Friday, November 11, 2016

God Bless Us, Every One!


 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.                                 Colossians 3:12-17

Last night, I crossed something off my bucket list. I went to see a one man show of "A Christmas Carol" (my favorite book of all time), performed by Gerald Dickens, the great, great grandson of Charles Dickens. It was every bit as good as I had hoped it would be. I also had the chance to talk with Mr. Dickens for about 5 minutes or so, and it was a wonderful conversation. If you should ever have the chance, your should see him perform. It is well worth it.

I've loved "Christmas Carol" ever since I first saw the Alistair Sims movie version as a child. When I read the book as an adult, it's story hit me so strongly, I've read it at least once a year ever since. It has everything a story could want...Drama, Humor, Conflict, Resolution. But there is something more to this tale than the story itself. It questions the lives we lead, not just for ourselves, but with and for those around us. Closing ourselves up, rather than reaching out. Thinking we are keeping others out, so that pain cannot come in. In reality, closing the pain within our own walls, never letting it out.

In the closing Stave, Scrooge sees his redemption is in treating his fellow man with compassion and love. That is where the verses above, I think, take on such great meaning. The election season has been a brutal one, flaming the passions of many. That has just been the final torch light, however, to growing tensions and passions over the last few years, both in America and beyond. In our fight for our own selfish rights, we have often trampled on others, without even casting a glance down. Taking a stand is right, and necessary, but to do so as Christians ALSO requires " compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience...".We must " let the peace of Christ rule " in our hearts. Our peace, our healing, comes by loving as Christ has called us to love. Re-read those verses above. It does not call to deny your faith, nor does it call to ignore your beliefs. It says, in simplest terms, to love.

If we can bring ourselves to love others, as Jesus has loved us, then it will be truly said that we've kept Christ in our hearts, every day of the year. We will have turned to Him, and away from our wicked ways. And then at last, God will heal our land. God will bless us, every one.


Friday, November 4, 2016

November 4th

November 4th is a very special day to me. My niece, Allison, was born on that day. I experienced triple bypass surgery on that day. And 8 years ago, my father passed into glory so richly deserved. I still miss him every day. Love you, dad.

Danny Boy
I rose from a restless sleep.
A melody followed from dream to wakefulness.
A familiar tune, one of my Dad's favorites, mine too.
Played on a trumpet; smooth, clear, tempo rubato.
Like an ocean tide rushing to the shore, then
Reluctantly, slowly, retreating back to the depths.

And I laughed, because my Dad hated the ocean.
Yet the ocean is my haven of rest..
The same melody ran through us both, yet rarely
In sync with each other.
When I heard a trumpet, he heard a guitar.
When I rushed, he slowed.
When I slowed, he rushed.
Still, it was the same, beautiful song.

My family all have variations on that tune.
Some rock, some country, some bluegrass,
classical, even jazz.
Some improvise until you can barely hear the tune at all.
On the surface, a symphony of noise rising to the heavens,
Till the angels cover their ears.
But underneath, the melody stays strong and true.
And I love it.

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Cloud of Witnesses - Go Cubs!

     Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

I like millions of other Americans, am sleep deprived today, because I, like millions of other Americans, watched baseball history unfold last night. After 108 years, playing with a ball that has exactly 108 stitches, in 10 innings with 8 runs, the curse of the goat ended. That's right. CUBS WIN! There were tears and laughter and screams and high fives...and that was just me and my wife.

We joined in, collectively, with those fans who had never seen this happen before. We also joined with those fans who lived and died without ever seeing it happen. I could just see in my mind, my mother-in-law putting her hands on either side of Harry Carey's oversized, coke bottle lenses glasses, and screaming "HOLY COW! CUBS WIN!", while Harry belts out "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" to the crowd of angelic Cubs fans from over the last century. (I know that not all angelic beings are Cubs fans, but all Cubs fans go to heaven...right?)

It was a unity that defies description. A oneness that goes beyond time. An experience of joy shared with people we couldn't even see. All witnessing history achieved last night.

In the same way, we as Christians are surrounded by those in the faith. As we run the daily race, fellow Christians are there to pray for us, encourage us, urge us on to the prize that is Christ Jesus. And not just those who live, but those that have achieved the prize, screaming and cheering "Go! You can make it!" Shouting and surrounding us. Why don't we feel it sometimes? Why do we so often feel tired and alone? Because we've lost that sense of oneness. We see ourselves as alone, not part of the body of Christ. Unwilling to reach out to the throng that surrounds us. Unwilling to reach up to Jesus for help when discouraged. Alone, in a crowd of friends. Helpless, while help is reaching out.

Take help from the hand Jesus is holding out. Take joy in the friends by your side. Take courage from those who completed the race, now cheering you on. The Cubs don't have to wait till next year any more. And neither should you.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Prodigal Son - Reduex

Once upon a time, because all good tales begin that way, there lived a Texas cattle rancher who was well off. By that, I mean filthy rich; J.R. Ewing, Dallas style rich. And this rancher had two sons; one good, one...not so much. Both sons had been raised on the ranch, had worked the ranch since they were young. For the older, good son, this was fine. He wanted nothing more than to see the ranch succeed, and take it over after his father died. It was his secret dream.

But the younger son's dream was not for the ranch. He hated it there, and let his father know every chance he got. This son had goals and dreams beyond those fences. His passion consumed him daily. He wanted to be the first male gold medalist in ...ribbon dancing! The graceful wrist movement, the perfect spiral achieved, this was his heart and soul. But ribbons, and costumes, and all the rest he needed cost money, money he didn't have. So he went to his father.

"Daaaaaaad" he whined, "you KNOW I don't want to be here! You KNOW I want to be a ribbon dancer! You've GOT to give me the money to pursue my dream! It's all I Waaaaant!"

"Son, I don't know if..."

"Daaaaaaad! You NEVER let me do what I want! You don't LOVE me! Just buy my portion of the ranch, and you'll NEVER see me AGAIN!"

"OK, son, if that's what you want."

So the son collected his things, and left for the Las Vegas Olympic Facility for Ribbon Dancing (LVOF-RD). Weeks went by and costs mounted up. Before long, he was borrowing money from the other dancers to cover his costs. The expenses, the gambling, the extravagance, the wild parties, and the dancing. Oh, the dancing! He would twirl and twirl and twirl till he fell down, which he did...a lot. Finally, the coach came to him.

"Kid, you're not working out here. I'm cutting you from the team. Get out by tomorrow."

"But, Coach, I got nowhere to go; no money to get there!"

"Alright, I need someone to dry clean the costumes. You can stay in the basement, and eat whatever is left from the other dancer's lunches."

If you've never seen a ribbon dancer eat, don't worry. No one else has either. The tiny, wilted shreds of lettuce were not enough for even the rats in the basement, and the dry cleaning chemicals had burned his hands and eyes. He had enough. He would go back home. At least there he could work as a hired hand. At least there he would have meat again! With just the clothes on his back, he hitchhiked back to the ranch.

While he was walking that last stretch of Texas road, still about a half mile away, his father saw him from the gates at the head of the driveway, and ran to meet him. The son said "Father, I know I don't have a part in the ranch, but I'd like to come work for you, if I can."

But the father would have none of that! He got his son's old duster and put it on him. He got the family ring and put it on his finger. He said "Boy, you're skinny as a rail! Come here and eat. We'll throw a shindig like this ranch has never seen! My son was dead, and now he's alive, was lost, now he's found!"

And the moral of the story? If you are a prodigal ribbon dancer, you can go home again. You can return to the Father. Are you afraid of his response? Do you expect his full wrath to come down on you? You don't have to worry. The Father is waiting at the gate even now, waiting to run down the road to meet you, kiss you, feed you, clothe you, love you. All you need to do is...come.