Embracing Hypocrisy since 1976

I love taco bell even more now...

2010-02-22T12:02:00.001-08:00

Taco Bell's New Green Menu Takes No Ingredients From Nature

Day 2 of 2010

2010-01-02T17:48:00.000-08:00

Anything worth doing is worth doing at least half way. Hmmm... not such an inspiring slogan but this is the start I have to the new year.

I am tired. Easy to see why. Way too much sugar and food throughout the holidays. Way too little exercise. Way too many late nights with way too many early mornings. And on the job front it's been a mountain of paper work and promotional and organization work for the new year and the upcoming AGM. So... haven't made it out of the office for anything other than Tim Horton's doughnuts with Kent.

So... Happy New year.

The lying to self has got to stop... I could sort of fake looking good at 240... and then 260 probably should have been confronted at the time... but now today I'm at 275...

I keep buying pants in the 40-42 range but I keep wearing them lower and lower. It's the Dunlop effect... the belly dunlop over the belt... a permanent and visible line where the adipose tissue is displaced by the line that the overly tight belt follows.

Add to this new area's of growth... they say at age 21 you stop growing but I have proven them wrong... parts of my body have continued to grow.

Here is the grace for all of you... I took the dreaded 'before' pictures today... but I decided not to post them... the front on picture is what you would expect... sort of a hairy snowman on stilts... only the stilts are touching and the second ball on the snowman is as large as the first but there seem to be 2... and then thankfully the picture ends... under my chin is also a new area of growth and I bet that there isn't a firming cream in the world that would help...

The side shot would be flattering if I were 7 months pregnant (Yes... I did check the google images and sad to say... it's going to be a 11 pound baby at this point.) In fact... I wish I looked as good as this guy.

So... today I did the 1 day prep for the Master Cleanser Diet that will once again start me on the path to balance and healthy eating and exercise and blah blah blah. Naturally I started the day with a tim horton's coffee and bagel (damn... off track already...) then I drank OJ and yogurt for the rest of the day... not really on the path but I'm near the path... I can see the path from where I'm at... shutup... the prep work is all optional anyway...

Tomrorrow begins the first of many punishments I'm going to subject my body through... my brain and body had a talk and decided that they didn't like each other but since they are stuck with each other they have to make some changes in the relationship. The Master Cleanse diet is supposed to bring back the energy and... according to some there can be 15 pounds of undigested stuff just sitting in the gut so... if I can get a 15 pound head start and have more energy to do other things than more power to me... (although the Master Cleanse is clear... it's not for weight loss and don't worry all you who care...)

Cayenne, Maple Syrup, Lemon juice, and water... 7 days is the goal... next Sunday is the last flush and then the post cleanse routine. (Back to juice... yippee...)

Michael... I need that workout routine soon so send that over if you get a chance. Part of the new agreement between brain and body is the body will now do some of the things that the brain knows it should...

I'm going to try some goal setting... for now... the short term goal is to start the Master Cleanse... the long term goal is the next 7 days and the post cleanse... after that I guess I'll need another goal. Or I'll have waffles for breakfast and be back to square one.

Wish me luck!

Signed:
Resolved in Edson.

Oilsands tainting watershed: U of A study New research estimates Suncor, Syncrude deposit an oil spill's worth of bitumen into surrounding area every year

2009-12-08T12:54:00.000-08:00

Story here: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Oilsands+tainting+watershed+study/2314662/story.html

But then... I thought we already knew this? Is anyone really shocked? How did this make the front page? Maybe the title should be "We can no longer deny that we are killing people and rivers with the run off that we have said is safe knowing full well that it is not."

Why did the paper have to spin it like it was new news?

It's an angry and hurt world

2009-12-07T12:27:00.001-08:00

The more I talk to people, and get into their brains... the more I see an angry and hurt world.

O come Emmanuel...

Conspiracy theory, or truth?

2009-12-02T08:40:00.000-08:00

Here is a passionate person. Ironically willing to make money by not getting the H1N1 flu shot but then again, he's probably not making much. I don't think I could live in a world where I didn't more or less trust the health system... that would be way to much work... like all good sheeple, I had the shot... but I like what this guy did in the video.

9:12 time suck with Weird Al

2009-11-21T09:03:00.000-08:00

I think that Weird Al is part of the reason I'm such a happy person having steeped myself in his music and been a hard core fan since I can remember first getting the Dare to Be Stupid cassette tape back one summer while on vacation at Williams Lake.

So in a way, Al helped me trade any chance of being cool enough to date in high school for a life time of positive, happy sarcasm. Thanks Al... it was so worth it.

Too many reminders... and still I miss things.

2009-11-20T09:03:00.000-08:00

It's awesome.

Ical has reminders that pop up, and emails reminders.
Ical is linked to google calendar who sends email reminders.
My google cal and work cal are linked... and both send reminders.

You'd think I'd never forget anything having had pop ups and sometimes up to 6 email reminders...

How do you live without embracing your Hypocrisy?

2009-11-12T21:48:00.000-08:00

I was at a Pastor's cluster meeting today and it was awesome. The trust level is developing and it was a great time of sharing both joys and heart aches (yes... Pastors have lots of heart aches...)

It made me think and feel and analyze lots of things and... in my life of hypocrisy I'm so glad that I belong to a religious system that doesn't rely on me getting it right in all ways... I love living with the grey areas and the paradox. Of course, embracing paradox might not be as catchy a title for a blog though...

But really... a blog that was all about embracing holistic truth would be really hard to maintain... constantly going back and rewording and deleting posts to get things just right... I don't know how much fun that would be.

So... Sin boldly... that is... do your best and then trust that the one who creates all things didn't expect you to get it right anyway... and trust that you are loved... and this love transforms all things.

It's easier to read that blog...

2009-11-09T18:53:00.001-08:00

There are those that blog and those that should read blogs... sometimes as I watch the months go between posts I think that I should be one who reads the blogs... but I'm too idealistic with what I might do with this blog.

I'm thinking of a series of "Phrases that need to be retired". I was inspired by this other blog that is doing the same thing and... I think that it will help me become a better person by getting rid of certain words and phrases....

will it happen?

Who knows....

Too much money?

2009-09-30T09:08:00.000-07:00

Why is it that a small mechanic in a small city in China can produce an electric car while the auto makers keep dragging their feet? I would guess that it has to do with money because the demand seems to be around... the technology is around... and it's just not difficult to do.

I guess I might be a conspiracy theorist...

100th Post

2009-09-17T20:56:00.000-07:00

Well.... can't put it off any longer. I've gotta put up a 100th post.

So... as a 100th post, I decided to throw up some pictures from one year ago. Cycling to the seminary, enjoying the fall weather in my former life as a student in Saskatoon.

Enjoy :)

Trying something new...

2009-09-09T12:12:00.001-07:00

So... there is a horrible whine in the background from the macbook fan but.... I thought I would try the Vlogging thing a little.

Edson's gone crazy!

2009-08-02T14:20:00.001-07:00

Well... that is what I told this weekend would be. It's the annual slo-pitch tourney and I think if you went out to the many baseball diamonds today or this weekend it would in fact be insane... but the craziness of the town itself is a little overblown... it's still Edson... the main highways are busy with through traffic... but there is still no wait for anything.

Which is nice.

I'm starting to get into the pace of the this place and slowly figure out why so many people say "Go rural!" for ministry. Great people, great town, laid back country life.

Mini vids of life in Edson June July 09

2009-07-27T21:56:00.000-07:00

Here is a little video of some things we've been up too for those who don't get to see the kids as much... thought rather than perfecting a few videos.... I'd flood the net with these. :)

sean

Dog Swimming in Air

2009-07-26T12:48:00.000-07:00

I guess it's instinct... when you see the water coming... and you'd really rather not go in... you just start to swim and hope you don't hit the water.

In other news...

Went camping outside Hinton by flexing a meeting and a couple days off together for a fun family adventure.

I'm one step closer to a cell phone though... I havn't figured out how 'on call' I need to be for pastoral 'emergency.'... (whatever that might be)

Good times :)

And something a little more profound...

Do you want to know what is really neat about being a pastor? I get to visit and listen and hear all about good times and hard times. I get to sit with and stare into the heart of pain and suffering with all sorts of people. And then on Sunday, not matter what else is going on, I get to hand out the Eucharist, that is, no matter what else is said done or happening, there is bread of life and cup of salvation accompanied by the words 'for you.' All are welcome at the Lord's table.

Family Reunions

2009-07-19T12:38:00.001-07:00

This last weekend I was at the family reunion of my wife's dad's brothers and sisters. All the things you would expect including food, and wine, and beer, and laughter, and quads for the young and the old. I got to watch my son crash a 50cc quad into a rock, and into a barb wire fence (no injuries), I got to watch my first daughter enjoy the sun and just embrace life running back and forth from place to place, and I got to watch my youngest daughter begin to engage the world in new ways by crawling and running around everywhere. It was awesome.

It's interesting to be an outsider looking in on a family reunion. I don't know all the stories or the history of the joys or the pains of this family, but I do know that it was a great weekend for relaxing, enjoying good company, and good food.

I'm starting to think that 30 something marks a turning point where you realize that you have become an adult... and you can look at other adults and see that for the most part, until you hit the really frail stage, we're all at the same level. And really... nobody is getting more mature that where they are at.

I'm thankful to be a part of a family that makes the effort to get together like this... it's a beautiful community that forms so briefly every two years.

I'm looking forward to the next one two years from now.

A full measure of honesty

2009-07-10T23:09:00.000-07:00

These people inspire me:

http://www.houseforall.org/

They seem to come at religion in a very honest way that seems to be authentic from what I can see. Of course, many of these emerging church movements also have some sort of underlying agenda. I'm not sure how these things get started without some agenda but... here it is.

Can it really be as open as it seems? There seems to be indicators that it's Lutheran by the 'nailing to the wall' comments, as well as the 'saint and sinner' thing. But I do wonder what this would look like in small town Canada? And whether you need a city of several million people to make it go, or if it goes because people need this sort of community.

Lots to think about in how to be the church.

The define the Need as:

Why do we need a House for All Sinners and Saints?

House is important because it is experimenting with new ways to do church which make sense to urban postmodern young people. It is a place where:

The Gospel matters, liturgy is recontextualized, and we are free to reclaim the word "Christian".
Scripture is honored enough to be faithfully questioned and struggled with
We no longer have to culturally commute or bracket out parts of ourselves to be in Christian community
We are co-creators of worship, rather than just passive participants; aesthetics and theology both matter
The community is both intellectually and spiritually stimulating
We provide a connection or a bridge to the mainline and to the traditions of the church

House is important because it takes community and relationships seriously. It is a place where:

People can land, they can call this house a home
The work of the spirit is witnessed to through relationships where there is vulnerability, challenge and growth
Our deepest longings can be expressed and heard
True community is offered, people belong to each other so that we share both joys and sorrows
We connect the margins and the mainstream

I'll follow with interest...
The part where they try not to bracket out parts of themselves to be Christian will be especially interesting. It's awesome in concept... but is any community ready for all it's members to let go with all honesty? It would be fun to say the least :)

July 1st, and too many Hotdogs

2009-07-07T08:39:00.000-07:00

A successful event to say the least. The Lutherans gathered and sold hotdogs and hamburgers on Canada Day. This means that the night before we gather and clean like crazy to get the rental shed ready, set up a huge BBQ, and make sure that all the jobs are covered.

The people here are like a well oiled machine with years of practice it was amazing. Turned out to be a $1500 day. (Which, if you bread down the number of volunteer hours is not too much but... I think that part of the value is in the working together.)

So... that is my post... why is it short and lame? Because it is fueled by guilt that my father put on me for not blogging more.

:)

Second thought.. I'll keep going

2009-06-21T18:29:00.001-07:00

Ya know... if you're going to neglect one blog you might as well neglect 2.

So...

It's Father's Day.
My son runs to his room, and returns with a big smile and sucker. He hands it to me.

"Is this for me?" I ask thinking that all the work on empathy might be paying off?

"No... can you open it for me... please?"

((sigh))

New Blog

2009-05-12T22:57:00.001-07:00

Classic... using one blog to announce the existance of another blog.

Well, goodbye hypocrisy:

Hello...

"Dry Bones Walkin'"

This blog is retired (for now)... the new blog will be... well... we'll see what it will be. I could tell you but it's sort of a work in progress... I think it's supposed to be something like a professional blog of my new carear as Lutheran Pastor... sortof like a public luther pastor journal... but I don't know what that will be like as I'm not a lutheran pastor yet so... it's a new expiriment...

Maybe follow both? Who knows what could happen...

sean

It ended with a fizzle...

2009-04-23T21:59:00.000-07:00

Well, with the click of the send button the last exam was completed and handed in and officially I'm done all the course work that I'm going to do for seminary. In some ways it is the biggest day of the last 5 years, and in others it was just a cold May day in Saskatoon.

Walking out, holding a cliche box of office supplies and flanked by two classmates carrying the rest of my books, guitars, drums, and other random crap it felt... normal. It still feels normal and the reality of never returning to full time study again slowly settles in.

In some ways there is so much to look forward too with the new career and move across the country, but in other ways it is all loss. Loss of community, loss of lifestyle, loss of carefree existance.

So it's the biggest day, that ends in a fizzle as I wait for a few more weeks for anything else to really come together.

Graduation Party

2009-04-17T21:38:00.000-07:00

Ahh... the end of a program. This year at the grad party not only did we roast the prof's, but they made the grads dance and sing and a good time was had by all.

The first of many events that mark the end of one thing and the beginning of another. Change...

Easter Sermon

2009-04-15T21:29:00.001-07:00

Sermon: “The Resurrection of our Lord”

Is. 25:6–9, 1 Cor. 15:1–11, Mark 16:1–8

Easter Day

Christ is Risen! (He’s Risen Indeed) x3
The great mystery of the faith. Christ has died, Christ has Risen, Christ will come again.
Today is about expecting and deserving one thing, and then receiving something else... something completely unexpected and more wonderful than could have been hoped for.
Imagine yourself on that lonely walk up the hill with the women. A long, hopeless, lonely walk to the tomb of the much beloved one. Imagine that you had hoped that this friend would lead a revolution that would change everything and everything would now be as it was supposed to be. Jesus was supposed to start revolution - He was supposed to change the way people related to each other and God... it was supposed to be a promise that would have over thrown the oppressive system and banished an invading army from the land... It was supposed to be Emmanual coming - a new time of God with us. All of this was crushed on Friday. And now - a long and lonely walk...
All is fear... All is uncertainty.
The very Son of God had come to offer a new way to be, a new relationship to God, a new life. ... ...
And instead of embracing this new life, this new promise, this relationship, God in Jesus was rejected and sent on a long and lonely walk to the cross. The best and the brightest that humanity had to offer.... the religious elite, the educated, the government officials, the jeering crowds... all had rejected him... and now... he is dead. The collective weight of fear and self interest caused the best and brightest to turn all their hatred and hopelessness onto one person with catastrophic results. Christ is crucified.
Where there was trust, there is now fear. Where there was a sure hope, now there is severe uncertainty.
...
There is sever uncertainty in our world. It is so much easier to look to the uncertainty and point to the signs of death all around us. There is an old newspaper slogan - “If it bleeds it leads” - People like to slow down and watch a car wreck. People pay money to watch that kind of death and destruction painted vividly in News Reports. In so many ways, death makes for better news than life... at least that is what the ratings show.
...
Back in January, when we were all still digesting the last of the Christmas Feast... songs of Joy and Thanksgiving for the light coming into the world still ringing in our ears....
And this is the head-line on the CBC news web page “Jubilance, uncertainty as world rings in 2009.” and below that... “Israel gives Green Light for Gaza ground offensive.” Death, uncertainty, fear. It seems we almost like scaring ourselves. Or perhaps we like telling tales of death and uncertainty.
---
I gotta tell you a story about this little kid named Max... Max is a kid who just loves Legos!
It’s Christmas and he was visiting his Grandma’s house. (I realize that it’s Easter, but Easter begins at Christmas so stick with me...)
Max’s family had eaten the huge festive meal and it was getting late... This is good news for Max.
Late means all the dishes will be done soon.
Late means all the adults will be in the living room soon.
Adults in the living room means that it’s officially after Christmas Supper.
After supper on Christmas Eve means that it’s time to open up the presents! It was so exciting. And oh man Max had dreams... space lego was all that Max could think of.
Max had all the bases covered. He had written three messages to Santa. One by mail, one by email, and one by text message off his Dad’s phone. Max felt he was well covered in the Santa department. Santa should have gotten his messages.
He also wrote another letter to his Grandma... and he was sure that she was going to give him the legos... I mean... Max made it clear. He made a list. On the list was: Lego. It was the only thing on the list... and it would be hard to screw that up... it was all that he wanted.
There was one small hitch in the whole plan... Max and his Grandmother had had a terrible fight. Max didn’t know how it happened, it was just one of those things that happens when you are in relationship to another person. Max wasn’t sure if his Grandmother was going to give him a present this year. He wasn’t sure if he deserved one.
The family gathered and all sat down to open the presents, and he and his brother and his sister were handed gifts from grandma and he watched his brother open his present... and it was... Socks! The grey kind that itch with the red tops.... Ohhh no...
Oh noooo... socks... well, that’s just his brother... and he’s weird, and maybe that is what he wanted? Maybe he wasn’t good enough this year and this was some sort of punishment! Hope sprung up in Max’ heart.
So he watched his sister open up her present and it was... What do you think?... Socks!... oh no... what had gone wrong! Maybe his sister wanted itchy, hot, sticky feet... the kind that only grey wool socks with red tops can give...
Now all eyes turned to the little boy... it was his turn to open his present. He gave it a little shake... no sound.... legos make sound...
He gave it a little squeeze... oh no... it was soft... legos aren’t soft... legos are hard...
With fear and uncertainty in his heart and a fake smile on his face, Max opened the package and it was... he couldn't believe it was true. He kept smiling and said “Thank-you Grandma... they look... warm...” with as much energy as his crushed little heart could muster...
His Grandma said, “You’re welcome... I know that your feet are cold when you are out playing and you need to have these things to keep your feet warm... Could you do me a favor and get me some coffee from the cupboard?” There was a strange gleam in her eye... what was going on?
“Yes Grandma” Max said... he walked dejected to the cupboard... all that he had hoped would be this day was now gone... you can’t play with new socks... you can’t colour on them... and you can’t wear them inside... they are too hot to wear... you certainly can’t build them into a space lego set... and they itch.
He opened up the cupboard and there were three boxes. He picked one up... it had hard hard edges... and it sounded like pieces inside. It shook... it sounded like lots of pieces inside! It was legos!
“Merry Christmas” his Grandmother cried out!
...
Merry Christmas... can it be that just a few short months ago we were calling out Merry Christmas to one another... celebrating a light coming into the world - the birth of a new child. Hope of what could be in a new year infused everything.
All of us for a moment trusted that God that had not forgotten us - And in this Joy and celebration, we were moved to put up lights, to give gifts, to party and celebrate. The light had come into the world and for a brief moment we heard and saw signs of hope.
And then somehow all that celebration of the light has also left us with the world that we know. We all know how that many people died needlessly in the Gaza strip. We all know how hard the world is suffering from economic crisis. We all know about the many environmental warning bells that are going off around the oil sands - the back bone of our economy is having a greater cost then we first imagined. We all know how hollow the promise of new life can sound as we face our personal demons. We all know that God feels pushed aside, and God’s people and creation are ground under foot, cast aside and used up and forgotten.
The light of Christmas appears to be snuffed out by the reality of life, by the reality of the events of Good Friday. In this moment, all of history could have been lost.
...
Max’s Grandma didn’t need to give a present. But Grandmas keep giving presents not because kids are good... Grandmas give presents because they long for relationship - they long to do good things for those they love. Even when kids are a little thorny, Grandmas continue to come to them. To seek them out. To love them.
And here is the surprise ending. The long lonely walk to the tomb ended with better news than could possible have been hoped for.
So, We celebrate the ending of the long hopeless walk of the women who first came to the tomb and found it empty.
We celebrate with those who first heard the good news from the angel sitting in the the tomb. “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here.”
Be Not Afraid says the angel... You can Trust God because God is trustworthy.
Be not afraid says the angel, God’s will to come to us has overcome even death. The light of Christmas is not snuffed out today, but it is added to by the light that shines brightly out of the empty tomb.
Be not afraid says the angel, Christ has looked deep into the human heart, the human selfishness, the human pain, the human death, and he did not turn away.
Be not afraid, the relationship to God is fixed, all was... is.... and will be reconciled to God.
The tomb is empty. There isn’t coffee in the cupboard... there is lego!
Joined to Christ, we will face a death like his, but we will also experience a new life, like his.
So Come, taste and see in the communion meal - the bread and the wine of new life and forgiveness, that we are about to share together, This is the meal of the goodness of God come down - nothing now separates us from God.
Come, taste and see that Christ who was killed is on a cross did not, would not, could not stay dead.
Come, taste and see a love that is bigger than death.
Christ is risen. (He is risen indeed)
Amen.

Stop Motion Lego

2009-01-24T21:16:00.001-08:00

Wow... what fun!

My son and I discovered the joy of stop motion lego animation. This is the second attempt and it's lots of fun.... only took about 5 hours to put this together.

We worked on the story line and animation and photography together so we are calling it a joint project. Elijah is the head of 'eB Productions' and of course I'm the head of 'bouncin' boy Productions' so we both took credit in the end. He's pretty jazzed to do more so I think we're going to start learning about making a story board and writing more down ahead of time.

Anyway... without further delay, eB and bouncin' boy productions are proud to present:
The Great Dinosaur Escape!

The End is near.

2009-01-23T18:31:00.000-08:00

It's Friday, and this Monday starts my last semester as a student. Forms are being signed, papers written, and soon... I will be done.

It's sort of strange to think of the past 5 years going by so slowly and yet so quickly. For example... when I started Seminary, Gray's Anatomy was just a pilot... and look how far they have come now! As I was starting seminary, Merideth and the crew were just starting residency to become surgeons. And now, just 5 years later, they will make more in an afternoon then I make in 6 months as a pastor! (Both as actors and surgeons!)

And the excitement is building in the midst of the tired. Half of me is dreading Monday and being back in classes for more information to be pounded into my head. And the other half of me is starting to dream. This is the half that is looking at the different camps that need resouce pastors. This is the half that is thinking of meeting my first confirmation class this fall... perhaps my first confirmation retreat. My first cluster meeting is coming. My first letter of call. My first time to preside at communion. It's a whole bunch of firsts.

In some ways I'm going to have to question the wisdom of the process as finishing seminary can be tiring and hitting the first parish while tired would not be a good thing. On the other hand, I'm ready. I've been told that everything you learn at seminary will get you through the first 5 years of ministry, and then you better be learning more as you go. And perhaps there is wisdom in this. Without this extended formational process, perhaps you don't have the tenacity to stick it out. Perhaps you need to be in a place like the seminary for this extended time to be ready to weather what is to come in the years ahead.

I'll be turning 33 this summer... which is about the same age that Jesus was when he started so I think I'm in good compandy. But as I start to make my plans, I think that I'll be looking to go for at least 30 years and this is best part. As I sit here with my child asleep on my chest, my eyes blood shot from lack of sleep and exhaustion, with a move to a new community coming and courses started on Monday... I'm leaning into the future. I can't wait to get started on the next phase. I'm going to miss this place terribly but it's time to go. In fact, it's overtime to go... I should be going... I want to be going but there are these last 5 months before I'm in the parish (at best... could be longer...)

So... perhaps it's time to assume the change now... shake of the tiredness of today and start living in the dream that is my vocation, career, calling, life... Or... maybe I just need some sleep.

Look out world, I'm a few classes, a colloquy and and interview away of becoming Pastor.

Where were you last year

2009-01-21T22:28:00.001-08:00

It's been great weather but last year, about this time... I was in Madagascar.

It's been a quick year, no?

Face Book in the great beyond

2009-01-20T17:28:00.000-08:00

So... I was doing some facebook stalking today - looking around to see if anyone is up to anything intersting. I was also mourning for my friends Judith and Jason as I wondered around the net. I noticed somthing interseting. My friend Judith is still getting face book messages from friends... Judith died last year.

What a great outlet for people to articulate their own lament. It was her birthday the other day and she got messages from friends all over the place. I never got to know her as well as I would have liked to, and time and circumstance didn't allow us this relationship but... I mourn her passing, and the hole that is left in everyone that knew her.

I actually briefly thought about how they can call it heaven when they don't have facebook there but then... that isn't the promise is it? The promise is that one day all will be made right and for now... we live in hope of that day when all of creation is gathered up. When all that is wrong is right.

Seeing these messages helped me believe it... I believe that one day there will be this full gathering in. In this moment... I believe it. I do believe that one day Judith will answer these facebook messages... (and she won't even need facebook to do it... oh what a day that will be!)

Latest sewing project

2008-11-10T17:37:00.000-08:00

Yes, I've taken up the manly art of sewing... check out my latest project!

http://www.cruzbike.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=579&p=4228#p4228

5 Influences

2008-10-22T16:54:00.000-07:00

So I've been tagged... and now I have to think...

#1 Pastor Randy Charlton
This guy got a youth group started in Scandia, Alberta. Without it I'm not sure what interest I might have found in the church...

#2 The Mike's I know.
These would have to me Mike Sonnenburg, and my brother Mike Bell - Bery formative in the youth group, and both instrumental in getting me to CLBI.

#3 Pastor (Now Bishop) Ron Mayan
He was the president of CLBI when I was there and it was during these years that the call to pastoral ministry was probably first really felt. Did you ever feel 'pastoral presence +10' coming off someone... this is him.

#4 Dietrich Bonnhoeffer
He's bold. He writes alot. And influences my call to be a part of building Christian Community everywhere I go.

#5 (The not yet rev.) Erik Parker
Through my pre seminary days and up till how he has been my best friend and tolerated 100's of hours of converstation and random ideas so he makes the list.

I wish there were an honorable mention category... of course... it's my blog so here I go:
Dr. Jan Boyd - Made the liturgy come alive.
Dr. Cam Harder - Makes me ask good questions.
Dr. Gordon Jensen - Confessions... enough said...
Pastor Richard Riemer - Proves that high energy lifestyle can transmit into actions and pastoral presence.
Fleming Blishen - Honest, deep, profound... a skater.
Chris Nissen - a good friend who challenges me to make sense of my faith.
Tim Wray - Whom I love and look forward to years of making up stuff together with.
Jim Appleby - He converted me to Mac - and his good nature makes me glad to be with Christ.
Jeff Decelle - I love this guys brain and organization.
M. Griener (Matt that is... who's name I've probably spelled wrong) for his honesty and principles and dedication to knowledge.
My parrents - Unconditional love and support.
Drew (little bro) - He has passion, integrity, honesty, honour... and inspiration to those looking to live the faith they profess.

And... the list goes on and on... and of course you all belong on the list but I've got to put the kids to be and I've just stolen 15 min's from my family to write this much so I won't be able to get you all on the list... but I'll conclude with a special honoroalbe mention to my wife - who shows me faith active in love and service to the community and devotion to family (as well as how to forgive a spose who is always late.)

I tag... Matt, Drew, and Lindsay. (Which means, hopefully Matt remembers he has a blog...)

Body Praxis writing assignment

2008-10-15T09:38:00.000-07:00

How does my body enter into how I see myself as a leader in the church?

I'm the one whose body is invited into people's space.

The most festive, depressing,

wonderful, painful,

jubilant, vacuous

times of peoples lives.

My body shows up.

I'm the one whose body is given the time to be available in crisis

A shoulder

A hand

A connecting presence.

My body has time.

I'm the one whose body is used as a symbol for the mighty works of God

In Worship

In Protest

In death

And in new life.

My body is a symbol for something bigger than itself.

I'm the one whose body gives voice to the proclamation that the world needs to hear.

I voice healing

I voice comfort

I voice outrage

I voice hope

My body is the voice that proclaims Word

In ministry, my body is bigger than me and yet, it's still just me. Thanks be to God.

Moving Fast

2008-10-07T23:51:00.001-07:00

Sometimes this is how life feels... moving so fast!

Winter is coming...

2008-10-05T06:12:00.000-07:00

It's a cool and rainy day... it reminds me that winter is just around the corner. This picture is actually pretty bleak with all the colour sucked out of it, but really that was an awesome day of fun in the snow.

Maybe I am called to BC for the mild winters and long growing season...

www.yearbookyourself.com

2008-10-02T18:21:00.000-07:00

Here is my actual Grad Year... not that bad really!

1950
'52
'54
'70
'74

Wow... thanks to Andrew Craig for finding this site.

Check it:

Where is God?

2008-09-17T07:09:00.000-07:00

This should be a simple enough assignment... just write out where you see God...

So I got on the bike and road home and through the midst of the fall colours and all that is fall I saw... colours and fall.

In my family I saw people. In the food I ate I saw food.

Then I came back to school the next day.

I road again through the fall colours and I saw... fall colours.

I felt the cool morning air on my skin and the tingle in my arms as they got too cold.

I pulled up to the seminary and looked around.

Bikes, Rocks, Trees, Water, Birds, Air, People, Cold, Sun Sets, Sun Rises, all of these things.

And perhaps this is the problem... God isn't a thing (or perhaps more accurately, God is all things and then some). So the problem looks as if it is me. I'm looking at things and expecting to see the whole.

And perhaps a new set of eyes is what is required to see.

And perhaps a new set of ears is needed to hear.

And perhaps a new tongue, nose, sensory system is what is needed to realize what is so far away (or perhaps more accurately, what is so close and and all around.)

So if the assignment was to see "God" then I have not yet done that.

Except perhaps a little.

And not in all the places outside, but inside. Not inside me, but inside the interaction of two creatures - Me and the Janitor.

He talked of oiling the Organ and I talked of enjoying my bike ride. And in a way that is beyond a concrete way of saying, there was a sense of something bigger than both of us in the mundane conversation we had.

And perhaps this is the lesson,

just keep looking and don't be surprised when the thing you are looking for is found in the morning conversation with janitor.

Shucking the Corn

2008-08-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

So I went for a ride in the country on the cruzbike and came across a corn stand just South of Saskatoon. I happened to have my bag with me so I stopped into buy some corn... they of course didn't take credit cards or interac so I thought I was out of luck... but then, after a 5 min conversation about the bike, the guy loaded up a dozen corn and told me to enjoy. (He also took down the web page for cruzbike.com ... I think I need to get some commission soon!)

So... it was chemical free corn for lunch today!

When you can't think of what to blog: Blog your baby!

2008-08-21T00:16:00.000-07:00

Well... here are some more pics of my kids... mostly the youngest one here.
She's really taking on expressions and interactions at an alarming rate... seems like only yesterday she was a newborn and now she's learning new tricks like crazy!

Pic from the Bell front: The one about the best BBQ of the summer.

2008-07-26T23:14:00.000-07:00

Kids show the best emotions... what a great BBQ!

Location: The Salash's.

To be the Pastor is to love them...

2008-07-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

So, internship ended and I'm starting to draw together some ideas of what it is to be pastor. It seems that to be the pastor is to love them...

A friend is supply preaching at my internship site right away and was asking me what the process would be like. Right away I could think of who was going to pay her, who would likely welcome her, and all these faces came into my head. It was really all about relationship in the end. All about a community of people that were all so different and all so amazing and challenging in all ways.

So all these years of seminary have loaded my brain with theology and new ideas and in the end... it would seem that the biggest challenge is going to be to love the people I'm called to serve. Not just the easy ones either... all the people.

I wonder who would be at seminary if you described the calling this way... just love your people. If you have not love, all the theology in the world isn't going to help. You just make noise.

Do I have the faith in the people? Am I willing to hope with them? Can I actually love them? This is the new challenge to ponder...

Pic from the Bell front: The one I put up to gross out Dyanna

2008-07-24T21:55:00.000-07:00

If you thought that Dragonfly was gross, check out this couple of crazy teenagers that landed on my window in the rain just the other day. I love macro!

Location: Back of carpark - Saskatoon

Pic from the Bell front: The one with Dad's home made recumbent.

2008-07-23T22:44:00.000-07:00

Well, you all had a chance to see my recumbent bike from www.cruzbike.com

But I wanted to share a picture today of the bike my Dad made. I don't know if even cares about recumbents, but he has listened to me yammer on for years now, and even build this prototype trike. It started as a regular short wheel base underseat stearing recumbent, and ended as a tadpole style trike. So... it's an interesting picture, and a chance for me to show off what my Dad made. I'm so proud of him sometimes!

Pic from the Bell front: The one with the dragonfly closeup...

2008-07-22T19:43:00.000-07:00

I wish that I could have the same sort of wonder that kids have when they find a bug like this...

Pic from the Bell front: The one with the swingers.

2008-07-21T23:23:00.000-07:00

Real swingers!

I used to make fun of parents who spent so much on these play structures... but totally worth it!

Pic from the Bell front: The one with young Matt and Erik and Lindsay and Chris

2008-07-20T22:24:00.000-07:00

This one is a blast from the past.

Contest: Name the year of this photo.

(I know... this isn't as cute as my normal pics :)

Pic from the Bell front: The one about the world's largest dinosaur.

2008-07-19T22:34:00.002-07:00

DRUMHELLER!

Pic from the Bell front: The one about the world's largest dinosaur.

2008-07-19T22:34:00.001-07:00

Pic from the Bell front: The one with the Freerider

2008-07-18T11:29:00.000-07:00

Ya know, I wanted one of these things for over 10 years and have finally got one and... I love everything about this bike.

Today's pic is a shamless plug for www.cruzbike.com

Location: End of the trail Saskatoon

Pic from the Bell front: The one about Spiderman Elijah

2008-07-17T17:28:00.000-07:00

Oh yes... that is the amazing spiderman... only with a little plastic hose and a dog collar instead of web slinging power. Almost just as scary really.

Face Paint: Fun Factory
Location: Saskatoon, House, Playroom.

Pic from the Bell front: The one about India's intensity

2008-07-16T20:18:00.000-07:00

Ahhh... my sweet little girl's true dark side comes out... look at the intensity in those eyes... look at the cunning... All of you who thought that she was such a sweet little girl can now see the truth of her power as she handles that duck better than any man I know could! (OK... she's a little cute too...)

Location: Kindersley Lions Park, SK.

The tragedy of the commons...

2008-06-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

With sadness we see that the new digger toy did not last long at the park. Why God! WWWWWHHHHHHYYYYYYY!

Darn big kids.

It is finished!

2008-06-19T22:10:00.000-07:00

One more hoop done.
The last meetings, the last reports, the last trip.
I'm sad to finish my internship, I'm going to miss the people and the community.
Although... I'm happy to being one step closer to being done this whole seminary thing.

And... I had another baby (well technically my wife did...)
And... I bought a cruzbike from www.cruzbike.com

And... I need to blog more.

Sandy Sermon

2008-06-02T22:54:00.000-07:00

Matthew 7:21-29

“And great was its fall!”... So that’s it? That is the end of the parable? Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around? Don’t all of the sunday school and campfire songs tell the story in the other direction? The house on the sandy land comes first because we are told first what we are not, we are not that fool who built on the sand. No, we talk about him first so that we can talk or sing about who we are really are last, the wise man who built his house on the rock. Morals and lessons come last in stories so that we can remember them.

But today, Jesus has told the story the other way around. Or the other way around from how we want to tell it. It must have been a mistake by Jesus, maybe he mixed it up the story. Maybe Matthew got it mixed up when he wrote it down. They can’t have possibly meant that the house built on the sand is the most important part of the story, could they? (Intro Stolen from Erik Parker)

...

This reminds me of a story I heard from a Tipi salesman once. That’s sort of a strange way to start a story... I’ll try again...

Sandy Marshal is the owner and founder of arrow tipi. He has, a real passion for tipis, and one evening he explained the whole tipi buisness, industrial cutting and sewing tools. It’s hard work.

Sandy Marshal uses only the best materials: 10.10oz Flame Retardant, Mildew Resistant, Water Proofed, Marine Boatshrunk. Sunforger FR 100% Cotton Army Duck canvas. It weighs 13 oz. per yard. Takes at least 2 strong people to lift it when its folded... you’re better with 4 people.

Sandy Marshal works with his son to do the difficult work of marking, cutting, stitching, storing, marketing, and delivering his Tipis all over Western Canada and to the world. You will have seen Sandy Marshal’s place if you’ve been on Highway 6 in BC. It can be seen from the "big bridge" just south of Burton BC - RIght on the Columbian river. Look for the Tipi, you can’t miss it.

The Tipi you see from the highway is the test tipi. It’s up all spring, summer and fall to see how it reacts to sun and wind. All those tipi poles in a permanent circle, pegged down with Sandy’s patented ‘widget’ system... basically a big chunk of rebar bent in a certain way... those poles are solid. When the river swells, they go out and take down canvas, and leave the poles... the ground floods, the winter snow comes and goes, and then Sandy puts the canvas back up... Sandy believes his tipis are indestructible.

Which of course they aren’t... Nothing is truly indestructible...
One of the most disappointing things about visiting world monuments is that they really aren’t as old as they claim to be... Traveling in Germany we would see many buildings which claimed to be 800 years old but really... they'd been burnt down twice or taken down and repaired. Even our most sturdy buildings don’t last.

And we want to think that we are built on the rocks. We want to read Jesus story as a good piece of advice. Like Sharon and Otto’s driveway... the advice is build on the rocks... be wise and safe where you build... make sure you can get out when the summer floods come. It’s good advice.

But it’s not the main point.

Sandy Marshal firmly believed his tipis were fool proof till the day he sold two tipis to some Lutherans. Not just any Lutherans... Southern Sask. Prairie Lutherans. Lutherans who wanted tipi’s for Camp Mutakos. Lutherans, who did in fact read the rules of site selection...
Ground should be level and flat.
No problem there... it’s Southern Saskatchewan.
Grass mowed.
It hardly grows! No problem...
Ground should drain well.
Drain? The ground absorbs every last drop it can get.
4. Safe from falling objects and overhead wires.
5. Secure from vandals and theft.
6. Appropriate distance to firewood, sanitary facilities.
Emergency access.
The ground should allow secure pegging.
PROTECTED FROM WIND.

Big bold letters on the instructions... protected from the wind. Only a true native of Southern Saskatchewan would stand outside in a gale force wind and say... well... it’s a bit breezy.

And when all the warning signs were there.
As Sandy Marshall got out of his truck to deliver the Tipis he couldn’t believe the site they had chosen... his first instinct was to get back in the truck and turn around and drive away... but he’d come all this way... and this sale was important to him... he said “I was young... I wouldn’t do that again.”
As the wind blew Sandy’s long hair all over the place he was greeted by people who reacted to his concerns with comments of “It’s not that windy... we can do this.” In fact... for Southern Saskatchewan it really wasn’t that windy... and so... two majestic 27 foot tipis were put up... you could see them for miles... it was a thing of beauty.

And it was only a few short months later that Sandy Marshall heard the news. Both Tipis had blown over... well... one blew over. The other one actually took flight and I’m sure the distance gets bigger every time the story is told... but this tipi, poles and canvas and all, 100’s of pounds of 100% cotton army duck and 27 ft poles... actually took flight... flew way up in the air like some sort of majestic prairie albatross, and dove into the ground over 100 feet away. Thank God no one was inside or anywhere near.

...

The expert in tipis, allowed something to overrule his judgement, and mighty was the fall of the tipi.

The Lutherans, in their excitement to do something amazing, overlooked safety and caution, they made unwise choices.

Disasters, accidents, nice tries, death... it’s all around us. The funerals keep coming, the accidents on the highways keep happening, nothing stays the same.

This has been an amazing discovery for me... nothing stays the same. We all have a story, we all grew up in an environment that is so different from what we are living today. We’ve all made choices - we’ve all been swept along by life - and now we are here, here in this moment. Some things are just how we would like them, other things are gnawing at us, making us wish that we could be in a different situation. Some of us see that change is coming, and some of us don’t want to look at what might happen as the planet heats up, as political tensions rise in all areas of the globe. All of life is built on this shifting sand. As the wind blows, things fall down.

And for all our frantic building on the sand, for all the working and trying to be the wise one who builds on the rocks, we watch with fear the rising gas prices. Many of us build stronger doors and get alarm systems installed in our houses. We cling to inflated housing values, we watch the markets for signs of recession, we worry about our relationships to one another, and what they might really mean. It all points to the same thing... we know that most of our lives are built on the sand. Buildings will fall, money will come and go, lives will begin and end.

...

But to live life is to venture out onto the sand - the sand is where life is lived. In no way are we called to hunker down - in no way are we called to live lives that look out for our own needs first.

In every way we are called to join God in the work of loving and blessing the world. We are called to care for creation. Care for our neighbors. Reach out to a world that is hurting. Reach out with the things that have first been given to us.

It’s a paradox - wisdom tells us to look for the rock - the solid foundation to build security on. But all our best efforts turn to sand.

And right here, as sand people that are living in shaky structures, that God, and Christ Crucified, and the wind of the Spirit break into our lives. God declares that we are beloved - through our baptism, through the bread and the wine we will share at communion. Through being the church together - through being a part of the body of Christ... the ongoing blessing of God to the world.

And all these things are signs that we are all members of the church - members of this firm foundation that is not based on our ability to make a building, or find ways to first perfect our lives... it is based on God who is always coming to us, the people of the sand. We are members because Christ has called us to faith. Faith in the body of Christ - the firm rock where hope can be placed.

The hope that is in Christ and his church outlasts life and death, it outlasts housing booms and financial crisis, it outlasts all the ways that we organize ourselves politically and religiously and socially... it gives comfort when the whole world seems to be going crazy.

And best of all... it’s gift. It’s grace that is given to the people of the sand - the people sitting in the midst of tumbled down sand castles. Grace, forgiveness, love... it all comes down to God telling us who we are.

Today, to each of you, I name you rock. Chosen by God - declared to be beloved - made a part of the rock that is Christ's body. And on these rocks Christ is continuing to build a church.

Amen

The Story of Stuff

2008-05-13T23:39:00.001-07:00

I wonder what would happen if we all started thinking of the cost of the things we buy not in terms of money, but in terms of what people had to go through to get it to us?

http://www.storyofstuff.com/

This is a way to start thinking of it...

Sermon - Pentecost Day A May 11, 2008

2008-05-12T11:43:00.000-07:00

Sermon - Pentecost Day A May 11, 2008

In 1996 I was called to work as a camp Counsellor at Camp Kinasao. Literally, the phone rang... they wanted me to work. I was attending bible school at the time when the call came. The director of the camp had called the President of the seminary and said they needed people to work... Were there any students he could suggest? The president met me moments later on the stairs and brought me to his office, we made the call, I talked to the camp director... a few minutes on the phone and an application was faxed to me. I filled out the application and faxed it back 30 min later. Then I waited... It seemed like a long time? How long do you wait for a job application? You don’t want to seem to eager but at the same time I needed to know. I must have waited 2 hours I was so excited to know what the next step was in the process... what do I need to do next?

So I called... and the director said: you have it. You are a fit for the need we have - your position is waiting for you.

There is nothing like the excitement of getting the perfect summer job - getting that perfect position that is far better than you could have hoped for. To me, it was like getting a job doing the thing that I probably would have done for free.

Fast forward to today:

Welcome to Confirmation Sunday.

Confirmation is Graduation to the church.

Now note... I said graduation to the church and not graduation from the church. This day is just the beginning. Confirmation is so much more than one day. Confirmation is so much more than getting all dressed up and getting it just right for this one day. Confirmation is the beginning of a whole new relationship to the church and the beginning of a life time walk with God.

...

My position as Camp Counsellor had a two week training period at the beginning of it. Canoes, safety, lost camper drills, leadership of chapel, leadership of campfire, leadership of the challenge course, leadership of bible study and learning all the wide games they play at camp.

Staff training is two whirlwind weeks of training to do the job that you have already been hired to do. This is a leap of faith for the camp. They hire you... offer you a position... guarantee you a job and then... hopefully, by the end of the training you are ready to be turned loose on the world. Turned loose for the job that you have already been hired to do.

Today, families, friends, we are at the end of staff training. And this goes for all of us. Specifically, those being confirmed are honored today but really... we’re all living in the same world. We are all in relationship to the same one God. We are all part of the same camp - called life.

Confirmation is Graduation to the church.

Today we gather to celebrate the public proclamation of these young people Today they name there desire to be a part of God’s ongoing gift to the world. The gift of the church.

Today we honor the work that these confirmands have done. Meeting after meeting we have gathered with them to work towards this day. This is the day where they publicly say yes to the reality of God’s activity in their lives. Publicly they say yes that they are ready to get on board with this thing called church - with this group of people who form the church.

Today we celebrate that 2000 years ago... on this day of Pentecost... the Holy Spirit came to the people. The birth of a new way of God speaking in the world. Of God acting in the world.

And this brings me to my favorite part. The story goes that the Spirit descends like tongues of fire and all the disciples started speaking in foreign languages - all people gathered could understand them. All people heard the Gospel - the Good news that Christ had died, Christ had risen, and Christ would come again. What a powerful way to say that this message is for all people. All people hear it in there own language.

But this isn’t my favorite part, my favorite part is where it says “All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

They are filled with new wine. It’s like saying “You’d have to be drunk to come up with this. You’d have to be drunk to believe this. You’d have to be crazy to think that there is a God active in the world around us.

But I have seen God:
That summer at camp and through other summers at different camps, I have seen God reach our through the camp staff to children that are hurting. Children that are bullied at home and school, children who had been raped, children who carry so much pressure in their lives that I don’t now how they get up in the morning - I have seen them open up and lay the pain down. I have seen the camp community reach out and support them in those moments of emotional crisis... where it all comes pouring out, and I’ve seen the church follow up to protect and help them as they return to there lives - The Holy Spirit is at work in the midst of the pain life.

I have seen God: In confirmation students. In the little “aha” moments found in the middle of discussion. As different parts of the nature and character of God are explored. I am excited to hear the stories of where they go, what they do - to see where they work. They are part of the church now... how will God use them in the future?

I have seen God: In the work of this church - in the support that exists through the pastor and council and the many ways that the community - the people on board with church reach out to help those who need it - HAGUE:The distribution of the Delores Rudolph estate to purchase defibrillators in Hague and Hepburn, donations made to Sunshine Housing, The Zone, The Canadian Deaf Blind Rubella Association, donations made to Global Hunger Development, to the missionary serving in Peru, to our sister Synod in Argentina.
Rosthern: Visiting those who are sick and lonely, bringing food to those who have just had a baby or to those who have just lost a loved one, driving those who can't to appointments, offering hospitality

And so the world continues to turn. And I don’t doubt that we in the church get it wrong sometimes. I don’t doubt that we just don’t get it sometimes.

The Disciples give us a great example of people not getting it. Let’s look at their record. All through the Gospel of John they don’t get it. The need to have things explained to them. They are told that Jesus is going to die. They are told that Jesus is going to be resurrected and that this must happen. They are told to have faith.

Then they are in the Garden of Gethermene. Jesus is arrested and they ALL scatter. Peter denies Christ three times - can’t even admit to a child that he knows this Jesus. Some of the disciples head out of town. ALL of them are running scared. None of them get it.

And then Jesus acts with a Word: Jesus speaks Peace be with you. Jesus says Peace be with you to the disciples who “didn’t get it.” To the disciples that fled and scattered and had no faith. Jesus shows the wounds - and he’s not mad at them... he’s not vengeful for them abandoning him. Peace be with you he says a second time. And then he breathes on them the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is not simply saying peace be you... Jesus is making Peace into a reality through the gift of the Spirit.

The same Spirit that comes at Pentecost.

The same Spirit which reminds us of the promises Jesus made to never abandon us, to always be with us, to be joined with us in life, in pain, in death, and resurrection and beyond.

Everyone is broken... everyone needs to mend broken relationships with others and with God...

Everyone needs the church...

Everyone needs the support of a community at times...

Everyone needs forgiveness - the power to mend the broken relationships around them - and to move forward into new life and new possibilities.

...

Today is Pentecost Sunday where we celebrate the gift of the church and the coming of the Spirit.

Today,... ... peace be with you. Your sins are forgiven, you can forgive others, scars and all, God is offering peace.

Today it is confirmed - God is active in the world.

Today we are all graduated into the future... it is The Spirit that graduates us into being the church.

Amen.

The numbers are in...

2008-05-10T21:39:00.001-07:00

I love spread sheets. Here is something ridiculous about my internship:

21842 KM's travelled on internship
$9719.69 paid in mileage
$9000 paid in wages.

And now... all I need is one of those cheesy "Priceless" lines...

The Garden is begun

2008-05-07T18:23:00.000-07:00

Carrots are in... Potatoes are in... 1 Cucumber is in.

I'm finding that I think a little too outside the box for most people in the gardening world. People don't like my arcing row of carrots and propensity to ignore the spacing of vegetable instructions. I've even been told that you can't grow watermelon here... well... they are probably right but this will be more fun.

I've got Raspberries, Sunflowers, and (soon) Zucchini in the back, and Carrots, Potatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Strawberries, Lettuce, beans and 1 Cucumber in the main yard. We're also going to try a pumpkin in the large black container.

I'm gardening for style points... now we wait to see if anything grows...

...

nothing yet...

...

still noth...

Sermon - Easter 7A - May 4, 2008

2008-05-04T20:17:00.000-07:00

Before I start, I want to say that I don't know why this sermon worked. I wrote it through a haze of sickness last week and yet, it seems to have inspired people to give me more feedback than any other sermon... if you can guess why I would love to know.

Look at your hands.

Take a good long long look at your hands.

What do you see? Little scars, smooth areas, rough areas.

What story do these hands tell? Where have these hands been?

Make a small group... between 2 and 5 people.

I want you to share the most charitable thing that your hands have ever done.???

Eg: In Madagascar we were visiting a neighborhood in a village where there was an organization working with the community on sanitation issues. They had limited access to sewer and... ... ...

I hate long goodbyes...
In fact, when I’m getting dropped off at the airport now to go on a trip, I prefer if the people dropping me off just leave me on the curb. Drive up, unload the bags, a few final words, and then get on with it. There is just that awkward half hour if everyone comes inside. You’ve said the goodbye, you know that at any moment the flight will be called, and there is really nothing else to say. All people involved want to get on with the grieving of begin apart and, that half hour of small talk you have to make - asking about the coffee, looking at the magazine racks... and yet... there is a part that wants it to last as long as possible. To delay the inevitable parting what when that flight number is called.
I hate long goodbyes...

Well there is the hand again... hands are good at this... waving goodbye. They can be used to hold on - to give that last goodbye embrace, and then to let go - to wave.

Tomorrow is the Sunday where the church celebrates the ascension. Luke tells us in Acts what those final few moments are like and, with 2000 years of Christian tradition we celebrate tomorrow as the symbolic day of the year that Christ ascended into heaven - and it all seems to be very good news.

I wonder if we aren’t making this a little happier than it was for those first disciples... I see this ascension event as incredibly stressful.

To understand what is happening you need to see the feelings that are involved. Imagine that someone very dear to you has died. Imagine the funeral home, the meetings with all the different family members, the grave side. Imagine the pain of the hushed conversations at the lunch following the funeral. You have to live for three days of loneliness without this person - thinking that they are gone forever. Then, on the three days after the funeral you awake to see what can only be a vision. Your loved one has returned - has returned and has good news to share. And shortly, just a few short days after this miracle, you are sitting and having coffee. You loved one rises and walks out of the room.... you follow and you walk to a hill. And then, with some parting words of comfort, your love one leaves again..

Ascension is being left behind.

In one moment Jesus was walking into Jerusalem, the King of Kings, on top of the world. Within the next few days the world is turned upside down. He goes from high to low. From place of reverence, to place of whipping boy. He is hung out on a cross to die, his body left cold in a tomb. The disciples are devastated. Then Jesus re-appears three days later - There is much celebration... and now we come to this moment. This moment on the hill, this moment of parting words of comfort, Jesus saying good bye. Jesus ascending into heaven... and now, forever mixed with the Joy of Easter resurrection, is the lonliness of the reality that Jesus has to leave again.

Ascension is loneliness.

Loneliness is one of the greatest sorrows we experience in life, and all of us have experienced loneliness. We can handle much physical suffering. We can handle much emotional suffering. But loneliness in its barren solitude rips out the floorboards. We stand in a cold draft with no one to surround us with warmth, left suspended with no one to share the pain.

But now the promises come:

Because Ascension is a sending out -
I can just imagine what it was like to see all those people staring up at the sky - and then the angel gets the best line “PEOPLE! why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

I wonder what there hands looked like - reaching in a longing way? Hung low in astonishment? Perhaps making checklists of what now needs to be done. New information has come to light and perhaps they all had to reach for their black berries and palm pilots and start work... There was work to be done.

Ascension is vocation:
So let’s take a look at these hands. Are they starting something new? For many, this time of year marks a change. Change from university to a summer job - might mean getting your hands dirty. Change to the new chores that spring is bringing - might mean your hands are going to finally keep warm outside. Seeds are planted - dusty hands, gardens and lawns are being watered - wet muddy hands assisting in God’s ongoing rejuvenation of life.

Today we remember the prayer that Jesus said “And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”

So look at your hands. We talked earlier about some of the amazing things that these hands have done. Look at these hands. These hands are part of the mystery of God becoming human.

And more than that, these are the hands that the Spirit uses to accomplish the work of God in the world. Jesus makes the promise to not leave us alone - and we aren’t alone. Christ in the promised Holy Spirit has come, and God’s is at work to love and bless the whole world. These hands - Your hands, are the hands of God in the world.

In a world filled with loneliness and change, look at your hands, these are the hands of God in the world. These are the hands of the people whom Jesus promised to never leave. These are the hands that reach out into the world. Hands that God uses to heal, Hands that God uses to plant seeds of new life. Hands that God uses to restore creation.

And... hands are used to bless. Place your hands on your head. Press them in and hear the words that Jesus, is praying.

“Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” Amen.

And now, may God inspire us to use our hands to be about the Spirits work - so that all our hands can make more stories of God’s work - just like the stories we told. May we use these hands to love, to bless, and bring wholeness to all of creation. Amen.

Sermon - 6th Sunday Easter April 27 - 2008

2008-04-28T08:42:00.000-07:00

Sermon - 6th Sunday Easter April 27 - 2008
LOVE
Today we are talking a lot about love, and to love someone is to know them. To know someone is not a series of facts about them, it's intimacy. In the movie the Moulin Rouge, in an attempt to court the cortisone, Ewan McGregors character (the young bohemian lover)uses many lines to get his passion and love across.
“Love is a many splendored thing, Love lifts us up where we belong, All you need is Love. I was made for loving you baby... This powerfully points to the desire to know the other. To know in a God type way – is to know with a deep sense of intimacy – beyond physical, emotional or spiritual of anything any of us has yet experienced with other humans. In fact, it’s a one sided love that depends nothing on the other reciprocating the love.
Perhaps this is where God and Ewan McGregor are different. Both are passionate, but Ewan, like all humans, requires love to be reciprocated to keep feeling it. Ewan, like all humans, can be made to give up when to much betrayal or dishonesty enters a relationship.
Thank God that God’s love does not require such reciprocation and that, as Jesus shows us in the resurrection - God is not about to give up.
God comes to Adopt us - Alone, broken, hurting, hurtful and ... deep down... At the root - God knows that to know and be known is something that we long for.
TRUST STORY
There was once an intern who was serving a rural two point parish, just north of Saskatoon SK. In the first of the two points, the intern read a poem about ecology and how the whole world is connected through the water cycle, and how God calls us to be in good relationship with the earth. It was an exciting poem that gave hope that God would be with the people in the hard times, and was calling the people to work with God in the care and help with restoration of the earth. The intern had a large green bucket on a table, and there were cloths to symbolize the different parts of the poem. It was well done.
The intern then went to the second point in the parish and set up his large green bucket at the front. He called some of the kids forward and a flock of 2 to 5 year olds came forward to see the bucket. And as the intern recited the poem... the young children grew restless, they started to squirm around. And the intern, trapped behind the large bucket, could only watch in horror as his own 2 and a half year old daughter bumped into the large Christ Candle at the front of the church. In slow motion terror the intern watched as the candle hit the steps - the candle went out, and the wax splashed up onto the chancel carpet - two pieces of Christ Candle lay on the floor only loosely connected by the wick.
I’m sure it says somewhere in the church constitution that ‘thou shalt not knock over and break the lit Christ candle during church’. There was a collective gasp, and then a sigh of relief when it was revealed that no one was hurt.
Sensing the tension, the interns daughter ran to her embarrassed mother sitting in the front row - repeatedly saying “Sorry mama sorry mama sorry...”
I am thankful that my daughter... I mean... that interns daughter could run to her mother and know that forgiveness was coming - even though in that moment she was terrified and scared about what might happen next... and the temptation might have been to run the other way, but she ran into her embarrassed mother’s arms.
This is the very same trust that we are called to. The faith like a child, to believe that even when we break the Christ candle, or perhaps we have made the choices that might seem to make us unworthy of God’s love, we can still trust that God will receive us, we will not be turned away. God’s love is not waiting for us - it is always coming.
THEOLOGY
It was actually my wife that found todays Gospel - the good news for today. Right there in the middle of the reading “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.” She said “This speaks to a core fear we all have. It speaks to the deepest fear we have as humans - to not be chosen - to be left alone. It speaks to fear that someone we love will turn us away.”
God is the one who promises to never leave us. God is the one who promises that he is coming. God is the one who promises to send us an advocate to be with us till that time when we are fully united.
The natural outcome of loving God is to live and learn in all that Jesus commands. This is what happens when someone is saturated with the Love of God - it pours out onto others. There is no path to the love of God through fearfully trying to earn the love - this is to try to take the love and posses it. No the love of God is coming - like getting caught out in the rain, it’s not hard to get wet.
RECONCILIATION
So today we hear a great promise. A promise that addresses our loneliness - we are not alone. A promise that addresses our need to know we are cared for. God will not leave us orphaned.
Out of this, the burden of loving the world is made light - the challenge to learn Jesus commandments and to love God becomes possible.
And we can apply all this trust to God’s mission to love and bless the world.
Henri Nouwen writes:
A Christian community is a healing community not because wounds are cured and pains are alleviated, but because wounds and pains become openings and occasions for a new vision. Sharing weakness becomes a reminder to one and all of the coming strength.
May it be so with us. In our worst moments, God is reaching down and signing the adoption papers.
In our wounds and pains, God is informing us of who we are - the adoption papers are already signed.
We are the children of the God that makes promises to come to us, to walk with us, and to stick with us... even when we knock over the Christ Candle.
AMEN

Easter 4 Sermon

2008-04-14T21:38:00.000-07:00

Based on John 10:1-10

I once knew this couple from Vancouver that were thinking of getting married. They were young and, as they were getting ready to taketh plunge they had some hesitation.. actually... they had a massive amount of hesitation. You... when they sat down to think about... when they sat down and counted it turned out that they had 14 parents all counted up. This is his and hers, biological and step parents. 14 people have in different ways played the role of Mom and Dad. This couple was so in love and in so many ways didn’t want to hurt each other that they were wondering what to do next... should they take this step of marriage? There are so many voices calling them in different directions and they had seen such pain in so many lives that well... the path of marriage was one that didn’t seem to hold out too much hope for them. They didn’t know which voices to listen to.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was on clear voice that came and made all things clear at times like this? That maybe, some of these decisions could be made for us?

Well, this is the theme today. Shepherds. Shepherds in 3 acts. Act 1: Shepherds in psalms. Act 2: Cows of the Maasai Mara. Act 3: The gospel according to shepherd imagery.

We begin with Act 1: Psalm 23.
“Lo thou I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death!”

Psalm 23... do you think we have it memorized? It is the most popular psalm and even people who aren’t Jewish or Christian have heard this one.

I don’t like that painful part about the darkest valley. I don’t like the dark valley part at all because I really like that part about the still waters, green pastures. To have a shepherd leading to all the good stuff is fun to think about. I can remember many camping trips with the sun beating down, then fresh air sweeping off valleys full of flowers and life and joy and all the wonderful memories of camping. But really I think that I would rather go around those dark valleys. Avoid that swampy place where the odor is foul, the air is cold, and there is a sense of doom and foreboding. Isn’t there another way around? Couldn’t we short cut this valley part our? Isn’t there a shepherd that will take us to the good parts and avoid the hard parts altogether?

Unfortunately, this psalm is rooted in reality. There is a reality that life can be so good and so sweet, but then there is the other reality. Best summed up in a quote from the movie the Princess Bride:

“Life is pain your highness... anyone who tells you differently is trying to sell you something.”

You can’t live too long in this world and not understand a little of what this means. People will always try to sell you something that promises to take all your problems away. More to the point, people will try to sell you a set of beliefs that promise to take away all your pain.

It’s the TV evangelist that promises you marital bliss and infinite wealth if you just pay him a little money, maybe... maybe just buy his book. Just do this, just do that... and you’ll never need to enter the dark valley again. We’ve all heard the sales pitch coming from someone trying to get you to join a group - “If you just live like me, believe like me, be like me, pray like me... you won’t have any more problems.” It’s the same sales pitch offered by the recent book “The Secret”, where a system is outlined that promises a great life if you just think the right thoughts. Just put out the right energy to the universe and the universe will give it right back back to you.”

I feel bad for people who believe this because when that bad thing happens, when you didn’t have a positive thought, or when the sickness comes anyway, or the accident happens, the blame falls on your shoulders. When life is good, you’re riding high... but life won’t always be good.

These ideas are trying to sell you something... and the psalm isn’t buying it. These idea’s are trying to sell you something, but they ignore that the son of God who did things perfectly... ended up suffering, and dying.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil.

Your rod and your staff... they comfort me.

Well, now we have two sides here. On one hand, the beautiful parts of the psalm that offers peace and comfort and protection. And the in the other hand we have “Life is pain.” - and even the psalmist agrees that there are going to be dark valleys to walk through. We won’t walk it alone, but we will walk it.

We live in both worlds. We life in the world that hopes for peace and comfort and life abundantly forever, and we also live in the world where bad things happen to good people.

This is an uncomfortable paradox to live with.

This brings us to Act 2 - Cows

Right now, it is early early morning in Kenya. The sun is thinking about rising on the Maasai mara... the plains of Western Kenya are beginning to warm up. The Maasai people are beginning their day. Water is being carried, food is being prepared. Fires are being stirred. And the Maasai Men and Boys - they’re leading their cows out of the village to start a day of grazing and drinking - these are the activities of daily life on the Maasai Mara.

And tonight, after spending the day grazing, the cows are all brought into the village.
The village is made up of several different family groups, and it’s boundaries are clearly marked by the high wall of thorny branches that have been collected and piled up to surround the village. The village is made up of low roofed mud huts. The grass is cut low in and around the village so that snakes and other predators won’t be able to approach without some warning. This is good practice in a place where the cats are big enough to eat you, the odd elephant might want to come charging through your hut, or perhaps a snake could get a little closer than you would like.

My friend Salash grew up there. Living on the plains in a traditional village and moving his cows around from place to place during the day, and then bringing them into the village for the night. Our lesson speaks of a Rod and Staff to guide the sheep. The Rod was basically a thick stick to beat of the predators, and the staff was the long hooked stick that was used to guide the sheep. Salash used these... (show maccete and club)

When you live this close to your cows they know you, and you know them. With a minimal amount of marking, each family knows which cows they own, and the cows spend the day eating and walking beside their shepherds.

Salash got the imagery from the bible right away as I was talking to him about todays sermon. As Jesus spoke of being the gate, of calling to the sheep and the sheep knowing Jesus voice. To Salash, it was almost like I was describing his home.

Tonight, all the cows of the families will led into the middle of the village, penned in safe together. On a rotating shift, the Maasai take turns being the gate. The opening to the village is guarded through the long night by a rotating shift of Maasai Warriors. You do not get through without being known. They are the gate.

And in the morning, it all starts again. Each family calls for their cows and they separate themselves out and then they head out for the day. These cows know who they belong to, they know the voice that is calling to them and they follow. They follow and trust that they will be lead to places of good food and clean water.

The Maasai people... they are good shepherds. The cows know them. The cows know to follow them when they call. The cows are safe at night, protected by a living gate. The cows are lead out into the world to get food. They trust the one they know to be their Shepherd.

And this brings us to Act 3: The Gospel according to Shepherd Imagery.

I was told this week that in a congregation of 100 people, 15 people will likely have some sort of depression. That is... in this building. If we found 100 of or friends and neighbors and gathered around... 15 of us would have some sort of depression.

It’s a sobering number to say the least. It’s one that I have a hard time believing so I’ve asked many people this week and to my surprise, a lot of people thought the number should be higher... And that is just one of the many problems that face us all each week.

And we can’t escape it anywhere... even right now in this building. In this place of comfort and rest that the good shepherd has brought us to. Here in the body of Christ we have the reality of psalm 23’s whole emotional gambit - pleasant songs and good friends and family gathered. We have each heard the voice of the shepherd and gathered into this safe place... but it seems that the noise of the world, all the things that might distract us from the shepherds voice, all the hurts and pains that we endure, have followed us... right into the heart of worship here.

And you only get to stay here for an hour. The world is out there waiting for us... nothing has changed out their in this hour that we are together.

But I believe... that we are changed in this hour.

We gather and today hear and remember what the Good Shepherd has said while Jesus walked with us and talked with us in the past.

We have examined the psalm of the good shepherd who’s Rod and Staff will comfort and guide us. In many and different ways the Christ is calling us to live new lives in service to the Gospel and to others.

I have told you the story of the good Maasai shepherds who’s machete and Orinka will comfort and guide you as you are lead into the safety of the village, and out into the world to gather food and water as you grow and learn. Jesus is the good Maasai Warrior who is the gate that keeps us safe. Jesus is the good Maasai Cow Herder who leads us out into the dangerous and difficult world.

It is true that life is pain, that many voices distract us, and thieves come to steal and destroy. But it is even more true that Jesus, the good shepherd has come to lead us in life... lead us to a relationship of trust and discipleship as we go out from this place today not only to live, but to live life abundantly.

Amen.

Post 50... just a video I ripped off the web...

2008-04-11T23:42:00.000-07:00

Well... here we are at post 50. Didn't see it coming... didn't think to do something extra special... just a video of Madagascar that my friend Cory made... he's the one in the picture about the Christian that the Devil warned you about in post 49...

Isle de Madagascar on Video.ca

New Flickr uploader works

2008-03-27T07:07:00.000-07:00

...and here is the picture of Cory to prove it!

OK iphoto fans: HERE IT IS!

Once again, sitting in a historic Norwegian mission house, Cory was the most interesting thing around to take pictures of...

OHS Alert

2008-03-24T13:21:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's the back ground in nursing where we spend a LOT of time talking about self care... and back care especially.

So, Easter Sunday, lots of families, lots of extra people, and I noticed my horrible body posture for giving communion.

As the faithful are comfortably kneeling down on the step, I'm bent over trying to pour wine from a chalice into little mini communion cups.

This is where the years of video games come in handy as this is a feat of hand eye coordination. Each cup is held at approx. my knee or waist height, and they are all held at varying levels of stability. Some are firmly held in a two hand grasp, some are tenuously held in one hand - slowly moving back and forth. And some cups are appear as if they are being held by a drunken sailor on a small boat in a large maelstrom.

All this activity is happening when I notice that by back is curved forward as far as it goes and is getting sore.

Well, I'll send an email to the Bishop and see if the Occupational and Health Department can look into this...

A week...

2008-03-20T06:26:00.001-07:00

A surprise funeral meant that I needed to teach confirmation while Lynn did here prep tuesday. I also had a rehersal for a good friday monolouge that we are doing thie Friday.
Wednesday was 12 hours again running around picking up some things for the church in Saskatoon, and then off to do a service at the Mennonite Nursing home in Rosthern followed by more practice last night.
Then today is Maundy Thursday service in Rosthern plus I need a sermon for Sunday so I'll work on that this morning, take the afternoon off, and then head in for the service tonight.
Friday is just the Monologues in the evening so I'll finish the sermon tomorrow morning. What started as some readings has turned into a mini community theater project so it's good.
Saturday I'm working Home Care for the day and the evening off.
Sunday Easter.
Monday is the 7th day... and I'll rest.

Madagascar - A participants perspective in Journal, Story, and Reflection.

2008-03-18T09:51:00.000-07:00

This was written for the "Sheeves" seminary newsletter.

Reflection: Leaving my family for three weeks is not typically seen as a good idea. There is a slight resentment for having to take this trip... What I mean to say is, I've travelled. I've seen poor people... OK wait... attitude check... refocus... start again.
...
What an amazing opportunity to see a different part of the world! What a way to development my understanding of globalization! What a way to strengthen my family by bringing new insights and opportunities from my independent travel!
Visiting Madagascar is like visiting another planet. Just when you think you've seen it all, you know it all, you have less to learn than before - a whole new world opens up before you.

Journal Entry: Jan. 4th - 10:23pm Madagascar time. Hour 31 of travel.
A late take off from Paris means a late landing. Will be landing at 0005. Then we buy Visa's, then we get to sleep... hopefully. (What I didn't know was that the bus was going to break down 6 times on the way to the hotel and we wouldn't be sleeping till 0400)
The "3D" view on the little TV now shows the island of Madagascar is below us... It's now time to wait to begin the experience of meeting a thousand people for the first and likely last time. It is mid-afternoon at home so I haven't really slept well for 32 hours. The plane is descending, and the real advernture begins now.
MOOD: Flat
Energy: Tired.

Reflection: It turns out that what I thought from my other travels was South American architecture is really just the way that a city looks when it's poor. Concrete walls, unfinished buildings, glass shards stuck on top of fences for defense. The hotels we are stay in are more that adaquate, the food is different but very tasty (if you don't mind food with a face... it's like eathing very close to the food chain... and it's not uncommon to see live animals coming to the rear of the kitchen.) It all happened quick now. The days are packed with meetings of missionaries and directors and Pastors and... growing inside me... is the dream that this missionary life might be a possibility. I've spent many hours in meetings about 'development' and 'social justice' and have even been involved in some projects... but it was always so distant... and now with the pace of this study tour, with the intentional work that is put in to have us meet and hear presentations by people actually doing missionary and development work, there is a great shift in my brain. Switchs are being turned. Wheels are starting to rotate. Dreams that could be realities are starting to form. Until you see it actually working, it's just a nice theory at a nice meeting with nice people.

Journal Entry: Jan 6th 3:30AM
- Hotel Bathroom - Aaron sleeping - Why am I suddenly wide awake...?
I have no tears for the children of Madagascar. Leaving each of my kids and wife, those last hugs and kisses, resulted in an unstoppable flow of tears for each of them - emotions that shook me and left me drained. The prospect of these 23 days away left me sobbing.
Now it is 3:30am, just 3 days later, and I have no tears for the children of Madagascar.
As Diana, Amber, and I walked, we were followed by a young boy - probably 8-13 years old. Dutifully, we we were told, we each said "no" firmly once, and then ignored him. I saw pain on Diana's and Amber's faces as the boy moved in front of them and continued to plead in words we couldn't understand. I wondered if there was pain in my face but I don't think that there was...
The young boy continued to follow us as we joined another group that was going to see some famous monument. I started to drop to drop back from the group. Flemming could not follow the policy of ingnoring and so the boy was focussing his energy on him. It's killing Flemming to not be able to help this boy...
Here I took time to to reflect on money. My camera is about $500. On an island were most people make less than a dollar a day, this means it would take 500 days wage to buy this item...
What do I feel (Tom Powells CPE kicking in... he'd be so happy that I can identify emotions instead of thoughts)...
Awkward... Uncomfortable... Poweless...Afraid... Annoyed... Torn...
I feel HELPLESS because meaningful change seems impossible - I can't fix this.
MOOD - Flat
ENERGY - Flat

Reflection: What does is look like when a Canadian Mining Company drops $150,000,000 into a small coastal village in Madagascar? It looks like SUV's beside Ox and cart. Like dirt roads that merge onto freeways. Like a new high school for foreign workers children only. Like massive increase in Aids. Like job opportunities never before seen. Like the cost of living tripling in a year. Like getting paid out three years wage but being told that you are not allowed to fish where you have fished for 80 years.
QMM (The Quebec Mining company doing the word) has a beautiful and air conditioned public relations visitor centre in Fort Dauphin. It is here that we were told about how wonderful the Titanium mining will be for the economic growth of the area. It is here that we hear that it is safe for people, the environment, and the continuing prosperity of all for the world to embrace this project.
This is the quandary of international travel and interaction. To walk well fed and wealthy amongst the hungry and the poor. To be part of a system of countries that produce international companies that bring resource, wealth, and the poor into conflict and the debate takes on new urgency when you've seen it in the first person. There is no clear answers here... only more questions.

Story: Psalm 2, Transfiguration, and Bazaha Seminary
January 12th/2008. Travel from Tulear to Bazaha Seminary
I awoke to my alarm clock just as the sun was beginning to fully light up the sky. I crawled out of bed at the Hotel Victory in Tulear. Tulear is a town on the South West coast of Madagascar... the morning temperature is 30 degrees celcius, and the humidity felt that it must be near 100% again. It’s another day on the coast of Madagascar.

And this is the day that we, the participants of the seminaries cross cultural trip, are going to visit the Lutheran seminary in Bezaha. And so we board a bus that looks like it belongs in every movie about Africa you’ve ever seen. It’s rugged and steal with small patches of rust... the large industrial tires are low on tread, the seats are well worn and the door is held shut by a rope that is tied off to the metal poles that hold the interior of the bus together. It’s like a school bus on steroids. It starts with a roar and plume of smoke that does little to inspire confidence.

It’s a 3 and a half hour drive. The first 45 min go by uneventfully when suddenly we slow and turn off the highway onto a dirt road. As we start this new leg of the journey we marvel that the driver can tell where to go... and marvel still further that the word road is applied to the dirt path we are now following. It winds through the red sand and low brush, often splitting around deep ruts or large puddles, only to again join itself a few hundred meters further on. It’s like everyone gets to make there own road.

As we approach 11 am, the temperature has climbed to 40 (47 in the sun), the windows are wide open and I’ve already drank 2 liters of water but I am still thirsty. It’s a long, bumpy, ride punctuated with constant acceleration and deceleration as the driver skillfully guides this bus across the land.

It is with fatigued minds and dusty eyes that we catch first sight of the community.

President Ogilvie - our guide and president of the the seminary in Saskatoon is returning home. He used to live in this community. He was the president of this seminary in Bezaha - he is looking around... and he is worried.

The river has adjusted it’s course and there is no longer water in the rice fields which are dry barren beds... He says that the people are looking to thin. There has been famine in this area before... and these look to be lean times.

Driving through the dusty streets we finally come to the seminary itself. It is two long low buildings, made of concrete with a centre square... and as we pull up in the square... as we get off the bus and the sun beats down... the singing beginnings.

Singing in Madagascar is different than here. There is a certain... volume... an exuberance that can’t be matched by Canadian voices. And the harmonies are many and spontaneous... always there is singing in harmony.

With mounting excitement we are ushered through the singing crowd of brightly dressed seminarians and take out seats in the chapel. A worship service begins.

It’s all in Malagasy so I don’t catch the words exactly... but it’s based on the Liturgical history that we all share. They have a liturgy that is based closely on what the Norwegian missionaries brought them in the 1890’s so the feeling and flow... the images... and even some of the tunes are familiar. In this moment... we have transcended cultural difference and have become one in worship. It’s a thin space moment where the presence of God is very much felt as we are warmly embraced by our African Lutheran Brothers and Sisters.

Here is a place that I would want to build a tent and live. Despite the 47 degree heat and the shortage of food in the back of my mind... this moment is one that I would love to preserve.

This is what Psalm 2 is about! Powerfully feeling God so close. Confidently singing praise to God - no doubt - no worries - deeply confident that God is who we always hoped God would be.

And then... the announcements... there are always announcements at Malagasy services... there are no bulletins so sometimes there there are 10 mins of announcements... and other times there are an hour of announcements. Today is 10 mins and speeches of welcome and then it is our turn to give something.

We are the first group of seminarians to ever visit the Bezaha seminary. Madagascar is out of the way in terms of international flights so they don’t get many visitors - and for us to stop, to take the time to show up and receive there amazing hospitality was a gift that we mutually shared.

But we also brought some cash. My church and several others in Saskachewan were approached by some of the seminarians on the trip for a one time donation of funds to start a ‘perpetual food fund’. Colectively the students raised $2000 which the Bezaha seminary will use to buy a stockpile of food during the harvest season when it is cheap... before it’s all sold and shipped off creating shortage. So in the off season when the price can triple of quadruple, the seminary will sell to the students at the low price and replenish the $2000, while giving a good bargain to the students. It’s a gift that perpetually keeps on giving.

There was deep joy in the meeting. So far apart in the world and so different in language in culture and yet, we were connected in Christ. There was laughter and happiness and a deep experience of the Joy of Christ between us.

But the reality of life was starting to sink in too.

After lunch and some discussion, our time quickly came to an end. They had work and studies, we had a 3 and a half hour bus ride to get back to the city. They had to prepare for class and prepare to be future leaders of the church, and we all have our part as well. Our royal moment of transfiguration had passed.

We were Christ to them in visiting and in gifts we brought from Canada, they were Christ to us in hospitality and experiencing worship with us. Christ was present in our humanity.

Reflection:
It would be a book to write all the thoughts, feelings, stories and reflections that were had in Madagascar. I wish I could write that book. It will take a years to unpack some of the meaning and to understand what has changed in myself. I hope that my perception is right in thinking that they (the people of Madagascar that were so generous to us) are changed too in meeting us, in knowing that someone out there knows about them and cares enough to come and visit.

And this realization of the importance of showing up is the real thing for me. I had a hard time justifying this trip in my head. It's a long way to go and I didn't know and had a hard time seeing what the benefit would be. But if you always think in terms of inputs and outputs you'll miss the magic moments of life, where you show up tired and dusty at a seminary in Southern Madagascar - and you receive hospitality like never before - and give gifts that others cannot fathom. It's like driving an hour to visit a friend or a sick parishioner when you could have phoned or just sent cash. It is in the meeting and the handshakes and the hugs and in the dancing that meaningful interaction occurs, and lives are changed forever.

Sean Bell - LTS Student.

Glory glory glory blah blah blah...

2008-03-14T11:42:00.001-07:00

So I ran into some amazing Theology of Glory yesterday. I couldn't believe I was in a conversation with someone so clearly articulating the concept that IF YOU pray/believe/forgive THEN GOD will give you money, power, fame, sunshine etc...

You hear this theology a bit in different people longing for a good parking spot or praying for a sunny day at the beach... but there something profoundly scary about the way it was presented. After 10 mins of being talked at (and I do mean talked at... I don't think that he heard a thing that I said) I walked away with a sense that if anything bad happened the rest of the day, this man would blame my lack of prayer/belief/forgiveness and it would really be all my fault.

So... I'm sad that he's the new pastor in town because I think that he's going to be that guy that comes in with energy - attracts the energy of the community to him, and then the whole thing blows up in a judgemental mess that leaves everyone wounded and worse off than before. Then he'll leave and go do it somewhere else.

((sigh)) at least I have this picture of kids making fun of a pastor preaching...

Still running

2008-03-13T22:36:00.000-07:00

Well... I'm not Forrest Gump but I run... I'm not smart about wearing warm clothes or anything like that but I do run.

I'm also feeling extra pastoral. There was a person that I meant to talk to for a long time and have been avoiding it because of how awkward it is to start a conversation sometimes but then I did and he talked too and then it seems like hey.. maybe there is something to this whole pastor game...

The runner

2008-03-10T19:15:00.000-07:00

I am runner!
Tis time... I’m 3 years past the end of the 5 year plan to get into shape. I’m not even making promises to me anymore. But I did run today.
I’m officially a runner. I ran. I run.
It felt... ,,, pathetic.
At first I wrote painful but that isn’t true. I’m following the couch potato to 5km in 8weeks plan. This is to say... I feel like I should be able to do so much more... 60 sec’s running, 90 sec’s walking.
A forced slow start... my first goal is to not hurt myself for the first 10 weeks. By hurt I mean injure by going to hard so... a slow start.
I’ll keep ya posted

Cheese

2008-03-07T06:45:00.000-08:00

It's the spousal units B-day so I'm up and out of the bed with the kids and it's all good.

Little miss wants to have a shower so we go in the bathroom and little man stays out to watch TV.

I finish up Little miss' shower and then walk back into the living room to see young man with the happiest smile. Happy and a little mischievous...

In his left hand, an entire block of marble cheese.

In his right hand, the cheese slicer.

Man... that little man loves cheese.

Tagged

2008-03-06T08:17:00.000-08:00

Tagged

I have been tagged by the Cowboy Seminarian Erik Parker;

Here are the rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
(I skipped rule 5... no time to tag others.)

Anne Lamott "Plan B; Further thoughts on faith.

"When the problem with your kid starts up, you're really beginning at fifty-nine, but you're not moving. You're at high idle already, yet not aware of how vulnerable and disrespected you already feel. It's you child's bedtime and all you want is for him to go to sleep so you like down and stare at the TV - and it starts up."

Silence...

2008-03-06T04:39:00.001-08:00

I was so excited last night to find a Taize song that fit reading we were doing that I totally forgot to give the people the 5 mins of silence. The whole point of the service for most people is that 5 mins of collective silence and I just skipped it. I didn't notice till well later but it was too late to go back.

Then, Pastor Lynn didn't include the Lord's Prayer... another oversight.

Then the service ended and I say down. 3 min's past and nobody moved and I realized that we were in liturgical deadlock. The people didn't know it was over because they didn't have an order of service, they didn't have the silence, and they didn't say the Lord's Prayer. So... I left.

I thought that this would cue them to the fact that the service was over. Nope... 4 more mins past till the first person got up to leave...

So... in the end... they got the silence but I'll never forget the silence part again.

Taize is hard...

2008-03-04T17:53:00.001-08:00

Taize music is hard. Normally when I play guitar it's for a hymn, a liturgy, or a praise and worship song. In these cases the people have the music and for the most part will be fine if you give them the first note and guide them along.

In Taize it's different. First, your going for a meditative feel - so you can put the pick away for most songs, and forget about the power chords or strong hits... it is all about mood. Second, I'm teaching the songs by simply singing them. This means I have to come in strong and clear and confident, and then maintain that till the people catch on to what is being sung. There is no real relaxing.

All and all, it's good. If you can get to Taize in France I recommend it (theoretically... I hear it's awesome). If you can't, look up your local Roman Catholic retreat centre or something on those lines and you'll find it.

It's good to be stretched as a musician.

First Methadone Experience

2008-03-02T10:35:00.000-08:00

So I had my first Methadone experience today.

I was visiting a group home for the acquired brain injury people and according to the chart, I had 3 pills and 4.5ml's of Methadone to give.

As I approached I was greeted with mono-sylabic grunts of the resident who showed me inside. He retrieved the locked box from the back room and brought it to me. We sat down on the couch and I fiddled with the lock on the box - the key was attached to the chart that I had.

I opened the box, found the pills and handed them over. As soon as I handed the pills over, he reached out and grabbed the Methadone and washed the pills down. Before I could say anything he drank the whole bottle... just chugged it all down... then he showed me to the door.

AAAGGH! My brain cried... I don't think that I handled that well.

I drove a block a way and called my supervisor only to find out that it's all good... the bottle is dosed and he's supposed to take the whole bottle. Man, what a relief. I don't know what that would mean to down a whole bottle but... we're all in the clear.

It's been a crazy couple days...

Darwin Awards

2008-03-01T18:44:00.000-08:00

So I missed my shot at fame and fortune the other day by not running myself over with the car.

I was doing taxes on my brother in-law's computer and when I rushed out the house and jumped into the car I found that it would not start. Didn’t even turn over. All the lights were on but nothing was firing.

This is not new for my car. All summer long when the temperature climbed above 25 a similar thing would happen so I was not shocked or dismayed, but this was the first time in months that this had happened - and I was in a hurry too. I popped the hood and then reached into the glove box for the little red wire that I use to hot wire the car.

I quickly got in front of the car and lifted the hood. I could see the two points that I needed to connect (the red battery post, and the exposed connection point just before the starter). With my objective in easy reach, I balanced the hood open with my head and pushed the wire onto the two points of contact.

Here is note for you mechanics... I imagine you thought that the system was 'fool' proof when you made it so the car wouldn't start while it was in drive. Well... this fool just found a way around your little 'safety' device.

With a satisfying roar, the starter turned over and the engine came to life... then the car bumped into me. As I was pushed back, the hood slammed shut and the car kept on coming. I was reminded of the old “Herby the love bug” movies and wondered briefly if my carr was trying to communicate with me... perhaps some loving message of ‘let’s go, we’re in a hurry’. But as I leaped to the side and the car started to pass me - I could see that his more like a Stephen King novel than a Disney.

I dodged around the door and leapt into the driver side as the high idle of the car continued to propel the car forward towards the parked car innocently sitting ahead. I applied the brakes and awarded myself the medal of Bravery for saving that other parked car, my car, and myself. It was a good thing I was there... someone could have got hurt.

Taxes are dangerous...

I thought that perhaps I was the biggest idiot in the world for this, and then I talked to my Sister in-law who works on the Ortho-Trauma unit at the hospital. Turns out lots of people have run themselves over in the past. In fact, they once had a room of 4 people who had all run themselves over so... I guess this doesn’t even get me into the honorable mention category for the Darwin’s...

Next Stop, Antarctica.

2008-02-28T08:44:00.000-08:00

I love this photo for the lines and have entered it in an art display at the seminary... I just like it...

2008-02-28T08:28:00.000-08:00

I miss my hair...

We're off on an African Adventure

2008-01-02T05:36:00.001-08:00

Last day before the trip...
24 hours from now I'll be almost in Winnipeg for our first stop. I wish that it was more like the amazing race that seems so exciting, and less like reality which seems like the kink in my neck is only going to get worse while we do some waiting.

The goodnews for me is that for some strange reason I actually like the process of waiting and be shifted around international airports. I like that feeling of being so exhausted I can hardly lift my eyes to look at how weary all the other people around me are. So... the best part for me is likely the worst part for others... maybe I could borrow some Ativan or something...

The good news is that there seems to be lots of internet companies in Madagascar so I'm guessing that cafes that provide this will be plentiful. I'm hoping to send 'youtubes' from madagascar as well as upload to flickr when possible.

My Flikr address is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18991826@N06/2157645130/
This is a picture anyway... just search for mailseanbell on flickr and it should should up.

As always I finish now thinking that I should say something profound which I haven't really thought of but it's time to get packing and if I don't just start typing then I'll never put anything out... so... talk to yall on the youtube.

sean

We're off on an African Adventure

2008-01-02T05:36:00.000-08:00

Last day before the trip...
24 hours from now I'll be almost in Winnipeg for our first stop. I wish that it was more like the amazing race that seems so exciting, and less like reality which seems like the kink in my neck is only going to get worse while we do some waiting.

The goodnews for me is that for some strange reason I actually like the process of waiting and be shifted around international airports. I like that feeling of being so exhausted I can hardly lift my eyes to look at how weary all the other people around me are. So... the best part for me is likely the worst part for others... maybe I could borrow some Ativan or something...

The good news is that there seems to be lots of internet companies in Madagascar so I'm guessing that cafe's that provide this will be plentiful. I'm hoping to send 'youtubes' from madagascar as well as upload to flickr when possible.

My Flikr address is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18991826@N06/2157645130/
This is a picture anyway... just search for mailseanbell on flickr and it should should up.

As always I finish now thinking that I should say something profound which I haven't really thought of but it's time to get packing and if I don't just start typing then I'll never put anything out... so... talk to yall on the youtube.

sean

Funerals and Flat tires

2007-11-08T05:02:00.000-08:00

The message that I left for my wife had only a little sarcasm in it as I called from the coop gas station to thank her for leaving me a flat tire on the car. In a cliche sort of way I was late for a funeral and was happy to dispay my mechanical prowess in removing the tire and applying the spare in under 5 min. (while wearing a clergy coller no less and trying not to get dirty). Thank God for old cars with full size spares. The big challenge will now be to remember to actually get that other tire fixed before the next flat. All was well, and I was able to deliver this sermon;

John 11:17-26 - 17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, 19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. 21Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ 23Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ 24Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ 25Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’
Let us pray:
Lord God, give us faith and trust to hear your calling to relationship now, and to the resurrection of ever lasting life. A calling to not fear, for you have redeemed us - you have called us by name - and we are yours - Give us faith and trust to know that we will be reunited with our loved ones. Help us to hear and believe this because you are the Holy one - our saviour. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Promises and callings.

In the Isaiah verse we read today, we hear the prophet Isaiah bringing Words of comfort and relief to the troubled people of Israel. The nation of Israel had been conquered - the people taken off in slavery - and God, and the voice of God had not been heard in a long long time. Doubt has taken root -

Perhaps God doesn’t have the power to save us? Perhaps God doesn’t want to use the power save us?

And now the voice of Isaiah the prophet rings out. Despite all appearances to the opposite, God is a powerful God, and God is moving to rescue them from their distress. God is sending a strong message to the people - I am your God - I will not leave you.

They were a people that were living in doubt - they were a people living in oppression and fear with the shadow of death hanging over top of them. And now finally, after such a long season of death and pain, they were again hearing the call of God, a call to return to relationship with God, to return to the joy of living.
They have a calling on their lives - to believe that God does have the power to rescue them - and further, God has the will to do it - God has put a calling on their lives - a call to be in relationship and show the world just what a nation could be.

---

For us,---Today, is a day where we are gathered in mourning and thanksgiving. Gathered here, I encourage you to express your sorrow, your pain, and mixed in with all that, share your thanks and joy for the life Sylvia lived. For today is a day of morning our loss, but we do not mourn without hope.

Jesus said in today’s gospel verse “Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

And here we join the people in Isaiah’s story --- there is a lot of pain in life right now - and there are many questions that need to be answered - so I think we DO want to believe ... but doubt remains. Could this new life be true? Does God have the will to make it happen?

Today is a day where questions like “Why death?” “Why Cancer?” “Why does it have to be this way?” bounce around in our heads. So when Jesus asks “Do you believe this?” it is a very loaded question that we cannot simply answer.

In the midst of these difficult questions, I encourage you to remember the life of Sylvia. From that little girl who became the church organist in that small Manitoba congregation at the age of 6, to the hard working - cancer ridden person that lived a life in relationship to God and her community. In her life of ups and downs, the voice of God was clear and not so clear at times. Life was good and not so good at times.

Some of the big questions cannot be answered - but we can look to what God has done, and is doing - let us listen to what God is calling out.

We gather to grieve and mourn the death of Sylvia, we also celebrate and give thanks for her life, and give thanks for all the love and care that she gave to family and friends, for the ways in which she touched lives and for the ways that she will be remembered.

And We can also give thanks to God for the promise that we are never alone. We give thanks that God too knows our grief and sorrow in loosing a loved one. We give thanks that God cares for our loved ones that have died and that to whom God has promised, both them and us, New Life.

A New Life where our doubt and difficult questions will turn into joyous clarity and restored relationships, where loved ones shall be reunited and where we can live in joy, peace and celebration.

We give thanks that no matter what, God loves and cares for us and that death is not the end of our living. And finally we give thanks that with God those of us who must keep on living, when a loved one has died, will know that we are not alone and that soon… the light of God’s promise’s will again be clear and the doubt will be washed away. Death and doubt do not have the final word today. It is God who gives us faith to believe - faith to trust that he can give us - and has the to will be with us - in life everlasting. Amen.

Eucharistic Theology Quiz

2007-11-03T20:40:00.001-07:00

Eucharistic theology
created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Luther

You are Martin Luther. You'll stick with the words of Scripture, and defend this with earthy expressions. You believe this is a necessary consequence of an orthodox Christology. You believe that the bread and wine are the Body and Blood of Christ, but aren't too sure about where he goes after the meal, and so you don't accept reservation of the Blessed Sacrament or Eucharistic devotions.

Luther

100%

Orthodox

75%

Calvin

25%

Catholic

25%

Zwingli

25%

Unitarian

2007-09-25T09:20:00.002-07:00

Well, it's been a month now... and not much has changed...

Maybe the other ordination will mean more...

What does the 'O' stand for?

2007-09-06T03:28:00.000-07:00

Well, it's 0420 in the morning. What does the O stand for? Oh my God it's early.

But then, this is how memories are made. A rag tage group of young seminarians heading out into the world on bikes that are not sea worthy but maybe just good enough to get us to Sha ka ka the retreat centre (or shekina or somthing but I always thinkg of Ace Ventura 2 when I hear the name.

At any rate I will end with a quote... "Oh death, where is your sting?" I'll let you know when I finish the ride.

sean

Hospitality

2007-09-02T21:05:00.001-07:00

Luke 14:1-14
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.
7When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. 8“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; 9and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. 10But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. 11For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 12He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

SERMON

Your company is more that repayment enough.
At the end of a successful dinner party, this is a common enough thing to hear. The departing guests seem to find it necessary to make some gesture of thanks by saying that it was great - and we’ll repay you. It seems that we have a hard time just receiving a gift - like a getting a tow when you are stranded on the side of the road, like eating an amazing meal prepared by a friend, like accepting ride into town, like getting an extra calf that is a twin from a neighboring farmer to replace your loss - it’s hard to receive these things without making some sort of move towards “I’ll pay you back.” There is a certain poverty of humility and hospitality that we experience when we lose the ability to just receive a gift.
In the musical RENT there is a song “I’ll cover you” where Collins - the down on his luck unemployed philosopher is invited by Angel, the street performer to come and live in her house. Collins starts off the musical by being mugged and we are left with the impression that he has nothing left in the world - Angel who normally doesn’t have much in the way of resources has just caught a windfall of money and so is in a place to offer much to her community.
I'll Cover You
Angel:
Live in my house,
I'll be your shelter
Just pay me back,
With one thousand kisses
Be my lover,
And I'll cover you

In short... Your company is more than repayment enough.

Collins
Open your door,
I'll be your tenant,
Don't got much baggage to lay at your feet
But sweet kisses I've got to spare
I'll be there,
And I'll cover you
It’s pretty raw and real illustration of passion - the excitement of young lovers with 1000's of sweet kisses to toss around - and it's the life of street people who are living from hand to mouth - who rely on their wit on the street to keep food coming in. It’s the kind of passion that we read about mostly in the song of solomon - where the lovers put aside all pretense and rules and customs and write the poetry of their hearts.
This example of love is not perfect... nor is it a perfect example of hospitality. It’s not a perfect example of love because the love of these two imperfect people is a blinding passion that does eventually turn to pain as Angel dies later in the show... it is so imperfect in so many ways. - they start as broken people, and this love erupts like a volcano into their lives. And it is in all it’s imperfection that it’s the perfect example of hospitality - two broken people meeting at a point of love and passion where one freely gives to the other who cannot ever repay - and what is more, he makes no pretend offer of one day making it up.
And for my part, I fight against the notion that ‘my company is repayment enough.’ And perhaps this is humility gone wrong - don’t we hear the message enough that we are not good enough - that we are not lovable - that our company isn’t worth that much - we’re unworthy. Don’t we all feel the need to balance the money end of things and make sure that it’s even. Isn’t that awkward, to feel we are in the debt of someone else.
Collins in RENT is reluctant to take the offer but at the end of the love song he finally agrees to accept the offer.
To accept the offer... he has no money of material wealth to offer back and yet - we hear it in Angels response: Your company is more than repayment enough.
---
I have been a witness to something amazing this last week. A few weeks ago Pastor Lynn got the call from a woman who was looking for some help with a grave side memorial service. There is a connection to the Lutheran church so she called here and - I arrived at the Rosthern Cemetary at 1pm last Wednesday and there were was the grave, there were the two boxes, the ashes of the loved ones.
The service began with a time of sharing a few memories and there were some good ones. Stories of a spoiled dog and hockey games played, cars that were owned. Of course there is no way to sum up a whole life but these memories were offered to the small group of mourners who sat in confused emotion - all the emotions that well up at a funeral, with the memories of loved ones. Then we had a brief service with prayers and official goodbyes.
After the service, we were hosted at the church. Hospitality in the biblical sense which is to say, love for the stranger. Hospitality to those who pay or reciprocate is more of the industry definition - like a hospitality sweet. Biblically we speak of hospitality as love for the stranger - giving with no expectation of return- with no possibility of return.
And so these folks were strangers... a group of people who needed a place to mourn - a place to say good-bye to cherished family members.
But this is the Word for us today. Our church, us, are the instruments of God.
And God uses us to extend hospitality - love for the stranger - hospitality as we go about the business of trying to be church in mission to our neighbors and others.
I did not go out and do the graveside memorial because I was hoping there would be a bonus in it for me - I went because I’m called to this office of ministry - called to extend the formal office of this ministry in Word and sacrament... the people needed the Word that day - they needed the formal structure that is offered by a service to facilitate a goodbye to loved ones - they needed a space to mourn this passing.
And the church - those who served that day and made ready this building did not make food and open the doors because they needed to pretend to be a catering company for a day - the church is not in the business of trying to profit ourselves off the needs of the community. The building doors were opened and food and drink were set out because we are a church people that uses our space to extend hospitality - love for the stranger - in whatever way we can think up to serve - in whatever way we are called to serve.
Hospitality is inviting those who have no chance of repaying you to supper- it’s meeting the needs of others because they have needs that need filling and you have the means to make it happen. Jesus uses his classic list of people he came to serve, and people that we too need to see and look out for - the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind - these are the outcasts in Jesus day.
And this is the homework for this week. Make a list and figure out who are the outcasts in our community. Who is the person that could really use a meal invite and some love and acceptance? If you figure it out, tell each other what you’re doing and who you see. Seek out these people and really find out what makes them tick. You’ll be surprised that in all of the human imperfection of the world, you’ll find God in everyone as you really get to know them. It’s an amazing blessing to go to someone, and discover how God is already their - already at work in their lives.
In as much as this is a good idea to forward the Kingdom of God - and in as much as Jesus relates to us the Wisdom of Solomon in how to be a good dinner guest, and how to not embarrass yourself by selecting a seat that is too good for yourself, today we also get a glimpse of how God orders the kingdom.
When you host the people who have no chance of paying you back, or when you donate or lend a hand to any cause that helps the poor, the crippled, the lame, or the blind you are blessed, because they cannot repay you, and you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous - you are participating in the breaking in of the Kingdom of God.
And most importantly hear this - all that comes before hinges upon...
It is the hospitality of God that draws us in, makes us friends instead of strangers... Makes us a church acting as the body of Christ. And you cannot repay God for this hospitality - none of us can. If love and acceptance - If Amazing Grace is for any of us, it if for all of us... None can repay... and yet... all receive the invitation to the feast that God prepares. All are invited to the Kingdom, all we can do is lay down our baggage and receive. The mutual embrace of 1000 sweet kisses.
Praise and thanks to God for giving hospitality to us, for hosting us at his table, and for giving us opportunity to live out hospitality as the Kingdom unfolds all around us. AMEN

BUSTED!!!

2007-09-01T22:25:00.000-07:00

Ah HA!!!

Imagine my surprise to be driving along during my home care shift... driving along and then seeing a tandem bike cross the street a few blocks up. I gave chase. And sitting outside of the Petro Canada at Market Mall was MY BIKE!

So I drove up, 3 bikes, one guard, and my bike. I manuvered around and pretended to be reading while sizing up the situation... I mean really? What was I going to do?

I though about Walter in the Big Lebowski... I mean this this is about drawing a line in the sand! Across this line you do ont cross!... What's mine is mine...

Then I thought, I just got my fake ordination to be Priest of Dudism... what would the Dude do? I mean, we're getting out of this thing cheap man...

And then I thought again.... what do I really hope will happen? I'll get the bike back and they'll forget where I live and it'll go back not being fixed and taking up space for a few years while I ride it twice a year and dream about what it could be.

The others came out of the store. 4 in total. 15-16 years old except the little one.. he looks 8. They are dressed in hip hop but not in the clean sense - they are a little too dirty to be wannabe suburb type rich kids. The get on the bikes and leave.

I follow... not too close... they turn down and alley... I part behind a dumpster and watch... They are eating on the grass half way up the alley... I can see my bike there but they are just sitting there (*probably stole the food too).

It's go time...

I put the car into drive and creep up the alley... I could run the bike over with little risk to life and limb and take my revenge... and then instead I drive by and don't look back.

It's called playing the pot odds in texas hold'em... if there was enough money in the pot I might risk a long shot but I don't really want the bike back. They've gone all in and I haven't seen the flop yet so ya know what?... keep my small blind.

I'll get another bike if I really want one.

Fair thee well sweet 'diggs' the bike. At least you are bring ridden now...

There is probably somthing profound about forgiveness and turning the other cheek and not getting stabbed for a $10 bike in here... I wonder what it is?

Leads man?...

2007-08-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

So I didn't call the cops on the bike thing... I guess if you havn't been at least stabbed well you shouldn't bother calling them...

So... we went to the farmers market...

And LAB (Lo and Behold) I found the brake cable off the bike... Yes, the home job bike that had the home job splice on the comepletly siezed brake... so... what can I do now?

No I wait.... and when I see my bike downtown... I'm going to run it over... it's my bike! I can do what I want...

Camry is hungry...

They peed on my rug...

2007-08-24T20:09:00.000-07:00

Well... in a non literal way they peed on my rug. Actually they just stole my bike... I don't know if I would have been more upset if it was my real bike, or Erik's bike, or maybe even Anno's bike.... these things would have been annoying but no...

They took my tandem bike... my piece of crap yet to be fixed barely drivable bike that really was a long way from anything and had nothing but potential... and this is mourning... the potential is gone. A regular bike, or a good bike even is predictable... who knows what could have happened on this tandem bike? Who knows what it could have become...

Well, all I can hope for now is that it's dead in the river valley, starting to rust. Rust from the moisture of the blood and guts of the guy that was impaled because the breaks didn't work and after steeling it he went off the road and smashed in a tree and bled lots... and lots...

...

and lots.

Jerk.

Sermon on the Rules

2007-06-17T15:17:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to Matt G. for the dinner party imagery in this sermon. Check his sermon here:

2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:10
Psalm 32
Galatians 2:15-21
Luke 7:36 - 8:3

I like rules. I can understand rules. I can predict rules. Rules make my life safe - I can go whole days without hurting other people because in many situations it is quiet clear what is expected of me. Rules - and playing by the rules, seems to be a safe way for a Canadian to live in the world.
Our own rules around the dinner table are deeply ingrained into us from birth. Don’t chew with your mouth open. Don’t talk with your mouth full. My friends favorite, “Don’t put your elbows on the table this is not a horsey stable.” All of these rules have a good reason for existing, and it would be hard to imagine life without them. Rules have a stabilizing effect, they are predictable, but can also prevent the right thing from being done.
Simon is having an uncomfortable moments where the rules of proper conduct and proper order are being broken… well, shattered really - he’s having a nice dinner party, and right in the middle of his nice dinner party, this sinning woman enters into his party and she breaking all the rules. She is a woman who has let her hair down like a prostitute, and we’re told she’s somehow obviously unclean as she is spotted as untouchable right away - and in touching Jesus she is making him unclean and the whole party is being ruined - ruined by this filthy sinner! Jesus, the guest of honor is being touched and molested by this outcast - this nobody. What are Simon’s guests going to think? Why can’t this annoying woman leave them alone to have a nice meal in peace?
_____
“Uriah the Hittite is Dead.” These words come to King David’s ears with such a mix of pain, joy, and relief. Pain because deep down he knows that he has had this man killed unjustly - knows that this was a good and honest man who David had to have killed to protect his own dirty little secrets. There was no other way to cover the truth.
But David also feels Joy, because David has gotten away with murder. Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife, is pregnant with David’s child - the product of David’s selfish pleasure and amusement. Uriah had to be killed because David has committed Adultery, Bathsheba is pregnant, and if Uriah is now dead, there is no one to accuse David… maybe the child did belong to Uriah? Who knows? Who will question the king? - joyfully he has gotten away with murder and he gets to keep the girl - she becomes one of his many wives - what a hero.
David feels Relief - David is relieved because he thinks this whole mess is over. He is a King and looking back we can see that this is the point in his career where he turns the corner away from being the rising star anointed wonder boy king of Israel - It is here that we quickly forget that it is this David who defeats lions and bears and Goliath with just rocks and a sling, we forget that it is this David that God chose to be King of Israel. It is this David who played that harp and wrote so many of our psalms.
We now remember him as the man who committed adultery, and has lied and killed to cover it up. He feels above the law. Rules mean nothing to him anymore.

Lets take a moment to think about this ‘sinner’ woman who is kissing Jesus feet. Who do you see? The art work of the church has tended to portray her as a young harlot type of woman, one who has let her hair down and is looking like the kind of deceitful person who is easy to look down on. But this assumption needs to be challenged.
Simon took one look at her and in disgust and quick judgement he labels her a sinner. I’m thinking that perhaps she wasn’t the cocky young beautiful harlot that she is sometimes made out to be. I’m thinking that perhaps she was not that nice to look at. I’m thinking that perhaps she is a quiet, and broken woman - one of those broken people who are hard to be around because you can tell just how much they are suffering. I think she is one of those people you pass on the street who is hard to make eye contact with. One of those people who are a little scary - one of those people you assume is going to ask you for money and that will be awkward.
This woman (whose name we don’t learn in this story) wears her pain and suffering visible - and she is unacceptable. Simon, embarrassed, starts to look for ways to remove this woman from his nice Party. Her mere presence causes discomfort in the guests as the toxic pain that fills her life pours out onto everyone in the room. In his head, Simon is righteously trying to figure out how Jesus can let this woman touch him. For the sake of his dinner party, Simon’s looking for a reason to get her out.
Rules go far beyond our dinner table. There are many sets of rules that govern our actions in every area of our lives. For the most part, these rules are comfortable (which is why we Canadians claim to be some of the happiest people on earth - we’re mostly well fed and mostly happy and have mostly justified our place in the world, we are satisfied… for the the most part.) We’ve looked at the rules of life and figured out how to play them so we can mostly feel happy and think we’re safe safe and attempt to live in comfort.
Which feels good… sort-of… We feel alright… except for the discomfort we feel when the TV shows us how much more we have than the majority of the world.
We feel alright except for the discomfort we feel when the many justice oriented non-profit groups show us where we are actually contributing to the poverty of others through the clothes and food we buy, were we invest our money, how much energy and resources we consume.
We’re feeling alright, except for that discomfort we feel when the suffering is happening to someone very close to us.
We’re feeling alright here, except for those few awkward moments when our Garden parties are ruined by people who don’t live by the rules, who look different, who smell different - you know who I mean - the sinners. All these exceptions grate against the rules of life, and like Simon’s dinner party with a crying sinful woman in the middle of it, we are made uncomfortable by the injustice we know we live in.
King David has three pivotal moments in this phase of his life. The first moment is when Bathsheba returns to him - returns to the man who ordered her to his bedroom - and says two just little words, “I’m Pregnant.” This sends a panicked David down a road of lies and murder - This leads to the second pivotal moment as the prophet Nathan tells the parable of the man with one little sheep who is taken by the powerful man. David judges rightly and justly condemns the thieving rich man. “You are the man!” Nathan boldly throws in his face. Nathan’s words show clearly that whatever justification David has used to act the way he has - God does not agree. What David thought was done in secret, is not a secret to Yahweh. The God who drew near to David to give him an anointing with oil, to proclaim him King, who has guided him to victory over Goliath - all the way to the throne, is now on the move - God knows and sees what has happened and God knows the rules have been broken. David is broken. Davids last pivital moment is admitting that he has sinned - repentant, he falls to the ground begging for forgiveness. He has moved from a King who thinks himself to be above the law - to again being a servant of the Lord. He is no longer trying to be God in God’s place. He has been reminded of who God is, and humbly he begs for forgiveness.

God speaks through the prophet Nathan and the rules are restore. There are really two sets of rules here. First there are the rules that we all know and have established as cultural norms and laws.
The Second set of rules is God’s rule of love. Jesus, when asked what was the greatest commandment said “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and soul. And Love your Neighbor.” David fails on both counts - regular laws and the God’s rule of Love.
Simons ruined Dinner Party is about to become more awkward as Simon is thinking rapidly of something to do to fix this uncomfortable situation - he wants to hold on to the rules that say that some people are welcome and some people are not.
And in the midst of this socially awkward situation, Jesus suddenly breaks even more rules. He admits that he knows that this woman is unclean and a sinner. He admits that he knows that she has many sins - but he does it by stating that all her sins have been forgiven - her faith - the faith that was a gift from God to trust that Jesus could in fact forgive her - the faith that emboldened her to trust God has saved her - now, at this moment, her faith is a fountain of life - she is made whole and complete by the lavish love of Jesus saturating her fully and completely. God’s rule of love trumps all the rules of exclusion - God’s love trumps the rules of the dinner party, and this woman celebrates her inclusion by lavishing praise and kisses all that is in her power back onto Jesus.
The discomfort we feel around the rules we live by is the grinding clash of the rules that govern our lives, and God’s rule of love.
This friction between the rules is where we will live our lives. The world will pull one way, love will pull another. David gets a dose of God’s Justice and returns to a love relationship with God as God and himself as human. Simon’s dinner party goes from being socially awkward, to a firm lesson in God’s rule breaking love, They all taste what it is to come into contact with the God who is on the move, breaking down walls of injustice so that healing and forgiveness and love can be fully expressed by all and to all.
So here we are… lavishly washed in the waters of baptism. Invited as friends to the Lords table to join intimately as family around that table. Empowered by the Spirit to stand up for love and challenged to let go of judgement. God’s rule of love - so different from our rules is the uninhibited relationship of acceptance and peace which sets us free - free to love God, free to love others, free to love, even when it means breaking the rules.

AMEN

Mechanical Goodness...

2007-06-04T12:18:00.000-07:00

The car just quit... then I boosted it and got over to a mechanical place - the battery was dead. Replaced that ($120). Then the charge light came on. This = alternator so... went to NAPA and got one of them... didn't fit... took it back ($250 saving) and went to an auto wrecker and bought one one there ($85). And now... it works!!!! How exciting to take the dremel and grind the rust off all the contact points - to spray the contact cleaner - to be dirty!!!

So...
Battery $210
Alternator $85
Sense of Mechanical Godness! PRICELESS...

Awesome!

Lark News Article

2007-05-26T00:05:00.000-07:00

Not real news... it's a Lark... (get it now?)

Had to post this...

ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Frank Harrison, a lifelong Lutheran, began attending a charismatic church last month and now has his family worried.
"He’s scaring the wits out of us," says his mother. "All this praying he’s doing and the crazy talk about healing and spiritual warfare. He’s de-stabilizing the family."
Frank says he decided to change churches when he sat through an entire Lutheran service one Saturday evening before realizing it was a funeral service.
Out of curiosity he went to the liveliest charismatic church in town "to see the other extreme," he says. He loved it and now he greets people with "Praise the Lord!" and a big hug. He’s at church three times a week.
But his relatives became concerned when he invited them to an all-night Prayer-athon, participated in a Jericho March around the city and tried to lay hands on and heal several people at a recent family picnic. The family met recently to discuss Frank’s "disturbing religious fervor" and to plan an intervention.
"One day he was normal Frank, my fishing buddy, and then, bam, he was in this nutso church, speaking in tongues, fasting all the time and reading his Bible," says a cousin. "It's unnatural."
The family intends to tell Frank they are gathering for prayer, so they know he’ll come, and then they will spring their true purpose on him. They have hired an intervention expert for the occasion.
"We want the old Frank back," says his mother. "It feels good to be rescuing him."

The line where he sat through the whole service without realizing it was a funeral made me laugh out loud... (and then cry a little) and then right back to laughing. People! .. A little effort in the Liturgy please. This is only funny because it's true (and I'm back to crying...)

Today's Sermon

2007-05-13T14:34:00.000-07:00

Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5
21:10 And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.
21:22 I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.
21:23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
21:24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.
21:25 Its gates will never be shut by day--and there will be no night there.
21:26 People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.
21:27 But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
22:2 through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
22:3 Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him;
22:4 they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
22:5 And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
John 14:23-29
14:23 Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
14:24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.
14:25 "I have said these things to you while I am still with you.
14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.
14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
14:28 You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.
14:29 And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.

Let’s look at the Revelation text again. John gives us a wonderful vision. He writes; I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honour of the nations.

I don’t know about you but -
I wanna live there!

A place where God so present and available and tangible that there is no temple - no need for a church - no need for a set worship time - Just bang - God - Right there - all the time - tangible.

I wanna live there!

A place where the brilliance of God is so bright that there is no need for a sun, or a moon. Everything is so clear… so right there.

I wanna live there!

The doors are unlocked - there is no fear of terrorism, there is no fear of thieves, there is no fear of death or murder or all the things that drive us to lock our doors - to hide from each other - a place of perfect trust.

I wanna live there.

But one thing… nothing unclean will enter it.
Nobody who does or even thinks the wrong thing. Nobody who isn’t perfect.
It’s a perfect place - and only perfect people can be there. The rest of us would just mess it up.

I have a sense that I don’t qualify. There was a moment when I was 18 where I was perfect and everything made sense - but the more I live in the world, the more I learn about myself and God - the more I realize that I’m a sinner - I’m not not nice to others sometimes - I’m not nice to myself sometimes. - I speak without thinking and cause harm - as I grow and learn about God and my own sinfullness I’m always surprised just how much more learning there is to do.

I separate myself from God and other people by what I do and with what I do not do. I suspect that I don’t qualify for this vision that John is putting forward.

But lets borrow John’s eyes for a second.

Will make our own revelation right here this morning. The Revelation of Sean - Chapter 1:
“I saw the holy city, the new (Rosthern/Hague) coming down out of Heaven.” There was better road access and the streets never flooded.

This would be a place where there is no more:
-Hurting each other with our words.
-No more lack of money for farmers or anyone.
-No need to leave and move to the city as you age.
- No more political parties and ideologies slinging mud back and forth.
-No need to judge each other for how we’re living - or what we’re doing.
- No death - No taxes - No sermons with morality lessons.

This new (Hague/Rosthern) would be a place where:
- Everyone would talk to everyone regardless of race, colour, religious heritage.
- There are no more churches - just one common meeting space where we gather --- and the light and love of God that would be so tangible and all around us would be lived out. We would all preach the gospel to each other without using words.
- We would see that each of us is a marvelous creation of God - full of gifts and blessings.
- We would understand the deep love that we have for each other - and express it fully without all the misunderstandings and mistakes - past and present - getting in the way.
- This would be a place where all sons and daughters could understand just how much their mothers love them. And mothers would be honored on Mothers day with more that commerciallized cards and nice sentiments - the true connection and love and bond of family could be lived and felt fully.

Oh I tell you, wanna live Here!

But there is one problem… This perfect vision could only be populated by perfect people.

I get the sense that we don’t quite measure up to this perfect standard that this vision is calling for… This would be a perfect place, and only perfect people could be here. We don’t have to think to hard to find places where we aren’t so nice sometimes - Where we use words to hurt others - Where we have been hurt by others - We separate ourselves from God and each other by what we do and with what we do not do.

…

Jesus words in 14:23 convict us further, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.:

It would be very dangerous to stop reading here. Because right now there are about 40 wars happening people trying to establish different people’s opinions of what a perfect world would be.

And it is here that we would be tempted to rise up and create a perfect church - perfect society - make rules and laws that ensure that people are nice - sterilize all human interactions to the point where we are not allowed to offend one another - to pull into ourselves as a small group - select who will be in our holy ‘in group’ and exclude and drive away those who don’t conform. History is full of such attempts. It is the way of the Kingdom of this world. Peace through rules. Peace through enforced silence, Peace through fear. If we have enough money and power, we can shock and awe the world into a submissive peace.

From small Communities with restrictive orders, to whole religious traditions that try to control their members to the point where no one measures and hypocrisy is the message that is expressed so much louder than love, to the Great Empires of Jesus day and ours. This the Kingdom of this world at work.

In Jesus day, When the Roman Emperor would roll into town, there was always a great celebration - debts were going to be forgiven - gifts given - order was going to be firmly established - criminals and all who didn’t conform would be punished or killed or sent away - and an eery, silent, peace would hang in the air. Stern horrific order is established. This Peace of Rome was the uncomfortable peace of a funeral.

So we must not stop here and think that we can come up with this utopia all by ourselves. This is not the peace that surpasses all understanding that is in Christ Jesus.

Jesus promises us a Spirit - sent by the Father - who dwells with us and reminds us of all that Jesus has said. This Spirit that Broods over all of creation like a mother hen broods over her nest. Like all Mothers, the Spirit has love hopes and dreams and gifts to give. Working inside the church with us, and most shockingly, outside of the church without us. The creator of the whole universe is not content with a partial salvation of creation. Can a mother forget her children? God has a deep longing to be intimately connected to all creation.

So when the Kingdom of Earth says “Cast that person away - they aren’t worth it.

The Spirit reminds us that Jesus draws water from the well and gives it to outcast woman.

When the Kingdom of Earth says “Never again talk to that person who hates you.”

The Spirit reminds us that Jesus says return love for hate.

When the Kingdom of earth says “You are not worth it. You are shameful. You are broken. You don’t measure up. You should just leave.

The Spirit reminds us that Jesus says “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.”

God is always working the Kingdom of Heaven around us - Arch Bishop Oscar Romero wrote that

This is what we are about: We plant the seeds that will one day grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.

We are always invited to participate in the unfolding Kingdom of God - to participate in the forgiveness of self and others - to participate in the sharing of the gifts that God has given to us - to participate in not just life, but life abundantly in relation with our creator - we are never outside of the Kingdoms reach - The call of Jesus then and the call of Jesus today is to live! The Kingdom of God springing up all around us. Rise and let us be on our way.

AMEN

How long should a sermon be?

2007-05-12T13:26:00.000-07:00

Length of a Sermon

How long should a good sermon be? It should be like a woman's skirt, long enough to cover the essentials and short enough to keep you interested!

A poem that helped inspire be for my sermon this week.

2007-05-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think that it would be better to simply take some of the best writtings we can find and present that as the sermon for any given day but... nice to keep it fresh. I liked this one...

Prophets of a Future Not Our Own
—Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero of El Salvador (1917-1980)
It helps now and then to step back and take a long view. The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a small fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work. Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession brings perfection. No pastoral visit brings wholeness. No program accomplishes the Church’s mission. No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
This is what we are about: We plant the seeds that will one day grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something, and to do it well. It may be incomplete but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own. AMEN.

I for one love an Arch Bishop that has the balls to stand up to the world and be a true prophetic voice of the church.

If it Bleeds, It leads.

2007-04-21T22:25:00.000-07:00

The Tulips are up…
Long shoots of green life streaking out of the ground that was just a few short weeks ago buried in 2 feet of snow.

Then there will be the bud. And the petal by petal the bud will open and at some moment we are going to call this bud a flower.

Amazing isn’t it. This life that was hidden - lying dormant under snow has now been called up by the warmth of the day… by the sun-shining down… by the nutrients that are found in something amazing that we call dirt. Who knew that dirt could bring forth such a miracle of life? The ebb and flow of the seasons is truly an amazing part of this world.

Try to hold onto that image of the new life springing forth while I now make a quick turn to talk about TV...

It is a common expression to say that on TV and Newspaper, that...

If it bleeds, it leads.

This is an expression used in many different movies and media to talk about how it is the violent image that is going to sell news papers - get viewers.

It if bleeds, it leads.

Would this be an accurate analysis of the news that is presented to us daily? And why not? Violence has a way of taking the center stage in any situation. The violent moment is shocking and catches your attention. Violence has a way of declaring what a situation is.

If it bleeds or causes great violence and trauma, it leads.

TV has figured this out. The news graphically depicts the world of violence into our living rooms. Situational comedies are all but gone, replaced with Crime dramas and reality shows where people suffer for the world to watch.

“Pedophile set loose in local community” - that is story that will lead. After all - it causes us to fear - to lock the doors - to stay inside - it defines our reality - this pays off because if we don’t talk to others - if we don’t get out - we’ll watch more TV and buy more things - We’ll hunker down and protect ours and our own. Our world view is defined as hide… protect yourself.

If it bleeds it leads.

32 Killed in Virginia Tech by a gun man. This is a story that leads.

Here is a headline about Virginia;

Cho's motives remain unclear. Early reports suggested that the killing was the result of a domestic dispute between Cho and his supposed former girlfriend Emily Hilscher, but it now seems she had no prior relationship with Cho. In the ensuing investigation, police found a suicide note in Cho's dorm room, which included comments about "rich kids," "debauchery," and "deceitful charlatans" on campus. On April 18, 2007, NBC News received a package from Cho timestamped between the first and second shooting episodes. It contained an 1,800-word manifesto, photos, and 23 digitally recorded videos, in which Cho likened himself to Jesus Christ, and expressed his hatred of the wealthy.

Does this remind you of anyone? Saul in our text is also a killer. Starting with St. Stephen the Martyr we see Saul is involved in the hunting down and killing of many Christians. Saul had the social acceptance of the Roman and some Jewish authority so he is not exactly like Cho. But Cho and Saul are alike in that they have picked a cause that they valued more than human life.

Saul Saul, Why do you persecute me!

At best we can hope that Cho had some sort of mental illness… hope that this wasn’t as intentional as it looked. We’ll likely never really know this…

Cho has chosen a violent way. And he made a powerful statement and has left a mark that the world will not soon forget. He showed that he had the power to end life - the lives of 32 others… and then his own - which denies us any questioning of why this happened. This violence takes centre stage and makes an attempt to define what the world is.

Cho, in a diabolic twisted way, has taken it upon himself to be god - to make the decisions of who lives and dies - and he chose death for those whom he found unworthy or simply in the way.

I wish that Cho could have had Saul’s experience of conversion as he walked across that campus and started his mad rampage. But Paul’s conversion experience in unique - and perhaps Paul was ready to hear in a way that Cho was not. The Word of God knocked Paul over - made him blind - changed him 180 degrees from a man of violence - to a passionate man of the Gospel.

So where was God during all this anyway!? Why couldn’t he swoop in like bat-man or superman. Whap! Pow! Down with the evil doer!

No… God is the one bleeding and dying and crying out for creation to love and return to the truth. God is doing something bigger than death.

Out of the dirt that was a hard and frozen grave for last summers plants, now new life peaks out and greets the sun.

Those in Jesus time were seeking a Messiah that would come like a warrior king and smite the foe - and it resulted in an attempt to kill God through the violence and death of the cross.

Cho was seeking something that we will never know - and great violence was the result.

Saul was seeking Truth, peace and justice through violence and death and laws.

But God’s way ends the cycle of payment where violence is repaid with violence.

Where as the Chos and Sauls of the world can use the power of death -

only God can speak death into life.

Saul is blinded. Annanias - being the church and hearing the command of God goes to Saul - God says “Go, for Saul is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel;” God speaks into the heart of violence - and the Church offers healing in the Holy Spirit to Saul who now becomes known as Paul - and apostle of Christ. Christ speaks and Paul is transformed.

1000’s upon 1000’s gathered and offered support and prayers for those grieving this terrible tragedy. The families, the community, the church, all of the body of Christ gathers to lament this tragedy - to mourn this loss…

but then to also redefine it.

Because it is in the Easter resurrection that we celebrate this week that we know that death does not have the final word on life!

God speaks, and there is the conversion of Paul. God speaks and Christ Rises from the dead. God is bringing life out of death. God speaks, and violence and death does not have the final defining power of what life is.

Thanks be to God for bringing forth the new life of the field once again in a continuous process of renewal and redemption - In our baptism there begins a process, the tulips are opening petal by petal and in the midst of this worlds chaos there is hope and the promise of a new life in a new creation.

Amen.

Liturgy

2007-03-20T23:07:00.000-07:00

Springboarding off of a good friends rant about the lack of Scandanavian Rites (and by the way, I believe in the rights of scandanavians) I wanted to say that as one who has started to study the liturgy and go deeply into its meaning of it all, it might be time to ditch it.

I don't really mean that. But I am noticing that when the liturgy is happening around me, I'm loving it and in my element, and there are many people that having been in church for 80 years are just not getting it. It's not doing for them what it is doing for me.

So now I don't know where I'm going to with this post. Must be an extrovert thing... I'll just start typing and see.

regular random.

sean

Blogs given 10 years to live...

2007-03-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

Blogs dying? I don't like to think of myself as a fuddy duddy (although I'm well into fuddy, but duddy?!? Come on...)

I read this http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/14/sterling_sxsw/

And in reading that I realized I'm starting duddy... It seems that there are things happening on the inter web without my knowing... This makes me feel old. I'm a guy with a lap top and the sad reality is that my wife has a fancier blog than me (which is strange because she can't even defrag her own hard drive...)

The good news, at my present blogging rate, and only 10 years to go, I've only gotta post like, 15 more times.

I miss Ze

Extra random... sean

Meatrix

2007-02-09T18:51:00.000-08:00

If you havn't been yet, you should be. (but watch to matrix first to know what is going on)

http://www.themeatrix.com/

Comment! Talk!

2007-02-05T13:29:00.000-08:00

"Liturgy is the place where you create the consciousness out of which policy can come."
- Walter Breggemann - Hunger, Food, and the Land in the Biblical Verse. 1986 Zimmerman Lecture.

This is truly an amazing article calling us to use our liturgical awareness of who we are to distance our self from the empire and envision a new way to be in the world.

"I mean to be saying to you that the food problem is partly an economic problem, and it is partly a problem of finding the right metaphores. I believe that the theological work that we now have to do is to raise the question: If we live our life out of a different set of metaphores, will we find our way to a different food policy? As long as the dominant metaphors or our life are fear and greed and insecurity and self-sufficiency, we shall finally have food policies that starve us all to death. I think we are the ones who have entrused to us another way to speak about bread that will give us life, but we cannot speak another way about bread as long as we are gorging ourselves on the empire."

Regarding the Old Testament

Death, near death, and Confirmation

2007-02-03T19:57:00.000-08:00

Catchy title huh?

Confirmation... awesome. How can you not love these little Lutherans? They don't know that they are Lutherans but I'm sure trying. One day they will speak. Even if it's only to talk back but they will speak.
Who knew that I would ever think that it was good idea to lead off confirmation with the Service of the word, a half hour guided meditation, and the memorization of the catechism. Strange but I think it's working... we play a few games in between too.
I do need to slow down and speak with more confidence. I get upfront or in the middle of a lesson and get excited and then I talk faster and faster and who knows if anyone can think at the speed of Sean?

Well, part of the challenge this morning was the residual stress from the Nursing shift yesterday, and the stress of knowing that I was doing my first funeral this afternoon.

Funeral went well and THANK GOD for the liturgy. Great words, great timing, easy to find your spot... just follow what the little red words tell you to do. I was the assistant minister which in this case means I read the prayers of the people and looked official as everything happened around me. This is actually a good job to have at a first funeral. I guess I'm on tap for the next one though so... likely over top of one of my hockey games, I will get the call that I need a sermon and several hours of pastoral visiting done within 45 hours. So... this is reality for the next 30 years I guess.

Nursing... the best part of home care nursing is that there are no emergencies... I've lived by this belief for several years now and surprise!.!.!, i got to call 911. There is a sound made by a person falling over backwards that is truly unmistakable, somewhere between a "Wump" and that sound the watermelon made when I dropped it at superstore. The good news that although this person was completely unresponsive, vital signs were stable and there wasn't that much blood.
911 was interesting. I dialed and got to talk to someone who determined that I actually had an emergency so I was transferred to another woman who promptly asked me what city I was in... well... I'm sure there is a good reason for this question but it seemed to take valuble time. Long story short, the ambulance came with lights and sirens and the very calm (read: bored) paramedic took charge and suddenly I was alone in the hallway having said good-bye to the distraught family and walking off to my next appointment.

So... I felt the need to post, but I don't feel the need to edit. The ramblings of the tired.

sean

A Sermon - Third Sunday after Epiphany

2007-01-21T15:47:00.000-08:00

Third Sunday after Epiphany - Cycle C
Gospel: Luke 4:14-21
SERMON
MOVE 1: TODAY THIS SCRIPTURE IS FULFILLED
“Today this scripture has been fulfilled in you hearing.” Amen… So be it! Right on! Jesus IS the anointed one, bringing good news to the poor, proclaiming release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind. The oppressed will go free.
And... What a shocking revelation for the people who were used to working with Jesus as a Carpenter.
A shocked local farmer was thinking “Jesus? The Anointed one? Isn’t this the guy that just helped me build that barn?
A shocked local restaurant owner was thinking “Jesus? The Anointed one? Isn’t he the guy that just built the outhouse on my restaurant?
A shocked childhood friend of Jesus was now wondering what it all meant. Was Jesus going to be something special? Because they grew up together, played together, ate together, lived together.
People would be shocked that right there, a person who was with them for so long, a person who worked with them, a person who played with them… a person who was over for coffee suddenly was revealed to be the anointed one of God.
Suddenly on that day that seemed to be just another Saturday - Just another trip to Synagogue to discuss the scriptures and the days events - just another gathering of neighbors becomes something so much more as the presence of God is suddenly experienced in a whole new way. The Word of God breaks out all around. Perspectives, Understandings, ways of living are suddenly seen anew in a brand new light - God breaks into the world. ///
And this is how it goes in the world. In Celtic Christian Spirituality they have a concept of ‘thin spaces.’ A thin space is a place where our sense of the divine, the spiritual otherness, God - seems so close that the presence of the divine is almost tangible.
Hiking in the mountains and surrounded by the majesty of God’s creation can be a thin space.
Walking along a quiet lake, the loons calling and Northern Lights dancing, God can seem so close, this can be a thin space.
The embrace of a friend at a wedding - when all of life seems so full of joy, and the potential of all that might be is held up and celebrated - this can be a thin space.
At the birth of a child, when new life takes it’s first few gasps and all the problems of life drift away in the joy of the moment of meeting a new person for the first time - this can be a thin space.
The Word of God proclaimed - the Prayers said and the Table set - when we gather as a community to celebrate the life and death and resurrection of Christ. When we hear the words of Forgiveness proclaimed in our liturgy, when we Eat the Bread and Drink the Wine that proclaims that we are a part of God and God loves us - this is a thin space. ///
When that cheque finally comes, that promotion is finally obtained, when that issues that has been weighing us down is finally resolved, when unexpected good fortune comes our way, when we finally see and understand the people around us, it is Good.
It is during these ‘thin space’ experiences that we can so confidently say “Today in our midst, all scripture has been fulfilled.”

MOVE 2 - HARD TO HEAR (Thick spaces)
As awesome and powerful as these thin spaces can be. It’s also very possible to run into some “thick spaces.” Some time and place where the love of God seems distant, where the logic of God is incomprehensible, where trusting in God’s promises seems impossible. Hospitals, morgues, family court, nursing homes… These can be some pretty thick spaces.
Trusting God is with us is hard in the face of the the fear of global terrorism. News reports filtering in that show us 10s of 1000’s of people killed in the many wars that are raging today. This bad news is uncomfortable - it thickens the air in the room.
Trusting God is with us is hard in the face of the shame that comes from not measuring up to the community standard. When neighbor looks at neighbor suspiciously, distrusting others motives. This tension is thick.
Trusting God is with us is hard when physical health starts to leave. Losing the ability to make it up that set of stairs, remember that phone number, drive that car. The loss of freedom leaves a cloud of thickness.
Trusting God is with us is hard when our loved ones leave - when death enters our lives - when we really want to know that there is a reason for the mess that we see around this world - it’s hard to breath sometimes the air is so thick.
A Thick space leaves us feeling lonely, small, afraid, doubtful, untrusting.

FINAL MOVE: WORD OF GOD BREAKS IN IMAGINATIVELY.
In Thick and Thin, the activity of God becomes the central focus. On one extreme we are in awe of the majesty of God and wonders of all creation. On the other extreme we are searching for and questioning God. We look to God in thick and thin.
The Word of God is breaking in all around us.
And when I say the Word of God I don’t mean just the words we read from the Gospel every week (but this is part of it)
When I say the Word of God I don’t mean the text of the bible (but that is also part of it)
When I say Word of God, I don’t just mean Christ’s Body - the Christian Church - the place where the words of God are spoken and the sacraments are taken. (But this is a big part of what I mean.
No.
When I say the Word of God, I mean the Word - the entirety of God. I mean the Word that was God. I mean the fully divine person of Jesus Christ who walked on this earth - The fully human person of Jesus Christ who died on this Earth. I mean the Gospel - the good news that comes from the fact that even when all humanity is ready to say ‘see you later God - or - We don’t need you God - or - We’ll do it our own way God - … When all humanity is ready to say - Just go away and die God - God does the opposite. Rising from the grave and saying loudly for all time that I AM God - and I love you - lonely, small, afraid, doubtful, untrusting.
I love you warts and all. And I will not leave you alone.

Who could have imagined that a Carpenter from a back water town would be the very Son of God? God imagined this.
Who could have imagined that gathering and eating bread and drinking wine would become the central way that God is known to be with us? God imagined this.
Who could have imagined that in that crisis, that moment of terrible loss, fire, tsunami, wars - that a community would be able to pour our so much - Money sent - Food Prepared - Labour donated - A community come together in tragedy to aid. - God imagined a group of people that would pour themselves out.
And in the attitudes that are changed. 50 years ago could you have imagined that the Lutheran Pastor would be meeting with the Mennonite pastors? Could you have imagined that they would be meeting together for fellowship and mutual support? Could you have imagined that your specific church background would not be a barrier to who you called friend? God imagines this and it happens. The word breaks in.
God imagined all of this. The free space where we live that is full of thick and thin spaces. God is always dreaming, always breaking in with new surprises.
And it is Good news that God is doing this creative work. It is Good news that God is not resting and doing nothing. It is Good news that we are called to be a part of this. To know God. To practice seeing God. To join in the imagination of God.
Praise be to God, who does not sleep. Who is with us. Who has dreams for us.
Amen.

Braiden and Elijah's first orthopraxy debate.

2006-12-10T19:01:00.000-08:00

I never thought that the debate for orthorpraxy would start so young.

Witness Eli (3) B-ray (4) - engaged and enthralled with the battle on how to pray for the meal. The debate ranges from exact phrasing "Thank you God for our food. Amen" Vs God Bless Mommy, and Daddy and etc etc...

Should the hands be together? Should the finger interlock? These are important issues. It was quite a heated debate...

Ridiculous... but a glimpse of human nature.

Let's put God in a box...

The Tiger Within

2006-11-27T22:43:00.000-08:00

I'll tell you what I was thinking... I wasn't.

The puck is in our end of the ice. There is a scrum in front of the net... the puck goes away. I hear my goalie exchange words with one of the opposing players… Not nice words… the beast inside growls… I lose interest in the game itself.

The puck is shot in from the point… my goalie makes the save… the whistle goes… this player runs the goalie (or at least tries to… I mean, there were a few people there and it wasn’t much of a run but I know the intent). I don't think... I pounce.

237 pounds of Sean comes crashing down behind my right hook which lands square in his face mask… a scuffle ensues… someone pulls me off.

2 minutes for roughing (the secret is to hit once, and leave the gloves on - with a little more luck, it might have looked like I merely fell - although the fans tell me that it was pretty clear that I was hitting him.) He got two minutes for roughing the goalie.

I wouldn’t describe myself as an angry person… in fact… I don’t think that I actually hit him out of anger… I think that I hit him out of some deep code embedded into all defencemen… I didn't have to think... my goalie was hit and there was only one course... If I were in minor hockey, my coach would have praised me when I got back to the bench... but what I am impressed with is how quickly it all happened. One second we are playing hockey… the next I’m pouncing. Perhaps it’s just a cultural thing and not an anger thing at all. He got the message and there was no more trash talk with the goalie after that so perhaps it was just my way of saying ‘don’t do that.’

I wonder if these skills can transfer over into church council meetings?

No Sleep

2006-11-20T10:33:00.000-08:00

4:30am - wake up to screaming child. The ugly realization that this isn’t a go back to sleep situation slowly sinks in. Grrr...

4:45am - take Daughter to potty. Not effective but new diaper put on.

4:50am - Sick wife returns to bed - take children to play room.

6:45am - Having thoroughly exhausted all the possibilites of colouring a cardboard box, knocking over wooden blocks, driving cars on heads, and reading stories that are either too boring for the 3 year old or way beyond the 1 year old - I make breakfast.

7:00am- children happily munching on Christmas oranges - then eggs with milk - then yogurt.

7:30am - Then I lose it. In a bough of insanity I decide to get in a power struggle with a one year old - this must be a ridiculous sight to the well slept and thinking among us - I’m pulling the spoon, she is pulling the spoon - the yogurt is flying - no one is backing down - the noise level escalates and the sick/tired wife is awoken.

7:35am - 3 year old is playing video games. Dad is standing in kitchen… can’t return to bed - 3 year old will destroy the world. Can’t give wife sleep - that battle is lost. Quick! Look busy… clean kitchen, empty litter. To tired… can’t think…

7:50am - sitting beside 3 year old, playing video games… I don’t know for sure, but I think it’s going to be a long day...