12/28/2005

Celebrate

Sunday January 1st 2006, Isaiah 61: 10I celebrate and shout because of my LORD God. His saving power and justice are the very clothes I wear. When we are caught up in the saving power of God, we are caught up in such a way that it no longer becomes a matter of what we do, it is a matter of who we are. It is a matter of our very being. When you are caught up in the saving power of God, celebrating just seems the thing to do. There is no time for judging others, there is no time for warfare, there is no time for anything other than celebrating God’s presence in your life. Your life itself becomes a celebration. How are you celebrating today?

Justice

Monday January 1st 2006, Isaiah 61: 11The LORD will bring about justice and praise in every nation on earth, like flowers blooming in a garden. First let us understand that justice is not another name for things done our way. Justice is a two edged sword and cuts both ways. We still live in a world of nations, God’s vision is a world filled with the children of God without the divisions. Short of living in a world where we recognize others as sisters and brothers in Christ, we live in a world of injustice. True justice would mean that we would have less so that others could have more. True justice would not focus on tax breaks for the wealthiest among us while cutting programs that benefit the least of these ( http://www.elca.org/bishop/m_051221.html ). True justice means caring for all of God’s creation.

Abba, Papa

Tuesday January 1st 2006, Galatians 4: 6Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." The view of God up to the time of Jesus was of a majestic God far off in the heavens. Jesus introduces us to the God who calls us into a relationship and compels us to call out “Abba”. Another word for Abba is Papa. We are not called into a relationship with a God before whom we are to grovel and try to please, we are called into a relationship with a loving God to whom we can go with all our lives and whom we try to please out of response to living in this loving relationship. An Abba is someone on whose lap you sit. Abba is someone who washes off your wounds and puts on a Band-Aid and kisses your woes and makes them better. Abba is someone you can bring all of your problems and thoughts to and know you will be heard. Abba is someone who lovingly stops you when you are getting yourself in trouble, or sometimes steps back and lets you get into trouble and then helps you set things right. Jesus tells us that the majestic Lord God Almighty, creator of the heavens and the earth, is Abba, papa, and loves us.

Welcome to the Family

Wednesday January 1st 2006, Galatians 4: 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. We are loved because of who we are, a child of God. We are not loved because of all the wonderful things we do, just as we are not “not loved” because of all the garbage we pull in life. We are loved because we are the children of God and we are loved as one would love your own children. Yes that means that sometimes the love must come in the form of tough love. Sometimes that love comes in the form of stepping back and letting us find out for ourselves why what were told not to do is a good idea to not do. We are the children of God in all that means. Welcome to the family.

Longing

Thursday January 1st 2006, Luke 2: 27That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, 29"Lord, now I can die in peace! As you promised me, 30I have seen the Savior 31 you have given to all people. 32He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!" Simeon had a longing for the presence of God in his life. When the promise came, all of life was complete, all of life made sense. Jesus calls us to have a similar longing for God in our lives. A longing that will not stop, or let anything get in the way of a relationship with God. When that happens, everything else just seems to fall into place. That doesn’t mean that everything will be perfect, it does mean that everything that is important is in place. From that vantage point, the love flows. What would make your life complete?

change

Friday January 1st 2006, Luke 2: 33Joseph and Mary were amazed at what was being said about Jesus. 34Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, "This child will be rejected by many in Israel, and it will be their undoing. But he will be the greatest joy to many others. 35Thus, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul." When Jesus came into the world, the world would not be the same. When Jesus comes into our lives, our lives are not the same. Change is not always taken well. Sometimes the presence of Jesus provokes strong reactions. Mary, as the mother of Jesus would feel that pain of those reactions also, the sword would pierce her very soul. In the midst of the pain, from the cross, Jesus would turn to her and say, looking at John, behold your son, and to John, behold your mother. In the midst of the pain, even there, there was compassion, there was love.

Extreme Hospitality

Saturday January 1st 2006, Luke 2: 37She was now eighty-four years old. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about Jesus to everyone who had been waiting for the promised King to come and deliver Jerusalem. Luke often pairs stories of men with stories of women. It is way of pointing out that the love of God is for everyone, that all are called to be the children of God. What would that mean in our world today? How can we practice that type of extreme hospitality in the name of Jesus?

12/27/2005

1st Sunday after Christmas


Luke 2:25-40

So long I have waited
So long
Waiting for the promised one of Abraham
To come into the world
And free the people
----free them
to be what they are called to be
from the beginning of time
called to be in the image of God
----male and female created
----and set to have dominion
--------over all the earth
------------to love what God had given them
I have waited
----as has all of Israel
--------until now
for the one who was promised
----for the one who would set the promise of God
--------in motion once again
------------and for all
Thanks be to God for this one
----this child from Nazareth
innocent in his eighth day
knowing only the comfort of his mothers breast
----and the faint confusion of the world around him
----dim to his ears
--------that are yet to define
--------the world he came to heal
Bless this child
------------and give thanks to God
all who are looking for the
----Love of God
--------come to us
and now lettest thou they servants
----who have waited so long
--------depart in peace

12/21/2005

ELCA Presiding Bishop's Statement on Passage of Budget Reconciliation Bill


Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, released this statement today following U.S. Senate passage of the budget reconciliation bill:The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) steadfast opposition to the budget reconciliation process has had a direct impact in the U.S.Congress. Countless people of faith, including myself and all 65 ELCA synod bishops, spoke out against the process, which threatened cuts to food stamps, Medicaid, student loans, and other programs that help people living in poverty throughout the United States.

We were appalled that these cuts were proposed in order to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest 3 percent of Americans, and that the deficit would actually increase,contrary to the stated purpose of the reconciliation process.

As people of faith, we found tax cuts for the rich paid for by slashing safety net programs to be immoral.Our voices of opposition were heard, and have provided a tangible sign that the Church is living out the Gospel of Jesus Christ and "proclaiming the greatness of the Lord" in our own day. Though some spending cut sultimately passed in the Senate, food stamp cuts were eliminated from the final version. For this, we give thanks to the ELCA leaders and members who spoke out, including the ELCA Conference of Bishops, and all Lutherans who have called and written to members of Congress.

We also give thanks for the broad ecumenical partnership among Christians working together from the shared scriptural values of justice, compassion, mercy and hospitality. And finally, we give thanks for those members of Congress who heard our cry on behalf of the poor and who voted against this process, in some cases under great pressure and at great political risk. We thank them for their courage and compassion, while we continue to pray for all public officials.Despite the food stamp victory, the remaining cuts - including cuts to Medicare, child support enforcement, and student loans - are devastating to the "least among us." In the current version, people living in poverty across the United States will see shrinking Medicaid benefits coupled with increased out-of-pocket costs many will be unable to afford. Less money spent on child support enforcement means less child support money going to the children who need it. And cuts to student loans will prevent many from breaking the cycle of poverty through the pursuit of higher education.

The budget reconciliation measure needs to be reconsidered by the House of Representatives due to a substantive change made by the Senate. It is unclear when this action will occur in the House of Representatives.The 2006 budget process is not over, and the 2007 budget process will begin soon. The deficit increase resulting from the budget/tax reconciliation process will create more pressure in next year's budget tomake more cuts in spending for safety net programs. As people of faith, we will continue to fight for an honest and moral budget in 2006, 2007 and beyond.

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

12/20/2005

Oh, come, all ye faithful,

Joyful and triumphant!

Oh, Come ye, oh, come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold him Born the king of angels:

Oh, come, let us adore him,

Oh, come, let us adore him,

Oh, come, let us adore him,

Christ the Lord!

12/15/2005

St. Stephen


St. Stephen
Matthew 23:34-39

Standing among the fear filled stones
Flung
In a desperate attempt to silence
The message
---alive
------they killed him
killed him in fear
of what could
----(would)
-------be
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem
Killing the prophets all the day
Do you not hear
Do you not see
The Battle fought for so long
Is over
The fear felt for so long
Has no foundation
Hear the story
-----of the Christ
spoken on the lips
of the servants
--who carry the message
--Christ is Risen
--fear no more

Christmas


Christmas
Luke 2:1-20

Praise to the Lord on High
Who is born
Among us
A child helpless and wrapped
In the loving embrace of newness
Glory to God in the Highest
With the Praise going to all the earth
That we may rejoice
Not in greatness
---far off there
but here
---among us
The Lord God who created all
Come as one for us all
The Birth of the Christ child has come
The Birth of the Messiah
Who will lead the people
You and I
On to love
----(Victory over death)
on to life
as the one laying here
so innocent
feel the shadow of the cross
in the night
and the angels know
and sing of this one
so innocent
who will save us all

4th Sunday in Advent


4th Sunday in Advent
Luke 1:26-38

Mary! Mary!
And the voice was so soft
--Gentle
that she could not be sure
if this was a dream that had awoken her
--so gentle
Mary!
Awake my child
Awake to the promise
-----(Hail Mary)
given to you fro old
in the promise passed on
-----through Abraham
--------Isaac
-----------David
Men of Greatness
-----------and blessing
gone now
---except for the promise
---and the history
-----of God
---------acting in this world of humanity
past
--present
-----and all that is to come
focused now
--on this
-----one
--------innocent
------------young maiden
(full of grace)
from this part of the world so far from all
----that is considered greatness
----by all who are considered great
softly the voice speaks
Mary!
And the dream that has been dreamed
By all people
In every time
Has come
--------(the Lord is with you)
sprung from the loins of no man
is the one who is to come
carried safely now in the womb of
the one
---innocent
------child
to save
all
that the people of power and greatness have dreamed of
for themselves
carried safely now
--to bring light and hope to all people
God breaking forth in gentleness
And greatness
In a new way
Aided by just this one
-----(I am the Lord’s servant)
-----------innocent
-----(May it be with me as you have said)
---------------------child

May it be with you as God has said!!!!

Saturday December 24th Luke 1: 38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. I can think of no greater prayer than this, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be with me as you have said.” Keep this prayer on you lips and in your heart as you go into the new world in the New Year. Be open to what God has called you to be, and is calling you to do. Be open to the wonders beyond the horizon. Be open to giving beyond graciousness. Be open to all the wonders God has in store for you if you but just open your heart to being the Lord’s servant. May it be with you as God has said!!!!

Overshadowing

Friday December 23rd Luke 1: 35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. That overshadowing, what comfort. When you think of overshadowing, think of a hen with her young chicks under her wings, overshadowing means comfort, protection, warmth, love and companionship. It is what gets us ready for ministry in the real world. It is what accompanies us during our ministry in the real world. It is what comforts us in the midst of ministry and life in the real world. At those times when we need it most, and are open to it, the Holy Spirit covers us with her wings and overshadows us with the love of God. Is there any ministry task that is beyond us with overshadowing on our side?

Limitations, what limitations?

Thursday December 22nd Luke 1: 34"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" We see limitations, God sees possibilities. What are the possibilities in your life? What are your self imposed limitations that are holding you back? Where is God in the midst of it all?

Yes!!

Wednesday December 21st Luke 1: 30But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." If someone in Mary’s position was to be found to be with child, it would be a disgrace to the family and she would most likely be killed by her family. Somehow, even with the Angel saying to “fear not” I believe there was a great deal of fear on Mary’s part. Not only was she going to be in a family way, the child she was carrying would change the world, so much for remaining anonymous and living out a nice little life in the burbs. Why don’t you try getting down on your knees and saying “yes” to God right now and see what direction your life takes? Try it every morning if you dare.

it will be an adventure

Tuesday December 20th Luke 1: 29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. When an Angel visits you, you just know the rest of your life is going to be a bit different. All your plans are out the window and you are now on a mission. I suppose you could say no, but Jonah among others would advise you against it. What lies before you is nothing less than an adventure. Like Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit, what lays beyond that horizon can only be guessed at, and then you will be wrong. All you know is that it will be an adventure and you will not be alone. Somehow the thought of staying home and watching reruns on the tube just does not sound appealing anymore.

Do you hear something?

Monday December 19th Luke 1: The virgin's name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Highly favored!! What had Mary done to make her highly favored? She was not a prophet, a preacher or a poet, she was just a young maiden. The term translated into English as virgin is more accurately translated as a young maiden who may or may not be virgin as we would use the term. Just a young maiden of no venture other than that she was chosen by God. When it comes right down to it can any of us claim anything more or anything less? All the greatness we create, all the good we do, all the wealth we have simply comes to us as a gift from God. There are times when we get a glimpse of Mary’s response in our own lives and use all these many gifts for the Kingdom. Those are the times we can almost see the shimmer of Heaven off in the distance and hear the angels sing.

Emmanuel

Sunday December 18th Luke 1 : 26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. When we trace the lineage of Jesus back to David we honor the traditions of humanity. God chose a slightly different route, Mary, whose lineage is not counted as going back through David. Jesus’ greatness comes from God. Just like today, all attempts to corral or control Jesus fail. From the very beginning of the birth of Jesus, God’s plan was God’s plan and had nothing to do with humanities grasp at greatness. Books like “The DaVinci code” and “Holy Blood, Holy Grail” attempt to bring Jesus down to a purely human level. Others attempt to make Jesus so Holy so as to strip all humanity from him. What came from Mary was a gift from God, and a gift for us. Emmanuel, God with us.

12/07/2005

December 7, 2005 ELCA Presiding Bishop Thanks Members of Congress

WASHINGTON (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), sent a thank-you letter Dec. 6 to members of Congress who voted against spending cuts to human services programs such as Food Stamps and Medicaid in the budget reconciliation process. "I wish to thank you for not closing your ears to the cries of the poor during this Advent season," Hanson wrote. The budget reconciliation process is comprised of House and Senate bills for spending and tax cuts. Permanent tax cuts for the wealthiest 3 percent of U.S. taxpayers are being proposed by Congress along with spending cuts in human services programs for the next 5 to 10 years. The spending cuts have passed in both the House and the Senate, and differences in the bills are currently being resolved in conference committee. The tax cuts have passed in the Senate, but have not been voted on in the House. The federal budget is "a concrete expression of our shared moral values and priorities," Hanson said. "As the number of people living in poverty and without insurance continues to climb at an alarming rate, I believe it is absolutely inexcusable to cut vital programs and services for them in order to leave more money in the pockets of those who need it least." Hanson, with all 65 synod bishops in the ELCA, signed a letter sent last month to senators and representatives, urging members of Congress to vote against the spending cuts and tax cuts proposed in the budget reconciliation process. "Programs such as Food Stamps, Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families help to keep struggling families together and assist low-income working families in moving to higher economic ground," said the November letter. "This is not the time to cut such important programs while using the cuts to pay for tax breaks for those who don't need them." To those who voted against the proposed spending cuts, Hanson said in his thank-you letter, "In this season of Advent and Christmas, Christians are called to joyfully welcome the Savior, Jesus Christ, into the world anew. This Savior was brought into the world to bring Good News to the poor. Your opposition to these cuts shows your commitment to also bring good news to the poor." "I trust I can count on your continued support for the most vulnerable citizens of our society as this process continues," Hanson concluded the letter.

12/06/2005

3rd Sunday in Advent

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Who is the one
Followed by so many
In a land
And a time
Looking
--Longing
For someone to show them
(but only in the place they were looking)
--the Way
are you
--they cried
Prophet
--Elijah
----Christ?
We are looking for
--(a handle)
an answer
to help us understand
---------(control)
--------------------you
what shall we say
--and in what way
to the system set in place
--to stay
but full willing within its own definition
--to change
I am said John
Just the voice of one
Just one
Announcing
The Revolution
In this world
--Heart
----Mind
------Soul
--------Universe
Just announcing
The end of all
--(as we know it)
is here
and with it
--the Beginning

Watch out for potholes

Saturday December 17th, John 1: 23John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' " Get the road ready. Get your life ready. Get the world ready. The Lord is coming soon. All this is done in love you know, all those control issues are just potholes.

God will love them until they do

Friday December 16th, John 1: 10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God That is all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time. Being a child of God is a gift of grace, not birthright. Receiving God into your life is a gift of grace. There are some who do not know or want God in their lives, what of them. God loves them too. They also are made in the image of God. They have just chosen not to accept the gift of grace for right now. God will continue to love them until they do.

Reflective lighting

Thursday December 15th, John 1: 6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. We are like John, or at least we should be. But then sometimes we get a bit handy with our own light. We start shining it around and feeling good about everything we can do. Only after a while we discover that in order to see our light shining, we need to be standing in the dark. Instead of a flashlight, God gives us mirrors. Sometimes the mirrors are used to show us who we really are, sometimes they are used for reflecting the light of Christ into the darkness. If your mirror is only used for grooming, you might have trouble seeing your true self because you’re standing in the dark.

Why not until now

Wednesday December 14th, 1 Thessalonians 5: 23I pray that God, who gives peace, will make you completely holy. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept healthy and faultless until our Lord Jesus Christ returns. Sometimes our spirits, souls and bodies take a beating, and sometimes, we lose the battle. A friend of mine, Glenn Growth, when talking of his cancer said the following: “The way I see it, we read that in the beginning God created order out of chaos, and ever since then we have been expecting order to be the norm. I have come to realize that chaos is the norm and that every day I have lived without cancer is a blessing. The question is not why me? It is rather, why not until now.” Sometimes real peace only comes after a life well lived. I pray that God who gives peace, will make you so completely holy that you become aware, even if ever so slightly, that all of life is a blessing to be lived.

Pray always

Tuesday December 13th, 1 Thessalonians 5: 16Always be joyful 17and never stop praying. 18Whatever happens; keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do. Never stop praying! That doesn’t mean you need to walk around with your hands folded all the time, it does mean that you live your life in recognition that all you think, do and say is a prayer. Ask yourself at any given moment, is this really what I want to be praying?

Integrity vs. Power

Monday December 12th, Isaiah 61: 8"Because I, GOD, love fair dealing and hate thievery and crime, I'll pay your wages on time and in full, and establish my eternal covenant with you. 9Your descendants will become well-known all over. Your children in foreign countries will be recognized at once as the people I have blessed." Power works in solving problems in the short run. In the long run, integrity wins the day. If you treat others fairly, that will be remembered, not just for a generation, but for generations. Short term solutions always cause long term problems. Fair treatment does not always get the results you want when you want them, it is a gift however to your children, your grandchildren and your great-grandchildren. I think we will find that in the long run, how we handle the issue of torture and purchased news coverage will affect us as a nation more than any war or act of terror. Remember, in God’s time and in God’s mind, honesty, integrity and fair dealing win the day.

Let God be God

Sunday December 11th, Isaiah 61: 1The Spirit of GOD, the Master, is on me because GOD anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. When Jesus began his ministry in Nazareth (Lk. 4:14-20) he read from the scroll of Isaiah and this is a part of the lesson he chose. It is a good lesson when we once again look at what Jesus is trying to teach us. What should we be about as the children of God, called and sanctified by the grace of a loving God? What we should be about is bringing good news to the poor, healing the heartbroken, and working to free all those who are bound by what ever it is they are bound by. There is a consistency to the simple teachings of Jesus; love God, love others. Others defined as whoever God places before you or on your heart. Those at the bottom need it more than those at the top and in order for both to get help, the ones at the top should be helping the ones at the bottom, in doing so, both are blessed. We often confuse Jesus message with our own agendas. This Christmas, let God be God.

This Question came from Rungu.

This is a question that came from Rungu. The picture has nothing to do with the answer, I am just playing with putting pictures on the blog. So far I seem to just know enough to get myself in trouble

Can one tell of the Love of God and still harbor hate and resentment toward others in their heart? Can we love God and still hate our own enemies? My answer is Yes. However…….

The trouble lies in letting it go at that. Forgiving someone is a process. Sometimes that process is short lived and we can forgive someone, or some entity (like a nation or group of people or institution) and sometimes, that process is a life long endeavor. The trouble with hatred or resentment is that the main victim is yourself. Fredrick Buechner in his book “Wishful Thinking” describes anger, which is the outgrowth of harboring hate and resentment, in this way.

Anger: Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possible the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack you lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back – in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you.

Living a life filled with hatred and resentment means that we have given control of our lives over to the very thing we hate or resent. Slowly our hearts become closed off until we are able to even say no to the love of God. There is a story of a seminary professor who had the students draw pictures of someone they disliked or even hated. If it was not a single person, then they were asked to draw a caricature of someone who represented a group of people they couldn’t stand or hated. Then they were asked to tape the pictures on a large piece of paper taped over a bulletin board in the room. Each student was given darts and asked to throw the darts at the drawing of the person they hated. Again and again the darts flew and ripped the pictures apart. The professor then went and took out the darts, and removed the paper the tattered and torn pictures were taped to. There was a picture of Jesus, now tattered and torn by the violent energy of the darts. The professor said, “that is your lesson for today” and left the room in silence.

Where there is hatred, sow peace. What is healed is your own heart.

snowy house

 Posted by Picasa

12/05/2005

summer beauty

Posted by Picasa

12/04/2005

Serve

 Posted by Picasa

Praise

 Posted by Picasa

Nurture

 Posted by Picasa


Childrens Sermon Posted by Picasa

  • Facebook me