So...sleep is good and I'm off to another day of preparations and excitement.
Anyway...my predicament from yesterday started to make this week's Gospel lesson resonate a little more. The Revised Common Lectionary is finishing "the year of Luke" and we have been inundated with stories of stewardship for the last 6 weeks. This week's lesson is no different, but it is. Jesus added a twist by commending the shrewd manager for his dishonesty and his craftiness. I suppose that if you had been following Jesus through Judea and now heard this message, you'd be scratching your head as well. Don't believe me? Read Luke 16:1-13.
So how did this seemingly twisted, upside-down, out of character story about financial management resonate with me? Aside from trying to get my bills paid ontime, the idea of "being faithful in very little being faithful in very much" stuck out because I'm trying to do much and I feel that I am barely keeping up. I also worry about money a lot because I have fallen into that group of young Americans that didn't follow my parent's example about being frugal with money and found that 'credit was my friend'...which for all of you reading this and getting your first creadit card...don't memorize the number and don't try to compete with the latest and greatest gadgets. The love of money comes in when we try to have all the new stuff - HDTV, cars, cable, cell phone, Wii, you name it.
And winning the lottery won't make me any more financially shrewd.
"You can't serve two Masters."
So...I am trying to find a plan to use my resources better. And I am going to calmly go back to the pharmacy to get my meds. And I am going to put my trust in the fact that God knows what he's doing. And that it will work out to glorify his plan...NOT MINE.
Happy Friday everyone.
T.
PS...for a laugh, check out this week's Agnus Day cartoon...wicked funny stuff.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
ARGH!!!!
It's been one of those days. I am getting ready for our Student Ministry Kickoff this weekend and I've been focused on that and my one class that I nearly missed the fact that the basics that needed to get done, like paying my bills and refilling my meds, almost didn't get done. The air conditioning in the offices is not working well and it was humid and uncomfortable. Things kept cropping up and my to do list was becoming a to do dissertation. I was chasing down two prescriptions for 2 days and it's was a circus. When I finally got things straightened out and thought that I could actually get what I needed, and after I've raced 20miles to get somewhere before 9 PM because I'm tired and overwhelmed, and I get to the door of the 2nd pharmacy that I've been to AND THE PHARMACY IS CLOSED.
ARGH!!!
I'm trying to find the silver lining. Really. But I'm a little stressed and really didn't want another chore for tomorrow. I'd been told to calm down by my mom a few times today but things just kept piling up.
But life...and God's way of waking you up...can be funny. I got back into my car, frustrated, tired, and a bit upset. I had been listening to Peder Eide's CD "Taste and See" and I just happened to be at the end of the disc and then it happened. Turn the car on, music starts, and Peder's song "Be", which is Psalm 46, starts. I let out a laugh because I was reminded that all the chasing, all the planning, all the craziness came down to a final moment...
I forgot that no matter how much I chased, ran, planned, designed, worried, fretted, sweated...no matter how crazy this week has gotten, I forgot that God was watching over me. I love this psalm because it brings comfort when things get really crazy and He reminds me to slow down, to be safe, to just be.
I'm home and writing this and trying to be. It's going to take some time to unwind tonight and I'm going to go to sleep with that promise because tomorrow is another day...and it will be stressful and crazy...but it will be.
Good night from Philly.
ARGH!!!
I'm trying to find the silver lining. Really. But I'm a little stressed and really didn't want another chore for tomorrow. I'd been told to calm down by my mom a few times today but things just kept piling up.
But life...and God's way of waking you up...can be funny. I got back into my car, frustrated, tired, and a bit upset. I had been listening to Peder Eide's CD "Taste and See" and I just happened to be at the end of the disc and then it happened. Turn the car on, music starts, and Peder's song "Be", which is Psalm 46, starts. I let out a laugh because I was reminded that all the chasing, all the planning, all the craziness came down to a final moment...
I forgot that no matter how much I chased, ran, planned, designed, worried, fretted, sweated...no matter how crazy this week has gotten, I forgot that God was watching over me. I love this psalm because it brings comfort when things get really crazy and He reminds me to slow down, to be safe, to just be.
I'm home and writing this and trying to be. It's going to take some time to unwind tonight and I'm going to go to sleep with that promise because tomorrow is another day...and it will be stressful and crazy...but it will be.
Good night from Philly.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Two posts in one day...
The Gospel lesson in this week's lectionary has two stories...the lost sheep and the lost coin. The stories talk about finding what was lost and celebrating the return of something precious. There are many ways to approach this lesson and sometimes we feel left out or confused because at the same time, we are the lost and the found.
A favorite Christian band of mine, Lost & Found, uses this message when they travel to worship and celebrate God's amazing grace to churches, youth groups, and conventions. They sometimes appear lost but find their way into our memories with their music.
I like to explore the cities that I move to orient myself. Invariably, I get lost, but find riches and treasures that I can then go back to or even to share with others.
We might feel a bit jealous in the story of the sheep and coin because we assume that we are the found ones, the ones that never got lost. But we all have been lost at one time or another and this paradox continues.
If you are inclined, read Luke 15:1-10. If you want to go deeper, Psalm 51:1-10 (no, I don't know why there are 10 verses to each...that's just the way it works)
Also, check out Agnus Day, a weekly cartoon that illustrates something about the Gospel for each week. This week's cartoon is spot on.
And...just to make this go a little farther...read and think about the lyrics to "Amazing Grace."
May you be filled with the Holy Spirit to love, live and serve.
tina
A favorite Christian band of mine, Lost & Found, uses this message when they travel to worship and celebrate God's amazing grace to churches, youth groups, and conventions. They sometimes appear lost but find their way into our memories with their music.
I like to explore the cities that I move to orient myself. Invariably, I get lost, but find riches and treasures that I can then go back to or even to share with others.
We might feel a bit jealous in the story of the sheep and coin because we assume that we are the found ones, the ones that never got lost. But we all have been lost at one time or another and this paradox continues.
If you are inclined, read Luke 15:1-10. If you want to go deeper, Psalm 51:1-10 (no, I don't know why there are 10 verses to each...that's just the way it works)
Also, check out Agnus Day, a weekly cartoon that illustrates something about the Gospel for each week. This week's cartoon is spot on.
And...just to make this go a little farther...read and think about the lyrics to "Amazing Grace."
May you be filled with the Holy Spirit to love, live and serve.
tina
Acts of Faith
It started with listening to NPR on a Sunday morning. Krista Tippet interviewed Eboo Patel, founder of Interfaith Youth Core. I wrote it down (which you shouldn't do while driving, but I did.) I was intrigued enough that when I bought my books for school, I also bought his, "Acts of Faith."
The premise is simple. Instead of fighting over who has the most correct religion, why don't we use our commonalities to promote social justice and peace in our neighborhoods. Whoa. I might have oversimplified it here BUT it is intriguing...especially as another school year has started. It goes along with the Open Table entry because again, we might learn more from each other and do more good for others if we LOVE each other. (Deep, right?!?)
So...borrow the book from the library. Buy it and pass it on (which I am going to do tomorrow). The possibilities are endless and infinite...kind of like God's love and grace for us.
T.
The premise is simple. Instead of fighting over who has the most correct religion, why don't we use our commonalities to promote social justice and peace in our neighborhoods. Whoa. I might have oversimplified it here BUT it is intriguing...especially as another school year has started. It goes along with the Open Table entry because again, we might learn more from each other and do more good for others if we LOVE each other. (Deep, right?!?)
So...borrow the book from the library. Buy it and pass it on (which I am going to do tomorrow). The possibilities are endless and infinite...kind of like God's love and grace for us.
T.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Open Table?
Take a minute to read Luke 14:1; 7-14 (open another window with whatever browser you have) and then continue...http://www.biblegateway.com/ is a great source for online bible translations...
I read this in staff devotions this week and came up with these thoughts...stewardship, humility, service. Later that afternoon, I attended an anti-racism workshop at Lutheran and left a little bit shell-shocked,but not as much as others. The new information that they got included most of what I had been teaching in 7th grade history so I was a bit amazed by what gets taught/doesn't get taught...which, of course is another blog/rant. What really hurt, though, was seeing that the information that we had talked about seemed to polarize certain groups even further and it was apparent that evening at dinner in the refectory.
Friday morning came and Pastor Shafer asked me to listen to his sermon. His challenge for Trinity this week, month, forever, was to make sure that our church and our sanctuary were open, welcoming places for all people..skin color included. Being on the fringe of Pennsylvania Dutch country, there is still overt racism and exclusion. It may even be getting more pronounced as Latino and Asian immigrants move into the area to work at the local meat-packing plants and other industries.
So here's the crux of the argument...Jesus usually ate with and always would invite those that society deemed unacceptable and outcast. In his eyes, all are equal and entitled to the meal of love and forgiveness. Food always hits the reader in the gut...literally and figuratively. Eat those people? What about my standing? They don't do things the proper way! The imagery of being filled and nourished is one that is extremely important. Why shouldn't we share our bounty with others?
But we like to be comfortable and inviting people not like us in can be uncomfortable. We may ignore their presence or go out of our way and smother them...both approaches scaring them off. How do we open our table and our hearts so that all are truly welcome?
It starts with communion...coming together as one people to receive the body and blood of Christ. It continues with conversation around the table...much like a huge family meal. It goes out into the schools and lunch rooms as we take a step out of our comfort zone and try something new.
School starts for 85 % of the country tomorrow. Lunch at these institutions of learning is loud, chaotic, and sometimes out of control. It is also very segregated. Having done lunch duty for 6 years in a middle school, I can tell you that you might see racial diversity, but you'll still find other types of segregation and the damaging ideals that come with it. Teaching Tolerance, a publication from the Southern Poverty Law Center, supports a day where students attempt to switch tables and get to know one another. It's known as Mix it Up. I would love for that to happen more often in school cafeterias...starting on day one. I know that to sit with someone outside your group can be damaging to your rep, but what's more important...a bit of discomfort now or living a life by Jesus' example? It will be hard, but we've been told that time and again as Christians. And while this example is directed at the youth who are reading this, the same is true for all the adults...
Having an open and welcoming place such as your church on Sunday morning is great. I wish more people would be open to inviting and accepting each other's way of worship as legitimate and enriching. But if we don't take this home with us for the other days, we aren't being welcoming or open at all.
May God be with all of you as we begin another year of education...within the walls of school, church, and in our communities.
Amen.
I read this in staff devotions this week and came up with these thoughts...stewardship, humility, service. Later that afternoon, I attended an anti-racism workshop at Lutheran and left a little bit shell-shocked,but not as much as others. The new information that they got included most of what I had been teaching in 7th grade history so I was a bit amazed by what gets taught/doesn't get taught...which, of course is another blog/rant. What really hurt, though, was seeing that the information that we had talked about seemed to polarize certain groups even further and it was apparent that evening at dinner in the refectory.
Friday morning came and Pastor Shafer asked me to listen to his sermon. His challenge for Trinity this week, month, forever, was to make sure that our church and our sanctuary were open, welcoming places for all people..skin color included. Being on the fringe of Pennsylvania Dutch country, there is still overt racism and exclusion. It may even be getting more pronounced as Latino and Asian immigrants move into the area to work at the local meat-packing plants and other industries.
So here's the crux of the argument...Jesus usually ate with and always would invite those that society deemed unacceptable and outcast. In his eyes, all are equal and entitled to the meal of love and forgiveness. Food always hits the reader in the gut...literally and figuratively. Eat those people? What about my standing? They don't do things the proper way! The imagery of being filled and nourished is one that is extremely important. Why shouldn't we share our bounty with others?
But we like to be comfortable and inviting people not like us in can be uncomfortable. We may ignore their presence or go out of our way and smother them...both approaches scaring them off. How do we open our table and our hearts so that all are truly welcome?
It starts with communion...coming together as one people to receive the body and blood of Christ. It continues with conversation around the table...much like a huge family meal. It goes out into the schools and lunch rooms as we take a step out of our comfort zone and try something new.
School starts for 85 % of the country tomorrow. Lunch at these institutions of learning is loud, chaotic, and sometimes out of control. It is also very segregated. Having done lunch duty for 6 years in a middle school, I can tell you that you might see racial diversity, but you'll still find other types of segregation and the damaging ideals that come with it. Teaching Tolerance, a publication from the Southern Poverty Law Center, supports a day where students attempt to switch tables and get to know one another. It's known as Mix it Up. I would love for that to happen more often in school cafeterias...starting on day one. I know that to sit with someone outside your group can be damaging to your rep, but what's more important...a bit of discomfort now or living a life by Jesus' example? It will be hard, but we've been told that time and again as Christians. And while this example is directed at the youth who are reading this, the same is true for all the adults...
Having an open and welcoming place such as your church on Sunday morning is great. I wish more people would be open to inviting and accepting each other's way of worship as legitimate and enriching. But if we don't take this home with us for the other days, we aren't being welcoming or open at all.
May God be with all of you as we begin another year of education...within the walls of school, church, and in our communities.
Amen.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Where did summer go?
I'll admit it...I am a little lost when I look back to June, July, and August and now it's September 1 and cool and...SUMMER'S OVER!
I got home, when to West Virginia, and had people visit. I also got a new job and accepted to seminary. And a new niece was born. Yea, Vivi! It's been whirlwind, and I have not yet caught my breath.
School starts officially on Tuesday. I am a little excited (okay...I"m planning my back to school outfit cuz old habits DIE really hard...thanks mom!).
Off to do laundry and clean up all the summer dust...It's supposed to be Labor Day to honor work but I'm going to do a lot of house work!
What about you?
Happy Weekend!
T.
I got home, when to West Virginia, and had people visit. I also got a new job and accepted to seminary. And a new niece was born. Yea, Vivi! It's been whirlwind, and I have not yet caught my breath.
School starts officially on Tuesday. I am a little excited (okay...I"m planning my back to school outfit cuz old habits DIE really hard...thanks mom!).
Off to do laundry and clean up all the summer dust...It's supposed to be Labor Day to honor work but I'm going to do a lot of house work!
What about you?
Happy Weekend!
T.
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