Fair week starts tomorrow.
Actually it "started" quite a while with new refrigerators that had to be ordered, and a new hood vent over the grills out at the fair stand plus the ordering of supplies and food items, the phone calls to recruit workers and pies. Fair both cleaning day was on Thursday. Cooking was going on at the church kitchen this morning. I enjoy seeing people pitch in and show up for the fair work. I plan to get some time in on the grill but especially the visiting!
My family returns from traveling tomorrow. I think I have a good start on next Sunday's sermon. I had an outdoor wedding on Saturday that the weather accommodated nicely. On Friday I had the opportunity of offering the invocation prayer at The Relay for Life. It was quite moving for me to be there as I discovered how many people I knew .
A couple of devotional thoughts for the day :
By Meister Eckhart at inward/outward
Be prepared at all times for the gifts of God and be ready always for new ones. For God is a thousand times more ready to give than we are to receive.
and this from Spirituality and Practice:
The eighth-century Chinese Zen master P'an-shan had his first satori (enlightenment-glimpse) while walking through a marketplace. He overheard a customer tell the butcher, "Cut me some of the good stuff"; the butcher replied, "Hey, take a look — nothing but good stuff!" This was just the catalyst P'an-shan needed. He took a look, perhaps, at the ground, the sky, the people in their bustle of buying and selling . . . and everywhere he saw nothing but good stuff.
— Dean Sluyter in Why the Chicken Crossed the Road and Other Hidden Enlightenment Teachings from the Buddha to Bebop to Mother Goose
So with this is mind, I will try to be open and aware of the gifts and good stuff in the week of the Fair
See you there!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
New links
I have added two links. One is for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and the other is for the United Methodist Church. If you have never visited those web sites, please do!
They just might help you choose a memorable path!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Compassion Coaching
JESUS CALLS US to enlarge our circle of companions, to expand compassion beyond the boundaries of our present awareness. Jesus ate meals with misfits and outcasts as well as with his friends. Jesus healed the daughter of a Gentile woman, even as he claimed that his main mission was to save the Jews. When I imagine Jesus staring into that woman’s insistent face, I believe his own heart was broken and his compassion enlarged by God’s boundless mercy. All of us, it seems, are candidates to be stretched Godward by compassion coaching.
- Don C. Richter Mission Trips That Matter: Embodied Faith for the Sake of the World
From p. 44 of Mission Trips That Matter by Don C. Richter. Copyright © 2008 by the author. Published by Upper Room Books from the Upper Room website
Richter's phrase, "compassion coaching"; caught my attention. Is that the teaching of Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Maybe that is a way to describe spiritual formation work. I might see it as a way to discuss parish ministry. Compassion coaching. What do you think!
Today is my day off. Last week I spent my day off getting ready for Ruby Austin's funeral on Tuesday, making a couple of hospital visits and then taking Sara to St Paul. Today I have my errands and projects that I'm looking forward to doing.
The idea for the Sunday sermon is brewing in my mind and I might try to write it down before it slips away.
When I finish this post I will do my "green thing" and put the laundry on the clothes line. Nothing better than line dried sheets! It's something I grew up with and I wonder if the neighborhood associations that don't allow clothes lines will change their policies and see it as a good energy choice.
- Don C. Richter Mission Trips That Matter: Embodied Faith for the Sake of the World
From p. 44 of Mission Trips That Matter by Don C. Richter. Copyright © 2008 by the author. Published by Upper Room Books from the Upper Room website
Richter's phrase, "compassion coaching"; caught my attention. Is that the teaching of Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Maybe that is a way to describe spiritual formation work. I might see it as a way to discuss parish ministry. Compassion coaching. What do you think!
Today is my day off. Last week I spent my day off getting ready for Ruby Austin's funeral on Tuesday, making a couple of hospital visits and then taking Sara to St Paul. Today I have my errands and projects that I'm looking forward to doing.
The idea for the Sunday sermon is brewing in my mind and I might try to write it down before it slips away.
When I finish this post I will do my "green thing" and put the laundry on the clothes line. Nothing better than line dried sheets! It's something I grew up with and I wonder if the neighborhood associations that don't allow clothes lines will change their policies and see it as a good energy choice.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
The Common Good
This is copied from the Website of Unknowing http://anamchara.com/
"This essay by Julian Edney is a few years old, but I just found it today. And it’s well worth reading, especially if you share my concern that we live in an increasingly uncivil society.
Who Stole the Common Good? The Shadow of Ayn Rand
Here’s a juicy excerpt:
So, do you want to find out if your friends, coworkers or spouse understand the common good? Some do, some don’t. Try a simple game you can play called the Nuts Game — with things you find around the house.
Three people sit around a kitchen bowl. You, the fourth person, with a timer, start off placing ten small items in the bowl — quarters, dollar bills, or nuts. Tell the three players the goal is that each of them get as many items as possible. Tell them one other thing before they start: every ten seconds (you have your watch ready) you will look in the bowl and double the number of items remaining there by replenishing from an outside source (a separate pile of quarters on the side).
I used to run this game with college students. You would think the players would have figured out that if they had all waited, not taking anything out of the bowl for a while, the contents of the bowl would soon have grown very big, automatically doubling every ten seconds. Eventually they could each have divided up a pot that had grown large. But in fact, sixty percent of these groups never made it to the first 10-second replenishment cycle. Group members grabbed all they could as soon as they could, leaving nothing in the bowl to be doubled (destroying the common good), and each player wound up with none or a few items. I saw the bowl knocked to the floor in the greedy melee. And even if allowed to try again, not all groups cooperatively worked out a patient, conserve-as-you-go playing style, necessary for eventual big scores. They didn’t trust each other."
Read the full article here.
(I might have to try the game some time!)
On family notes: Sara had a great time in Grand Rapids Michigan for the North Central Jurisdictional Conference. She text messaged ballot reports to me as we were thrilled to see David Bard rise to the top but, then she went on to report his gracious concession for the election of Julius Trimble. Sara is now with her grandparents in Troy, Michigan, for the week. Nick will be getting home from Son shine fest in Willmar today. Tomorrow he and and Beth will go to Wisconsin to see Janet, Bob, and Nathan.
"This essay by Julian Edney is a few years old, but I just found it today. And it’s well worth reading, especially if you share my concern that we live in an increasingly uncivil society.
Who Stole the Common Good? The Shadow of Ayn Rand
Here’s a juicy excerpt:
So, do you want to find out if your friends, coworkers or spouse understand the common good? Some do, some don’t. Try a simple game you can play called the Nuts Game — with things you find around the house.
Three people sit around a kitchen bowl. You, the fourth person, with a timer, start off placing ten small items in the bowl — quarters, dollar bills, or nuts. Tell the three players the goal is that each of them get as many items as possible. Tell them one other thing before they start: every ten seconds (you have your watch ready) you will look in the bowl and double the number of items remaining there by replenishing from an outside source (a separate pile of quarters on the side).
I used to run this game with college students. You would think the players would have figured out that if they had all waited, not taking anything out of the bowl for a while, the contents of the bowl would soon have grown very big, automatically doubling every ten seconds. Eventually they could each have divided up a pot that had grown large. But in fact, sixty percent of these groups never made it to the first 10-second replenishment cycle. Group members grabbed all they could as soon as they could, leaving nothing in the bowl to be doubled (destroying the common good), and each player wound up with none or a few items. I saw the bowl knocked to the floor in the greedy melee. And even if allowed to try again, not all groups cooperatively worked out a patient, conserve-as-you-go playing style, necessary for eventual big scores. They didn’t trust each other."
Read the full article here.
(I might have to try the game some time!)
On family notes: Sara had a great time in Grand Rapids Michigan for the North Central Jurisdictional Conference. She text messaged ballot reports to me as we were thrilled to see David Bard rise to the top but, then she went on to report his gracious concession for the election of Julius Trimble. Sara is now with her grandparents in Troy, Michigan, for the week. Nick will be getting home from Son shine fest in Willmar today. Tomorrow he and and Beth will go to Wisconsin to see Janet, Bob, and Nathan.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
A sermon to read
A thoughtful "Independence Day" sermon can be found at Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago by Rev John Buchanan. I know the "4th" is behind us but it is never too late to revisit our religious history and conversations about patriotism and the church and state debates.
Here's the link
http://www.fourthchurch.org/070608sermon.html
Here's the link
http://www.fourthchurch.org/070608sermon.html
Monday, July 14, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Can I get this through Cokesbury?
from the Associated press:
The pastor of a Kentucky church that handles snakes in religious rites was among 10 people arrested by wildlife officers in a crackdown on the venomous snake trade.
More than 100 snakes, many of them deadly, were confiscated in the undercover sting after Thursday's arrests, said Col. Bob Milligan, director of law enforcement for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.
Most were taken from the Middlesboro home of Gregory James Coots, including 42 copperheads, 11 timber rattlesnakes, three cottonmouth water moccasins, a western diamondback rattlesnake, two cobras and a puff adder. See http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25651899/>1=43001
....
No....as far as I know... Cokesbury doesn't carry any snakes in its religious supply catalogue...and if it did ..would snake handling supplies be in Worship, Christian Education, or Church Management Resources?
How about if you post comments about which category you would put it in, and why!
The pastor of a Kentucky church that handles snakes in religious rites was among 10 people arrested by wildlife officers in a crackdown on the venomous snake trade.
More than 100 snakes, many of them deadly, were confiscated in the undercover sting after Thursday's arrests, said Col. Bob Milligan, director of law enforcement for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.
Most were taken from the Middlesboro home of Gregory James Coots, including 42 copperheads, 11 timber rattlesnakes, three cottonmouth water moccasins, a western diamondback rattlesnake, two cobras and a puff adder. See http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25651899/>1=43001
....
No....as far as I know... Cokesbury doesn't carry any snakes in its religious supply catalogue...and if it did ..would snake handling supplies be in Worship, Christian Education, or Church Management Resources?
How about if you post comments about which category you would put it in, and why!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Borrowing quotes again
This was right from today's Upper Room Daily reflection:
WHILE DEFENDERS of Christianity attempt to barge through the front door of reason by arguing “the case for Christ,” the Holy Spirit has been slipping through the back door of imagination and effecting spiritual change from the inside out.
- Sarah Arthur The God-Hungry Imagination: The Art of Storytelling for Postmodern Youth Ministry
From p. 39 of The God-Hungry Imagination by Sarah Arthur. Copyright © 2007 by the author. Published by Upper Room Books.
"slipping through the back door of imagination..."
I believe that is what happened in the music that so moved us from the Agape Youth choir last night!
WHILE DEFENDERS of Christianity attempt to barge through the front door of reason by arguing “the case for Christ,” the Holy Spirit has been slipping through the back door of imagination and effecting spiritual change from the inside out.
- Sarah Arthur The God-Hungry Imagination: The Art of Storytelling for Postmodern Youth Ministry
From p. 39 of The God-Hungry Imagination by Sarah Arthur. Copyright © 2007 by the author. Published by Upper Room Books.
"slipping through the back door of imagination..."
I believe that is what happened in the music that so moved us from the Agape Youth choir last night!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
EVER-LOVING GOD, who having loved us loves us still, help us to hear again your word, “By this shall they know you are my disciples; that you love one another.” Turn our hostility into hospitality and our callousness into care. Through Christ, we pray. Amen.
- Rueben P. Job and Norman ShawchuckA Guide to Prayer for All God’s People
From p. 175 of A Guide to Prayer for All God’s People by Rueben P. Job and Norman Shawchuck. Copyright © 1990
From Upper Room web site
- Rueben P. Job and Norman ShawchuckA Guide to Prayer for All God’s People
From p. 175 of A Guide to Prayer for All God’s People by Rueben P. Job and Norman Shawchuck. Copyright © 1990
From Upper Room web site
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Back to work
This week it was back to work, catching up on some pastoral care matters, with more than a few people's health concerns. The meetings are back: Finance, Trustees, Nominations. Fair booth sign up is in process. The community grief group met in the building today and the Tues night Women's Bible study was on schedule. My weekly meeting with the lectionary group is Wed at 11 but I also plan to meet with some people about the Kavan service. We have the memorial service for Dick Kavan at 5 on Thursday evening plus the "funeral lunch" for another person earlier in the day. On Thursday at 8 the Agape Youth Choir from a UMC Church in Houston Texas will present a praise and worship concert and then they will stay overnight in the building. I have a wedding on Saturday (with Friday evening rehearsal of course.) . Hopefully this week I won't do what I did a couple weeks ago and forget to show up for a local clergy 'Book study/spiritual care group" that I am a part of. We are trying again for Thursday at 1. Oh yeah, don't forget some administrative matters. The wall is being removed in the Montessori class room and a new patch of asphalt got put down on the church driveway. And the Sunday sermons are always looming!
All this is to say that I forget just how busy it is sometimes just being in the church building. I've got enough to do and there is plenty going on. But then I get this...to remind me of what else I need to do...,,and this is what I can't forget to do.
By Henri Nouwen
You are Christian only so long as you constantly pose critical questions to the society you live in, so long as you emphasize the need of conversion both for yourself and for the world, so long as you in no way let yourself become established in the situation of the world, so long as you stay unsatisfied with the status quo and keep saying that a new world is yet to come. You are Christian only when you believe you have a role to play in the realization of the new kingdom, and when you urge everyone you meet with holy unrest to make haste so that the promise might soon be fulfilled. So long as you live as a Christian you keep looking for a new order, a new structure, a new life.
Source: Circles of Love
from today's inward/outward..see the side link.
So....have you got anything to do? You could read the thoughtful blogs of some people here on my links. You might get some "holy unrest."
Am I doing what I am here to do?
All this is to say that I forget just how busy it is sometimes just being in the church building. I've got enough to do and there is plenty going on. But then I get this...to remind me of what else I need to do...,,and this is what I can't forget to do.
By Henri Nouwen
You are Christian only so long as you constantly pose critical questions to the society you live in, so long as you emphasize the need of conversion both for yourself and for the world, so long as you in no way let yourself become established in the situation of the world, so long as you stay unsatisfied with the status quo and keep saying that a new world is yet to come. You are Christian only when you believe you have a role to play in the realization of the new kingdom, and when you urge everyone you meet with holy unrest to make haste so that the promise might soon be fulfilled. So long as you live as a Christian you keep looking for a new order, a new structure, a new life.
Source: Circles of Love
from today's inward/outward..see the side link.
So....have you got anything to do? You could read the thoughtful blogs of some people here on my links. You might get some "holy unrest."
Am I doing what I am here to do?
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Swenson Family
Hello! This is, in fact, not your usual Swenson broadcaster; it is Rory's daughter, Sara. I am writing to you now on his behalf so that he (and in a moment I) may continue to enjoy the company of his parents who are visiting this fourth of July weekend. It has been really wonderful to see them. Additionally, his sister, Lynn, and her husband, Mike, along with his brother, Randy, have all been visiting this week and all of the original Swenson family was together for the first time in countless years. At least three, probably five - I do not have the number. Either way, what you see below is a rather rare collection of people, all of whom love one another very much and were immensely happy to be able to spend a few days in one another's company.
We are , left to right:
Brother, from Moorhead MN
Sister, from Payson Az
Dad, from TRF(Scottsdale AZ in the winter)
Me, Brainerd
Mom, from TRF (and Scottsdale in winter)
We are , left to right:
Brother, from Moorhead MN
Sister, from Payson Az
Dad, from TRF(Scottsdale AZ in the winter)
Me, Brainerd
Mom, from TRF (and Scottsdale in winter)
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