I am not preaching next Sunday, so we’ll take a break from preaching texts for this week. I will post some more random thoughts. Respond if you want...
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Henri Nouwen, a wonderful Dutch theologian, who lectured at places like Harvard and Yale, but ended working with mentally and physically handicapped people, said this, "My whole life I have been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted, until I discovered the interruptions were my work."
Could it be that our best work is found in the interruptions?
Could it be your participation in the life and the mission of God is best accomplished in those times and moments that may not seem to matter, or worse, the moments that we consider interruptions?
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To the best of my knowledge I do not have any enemies. I am sure that there are many people who do not like me for a variety of reasons, but I don’t know of any one that I feel enmity toward. Is this good or bad??
Do you have any enemies? Why or why not?
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What makes you angry?
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I bought back my old van, Smokey, last week for $250. (I sold it to Pat Arthur 3 years ago.) Gonna sell the blue Bonnieville. I am not sure I am moving up on the "Cool Scale" but I am happier. I am going to leave the back seat out of Smokey and use it more like a truck. Why is called Smokey? Just watch me start it sometime, especially after it has been sitting for a while.
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What questions would you like to pose for me and the readers of this blog?
Sunday, October 29, 2006
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21 comments:
WOW!!! When yousay random, you mean random :) Well.......first of all I am not sure why you wanted old smokey back.......but to each his own :).....I try to stay away from owning vehicles nicknamed "old smokey".
I think what makes me angry most of all is gossip. I hate to hear it and I hate to be the subject of it. People don't realize how much that tears other Christians down and how hard it is to recover from it. I would think that almost everyone at some time in their life has been a victim of gossip. That just makes it harder to understand why they would do that knowing how it feels to be the one being talked about. I make it a policy never to believe a gossip and I hope that others do to.
Venting is fun, isn't it! :)
Diane Slone
Easy! I will try keep Smokey from reading your post. My relationship with Smokey is hard to explain, but Kedra is OK with it.
Gossip is really, really harmful, more so than most people know.
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Last night I went to Louisville with Gary, some other adults, and some teens (15 in all). We went to a downtown, fenced-in, gated, park by the Bell South building. Each Monday night, regardless of the weather, a group of loving people meet to welcome homeless people for a time of worship and eating. Very interesting experience. I think there were about 40-50 homeless people there and about that many people who went to homes when they were finished.
Our teens helped serve food and pass out warm clothes. Matthew Canada and I were selected to be a part of the prayer team. We wore bright orange vests ("one size fits most," said Matthew). They invited people to come for prayer at the end of a very direct message. I prayed with Jeff and Jimmy.
Jeff looked to be mid 30's. He was white and didn't look homeless, really. He is struggling with alcohol. He can stay sober 2-3 days and then he goes back to it. He wants prayer for strength to overcome. He has two children, Samuel and Megan, that he is very concerned about.
Jimmie was a tall black man, bent over a little. He wears shabby clothes. He had a beard that is turning white. He was worn and beaten down. He was probably 50 years old but looked older. He wanted prayers to find a place to live. He has been on the streets for about 3 years. He used to work but hurt his back.
For Jeff and Jimmie I prayed that they could see the fact that they are image-bearers of God and loved by him.
Interesting, thought-provoking experience, to say the least.
I have worked in insurance offices and other offices since 1980 and believe me I know about interruptions but that is just part of the job. I never start anything that there are not interruptions. The key to survival is just keep going and by the end of the day it all comes together (or tomorrow). When the kids were little the same was true but you attend to the most urgent need at the time and there is a balancing act going on all the time deciding which takes priority. Most of the time it has been the most urgent need. If the kids needed attention, it was them. If someone has a claim and is hurt in an accident, they come first before quoting new business or answering general questions. All are necessary and all will be done but the most important things come first--the needs of a hurting human being. They are all around us. I have a cousin enduring the third round and most agressive form of chemotherapy. She needs my prayers and attention. I have a dear friend locally who is losing her mother. She needs the same. Needs are all around us constantly. My challenge is to be paying attention when the need arises and not to ignore it while I am focused on something else that may not be as important. It is a constant challenge for me every day. I know it is for everyone. God is there giving us strength to do what He puts before us. Sherron
Thanks, Sherron, for giving great examples of what Nouwen is talking about! I appreciate your down-to-earth approach of living out Heavenly ways.
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The Harvest Carnival was great! Melissa and Teresa continue to amaze me with their dedication, leadership, and hard work.
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Have you read NIGHT by Elie Wiesel? I had heard about it for years and had read excerpts, but I finally read it. Wow! It is the personal story of a man who survived the concentration camps in the second world war.
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What books are you reading? I am beginning Charles Rice's THE EMBODIED WORD - Preaching As Art and Liturgy. Yeah, I know. Oh well...
What? You bought back that van! That is too funny!!!
The Carnival was incredible last night. Big kudos to Teresa and Mel on that one. Interesting, I saw a couple there who I knew. They moved to Mitchell about 3 years ago from out of state and attend another church locally. Being from out of town they didn't know anyone for their daughter to go to so they saw in the paper or Carnival the first year here. Now this is the only place they take her. They came and stayed the entire night! They told me they really appreciated our church having something like this. Neat.
The thought on interuptions is very interesting. Often I think we see the interuptions as points of frustration but I think a lot of times they are God's way of pushing us back from something that is consuming us and forcing us to take a break and breath. From personal experience I was becoming consumed with running and biking. I thought about my next race all the time and went to great pains to be sure to get in my run or ride. Sunday a.m. I got up at 5:00 and ran with some buddies. Rushed home at 8:30, showered and out the door to church. No family time or prep. At the time I didn't see anything wrong with that. In my mind I had the perfect plan. No family time loss because they were asleep. This year both girls became active in some other activities and Rhonna started her Masters. My time to do the running and biking dropped and I felt these things were being interrupted. Now after a few months I realize that it is a good interuption. On Sundays, I get up and fix breakfast, wake the girls up, sit on the sunroom and drink my coffee and go to church relaxed not rushed. On my own I would have never done that.
As far as books I am reading; "The unrandom universe", "Anything for a T-shirt", "When character was king", and "Sleepwalking through History". I just finished "The Five People you meet in Heaven". Favorite books; "The Bell Curve", "Blue Like Jazz" and "Lord of the Flies".
RR
Currently reading "Crunchy Cons" by Ron Dreher, and I'm trying to get into the writings of John Wesley. I'm not sure he was such a great theologian, but he was a great Christian and there's a lot I could learn from him.
You liked "Blue Like Jazz"? Eeewww! How trendy! :) I have a hard time getting into Christian books whose writers haven't been dead for at least a couple of hundred years...
Donna
Donna I liked "Blue like Jazz" not because of the theme so much. It is probably a trendy book. I liked it though because I thought it was interestingly thought provoking to me. Didn't agree with all but it made me think. Also it also made me realize that you don't have to be perfect or have perfect thoughts or actions to still try to be Christ like. I read Bonhoffeor and come away thinking I am such a failure and I probably should just hang it up. Many others leave me that way. This book though left me thinking it is ok to keep trying. Does that make sense?
RR
Perfect sense. Bonhoeffers are few and far between. I don't think God needs as many spiritual "supermen" as he does humble, faithful servants.
Donna
ok donna.
i like your response and i have to agree with you. actually i think you just came up with a great title for a book. if allen doesn't care let me ask a question though. donna says god doesn't need as many "supermen" as the faithful servant. is that today or is/was that always? in bonhoffeors day was there a great need for "superman"?
So what are you saying? That I am not a spiritual superman? Ouch that hurts! I think I am great at everything I do; I especially excel in humility.
I, too, am intrigued by how some people are spiritual giants. Does God raise up certain ones at certain times to move his plan along a little better? It seems that way.
I don't think anyone should be intimidated by the "giants." All of them, just like the great Bible characters, had faults and flaws.
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I am getting really angry that no one (but Diane) is telling me what makes them angry! I am so mad!
Honest anger. I like honest anger, always have. Just spit it out and be truthful. Then the issue is very clear. Now most people like assertiveness. I think its rather fake. Now some people come up to you all nice and start talking and what they are really doing is tellig you off, well if you do that to me I probably won't get it, right then anyway. But later when I realize what they were really saying then it makes me mad. And depending on how important it is to me, I will either let it go or address it for real. And they probably won't like my 'for real'. And another thing is when people do that, what they are saying is not up for discussion, they just want to tell you off, put you in your place, and they don't really care or want to know how you feel about it. I think this mode is degrading and shameful, its not honest, and personally I will never trust you again. And to all the people who use this mode...I might never get it anyway, so you waisted your time. I am fond of "blunt". Not to say you have to be nasty because you don't.
One more thing I dislike is someone who looks like the pilar of the community but they are a tyrant in their own homes. Brow beat their wives and degrade their children. One sure clue is 'my husband won't let me'. To me this is a wolf is sheeps clothing.
One thing I always liked about Allen...from the time he came here he would inject comments about how men should treat women, get the message out, get the message out, well Allen I applauded you every time.
About enemies....I think there are always enemies lurking about in one form or fashion. To me I think if you concentrate on yourself and your faults, try to be what Jesus wants you to be then some of the enemies will never materialize. In fact I truly believe potiental ememies are probably best friends now.
annette
I think irresponsibility, greed and those who endeavor to make me feel that I am less than what God sees make me the most angry. At my age though and looking back I can see that I allowed anger to consume far too much of my time before I moved on and away from it. Life is short and time is precious. I have learned that most people do things for themselves and not really against you and it is better to treat them as if they had never done it or said it and peace and harmony with one another will prevail. With serious problems that continue to fester an honest talk with the person in private is required sharing our feelings and not accusing one another. (That is the ideal but I fail miserably in that) We are all human and flawed and we all have a bad day now and then when we will say or do something either not thinking how it sounds or on purpose and we need forgiveness too. I thank God for GRACE, I need it. As far as books, I love local historical writings from those who are older than me or who have passed on who lived in a very different time similar to my upbringing in rural Greene County. I loved and have all of Larry Incollingo's books and I am reading Voices from The Hills-An oral history of Martin County. So many interesting tales and ways are in those things. I loved the Foxfire books and reading about the people from Applachia and rural Georgia. We can learn so much from those who have gone before us and learn that we are not that different. I also have read most of Max Lucado's books and find them very inspiring in living our daily lives with one another. Have a great day everyone. Love, Sherron
I really appreciate those last two posts. I think there are some things to learn from both of them. Thanks!
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If interruptions present the best opportunities for ministry, then I did some great ministry today! (ha ha) It is funny how some days are just full of phone calls and people stopping by and other unplanned activities. It was a good day for that, though. Since the Polish Presentation is Sunday I am not preparing a sermon this week. I usually devote all day Thursday to finishing sermons and slide shows. It was a good day for ministry in interruptions. Also went to see Jack Cox today. Wayne was there too. It was truly enjoyable being with two great men and one wonderful Christian woman named Lois.
Not being able to find out everything I want to know. That makes me mad. Sometimes I get really interested in something, I'll be reading and researching, and I'll hit a dead end. That's very aggravating.
Also, people who can't discuss something (e.g., politics, religion, etc) without getting mad. I have some pretty strong opinions about things, but I have no difficulty accepting the fact that intelligent, well-meaning people often disagree with me. People who believe that those who think differently are either evil or willfully stupid really get my knickers in a twist!
Donna
You and Job would get along well.
I think people get mad in a discussion/debate/argument sometimes because they don't really know how to explain/defend what they believe. It is easier to just attack the other person or to say, "WHATEVER!" Now, that's a word that makes some really mad!
If someone has the nerve to come up to another person to complain or whatever about them then they are leaving themselves open to hear what the other person thinks about them. And if they don't want to hear about themselves, then they shouldn't do it in the first place.
If we are seeking to be true servants of God, then we need to willing to listen to criticism. One simple sentence that I heard years ago has really stuck with me and helped form me: Listen for the voice of God in your critics. Most of us go to a defensive mode immediately, and that usually accomplishes nothing, or worse, it makes matters worse. The ultimate goal of our relationships is peace and harmony, reflecting what the Divine community enjoys within himself. The biblical commands to speak truthfully to one another IN LOVE, to rebuke, to correct, etc. are hard to do in our culture where people are programmed to be offended quickly and easily. I think the Kingdom of God calls us to something different: open, honest conversations with each where we are striving to improve one another as image-bearers of God. There will always be disagreements, conflict, and painful words spoken. How do we handle those things? This may be the greatest test of how much God lives in us. Jesus is held up as the model for us to follow.
Agree or disagree (if so, do it in love - ha ha)?
My mother always said "If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all"
We are supposed to build each other up not tear each other apart. Though I know what you are saying is biblical Allen, I just don't feel like I am in a position to criticize anyone. I have so many faults of my own, who am I to say anything to anyone else. And being a blunt person I am having trouble saying things to my grown children in a way that will get across my meaning without being critical. Love and concern for their welfare forces me to say some things but I find it is uncomfortable because I don't want to say the wrong thing.
I feel like the older I get the less I know.
annette
If I understand you correctly, I think you're right. When we become Christians, we give up the right to self-defense, at least to a certain extent. If we place our needs/desires in second place to those of others, then we necessarily give first place to the person who's yanking our chain. Which is not to say that we can't explain ourselves more fully and answer their criticisms, but we have to wonder a)does this person have a point or b)what is going on in this person's life that makes him lash out at me like this?
Donna
Just some more thoughts that you guys made me have:
The older I get the less I know for sure, and the same is true of knowledge. The more I know the more I realize I don't know much. BUT the few things I do know (believe) I have more confidence in than ever before in my life. These things relate to the importance of God and unconditional love for all.
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I think it is important to explain ourselves to critics, but for what purpose? If it is for pride, then that may be a problem. If is for the improvement of the relationship, then that is good.
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We need to strive to live in such a way that we are in a position of authority (via humble, consistent lifestyle) to lovingly comment on others' problems, IF we are in the right situation to do so. If we have planks in our eyes, it is very hard to point out the speck of dust in the eyes of others. We are not a position to help others via constructive criticism if we have not done the work to have a relationship. This brings us back to the importance of connection and community.
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Diane is so right. It is really hard to maliciously criticize those for whom we have been praying.
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Thanks for blessing me with your thoughts.
Here is a great quote from Luke Timothy Johnson regarding faith as an acceptable way to approach life. It is found in his book, "The Creed: What Christians Believe and Why It Matters."
Christians need to begin by insisting, first of all to themselves, then to each other, and finally to the world, that faith itself is a way of knowing reality. They need to insist that faith establishes contact with reality in a way different from, but no less real than, the very limited (though, in their fashion, extremely impressive) ways of knowing by which the wheels of the world’s empirical engine are kept spinning. Christians need as well to cultivate practices that reveal and reinforce perceptions of the world that include “things invisible” as much as “things visible.”
Reminds me of this:
Hebrews 11:3 — By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
Hebrews 11:6 — And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
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