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So, if you know me, you know that my 90 acre farm is one of the greatest places on earth. That land, open and free, is important to me. I was listening to NPR the other day and they were talking about the water shortages in some places of the country and how they want to pump water out of the great lake region. Now, my first response was of course – NO! However, after some thinking…if we don’t pump the water to them, they will move to us. So, perhaps, I would like to pump some of the water out to them – and keep my pretty land like it is…
The Hayden Library in Idaho is sponsoring “Yesterday’s Tomorrows”. It looks like a great display. Funny to look back and think about where we thought we could be by now. So much for the fast development of technology!
Jonathan Kellerman is my favorite male author. He is a child psychologist who writes about a child psychologist. The thrillers that he writes are great. I love the action and the mystery. Therapy returns to Alex Delaware as the main character. He’s the greatest.
It was great summer entertainment.
Well, it’s all over – the ordination and the first 2 services as a priest. The ordination was amazing. I have some great friends who made a great effort to get to the service. I appreciated all the people that made an effort to get there. And I missed everyone that couldn’t make it for some reason or another.
Today was an interesting experience. Doing my new job in some aspects is very easy – it’s what I’m called to do and it all comes very naturally. On the other hand, it’s a weird experience – to have the responsibility of blessing people – that’s my big one. How did I get authority to do this??? I gave the blessing to 3 couples for their anniversary and 1 birthday. Amazing.
Doing the Eucharistic Prayer is also an interesting experience. Because I’ve done it before in play church – but totally different today. Somewhere along the chalice part of the story, I was suddenly struck by the fact that I was really doing it…
Amazing. Time for bed.
Well – tomorrow’s the big day. So, yesterday I went on retreat. I really thought about what I wanted to do, where I wanted to go. This is what I ended up with:
- morning – relaxing, checked email
- lunch – with the woman who was my interpreter when I was in the deaf class
- afternoon – target shooting with my friend Marc. I used his .45 – which I think is my favorite. He also has a revolver that holds .38s and .357s. Fun looking, but better accuracy with the .45.
- massage
- the candy store – peanut butter and chocolate covered oreos. YUM!
- time on the waterfront in Allegan. Just me and the water and trees and birds and fountains. I love to sit there. It’s one of the places that I will miss.
- the ice cream shop – to look for a friend. She was working, so she gave me free ice cream for my ordination present. We talked for a good long time.
- the library – to read friend’s blogs. Boy, I can’t wait to get back to a fast connection. I definitely won’t be missing the dial in.
It was a fun day. Not quite what other people would call “retreat” but definitely what I needed to be doing.
Today has been the last minute stuff – stole and chausible to the church. Setting up the rehearsal bulletin – so I know what I’m doing. Running through Eucharistic Prayers for Sunday.
Big breath…and I promise to relax!
Shane recommended How to be Good by Nick Hornby. I really enjoyed the book. I thought that it touched on an important question – how good is good enough? What makes one good? Should every person be “good” in the same ways?
It was so intriguing and fit so well that I preached on it last Sunday. But I’m still contemplating parts of it – especially the end. As a person being ordained a priest, I’m called to do good things. But, as I’ve already experienced in life, I cannot do all the good things that I want to do. There are so many needs that I can easily get overwhelmed thinking about them – and then I freeze up and don’t actually do anything. I take a dream list and pick practical things that I can do.
The book has a tension between people doing good. The wife thinks that she does good work – she’s a doctor – but also sees the sin in her life. The husband is converted from a “bad” person into a “good” person. This doesn’t really make the wife happy. Instead, she is miserable as she tries to figure out how to relate to this newly converted husband. She is also not pleased with the ways that he wants to do/be good. It seems that by the end, they had just negotiated themselves out of doing good to make the wife happy.
I understand the tension between wanting to help and self care. I know that one must care for self and family and then others. What’s the trick of negotiating that?
I have lots of notes about it, but that’s the general idea. Any thoughts?
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I’ve been reading the "Prey" series and have only gotten 4 books in. But Silent Prey by John Sandford was interesting to me because of the content. Part of the plot line involves cops killing repeat felons. I mean, I understand that we are called to love all people and offer forgiveness forever (a whole lot of time). But, there are a lot of people who would support vigilante cops who took out repeat felons. They are not innocent – and hurt innocent people. But it is returning violence with violence.
What do you think of this? What are practical ways that we can respond to violence in our communities?
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Let’s begin with the end – that part about prediction of the weather.
- The commentators and I agree that Jesus is asking, “How can you not see what is going to happen to me?”
o Ever since Jesus “set his face toward Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51) in Gospel reading a couple weeks ago, what Jesus says challenges those who hear.
o Jesus knows that he is headed to his crucifixion, but the followers do not yet understand. He has been trying to tell them what will happen and trying to warn them, but they still don’t understand.
When we turn to the beginning of the Gospel, it seems no better than end
- what do you mean – no peace?
- Didn’t Jesus come to show us how to live together in community? How to be good and kind to each other?
Think about becoming a Christian. What was your experience?
- If you were a convert later in life, how did people respond to new convictions?
During His lifetime, Jesus had some pretty radical things to say
- disciples of Jesus – huge commitment and realized a change in their lives
- they were divided from loved ones who did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God, the faced persecution from political leaders
- faced ostracism, criticism
In the early church, struggles continued
- Martin, bishop of Tours, continued to live his ascetical life even after his consecration as bishop. He had many things to say about justice – he angered other bishops – they did not agree with his lifestyle and convictions
- Martin did not turn from what he thought was the right thing to do, and continued to live in a simple manner, giving to the poor and helpless
- He followed Jesus and surrendered himself
- We find in surrendering ourselves that we turn to God from old ways
Our decision to follow Jesus affects ever aspect of our lives – and those with whom we are in relationship.
- our family if they do not share beliefs
- even when we think that we are doing the good, moral, right thing, we face opposition from others.
How to be Good by Nick Hornby
- About Katie – a wife and mother. She always wanted to be a doctor so that she could help people. She works to do good. Her husband is mean and sarcastic. He writes a column in the newspaper and is praised for being mean and sarcastic. Then one day, he meets GoodNews. He is converted and suddenly changes his ways. She is shocked by his behavior.
- She resists – how good were they supposed to be? Were they supposed to provide shelter to the homeless, giving away their worldly possessions, invite shunned people to parties
- The family is embroiled in conflict
Families across the ages have been in conflict as conversions occur
- we do not see peace as a result of Jesus’ death and resurrection
- we are not living in a conflict-free time or place
Finding Jesus – inviting in – not instant peace
Ramifications on relationships with others
BUT there is Good News of the this Gospel
- As converts, we preach our convictions, even with possible rejection
- We called to continually preach peace – families, friends, nations
- we have small revelations of peace to encourage our continued witness. What has happened that encourages you?
o Perhaps watching the sun rise
o Or having a conversation with someone with whom you don’t usually get along with.
o Or seeing the Olympic athletes shake hands
- peace is not easy
o but we also need to not abandon those with whom we disagree
- Christian community provides a place to struggle and work together for peace
- This congregation can help people struggle through times of rejection and opposition
- Each of you can share your experiences of peace and understanding, moments of triumph in a world of conflict
- What does peace look like in this place? How do you encourage each other to live peace-filled lives? Each person must decide how to best show peace in the world. Kindness and generosity are some great attributes to have. What can you do more of to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others? This is difficult yet important work.
Like Jesus headed toward Jerusalem, we keep our eyes and hearts forward, knowing that the path will not be easy, but even so, we continue pursuing peace with everyone we meet.
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