't care about anyone, that he is of the devil and that he is going to be killed by God.
She had my attention!
As I listened, I learned that God was out to kill lots of people.
The cops, security guards, one of our volunteers, some lady that wouldn't give her a dollar the other day, and the list seamed to grow as we talked.
What interested me the most was the vast knowledge of scripture that this lady had. She would mix biblical stories with the confusion of her life and the people, real or imagined that she interacted with on a daily basis.
We talked about inflation, politics, the cost of the cream cheese covered carrot cakes at the corner market.
We talked for almost two hours!
Finally I had to give up, I had other things calling me, I told her I had to go.
Before I could leave she stopped me, she told me that I was a wonderful person, that there were not many godly people out there such as myself, she told me that it was a relief to be able to talk to someone with out them pushing her off or calling the police.
She finally asked me what my name was, I was almost afraid to tell her!
I told her my name, and I told her that I was the pastor here.
She looked at me,
she smiled,
then she said,
God won't kill you, today!
I did, just the other day. Usually I don't commit the time to talking to confrontational people for long. I usually find out what they want or need and if we have it, give it, if not try to send them on to someone who does. But for some reason this one had me captivated!
It began after I asked, can I help you.
For twenty minutes I listened as this lady told me (without knowing who I was), that the pastor of this church was a racist, that he doesn't help people, that he doesn't care about anyone, that he is of the devil and that he is going to be killed by God.
She had my attention!
As I listened, I learned that God was out to kill lots of people.
The cops, security guards, one of our volunteers, some lady that wouldn't give her a dollar the other day, and the list seamed to grow as we talked.
What interested me the most was the vast knowledge of scripture that this lady had. She would mix biblical stories with the confusion of her life and the people, real or imagined that she interacted with on a daily basis.
We talked about inflation, politics, the cost of the cream cheese covered carrot cakes at the corner market.
We talked for almost two hours!
Finally I had to give up, I had other things calling me, I told her I had to go.
Before I could leave she stopped me, she told me that I was a wonderful person, that there were not many godly people out there such as myself, she told me that it was a relief to be able to talk to someone with out them pushing her off or calling the police.
She finally asked me what my name was, I was almost afraid to tell her!
I told her my name, and I told her that I was the pastor here.
She looked at me,
she smiled,
then she said,
God won't kill you, today!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Multitasking
Do you ever just sit and do one thing?
It use to be that when I wanted to watch tv, I would sit on the couch and watch a show or two. Every now and then I would eat or drink something as I watched.
Now it seams that I can no longer just sit! Now I feel like I have to watch tv, save multiple shows for later, eat, drink, check my email, browse the internet, check my cell phone messages as well as talk on it, read a book or browse through a magazine.
Some people call it multitasking, society encourages it, and if your sitting down and only doing one thing, people call you lazy!
I can't escape from it! It follows me everywhere!
I just want to be able to sit in the midst of quiet, turn everything off, remove myself from the chaos that follows me.
I need to disappear with God! I need to really be alone with Him, to listen, to talk, to read and to pray.
A friend turned me on to the idea of "poustinia."
The concept of poustinia according to Catherine Doherty is a smallish house or cottage, furnished with cot, table and chair, located far from the distractions of the world. The only permitted reading is a Bible, and the only permitted food (supplied) is bread and hot water for tea or coffee. The pousitnikki is to immerse himself or herself in sheer solitude, not reading more than the Bible, not working, no communications, not even praying if the spirit does not persuade. Walks in the woods or puttering in the cottage garden are permitted for the visitor's weekend stay. Doherty even gives license to just sleep if that is all that the exhausted but honest wayfarer can accomplish. But solitude, sacrifice, silence, self-discipline -- all these tools are intended to open the person to finding God experientially. Then the poustinikki can return to the "marketplace" of the world carrying the desert within the self.
I am feeling drawn to this idea of "pustinia" and will be looking for an opportunity in the near future to withdraw and see where the Holy Spirit leads me. Plus my waist could probably use a few days with out food...
It use to be that when I wanted to watch tv, I would sit on the couch and watch a show or two. Every now and then I would eat or drink something as I watched.
Now it seams that I can no longer just sit! Now I feel like I have to watch tv, save multiple shows for later, eat, drink, check my email, browse the internet, check my cell phone messages as well as talk on it, read a book or browse through a magazine.
Some people call it multitasking, society encourages it, and if your sitting down and only doing one thing, people call you lazy!
I can't escape from it! It follows me everywhere!
I just want to be able to sit in the midst of quiet, turn everything off, remove myself from the chaos that follows me.
I need to disappear with God! I need to really be alone with Him, to listen, to talk, to read and to pray.
A friend turned me on to the idea of "poustinia."
The concept of poustinia according to Catherine Doherty is a smallish house or cottage, furnished with cot, table and chair, located far from the distractions of the world. The only permitted reading is a Bible, and the only permitted food (supplied) is bread and hot water for tea or coffee. The pousitnikki is to immerse himself or herself in sheer solitude, not reading more than the Bible, not working, no communications, not even praying if the spirit does not persuade. Walks in the woods or puttering in the cottage garden are permitted for the visitor's weekend stay. Doherty even gives license to just sleep if that is all that the exhausted but honest wayfarer can accomplish. But solitude, sacrifice, silence, self-discipline -- all these tools are intended to open the person to finding God experientially. Then the poustinikki can return to the "marketplace" of the world carrying the desert within the self.
I am feeling drawn to this idea of "pustinia" and will be looking for an opportunity in the near future to withdraw and see where the Holy Spirit leads me. Plus my waist could probably use a few days with out food...
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Mind Altering God
Metanoia is used to refer to the change of mind which is brought about in repentance. Repentance is necessary and valuable because it brings about change of mind or metanoia. This change of mind will make the changed person hate sin and love God. The two terms (repentance and metanoia) are often used interchangeably.
Why are we afraid of change? Why do we get comfortable with routine and tradition? Why are we afraid of seeking repentance?
Why do we think we have everything figured out, including God himself?
It's time for a change!
It's time for repentance!
It's time for metanoia!
I'll be first............
Why are we afraid of change? Why do we get comfortable with routine and tradition? Why are we afraid of seeking repentance?
Why do we think we have everything figured out, including God himself?
It's time for a change!
It's time for repentance!
It's time for metanoia!
I'll be first............
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