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Today, there are countless ways to be present to one another. That without moving away from the computer screen, mouse and keyboard, people can be connected, conversing, buying, selling, revealing, relating, you name it. We can go to church online (I don't recommend it except as an alternative to being away or being ill!), vacation online, watch tv online, work online (telecommuting) and have relationships online. In an age where the computer and the internet has created a separation from human contact the ways that the internet is growing and being used is all about one thing, being present in human contact!
We have a need NOT to be alone. O sure we like our alone time, personal space we call it, but we long for contact. So we go to places where we can make friends, where we can be seen, where we can be ourselves (or at least where we can pretend to be someone we are not). We long to be present to others and them to us. So we've created a variety of means to be present 24/7 with each other.
We've got the right idea, but often miss the present One.
24/7 presence is God's idea. Personal revelation, blogging, text messaging, voice mail are all things that God's been doing forever. Okay, maybe not with a computer or a cell phone but think about it...God may not have a web page (actually there are millions of pages that speak of God, but be careful, not all of them are on God's behalf!) but God does have Creation and history, Scripture (blogging?), Prayer (text messaging?), Prophets and preachers(voice mail?). God's working still on being present to us all the time.
We need each other, we also need God. We're wired up that way. Don't neglect either today. Be present today with your family and friends...
...and with God! And I'm sure you'll get exactly what you need for the day!
Peace ><>
pc
Friday, May 11, 2007
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Monkey Wrenches
That's what's thrown in the works sometimes. It's the detours around the predicted path, the unexpected part of the journey. We all have them periodically. They take us to new places, to some familiar places, to some places we don't want to go, yet it is our journey so we just go with the flow.
Last evening we were heading out of the driveway when it happened, you know, the detour...
Because of a project for school, my daughter was staying home from regular church activities. She was in a playful mood, and came out to say good bye to the rest of us and when she jumped down off the running boards of my SUV (all of about 8 inches from the ground) she twisted her ankle. Although not a serious injury, she is one of those drama kids! (No, she wasn't acting. It was her first real serious injury and her reaction was just as serious.) So off to the hospital instead of Bible Study.
(And a great thanks to all of you who instead of studying with me, prayed for us and for Hannah!)
Fortunately that 3 hour trip to the Emergency Room wasn't as serious as it could have been. The ankle wasn't broken, just a sprain and we're back to normal at our house again. What is interesting is how we were able to see the hand of God.
One of the things that happens at any emergency room (that they don't show on ER!) is the waiting. While we were surprised at the attentiveness and quick response we received, once the paperwork is finished, and the x-rays taken it's all about the waiting, waiting for the Dr., the answers, the pain medication to kick in, the discharge papers to sign, etc. But what do we do in the waiting?
We took some pictures, laughed, talked about both important and non-important things, but mostly we watched, listened and waited. We watched the staff, the other patients and their families, the activites going on in the hospital. We watched for people we knew and especially for opportunities to be in ministry while we were there. We listened to the conversations around us (not eavesdropping or spying, but just listened) for needs, hurts, questions that were plaguing the other "waiters." We listened to the nurses who had questions for me about some spiritual issues. (I did put on my clergy badge just in case it might help get some quicker service. It didn't help!) We listened to the intercom and prayed during a Code Blue for an infant patient and I'm sure a frantic family.
Yes, we were sidetracked for the evening, but just maybe for a purpose. We sought God anyway, in our circumstances and we found Him at every turn. I'm not surprised. It wasn't a test. It is a practice and an expectation.
Monkey wrenches are not just interruptions to our routine, they are perspective changers. They are hands placed on either side of our faces pointing our eyes in a specific direction helping us focus on what's been right in front of us the whole time but looked right past. Maybe they are just God's fun way of getting our attention. (?) Whatever they are, I like them. Maybe because I'm used to them. It's called ministry and to a greater extent, it's simply a part of life. And the greatest part about them, they point us to God...
...if we're paying attention.
Peace ><>
pc
Last evening we were heading out of the driveway when it happened, you know, the detour...
Because of a project for school, my daughter was staying home from regular church activities. She was in a playful mood, and came out to say good bye to the rest of us and when she jumped down off the running boards of my SUV (all of about 8 inches from the ground) she twisted her ankle. Although not a serious injury, she is one of those drama kids! (No, she wasn't acting. It was her first real serious injury and her reaction was just as serious.) So off to the hospital instead of Bible Study.
(And a great thanks to all of you who instead of studying with me, prayed for us and for Hannah!)
Fortunately that 3 hour trip to the Emergency Room wasn't as serious as it could have been. The ankle wasn't broken, just a sprain and we're back to normal at our house again. What is interesting is how we were able to see the hand of God.
One of the things that happens at any emergency room (that they don't show on ER!) is the waiting. While we were surprised at the attentiveness and quick response we received, once the paperwork is finished, and the x-rays taken it's all about the waiting, waiting for the Dr., the answers, the pain medication to kick in, the discharge papers to sign, etc. But what do we do in the waiting?
We took some pictures, laughed, talked about both important and non-important things, but mostly we watched, listened and waited. We watched the staff, the other patients and their families, the activites going on in the hospital. We watched for people we knew and especially for opportunities to be in ministry while we were there. We listened to the conversations around us (not eavesdropping or spying, but just listened) for needs, hurts, questions that were plaguing the other "waiters." We listened to the nurses who had questions for me about some spiritual issues. (I did put on my clergy badge just in case it might help get some quicker service. It didn't help!) We listened to the intercom and prayed during a Code Blue for an infant patient and I'm sure a frantic family.
Yes, we were sidetracked for the evening, but just maybe for a purpose. We sought God anyway, in our circumstances and we found Him at every turn. I'm not surprised. It wasn't a test. It is a practice and an expectation.
Monkey wrenches are not just interruptions to our routine, they are perspective changers. They are hands placed on either side of our faces pointing our eyes in a specific direction helping us focus on what's been right in front of us the whole time but looked right past. Maybe they are just God's fun way of getting our attention. (?) Whatever they are, I like them. Maybe because I'm used to them. It's called ministry and to a greater extent, it's simply a part of life. And the greatest part about them, they point us to God...
...if we're paying attention.
Peace ><>
pc
Monday, May 07, 2007
Life Witness
Some would do almost anything to stay out of conflict, out of the spotlight. Most do not like to be singled out from a crowd for any reason. And when it does happen most would compromise much, maybe every thing just to stay out of the way and remain conspicuously in the background, to remain in the crowd.
It's those times and those compromises, though, that show who we are, what we are made of, what we really believe. These are really God given opportunities to give a life witness. What does yours say?
The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel chapter 3 is about just that. They were singled out because they were not bowing to a statue. (of Nebuchadnezzar?) But when given a second chance by the king, they didn't compromise, they didn't work to please the king. Instead they dug deep into themselves and their faith and showed some God-given intestinal fortitude(guts). And when they did reveal their faithfulness to God, two things happened...
1. Their lives were witnesses. They went into the fire not kicking and screaming, but willingly. They said, "If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us...but even if he doesn't, it wouldn't make a bit of difference...we still wouldn't serve your gods." (Daniel 3:17-18, Msg)
2. God's work was a witness. Nebuchadnezzar saw with his own eyes what happened. It wasn't a magic trick or an illusion. It wasn't anything that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did or could have done because it was God who showed up in the furnace.
When we are faithful, our lives tell a story AND God is revealed. But it takes the first to bring about the second. In fact, when we fail to show our faith, or we show our lack of faith, God is mocked.
Think of Peter on the night of Jesus' betrayal. God surely wasn't revealed in his life as he denied he was a part of this movement or a friend of Jesus!
His life witnessed to something. Yours and mine do to. The question is, "What?"
I don't know what I'd do if someone bound me preparing to throw me into a furnace. I'd like to think that I'd go praising God and praying for God's help in God's own way. But when our life is on the line it's hard to tell what we'd do. Yet that just may be when the true nature of our faith is revealed.
May God grant us strength to be ready for that time, should it ever come!
Peace ><>
pc
It's those times and those compromises, though, that show who we are, what we are made of, what we really believe. These are really God given opportunities to give a life witness. What does yours say?
The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel chapter 3 is about just that. They were singled out because they were not bowing to a statue. (of Nebuchadnezzar?) But when given a second chance by the king, they didn't compromise, they didn't work to please the king. Instead they dug deep into themselves and their faith and showed some God-given intestinal fortitude(guts). And when they did reveal their faithfulness to God, two things happened...
1. Their lives were witnesses. They went into the fire not kicking and screaming, but willingly. They said, "If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us...but even if he doesn't, it wouldn't make a bit of difference...we still wouldn't serve your gods." (Daniel 3:17-18, Msg)
2. God's work was a witness. Nebuchadnezzar saw with his own eyes what happened. It wasn't a magic trick or an illusion. It wasn't anything that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did or could have done because it was God who showed up in the furnace.
When we are faithful, our lives tell a story AND God is revealed. But it takes the first to bring about the second. In fact, when we fail to show our faith, or we show our lack of faith, God is mocked.
Think of Peter on the night of Jesus' betrayal. God surely wasn't revealed in his life as he denied he was a part of this movement or a friend of Jesus!
His life witnessed to something. Yours and mine do to. The question is, "What?"
I don't know what I'd do if someone bound me preparing to throw me into a furnace. I'd like to think that I'd go praising God and praying for God's help in God's own way. But when our life is on the line it's hard to tell what we'd do. Yet that just may be when the true nature of our faith is revealed.
May God grant us strength to be ready for that time, should it ever come!
Peace ><>
pc
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