Pastoral Prayer for February 5, 2012

This prayer is inspired by the scriptures of Isaiah 40.

Heavenly Father,
    We your children thank you for this gift of prayer that you have given us.  We are grateful that bend low to Earth to hear us as we struggle to reach up to Heaven to hear you.
    Father we ask that might be merciful and forgive us, for time to time we fail to be the people you desire us to be.  Father we have forgotten part of the good news you have told us.  Father in your mercy remind us, “That you will not grow tired or weary, and we cannot Father your understanding.”  Father in your mercy remind us that, “You give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak.”
    Father in your mercy help us for we, both youthful and not so youthful, are tired and weary.  Help us as we stumble and fall.  Be quick to catch and hold us.
    Father in your mercy help us put our hope in you.
    Father please renew our strength.
    Father may your Holy Spirit lift us up on wings like eagles so we might rise above all that seeks to hold us down.
    Father may your Holy Spirit quicken us to run and not grow weary as we work to bring your Heavenly Kingdom and will on Earth.
    Father may your Holy Spirit guide us as we seek to walk in your way today, tomorrow, and forevermore.
    Heavenly Father, we your children thank you for bending low as we reach up to you now.  Help us as we faithfully wait and anticipate the fulfillment of your will in our lives. Thank you for hearing our prayer in the name of Jesus Christ your son.  Amen.

 

What are you waiting for?

A sage once said, "Good things come to those who wait."  I've also learned, "There are somethings not worth waiting for."  Some things are worth hurrying for!

 

So I ask, what are you waiting for?  And what are you not waiting for, but hurrying to find?

 

Another blog another post

Several friends use this service.  With the future of IWeb and MobileME publishing unclear, I now move on to another service.  We will see how well this works out.

The Day Cotton Died

This little piece of poetry came to mind while walking Dallas around the streets of Comer, Georgia USA.

I remember the day cotton died.
Momma fried a chicken.
Daddy hung his head and cried.
An Empire gone.
A King Dethroned.
A Way of Life no more.
Yes I remember the day cotton died.

We said good bye to fancy balls.
And big dinners in downtown hotel halls.
No new cars or Cuban cigars at the end of pick'n time.
We were happy to get a penny for the cost of a dime
When the price of cotton hit the floor.
We worked like fools with nothing to show
Except barely saving the family farm.
Yes I remember the day cotton died.

I went back to the place where I used to grow
To see what I could still see.
The family farm was such a sad sight it nearly brought me to my knees.
Where long white rows of cotton used to grow
All I saw were grass, weeds, and trees.
The old gin was gone cause it was scrapped for the tin
Back in 1973.
Yes I remember the day cotton died.

Doggy Day Camp

I had to make my way to Atlanta today for another fun clergy meeting. On days like this I take Dallas with me to Atlanta and drop him off at Doggy Day Camp.

On the way to Atlanta this morning Dallas slept in the car. He woke up when we arrived at the Doggy Day Camp. He was so excited. I think he likes this place. He was ready to play with his friends.

I spent most of my scheduled day off in a meeting. Afterwards I helped my Aunt with her computer. She needed help installing a new printer. It wasn't as easy as I hoped it would be. Then I journeyed through Friday afternoon traffic while running errands around town.

I caught a quick dinner at a favorite Chinese place (Glad I had some extra Weight Watcher points to spend!) and made my way to the Doggy Day Camp. When I arrived Dallas was happy to see me. However, he wasn't ready to go home. He had a great day playing with friends and didn't want to leave.

On the way back home I got to thinking about Doggy Day Camp. The meeting I went to today was about strengthening clergy. Folks were talking about practices and programs that could make clergy more effective in their ministry. Some people mentioned learning from top notch clergy and innovators. Some folks mentioned the need for worship. Others mentioned the need for coaching. I wonder if we just need to spend some time a Doggy Day Camp.

Think about it-Clergy Day Camp. Spend a whole day or half the day in play with friends. We would be in a safe place where we couldn't get hurt by passing cars or other dangers. Our play friends would be other clergy who want to play and are good playing with others. There could be a Camp Counselor to lead play and stimulate recreation. When the day is over we would go home and get back into the routine of ministry.

At the end of the day we would be tired, but it would be a good tired. Not the tired from sitting in a meeting but the kind of tired you can only experience when chasing tennis balls and a Frisbee. The kind of tired that comes from fellowship with friends. The kind of tired from a day well spent in play and recreation. The kind of tired the tills the hard soil of the soul and mind and makes it ready for the planting of seeds.


Clergy Day Camp? I wonder if Dallas would let me go.

Home Alone

Over the past few weeks I've been letting Dallas, my four year old beagle, stay home alone. For the most part he has done very well. That doesn't mean he hasn't chewed up anything while left unattended; however, the damage list is short: his leash (Lupine Leash with a lifetime replacement warranty), a puppy house training pad (just in case he needs to go), and part of the table cloth on my breakfast table (I think he was trying to pull off the box of Wheat Thins I left on top of the table). So far so good. I hope and pray for continued success.
Leaving Dallas home alone has got me thinking theologically about life. First of all, God has not left us home alone. God has sent the Holy Spirit to be with us. The Holy Spirit is God with us. It isn't a thing but the third person of the Trinity. Several years ago, Kenneth Kinghorn wrote "Fresh Wind of the Spirit." It is a great, approachable and sound book about the Holy Spirit. If you have questions about the Holy Spirit I suggest you read it.
So God has not left us home alone. We have the Holy Spirit to comfort us, guide us, and sustain us along life's journey. We have the Holy Spirit to bring us into intimacy and realness with God. We have the Holy Spirit to make the Christian life Christian.
I don't know if my dog is personally aware of the Holy Spirit. I know God created animals. I believe animals are part of God's redemption of creation. I wish I knew that Dallas was aware of the Holy Spirit. Then he would know that he is never actually home alone. Perhaps, then he would find that perfect peace that comes from sleeping soundly on the couch?

Hospitality Gone Bad

So I was at a special church service last week when I saw an example of Hospitality Gone Bad. At this special church service it was common practice to announce special groups who were visiting such as Sunday school classes and other church groups. The worship leader would read off their name and ask the group to stand while the congregation clapped and said hello. On this evening a large group from the local homeless shelter was visiting and without thinking about it the worship leader asked the group to stand.
I didn't think much about it until the next day when somebody came up to me and asked me what I thought about it all. They assumed I was as upset as they were. After thinking about it, I realized we put the homeless in an awkward situation. However, homelessness itself is an awkward situation of its own.
Turns out that some of the regular attendees at this worship service were upset about the homeless being with them. I heard tell that some folks thought the group was a bunch of criminals. They felt their safety was at risk.
Looking back I wish I was paying more attention to it all. I should have stood when the worship leader asked all of the homeless to stand. Even though I have a roof over my head each night, I am actually homeless. You see, I have a strange conviction that this world is not my home.