Well, Tuesday got away from me and I forgot "to blog".
I'm sure that I am not the only one who has slipped through an entire day and missed a detail or two. Even so, yesterday was a good day. I had a very enjoyable (although late-starting) meeting about the upcoming youth rally St. David's is hosting in mid-March (http://www.anwconf.com/public/upcomingevents.htm). I finally feel on track. Some of the nagging worries I have been having were shown to be moot or were alleviated. I now have a list of what still needs to be arranged and it is mostly slotting in the many people who have offered to help during the rally.
I also got things together for another major part of my life (being a minor football team registrar). Midget registration begins tomorrow and I think I have all my things ready to go.
This kind of settledness is not going to last, is it? Ah well, better enjoy it while I can.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
THE END IS NEAR
There are sure a lot of those post-apocalyptic movies out in recent years: 2012; Children of Men; I, Legend; Deep Impact; Armagedon; The Road; The Book of Eli and let's not forget the literary masterpieces - the Left Behind series. And serious documentaries or showing on A&E and TLC about the Mayan calendar ending, the quatrains of Nostradamus and a world without humans.
It's kind of depressing. Why do I keep watching these things?
The Bible is no stranger to apocalyptic literature: the books of Daniel, Revelation, as well as small sections of the gospels and other books. What seems to be the common context in the up-swing of these writings is that the world around the authors is filled with uncertainty, war or domination. When people feel helpless, they begin to wonder openly if God will just wipe it all out and give the righteous a fresh start.
I suspect that this has a lot to do with living in a post-9/11 world. The shadow of fear that those of us who grew up during the Cold War knew only too well is back for generations of today: thanks to suicide bombers and invading armies.
Is life really that fragile? Are we that devoid of hope?
It's kind of depressing. Why do I keep watching these things?
The Bible is no stranger to apocalyptic literature: the books of Daniel, Revelation, as well as small sections of the gospels and other books. What seems to be the common context in the up-swing of these writings is that the world around the authors is filled with uncertainty, war or domination. When people feel helpless, they begin to wonder openly if God will just wipe it all out and give the righteous a fresh start.
I suspect that this has a lot to do with living in a post-9/11 world. The shadow of fear that those of us who grew up during the Cold War knew only too well is back for generations of today: thanks to suicide bombers and invading armies.
Is life really that fragile? Are we that devoid of hope?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
EPIPHANY
I Am the Light of the World!
Arise! Your Light is Come!
Yup, we sang 'em on Sunday, the first Sunday of Epiphany. I spoke about "noticing the light": Finding the hints that point to presence of the Spirit. And how life is up-lifted when bouyed by the Spirit.
In light of that ... this is my New Year's resolution for 2010:
I WILL TRY TO MAKE EACH DAY A GOOD DAY
in terms of ..
..attitude
..health
..faith
..family
..happiness
..compassion
..justice
It seemed to make sense for me this year - the light has come on!
Arise! Your Light is Come!
Yup, we sang 'em on Sunday, the first Sunday of Epiphany. I spoke about "noticing the light": Finding the hints that point to presence of the Spirit. And how life is up-lifted when bouyed by the Spirit.
In light of that ... this is my New Year's resolution for 2010:
I WILL TRY TO MAKE EACH DAY A GOOD DAY
in terms of ..
..attitude
..health
..faith
..family
..happiness
..compassion
..justice
It seemed to make sense for me this year - the light has come on!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
A WEEK OF SATURDAYS
Happy New Year;
It's just a turn of a calendar page, but it reminds us of the cycles of life and the constant opportunities for fresh starts.
I had the last week of 2009 off from any formal responsibilities at the church. With the kids home from school - it felt like a week of Saturdays. And in a strange sort of way, that was kind of stressful. You see for me, as a minister, Saturday is sometimes a day off, but it can also be the last day of preparation for Sunday Worship. Every once and a while over the holidays, I would feel a flush of panic - "I'm not ready!" Then my concious mind would kick in and remember that it is (first of all) only Tuesday and (second of all) I don't have any worship prep responsibilies this week.
I like to be prepared. Truth be told, I seldom leave Sunday planning to Saturday. I try to avoid that last minute panic. But I know the feeling - and it's uncomfortable.
There is a modern proverb that says that God comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. I'm glad to be afflicted with panic from time to time, especially when I am getting too comfortable.
This is a good message for me, at the start of a new year or at anytime!
HAPPY NEW YEAR
It's just a turn of a calendar page, but it reminds us of the cycles of life and the constant opportunities for fresh starts.
I had the last week of 2009 off from any formal responsibilities at the church. With the kids home from school - it felt like a week of Saturdays. And in a strange sort of way, that was kind of stressful. You see for me, as a minister, Saturday is sometimes a day off, but it can also be the last day of preparation for Sunday Worship. Every once and a while over the holidays, I would feel a flush of panic - "I'm not ready!" Then my concious mind would kick in and remember that it is (first of all) only Tuesday and (second of all) I don't have any worship prep responsibilies this week.
I like to be prepared. Truth be told, I seldom leave Sunday planning to Saturday. I try to avoid that last minute panic. But I know the feeling - and it's uncomfortable.
There is a modern proverb that says that God comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. I'm glad to be afflicted with panic from time to time, especially when I am getting too comfortable.
This is a good message for me, at the start of a new year or at anytime!
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
READY TO WELCOME
It is two days before Christmas Eve and I have just finished planning the special services for that night in Leduc. My to-do list is getting shorter. The things left to are mostly physical (moving chairs, setting up the projector and lap top, etc.). I am starting to think beyond Dec 24th. Is that a good thing? Patti is going away Christmas day: I have the task of making the perogies for Christmas. Fear not, she has taught me well. I plan to ski a mountain when she gets back.
All the while I am listening to John Bell:
All the while I am listening to John Bell:
First Born of Mary
Provocative Preacher
Itinerant Teacher
Outsider's Choice
Jesus inspires, disarms and confuses
whoever he chooses
to hear his voice
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
CHRISTMAS GRIEF
For many years, I have offered a simple reflective service before Christmas that honours the pain that some people experience at this time of year. It could be the pain from financial pressures, loneliness, family strains and more. But most often it is the recently bereaved who are dealing with the emotions of facing the first Christmas without a loved one. The service has been called "Blue Christmas" or "Longest Night" (close to the solstice), but the intent is to offer care and support to those who find Christmas a sad time.
I come by the understanding honestly. It was in the early morning hours of December 19th, 1982, when he and my mom were attending a friend's Christmas party, that my dad's heart stopped. Five days before Christmas: the funeral was on the 22nd. I have always found it hard to leap full-long into the Christmas joy.
Likely because I was away for a three-and-a-half month sabbatical, I have only conducted thirteen memorial services (so far) in 2009 (on average, it's usually closer to 20). The last three have all been sudden deaths and all for active church families. Since early November, an aneurysm, a lightning fast cancer and a stroke brought sudden and unexpected grief into three families. At 67, 33 and even 94 these people were all expected to share this Christmas with their loved ones. And yet, there is an empty place at the table and in the heart.
We trust Jim, Robyn and Jo to God's keeping and our faith assures us of their comfort and rest and peace. This same faith holds us and enlivens us, but it does not eliminate the grief.
It is okay to be sad at Christmas. I am every year!
I come by the understanding honestly. It was in the early morning hours of December 19th, 1982, when he and my mom were attending a friend's Christmas party, that my dad's heart stopped. Five days before Christmas: the funeral was on the 22nd. I have always found it hard to leap full-long into the Christmas joy.
Likely because I was away for a three-and-a-half month sabbatical, I have only conducted thirteen memorial services (so far) in 2009 (on average, it's usually closer to 20). The last three have all been sudden deaths and all for active church families. Since early November, an aneurysm, a lightning fast cancer and a stroke brought sudden and unexpected grief into three families. At 67, 33 and even 94 these people were all expected to share this Christmas with their loved ones. And yet, there is an empty place at the table and in the heart.
We trust Jim, Robyn and Jo to God's keeping and our faith assures us of their comfort and rest and peace. This same faith holds us and enlivens us, but it does not eliminate the grief.
It is okay to be sad at Christmas. I am every year!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
MORE HOPEFUL THAN THAT
It was an odd choice.
My spouse and I felt the need to escape the pressures of normal daily living and so we went to a movie last night and chose "The Road". A disturbing post-apocalyptic tale of a father and son trying to find a place where other survivors may be. They are trying to remain "good guys" who have not turned their back on basic human dignity (i.e. turned to cannibalism). As I said: an odd choice.
The story comes from Cormac McCarthy, the same novelist who wrote "No Country for Old Men", which was turned into an amazing Oscar-winning movie.
The Road doesn't tell us what the disaster was. I assumed that the lack of radiation sickness, pointed to a meteor impact or something like that. Regardless, vitually all plant and animal life seems to be gone. It is a world that is dying. It is a world without hope. It reminded me of "Children of Men", another movie where there is no hope for a lasting future. How will people behave when survival is a short-term goal, at best.
On reflection, the "road" refers to having a purpose in life. Life can continue because there is hope that "down the road" something better awaits. Hope is alive as long as we keep moving down the road. For the father it was hard to trust. He had seen so much violence and expereicned so much selfishness, that he had trouble seeing that there were other "good guys" on the road. In a way, his destination was already near, just a bit ahead and behind him, as others (who were similarly uncertain) kept their distance. But the son could see this (always wanting to share food and clothing).
An odd choice, but in there somewhere is Advent, isn't it? The hopeful path and the need to share good company on the journey.
Nah, it was just a movie.
My spouse and I felt the need to escape the pressures of normal daily living and so we went to a movie last night and chose "The Road". A disturbing post-apocalyptic tale of a father and son trying to find a place where other survivors may be. They are trying to remain "good guys" who have not turned their back on basic human dignity (i.e. turned to cannibalism). As I said: an odd choice.
The story comes from Cormac McCarthy, the same novelist who wrote "No Country for Old Men", which was turned into an amazing Oscar-winning movie.
The Road doesn't tell us what the disaster was. I assumed that the lack of radiation sickness, pointed to a meteor impact or something like that. Regardless, vitually all plant and animal life seems to be gone. It is a world that is dying. It is a world without hope. It reminded me of "Children of Men", another movie where there is no hope for a lasting future. How will people behave when survival is a short-term goal, at best.
On reflection, the "road" refers to having a purpose in life. Life can continue because there is hope that "down the road" something better awaits. Hope is alive as long as we keep moving down the road. For the father it was hard to trust. He had seen so much violence and expereicned so much selfishness, that he had trouble seeing that there were other "good guys" on the road. In a way, his destination was already near, just a bit ahead and behind him, as others (who were similarly uncertain) kept their distance. But the son could see this (always wanting to share food and clothing).
An odd choice, but in there somewhere is Advent, isn't it? The hopeful path and the need to share good company on the journey.
Nah, it was just a movie.
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