Prepare Ye

This is my text for the All Saints Day service in the Garden. I focused mostly on the Isaiah (25.6-9 ) and Revelation (21.1-6 ) texts, and only briefly touched on the Gospel (John 11.32-44 - the story of Lazarus). Last Sunday, during our celebration of the Reformation of the Church, we heard the words God said to the prophet Jeremiah, “The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. … I will be their God, and they shall be my people. … I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.” [Jeremiah 31.31, 33, 34] Today, as we remember the great cloud of witnesses and saints who have gone before us, as we remember our loved ones who have died, we must also remember the promises God has given to us and to them. First among those promises is that death does not have the final word. God does. “It will be said on that day, ‘Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is

It's been a while since a real post. I am enjoying my vicar-ing here in the Garden. It is keeping me busy. I've avoided any real comments on the 800 lb. gorilla in the ELCA, because I would have to force myself to be pastoral. And when posting here, I don't feel like forcing myself to do that. I will avoid name calling and leave that to those who favor Law over Gospel, fear over love. But I'm not talking about that. :D Here's an old song about old friends. Harry Chapin - Taxi Edited to put in a version that did not autoplay.

Another great devotional from Pray Now . ( this devotional ) Elemental - Fire The Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so they might travel by day and by night. Exodus13.21 Prayer It will burn, child. Swift and sharp as the slice of shimmering steel. It will burn, child. Scorching and shocking as words spat in heated haste. It will burn, child. Stinging and scabbing as fresh scars smart with rage. And so we learn, Lord, to fear the fire should it hurt and harm us; damage and deny us; wound and waste us. Then you come, guiding God, shimmering and flickering and shouting Yes, child, it will burn, but see me. Yes, child, it will burn, bu

So I' m checking my Facebook account, and see a message from my good friend (& future Bishop) Faithful Yet Changing who has a message to pray for Glen Beck. And my response is the title of this post, "Are You Freakin ' Nuts??" Politically, I score just left of center, but that is because I hold a couple of far right positions which balance out some of my far left positions. But in the past year or so, I have found myself leaning farther and farther left, mostly in response to the morons (and I apologize to all of the real morons for lumping them in with this group) at Fixed Noise, like Beck, O'Riley & Hannity . The venom they spout comes from either ignoring facts or not being able to understand them or being so deluded that they actually believe the crap they spread. I only clicked on the link because it is Future Bishop Faithful Yet Changing 's birthday, and I was hoping this was going to be a joke, kind of like being Rick rolled. But it wasn'

Police - So Lonely

My sermon notes from September 13th. This lesson from Mark’s Gospel [ Mark 8.27-38 ] literally changed my life. Three years ago, I was struggling with a bunch of decisions, one that really came down to one decision. I was wondering if I was being called to leave my home, family and friends in Saginaw, Michigan and pursue the ministry. I had a number of people from my church tell me I should go into the ministry. They saw gifts and talents in me that I did not see, and some that I still do not see in myself. Because of their insistence, I felt I owed it to them to look into the process of candidacy with the ELCA and attending seminary. I was looking into the process so I could find that roadblock and report back to them and say, “You know, I would follow that call, but I can’t because of _insert reason here_. But I could not find that reason. In fact, the more I looked into it, the more it felt like the right thing to do. At the same time, the job that I enjoyed was not as enjoyable as

Eight years after, and I still remember .... hearing the news in my office. .... watching the events in the lounge. .... going to practice and going through the motions. .... going home to really watch what had happened. .... crying myself to sleep. U2 - Peace On Earth/Walk On from the Tribute to Heroes broadcast

This is my manuscript I worked from for last Sunday's (September 6) sermon. As usual, I went off on a bit of a tangent. The Gospel lesson was Mark 7.24-37 , and the Second Lesson was James 2: 1-17 . Today’s Gospel lesson picks up where last week’s has left off; Jesus was arguing with the Pharisees and scribes about cleanliness. Jesus told them “(T)here is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile. … All … evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” [Mark 7.15, 23] After that argument, he leaves and heads northwest, away from the Galilean Sea to the coastal area of Tyre. This is not just a short trip to a nearby town; it is over a thirty-mile walk across the mountains. As I have found out in my month here, getting over the mountains is not an easy task, and I am driving. Jesus was going away from where he had been doing his ministry into an area not populated by many Jews. Tyre was more of a Greek community. He ma

Please check out a new blog by one of my classmates who is also on internship, Faithful Yet Changing .

This is the outline from which I worked to deliver my August 16th Sermon. Please excuse the partial sentances and phrases, but this was my script for the day. The Gospel was John 6.51-58 . I enjoy watching TV, especially High Definition TV, because you can see so much more. I also enjoy detective shows and mysteries. When I started at LTSG, went for 2 weeks of Summer Greek. Learn about the original language the New Testament was written in. Also learn to look at the little details Realize each version of the Bible has “translator choices” Make the Bible easily read or try and include all of the nuances of original language Discover some subtle differences It’s like seeing TV in high def for the first time and playing CSI detective Today’s Gospel lesson continues what is known as Jesus’ “Bread discourse” Entire chapter goes from the feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus walking on water through Jesus saying he is the bread from heaven, the bread of eternal life into today’s lesson where Jesus

From Pray Now by the Church of Scotland God rested on the seventh day. - Genesis 2:2 Prayer God, I'm wabbit,* I'm weary, I'm worn out. Often it feels as if I'm running on half empty. Harassed because it seems I've never enough time to do everything. Frustrated with my lack of energy to do things as well as I'd like, or within the timescales I, or others, have set. Meltdown and breakdown,
 exasperation and exhaustion,
 sometimes feel just one more step, one more task, away. 
And yet,
I know, God, you want it other wise
 for me, for my neighbors, for our world.
 When I pause to listen to my body, to nature,
to you, 
there is a rhythm which jolts us from frenetic
 twenty-first-century living.
 A rhythm where rest and relaxation,
 fallow periods and holidays are built in.
 Not add-ons or extras to be earned. Forgive me God,
when I abuse your creation -
pushing myself and others too hard.
 Help me to follow Jesus' example,
to learn to do nothing regularly,
to

The Beatles - Get Back & Don't Let Me Down The Rooftop Concert Apologies on not posting more often. It's not that I haven't had time, but that I haven't had anything I've wanted to share. Things are ok here in the Garden, and the loneliness has hit me some. I'm going to spend Labor Day back in the 'burg and maybe reconnecting with friends will lift this ennui.

Here is the first sermon I gave in the Garden, for August 9th. I first want to thank God and everyone involved for this opportunity to serve God here in this wonderful setting of Burke’s Garden and Bluefield. I realize what a unique and precious opportunity this is, and I ask for the help of God and of everyone to serve this community to the best of my ability. Today’s Gospel lesson begins with Christ saying, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” This continues the discourse we have heard in previous weeks about bread; the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 and the manna from heaven. Now, he explains that he is the bread of heaven, come down to sustain and provide salvation for humanity. Christ has come to draw people to God and, through Him, to salvation. The word used meaning to draw is the same word used when Jesus commands those who are fishing to pull in their nets once they have captured their

This is the text I worked off of to give my sermon on August 23rd. I deviated from it somewhat when I gave it in the Garden and again at my supervisor's church. The texts for the day were:Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18; Psalm 34:15-22; Ephesians 6:10-20 and John 6:56-69. < Pray for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. Pray that I may declare it boldly. AMEN. When I coached football, we had a saying we told our players during the most challenging parts of practice, “Go hard or go home.” It meant we coaches wanted all they could give. When the players came to practice we wanted their total focus and maximum effort. If they were not willing to do that, then they were not being helpful to the team; they should go home. I had one player I coached ask me one day after I had been on him because I knew he was not giving his maximum effort what more wanted. I told him, “All I want is all you’ve got.” From the Gospel, for th

At the Church Wide Assembly, Bishop Hanson said the following as part of his report: "Now that by God’s grace through faith on account of Christ we are free—free from bondage to sin, death, and the devil—what are we going to do? Now that we don’t have to do anything to earn God’s favor, what are we going to do? Listen to Luther’s response in Freedom of a Christian: I will therefore give myself as Christ to my neighbor, just as Christ offered himself; I will do nothing in this life except what I see is necessary, profitable and salutary to my neighbor, since through faith I have an abundance of all good things in Christ." Some form of this statement is going to work itself into a number of my sermons. It states something I've been wrestling with so much better than I could get my head around. btw, there is A LOT of comments I want to make about the discussion of the Sexuality statement and resolutions at the CWA, but I will hold my tongue rather than type something r

This isn't going to be a full blown post, but things are going well here in the Garden. I'm settled in, completed my first solo service (preaching and presiding) and did not commit any major trespass. Well, the sermon did go 18+ minutes. But people said they learned a lot. (Key word = Lot) So here are some photos of the Garden. I'll post the sermon when I convert it from outline form. This is my "2nd office." It is my deck just outside of where I've put my office. You can see why I move outside when the weather allows. This is a view of the church's cemetery from my deck.

I'm in the Garden, and have been since the 1st, sorry I haven't blogged, but it's been a busy two weeks. I'll blog properly, but I wanted to share this from the Church of Scotland's Pray Now series. Sometimes, I go to that place called Lonely I go there by myself or with companions and stay a long while or just for a short time. It's a place that aches with abandonment A place where even the tears have run dry. And I long to know God Will I ever find you there? No one talks about visiting this place It carries a stigma hidden in many disguises. The child in the playground that no one plays with The awkward teenager - too big, too small, too fat, too tall The clubber dancing wildly fearing the day's end The person with learning disabilities that has never known a friend The single person left out by couples who dine The parent longing for adult conversation The widow/er grieving a companionship of love The old person at home or in a home, wondering if this i

from the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson Sorry about the commercial :(

I've been talking to a friend who has a big decision to make in the near future. They are having to decide how much of a bad situation they are willing to put up with. I'm struggling with my advice because I don't know how much of my experience and how I would deal with the situation is coloring my advice. I guess my CPExperience helps me to recognize my issues and make me aware of them. But I am still struggling with what to do and what to say (or not say.) I hope just being there to listen helps. So if you're mad, get mad Don't hold it all inside Come on and talk to me now Hey, what you got to hide? I get angry too Well I'm a lot like you When you're standing at the crossroads And don't know which path to choose Let me come along 'cause even if you're wrong Crissy Hynde & the Pretenders - I'll Stand By You (live)

It is eerily quiet on the grounds of The LTS. There are only a few people on campus doing their CPE, all of the Seniors have left and gone off to their calls and careers. Then the people of my class, the Middlers/Interns have been taking off, moving to their internship sites for a year. I'm one of the last ones left here, planning on moving to the Garden next week to start in August. I'm dealing with the hidden dilemma of the Seminary process, packing and moving. This is one of the dirty little secrets of the call process they don't tell you about. Well, for those of my readers who are in the discernment process, let me clue you in on this. From the time you leave your home, sweet home until your first call, you will probably move at least 4 times, possibly as many as 6 times in 4 years. Here is the breakdown: 1) From home onto campus - Depending on if you are a pipeliner, pseudo-pipeliner or second career person, this will entail either moving some stuff, gathering so

After chatting with a friend back in Michigan, I realized I never posted the pictures I took when I visited my internship site here on my blog. Oopsies. So, better late than never. <-- This is a picture of me in front of the Garden's Lutheran Church, and this is a picture of the inside of the church looking from just inside the door. --> Below it is a view from the alter looking back. You can see the pulpit and the church does have a balcony. --> <-- This is the "extra building" at the Garden's church. Since there is no running water, the bathroom facilities have to be outdoors. That means outhouses for those who haven't put the delicately worded statement together. <-- This is the view from the porch of the house I will be staying in, as is this view. ---> I plan to post more photos when I get down to the Garden, which will be at the end of this month. The Garden is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, and I'm planning on takin

Forty years ago today, Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon. The videos I wanted to post here I already posted when Walter Cronkite died. So here is an alternative view of the moon landing which may be more familiar to most people. and the video that followed it ... The Buggles - Video Killed The Radio Star (Yes kids, MTV actually used to play music videos. Really. I'm not kidding. Seriously.) --- EDIT ---- I was waiting to see what Google would do with their logo to commemorate the anniversary. It didn't pop up until late in the day (probably to coincide with the time of the first moon walk) but I think it's kinda cool. BTW, if you think the various Google holiday logos are neat, as I do, here is a website that catalogs all of them.

Walter Cronkite died today. I remember watching him deliver the evening news, even though my father preferred the Huntley/Brinkley Report. But when there was big news, we turned to CBS and "Uncle Walter." While others remember him for other news stories, as a NASA junkie, Walter Cronkite explained to me, and the rest of the world, what was going on. That he passed away during the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, just brings those memories even closer to the forefront of my memory. I've been hearing from more of my friends and classmates that they are among the dozen of people reading this blog. For those of you who are too young to remember, or who may have other memories of Walter Cronkite, this is mine. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 - Final

Forty years ago, Apollo 11 took off from Cape Kennedy with the goal of landing the first human being on the moon. The moon landing itself is the first real extended memory I have. This is NASA's quick profile of the mission for those who weren't around to experience it.

Back in the 'burg to pack and move to the Garden for Vicaring. Kept hearing this song from Sugarland when I'd stop playing my iPod (through the cassette attachment). Sugarland -Babygirl The story didn't ring the bell, but the sentiment did. Especially when one station doubled down the Jennifer Nettles (the lead singer) dueting with Bon Jovi on "Who Says You Can't Go Home."

So, here are a series of links full of information on the site where I will be spending the next year as the Vicar. From Wikipedia , and about the varmint . Information about the Garden is here , here , here and here . You can explore the Garden by Google Maps street view (yeah, they've been there!) If you go about 1/2 a mile to the west from where the marker puts you, just at the first curve on 623, you will see Central , the church I will be primarily serving. The church , and its cemetery , is in the National Register of Historic Places . The post office has been closed , but the general store remains open and for sale. A nice magazine article about the Garden is downloadable from here .