The New Shekel

Shekels.  I brought back a few that were given to me on my last trip to Israel.  They were nothing more than an interesting souvenir at the time.  My wife and I did not do any monetary exchange before entering Israel, and it proved not to be a hindrance at all.  Now as I prepare for a return to Israel, I find myself desiring to take a substantial amount of native currency.  Since it is not a requirement, one might wonder why this is so.

There may be a couple of things motivating me to do this.

Family Time

Christmas has come and gone for another year. It again reminds me that time often changes things irreversibly. Of the gifts that are given and received, the gift of family is the most precious in this life. My heart rejoices in family shared in Texas and sorrows for family passed on in West Virginia. A week away is a week too short, as many things are awaiting attention at home. For now, I rejoice in a time of rest. It is God's gift for the here and now.

From Evernote:

Table Ministry

Sunday, October 2 is World Communion Sunday.  It is also the first Sunday of the month, when the people of Cross Roads UMC traditionally celebrate Holy Communion in all worship services.  I encourage you to come and worship with us.  We will be invited to the table of the Lord Jesus Christ, the place where we celebrate the reconciliation that we have through Christ, reconciliation with God and with one another.  It is a place where the broken are made whole and where peace reigns in the hearts of people.  Come and celebrate the amazing grace of God.

See you along the journey,

Pastor Dave

Will Anything Really Change?

        This was the question that resonated in my mind on this Sunday morning as another session of Annual Conference drew to a close. I had been challenged to ignite my passion for sharing Jesus by Bishops Lyght and Palmer. I had wrestled with my need to embrace the work of evangelism. I had experienced impassioned, heart-felt worship led by people from Crossfire United Methodist Church (see www.bikerchurch.com). I was convinced once again that the Holy Spirit of God was moving among the people of the West Virginia Annual Conference, and that I was being drawn into that movement. Yet as I prepared to begin this new day, the day that would bring me home to my regular weekly routine, I had to wonder, will anything really change?

Waiting

Date: March 3, 2010 11:38 PM
Topic: Waiting

What is one to do when God is silent? I suppose the simple answer is to wait. Simple, not easy. Henri Nouwen offers a prayer in which he affirms that God's presence will become known, in God's time. And if that time is to be delayed, then we rightly ask for God to make us patient. It has been said that one should not ask God for patience, for along with the patience God will give circumstances in which to use the patience. I suspect there is truth in that.

Waiting truly becomes a gift when one recognizes its value as a spiritual teacher. I realized today that my view of God must have been getting pretty small. It must be true, since I was, though very unconsciously, trying to force God to conform to my expectations and timing. Boy, talk about someone who was getting frustrated. I was demanding, but God wasn't responding. I was persisting, and God was resisting. I said "now;" God said "not yet." It's funny--I don't remember asking for patience, but I was sure getting a lesson in it.

Don't get me wrong by thinking that the wait is over. It isn't. I am still waiting, but doing so with much less frustration. At least that's the word for today. Today, waiting has been my teacher rather than my thorn in the side. And because of that, God got a little bigger. Who knows, tomorrow I might be right back where I was, banging my head against the wall of heaven's chambers demanding action. But for today, God is on the throne, and I gird my loins of faith in waiting.

Thank you, God, for helping me to befriend waiting. Along with your disciple, Peter, I confess that you alone have words of eternal life. There are no others to whom I can turn. There is only you. So I wait, knowing that in the perfect time I will hear your voice of comfort and observe the might of your hand at work.

Foiled Plans

Many are the times and ways that I rediscover the reality that God is in control. Eugene Peterson paraphrases Proverbs 19:21 with these words: "We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God's purpose prevails." In a way this reality can frustrate me. It frustrates me because I am human. Because I am human I like to make my plans. I like to put my creative forces (limited as they are) to work, and then to see the fruit of those efforts come to bear. Sometimes, though, the creative process gets derailed, and that can be both disappointing and frustrating…because I'm human.

I am once again taught, as well as humbled, by the proverb. God's purpose prevails. Though it goes without saying, I'll say it anyway: God's purpose is much more significant than mine. I may not understand what God may be up to, now if ever. Yet that is okay. I don't need to know what God is doing. It is just good for me to remember that God is doing. God is up to something good, and if that requires the disruption of my own plans and options, I suppose I'll be just fine. Thanks be to God that the Divine purpose always prevails.

Slow moving

Date: February 12, 2010 11:42 AM
Topic: Slow moving

Do you wonder if Jesus ever had days when he just felt like relaxing? That isn't the first image of Jesus that usually comes to our minds. We picture Jesus as active, on the go, constantly moving from one place to another, from one need to another. Surely he must have tired from time to time. . .right?

There were those times when Jesus removed himself from the crowd. Of course, for him it was a time of restoration, a time spend in prayer and communion with God. Is God present in our "lazy days?" I like to think so.

I pray that you will experience God in your relaxation.