tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207512032024-03-13T12:14:10.470-07:00Dean Christensena flyfishing, wife loving, Christ following worship leaderUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-14893919640476675852015-09-11T07:45:00.001-07:002015-09-11T08:41:45.229-07:00Never Forget?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uaKuNd65U0o/VfLokHwxCcI/AAAAAAAACTY/5zv22X9uTEs/s1600/Twin%2BTowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uaKuNd65U0o/VfLokHwxCcI/AAAAAAAACTY/5zv22X9uTEs/s320/Twin%2BTowers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Avenir;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm thinking this morning about conversations I’ve had over the
years with people who still feel the wound of wrongs done to their ancestors –
especially those on American soil – Native American genocide, African American
slavery, Asian American internment camps, and others I don’t have space to
mention here. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m also thinking
about how defensive I get when having those conversations – “Hey, I didn’t do
that to you! My ancestors weren’t even here when that happened! Don’t be mad at
me, just because I’m a white guy!” I want these people to “get over it”, “let
it go”, “move on”. I want them to forget.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m thinking about all this because today is a day that many
Americans are posting images of the Twin Towers with “Never Forget” graphics.
Some go further to point the finger at Islam, at all Muslims – saying “Never
forget who the enemy is”, or “With God’s help, we will kill the enemy”. I’m
thinking about how millions of Muslims are feeling exactly what I feel when I’m
linked to atrocities in the past, just because I’m white, or American, or a
Christian.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9/11 was a tragedy because some evil people destroyed
thousands of lives. And we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">should </i>remember.
We should “Never Forget” how awful it is to be the victim of such evil. And we
should “Never Forget” that we all – every one of us – have the capacity for hate
and evil that is every bit as destructive. As Walt Kelly said in the 60s, “We
have met the enemy, and he is us.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Love
your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray
for those who mistreat you.” ~ Jesus</i></span></div>
Dean Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429698192955391853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-73440632108527267862013-11-30T08:31:00.001-08:002013-11-30T08:33:18.126-08:00Wendell Berry - 2 Quotes & A PoemI listened to an interview with Wendell Berry last night on the way home. His gentle spirit and his view of humanity sorta captured me. I've never read anything by him... I think I may need to.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>A Quote</b><br />
<i>"I consider myself a person who takes the gospels very seriously.
And I read in them and am sometimes shamed by them and sometimes utterly
baffled by them. But there is a good bit of the gospel that I do get, I
think. I believe I understand it accurately. And I’m sticking to
that. And I’m hanging on for the parts that I don’t understand. And,
you know willing to endure the shame of falling short as a price of
admission. All that places a very heavy and exacting obligation on me
as a writer. A lot of my writing I think, when it hasn’t been
in defense of precious things, has been a giving of thanks for precious
things." </i><br />
<br />
<b>A Poem - "The Peace of Wild Things"</b><br />
<i>When despair for the world grows in me<br />and I wake in the night at the least sound<br />in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,<br />I go and lie down where the wood drake<br />rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.<br />I come into the peace of wild things<br />who do not tax their lives with forethought<br />of grief. I come into the presence of still water.<br />And I feel above me the day-blind stars<br />waiting with their light. For a time<br />I rest in the grace of the world, and am free. </i><br /><div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
</div>
<br />
<b>A Quote - Explaining "The Grace of the World" </b><br />
<i>"People of faith know that the world is maintained every day by the same force
that created it. It’s an article of my faith and belief, that all
creatures live by breathing God’s breath and participating in his
spirit. And this means that the whole thing is holy. The whole
shooting match. There are no sacred and unsacred (or secular) places, there are only
sacred and desecrated places. So finally I see those gouges in the
surface mine country as desecrations, not just as land abuse. Not just
as…as human oppression. But as desecration. As blasphemy."</i><br />
<br />Dean Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429698192955391853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-57392056199073920702012-11-30T15:00:00.000-08:002012-11-30T15:00:00.264-08:00Advent - Waiting for GodThis is a great article by Henri Nouwen on how to "do" Advent. It'll take you a little while to wade through it, but it's good stuff.<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Waiting For God</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Henri Nouwen – from “Watch
for the Light”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Waiting is not a very popular
attitude. Waiting is not something that people think about with great sympathy.
In fact, most people consider waiting a waste of time. Perhaps this is because
the culture in which we live is basically saying, “Get going! Do something!
Show you are able to make a difference! Don’t just sit there and wait!” For
many people, waiting is an awful desert between where they are and where they
want to go. And people do not like such a place. They want to get out of it by
doing something.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In our particular historical
situation, waiting is even more difficult because we are so fearful. One of the
most pervasive emotions in the atmosphere around us is fear. People are afraid
– afraid of inner feelings, afraid of other people, and also afraid of the
future. Fearful people have a hard time waiting, because when we are afraid we
want to get away from where we are. But if we cannot flee, we may fight
instead. Many of our destructive acts come from the fear that something harmful
will be done to us. And if we take a broader perspective – that not only
individuals but whole communities and nations might be afraid of being harmed –
we can understand how hard it is to wait and how tempting it is to act. Here
are the roots of a “first strike” approach to others. People who live in a
world of fear are more likely to make aggressive, hostile, destructive
responses than people who are not so frightened. The more afraid we are, the
harder waiting becomes. That is why waiting is such an unpopular attitude for
many people.<br />
<br />
It impresses me, therefore, that all the figures who appear in the first pages
of Luke’s Gospel are waiting. Elizabeth and Zechariah are waiting. Mary is
waiting. Simeon and Anna, who were there at the temple when Jesus was brought
in, are waiting. The whole opening of the good news is filled with waiting
people. And right at the beginning all those people in someway or another hear
the words, “Do not be afraid. I have something good to say to you.” These words
set the tone and the context. Now Elizabeth and Zechariah, Mary, Simeon and
Anna are waiting for something new and good to happen to them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Who are these figures? They
are representatives of the waiting Israel. The psalms are full of this
attitude: “My soul is waiting for the Lord. I count on His word. My soul is
longing for the Lord more than a watchman for daybreak. (Let the watchman count
on daybreak and let Israel
count on the Lord.) Because with the Lord there is mercy and fullness of
redemption” (Psalm 130:5-7). “My soul is waiting for the Lord” – that is the
song that reverberates all through the Hebrew Scriptures.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">But not all who dwell in Israel are
waiting. In fact we might say that the prophets criticized the people (at least
in part) for giving up their attentiveness to what was coming. Waiting finally
became the attitude of the remnant of Israel, of that small group of
Israelites that remained faithful. The prophet Zephaniah says, “In your midst I
will leave a humble and lowly people, and those who are left in Israel will
seek refuge in the name of Yahweh. They will do no wrong, will tell no lies:
and the perjured tongue will no longer be found in their mouths” (Zephaniah
3:12-13). It is the purified remnant of faithful people who are waiting.
Elizabeth and Zechariah, Mary and Simeon and Anna are representatives of that
remnant. They have been able to wait, to be attentive, to live expectantly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">But what is the nature of
waiting? How are they waiting, and how are we called to wait with them?<br />
<br />
Waiting, as we see it in the people on the first pages of the Gospel, is
waiting with a sense of promise. “Zechariah,…your wife Elizabeth is to bear you
a son.” “Mary,…Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son” (Luke 1:13, 31). People
who wait have received a promise that allows them to wait. They have received
something that is at work in them, like a seed that has started to grow. This
is very important. We can only really wait if what we are waiting for has
already begun for us. So waiting is never a movement from nothing to something.
It is always a movement from something to something more. Zechariah, Mary, and
Elizabeth were living with a promise that nurtured them, that fed them, and
that made them able to stay where they were. And in this way, the promise
itself could grow <i>in</i> them and <i>for</i> them.<br />
<br />
Second, waiting is active. Most of us think of waiting as something very
passive, a hopeless state determined by events totally out of our hands. The
bus is late? You cannot do anything about it, so you have to sit there and just
wait. It is not difficult to understand the irritation people feel when
somebody says, “Just wait.” Words lie that seem to push us into passivity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">But there is none of this
passivity in scripture. Those who are waiting are waiting very actively. They
know that what they are waiting for is growing from the ground on which they
are standing. That’s the secret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
secret of waiting is the faith that the seed has been planted, that something
has begun. Active waiting means to be present fully to the moment, in the
conviction that something is happening where you are and that you want to be
present to it. A waiting person is someone who is present to the moment, who
believes that this moment is <i>THE </i>moment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">A waiting person is a patient
person. The word patience means the willingness to stay where we are and live
the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will
manifest itself to us. Impatient people are always expecting the real thing to
happen somewhere else and therefore want to go elsewhere. The moment is empty.
But patient people dare to stay where they are. Patient living means to live
actively in the present and wait there. Waiting, then, is not passive. It
involves nurturing the moment, as a mother nurtures the child that is growing
in her. Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary were very present to the moment. That is
why they could hear the angel. They were alert, attentive to the voice that
spoke to them and said, “Don’t be afraid. Something is happening to you. Pay
attention.”<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">But there is more. Waiting is
open-ended. Open-ended waiting is hard for us because we tend to wait for
something very concrete, for something that we wish to have. Much of our
waiting is filled with wishes: “I wish that I would have a job. I wish that the
weather would be better. I wish that the pain would go.” We are full of wishes,
and our waiting easily gets entangled in those wishes. For this reason, a lot
of our waiting is not open-ended. Instead, our waiting is a way of controlling
the future. We want the future to go in a very specific direction, and if this
does not happen we are disappointed and can even slip into despair. That is why
we have such a hard time waiting: we want to do the things that will make the
desired events take place. Here we can see how wishes tend to be connected with
fears.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">But Zechariah, Elizabeth, and
Mary were not filled with wishes. They were filled with hope. Hope is something
very different. Hope is trusting that something will be fulfilled, but
fulfilled according to the promises and not just according to our wishes.
Therefore, hope is always open-ended.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">I have found it very
important in my own life to let go of my wishes and start hoping. It was only
when I was willing to let go of whishes that something really new, something
beyond my own expectations could happen to me. Just imagine what Mary was
actually saying in the words, “I am the handmaid of the Lord… let what you have
said be done to me” (Luke 1:38. She was saying, “I don’t know what this all
means, but I trust that good things will happen.” She trusted so deeply that
her waiting was open to all possibilities And she did not want to control them.
She believed that when she listened carefully, she could trust what was going
to happen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">To wait open-endedly is an
enormously radical attitude toward life. So is to trust that something will
happen to us that is far beyond our own imaginings. So, too, is giving up
control over our future and letting God define our life, trusting that God
molds us according to God’s love and not according to our fear. The spiritual
life is a life in which we wait, actively present to the moment, trusting that
new things will happen to us, new things that are far beyond our own
imagination, fantasy, or prediction. That, indeed, is a very radical stance
toward life in a world preoccupied with control.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Now let me say something
about the practice of waiting. How do we wait? One of the most beautiful
passages of scripture is Luke 1:39-56, which suggests that we wait together, as
did Mary and Elizabeth. What happened when Mary received the words of promise?
She went to Elizabeth.
Something was happening to Elizabeth
as well as to Mary. But how could they live that out?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">I find the meeting of these two
women very moving, because Elizabeth and Mary came together and enabled each
other to wait. Mary’s visit made Elizabeth
aware of what she was waiting for. The child leapt for joy in her. Mary
affirmed Elizabeth’s
waiting. And then Elizabeth
said to Mary, “Blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the
Lord would be fulfilled.” And Mary responded, “My soul proclaims the greatness of
the Lord” (Luke 1:45-46). She burst into joy herself. These two women created
space for each other to wait. They affirmed for each other that something was
happening that was worth waiting for.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">I think that is the model of
the Christian community. It is a community of support, celebration, and
affirmation in which we can lift up what has already begun in us. The visit of
Elizabeth and Mary is one of the Bible’s most beautiful expressions of what is
means to form community, to be together, gathered around a promise, affirming
that something is really happening.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">This is what prayer is all
about. It is coming together around the promise. This is what celebration is
all about. It is lifting up what is already there. This is what Eucharist is
about. It is saying “thank you” for the seed that has been planted. It is
saying, “We are waiting for the Lord, who has already come.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The whole meaning of the
Christian community lies in offering a space in chich we wait for that which we
have already seen. Christian community is the place where we keep the flame
alive among us and take it seriously, so that it can grow and become stronger
in us. In this way we can live with courage, trusting that there is a spiritual
power in us that allows us to live in this wolrd without being deuced
constantly by despair, lostness, and darkness. That is how we dare to say that
God is a God of love even when we see hatred all around us. That is why we can
claim that God is a God of life even when we see death and destruction and agony
all around us. We say it together. We affirm it in one another. Waiting
together, nurturing what has already begun, expecting its fulfillment – that is
the meaning of marriage, friendship, community, and the Christian life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Our waiting is always shaped
by alertness to the word. It is waiting in the knowledge that someone wants to
address us. The question is, are we home? Are we at our address, ready to
respond to the doorbell? We need to wait together to keep each other at home
spiritually, so that when the word comes it can become flesh in us. That is why
the book of God is always in the midst of those who gather. We read the word so
that the word can become flesh and have a whole new life in us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Waiting is essential to the
spiritual life. But waiting as a disciple of Jesus is not an empty waiting. It
is a waiting with a promise in our hearts that makes already present what we
are waiting for. We wait during Advent for the birth of Jesus. We wait after
Easter for the coming of the Spirit, and after the ascension of Jesus we wait
for his coming again in glory. We are always waiting, but it is a waiting in
the conviction that we have already seen God’s footsteps. Waiting for God is an
active, alert - yes, joyful -waiting. As we wait we remember him for whom we
are waiting, and as we remember him we create a community ready to welcome him
when he comes.</span></div>
Dean Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429698192955391853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-44677059604420618742012-05-27T18:19:00.002-07:002012-05-27T18:21:46.651-07:00God and Country<br />
Rant alert!!!<br />
<br />
<style type="text/css">
<!--
@page { margin: 0.79in }
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in }
-->
</style>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
At the beginning of our worship
services this weekend, I asked "does anyone know what we
celebrate this weekend?" There was a resounding "Memorial
Day!" I screwed up my face a bit, and one young man with Down's
Syndrome shouted "Pentecost!". Way to go, Paul! At least
one guy gets the proper hierarchy of calendars!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
Pause rant...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
Don't get me wrong. I'm grateful to live in America. I'm grateful for the freedoms we enjoy, and I understand that battles fought for those freedoms cost many people their lives. I will commemorate and even mourn their loss.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
Resume rant...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
BUT, it seems we've lost our ability to rightly discern the proper order of things. Romans 13 tells us that it is God who ordains governments and authorities, and that ultimately, there is no authority but His. It seems then, that His rhythm, His calendar, should trump the civil one.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
Somehow, even in worship, we've elevated the civil calendar to a place higher than the Christian calendar. On this important weekend – the birthday of the church, the empowering of the church to really BE the church – most of the believers in my church got it backwards. Many would have preferred me to lead patriotic songs affirming our allegiance to our country and our flag.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
I'm not suggesting we ignore the civil calendar, just suggesting we keep things in proper order... God, <strike>and</strike> THEN Country.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
End rant...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
There, I feel better. </div>Dean Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429698192955391853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-84414115947296294422011-09-15T19:19:00.000-07:002011-09-15T19:23:03.423-07:00A Passage to India<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.box.net/shared/static/nvjofb5jtjoh94c0a5th.pdf"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 157px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qwLawZrvRfY/TnKya2RLYXI/AAAAAAAAAH4/70Pof0jo-vQ/s200/A%2BLetter%2BFrom%2BDean%2B%2526%2BBecki%2B-%2Bthumbnail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652776656617300338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Becki & I are headed to India in October. Click the picture to the left to read about what we'll be doing while we're there.Dean Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429698192955391853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-54329057172224535832011-05-21T08:13:00.000-07:002011-05-21T08:39:40.752-07:00An Adventure on the RiverFlat tire? No big deal. Until you discover that the truck you bought with those shiny custom wheels doesn't have that special lug-nut key that you need to get the wheel off. Oh well, I'll just call my roadside assistance... wait, no cell coverage in the Deschutes canyon? Let the adventure begin!<br /><br />I walked into a campground and explained my predicament. A very nice guy named Tom from Bend drove me to where we could get cell service so I could call for help. That help ended up being my roadside assistance who phoned for a tow-truck to come tow me back to where Becki and I were camping<span style="font-style: italic;">.</span> Funniest part of the conversation with the dispatcher for the roadside assistance was her insistence that she needed a cross-street to tell the tow truck where to go. I explained that there were no cross-streets on the Deschutes River Access Road, but she insisted that she could not dispatch a truck without a cross-street. Aye-yi-yi!!! We finally settled on having the tow truck come to where Becki was, and she could ride with him to where I was.<br /><br />I headed back with Tom to his campsite near my truck. As we drove, he learned that I was a pastor, and got real quiet. He was apologizing for his language and informed me that I'd probably hear more language slip out once we got back to the camp. I told him not to worry about it, and asked him not to spread the leprous news about my occupation to the rest of the group <span style="font-style: italic;">(nothing puts the kabosh on a party like finding out there's a pastor there!)</span> We had a deal. I spent the next 3 hours around a camp-fire with a dozen very colorful people who were happy to offer me beer, margaritas, joints <span style="font-style: italic;">(been a long time since I've been offered one of those!)</span>, and some "magical cookies" <span style="font-style: italic;">(I don't even want to know!)</span> while we waited for a tow truck to come from Alabama <span style="font-style: italic;">(actually not sure where the tow truck was coming from, it never got there). </span><br /><br />Eventually, a "loosened up" cowboy named Paul from The Dalles walked into the camp to join the party. He heard about "New Guy"<span style="font-style: italic;"> (no one could remember my name, but everyone needs a name, so I was "New Guy")</span> and says "Aw *****, I can get that wheel off! I got this special tool! <span style="font-style: italic;">(Lord knows what that's used for!) </span>Let's go git'r done!" Cowboy Paul did git'r done, and everyone cheered and offered up another round of drinks and magical cookies, which I politely declined, and I was on my way. I got back to Becki at about midnight.<br /><br />After I got back, I learned that my cell phone <span style="font-style: italic;">(which I had left with Becki, because that was the number the tow-truck was going to use)</span> had died, and the likelihood was that no truck was going to come that night. Thanks to a good internet connection and facebook, she had mustered a bunch of people to pray. I'm pretty convinced that my colorful friends from Bend and Cowboy Paul from The Dalles were direct answers to those prayers - proving again that the Lord, does indeed, work in mysterious ways!Dean Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429698192955391853noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-91742585781925388902011-04-23T14:22:00.000-07:002011-04-23T14:27:25.727-07:00Glorious Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.box.net/shared/static/dddetm7s5u.mp3"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QIeL_fvDTvk/TbND9s6YxtI/AAAAAAAAACA/gbRQrqz7mLg/s320/Jeff%2BJohnson%2B-%2BGlorious%2BDay.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598893489058793170" border="0" /></a><br />I much prefer this version to the viral Casting Crowns one... besides, Jeff's was first.Dean Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429698192955391853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-392777945181019682011-04-10T06:00:00.000-07:002011-04-12T17:54:03.506-07:00Lenten Fast - Week Five<span style="font-weight: bold;">Suggested Fast – Food</span><br />Food is one of the most basic needs of our lives. It sustains, energizes, and heals us. Not only that, but food brings comfort; it is the centerpiece for much of our fellowship. Jesus used food as the tangible representation of His own life in one of our most important sacraments.<br /><br />Without food we soon lose strength, begin to wither, and will eventually die. Long before we experience any real physical effects of going without food, our stomachs and our minds will tell us to eat. They will nag at us, complaining louder and louder until we feed the desire – all the while, reminding us of our need, of our mortality.<br /><br />While our abundance in America can make us prone to gluttony (a very real sin issue), the purpose of this week’s fast is to intentionally deny ourselves of the very thing that sustains us. As the hunger grows, we redirect our appetites to the Bread of Life – Jesus, who is our true sustainer, our source of abundant life – and allow Him to satisfy our deepest pangs of spirit-hunger. It’s a good idea to use this time to confess sins and read Scripture.<br /><br />As with the other fasts, you need to determine the extent and length of the fast. You may wish to skip a certain meal each day this week, or fast for a whole day, or multiple days. It is very important to make sure that you are physically able to do the fast you are intending. If you choose to fast for several days, you should consult a physician about how to do that safely.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prayer</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lord, You have built into us a need for food. You also have created it for our pleasure. Today though, I choose to lay aside this need, this desire, this comfort, in hopes of drawing close to You. As I do this, feed my spirit, nurture my soul, remind me of Your sustaining presence in my life. May each pang of hunger prompt me to pray, feasting on Your very self. </span><br /><br /> As you break the fast…<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lord, thank-you for the food You have provided to sustain my body. May I never take one bite for granted. May this food strengthen me to do Thy will this day. – Amen.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Suggested Scripture Readings</span><br /> Nehemiah 9:1-3; Matthew 6:16-18Dean Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429698192955391853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-88663553740449652012011-04-03T06:00:00.000-07:002011-04-04T19:15:39.246-07:00Lenten Fast - Week Four<span style="font-weight: bold;">Suggested Fast - Work</span><br /><br />Most of us are familiar with something the Bible calls "Sabbath". Most of us probably know that it has something to do with worship on Sunday (actually, it doesn't... Jewish Sabbath time runs from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday.) Most of us probably believe that it is something from Old Testament Law that we are free from. In the end, most of us are clueless when it comes to Sabbath.<br /><br />In his book, The Rest of God, Mark Buchanan says this:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The root idea of Sabbath is really quite simple. It's that all living things thrive only by an ample measure of stillness. God stitched into the nature of things an inviolable need to be left alone now and then. The primary way we receive this aloneness and stillness is, of course through sleep. Sabbath, however, is a form of rest unlike sleep. Sleep is so needed that, defied too long, catches you and has its way with you. Sabbath won't do that. Resisted, it backs off. Spurned, it flees. It's easy to spend most your life breaking Sabbath and never figure out that this is part of the reason your work's unsatisfying, your friendships patchy, your leisure threadbare, and your vacations exhausting. We simply haven't taken time. We've not been still long enough, often enough, to know ourselves, our friends, our family... our God.</span><br /><br />Most of us are busy people. And here in America, it's a badge we wear proudly. It gives us status. The busier we are, the more important we must be. Or maybe people will think we're really earning our keep. Or maybe they'll feel sorry for us... probably not. More likely, they'll feel guilty and create more busyness for themselves.<br /><br />At the root of our Sabbath breaking lifestyle is the great sin of pride. Pride - because people might think I'm important. Pride - because I think that I'm really responsible for making my life successful. Pride - because I think I can do it just fine without God. All of this makes us fearful of Sabbath, and so we don't do it. We stay busy, ignoring the rhythms God has placed deep inside us. Perhaps ignoring God Himself. Practicing Sabbath let's us exercise trust in God. Jewish rabbis have a saying... "we don't keep the Sabbath, the Sabbath keeps us."<br /><br />This week, we'd like to encourage you to enter into the "rest of God". This is more than just taking a day off. Rather, it is a way of orienting your life toward God - to die to self and your need to be busy, to feel important. It is a time to quiet your spirit and worship the Creator - to stop your busyness and rest in His care, His love, His provision. Perhaps you can go for a long walk, "peditating" on Scripture as you walk. Perhaps you can go to the mountains, or to the ocean, and read through Isaiah 40 - celebrating the greatness of God. Perhaps it is simply sitting in your back yard, intentionally centering your relaxing, or rest, on Him.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prayer</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">O God, You are the Lord of the Sabbath. You planted in me a deep need for Sabbath rest and command me to pay attention to this need. Lord, I confess that I have ignored it, pushed it aside, closed my ears to its call - and have listened too much to the call of the world to be busy, to accomplish, to impress. The tragedy Lord, is that it is now hard for me to hear it at all. I repent Lord, of this sin against Your ways - of the pride that often drives it, and ask that You would help me to stop the busyness, my addiction to it, and to replace it with Your rest. Give me this week, times of refreshing with You. Open my ears to hear Your call to enter Your rest. -Amen</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scripture</span><br />Exodus 20:8-11; Psalm 62; Hebrews 4:1-11; Psalm 23Dean Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429698192955391853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-11493802958875461102011-03-27T06:06:00.000-07:002011-03-27T06:08:52.148-07:00Lenten Fast - Week Three<span style="font-weight: bold;">Suggested Fast – Fossil Fuel</span><br />One of the foundations of our faith is that we worship the Creator-God. We also celebrate that we are created in His image. As image bearers of the Creator, our rule and dominion over the earth is that of a steward or a caretaker, not a reckless exploiter. God intended us to live in harmony with nature, and yet, we have more often than not been at odds with nature.<br /><br />Throughout Scripture we see God’s high regard for His creation. One of the principles of His kingdom is that creation needs periods of rest. This week, remembering our role as stewards of creation – and honoring this principle of giving creation a rest, consider fasting from fossil fuels. You may want to walk or ride a bike to work. You may consider a day where you deny yourself the comfort of heating your home, or a meal where you don’t cook. As with the other fasts, you decide how extensive and how long your fast will be.<br /><br />As you are “inconvenienced” by this fast, remember that part of our goal in the fast is to experience death – death to our wants, death to personal comfort at the expense of creation. Direct you worship to the Creator and look for ways to honor His creation. Consider other ways in which you can worship Him by being a good caretaker of our temporary home on this planet.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prayer</span><br />(begin by reading Psalm 104 out loud, then continue with the prayer)<br /><br />O God, Creator of all, I praise You for the beauty of Your creation. King of the universe, You have made all this for Your own glory. I am reminded that when I am careless with Your creation, I sin. I confess my complicity in failing to be a good steward of Your Creation. I have not been attentive to Your kingdom principles that require seasons of rest for all creation, and for this I ask Your forgiveness. As Your image bearer, I ask for Your help as I seek to walk gently on Your earth, looking for ways to replenish what I have taken away, and to heal what I have damaged. -Amen<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scripture</span><br />Gen 1:28-31; Leviticus 25:1-7; Ps 104; Romans 8:19-22Dean Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429698192955391853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-20627330978056644822011-03-20T06:00:00.002-07:002011-03-24T11:59:59.752-07:00Lenten Fast - Week Two<span style="font-weight: bold;">Suggested Fast – Technology</span><br /><br />We live in the “Silicon Forest”, surrounded by technology. We may believe that technology makes our lives easier, but in many ways it complicates life too. At times our use of technology can be a replacement for real conversation (blogs, myspace, etc.) or a pipeline to sin (internet porn, gambling, etc.) At the very least, our use of technology can divert our attention away from relational time with people (TV, computers, etc.)<br /><br />Even worse, our 24/7 availability to everyone else has made us unavailable to God. Finding uninterrupted “alone time” with God is rare.<br /><br />This week, consider fasting from the use of technology (your work may require this to be a one day fast, or a portion of each day.) Consider how you might simplify your life. Redirect your attention to having real, face to face time with others, and more importantly, with God. If the use of technology has been an area of sin for you, confess it and consider how you can become pure in this area of your life.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prayer</span><br />Lord, forgive me. The technology that was designed to make my life easier has become my master. I confess to You that I have become too dependant on – even enslaved to – my computer, cell phone, iPod, or PDA. I pretend that these things help me to connect with people, when in reality they have become an escape from authentic relationships. It grieves me Lord, to think that these things have made me unavailable to You, who offer to me the most intimate and satisfying relationship of all.<br /><br />Lord, help me this week to “unplug” from technology and instead “plug in” to authentic relationships. Relationships with others – and most importantly, with You. As I simplify my life this week, may I discover a new intimacy with You that leaves me longing for more. I welcome you to speak to me, uninterrupted, in Spirit language that my spirit understands. Out of those times with You, may I then look for opportunities to enjoy relationship with others you put in my path. <br /><br />Help me in those times, full of Your Spirit, to be a minister of Your grace & peace. – Amen<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scripture</span><br />1 Samuel 3:1-10; Psalm 119:9-24; Acts 2:42-46Dean Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429698192955391853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-51375273605232795262011-03-14T06:00:00.000-07:002011-03-14T15:39:33.003-07:00Lenten Fast - Week OneOver the next 6 weeks, I'll be posting a series of fasts that our church is going through together. If you find them helpful in your observance of Lent, feel free to join us.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />The Lenten Journey</span><br />Lent is a season where we are reminded of our mortality and our sin. It is a 40 day journey to Good Friday (the Cross), and then to Easter (our Great Hope – The Resurrection.) It is an intentional journey that calls us to repent of sins that we have grown accustomed to and to turn our attentions and affections toward Christ, where they belong.<br /><br />To aid in this journey, we will be sending out six emails, one each week, that are designed to help you focus on God. Each week we are suggesting a fast that we hope will deepen that experience. Don’t mistake this for some legalistic set of rules that you must keep to please God. It is simply a way for you to discipline your thoughts and prayers during this season as we journey together toward Easter.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fasting – What & Why</span><br />Christian fasting is more than denying ourselves food or something else of the flesh - it's a sacrificial lifestyle before God. In Isaiah 58, we learn what a "true fast" is. It's not just a one-time act of humility and denial before God, it's a lifestyle of servant ministry to others. As Isaiah tells us, fasting encourages humility, loosens the chains of injustice, unties the cords of the yoke, frees the oppressed, feeds the hungry, provides for the poor, and clothes the naked. This concept of fasting underscores that fasting is not simply “going without” but should be accompanied by the twin practices of generosity and solidarity. <br /><br />Each of the suggested fasts are just that—suggested. What degree you take the fast, and how long you decide to do it are entirely up to you. We hope that this will truly enhance your journey toward the celebration of Easter.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Week One</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Suggested Fast – Consumerism</span><br />We live in a culture defined by what we can buy next. It feeds our selfishness and tells us we need more, more, more. In this first week of the Lenten journey, consider fasting from consumerism by refraining from buying goods of any kind. You may want to do this for one day, or the entire week.<br /><br />As you deny yourself of those selfish desires; as you die to power of consumerism, redirect your efforts to selfless giving to others– just as Christ gave of himself.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prayer</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We live in Your world, O God, and for this, we praise and thank You. Among Your treasures we creatures have fashioned many things to make our lives easier, healthier, and freer. But we have also created more things than we need, more than we can ever use. When these things distract us from our purpose in this life, we are misusing the world You have created. When these things prevent others from having their basic needs met, Your creation is corrupted. Help us to keep our eyes open to this temptation of consumerism. Help us to be followers of Jesus who are focused on the important and simple things in life – Christians who care for others and are willing to share our riches with those who have unmet needs. Give us the courage to go against our culture when it confuses wants and needs. Remind us that when the journey of life in this world is complete, we take with us only our relationships – with You and with the people You have given to us to love. <br /><br />We pray for these things in Jesus' name. Amen.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Suggested Scripture Readings</span><br />Isaiah 58:6-12; Psalm 52; Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Corinthians 13Dean Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12429698192955391853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-86611828561255464212011-01-15T13:56:00.000-08:002011-01-15T13:56:54.698-08:00New 3D TechnologyThis is awesome! I think we're going to try to implement this at our church.<br />
<br />
<object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Uef17zOCDb8&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Uef17zOCDb8&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-62072407272071825972010-11-10T12:53:00.000-08:002010-11-10T12:58:24.081-08:00Hallelujah!Can't say why for certain... but this made me cry. Good tears... worship tears. To the surprise of the regular holiday shoppers, 600 "disguised" choristers practiced this "Random Act of Culture" in a shopping mall in Philly. Wow. <br /><br /><object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wp_RHnQ-jgU&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wp_RHnQ-jgU&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-79524304034035189122010-06-19T09:52:00.000-07:002010-06-19T09:57:34.607-07:00Why Do We Yanks Call It "Soccer"?<p>An interesting article by <a href="http://soccerlens.com/author/steveamoia/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Steve Amoia</span></a> on the history of the game.<br /></p><p style="font-style: italic;">Contrary to what the media and others want you to believe, the word “soccer” is not an American creation. Or, “They (rest of the world) call it football, and we (North Americans) call it soccer.” </p> <p style="font-style: italic;"><span id="more-3360"></span><strong>Derivation of the word</strong></p> <p style="font-style: italic;">The word was derived from Association Football, which was the original term given to the game in the 1860s at the elite schools that spawned the sport in England. The abbreviation “Assoccer”, which became “soccer,” was used by the British upper classes of that period. When the sport was embraced by the less fortunate, the name of “soccer” was passed down. But most commoners used the word “football” to describe their new game. Nowadays, from the British Royal Family down to the passionate supporters in the terraces at Anfield (Liverpool FC), Old Trafford (Manchester United), or Stamford Bridge (Chelsea FC of London), the game is called football. Or “footy.”</p> <p style="font-style: italic;"><strong>Game and Name Exported by Sailors, Coaches, and Immigrants</strong></p> <p style="font-style: italic;">When immigrants, coaches, and sailors exported the game overseas, the word “football” was loosely translated to fit the local languages. For example, Fútbol does not literally mean “football” in Spanish. Nor does Futebol translate into “football” in Brazilian Portuguese. The words “fut or fute” do not mean “foot” in either language. It was the English influence that still is found today.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">Many professional soccer teams in Argentina have English names: Arsenal, Banfield, Newell’s Old Boys, and River Plate to name a few of the more famous ones. Real Madrid was originally called the “Sociedad Madrid Football Club” by its British founders in 1902. If you look closely, you can see the initials MFC in their famous logo. In Italy, one of the most famous clubs, AC Milan, was founded as the Milan Cricket and Athletic Club in 1899. In Italy, the coach is called “Mister.” As a tribute to the early English coaches who taught the game in that country. Italy has its own unique term for the game, where it is known as “calcio,” not football. The word translates to “kickball.”</p> <p style="font-style: italic;"><strong>Coming to America</strong></p> <p style="font-style: italic;">When the sport arrived on our shores in the late 19th century (the US National Team played its first game against Canada in 1885), it was called Association Football. It was not called soccer. Only after the Second World War was the sport commonly referred to as “soccer.” Perhaps due to the growing impact of the NFL (American Football), and the belief that the game was foreign. Which is strange, because in the early 20th century, there were many industrial teams and leagues throughout the country.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">While the sport was not as popular as baseball, it was on the sporting landscape. The USA competed at the first World Cup, which was held in Uruguay. The American team finished third, which remains its best historical performance. Many well-known soccer nations such as England, Germany, and Italy did not compete at the first World Cup. In fact, up until the 1970s, the USSF (United States Soccer Federation) used the word “football” in its title.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;"><strong>Other Countries Call it Soccer</strong></p> <p style="font-style: italic;">In some areas of the Caribbean, along with Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, you can say the word “soccer” and the locals will understand its meaning. Although the emphasis is to call the sport football, the English legacy remains. One region of the former British Empire that did not embrace the game was India, where cricket remains the most popular spectator and participant sport.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-37566933536839685522010-06-01T17:55:00.000-07:002010-06-01T18:00:18.467-07:00Day At The ZooWe took our grandson Ari to the zoo the other day. His name means "Lion" in Hebrew. So here's a picture of me with Ari and... well, Ari.<br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/deanc/My%20Documents/Downloads/Dean%20and%20Ari%20and%20Ari.JPG" alt="" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GSQm2mASVDc/TAWs9UN_4MI/AAAAAAAAAxg/Q7NboYJZam4/s1600/Dean+and+Ari+and+Ari.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GSQm2mASVDc/TAWs9UN_4MI/AAAAAAAAAxg/Q7NboYJZam4/s320/Dean+and+Ari+and+Ari.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477974691165495490" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-44915790630620283022010-05-27T19:20:00.000-07:002010-05-27T19:52:58.627-07:0010 Days on the DeschutesStarted my vacation with 10 days camped along side the Deschutes river. First of all, I'm reminded of what a great wife I have. While she doesn't fish, she - like me - loves the quiet of wide open spaces, the sound of the river going by, and the nightly drives up and down the river looking at wildlife (deer, pronhorn, river otter, and countless species of birds). She claims to even enjoy the cooped up time with me - sitting inside or outside the trailer reading or talking... just being (that's pretty amazing to me, but pretty cool nonetheless).<br /><br />Secondly, I'm reminded of the importance of regular Sabbath built into my life. Been too long since I did this. Gotta do it more.<br /><br />I didn't take a lot of pictures, but snapped a few down at the river...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GSQm2mASVDc/S_8rkM1Do9I/AAAAAAAAAxI/bR1-xw0EMyo/s1600/Nice+Deschutes+%27Bow+-+16"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GSQm2mASVDc/S_8rkM1Do9I/AAAAAAAAAxI/bR1-xw0EMyo/s320/Nice+Deschutes+%27Bow+-+16" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476143572824859602" border="0" /></a>Nice 16 incher... that's my fishing buddy Reuben over on the bank.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GSQm2mASVDc/S_8sa5-8dEI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/68vY00YlPW0/s1600/Nice+Deschutes+%27Bow+-+17"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GSQm2mASVDc/S_8sa5-8dEI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/68vY00YlPW0/s320/Nice+Deschutes+%27Bow+-+17" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476144512658863170" border="0" /></a>This one measured in at 17"... it looks to me like he's smiling for the camera.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GSQm2mASVDc/S_8t5SKXbpI/AAAAAAAAAxY/2kZ8f4YgpyM/s1600/DSC05042.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GSQm2mASVDc/S_8t5SKXbpI/AAAAAAAAAxY/2kZ8f4YgpyM/s320/DSC05042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476146134056922770" border="0" /></a>This is a mother Merganser with 16 little ones in tow.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-81623238267232737862010-05-12T16:42:00.000-07:002010-05-12T16:45:53.253-07:00Planning a Worship ServiceI occasionally work with new worship leaders in helping them plan worship. This process can take years of mentoring from start to finish. However this video really boils it down to the necessary elements. I think I'll be using this from now on...<br /><br /><object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11501569&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11501569&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/11501569">"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/northpointmedia">North Point Media</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-47156376729301890782010-01-03T10:29:00.000-08:002010-01-03T11:09:44.994-08:00New Fishing BuddyMy sweet wife insisted that it was time. I wasn't sure, but already he's a good little friend.<br /><br />Meet Reuben... he's half German Shorthair Pointer, half Weimaraner.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GSQm2mASVDc/S0Dp_FgJqkI/AAAAAAAAAts/ER9uCI5UA1w/s1600-h/Reuben+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GSQm2mASVDc/S0Dp_FgJqkI/AAAAAAAAAts/ER9uCI5UA1w/s320/Reuben+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422591221372136002" border="0" /></a>Why are his wrinkles so much cuter than mine?<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GSQm2mASVDc/S0DqS7PR_3I/AAAAAAAAAt0/B9JGPofGPuY/s1600-h/Reuben+012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GSQm2mASVDc/S0DqS7PR_3I/AAAAAAAAAt0/B9JGPofGPuY/s320/Reuben+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422591562214408050" border="0" /></a>Neither of these little boys are too sure about the other...<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GSQm2mASVDc/S0Dqk26IPmI/AAAAAAAAAt8/PUWQbn9sAgc/s1600-h/Reuben+010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GSQm2mASVDc/S0Dqk26IPmI/AAAAAAAAAt8/PUWQbn9sAgc/s320/Reuben+010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422591870289591906" border="0" /></a>Tuckered out...<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-78769913723479085192009-12-20T09:46:00.000-08:002009-12-21T10:49:54.701-08:00Advent Vigil - Week Four<span style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus Promised as our Prince of Peace</span><br /><br />In the first week of Advent, we remembered that Jesus comes as our Wonderful Counselor – Pure Wisdom. In the second week of Advent we celebrated that He comes as Mighty God – the omnipotent creator of all. In the third week, we considered that He comes to us as Everlasting Father – the source of all life.<br /><br />In this last week of Advent, we embrace Him as the Prince of Peace.<br /><br />Living in a world that is so full of strife, who of us hasn’t longed for peace? The Hebrew word for peace, however, means much more than the absence of conflict or the end of turmoil. Shalom conveys a deep sense of tranquility, wholeness and completion. Cornelius Plantinga Jr. puts it this way…<br /><br />“We call it peace, but it means far more than mere peace of mind or a cease-fire between enemies. In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight…the webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight. Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be.”<br /><br /><a href="http://shalom.risingerphotography.com/?p=53">Bill Risinger</a> says it this way… When the heavenly host said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests” (Luke 2:14), we should have heard in this the news of hope. When peace was announced at Christmas, it was the coming of the transformation of the world from the way it’s not supposed to be into “the way things ought to be.” God was bringing Shalom to the world!<br /><br />Christmas brought the good news that the Prince of Shalom had come to conquer sin and death and to establish His Kingdom on earth. This gives us real hope in the here and now. We are not waiting for pie-in-the-sky future stuff. While we wait for the return of our King Jesus to bring the final restoration of ultimate Shalom, we must move obediently with His Spirit to bring His Shalom Kingdom into our broken and needy world.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scripture Reading</span><br />As you meditate on these Scriptures this week, remember that these were written by people who were familiar with great hardship and persecution. Some were even murdered for proclaiming this kind of shalom.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Monday – Phil 4:5-7; Tuesday – Jn 14:27; Wednesday – James 3:16-18;<br />Thursday – Col 3:14-16; Christmas Day – Eph 2:14, 17-18<br /><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prayer </span><br />As you pray this week, ask yourself “what are the broken areas in my world that need His Shalom?” Then invite him to speak His Shalom into those situations. Ask Him to use YOU as an instrument of His Peace.<br /><br />Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, speak Your shalom into our chaos. May Your deep shalom rule in our hearts, bringing wholeness to our brokenness. Teach us to become peacemakers – loving justice, doing right, and leading others along the path of peace.<br /><br />You may also want to use this prayer, by St. Francis of Assisi, as a part of your daily prayers this week.<br /><br />Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;<br />where there is hatred, let me sow love;<br />where there is injury, pardon;<br />where there is doubt, faith;<br />where there is despair, hope;<br />where there is darkness, light;<br />and where there is sadness, joy.<br /><br />O Divine Master,<br />grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;<br />to be understood, as to understand;<br />to be loved, as to love;<br />for it is in giving that we receive,<br />it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,<br />and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Amen.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-21138912357631752512009-12-13T09:14:00.000-08:002009-12-13T09:19:13.868-08:00Advent Vigil - Week Three<span style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus Promised as our Everlasting Father</span><br />In the first week of Advent, we remembered that Jesus comes as our Wonderful Counselor – Pure Wisdom. In the second week of Advent we celebrated that He comes as Mighty God – the omnipotent creator of all.<br /><br />In this third week, we consider that He comes to us as Everlasting Father. Everlasting, because He always was and always will be. Father, because He is the Source of all life. How amazing that this infant Jesus was at the same time infinite God. Almost in the same breath, the prophet Isaiah calls him a “child,” and a “counselor,” a “son,” and “the everlasting Father.”<br /><br />The Apostle Paul, in that great hymn quoted in Colossians reminds us that...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">He is the image of the invisible God,<br />the firstborn over all creation;<br />because by Him everything was created,<br />in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible,<br />whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—<br />all things have been created through Him and for Him.<br /><br />He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.<br />He is also the head of the body, the church;<br />He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,<br />so that He might come to have first place in everything.<br /><br />For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,<br />and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself<br />by making peace through the blood of His cross —<br />whether things on earth or things in heaven.<br /></div><br />It’s often been said that our impressions of God are largely formed by our fathers. How interesting then that Jesus, the “image of the unseen God” is also called our Everlasting Father, the one who perfectly shows us what God is like – loving, providing, protecting, comforting, present, disciplining, consistent, serving, strong – the list goes on.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scripture</span><br />Each day this week, meditate on one of these Scriptures that speak to an aspect of the “eternal fathering” of Jesus.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Monday – Jn 1:1-5 (His eternal nature); Tuesday – Lk 12:22-34 (His provision);<br />Wednesday – 2 Cor 1:3-7 (His comfort); Thursday – Ps 91 (His protection);<br />Friday – Eph 3:14-21 (His deep love); Saturday – Heb 12:5-11 (His discipline)</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prayer</span><br />Lord Jesus, I acknowledge You today as my Everlasting Father. A Father who loves, protects, guides and disciplines. I acknowledge today that You are good. Whatever my dysfunctional views of “father” may be, I pray that You would reveal Yourself to me today as a good father… the best Father. Draw me closer to the intimate relationship You desire for us to share as Father and child. ~ AmenUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-84906534208902413422009-12-07T10:31:00.000-08:002009-12-07T10:39:05.751-08:00Advent Vigil - Week Two<strong>Jesus Promised as our Mighty God</strong><br />In this second week of Advent we celebrate that He comes as Mighty God. He who spoke the universe into existence and parted the sea, was the One who healed the sick and turned water into wine. He who caused Moses to tremble and take off his shoes, was the One who said “I AM” and caused soldiers in the garden to fall to the ground when they came to arrest him. He who breathed life into the first man, secured everlasting life with His resurrection power that defeated the grave.<br /><br />When the John the Baptist questioned if Jesus was “…the One who was promised, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus himself replied “Tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the Good News.” Read this description from Revelation 12…<br /><br /><em>I saw the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, and with a gold sash wrapped around His chest. His head and hair were white like wool—white as snow, His eyes like a fiery flame, His feet like fine bronze fired in a furnace, and His voice like the sound of cascading waters. In His right hand He had seven stars; from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was shining like the sun at midday.</em><br /><br />Gentle Jesus, meek and mild? I think not. And who wants that kind of Savior anyway? It may make for a nice greeting card, but it won’t go very far when it comes to defeating evil, healing people, and setting the world right. No, we need a Mighty God to do that kind of work.<br /><br /><strong>Scripture</strong><br /><div align="left">As you move through this second week of Advent, we encourage you to meditate on these texts that speak to Jesus’ great power:<br /><em>(Monday—John 1, Tuesday—Colossians 1:15-20, Wednesday—Mark 4:35-41, Thursday—Matthew 8:5-13, Friday—Mark 1:14-45, Saturday—Acts 3:1-10).</em></div><div align="left"><em></em></div><br />Before you pray, identify a specific area that you especially need to see Jesus’ might and power displayed. As an act of worship, go to Him now with that need and ask for His power to work in that situation.<br /><br /><strong>Prayer</strong><br />Lord Jesus, I worship You today as my Mighty God. I acknowledge my weakness, my frailty, my powerlessness to do what most needs doing. I believe that You are able to anything that brings you glory. Believing that this would advance Your Kingdom and Your fame, I ask you now to ________________. I also ask for Your power to be revealed in me today. The power of Mighty God – Jesus to re-create, heal, defend, and fill me with the resurrection power of God. ~ AmenUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-71200266321853793922009-11-30T09:21:00.001-08:002009-12-09T16:01:30.072-08:00Advent Vigil - Week OneI'll be posting here a collection of guided advent meditations that we are going through at our church. I hope they will be helpful to you as you navigate this holiday season...<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Advent:</span> \'ad-'vent\ noun (from Latin adventus, “arrival”)<br />1: The coming of Christ at the incarnation.<br />2: The period of 4 weeks before Christmas.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vigil:</span> \'vi-jəl\ noun (from Latin vigilia, “wakefulness”)<br />1: A period of sleeplessness.<br />2: An occasion for devotional watching or observance.<br /><br />At Advent, we celebrate the incarnation of God in Jesus. We sing the verses of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” in a minor key and rehearse the feelings of abandonment and longing felt by those to whom God had become silent. We sing the refrain of the same song and “Rejoice”, for He has come—the WORD has become flesh. We watch with devotion for how He might come anew into our lives today.<br /><br />In foretelling His coming, the prophet Isaiah declared that He would be known by four names...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Isaiah 9:6<br />For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us,<br />and the government will be on His shoulders.<br />He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,<br />Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.<br /></div><br />Each week in our Advent Vigil (a period of devoted watching for His incarnation) we want to reflect on one of the four names of the Promised One. We want to welcome Him into our lives and remind ourselves of how each of these beautiful names from this ancient prophecy (2,700 years old) perfectly speak to our need today.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Week One - Jesus Promised as our Wonderful Counselor</span><br />In our first week of Advent, we remember that Jesus came as our Wonderful Counselor. He is the One who knows and understands. He never needs to be informed, but rather informs every situation of our lives. His wisdom is complete, His counsel incomparable. He is never anything but wise in every thing He does. James, the brother of Jesus, tells us that “if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.“ (James 1:5)<br /><br />What are the things in your life right now that need the wisdom of Jesus? Where do you especially need clarity and understanding? Solomon (the wisest human besides Jesus) says that “… the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Pr. 2:6) Ask Him to give you the wisdom, knowledge and understanding you need, and then look for it, listen for it, earnestly seek it—from Him, not from the world.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scripture</span><br />This week we encourage you to read one chapter from Proverbs each day. We suggest that you read the chapter that corresponds with that days date (Monday—Prov. 30, Tuesday—Prov. 1, Wednesday—Prov. 2, and so on).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prayer</span><br />Lord Jesus, I thank You and praise You for coming as my Wonderful Counselor. I recognize that you alone, O Lord, are the source of all wisdom. I confess to you my tendency to try to answer my questions with the world’s “wisdom”, which is foolishness to You. Come Lord, I open myself to receive Your wisdom in all areas of my life, especially _________. AmenUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-72480368173977000832009-11-26T09:17:00.000-08:002009-11-26T09:19:16.517-08:00Having Friends for Dinner...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GSQm2mASVDc/Sw64f4BaKmI/AAAAAAAAAsk/LWV2-7Lziok/s1600/big_bird_thanksgiving.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GSQm2mASVDc/Sw64f4BaKmI/AAAAAAAAAsk/LWV2-7Lziok/s320/big_bird_thanksgiving.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408463060272294498" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20751203.post-23347566305473861662009-11-01T19:51:00.000-08:002009-11-01T19:55:31.173-08:00New Breed of Organist<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9pS5xzOWbwo&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9pS5xzOWbwo&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Hat tip to <a href="http://thegooddonut.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pat Keener</span></a> for this one.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0