We're On a Mission From God

You Have Heard That It Was Said

2011-09-27T12:13:00.000-04:00

You have heard that it was said that our world is full of problems. Our policies are how we deal with them. But I say to you, step out of the box of the status quo, and use your God given creativity to do something new and different. We can go from a world of pointing fingers to a world of rejoicing and holding hands. Jesus challenged the status quo of his day. If we follow Jesus by emulating his example, we too can challenge the status quo. Jesus often used small statements to proclaim big ideas that inspire and spark the imagination. He asked a lot of challenging questions. We may recite creeds and hold on to doctrine that is rich in meaning and significance. But in living out our faith, we need to give the Holy Spirit some breathing room. Essentially, we look at our media, education, environment, economy, politics, and legal system through a critical lens as we wonder and ask why? Followers of Jesus have the opportunity to be the light of the world and ask, why not? While suffering under Pontious Pilate is a truth, it is not a solution. As Jesus thought outside the box of society and religious orthodoxy in his day, so too can we get out of our box and let the Spirit of God fall afresh on us.

Lets take a look at some of the powerful statements attributed to Jesus:

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5 RSV)
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid (Matthew 5:14 RSV)
You have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment. But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to council, and whoever says 'You fool!' shall be liable to the Hell of fire (Matthew 5:21-22).
You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you , Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matthew 5:43-44).
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And, if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand (Mark 3:24-25).

There are so many other statements from Jesus that we could take into consideration as well. The point is, we see that Jesus has a pattern of inspiring and challenging us. We do not seem to see him tell us to memorize a set of statements, but rather to think about our relationships. We are continuously called to love our neighbors without exception.

In addition to Jesus, there have been many of His followers over the centuries ready to live out His teachings. Enough so that most everyone is familiar with examples both famous and within small communities.  Are you outside the box yet?

Matthew Fox is among the many people who got out of the box. Matthew Fox is one theologian that gets outside of that box looking to renew our relationships with God and one another. His recently published book, Christian Mystics, contains a wealth of wisdom that comes from many Mystics both contemporary and ancient. In other words, Fox wrote a book full of people who got out of the box. They heard that it was said, but opted for something greater. On page 76, Fox first quotes Thomas Aquinas with the statement, "Joy is a human being's noblest act." From this statement, Fox makes a beautiful analysis:

"THIS IS AN EARTH-SHATTERING STATEMENT. It turns the past four hundred years of western European thinking upside down. Aquinas, one of the greatest geniuses who ever lived, does not declare that rationality is our noblest act; joy is. Joy is the beginning and the end of all we do; it is the best we do.
If Aquinas is correct, we can ask: Is our educational system operating from joy? Our media? Our politics? Our economics? Our religions? Our worship? If not, how do we change, so that joy and nobility guide our souls and society again? How do we keep alive our nobility as a species."

Matthew Fox is right to the point with his thoughts and questions. Joy is one of our spiritual fruits. How different would our institutions be if we immersed them in our spiritual fruit.  Mindfully practicing joy could make change of immense proportions. What if we add love, patience, and kindness, and peace to the mix?  In a world full of religious nuts, we could use some more spiritual fruit.

So, you have heard that it was said, the church is divided over the issues. But I say unto you, relax, rejoice, and worship together.   Love one another, praise God, live graciously and generously, and do not seek vengeance. Why not better prioritize our energies and let go of the controversy. Thus we will heal the church, right here, right now.

You have heard that it was said, some things never change. But I say unto you, it's time to step out of the box and let the Holy Spirit lead us to the Kin-dom of God. Grace, Peace, and Joy be yours. And Thanks, Praise, and Glory be to God. Amen.

Are you ready to answer the call?

2011-07-28T13:29:00.001-04:00

Now, as much as ever, we need help in so many ways. Money and other resources are scarce. There is much uncertainty for our aging population, those facing diseases the likes of cancer, HIV/AIDS, dementia, and so on. Autism is ever rising. Schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and families can use a helping hand. Are you ready to answer the call?

I could use your help. I am beginning to organize a group called "Call Light of Christ." We need people to join in an effort to volunteer time and resources. With recent cuts in government funding for the aging, could you help make a quilt or blanket? Do you have time and transportation to visit people? Can you read? Are you musically inclined? We all have various spiritual gifts and talents that can be offered to brighten someone's day. Together, we can network with each other and organizations to make someone's life a little brighter. People need you, we need you, God is calling you? Would you join with us?

Call Light of Christ's mission is to gather volunteers to use their gifts to serve God and people in an effort to improve life and relationships in our communities. Our only limits are God's will and our imagination.

Grace, Peace, and Joy be yours now and always,

Ted

Barely Missing The Rapture

2011-05-25T21:01:00.000-04:00

The enormous hype took over the headlines. A few followers cashed in their life savings. There were a multitude of natural disasters leading up to the big day, May 21, 2011 to be exact. For some the end of History seemed near; the inevitable and triumphant return of Christ filled their hearts and minds. Awaiting the return of Jesus with deep anticipation, some folks were watching, waiting, and looking up to be swept away. Well, we did not experience the Rapture. Some just barely missed the warm embrace of Jesus; those who awaited Rapture the most overlooked an experience with the Christ.
A parent only needs to look at their children to see a precious gift of God illuminated by the light of Christ. I personally looked to the aging as I worked a fourteen hour day. Through the staff of nurses, aides, housekeepers, and cooks, I could see the light of Christ shining. In the eyes of those residents, I could see the Face of Christ. Every good deed gave us another sign of God's love for us. Yet, some kept looking up waiting for Jesus to do something at a date and time chosen by a man. Jesus tells us that only the Father knows such things (see Acts 1:7). In the meantime let us do the work that Jesus provided for us (perhaps a good start is Acts 1:8; do not forget Matthew 25:31-46; always remember Micah 6:8).
We have the great opportunity to do God's work each and every day. A smile is a great first step. The warm embrace of Jesus Christ is also available to us; be alert, He's closer than you may think. If you are looking off into the Heavens, you are looking too far away. We may rejoice at the promise of spending eternity with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But we do not need to die or be swept away to begin that relationship. Open your eyes and you will see the Christ in front of you. Accept that Jesus can dwell and radiate within you. You are the light of the world; do not hide it under a bushel, it's the right time to let it shine. We're on a Mission From God. Yes, we can wait upon the Lord. But do not overlook Him; The Word Became Flesh and Dwells Among Us.

Depth and Breadth of Human Experience with God

2011-04-16T09:29:00.000-04:00

BIBLE is a word in most everyone's vocabulary. We hear it in our day to day lives. As a certified nurses aide I hear it used in a nursing home setting when people speak of care plans (the documented information about taking care of residents.)I hear the words, "your care plan is your Bible." Sometimes it annoys me to hear people speak of the Bible as a rule book. However, it may be more accurate to think of the Bible as containing the essential information to care for others (e.g. love your neighbor as yourself, love your enemies, I was hungry and you fed me). Anyway, I personally understand the Bible largely, though not necessarily completely, as a library containing the depth and breadth of the ancient Hebrew and Christian experience. This experience deals with human relationships between each other and God. We all continue to participate in our own breadth and depth of experience today. At times, our ancient counterparts can help us as we deal with our relationships today.

Sometimes we may get so self-centered that we think our own experience is unique, or worse, we no longer consider the importance of others' experiences. Until recently, I saw my depth and breadth of experience as unique. So many people have experience milking cows, going to college and studying History, working in health care, and participating in the ministry of Jesus Christ. But I must be the only one who has done all of the above, right? Actually, I was wrong. Not long ago, I had the amazing experience of encountering a new friend with a similar resume. In fact, we both had a B.A. in History from the same school, The State University of New York at Geneseo. He also dabbled in the dairy farm business, and also worked in health care for a very long time, both as a certified nurses aide and now as a nurse. This friend has tremendous accomplishments beyond mine, such as recently earning a doctorate. I am truly blessed to be able to learn from his depth and breadth of experience. This man has just entered the ministry of Jesus Christ, or has he?

In my friend's life, he has worked his land and cared for his cattle
(sounds a little like Abraham), he has visited and cared for the sick, he did much research and writing, and he has gathered in groups of two or more people mindful of Jesus in the act of worship. Authentic worship and service of God is ministry.

I believe in the "Priesthood of all believers." When we wake up, we are engaging in worship and mission. When we smile at other people, we engage the Holy Spirit. Our work is God's work. Some people dispose of garbage to help make our environment cleaner, some help children gain knowledge, skills, and experience, some care for the sick. Some people make and/or fix our transportation so that we can do our work and fellowship with family and friends. We are all involved with ministry. We are all on a mission from God. You don't need money, an institution, a college degree, or even a fancy suit. You just need to be aware of your surroundings and get ready to act accordingly.

Today I encourage you to add to your depth and breadth of human experience with God. Send a letter or card, even an e-mail to someone who has not heard from you in a while. Visit a loved one, or greet a stranger on the street. Be conscious as you smile at at least 10 people today. Write a letter of appreciation for a local representative in congress. Encourage others you interact with. Pay for something for a stranger (eg. if you go to McDonald's or Burger King using the drivethrough, put what you can toward the order of the person behind you and send them a note that God loves them). You can make today special for yourself and those in your midst. Blessings on your ministry.

A Simple Moment of God's Wonder and Embrace

2011-03-05T12:06:00.001-05:00

So many times we encounter the awesome wonder of God in our lives. It is my hope that you have, or at least will one day. For me, one such experience took place during the sacrament of Holy Communion. When I took the cup, a drop of that juice came out of that cup and landed on my pant leg. At first I was a bit disappointed with myself. But by God's amazing grace and loving embrace, that drop ran in two directions forming a beautiful heart shape that dried on the light colored pants. The spilling of the Lord's Supper turned into a beautiful image of God's love. I am certain that any Christian can give a testimony or two. But, the wonder of God's embrace never gets old. At times even in the easiest and simple of moments, God embraces us in such a way as to lift us to higher ground that we may feel and give inspiration. Thank you for taking the time to listen to this short story. May the awesome wonder of God's embrace touch you today.

Love,
Ted

WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD

2011-02-16T21:05:00.001-05:00

WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD

The focus scripture for our meditation is 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23...
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. For the wisdon of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. (NRSV)

As your body is the Temple of God, you must respect it, less you desecrate or destroy God's Temple. We ought to care for our bodies with healthy choices and habits. We can get good excersize, eat healthy, and get some rest from time to time. We may also harm God's Temple with intaking too many saturated fats, or gallons of high-fructose corn syrup, or through alcohol and/or drug abuse. We may choose to be too slothful. We may even poison our minds with what we spend our time looking at. Self-care is important. Be sure to make time for fun so that you may keep the depression away. However, The Temple of God is not just a personal matter.

As God created all of us, indeed God dwells within every individual. As Christians, Jesus the Christ specifically dwells within us and is connected to God. Thus, we are connected to God. For Christians, this state of interbeing is called the BODY OF CHRIST. In addition, those who are not Christians are still creations of God and are connected to us from our common origin. To further explain the concept of interbeing, we may take a look at an excerpt from a beautiful book, Peace Is Every Step, by Thich Nhat Hanh. This excerpt, found on page 95, states:

"'Interbeing'

If you are a poet, you will clearly see there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper. Without a cloud, there will be no rain; without rain, the trees cannot grow; and without trees, we cannot make paper. The cloud is essential for the paper to exist. If we can say that the cloud and the paper inter-are. 'Interbeing' is a word that is not in the dictionary yet, but if we combine the prefix 'inter-' with the verb 'to be,' we have a new verb, inter-be.

If we look into this sheet of paper even more deeply, we can see the sunshine in it. Without sunshine, the forest cannot grow. In fact, nothing can grow without sunshine. And so, we know that the sunshine is also in this sheet of paper. The paper and the sunshine inter-are. and if we continue to look, we can see the logger who cut the tree and brought it to the mill to be transformed into paper. And we see wheat. We know that the logger cannot exist without his daily bread, and therefore the wheat that became his bread is also in this sheet of paper. The logger's father and mother are in it too. When we look in this way, we see that without all of these things, this sheet of paper cannot exist." Likewise, when our human condition is understood in a state of interbeing, when we destroy, abuse, or insult another, we do so to the Temple of God and ultimately ourselves as well. All people are connected to our Creator, each other, and our environment. Take a look at verse 17: "If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple." Do not forget that others are The Temple of God as well. When we hurt each other and/or our environment, we ultimately hurt ourselves. Hurting one another and our environment, which is God's sanctuary, is not the way of God's Kingdom. But that is the way of the World.

The World is full of divisive forces that drive people apart. The World's ways include hierarchy (the understanding of a person or some people's superiority over others). Hierarchy can lead to such realities as slavery, racism, extreme nationalism (fear/hatred of other nations)and war, sexism, homophobia, imprisonment, domestic violence, human traffiking, and even workplace harassment. In the United States, we recently witnessed our president, who exhibited great compassion in his lifetime, ultimately receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Nevertheless, within weeks of receiving this prestigious award, this man called upon the United States military to escalate a violent conflict in Afghanistan. The ways of the world called President Obama to this decision. The world calls for violence, redemptive violence, the continuation of the cycle of violence, and honoring those who engage in violence. But God's ways are love, compassion, justice, forgiveness, reconciliation, restoration, rejoicing, and ultimately interbeing. The world's wisdom is God's foolishness.

We are the Body of Christ. All are the Temple of God. The Body of Christ is called to lead the whole Temple of God to salvation through Jesus Christ; that is, Jesus' teachings of God's Kingdom that lead us to interbeing.

Remember those beautiful words found in John 3:16-17...For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Sally The Golden Retriever: Episode 2 (back by popular demand)

2011-02-09T13:27:00.000-05:00

As Sally is alone in the desert she soon hears a loud whooosh!!! Sally quickly turns toward the sound and sees a large rainbow. Sally decides to continue toward this beautiful sight. Soon, Sally arrives at a large oasis with the rainbow coloring the sky above. She takes a drink a feels energized. A familiar voice calls her, "SALLY, MOVE ON...A MAN WITH A LARGE BOAT NEEDS YOUR HELP..."

Sally does as instructed and comes across a man with a large boat. He says, "Hiya pooch. I've never seen anything like you. My name is Noah and I'm supposed to collect two of every type of animal to put on this boat. I'm really not sure why. Will you come with me?" Sally thought the man was a little odd, but nevertheless follows him as she knew he needed her help. Noah was surprised to hear Sally say, "I was sent to help you, RUFF RUFF!!

Sally soon watches many an animal run swiftly past Noah. Noah gets frustrated as one animal after another runs past. Sally begins to give chase to the wild animals quickly rounding them up. Eventually Noah has two of every animal except for Sally, she's alone. Noah is concerned but simply trusts God to take care of the matter.

One day the rain came relentlessly pooring down. It continued for several days. Noah, Sally, and all the animals were safe in the boat as it began to float in the flood. Noah looked down as Sally saying, "Oh Sally, I could not have done this without you. Indeed God sent you to help me." Just then, a monkey swang grabbing a tree limb and landed in the water. Noah falls to his knees in disappointment and prayer. Sally lunges out of the boat herself and goes doggy paddling. Sally grabs the monkey with her teeth and hurls him back into the boat. Sally climbs back to the top of the boat to get back in. Suddenly, there is a big bump. Sally gets thrown far from the boat as she watches Noah and the animals fading away into the distance...

We will continue with Episode 2 next time

Continuation of Grab a Calculator...

2011-01-16T17:21:00.000-05:00

So the important date in history is your birthday!!! You are unique and special; God has a great plan just for you...It's up to you to discover that plan. So while the news focuses on our economy, the current state of war, celebrity gossip and any other bad news people can gather, someone great is entering this world just as you have.

Case in point: in the year 1809, what were the headlines? Well, France, led by Napoleon, invaded Austria: that's what the world focused on. Do we recall any details of that confrontation today? How significant was this major event of the time? Compared to the birth of children, the invasion of Austria meant little in the long run. Meanwhile, on February 12th, an infant came kicking and screaming into this world born in a humble log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. The baby's name was Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was not the only baby born in 1809. That year also introduced the likes of Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Darwin, Robert Charles Winthrop, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Alfred Tennyson,and William Gladstone among others.

Your birthday is significant too. Many lives may have came into being because of you. Perhaps you have done some great things. You definately shaped others around you in one way or another. Since you are reading this, you are still alive. God still has big plans for you. Remember that as you continue your life journey. Thank God for giving you life!!! May you make it good from this point forward. Whenever the day comes for you, Happy Birthday in advance. There is nothing quite like YOUR LIFE that expresses the awesome wonder of God...

Grab a calculator, I have a trick for you :)

2011-01-05T20:51:00.000-05:00

A special thanks goes out this week to Mark Townsend of the Progressive Christian Alliance. Mark wrote several books including The Gospel of Falling Down. I happened to receive this book as a present for Christmas this year. It certainly was an enjoyable read. Anyway, Mark at times helps evoke a sense of wonder that is often lacking in Church these days. Page 104 of The Gospel of Falling Down leaves the reader with a final magic trick. I wish to share this trick with you, all you need is a calculator.

"Take the number of the day of the month, on which you were born, And multiply it by 4, Now add 13, And multiply by 25, Now subtract 200, Add the number of the month on which you were born, And multiply the total by 2, Now subtract 40, multiply by 50, and add the last two digits of the year in which you were born, Finally subtract 10,500. Congratulations! You should be looking at a very important day in history" From The Gospel of Falling Down p. 104. (The date incidentally reads in order of day/month/year).

Go ahead and try this trick out. I will inform you of what important date this is in my next post coming soon...

For more on Mark Townsend's work see:

http://www.magicofsoul.com/

For those following my "Mindful Eating" plan, I managed to maintain weight over the holidays. I found that the practice of Mindful Eating is very simple, yet very challenging. It takes much work and practice...as personal change so often does. It works, it's not complicated, but much effort is required. I will keep you posted.

Text Message for 12/19/10: The Miracle of Childbirth (Taken from Text Messages from God)

2010-12-21T18:50:00.000-05:00

The text for this week is:
Isaiah 7: 10-16
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25

God's way of getting closer to people is through the birth of a child.

Text Message for 12/5/10: The Hope for Misfits this Advent (taken from Text Messages From God)

2010-12-10T20:01:00.000-05:00

The text for this week can be found at the following link:
http://gamc.pcusa.org/devotion/revised-common-lectionary/2010/12/5/

This weeks scriptures include:
Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72: 1-7, 18-19
Romans 15:4-13
Matthew 3:1-12

Many of us grow up watching Christmas specials on TV the likes of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman. Who could forget How the Grinch Stole Christmas or A Charlie Brown Christmas?. Often times the message from these programs is that we all have gifts so everyone should be included in Christmas (and everywhere else). We see attitutdes of hatred and intolerance transform into love, grace, and inclusion. But, is this the message of Christmas? Is this the hope we are offered through the liturgical season of Advent? What does the Bible say from our readings on the second Sunday of Advent? I assert that these familiar cartoons do indeed convey the hope of Advent and the message of Christmas. Don't take my word for it, compare the stories in these cartoons with the scripture for this week.

Starting with Rudolph, he was not allowed to play in any reindeer games. Even Santa told Rudolph's father that he should be ashamed of himself for having a young buck with a bright red nose. A young doe recognized Rudolph's goodness as did the misfit elf, Herbie that aspired to be a dentist. It was Christmas Eve in the middle of a blizzard that Santa recognized that Rudolph's bright red nose had an important purpose. Only Rudolph had the ability to guide Santa's sleigh that night. Herbie likewise became a hero. Herbie pulled the infected teeth from the abominable snowman helping him be friendly and happy. Rudolph and Herbie arrived at the Island of Misfit Toys on there travels. They made sure that Santa made the island his first stop that year and found homes for these delightful, yet heartbroken toys. Santa and many others learned the values of diversity, hospitality, and generosity in this beautiful story. But, are these values from the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Well, Romans 15:5-7 states: "May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of your Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." To me, these beautiful verses seem to sum up the whole message from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The Hebrew Prophet Isaiah states in chapter 11, verse 4 : "but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth." Isaiah makes me think of those misfit toys finally getting a home with children. What do you think?

Let us turn to the Grinch for a moment. He hates Christmas, people, joy, pretty much anyone and anything. With a new understanding and a new heart, the Grinch turns the story around. Matthew 3:2 states: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." The Grinch goes from greedy to generous, angry to happy, returning the many items he stole from homes in the village. The prophet Isaiah states in chapter 11, verse 6: "The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them." Was it not a child that changed the Grinch's heart? A child indeed led this angry and greedy outsider to practice joy and generosity. The wolf indeed lived with the lamb. Oh yes, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a story well in line with the Christian and Hebrew scriptures. I always liked that story of the Grinch. Now I know it's the Gospel. Psalm 72:4 may be illustrated by the Grinch as it states: "May he defend the cause of the poor of the people."

As for Charlie Brown, just read Robert Short's book, The Gospel According to Peanuts. There is no way I can explain it any better than Short's work already had. For Frosty and the many other classics, I'm giving you the ball and letting you run with it. There is little more you can learn from me on this weeks subject. Test the scriptures and the Christmas classics for yourself.

Is the Hope of Advent referring to the coming literal virgin birth of Jesus that we can believe in to go to heaven? Well, I'm all for eternal life. But the text message from God this week essentially states: THE HOPE OF ADVENT IS THE COMING REVOLUTION OF HOSPITALITY, GENEROSITY, LOVE, GRACE, AND INCLUSION!!!.

We know that there was no room in the inn for Jesus. Is there room for Jesus in your heart? Do you have the heart to let Rudolph play in the reindeer games? Like the Grinch, will your holiday season be more about giving than receiving? Will you see the beauty in Charlie Brown's Christmas tree?

Let us finish with Psalm 72:18-19 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever. May his glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen."

Grace, Peace, and Joy to you all, and Praise, Thanks, and Glory be to God, Amen.

Need to lose weight, get an assist from a Buddhist?!

2010-11-17T13:03:00.000-05:00

As a common U.S. citizen of the 21st century, I spent most of my life struggling with weight. As I entered full time work as a farm hand some years ago now, I found a cure for the problem...work really hard every day. The handling of nearly 100 straw bales a day to provide bedding in barns and calf hutches along with milking a few hundred cows as a part of a daily routine did wonders for a weight problem. I lost over 25 pounds in two weeks. And, I kept that weight off, until I left the dairy business.

In two months away from farming, I gained 20 pounds. Four years later, I find myself an additional 30 pounds heavier (total of 50) and recovering from a slipped disk. Well, it's time for me to get serious. Having weight fluctuate in my adult life may be a sign of a different problem...it's not genetics, perhaps there is a -problem with my behavior. I got working out again, with no real results. What's next?

One of my favorite authors just came out with a new book. The well-known Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, writes SAVOR: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life. One thing I never really tried to control is my eating habits. When I heard of this book, it seemed to speak directly to me. Perhaps all U.S. citizens could benefit from reading it. I began reading this on Saturday. I am taking my time getting through it and finding it useful. It applies the ancient Zen Buddhist teaching of mindfulness to eating. It's not so much about counting calories or carbs, it's about being aware of our eating (and other daily activities). So many of us snack mindlessly throughout the day, or gobble our lunch in the short time allowed to eat. So far, Savor is teaching me to take my time with food, think about it, be like a little kid noticing every detail of the food such as color, texture, and odor.

Within 5 days of reading this book and thinking about it, I do not know what I weigh, but I dropped a pant size. Sor far, so good. And, I'm really enjoying my meals, much more than before. It seems like I'm headed in the right direction.

The practice of mindfulness may offer much to a busy world. Mindfulness facilitates our minds and bodies to work together. It promises to improve relationships, make one more effective at their work, and improved physical and mental health. Does it work? What about the long term? I'm willing to give it a try. Perhaps learning from outside of my own cultural and religious "comfort zones" may offer a solution to some of my problems. Does anyone wish to join me, it could be fun.

Well, I will practice Mindfulness for a while and then give you an update as to some results. If you want to try, look it up. Get a book from Thich Nhat Hanh if you wish. Spend time in a Buddhist monestary if you are able. On my mission from God, I'm getting an assist from a Buddhist monk. What have I to lose... only excess weight. Thanks for following me this part of life's journey. If I succeed, I will share what I learn.

Love,

Ted

Reviewing Jason Derr's book, Towards a Theopoetic of the Cross

2010-11-08T09:31:00.000-05:00

My review of Jason Derr's book is not a traditional book review or critique. I wish to simply write about how Towards A Theopoetic of the Cross resonates with me. Jason Derr delivers an important message: People and governments continue to crucify Jesus to this day; we need to stop it. Christians are compelled to see Christ in our neighbors, especially the least and oppressed. Though many view the cross as a symbol of love, victory, and salvation, Derr challenges us to see the passion of the Christ relived through the continuous broken bodies of the oppressed. For us, the cross becomes a call to social justice. It's a reminder of the pain and suffering in this world. Governments continue to fail. The cross must compel us to facilitate change in a hurting world.

Enough of reading my thoughts, just go out and read Jason Derr's Towards a Theopoetic of the Cross. Gain your own insights. Derr is a bright young scholar with a MA in theology. Theopoetics is a beautiful subject comprised of theology, poetry and the like. It involves expressing God through art and poetry. For more information on Theopoetics, see www.theopoetics.net (Thanks to L. Callid Keefe-Perry).

You can get Jason's book at Amazon from the following link: http://www.amazon.com/Towards-Theopoetic-Cross-Jason-Derr/dp/1450565808/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1289228415&sr=8-1

Enjoy. Thanks to Jason Derr for offering us such a challenging message. May we respond appropriately.

Memories of 9/11/01: A Call to be Childlike

2010-09-14T10:04:00.000-04:00

I remember having the great opportunity of teaching Global Studies to ninth graders as a rookie student teacher. The events of that September day presented me with a “teachable moment” throughout my student teaching experience. The events also brought some startling realities into light. Our beautiful country well protected by those two large oceans is not as safe as we once thought. Additionally, I learned something about our youth (although I may be left with more questions than answers about them).

First, I heard that a plane crashed into the World Trade Center. My cooperating teacher and I immediately turned the classroom television to CNN. We discussed the incident thinking that it looked like an attack. Soon, a second plane struck indicating that we indeed had an enemy at work.

After a few moments of watching the incident, we notice a room full of students laughing and making fun of the people on the screen. We also witnessed The Twin Towers fall to the ground. Of all the horrible scenes from this tragedy, the one thing that shocked me the most was the student response. Were these kids so evil that they would laugh at a terrorist attack on their own country? They probably were not that bad. My mentor and I figured that these kids simply thought this was some kind of movie or television show. My mentor, after giving the kids the benefit of the doubt, explained to them that this was real life. People truly caught fire and leaped out of windows 90 stories high. Perhaps hundreds of questions went through my mind that day.

Does our culture expose our children to so much violence that they laugh at acts of terrorism? Did we harden the hearts of our children to a point of having no compassion or empathy for people? Have we desensitized our children to pain, suffering, death, and destruction? Would these kids not realize or care if our country were taken over today? How could anyone find any of this funny? Is this an attack by foreigners or by our fellow Americans? What is the biggest threat to America, these attacks or these kids that find them funny? If we had no firefighters or police officers, how much worse would this be?

Anyway, within a day I saw a group of transformed students hit by the reality of our situation. Conversation with everyone–the young and old–from all walks of life–obsessed with the events of 9/11.

Surprisingly, I found myself as a rookie teacher leading some of the most engaging and interesting class discussions I ever heard at any level of my education. With kids, I found open minds that were very interested in the causes of these attacks. The beautiful minds of these ninth graders engaged in discussions about changing our relationships with each other and how we should conduct our foreign policy. We questioned what it is to be human and how we might commit similar acts if we had the same upbringing. Most of the children concluded that responding to the attacks with more violence would only continue the cycle. How else would America handle the situation? That question was and still is harder to answer.

What lessons can I reflect on 9 years after 9/11/01? We still have much hate, blame, and propaganda in our media. As a society, we seem to still have the same lust for violence as we did after being attacked. As someone who had the pleasure of both working with kids in a classroom and having four of my own, I know that to solve our problems with our enemies requires the open mind of a child.

Jesus compels us to repent; changing and renewing our minds is part of following Christ. Jesus also reminds us to be childlike. The open mindedness of our youth may be the answer to the worlds most serious problems!! As children we tend to learn to share. We learn to be polite and not to insult each other. There are no limits to what children can teach us about this world and its problems. On this September 11th, will you sit down with a child and ask them what the nations and leaders of this world can do to get along better? Should we compare 10 sessions of congress with 10 days in a kindergarten classroom? Which do you think functions better? On this September 11th, lets be more childlike as we engage our biggest conflicts.

Jesus is Not a Science Experiment

2010-09-04T10:57:00.001-04:00

I just watched an interesting debate dealing with Christ rising from the dead. Renowned scholar and theologian, Marcus Borg, spoke of the meaning behind the "Easter stories." Borg asserted that Jesus was exulted to the right hand of God. He further explained that the early Christians in the first century had many experiences with the Living Christ and that Christians still do today. Borg did not find the literal truth of the "empty tomb," and/or anything about the corpse of Jesus to be essential to our faith. Some of the more conservative scholars expressed anger and frustration with Borg while asserting that our faith is totally dependent upon the physical body rising from the dead.

To cut through the dry detail a bit, each scholar offered solid arguments to present their own understanding. All believed in the reality of experiencing the Living Christ. Borg argued that our true and real walk with Jesus doesn't require our ability to take a picture or video of us standing next to Him.

I notice that many people seem to judge the legitimacy of religion upon scientific proof. Some atheists assert that if you can't see God physically standing in front of you, God therefore does not exist. Some Christians try to go so far as to say that science is wrong (so far as theories of the origins of life are concerned) in order to prove the existence of God. Nevertheless, JESUS IS NOT A SCIENCE EXPERIMENT. Scientific method requires (at least at this point) repeatable experiments that can show observable results. Often, our society values the tangible over the existential as our worldview as a culture is based on science and reason. As no one has yet figured out a way to set up an experiment to have others find God through a repeatable exercise, we cannot offer real proof to help others discover God. What we do have is testimony of our own experience.

So far I offered a bunch of mumbo jumbo....so what? My point is that Christians can rest easy when it comes to debating the truth. Jesus told his disciples to follow him. He also instructed them to build community, heal the sick, help the oppressed, and so on. We do not have to waste time and energy on proving anything....we only need to experience the Living Christ. From our experiences, we can then share our walk with others. When it comes to Faith, keep it simple!! Do what Jesus taught us to do instead of what we are taunted and tempted to do. We need to show compassion to others while we offer grace, forgiveness, and healing. Testimony is okay too. Some things that we are not told to do is provide proof, make threats and demands, be judgmental, hold grudges, or use violence. In fact, we are told not to do these things, right? How about doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God for a welcome change?

Your thoughts on this are quite welcome. So, what's my story/testimony. Perhaps I'll share that in the near future.

May Grace, Peace, and Joy be Yours!!! Thanks and praise be to God!!! Amen.

Introducing Sally the golden retriever

2010-07-25T17:45:00.000-04:00

Sally is a beautiful dog that enjoys kids and adults alike. She generally gets along with other dogs as well. Sally's mother is an indoor dog only and her father is still a mystery to this day. The owners never had her mother bred. As a house dog, Sally also has a lucrative outdoor retreat of her own. The story of Sally not only entertains us, but it has the power to transform our lives and our communities. Use caution as you proceed with your reading.

One evening while in her state of the art outdoor dog mansion, Sally heard a deep and loud voice say, "I GIVE UP." Sally steps outside of that doghouse and sees an awesome spiritual being with a tear running down His cheek. The great spirit says, "People just don't get it. They continue to engage in war, divisiveness, hate, gangs, sarcasm, put downs, and all sorts of awful things. People can take large automobile companies that are flat broke and fix them, but they can't even stop an oil leak from destroying a beautiful body of water and many inhabitants. Half of the people in the world are overweight and the other half are starving....I'm not sure which half is worse off. There are people on TV talking about Jesus for a few minutes and then they try to sell people something...worse yet they tell people to get out a credit card to place their order...enough is enough. I GIVE UP ON PEOPLE FOR NOW. ONLY A DOG CAN PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. "

Sally is not so sure what the spirit is speaking about but she gently nudges up against Him anyway. The spirit says, "exactly my point, Sally. I need you. Now, FETCH!!! (the spirit throws a stick into a pond)." After a loud splash, the spirit says, "Sally, you are now baptized!" A large mallard duck flings out of the pond high into the air and the heavens open up. A loud voice proclaims, "Sally, you are my daughter, with whom I am well pleased." Just then a large flaming human tongue came out of the sky and landed on Sally. Although Sally did not yet know, beginning at that moment, Sally could speak and understand all human languages. Sally returned to her dog house with the stick and took a nap after all of this excitement. Upon waking, Sally saw that her dog house became filled with electronic equipment. There was a big bone hanging from above. Sally grabbed the bone and soon entered a new dimension. Sally found herself alone in the desert.

Tune in next time for more about Sally. Grace and Peace be with you.

Dad, I got a troll!!

2010-06-26T13:50:00.000-04:00

Quite recently, a man with an autistic son had a nice adventure. As a father of an autistic son myself, I can relate a little bit. The child in this story is 19 years old. His father wanted him to stay home alone for the first time as he acquired a lot of independence over the years. The father tried to leave him for an hour. He gave his son his cell phone number in case of an emergency. He explained that he would only be gone about an hour, but would return sooner if necessary. About 20 minutes into the trip, the father gets a phone call from his son. The boy says, "Dad, I got a troll." The father got a chuckle out of that and explained that there was no troll and he would return shortly. Immediately, the phone rang again and the boy explained that he really had a troll and asked his Dad to return to see him. So, the father decided that his son could not quite handle being alone at that moment and he returned home right away.

Upon his return, the father noticed that his son barricaded the closet!! His son explained that the troll was in there. With some discussion, a knock quickly came from inside the closet door. The father immediately cleared the way to the door. When he opened it, there stood a midget. The midget worked for the census bureau and stopped by looking for some information. He probably did not expect to be mistaken for a troll.

Jesus teaches us to welcome the stranger. He may not have implied to lock them in the closet, nevertheless, this boy was excited to find a stranger in his midst. It is also interesting how we perceive those who we know nothing about. We do not need to be autistic to misunderstand someone. When it comes to autism, let me know if you ever fully understand it. May God's grace and peace be with you. We're still on a mission from God,

THE GOLDEN RULE IS ILLEGAL

2010-06-16T20:43:00.000-04:00

When one must break a law to show compassion to his or her neighbor, the face of oppression is unveiled. When a state encourages police officers to pull over Hispanics driving to and from work because their skin color is suspicious, racism lives and breeds. When the word Muslim is accepted as a synonym for Terrorist, ignorance darkens the light of comprehension and courage. When a Democrat serving as a senator cannot go out to dinner with a Republican without a scandal to follow, our fellowship is lost. Society tells us to look for Satan in our neigbors. Jesus tells us to love our neighbors. When we love our neighbors, we see our Lord in them. Nevertheless, at some levels in our beloved America today, the golden rule is illegal. America can use some prophetic resolve as many demonstrated before us.

Remember Rosa Parks; she remained seated to stand up for countless others. Remember Harriet Tubman and others who helped run the Underground Railroad. Have you heard of Victoria Claflin Woodhull? She ran for president in 1872 under the Equal Rights Party decades before women had the right to vote. Her campaign was symbolic and barely remembered. However, her interpretation of the Constitution helped facilitate an idea that paved the way to the nineteenth amendment. The farmer, Worthy Taylor, told his hired hand, Jim, that he did not have enough money or prospects to make his daughter a good husband. Jim went out and got himself some prospects as he later became President James Garfield. Does the Bible have any insight on this?

God's call to liberation and justice did not start with people in the United States of America. The Ancient Hebrews, for example, had their fair share of justice and liberation struggles. God compelled Moses to go to Pharoah and say "let my people go!" God made a covenant with Noah that made ALL of creation into a family. One fellow did not care to follow the call to preach with prophetic voice; he got swallowed by a giant fish. Jonah learned the hard way that God supports us. Loving God and our neighbor is especially hard when it requires illegal activity. Do know that God is with us.

Encountering Propaganda Part II

2010-06-13T21:04:00.000-04:00

I might have gone a little crazy over the game Monopoly. However, what we focus our attention on probably impacts our morals and behaviors (not to mention thoughts and feelings) after a while. These days there are video games that engage kids in activities like stealing cars and hurting police officers among other illegal and/or violent activities. The point I try to make here is really simple. We need to be mindful of the activities that we and our kids engage in. What are we doing to incorporate moral values into our daily routines? Are we engaging the culture with good news or are we allowing our culture to dictate the news to us? In a media-soaked culture, there is a lot of garbage thrown at us day after day. We have the freedom and the brain cells to engage in positive living. We can help or hurt others, it's our choice. We can raise our kids on compassion and justice, or we can let mass consumerism inject it's message into their minds. We can be proactive with our decisions and habits. The more good decisions we make, the better off we and those around us will be. There is a higher power than the products, materials, and the media we see day after day. Enjoy life, until next time.

Ted

Encountering Propaganda: A look at Propaganda in Nazi Germany and in Our American Culture

2010-06-05T20:06:00.000-04:00

Have you ever played the game, Monopoly? It sure can be fun. It's a little unpredictable and very competitive. Additionally, kids can learn a lot of skills about financial management from Monopoly. One could argue that despite Monopoly's good qualities, there is a destructive lesson to learn from playing the game. Ultimately, the object of Monopoly is wipe out your friends, parents, and siblings (and/or anyone else who may be playing). It's nice to win and succeed, but in Monopoly, everybody but the winner fails miserably. Well, it's only a game. Right? With an ever widening gap between the rich and poor (with an emphasis on the increasing numbers of those in poverty) in America, perhaps the game we grew up on for decades has influenced our society in profound and destructive ways.

May we turn for a moment to Germany in the early 20th century? Many Germans played a popular board game in that time that we translate as "Get the Jews Out." A "fun" game where kids went around the town with their siblings, parents, and friends in a quest to remove as many Jews from their homes and businesses as possible. The end result is a happy, healthy, and prosperous society. The winner is the one who removed the most Jews from the neighborhood. "Everyone" wins with a happier, healthier, and wealthier community. Considering the Hollocaust, was "Get the Jews Out" just a game?

Now, I'm not suggesting that the creation of a board game or two could ruin a society. However, we may be likely to imitate big ideas and themes that we repeatedly encounter from the time we are children. So what made so many perfectly normal people in Germany become so cruel to some people? What themes and ideas may be leading our society in 21st century America down a destructive and perhaps cruel path? What propaganda do we encounter on a regular basis? I will continue engaging these questions in the next part of this blog.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Going through the BIBLE in 5 Letter Words

2010-05-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

Go ahead and open up your B-I-B-L-E. You'll quickly learn about the creation of the
E-A-R-T-H. When it comes to God and His chosen people, we learn about many characters such as the likes of:
A-B-R-A-M (who would become Abraham, the "father" of the three religions--Judaism, Christianity, and Islam--2 more would make 5), M-O-S-E-S (who led the early Hebrew people for a time, helped his people escape from slavery, and collected 2 sets of 5 beautiful commandments along the way), A-A-R-O-N and
J-A-C-O-B also engage in the story of the Hebrew people. We also learn about a young Shepherd who would become King; a man called D-A-V-I-D. It gets even more interesting, if you refuse to follow God's call in your life, you can get swallowed by a whale (or other giant fish)--just ask
J-O-N-A-H. So there is a brief introduction to the Old Testament...at least for those who never read any of it before. For a more exhaustive reading, just open a Bible.

Now for the message of the New Testament:
Here, we enter the times of our Lord J-E-S-U-S. The traditional message of salvation through
J-E-S-U-S is actually a formula of five letter words. With that in mind, it is interesting that the word five only consists of four letters. Anyway, the formula goes a little something like this:
J-E-S-U-S died on the C-R-O-S-S. So, through our
F-A-I-T-H in J-E-S-U-S, we can be S-A-V-E-D by God's G-R-A-C-E.

Now you know how to get S-A-V-E-D through five letter words. Want more interesting Bible knowledge, take a class on the Bible as literature. Or, just read a Bible.

May the G-R-A-C-E and P-E-A-C-E of J-E-S-U-S be with you all until next time,

Ted

Lessons From Grandma (In Loving Memory of Eleanor Leach, my dear grandmother)

2010-04-24T22:24:00.000-04:00

With the loss of a dear grandmother this week, I find a shift in my routine and have an opportunity for reflection. Grandmothers are great preparation for our mission from God. They often tell us how good we are and shower us with hugs, kisses, and cookies. At least this was the case with my Grandma Leach.

My grandmother, Eleanor Leach, lived an active and productive life. She raised her eight children including my dear mother and several aunts and uncles. Perhaps I should mention that all eight turned out to be great people. Her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren totaled 72!! I am grateful that myself and my children are a small part of that big number. We do not have to read very far in our scriptures to see the command to be fruitful and multiply. This is just one of many examples of how Grandma kept the commandments.

In addition to caring for so many children and grandchildren, Grandma also helped with a family dairy farm for several years. There, she and Grandpa applied a serious work ethic and taught her children to do the same. Personally, I can partially trace my ten years of farm experience back to my grandparents.

Grandma complimented her duties with a strong spiritual life. She had a relationship with Jesus and encouraged others to do the same. Grandma consistently lived out Jesus' teachings of compassion toward all who she encountered. She never seemed to cease from telling myself and her other grandchildren how good we were and reminded us not to ever change that. I never encountered anyone more warm, sweet, kind, or compassionate than Grandma. Her attendance and service to her church will undoubtedly remain in the hearts and minds of her fellow parishioners. There is no greater saint than my dear Grandma Leach.

At this time I am thankful that Grandma lived with much independence until the end of her life. As someone who cares for the aging, I know first hand what some people go through needing others to take care of basic daily activities for them. I am especially thankful for all the lessons I learned from Grandma. If I greet everyone with the warmth that Grandma showed me, I can imagine how great my relationships at all levels could be. With my four children, I can apply the family values handed down to me, such as carrying each other' s burdens. Grandma built family and community around a well prepared dinner table as well as anyone else I ever knew. Quite honestly, Grandma's profound example of interacting with people, if applied, could make this world a better place. Perhaps more negotiations over dinner would more efficiently solve our world's conflicts.

For all of us touched by the life of Eleanor Leach, we are truly blessed. To say that being her grandson is an honor, privilege, and blessing is perhaps an understatement. May Grandma's lessons be as eternal as her soul. May those of us who knew her carry on her lessons with others in our lives. I have no doubt that others have many additional great things to say about Grandma not even touched upon by my words. And in closing, as Grandma did so well, may we find the pathway of happiness through Jesus Christ, our LORD.

Go now in Peace,

May the Peace of Christ go with us,

Have a most wonderful day,

May many blessings come your way.

God walks with us wherever we are,

Through joys and trials, both near and far.

Together, We're on a Mission From God.

Where is God? Does God Hate Us? Part 2

2010-04-17T00:13:00.000-04:00

And now the continuation from my previous blog:

There are so many reasons why we may wonder where God is or if God actually hates us. So far, I have not even touched on the many starving children in our world. We see in the post-Easter story from John 20:19-31, that one of Jesus' disciples, Thomas, struggled greatly with his faith in the risen Christ as told to him by the others. Most people probably come across similar doubts in their lifetime. With so much evil in our world, that is no surprise. Through the path of doubt and woundedness, Thomas finds authentic Christian faith and community.

Jesus gives Thomas much reason to regain his lost faith and trust. Jesus shows his wounds to Thomas. Thomas then touches them. There is much more to this story than "scientific evidence" of the crucifixion and resurrection. Here, Jesus shows his humanity to Thomas. Jesus is WOUNDED!! Jesus entered his life as a baby just as we all do and suffered the horrors of the world. Jesus faced oppression, rejection, hatred, and suffering just as we all do from time to time. Jesus walked our common lot and can relate to the challenges, failures, fears, and temptations that we face day after day. Whenever two or more gather to share their doubts, fears, wounds, and joys with one another, the result is authentic Christian community. There is profound faith practice in this story of "doubting" Thomas. As we ask good questions, we find answers. As we touch each other's wounds, we facilitate healing. As we dare to honestly doubt our faith, we encounter our LORD. As we choose to walk with God, we add to the magnificent stories that date back to the early Hebrew and Christian traditions.

Remember Moses and the Exodus; God empowers people to stand against oppression and slavery. With the story of Job, we see how difficult life can get for one person. We also see the beauty and glory that comes with persevering in our faith and trust in God. David is one of many examples that show us how profoundly God works with people who make mistakes along the way.

No matter how tough the situation, God may give us that glimpse of light within the darkness. God can be that flower sticking through the cracks of the cement. God may give us the desire to continue this life with the hope of better days and profound purpose ahead.

For more great stories, dust off a copy of the ancient scriptures of the Hebrew and Christian traditions (i.e. the Bible). If you are interested in learning "how to read through the bible by simply using 5-letter words", look for my next blog. We're on a mission from God. It's not always an easy journey, but we can learn about perseverence and the strength of authentic fellowship from "The Compassionate Scriptures."

*Coming soon: "The Bible in 5 Letter Words"*

WHERE IS GOD? DOES GOD HATE US? part 1

2010-04-13T20:24:00.000-04:00

I write after spending a day of doing what I did not want to do. The breaks from the car nearly caught fire as they melted off a hubcap. It was a scary and costly day. With plans of productivity in mind, my family faces a need for emergency repair with a cost of approximately two weeks pay. Ouch, not fun. Nevertheless, it's interesting that we need the repair immediately after obtaining some money (well more than necessary to make repairs). We also find a place just a few feet away to put the car back into good order. It took a few hours waiting for parts and repairs. In the meantime, my family spends some quality time together with a walk to a local park. Anyway, despite our misfortunes, we thank God that the situation happened at a perfect time and place. We had the right location, money, and time necessary to take care of the problem. When life works out, both having faith and putting trust in God is very easy, even in a tough time. But what about the really hard times? What if, "things don't work out?"

Many are familiar with the cliche-- "If THE LORD brings you to it, HE will put you through it"--or some variation of this statement. People have good intentions to say these words, but they do not convince everyone. We live in a real world with big problems. Parents sometimes lose their children to the horrors of war (or many other tragedies). At times, young women face horrible evils such as gang rape. Some children suffer from abuse, beatings, molestation, and death by those with authority over them; sometimes even loved ones. WHERE WAS GOD WHEN THAT HAPPENED!!? Many people lose loved ones to tragedies. Some people have the experience of walking into a room to find that a loved one committed suicide. God did not "put them through it;" their time here on Earth is all over. In fact, some people go through more than one of the above tragedies (or others) at or around about the same time!!! Some people lose their babies and toddlers to cancer. Go tell the above people to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and see where that gets you!! To many of them, God is absent, dead, hates them, and/or simply does not love or care for them.

TO BE CONTINUED....

Look Up and Lighten Up!!!

2010-04-07T23:00:00.000-04:00

Testimonies can be powerful ways of sharing the Gospel. Today, I wish to share a nice experience and some lessons I learned from it with you. As I awaited the birth of my second child, I also realized that a dream of mine was not meant to be. We all experience failure in life. Sometimes the more failure we have leads to great success and happiness. Disappointment is sometimes a part of life. Anyway, I felt a real need for guidance and security in my life at that time. As I still worked as a farmhand in those days, I just finished scraping the barn with a tractor (that means cleaning the barn by removing the manure for those without this experience). I sat on the seat of that tractor and began to pray. I just asked God for some guidance and wisdom to help me be a good father and to find some new direction in life. With the Amen closing that prayer I soon found out that a pigeon stood on a beam straight over my head. SPLAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh how I appreciate wearing that old hat that evening. I never did get the stain off from it. At first, I was a little angry. I don't recall all the things that I yelled toward the heavens, but I do remember my frustration. Well, within a moment or two, it hit me. I laughed and laughed as I realized it may be God's way of telling me to lighten up, have a little fun, and keep a sense of humor. To this day, having fun with the kids and with my work is how I like to spend much of my time. I also found that enjoying ourselves is something that we have a lot of control over--and it's good advice to practice joy on a regular basis.

If you have not yet got in your laugh for today, I hope I helped a little. Have another two or three laughs while you are at it. Jesus reminds us that not everything in life is a burden, "my yoke is easy, my burden is light." Remember, part of our mission from God is to enjoy life to the fullest. You do not even have to feel guilty afterwards (please don't get your humor at another person's expense so that this holds true). Remember to get in your Sabbath time this week. I do hope you all had a nice Easter. Until later, Shalom.

Celebrating The Gospel With Shrek And Donkey!!

2010-03-25T16:59:00.000-04:00

The Shrek movies from Dreamworks continue to entertain many children and adults alike. A story that connects generations and outlasts the fads and fashions of its day offers much to a culture. What makes Shrek so appealing? Fresh takes on old familiar fairytale figures enhances the entertaining quality. Shots of drama, action, love stories and comedy give people something to enjoy. Battles of good vs evil featuring eccentric and egotistical larger- than- life characters do generate interest. All of these qualities mixed with the modern computer technology that generates such visually stimulating scenes make for great entertainment, but one aspect of Shrek profoundly stands out above and beyond these exciting elements.

The storyline of the Shrek movies truly demonstrate the Gospel message. We have a community misfit go on a journey. Many people in his community do not like him and make many efforts to get rid of him. He comes from from a humble home (in a swamp of all places). He meets others along the way and forms a community of friends who stick together in fellowship caring for one another and standing against the oppressive powers of society in the face of adversity. The powers continue to take away everything that this community has and consider its members to be a lower and less acceptable class. With a little time, close relationships develop and lives begin to transform. Shrek gains the respect of the community as he rescues Princess Fiona from Lord Farquaad. Like Jesus traveling to Jerusalem in this Sunday's Palm Sunday story, Shrek arrived in front of the masses with a Donkey! Princess Fiona escapes bondage and a curse as she excepts both her unlikely companion and true self. Donkey gains close friends and a mate of his own. By the end of Shrek the Third, we see multiple cases of forgiveness and reconciliation between former enemies. We also see not only personal lives transform, but also all of societies fairytale creatures repent their attacks against each other and reconcile. They begin to rejoice as they look into their own personal wounds and failures and share them with each other. We see the least, lost, and unusual rise from the dead of their sad lives into new life with the fellowship of community. The Shrek movies exemplify love, respect, justice, forgiveness, acceptance, repentance, fellowship, and reconciliation. Has any story ever portrayed these concepts better than the story of Shrek, Donkey, and Puss in Boots from Shrek 2? A would be cat assassin ultimately joins the fellowship of Shrek and Donkey after attempting murder (perhaps the apostle Paul can relate to this).

As we gather to celebrate Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on his donkey this Palm Sunday, let us not forget to remember the Gospel of Shrek and Donkey. May we remember the invaluable lessons of love, respect, justice, forgiveness, acceptance, repentance, fellowship, and reconciliation for this Palm Sunday. May God continue to bless you and yours. Remember, like Shrek, we're on a mission from God.

A Familiar Stranger for St. Patricks Day

2010-03-17T14:52:00.000-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone. It is my wish to share a beautiful piece from the Celtic tradition in honor of St. Patrick's Day. This one is titled The Familiar Stranger and is a Celtic Rune of Hospitality.

A Familiar Stranger

I saw a stranger today

I put food for him

in the eating-place

And music

in the listening-place.

In the Holy name

of the Trinity

He blessed myself

and my family.

And the lark said in her warble

Often, often, often

Goes Christ

in the stranger's guise

O, oft and oft and oft,

Goes Christ

in the stranger's guise

Celtic Rune of Hospitality

May God continue to bless you and yours now and forever, Amen.

This Fellow Welcomes Sinners And Eats With Them

2010-03-14T19:31:00.000-04:00

Luke's Gospel reading for this week includes the delightful parable by Jesus that we call "The Prodigal Son." Indeed, it is one of my favorite stories. Before we dive into this great story, let's look at what some people had to say about Jesus --And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them" (Luke 15:2 NRSV). What does this mean for followers of Christ? We receive profound Grace and acceptance from our Lord, and, we get a second chance in our lives. I do hope everyone receives profound acceptance in life at least once or twice. God blessed me with Grace and acceptance several times in my life. Most recently, a precious lady friend of 100 years in age gave me a gift today. I never knew how extraodinary a small gift with great love could be until today. I received her best wishes on my path of ministry and a beautiful collection of inspirational writings to use on my journey. It is a tremendous priviledge to share a piece of that with you today. Here is an excerpt from a booklet, Rise up Each Day, from Salesian Inspirational Books:

Heal Us

Please heal us, precious Jesus,

Please heal each bewildered soul,

Cast out every fear, and dry every tear,

Just whisper the words, "Be whole."

For Thou hath made the crippled walk,

And made the blinded see.

The withered hand has been restored.

now heal us, Lord, we plea.

We do recall that Thou did say,

"Just ask," and we will receive.

Oh, may our faith not waiver, we pray.

Thy words...we do believe.

Amazing grace-to us is given.

Let all anxious moments flee.

With Thy tender care, please hear our prayer.

Now, heal us, Lord, we plea.

Edna Massimilla

I am truly amazed that a 100 year old woman could use a small gift to touch my heart and give me a tool to inspire countless others all within a mere moment. I am also truly blessed to work with our aging population. For those who do not, I highly recommend spending some time visiting them.

Some words from this Sunday's lectionary reading remind me of the countless inspirational moments in my life and the transformation I see over and over again in the lives of others who follow Christ , So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation (Corinthians 5:17 NRSV). These words that speak of a renewed life reconciling with others fits nicely with the story of "The Prodigal Son."

We find "The Prodigal Son" in Luke's Gospel chapter 15:11-32. Here is a story of a man and his two sons on a farm. The younger of the brothers takes off with his inheritance from his father. He spends it all rather quickly and foolishly. He finds himself in need of food and other resources. He then realizes that the hired help that work for his father lived more comfortably than he did at the time and he decided to go back and apologize. As the father saw his son coming he quickly rushed to him and had his helpers fetch his best robe, a ring and sandals. The father ignored his son's apology and simply accepted him back into the family where he left off. At first, the older brother disapproved, but there was a celebration for the return of the son and the father says he was "dead" but now "alive." This story brilliantly shows the beauty of grace and forgiveness. There are other themes we could touch on as well, if you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it.

As Christians, we are compelled to be quick to forgive and rejoice with others in our lives. That helps us to move on with life and start anew. Are you angry with someone today? Try a little forgiveness. Dare to transform your relationships and your life. Do you have relationships with those in poverty, the homeless, or the sick? Do you fear and avoid people of a different race or sexual orientation? Who do you fear or hate? This fellow, Jesus, welcomes sinners and eats with them. Do you? People gossiped about Jesus spending time with social outcasts. What do followers of Jesus do? Have you had a sibling rivalry, other family feud, an argument at work, or went through a divorce? Who do have to reconcile with today? What would Jesus do? What would His followers do? What will you do? With Thy tender care, please hear our prayer, now heal us, Lord, we plea.

They Think We Are Violent Because We Are Christians

2010-03-09T19:16:00.000-05:00

Many good hearted people hate religion. In our secular society, many people develop the idea that religion is bad and always leads to war. As followers of Jesus, we learn to love everyone; even our enemies. So, why does this stereotype exist? For starters, the history of Christianity displays violence at times. Additionally, some Christians who have much maturing to do like to spend a lot of their time condemning others. Condemnation is an arrogant act that attempts to steal away another person's dignity while selfishly inflating one's own ego. When done to an extreme, that can lead to violence. In fact, one can argue that condemnation is spiritual and emotional violence. Anyway, the point is that we are the hands, legs and feet of Jesus today. If we act violently, what are we?

How do we change the stereotype that so many have about Christianity being a violent religion (and/or that religion causes the violence of the world)? For starters, though many Christians have done wonderful things throughout their lives and over 2 millenia, we have to take responsibility for the harm we have done. Our good deeds all too often go unrecognized, while the evil gets massive attention. For Progressive Christians, we do not promote violence, but we must acknowledge the violence of the Christian past and present. Then, we can take action to repent.

Should we concern ourselves with violence by nonchristians? Why not? What if we stood in the middle of our youth gangs in the streets of the city not allowing them to attack each other without first removing our bodies? What if we stood in front of our troops in battle not allowing them to be attacked without the enemy first walking over our bodies? What if we stood in front of our troops not allowing them to attack the enemy without first walking over our bodies? Indifference to violence and oppression is the promotion of those very acts. "They" (many intelligent and good hearted secular people) think we are violent because we are Christians. If we want "them" to know we are Christians by our love, then we need to share our love with the world. Where their is hate, we need to bring wisdom. Where there is indifference, we need to bring love. Where there are those like Mr. Beck telling people to run away from justice, we need to bring education. When governments refuse to give health care for everyone, we must refuse to accept less.

As the Body of Christ, the Christian Church Universal has a responsibility to proclaim the Gospel and replace the existing systems of this world with the Kingdom of God. The world's best is Empire; God's best is JUSTICE.

Great News: An Invitation from God: Come to your place at the table!

2010-03-06T18:07:00.000-05:00

No matter who you are, what your "socio-economic" status is , what you have done in your past, or where you are today, God continues to offer you a place at the table. Even if you felt rejection from a church in your past, God has an invitation for you! Come and enjoy a little happiness, a great feast, and some grace and mercy. Oh how I love the magnificent words in Isaiah chapter 55. The Good News Bible (TEV) states: "The Lord says, 'Come everyone who is thirsty--here is water! Come, you that have no money--buy grain and eat! Come! Buy wine and milk--it will cost you nothing!'"(Isaiah 55:1). This is great news, folks. We are indeed all creations of God and we are welcome to grace and mercy. We do not need to rely on the love of all other people, when God is love. God loves you whether anyone else thinks so or not.
The text also gives us a reminder to not waste or ruin what is good by indulging in a little too much. A little ice cream is okay, but if you eat the half gallon you might get a little sick. A TV show may bring you some joy, but sit and watch all day and you will be in a stupor. "Why spend money on what does not satisfy? Why spend your wages and still be hungry? Listen to me and do what I say, and you will enjoy the best food of all." (Isaiah 55:2 TEV). Basically the message here is, enjoy life to the fullest, don't let something get in your way.
In the season of Lent, we have a chance at renewing our lives. Maybe we need some time away from the TV or video games to do a little something different. So, have some fun, plan something different for a welcome change, and enjoy life to the fullest. God gives us many promises in this chapter of Isaiah. Our mission from God does have its share of joy. That joy is better shared with others. It's time to take a break from the TV and Internet, and go spend time with some loved ones, friends, or maybe strangers. Celebrate the life you have and may your enthusiasm be contagious. While you're at it, find someone to welcome to God's table. Take a day or two or three and smile at every unhappy person you meet. This weeks mission is to get away from life's rut to celebrate the love and grace of God and share it with others. Blessings on Our continued Mission From God.

God, The Evil Impulse, and The Paradoxical Commandments (special thanks to Dr. Kent M. Keith)

2010-02-28T18:04:00.000-05:00

As we hit the second Sunday of Lent, many are mindful of temptation. In Christian circles, the phrase "Original Sin" is often used to describe the Biblical story of Adam and Eve eating the apple from the tree of knowledge after God told them not to do it. In Jewish circles, the phrase "Evil Impulse" is often used. I prefer the later term as it serves as a reminder that temptation constantly surrounds us. Concerning this story of Adam and Eve and the apple, the message comes down to decision making amidst our temptations. Some might say, God made man. And after She created her mistakes, She made Woman. Others might suggest that man had it made in the Garden of Eden with all you can eat produce, no responsibilities, and absolute paradise. When a woman entered the picture, she ruined everything. Furthermore, others can look at the childbearing scenerio down the road. Children are meant to be a curse rather than a blessing. As a punishment for man and woman disobeying God, they would learn what it is like to have someone they love disobey them by doing something harmful. Okay, enough attempts at displaying a sense of humor. The message is simple (and not an attempt to bash men, women, parents, or children): we constantly face temptation as we make our daily decisions. Last weeks scripture from Luke's gospel (LUKE 4:1-13) brilliantly illuminates the "Evil Impulse" as Jesus faces Satan while tired and hungry in the wilderness. Ultimately, Jesus resists all the temptation in this story.
So, Jesus resists temptation; how do we? Quite honestly, I'm not perfect, I do not know any perfect people and I therefore cannot tell you how to be perfect in every decision that you make. But we must remember that "we're on a mission from God." With a positive focus and an awareness of fighting the "Evil Impulse" with the best in ourselves, we can live a relatively engaging, productive, and happy life. We are not guaranteed to succeed in all that we do or win every battle. In fact, problems will come our way; they are a sign of life. I once heard someone say, "the only people without problems lie in cemeteries." On our mission from God, we know problems await us. Our calling is to battle life with our very best.
In giving our best, our faith is very important. Do not forget that God loves you whether anyone else thinks so or not. This weeks scripture for the second Sunday of Lent tells us to keep focused on God. I enjoy the version of Psalm 27 In The Message, by Eugene Peterson. It begins, "Light, space, zest--that's God! So, with him on my side I'm fearless, afraid of no one and nothing. When vandal hordes ride down ready to eat me alive, Those bullies and toughs fall flat on their faces. When besieged, I'm calm as a baby. When all hell breaks loose, I'm collected and cool. I'm asking God for one thing, only one thing: to live with him in his house my whole life long. I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet. That's the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, The perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic" (Psalm 27: 1-5 The Message). Now that if focus, trust, and confidence in God. In Luke 13:34 Jesus speaks of a longing to protect the people of Jerusalem (perhaps as well as us today) like a mother hen wrapping her wing around her babies keeping them safe and warm. This motherly and feminine imagery of Jesus indeed provides a warm sense of security in life's journey.
In addition to our focus on God from these beautiful words in the Holy Scriptures, a man named Dr. Kent M. Keith provides us with a challenge to face the worst in life with the best in ourselves. I refer to The Paradoxical Commandments. One of these specific commandments include "People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway." Additionally, "Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway." You can find more of Dr. Keith's work at www.paradoxicalcommandments.com. There you can also find information about his books. You can even print out a certificate to sign and date called, The Anyway Challenge, which is a pledge to live the Paradoxical Life. In my experience, that certificate makes a great read right before heading off to work. Truly, by living out our faith with Dr. Keith's challenge and wisdom, we can transform ourselves, individuals we are close to, and perhaps even society. Thank you Dr. Keith for your work, challenge, and wisdom.
Who in America does not deal with temptation and negativity each and every day? In most any place of employment, one can hear constant complaints all day long. We are surrounded by people who prefer to give their least rather than their best at all they do. On our mission from God, we make the daily choice to go with the flow and be like everyone else or to give our best. God may have big plans for us. If we let our peers mold us, we will be like them. If we let God mold us, we will live out our potential. Why not give your best a shot? You have nothing to lose.
Society faces temptation just like individuals. A big and long-term example is the temptation of redemptive violence out of fear for our security and freedom. We have recently witnessed a new recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize choose to expand war efforts in the name of security and in response to the attacks of 9/11/01. Ancient history offers a multitude of examples of redemptive violence. But during the largest conflict in World History, one group refused to take up arms. This group gets little historical attention as they do not participate in politics or serve in the military. The Jehovah's Witness experience in World War II is unique and counter-cultural. As they refused to fight for the former U.S.S.R., some of the Jehovah's Witnesses found themselves sent to the battle field in front of the ground troops as a sheild and a target for the enemy to shoot at and "waste" their bullets. On the Axis side of the war, in Nazi Germany, the Jehovah's Witnesses refused to put anyone, including Adolf Hitler, ahead of Jehovah God. They sufferred the same fate as other victims of the Nazis. Did the Jehovah's Witnesses lose their security and eventually die out after World War II? Well, many suffered and died, but they are still among us in great numbers. Have they knocked on your door? The Jehovah's Witnesses resisted the temptation of redemptive violence, focused on God, and survived with their anti-war and anti-military stance intact. What lessons could we learn from The Jehovah's Witness experience in World War II? Perhaps redemptive violence is not absolutely necessary for survival. What do you think?
As individuals, small groups, and communities, we face the "Evil Impulse" day after day in different forms. To counteract temptation, we can focus on God and face the worst in the world with the best in ourselves. Always remember the greatest commandment to Love God and Love your neighbor. We are indeed on a mission from God. Thanks to all for your time and energy in reading this week's blog. For this and other blogs associated with the Progressive Christian Alliance, feel free to visit www.progressivechristianalliance.org and click on affiliates. May God continue to bless and guide you and yours.

We're On a Mission From God

2010-02-25T00:55:00.000-05:00

Grace, Peace, and Joy to you. Welcome and thanks for checking out my very first blog. I'm the Reverend Ted Warner, recently ordained by the Progressive Christian Alliance. I am also a lay member of a local congregation of the United Church of Christ. I work as a Certified Nurses Aide at a Nursing Home in a rural area in Upstate, Western NY. As a minister and health care worker, I also have a bachelor's degree in History with some training and experience as a teacher. Additionally, I have about 10 years experience milking cows and doing other work in the dairy farm industry and I'm a happy father of four. I have three delightful girls and a cheerful autistic boy. Well, those are some basics about me. Thanks for sharing with me on life's journey.

I'll never forget my first time watching the classic movie, The Blues Brothers. Dan Akroyd's character, Elwood Blues, often declared, "we're on a mission from God," on a quest to raise money for the Catholic orphanage where they grew up. As funny as the movie was, these words truly stuck with me. I thought, what great words to live by; a great motto for everyday life. Indeed, we are all on a mission from God regardless of our awareness of that fact. Auto mechanics enable people to continue their daily travel to and from work. Farmers produce food for the masses. Teachers equip our youth with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage adult life. Health care workers facilitate healing. Business people provide goods and services of various sorts. I could go on all day about parents, grandparents, volunteers, and workers of so many other professions. The point is that we all do God's work in one way or another. Quite honestly, I tend to remain upbeat at work on days that I remind myself that "we're on a mission from God." Notice I didn't say I'm on a mission. To keep the mission to myself would exclude those around me and perhaps be an obstacle in carrying out God's work. For Christians, we also have the opportunity to see Jesus in the eyes of those who we interact with from day (see Matthew chapter 25). As I create this blog, I feel the title should be "We're On a Mission From God," as these words remain true for all of us.

To share a personal experience with you, I had a great honor thrust upon me one week ago. On Ash Wednesday, God called me to a mission that I never expected. At work, we failed to get the services of a priest to distribute the ashes to our Catholic residents. The activities staff approached me about this situation. At first I questioned my worthiness to take over the duties of a Catholic priest. Quickly I was informed that the residents needed those ashes and it was up to me and/or the activities staff to complete this task. I then agreed to do this. Much to my surprise, every Catholic resident accepted my services with grace and open arms. They seemed as surprised to have a non Catholic perform such a service as I was to be asked to do it. It was exciting and emotional. Some family members of the residents even shed some tears and nearly made me do the same. This was truly one of my favorite life moments as I experienced some truly authentic Christianity. If only Christians from different traditions would treat each other (as my Catholic residents treated me) with this kind of love and respect all of the time; the world would be a happier place. How fortunate I was to receive such a mission from God. On that day as well as many others, the activities staff and residents blessed me so much by their love. Though Ash Wednesday is not every day, we can treat others with love, dignity, and respect every day. To best carry out God's work in everyday life, be mindful that "we're on a mission from God." Go ahead and try it, it works for me, you have nothing to lose, you don't even have to order or return a product for a refund! Enjoy.

May we have a word of prayer together? Lord, may we not miss your face. Let us not miss any of the wonderful day to day moments that life's journey brings to us. God, may we remain mindful each day that we are on a mission from You when we get out of bed and lace up our work boots until we lay down to sleep. Even in our sleeping, You are with us. May we give our very best each and every day that we may reach our potential for Your Glory. Thanks be to God, Amen.