Economics

In the twelfth grade I took a required course in economics. It is my only sojourn into that arena. Given the recent conversations in the news, Wall Street, and Washington, I am trying to recall what I learned that earned me an A on my report card back in the late 1980's.

Now, I don't recall much from class, only that for once in my high school career, I talked back to a teacher. (I was a nerd and bank geek.) My teacher was informing us that nothing is free in the world... and he went on and on and on listing things. His list was endless and his lecture was boring and irritating me to no end. So I muttered (all too loudly so that I could be heard), "Not true, salvation is free."

At that point the entire class stared at me, the teacher stopped mid-sentence, and seemed to burst a blood vessel in his bald scalp. Big pause. (Now I was a nerd, band geek, and Jesus freak- no wonder I wasn't very popular in High School!) He stuttered and stammered for a few moments and then picked up the rhythm of his speech again.

He is right about most things, but I also am right about salvation. it is not a commodity to be bought, sold, or earned. Just received. Thank God that isn't on the market today!

Reading List

My neighbor two doors down the administrative hallway from me writes about his writing and his reading on his blog. That is because reading/writing is his 'thing' and what his blog is all about. Wandering through his blogs today got me curious about what I have been reading lately...so here is my not so short, yet not so slim list.

• Quiet Strength (bio of Coach Dungy) is halfway finished on my nightstand.
• Embracing Parents: How Your Congregation Can Strengthen Families by Jolene and Eugene Roehlkepartian was just handed to our children's ministry coordinator to read for future use in our ministries.
• Helping Our Children Grow in Faith by Robert J. Keeley lies at my elbow waiting to be read.
• Prior to this week's list of books I finished a great book by Renita Weems, Listening for God,... actually it took me weeks to read this book because I read it very, very slowly like someone should sip their tea or drink their wine. All the unique flavors rolled on my tongue er.. I mean mind!
• Speaking of Todd, my neighbor, he is supposed to loan me The Shack now that it took him 24 hours to engulf the novel. Dude, I am waiting.
• After that maybe it will either be No Man is An Island by Thomas Merton or My Soul Waits by Marva Dawn to open my mind and stir my heart...

That is my reading list for autumn. What writing/reading is stirring your heart?

Bird Breath

My best blog material involves the dietary habits of the canine resident of our home. So here goes another tale...

Ever seen two nightgown and robe-dressed women (one pushing forty and the other four) running around their deck on an early autumn morning trying to retreive a bird from the jaws of their retriever? Yep- that was the photo op at my house this morning.

Our Duke pup brought a bird to the back door and then wouldn't let it go... I guess he thought it was a present or some kind of gift/offering. (YUCK) No wonder God isn't into animal sacrifice anymore- it is smelly and gross.

A pair of gloves, trash bag, and three dog biscuits later... bird was history. Sigh. So far this year our dog has eaten...

• 40 pounds dog food (a month)
• 20 pounds of small rock
• 1 box of Kleenex tissues
• 2 pillows from daughter's dollhouse
• 1 number '5' puzzle piece
• 2 halves of two differnet one dollar bills
• attempted one early morning bird

This is getting expensive to feed him!

Fall into Autumn

We've been noticing the changes in the world around us at our house lately. Dry leaves, less dandelions to collect, cooler night air, and sunsets during our after-dinner walk. Let there be no doubt that fall has arrived.

As soon as my allergies calm down and I can breathe & swallow freely, I plan on enjoying autumn's colors and cool breezes. Great football weather! For now I shall carrying my tissue box with me everywhere and try not to sneeze on strangers!

Retreat and Labyrinths

Yes, I forgot to tell you folks that I was indeed able to labyrinth this past retreat weekend! We used our portable labyrinth on Friday night for the ladies to reflect upon where they are currenltly on their faith journey and where they would like to be in the near future. Great exercise to consider how Christ is with us no matter 'where we are'!

And then on Saturday afternoon - when the sun was shining over Tipton- two of the ladies joined me on a walk on the outdoor Chartres patterned labyrinth. Wind gusts moved us about or was that the Holy Spirit?!

"Your steadfast love, O Lord, is as high as the heavens and your faithfulness extends above the clouds" was the Psalm verse that followed me along the labyrinth. Joy, celebration, and wonder at who God is and what God does for me and you... my toes even tingled from the wind and the walk!

Retreat Backlash

Every retreat experience concludes about the same... tears of joy, laughter over the inside jokes, and lots of packing of stuff... this year it was different. At least two of the three were different.

One of the ladies fell down the stairs and rode on an ambulance on the last morning- tears of pain! The gals packed everything the night before- very little packing was involved. Inside retreat jokes- laughter was the same.

Once home I crashed and slept awakening only to eat supper and go back to sleep. That too was normal retreat backlash. My body was tired.

My soul was touched by the beauty of the women and their souls. Sharing with several women one-on-one was awesome. Great talks! And I got to room with my sister in law and we have started a whole new dimension to our friendship! YEAH!

God is good! And it is good to be back.

Leaving for Retreat

A huge pile of food, supplies, crafts, worship items, easels, books, bibles, paper, etc have collected themselves along the wall of my office. Departure is 0200 hours tomorrow. my bag is not packed, my snack is not purchased... too much to do to get the retreat items ready and then get my family prepared for my absence (lots of mac-n-cheese boxes, pizza coupons left on the kitchen counter).

Ready or not- we go. Rain heads up the forecast so all outdoor worship activities will be brought inside. Nonetheless we will have a great time laughing, talking and talking, and talking, and laughing, and eating and talking, and laughing. We will pray. We will listen. We will be quiet. We will sing. We will learn to love Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit even more deeply than we already do!

Cannot wait- see you after retreat!

PS I get to walk a labryinth! Yeah!

Chapel Requests

Our kindergarten students exhibit delight and fascination! Tuesday mornings and afternoons around here two of us staff are privileged to hear these children sing, talk, and pray.

Their prayer requests are unique. I am sure that I have mentioned this before to some of you, but I am in awe of how the children want to pray for Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit. Sometimes adults who are listening miss this. The child's request to pray for Jesus is often misunderstood to be a prayer of praise or thanksgiving.

In reality I hear these children asking that Jesus is blessed, that he is healthy, that God is not lonely or afraid, and that the Holy Spirit is feels loved. 5 and 6 year old assign emotions and situation to our Trinune God that grown ups often overlook because we think we know better theologically.

It is true that our all powerful, all good, all knowing, all surrounding, and unchanging God doesn't NEED anything- but these kids get it that God enjoys our attention, our love, our devotion, our adoration... and praying for Jesus to have a good day is the way in which these kindergarten students express that theological truth.

So, today I shall join them and pray for Jesus, Holy Spirit and God!

It's Not About the Fish!

Catholics around here eat fish on Fridays during Lent, but have hog roasts for fundraisers. The United Methodists give up chocolate for Lent and have a fish fry for a fundraiser. The Mid West is weird.

Tomorrow is the day we open for business- fish frying business that is. My pies are baked and ready to go. Brownies go in the oven when I get home this afternoon. Tents parked on the burned out church lawn. Friers heated to sizzle. Signage litters the church campus. Soon everything will smell like grease and fruit pie! Ahhh- that's money in the church bank account, baby!

Really- it isn't about the fish. Nor is it about raising money- although that is often how we measure and compare one fish fry year with another. Mostly we do this fish fry thing as an exercise in team work, leadership, delegation, comraderie, patience, tolerance, dedication, faithfulness, follow through, etc. It is about being the people of God doing a huge, impossible project together that challenges and grows our faith in one another and God.

If you are in town, come on over- the pies are good and the fries are hot! Remember it's not about the fish!

Time to Walk a Labyrinth

You can tell it is time to walk and pray a labryinth when your thoughts get all cloudy & fuzzy and then they get all scattered & jumbled.

You can tell it is time to walk and pray a labryrinth when your prayer life feels stuck.

You can tell it is time to walk and pray a labryinth when your enthusiasm lessens, your patience thins, and your tolerance evaporates.

You can tell it is time to walk and pray a labryinth when your souls sighs louder than your stomach growls in the morning for breakfast.

Can you guess what I need to go do?