Thursday, March 31, 2005
Tw-eet
I love Spring, or at least what passes for it in Western New York. This morning as I laid in bed, quite possibly more asleep that awake, I heard some birds singing outside my window. The passage from Saint Matthew popped into my head, "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them." A nice reminder for a guy like me who worries about everything -- my job, the kids, the car, my health. I had one of those perfect moments of clarity and realized how foolish this is. I rolled over and caught a few more ZZZZs...
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Doctor WHAT?
My favorite TV show, Doctor Who, returned to TV last Saturday after a 15 year hiatus. So here's the update:
1. The show premieres a few days ago on the BBC to 10.5 million viewers. It's a hit!
2. Critics love the new show.
3. In a surprise move, the BBC immediately commissions a Christmas special and a second series of 13 episodes.
4. Christopher Eccleston, the star of the show quits after one episode! Click here for the official scoop.
1. The show premieres a few days ago on the BBC to 10.5 million viewers. It's a hit!
2. Critics love the new show.
3. In a surprise move, the BBC immediately commissions a Christmas special and a second series of 13 episodes.
4. Christopher Eccleston, the star of the show quits after one episode! Click here for the official scoop.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
The More Things Change
I couldn’t sleep last night, so I decided that a trip to the overstuffed bookshelves in the Experiment House library was in order. I finally settled on my Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Workbook that I used during some training back in the summer of 2000.
I have a lot to do at work in the next two weeks -- which was probably the cause of my insomnia, come to think of it -- and I guess I thought that I could glean some wisdom from that great bald guru, Stephen Covey. What I found was quite something else entirely.
The workbook is really a summary of the best selling book, and is a great way to review its principals in bullet form. But it also has plenty of space to journal and write and it was amazing to see where my head was five years ago.
Some of my plans, like a regular date night with Lamont never happened. I was also surprised to see how positive I was about our old church -- I can’t think of the place without hurting now -- and it was fun to remember that ministry when truly anything seemed possible. I was also surprised to see the seeds of who I am today keep popping up again and again...
I couldn’t believe how many times I found myself writing about, well, writing! “What would I do if I could had all the time and money in the world...” etc. I honestly don’t remember writing being that much a part of my life back then, but I guess the desire was already there. I’m still working on acquiring the “all the time and money in the world” part, though!
The other surprise was my answer to the question, “What is the one most positive change you could make in your personal life?” I wrote down meditation of all things! Which is pretty amazing because I don’t recall knowing anything about meditation at all in those days. I don’t think I had even read any Richard Foster yet, let alone made regular trips to a monastery... but the desire for something that has become an integral part of my life was already there five years ago.
I also took a look at my mission statement -- too long to reprint here -- and saw how my life has changed in five years to really internalize its ideals. Maybe it’s time to write a new one to carry me through 2010...
I have a lot to do at work in the next two weeks -- which was probably the cause of my insomnia, come to think of it -- and I guess I thought that I could glean some wisdom from that great bald guru, Stephen Covey. What I found was quite something else entirely.
The workbook is really a summary of the best selling book, and is a great way to review its principals in bullet form. But it also has plenty of space to journal and write and it was amazing to see where my head was five years ago.
Some of my plans, like a regular date night with Lamont never happened. I was also surprised to see how positive I was about our old church -- I can’t think of the place without hurting now -- and it was fun to remember that ministry when truly anything seemed possible. I was also surprised to see the seeds of who I am today keep popping up again and again...
I couldn’t believe how many times I found myself writing about, well, writing! “What would I do if I could had all the time and money in the world...” etc. I honestly don’t remember writing being that much a part of my life back then, but I guess the desire was already there. I’m still working on acquiring the “all the time and money in the world” part, though!
The other surprise was my answer to the question, “What is the one most positive change you could make in your personal life?” I wrote down meditation of all things! Which is pretty amazing because I don’t recall knowing anything about meditation at all in those days. I don’t think I had even read any Richard Foster yet, let alone made regular trips to a monastery... but the desire for something that has become an integral part of my life was already there five years ago.
I also took a look at my mission statement -- too long to reprint here -- and saw how my life has changed in five years to really internalize its ideals. Maybe it’s time to write a new one to carry me through 2010...
Saturday, March 26, 2005
A Hair Raising Experience
With tomorrow being Easter and all, I decided that some grooming was in order. So I went to the hair salon. The thing that always amazes me is that the first thing a stylist asks a guy is how do you want your hair styled. Listen ladies, give it up because we men don't have the slightest idea how to answer that question. We just don't obsess that much about our hair. And it's not like we're going to ask for highlights or anything. The fella in the chair next to me gave the best answer to the question ever. He just said short. Which I guess was a lot better than my mumble about using a razor and then pointing towards the general area of my head.
My stylist attacked my head with the razor as if there was a secret message written on my skull and she couldn't wait to read it. Suddenly she began gagging. I asked her if she was all right and she just ran out of the room yelling, "Gross!"
When she came back she explained that the razor had somehow shot my hair into her mouth. But she was OK now. She put the electric razor away and started on me with the scissors. A few seconds later she yelled ouch and dropped the scissors on the floor. She had cut her finger pretty good and had to go clean it and bandage it up. She came back a few minutes later and finished me up. I decided against asking her to groom my beard -- I pictured her putting her eye out or something.
I gave her an extra buck for hazzard pay. Who would have ever thought hairstyling would be such a dangerous profession?
My stylist attacked my head with the razor as if there was a secret message written on my skull and she couldn't wait to read it. Suddenly she began gagging. I asked her if she was all right and she just ran out of the room yelling, "Gross!"
When she came back she explained that the razor had somehow shot my hair into her mouth. But she was OK now. She put the electric razor away and started on me with the scissors. A few seconds later she yelled ouch and dropped the scissors on the floor. She had cut her finger pretty good and had to go clean it and bandage it up. She came back a few minutes later and finished me up. I decided against asking her to groom my beard -- I pictured her putting her eye out or something.
I gave her an extra buck for hazzard pay. Who would have ever thought hairstyling would be such a dangerous profession?
Hype
It amazes me how over-hyped movies are these days. I just saw a piece on Beauty Shop, which noted that the movie opens March 30. I was already familiar with the cast and many of the scenes. I really thought the movie had already came out last fall!
Friday, March 25, 2005
Roxy Music
I have a rather long commute to work, so I decided at the outset last November to redeem the time by listening to books on tape. I made it through Slaughterhouse Five, The Care of the Soul, How to Win Friends and Influence People and a whole lot of others. I listened to some cool Mike Yaconelli talks I downloaded off the 'net. It was a great way to pass the time and I learned some things, too. But no more. What did me in was listening to The Bible, of all things. Driving forty miles every morning and afternoon listening to a monotone voice droning on so-and-so begat so-and-so can do weird things to a person's psyche. Believe me.
So out went the book of 1st Chronicles and in went Roxy Music. Ever heard of them? They started in 1972 and were sort of a cross between glitter and prog rock. By 1982 they had somehow transformed into a dreamy sounding pop/rock combo who recorded the perfect album of all time, Avalon. I wasn't introduced to the band until the mid 80s, when it was already long gone. I can't imagine what it must have been like to come across a Roxy Music album when it was all new, sitting in the same record rack at Jamesway with The Captain and Tenille and B.J. Thomas.
Do yourself a favor and listen to some Roxy Music today!
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." -- 2 Chronicles 7:14
"I would do anything for you, I would climb mountains, I would swim all the oceans blue, I would walk a thousand miles, Reveal my secrets, More than enough for me to share..." -- Roxy Music
So out went the book of 1st Chronicles and in went Roxy Music. Ever heard of them? They started in 1972 and were sort of a cross between glitter and prog rock. By 1982 they had somehow transformed into a dreamy sounding pop/rock combo who recorded the perfect album of all time, Avalon. I wasn't introduced to the band until the mid 80s, when it was already long gone. I can't imagine what it must have been like to come across a Roxy Music album when it was all new, sitting in the same record rack at Jamesway with The Captain and Tenille and B.J. Thomas.
Do yourself a favor and listen to some Roxy Music today!
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." -- 2 Chronicles 7:14
"I would do anything for you, I would climb mountains, I would swim all the oceans blue, I would walk a thousand miles, Reveal my secrets, More than enough for me to share..." -- Roxy Music
Thursday, March 24, 2005
George Lucas -- You Need Closure
Starting in 1977 with Star Wars, George Lucas made three of the most successful films of all time. In 1997 he re-released the orignial trilogy to theatres with new special effects. The DVDs that came out last year had even more changes. Well, never one to leave well enough alone, George Lucas has announced that he will use new technology to recreate all six Star Wars movies in 3-D... How I wish I were making this up... He said to expect the first rerelease in 2007...
Where will this all end? Channeling the psychic powers of the Mighty Carnac I was able to find out:
2007
The six Star Wars films are released in 3-D. Audiences discover that Jar-Jar was bad enough the first time, but positively horrifying in 3-D. Admissions to psychiatric units triple in the first week of The Phantom Menace's rerelease.
2017
George Lucas perfects technology that allows audiences to smell the films. After previewing the movies, audiences are given barf bags to use every time a Wookie appears on screen.
2027
For the fiftieth anniversary of Star Wars, Lucas proudly announces that there's not one single frame of the original movie left in the film, all actors replaced by lifelike animatronic robots... Industry wags notice that Lucasfilm has patented a process that would allow audiences to taste whatever is shown onscreen. Fans of the series eagerly await the newer, tastier installments in 2037...
Where will this all end? Channeling the psychic powers of the Mighty Carnac I was able to find out:
2007
The six Star Wars films are released in 3-D. Audiences discover that Jar-Jar was bad enough the first time, but positively horrifying in 3-D. Admissions to psychiatric units triple in the first week of The Phantom Menace's rerelease.
2017
George Lucas perfects technology that allows audiences to smell the films. After previewing the movies, audiences are given barf bags to use every time a Wookie appears on screen.
2027
For the fiftieth anniversary of Star Wars, Lucas proudly announces that there's not one single frame of the original movie left in the film, all actors replaced by lifelike animatronic robots... Industry wags notice that Lucasfilm has patented a process that would allow audiences to taste whatever is shown onscreen. Fans of the series eagerly await the newer, tastier installments in 2037...
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades
I noticed that all of the scriptures I read this morning in Celtic Daily Prayer had a common theme: the future.
Psalm 121: 3 - 4:
"He will not let your foot be moved, he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."
Ecclesiastes 3: 1 - 3:
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up..."
Matthew 9:17:
"Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; if it is, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."
I wonder what the future holds for me? And "the happenings of my lot"?
Psalm 121: 3 - 4:
"He will not let your foot be moved, he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."
Ecclesiastes 3: 1 - 3:
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up..."
Matthew 9:17:
"Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; if it is, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."
I wonder what the future holds for me? And "the happenings of my lot"?
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Holy (Bat) Crap
There's no justice in this world... I just read that Doogie Howser M.D. got a DVD release while the Adam West Batman show is still rotting in a film vault somewhere...
Monday, March 21, 2005
Who are the Brain Police?
The other day I noticed that one of my favorite blogs had disappeared from the 'net. After a quick e-mail to the author, he let me know that he had just changed his address. Some people from the ministry he works at got wind of his blog and almost had him fired.
Turns out that blogging is "self-centered." And being self-centered is an indicator that he's in poor spiritual health.
I just can't stand the way some Christians feel it's their duty to see everything in the most negative light possible... For instance, his blog is "self-centered" -- why not "introspective"? Or "self-examining"? Or even how about "a hobby"?
Thank goodness that the finger-pointing brigade has set all of us straight on the spiritual dangers of blogging. Now that's done perhaps they can concentrate on feeding hungry people, welcoming strangers, clothing the needy, and looking after sick people and prisoners.
As long as none of them blog.
Turns out that blogging is "self-centered." And being self-centered is an indicator that he's in poor spiritual health.
I just can't stand the way some Christians feel it's their duty to see everything in the most negative light possible... For instance, his blog is "self-centered" -- why not "introspective"? Or "self-examining"? Or even how about "a hobby"?
Thank goodness that the finger-pointing brigade has set all of us straight on the spiritual dangers of blogging. Now that's done perhaps they can concentrate on feeding hungry people, welcoming strangers, clothing the needy, and looking after sick people and prisoners.
As long as none of them blog.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Quote of the Week: Religious People
The funniest thing I heard all week came from my coworker, M--, at work yesterday afternoon: "Jesus would still be alive if it weren't for religious people."
Friday, March 18, 2005
Ten Things To Be Thankful About Today
I.F.'s Ten Things To Be Thankful About Today:
10. New episodes of Doctor Who soon!
09. Nice coworkers
08. Roxy Music has reunited to make a new album
07. Payday
06. I've almost moved everything from my "in-box" to my "out-box."
05. The best night of TV viewing ever: The Avengers/The Saint/The Persuaders back-to-back on BBC America
04. The book Celtic Daily Prayer
03. Pizza eating and Mac troubleshooting tonight with Mister Oblivious
02. A happy, healthy family
01. ...And did I mention IT'S FRIDAY?
10. New episodes of Doctor Who soon!
09. Nice coworkers
08. Roxy Music has reunited to make a new album
07. Payday
06. I've almost moved everything from my "in-box" to my "out-box."
05. The best night of TV viewing ever: The Avengers/The Saint/The Persuaders back-to-back on BBC America
04. The book Celtic Daily Prayer
03. Pizza eating and Mac troubleshooting tonight with Mister Oblivious
02. A happy, healthy family
01. ...And did I mention IT'S FRIDAY?
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Review: Holy Ground
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
My friends, S-- and V--, recently passed along to me a copy of Holy Ground - Celtic Christian Spirituality by Deborah K. Cronin. It's a nice introduction to the subject that is written in such a way that I oftentimes felt like I was taking a peek into the author's personal journal. It's a positive view of spirituality that is defined by the mantra it is good rather than the "crises" we face. Cronin goes beyond the history lesson and suggests ways that we can adapt this ancient view of life in the land of work and Wal-Mart franchises. Recommended reading!
My only disappointment with the experience had nothing to do with the actual book itself: I found out the author used to live in my area and I never had the chance to meet her!
My friends, S-- and V--, recently passed along to me a copy of Holy Ground - Celtic Christian Spirituality by Deborah K. Cronin. It's a nice introduction to the subject that is written in such a way that I oftentimes felt like I was taking a peek into the author's personal journal. It's a positive view of spirituality that is defined by the mantra it is good rather than the "crises" we face. Cronin goes beyond the history lesson and suggests ways that we can adapt this ancient view of life in the land of work and Wal-Mart franchises. Recommended reading!
My only disappointment with the experience had nothing to do with the actual book itself: I found out the author used to live in my area and I never had the chance to meet her!
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Travel without TARDIS
It occurred to me during morning prayer that my time traveling isn't just to the summertime. I've been doing my share of traveling both to the future and to the past.
I'm responsible for a rather large project that I feel never comes any closer to completion, despite my best efforts. If I wanted to wax all poetical about it, I would use a word picture like spinning my wheels on the ice but poets don't write about cars, do they? I just want to move onto the next phase and dream of the time when I'm finally onto the next thing. "It will be different in the future," I tell myself. But this leaves me very dissatisfied with the present.
It's also becoming more apparent to me how much healing I need from the past. Even though things have gone great with the residents of Experiment House since the closing of our ministry, too often my mind wanders back to the struggles and betrayals, character assassinations, and hurts of the last year... I am fine for days and then something stirs a memory and I see how truly bound I am to that "big ball of pain," in spirit if not in body. I'm sure I miss the good things about the present sometimes because I'm reliving a broken dream.
That's the thing about time travel. In movies and on TV, the narrative always follows the traveler into the past or future. So you never realize how much of the present they miss.
I read in the scriptures today, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
That's a promise, isn't it?
I'm responsible for a rather large project that I feel never comes any closer to completion, despite my best efforts. If I wanted to wax all poetical about it, I would use a word picture like spinning my wheels on the ice but poets don't write about cars, do they? I just want to move onto the next phase and dream of the time when I'm finally onto the next thing. "It will be different in the future," I tell myself. But this leaves me very dissatisfied with the present.
It's also becoming more apparent to me how much healing I need from the past. Even though things have gone great with the residents of Experiment House since the closing of our ministry, too often my mind wanders back to the struggles and betrayals, character assassinations, and hurts of the last year... I am fine for days and then something stirs a memory and I see how truly bound I am to that "big ball of pain," in spirit if not in body. I'm sure I miss the good things about the present sometimes because I'm reliving a broken dream.
That's the thing about time travel. In movies and on TV, the narrative always follows the traveler into the past or future. So you never realize how much of the present they miss.
I read in the scriptures today, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
That's a promise, isn't it?
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
23rd Psalm
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
This passage was read today at the funeral of an 18 year-old-girl, that happened to be an honor student with much promise and hope for her future. This girl was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was murdered early last Friday morning.
One of my current students was her friend, and I had the honor of escourting him to the services this morning.
There was so much sadness, overwhemling the family and friends by audible moans of grief and dispair over thier great loss. You could touch, taste, feel and see the affect of this violent and horrible act.
But more than the loss, I witnessed a funeral that was standing room only. It was filled to the brim with people who loved Sam. Teachers, friends, family and even a few strangers like me - but I didn't feel like a stranger when I caught the tear-filled eyes of an old friend saying, "Thank you so much for coming." God was in that room today. In the embraces, in the hands held, and in the words read.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Sam, may you rest knowing the love others had for you. May goodness and love follow you throughout eternity. I know that you have a beautiful mansion in heaven. You are safe, at peace, and at home there. Your life gave so many others the opportunity to hear about Jesus - I pray that they heed what was said.
Peace and Love,
The Stranger that wasn't a stranger -
Thanks.
Lamont
A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
This passage was read today at the funeral of an 18 year-old-girl, that happened to be an honor student with much promise and hope for her future. This girl was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was murdered early last Friday morning.
One of my current students was her friend, and I had the honor of escourting him to the services this morning.
There was so much sadness, overwhemling the family and friends by audible moans of grief and dispair over thier great loss. You could touch, taste, feel and see the affect of this violent and horrible act.
But more than the loss, I witnessed a funeral that was standing room only. It was filled to the brim with people who loved Sam. Teachers, friends, family and even a few strangers like me - but I didn't feel like a stranger when I caught the tear-filled eyes of an old friend saying, "Thank you so much for coming." God was in that room today. In the embraces, in the hands held, and in the words read.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Sam, may you rest knowing the love others had for you. May goodness and love follow you throughout eternity. I know that you have a beautiful mansion in heaven. You are safe, at peace, and at home there. Your life gave so many others the opportunity to hear about Jesus - I pray that they heed what was said.
Peace and Love,
The Stranger that wasn't a stranger -
Thanks.
Lamont
Sunshine
Tired.
So tired of snow.
So tired of scraping my windshield.
So tired of taking it easy on curves.
So tired.
God played a trick on me this morning.
Sunshine came dancing through my window
and landed on me, all snuggled up in my blankets.
I closed my eyes and traveled
not in space
but in time.
Summertime.
A lovely day.
I can get up
and walk through the grass
go swimming with my son
cook out on the grill
and the only ice
will be in my glass of lemonaide.
Some day soon.
Monday, March 14, 2005
Am I lost - or are you?
I was considering a statement shared with me the other day, because the sheer impact of it caused me to have such a strong reaction.
"I met so-in-so from your old church the other day. They said they knew you really well and that they really felt they lost you to your new church."
I was shocked to hear this statement, and was unable to have a very graceful reaction. Actually, I think I said something like, "Really? They said that? Wow, I never would have thought they'd say that. Well, it's a long story. A really long story."
Smooth, wasn't I? So I changed the subject asap and tried to brush it off.
I find that as soon as I make some serious steps towards healing over some of those old hurts - someone (usually unbenounced to them) pokes me in a tender spot. Never mind who said these words, never mind if I think they "knew" me at all, but the words associated with "lost" were too great a reminder of all the losses over the last few months. Not surprisingly - the word "lost" stuck with me.
I really don't want to rehash the past anymore. I've been praying for God to continue to heal my heart and help me to start over in challenging new opportunities, and I feel that the process of healing has begun. But then this little word "lost" causes my mind to spin with all the old memories. I was beginning to feel rather lost in the midst of all this flashing back, but in a moment of clarity the compass of my mind took another look at the words that were said.
"They lost you (me)." I didn't lose anything at all. They were the ones that "lost" someone.
Wow. After all the prayers, pleading and passion for our old church -- they were the ones that lost. They lost our gifts, our many hours of hard work, our interaction with staff and community and... well, us.
I still have my God, my family and my work. As challenging as it can be - God preserved the ministry opportunities and our security. God kept us from becoming or being lost.
There is a scripture that says something like this ... "things men intend to harm others with, God redeems for good."
I know that there are memories from our previous ministry that will always stay with me and those are things that will never be lost to me. God has worked out this whole situation -- and I know this is where I'm called for the present time. The only thing I want to lose is the strain I feel when people try to pull me back to the place I was a few months ago.
I've moved on. You've lost us. Let us go.
God has redeemed our lives for good, and that is what I want it to be. A good life.
"I met so-in-so from your old church the other day. They said they knew you really well and that they really felt they lost you to your new church."
I was shocked to hear this statement, and was unable to have a very graceful reaction. Actually, I think I said something like, "Really? They said that? Wow, I never would have thought they'd say that. Well, it's a long story. A really long story."
Smooth, wasn't I? So I changed the subject asap and tried to brush it off.
I find that as soon as I make some serious steps towards healing over some of those old hurts - someone (usually unbenounced to them) pokes me in a tender spot. Never mind who said these words, never mind if I think they "knew" me at all, but the words associated with "lost" were too great a reminder of all the losses over the last few months. Not surprisingly - the word "lost" stuck with me.
I really don't want to rehash the past anymore. I've been praying for God to continue to heal my heart and help me to start over in challenging new opportunities, and I feel that the process of healing has begun. But then this little word "lost" causes my mind to spin with all the old memories. I was beginning to feel rather lost in the midst of all this flashing back, but in a moment of clarity the compass of my mind took another look at the words that were said.
"They lost you (me)." I didn't lose anything at all. They were the ones that "lost" someone.
Wow. After all the prayers, pleading and passion for our old church -- they were the ones that lost. They lost our gifts, our many hours of hard work, our interaction with staff and community and... well, us.
I still have my God, my family and my work. As challenging as it can be - God preserved the ministry opportunities and our security. God kept us from becoming or being lost.
There is a scripture that says something like this ... "things men intend to harm others with, God redeems for good."
I know that there are memories from our previous ministry that will always stay with me and those are things that will never be lost to me. God has worked out this whole situation -- and I know this is where I'm called for the present time. The only thing I want to lose is the strain I feel when people try to pull me back to the place I was a few months ago.
I've moved on. You've lost us. Let us go.
God has redeemed our lives for good, and that is what I want it to be. A good life.
Blind to the Bind
Sometimes I feel like I'm a character in a Stephen King novel or a David Lynch film. I've been doing lay ministry in my hometown, about 20 miles away from where I currently reside. I love my hometown. It's nestled down inside the Allegehany Mountains, which means it's pretty scenic no matter the season. But I just can't shake the feeling that a black cloud is hanging over the whole town. The shadows all seem deeper than I remember them. The chill seems to have more of an edge to it.
Lamont and I thought that our ministry in Jamestown had pretty much prepared us for anything, but we're amazed at the depths and complexity of the needs with which we're now faced. It just seems that everyone we meet is "at-risk" with either poverty, abuse, or mental health issues... or sometimes all three!
I worry about the kids growing up viewing these problems as "just the way life is" and not seeking an alternative, because they've never seen a viable one. It doesn't help that in the weekend paper that a local government employee was quoted as stating that "only 1 in 4 jobs require a college education." Now that's a great message to pass along to these kids!
When faced with such overwhelming problems, how do we know where to even start?
The first thing I do everyday -- even before I step out of bed -- is pick up the book Celtic Daily Prayer, a devotional/prayer guide compiled by the Northumbia Community at Lindisfarne. Today's reading said:
"Lord show us the things that are binding the work
You have called forth on Holy Island.
Help us to loose YOUR work,
and let it go
in resurrection power."
May that be the prayer in my little corner of the world, too.
Lamont and I thought that our ministry in Jamestown had pretty much prepared us for anything, but we're amazed at the depths and complexity of the needs with which we're now faced. It just seems that everyone we meet is "at-risk" with either poverty, abuse, or mental health issues... or sometimes all three!
I worry about the kids growing up viewing these problems as "just the way life is" and not seeking an alternative, because they've never seen a viable one. It doesn't help that in the weekend paper that a local government employee was quoted as stating that "only 1 in 4 jobs require a college education." Now that's a great message to pass along to these kids!
When faced with such overwhelming problems, how do we know where to even start?
The first thing I do everyday -- even before I step out of bed -- is pick up the book Celtic Daily Prayer, a devotional/prayer guide compiled by the Northumbia Community at Lindisfarne. Today's reading said:
"Lord show us the things that are binding the work
You have called forth on Holy Island.
Help us to loose YOUR work,
and let it go
in resurrection power."
May that be the prayer in my little corner of the world, too.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Doctor Who - Rose
Well, the rumors are true... The premiere episode of the new Doctor Who series, Rose, has been leaked to the internet. I know, because I saw a copy over the weekend. After peeing myself from excitement, I thought I'd jot down my impressions...
The first thing you need to know about the premiere is that Russell T. Davies and company got it right on every single count. It will erase your memory of the Americanized Fox TV movie from 1996 and most of the episodes after Tom Baker left the show. It's still Doctor Who, but bigger. It's shot film-style with great production values and nice special effects. The characters are much better drawn than they ever were on the original series. But it retains the humor and the sense of absurd that made the original show so much fun to watch.
I wasn't sure how Christopher Eccleston was going to pull off the Doctor, but he won me over instantly in the premiere. Witty and very fun to watch -- somewhat like Tom Baker, but not quite as manic. From the moment he appears in the episode he is the Doctor.
There have been some very negative reviews of this episode popping up on the Ain't It Cool News website... All I can say is that some people get Doctor Who and some don't. One reviewer actually said something to the effect of "the show is too damned British!" Also, much has been read into Sci-Fi Channel's passing on the show... I'm going to say that they're going to regret this after the Hitchhiker movie comes out and creates a nice market for quirky British sci-fi...
Don't be mislead... Doctor Who is back!
The first thing you need to know about the premiere is that Russell T. Davies and company got it right on every single count. It will erase your memory of the Americanized Fox TV movie from 1996 and most of the episodes after Tom Baker left the show. It's still Doctor Who, but bigger. It's shot film-style with great production values and nice special effects. The characters are much better drawn than they ever were on the original series. But it retains the humor and the sense of absurd that made the original show so much fun to watch.
I wasn't sure how Christopher Eccleston was going to pull off the Doctor, but he won me over instantly in the premiere. Witty and very fun to watch -- somewhat like Tom Baker, but not quite as manic. From the moment he appears in the episode he is the Doctor.
There have been some very negative reviews of this episode popping up on the Ain't It Cool News website... All I can say is that some people get Doctor Who and some don't. One reviewer actually said something to the effect of "the show is too damned British!" Also, much has been read into Sci-Fi Channel's passing on the show... I'm going to say that they're going to regret this after the Hitchhiker movie comes out and creates a nice market for quirky British sci-fi...
Don't be mislead... Doctor Who is back!
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Don't Just Do Something -- Sit There!
Just when insipid reality shows had almost convinced me to swear off TV forever, comes the news that my two favorite television shows are returing to the air, albeit in very different forms...
Mike Nelson, Tom Servo, and Crow from Mystery Science Theater 3000 are scheduled to pop up on the March 14 episode of ESPN Classic's Cheap Seats. It airs at 10 pm. This is their first appearence on TV since MST3K got cancelled in 1999. Here's hoping a revival of the show isn't far away!
Internet rumors abound that the first new episodes of Doctor Who in 16 years are set to premiere on the BBC on March 26. Let's hope that BBC America or Sci-Fi channel get these episodes stateside ASAP!
Mike Nelson, Tom Servo, and Crow from Mystery Science Theater 3000 are scheduled to pop up on the March 14 episode of ESPN Classic's Cheap Seats. It airs at 10 pm. This is their first appearence on TV since MST3K got cancelled in 1999. Here's hoping a revival of the show isn't far away!
Internet rumors abound that the first new episodes of Doctor Who in 16 years are set to premiere on the BBC on March 26. Let's hope that BBC America or Sci-Fi channel get these episodes stateside ASAP!
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Quote of the Week: On Being "Real"
This week's quote was a short comment I came across on Sacred Space: "It is harder to live one sermon than to preach a dozen."
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Extra! Extra!
The oddest events can inspire a piece of writing. I guess this blog has been living proof of that. Last October, the gang here at Experiment House passed away an idle weekend by taking Enneagram Personality Tests. After confirming to ourselves that we are a rather strange bunch of tabby-cats, Mr.X and I got to joking about how it would be helpful it would be if there were personality tests specifically for church members... We sat down at the iBook and an hour or so later finished the piece "Enneagram Types for Church Members." Almost on a lark we sent it to the satire magazine The Wittenburg Door and were quite surprised to see it accepted. Although I've had hundreds of public relation pieces published over the years, this is the first piece I've written for fun to get published for profit. And it's the first piece of writing Mr. X has written for the general public that didn't involve a magic marker and a bathroom door...
Anyway, if you want to pay for the damaged wit you already get for free everyday in this blog, it appears in the March/April issue of The Wittenburg Door #198. It's carried at trendier stores like Borders, etc.
Anyway, if you want to pay for the damaged wit you already get for free everyday in this blog, it appears in the March/April issue of The Wittenburg Door #198. It's carried at trendier stores like Borders, etc.
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