No Brainer?

Day 6 Doxology: If past week's blogs seemed a little dark and serious maybe you can join me in seeing the humor in today's blog.  I had my regularly scheduled dentist appointment this morning -x-rays and cleaning.  When I arrived I thought I would help myself to the restroom just in case -never pass up a bathroom, right?  As soon as I stepped into the restroom, I turned on the light and...voilà!   Guess what was staring me in the face?  This sign....

Am I the only one that thinks it odd that there are some people that do not know how to wash their hands?  I laughed, and thought to myself, does my hand-washing procedure usually take 40-60 seconds like the sign suggest?  I really thought to myself, this is just another example of the wussification of America. Now the public is responsible for teach someone else's "responsibility" what they should have learned years earlier...in the home!  Is this another example of the breakdown of the home?

I stood there a bit staring at the display of instruction-by-numbers before my mind turned to God.  I wonder if the Israelites looked up from melting their jewelry for the golden calf just as Moses came down the mountain with the 10 Commandments and said..."really?"  Really, thou shalt not kill?  Some things just seem like a no brainer?  I wonder if God thought the entire human race was wussified when he gave Moses the 10 commandments to a group of sojourners years ago?  It makes me wonder about the part where God said "love God and love neighbor."  Maybe we haven't come as far as we'd like to think?  58...59...60!  Ok, I'm clean!

I Am Your's

Day 4 Doxology:  Have you ever thought about how small you are and how large the world is?  When I went to Jerusalem, I thought..."I'm just a small fish in the pond."  When Shannon and I went to Estonia we both were reminded, how little we were compared to the the people in the world.  We are such a small piece of the puzzle.

I serve a church of many.  Each, with their own personality, make up the ministry that God has appointed us to...each of us are equipped for God's greatness.

This evening, I have to admit, I had an external focus on me -I had already served God by attending a funeral.  However, when I returned home I eagerly worked on tomorrow's worship -Holy is thou, right!

I walked outside to fry chicken wings :) and...I looked up!  What I saw paused my breath and maybe even my heart.  I saw the moon which is to come...

This thought became my doxology for today.  After the proclamation of one's love for God... shared at the funeral, and after each family member stood in allegiance to their Mom's God,  I shouldn't pause at the thought of God, but I did.

With uncooked wings in hand I stopped and gazed at the stars. Everything that God created is huge and my world is so very small.  How can I ever think I am the center of the universe?

Thank you Lord for the limited and broad view I have of the world...I am your's!

God Is Not Of This World

Day 3 Doxology: Many of you are likely tuning in to see how clever I can be today.  For many of you this entry will seem not so positive.  If it darkens your day then you are in good company.  Let me explain.

My day has been full of countless emotions from one extreme to another.  My morning began with wasted exasperation wading through the endless verbiage of legal documents...check.  Then I sought prompt resolve with a trusted verbiage interpreter...check.  A quick stop to see a life-giving smile and an attempt to invoke laughter...check.  Oh, I almost forgot the visitation with our oldest worshipper to drop off a small gift...check and check.  Next, I was on the road to share and receive some laughter from our latest patient, but before I do I needed to make some calls...that's right, check check, check.  I think I was able to make six calls as I drove.  Each call ranged in emotion just like my day.  After each stop, each task, and each conversation was concluded I bought groceries and headed home. Once home Shannon and I ate dinner while I sent a few emails and took a few calls -like you I'm done with the "check".  One call, in particular, brought sad news from a friend.  Before you hit backspace, or start shopping ebay, let me share the point I'm trying to make.

My day mirrors our lives, and sadly it likely mirrors your life.  In a powerful way you are my family, and I know what you struggle with, because I struggle with the same things.  Life's continual trajectory of the pendulum never ceases, and what we are left with are memories of laughter and tears joined with the faces of our friends and family.  I did what many of us do...I retreated.

Todays doxology picture is the dark peace of my room that comes from the still, quiet conversation with God.  I sat in darkness and listened.  The picture may look like nothing, but in actuality it's everything.  I wished I could put to words the things I felt as I sat in the dark.

Most of the time "dark" is associated with evil and/ or death, while "light" is paired with good or life. However, tonight's darkness felt Holy-life giving.

The message/answer I felt in the dark was God saying it won't last.  You may ask, "What won't last?"  I believe the answer to be...nothing of this world.  Neither the verbiage, nor the sickness, even the sadness is for life and they are temporary.  What is for eternity is God's love and it is available to us all regardless of the amplitude of life's pendulum. Thanks be to God!

Who Strengthened Your Calling?

Day 2 Doxology:  Well, I haven't heard from any parishioners worried about my caloric intake from yesterday's blog.  I get it!

Today's 2nd Lenten Doxology is no surprise and can be summed up in one word...Shannon!  I was fortunate enough to visit my wife at school (her work) for a "Talent Day" that she organized for OMS -Oneonta Middle School!  I watched as tomorrow's potiental leaders shared a talent they have or thought they have.  A time not without humor...Sorry, I mean joy.

While I was watching these middle school age sons and daughters I thought about my wife's ability to support their growth.  In my memory...I couldn't help but to think about growth in life -mine and yours. You are you because someone poured into you and strengthened you at just the right time of your maturity process -I believe nothing is more complex than the timing of our maturity!  Through this process adults are learning to guide with humor, honor, and integrity our youth while never taking themselves too serious at any one point...it's an art...it's a CALLING!

I remember my calling narrative.  At a special moment in my three daughters, mortgage-filled life I told my wife that I was called to Seminary, and her on response without pause was..."well, then that is what we'll do."  I hang on to those words every day...the moment God's calling was given feet!  Let me pause to say, both God and Shannon are my strength in life! Which leads me to today's doxology...who strengthened your calling?  Who in the church will stand in the gaps for our children -tomorrow's hope-and guide, protect, humor, honor, and love with integrity them?  There is no greater calling than to sacrificially guide and support another!  That means you become a part of their narrative.

Who strengthened your calling; whose calling are you called to strengthen?

Love Dust!

Day 1 Doxology: Where to begin...the beginning is always best.  It's Lent and that means Doxology Devotions for 40 days excluding Sundays.  It's been my Lenten tradition now for many years, and quite frankly it's my greatest blessing of Lent as well.

This first of several doxology moments came tonight at our Ash Wednesday service.  Ash Wednesday is a time when we are reminded that from the moment we were born we are to die.  A pretty dim message to share, right?  Not really.

In our Ash Wednesday Service we join with Christians across this small globe in receiving the mark of a cross made of ashes on our foreheads, and the sign of the cross reminds us that we are infinitely more than dust.  We are God's sons and daughters, and nothing (Not even death) can separate us from God's love. We are "Love Dust!"

During tonight's Ash Wednesday Service I felt this overwhelming joy that I get to share the message of "Love Dust" with a congregation I love!  I serve the greatest church in the world!  Bring on Lent!

A Day of Gifts

Day 39 Doxology:  This has been a day of gifts...even if I am into day 40 of my doxology sharing.  For clarity, Day 39 Doxology has been a true day of celebrations. 

This evening friends and family gathered at a high-flutten resteraunt in Birmingham to honor the birthday of a special friend.  This friend is a one-of-a-kind not unlike you!  She was one of the first people to step into my office after my dad passed away and prompted me to heal.  She was CHRIST to me.

Tonight, I experienced another kind of gift.  My church left, for me and my family, a gift that sheds light on the huge Easter experience.  Each year has been joy upon joy to share with my family.  And, my girls almost stand taller (if possible) when they see the church their dad serves pour out so much love this time of year.  I feel love throughout the year, but this time of the year is a special opportunity to share a Happy Easter Gift.  My church never misses an opportunity to remind me they care! This year, like years prior, we had an Easter Basket waiting.

Too many times we overlook the joy of the body of Christ...why?  Why would we miss out on elevating what God is doing in and through others...through ourselves?  

This Easter pause and think then...thank! Thank others for their thoughtfulness and caring.  If we all did it within our circle...it just might become contagious.  Praise be to God!

Looks that Kill!

Day 37 Doxology: Have you ever heard of the old cliche "looks that kill"?  Several times tonight I experienced the thought that mimic that old cliche -"looks that kill".  You are assuming that the word "kill" is a bad thing.  All my life I've called friends "killer", "choppy", "Captain," or "Gomer" when they did something goofy.  I think killer, choppy, Captain, or Gomer are terms of endearment a bond between people you care for.  They are friends that you never will forget.  When I called my friend "killer" it was as if I was saying you are a "killer" friend -A friend I'll never forget.  In kind... the term "looks that kill" is used to describe an image that will forever be a part of my memory.  Tonight, my mind is full of "looks that kill"!

Tonight was our church's Easter Eggstavaganza.  So many images run through my mind -children I've never seen, children I haven't seen in a while, and children that I never will forget.  Other images that can be described as "looks that kill" are the adults that serve tirelessly. They plan, paint, cook, pour, and toss their way into a child's life.  It's about the coolest thing one could ever witness.  What you see are "looks that kill"!

A couple of highlighted looks are shared for your viewing.  I will carefully not share their name because I don't have their permission, but I will share their picture -like that is better!  I begin with a small princess (we will call her Princess EK).  I've missed her while she has been recovering from surgery, and tonight I couldn't wait to be a part of this doxology moment!  My face looks so intense because of the huge squeeze being offered.  Thinking that I get to be this princess' pastor brings tears to my eyes...as you can see it is a look that kills!

The next image is from an adult-child.  She was wading through children to somehow offer and excuse to sling fake grass and toss eggs.  The kids loved her, but really, who wouldn't?  This is a look that kills!

To close, how many image have you experienced today that you blew passed, or over-looked?  In the end, they were forgotten when God offered them as a "Means of Grace" for you to draw upon for days and weeks.  Tonight was just that...a Means of experiencing the Grace God offers to me through the relationships and life of others.  I believe them to be looks that will be uploaded in my memory for every...they are "looks that kill" for a very long time!  Thanks be to God!