"Putting Away Childish Things" by Marcus Borg

I recently finished reading Marcus Borg's new book. For those of you who know Borg's work, he has focused on Christian theology for a generation now. Up until this most recent book his material, to my knowledge has all been non-fiction. Perhaps after such an illustrious writing career he thought it was time to try something new. And so he has, quite successfully I might add with his new novel "Putting Away Childish Things."

I must say that I was not too sure what to think of a successful theologian writing a novel. After all I have found his theology very approachable and have used his book "The Heart of Christianity" in two different churches since it was published in 2003. That said, it wasn't too long before I really wanted to know what would happen next in the lives of his main characters.

The story is about an assistant professor of religion at a small liberal arts college and a semester of her life when she is confronted with a major, potentially life altering decision. Upon receiving an invitation for a one-year teaching appointment at a Theological Seminary she must struggle with what it means to be led in her decision making process by the God in whom she trusts. Along the way we are introduced to her circle of friends which include a fellow professor of religion, her Episcopal priest, her former lover who is on the faculty of the seminary as well as several of her students at the small liberal arts college.

Upon finishing this book I wanted to know more of what happened to the characters and I know that I will some day read this book with a group of people who care about Christianity and lived faith. Borg has done an excellent job venturing into new territory and for anyone who has ever read Brian McLaren's trilogy "A New Kind of Christian" Borg's writing takes things to the next level. This is a book for church groups open to the changes going on within Christianity as well as those who think there might be something more to church-life but aren't entirely sure how or where to put their finger on it.

Maundy Thursday

So what is this word "maundy"?

According to Donald K. McKim in his "Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms" Maundy Thursdy (From Latin mandatum, "mandate," "commandment")refers to Holy Thursday, before Good Friday, when Jesus commanded his disciples to follow his example of service in the washing of feet (John 13:5ff.). The term derives from the Latin mandatum novum, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another" (John 13:34).

It is a little unfortunate that Maundy Thursday falls on the rather annoying secular holiday of April Fools Day this year. But hopefully anyone who perpetrates a prank today will do it with a loving spirit and not out of some other motivation, especially if they call themselves a Christian.

Which makes me wonder if all those so called "Christian Militia" people are going to observe Maundy Thursday? I mean, if they do take the time to observe this holy day do they understand the hypocrisy they are living? Then again, maybe they understand that although they call themselves "Christian" they really aren't in anything but name only. And what about Glenn Beck and his efforts at saying who is and who is not a good enough Christian, does he understand the problem with that especially if, as a member of the LDS church, he takes Jesus words and commandments seriously?

I think you see where I'm going with all of this. How might we all do a better job at following Jesus new commandment to love one another? In what ways might you look at things differently in your life in response to Jesus' Maundy Thursday mandate?

Struggling with the Daily Lectionary in Advent

Even though reading the daily lectionary has been a good discipline for me to engage in this Advent, it sure has been challenging with the last chapters of Amos and Matthew in particular has been very straining with their words of condemnation and warning. But maybe that's just the sort of thing we need to hear. I mean, even though many of us have felt the effects of the financial downturn over the last year we all still have quite a lot of stuff and if we are not planning an extravagant Christmas it will most likely not be one of nothing and just another day for most of us. In other words, we're mostly all still pretty well off.

So then, reading today's passage from the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus speaks out against the scribes and Pharisees may be a word to us, even if we are tempted to think Jesus' words apply only to those people he was berating 2000 years ago. In chapter 23 of Matthew we read the following:

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others.

When I read those words a little while ago it got me thinking about how much actual time do we spend thinking and praying about the weightier matters of the law; of justice, mercy and faith. You know what I mean don't you? How often are our conversations, church study groups and sermons for that matter focused on treating others in our society with the justice and mercy of God? How often do we spend talking about what it would mean to live in relation with others in our world based solely on faith and not be influence by politics, status, economics or credential? How often are our concerns and arguments tied up in things as seemingly insignificant as mint, dill, and cummin?

Maybe especially in these weeks leading up to the Advent of the Christ we need to think about how the birth of Jesus changes everything; how Jesus in our lives effects every relationship we have whether the most intimate bonds of family or the most hard to imagine bonds we have with those who are profoundly other, but none the less Children of God endowed with the capacity to love and be loved. What if we really took our preparations and celebrations of Jesus into account in such a way?

Servants

This morning's daily lectionary features Amos chapter six which is a stinging rebuke of the privileged of Israel whose luxuriant lifestyle is mocked by God through God's prophet. This can be either easily overlooked as God's word against people long ago and have nothing to do with me or it can be a lens through which to examine our own luxuriant lives especially in comparison to the bleak global reality.

Then again I'd like to split the difference this morning, especially as I look at my clock and see that I have about five minutes until I have to be on the other side of the building. While I'm not quite willing to assume that this Amos passage has nothing to say outside its historical context neither am I willing or able to go off on a social-justice tirade. Instead, this passage from Amos calls to mind the sight I beheld when I showed up in the bleak and utter chill this morning at church.

Although we didn't have a lot of snow we had enough to make me realize that I'd probably be pulling out the shovel in addition to my usual Sunday morning preparations. But when I showed up at church there was a four-wheeler with plow attached to it sitting out in front of the building, definitely out of the usual. As I got closer I saw that Rob Blackston had left the warmth and comfort of his home, donning hat and gloves and cleared the walk with his four-wheeler and swept the steps and front porch of the sanctuary building. If that's not service I don't know what is.

Rob's dedication of time and being out in the cold ensuring that others would have safe footing into the building today is the kind of lifestyle that Amos ultimately encourages us to live with the prophet's damning language in chapter six. What sometimes can be overlooked or used to rhetorically bludgeon can also point to sacrificial servant hood as I witnessed this morning upon arrival at church. Thank you, Rob for exemplifying the life that Amos and Jesus preached.

Heroes and Psalm 147:10-11

Tonight at our church's LOGOS ministry we're doing "Heroes Night" and as I lay awake early this morning I wondered about why we're still fascinated by or repelled by heroes. And then I read this morning's daily lectionary from the Psalms, especially verses ten and eleven which read; "[God's] delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love."

What those two verses said to me is that we want someone in whom we can trust steadfastly. And even as we are reminded again and again that steadfast love is what God wants from us, we fickle, finite, people are always on the lookout for a being who is greater than we are and yet also one whom we can see.

That's where heroes come in. Whether they are heroes from the battlefield, like the dwindling number of Medal of Honor Recipients, or heroes from the ball field, or heroes from the world of comic books; we all long for someone who can do more than we can and whom we can trust to be there for us no matter what. Of course that is who God is in our lives and our longing for God to be more present was accomplished by God through the incarnation and later the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of God's Son Jesus Christ who made the way for the Holy Spirit.

And yet even as we confess our faith in such beliefs we daily long for something more tangible. And so we put our hopes in the boys in blue on the blue turf in Boise or in the men and women who give of themselves overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan or we look to supermen and women from the world of "graphic novels" to rescue us. And yet at some point or another all of these valiant heroes let us down in one way or another and we would better serve by the One who came to be among us--Emmanuel--God with us. And that is our challenge for this Advent season, to longingly trust that God comes among us and lives in us and that makes all the difference in the world.

Advent Calendars & Amos

This morning I awoke to the sound of Kathy egging Eric on about what new special thing he would get to do starting today. He had all sorts of guesses and it took him awhile to remember that this being the first day of December meant he could begin opening his Advent Calendar.

I'm sure most of you have had Advent calendars with little doors that open up revealing either symbols of the season or maybe even a little treat. I remember being especially fond of the chocolate Advent calendars as a child, but with a little sister that meant that we alternated days of opening the little doors. In our family's case, Kathy last year made one out of twenty-five little tins that reveal chocolate, legos, and this year a Bakugan!

And so I was reminded that, if I can remember, I might try and blog through Advent using the daily lectionary and other sources. And boy what a surprise to read Amos today. I mean, I've been thinking about how the sermon might unfold with this coming Sunday being the Second Sunday of Advent with Luke's introduction of John the Baptist and how people have mixed feelings about having to run headlong into John in their Advent/Christmas preparations, but he's nothing compared to Amos.

Amos' word from the Lord makes John's "voice crying out in the wilderness" seem rather tame. Which makes me wonder about whether or not we really understand the prophetic voice, especially at this time of year. Sure, some Christians will get upset about all the Santas and Reindeers and Elves and cry out "Jesus is the reason for the season." But really, do any of us think that will make a difference? With all the suffering in this world, what does it matter whether or not people focus too much on Santa?

Maybe instead of getting all worked up about decorations or the greetings people extend to us we should look out for words from the Lord that we see in those around us whether or not they claim any faith or not. After all, God doesn't want our self-righteous indignation, but rather the gift of our heart in response to God's gift of Jesus and then our sharing of ourselves for those in need.

Matthew 10:29

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father."

Jesus' words about the care and compassion of God for even a little sparrow are words spoken by him in a larger passage assuring his disciples that they have nothing to fear in this world as long as they are following him and know that God is watching over them and caring for them. This seems to be the way the above passage is used by interpreters of this passage. But yesterday it was used in a startlingly effective different way in one of my favorite novels: "The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell.

This novel has been out for about fifteen years and I read it for the first time about six or eight years ago and for some reason picked it up again a few weeks ago and finished it yesterday. The novel tells the story of a Jesuit and Scientific mission to the planet Rakhat to make contact with another sentient species. The story is told from the vantage point of the trip itself, in 2019 as well as in the distant future when the sole survivor returns in 2060. Throughout there is discussion of faith and God, especially one of the priests named Emilio. This main character experiences extreme mountaintops with God and utter desolation from God.

Very near the end Matthew 10:29 is mentioned as both a comfort and a warning; even as Emilio has fallen deeply in love with God and then feels utterly separated from God his superior reminds him of Jesus' words by saying "But the sparrow still falls." That is, at our lowest point when we are shaking our fist at God and wondering why God let bad things happen Matthew 10:29 reminds us that Jesus, that God never made such a promise. The promise made is that no matter what we go through, no matter how horrible how desolate we may feel God is there still even when we fall.

It may not be what many want to hear, but it is so true.

An Interesting Week

This sure has been an interesting week. It started off with a day off reading Mary Doria Russell's classic "The Sparrow". My morning reading took me from earth to Rakhat and first contact. Russell's book is so moving in its grasp of faith questions as well as what it would mean to contact other species (another way for sci-fi writer's to address race and culture issues). That Monday afternoon was spent doing stained glass, a small project for my nephew in Seattle for Christmas. Then the Price family was off to dinner at Jakkers' and then home to watch both the Denver Broncos & Philadelphia Phillies win on the same night. So it was a great day off and thank goodness because it has turned into a good but trying week of pokes and prods.

I say that because on Tuesday I went to see Dr. Dan about my hand tremors which turned out to be something called "Essential Tremor" and nothing more serious. We are going to look at treatment options in the weeks to come. But what was most trying about the visit was that he wanted some of my blood! And I had to get two vaccinations. So before I left his office I got poked in the left arm first with seasonal flu and then in the right arm with tetanus along with encouragement to fast on Tuesday night in order to show up first thing on Wednesday to have blood drawn for lab work, which I did reluctantly.

I know I sound like a baby, but I really don't need all that attention. Though on the up side it did give me the opportunity to bring out and practice in my head the "Jesus Prayer", that is, "Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner." It may not sound like much, but said over and over and over again in my head it helps calm me. And while I was at the dentist on Thursday--that's right--two vaccinations, blood work, and the dentist all in the same week! Anyway, while I was at the dentist having my teeth cleaned (no cavities!) the Jesus Prayer came in handy once again and while my gums were being probbed I felt for a little while as if Jesus was by my side comforting me through the ordeal.

Thanks to prayer and the fact that I've been flossing and brushing my gums along with my teeth and thanks to some really great nurses I've survived "an interesting week". Now it's Friday and I have Church Officer Training packets to put together and a graveside for an out of town family I do not know along with cleaning my office before I head home later today. All in all, it has been a good week, I can't wait to see what God has in store for the coming week!

Mr. Mom Chronicles 19: Special Meals

Yesterday was a good day, after the jam jar jumble, that is. It turns out that I was trying to pry the lid off when it was simply a twist top. Live and learn, I guess.

As for Eric he had a "green light" day at school and after I blogged I was able to get the bulletin & some worship preparation done at the office in the morning. As things fell in place with the bulletin and Sunday planning the rest of the day kind of rolled along. Of course it helped that my afternoon had been planned out with the help of Margie Howard as we went and took home communion to several different people.

Those visits really bolster me. Even though I know it's not about me, that is, the reason for taking home communion to people is that they are not able to attend worship and so the church through their pastor (me) and one of our deacons (Margie) shows up at their door and live out Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” It is one of my responsibilities that I enjoy the most, especially when someone else does the planning for me and I can just show up, visit, share the scripture and we all break bread together. It really makes for a very special spiritual meal.

One of the highlights of those visits yesterday is that we took communion to a couple who are members of FPC, but who haven't been in worship for many years. Their names are Ron and Miriam Watson and Ron is Margie's cousin. When we showed up at their door Ron said that his oldes son would be joining us and so I got to meet three new people who know a whole lot about our church. And what was really fun was telling them who we had been to see before and who we were going to see after and hear about their connections with Lois Matheney and Fern Lewis which led to even more fond memories of their time at FPC. They really lit up when talking about the good times they have had at the church and it seemed to give them a deeper communion with their faith as lived out at the Presbyterian church in Twin.

The other special meal I had yesterday was with Eric. After he had a good day and after I realized that we needed to stay home and not go to a meeting at church I asked if he wanted to roast some hot dogs over the fire pit. Well you can guess his answer. And so he and I got some wood out, I lit the matches and we watched the fire for a while then had some high quality father-son time roasting weenies. It was a great way to end a really great day of special meals.

LOGOS Begins Tonight!

Wow, can it have really been nearly a month since I've blogged anything? Maybe Facebook, with its microblogging just fits better into my schedule, but then again it is difficult to really say anything much on Facebook, so here goes.

I suppose the other reason that I haven't blogged anything these past few weeks is that I have been swamped with Presbytery responsibilities and home communion and a host of administrative responsibilities not to mention a funeral or two so I guess I'd be justified in saying that as many of those responsibilties will continue over the next few weeks that I don't really have time for LOGOS. But that wouldn't really be true because of all the responsibilities that I have; taking the time to nurture young people in the faith is one of the most important and enduring things on my to do list. That and I really love being with the kids and the many adults who genuinely love God, love being with the kids and have gifts to share with and for the Kingdom of God.

So while I'm planning Bible study and getting ready to be dinner dean and keeping in mind the funeral for Friday and the ongoing presbytery responsibilities and the myriad of other church and family responsibilties (like Kathy going out of town on Monday and my mother coming to town for a few days the following week) I will do my best to remember that for the next 20 or so Wednesday evenings at LOGOS I will be doing something far more important than deciding which insurance company the church should go with or how to handle some prickly personell issue or how to handle the next stage of the presbytery commission I've been serving for far too long.

So what is that "far more important thing" that called for such a grandiose run-on sentence? It is that I will be helping about 30 young people come to know Jesus Christ at a wider, deeper and more profound level that will hopefully allow them to continue their relationship with Jesus Christ within this community of faith or another one in the years to come. In addition the 60 or so adults who will help make LOGOS happen throughout the year will also grow in their own relationship with Jesus Christ and see how that most important bond with our Lord and Savior relates to getting to know the kids in our church and community as well as their peers with whom they have worshipped with for years.

In other words, even as I may feel overwhelmed at times, I can point to Wednesday evening in the midst of my week as an oasis of Kingdom Living, of relationship building, of grafting our lives into a more profound embrace of God our Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The Mystery of Faith

Its Sunday morning about 9:30 a.m. and I am doing what I can to wrap my brain and heart around what it is that God has called me to be as a pastor and Minister of Word and Sacrament. For the most part, when I think about it, I feel like most of my gifts for ministry are wrapped up in being a pastor, that is; listening to others, being present in others lives, being available to others and those kinds of things. But on Sunday morning the expectation of being the Minister of Word and Sacrament, that is proclaiming God's Word through preaching and administering the sacrament of communion is really a mystery.

Granted, I know that people are showing up for worship for a multitude of other reasons than that Phil Price is pastor. Its just that it is such an amazingly frightening and humble thing to stand up and address and lead this congregation in worship. There are so many talented people who sit in the pews and the memories of some truly great pastors from the past reside in the souls who sit in our sanctuary and that I might follow in there footsteps is a lot to bear in my soul. But I have to do it, don't I? I mean I can't just sit here and pretend that someone else will stand up for me today, can I?

And so my prayer is that the words I have prepared will be enough for the Holy Spirit to use so that those who have gathered for worship today may catch a glimpse of God's grace and glory. And when they are so touched by God's Spirit they too might work to bring about a pieced of God's glory and grace in their own lives and in those whom they encounter throughout this Lord's Day and the week to come.

Thoughts on this Week's New Testament Reading

Sunday's Gospel reading, according to the Revised Common Lectionary, contains two stories of healings; the first of a little girl from a distance and the second of a deaf man. While the RCL contains both stories, for various reasons I'm just going to focus on the first story. A less serious reason for focussing on only one of the stories is that it is communion Sunday and I'm conditioned as well are most people at FPC for preaching to endure no more than about fifteen minutes and the more serious reason is that I believe the first story speaks to us more than the second.

So what about the first of the two healing stories is more relevant? Well, for one it speaks to all of who are parents because the little girl who is healed from a distance receives the blessing as a result of her mother persistently pestering Jesus to heal her daughter. The first part of the passage appeals to anyone who has ever had a sick child and wants to see her made well. I can't imagine anyone upon hearing Mark 7:24-30 not feeling the aching heart of the mother who boldly approaches Jesus and asks for her daughter to be made whole.

Although this mother goes unnamed by Mark, she is a model of persistent faith and prayer. She is someone we can all bring to mind when faced with adversity. She is someone whose trust in God gives us all an idea of what it means to trust in God no matter what we are facing. It is a powerful story in the middle of Mark's Gospel and one I am looking forward to preaching.

Though I must say, since it is about healing it is awfully tempting to bring up the healthcare debate and make the sermon that much more "relevant". That being said, the problem with those kind of sermons is that they really don't proclaim the gospel, the good news that no matter what we face, God walks with us. So I won't give into that particular temptation no matter how alluring it may be.

Many Samaritans

Earlier in the day I posted on Facebook that I felt like someone had beat me up and left me by the side of the road. I really didn't mean anything about that other than I was tired after a stressful week and didn't realize any kind of scriptural allusion until after typing it.

But I soon found out how blessed I am to be surrounded by people who are willing and ready to stop by the side of the road and pick me up. Throughout the day other Facebook friends have helped to boost my spirits along with family and the thought of an evening launching model rockets.

It is times like these that I am truly thankful for how God works in my life. Being surrounded by friends who care, whether they are on Facebook or not is very affirming especially when I've been feeling so down.

So in a little while I'll head home after having been brushed off by those who care for me, keeping in mind opportunities to return the favor.

Facebook

That one word describes why I haven't updated my blog yet. After resisting the idea for some time, I finally added myself to the social-networking phenomenon. I must say that I was skeptical, after all how much real contact can you have with people when you can't hear their voice or see their face? But what I've found out is that Facebook can be just one more way for me as a Pastor to stay in touch with and find out how the people in my charge are doing. Of course that still means following up with people which takes time and effort. But then again I am able to see who is where and what they're up to and what's on their mind, which in part is part of my responsibility as pastor.

Another thing that Facebook has done is allowed me to be in contact with colleagues around the country who are working hard to discern what it means to be pastor in our rapidly changing world. Throughout the day when I dip into Facebook for a few minutes between tasks I see that other pastors are engaged in the same activities that I am and are also experiencing similar frustrations. And so, in that way it can be a powerful (and cost effective way) to be supported in my own ongoing efforts to more fully serve God in my own particular call.

It is also fun to slip in the different prayer practices that I engage in throughout the day and week. Perhaps by mentioning how I seek to "pray without ceasing" it will encourage others to see that a lofty Biblical goal is possible in life, even for the non-church worker.

Of course, not keeping up with the rest of you who do read this blog from time to time is no real excuse either. I'll just have to find a little more balance, which, in the end, is part of what it means to faithfully follow Christ.

GREAT DAY!

WOW! What a great day!

Saturday started off with a very productive Worhship Committee. Among other things we talked about how the Baptismal Font is falling apart and how the sound system could use a 21st century upgrade. It was a long meeting; at nearly two hours, but well worth it nonetheless.

On another front today was the wedding of Kelly Wrigtht and David Ruggles; if ever there were a couple meant to be together; I don't know of them! Today's ceremony took place at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church and everything went off quite well; even with the pastor trying to immitate the "Impressive Clergyman" from Rob Reiner's classic "The Princess Bride." This purely 80s film captures the beauty and wonder of marital as well as familial love. Thankfully, God on High was watching over me as I attempted to recite some lines from this movie by saying: "Mawage! Mawage is wot bwings us togeber tooday! Mawage, that bwessed awwaangement; that dweam wiffin a dweam!" From those classic 80s lines I attempted to tie-in the Apostle Paul's message about the abiding quality of God's love.

Whether Rob Reiner's stunt was what did it or something else, God worked God's miracles and the wedding was a success! Watching Kelly and David Ruggles make their way into God's future was a joy and priviledge! If it weren't for their love for one another the wedding would not have been half of what it was; but for their love we all experienced a JOY that transcended the wonders of MARITAL LOVE!!!

Thank God for the wonders of two people coming together; of finding one another in spite of their pasts and because of where God is leading them!

Praying the Daily Offices

Ever since I was a second year student in seminary, that's almost fifteen years now, I have been encouraged by professors, colleagues in ministry, and others to broaden and deepen my spirituality. I guess they encouraged me to do that because, as a former history major in college I tend to look at things from arm's length. Whereas those who have encouraged me and continue to know that for me to be an even better pastor I really have to have a deep relationship with God and not merely an awareness of who God is. It has taken me some time to appreciate the wisdom of their encouragement, but along the way I have learned some interesting things as well as developing a richer more fuller relationship with God's purpose, presence and power in my life.

One such practice is saying the "Daily Offices" (the times of daily prayer and worship services prescribed in the Roman Catholic Church and practiced in various ways by other Christian groups or churches). That definition comes from Donald McKim's "Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms"; it is a funny definition because it makes it seem as though saying daily prayer is foreign to anyone but Roman Catholics. And I suppose to many Presbyterians and other Protestants it may be something of which they are vaguely aware due to novels and movies. But what most Protestants may not beware of is that daily prayer is part of many worship books within various denominations.

For instance, in our own "Book of Common Worship" there are outlines for saying Morning, Midday, and Evening Prayer. We have been using the Evening Prayer format in our monthly Session meetings for the several months now. And even though that resource exists it can be quite cumbersome to pull out the Book of Common Worship, a Bible, and a list of the Daily Lectionary. Having to pull out several books has meant that for the past year or so I've kept one Daily Office sporadically throughout the week, a few times Monday through Friday and Sunday morning. But just the other day I purchased Phyllis Tickle's book "The Divine Hours" which pulls together several different resources into one book.

So this past weekend I started saying four daily offices: first between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.; second between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; third between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.; fourth before going to bed. Don't let those time spans deceive you, it isn't as though I've been praying for three hours at a time four times a day. Rather each office is between four and eight minutes in length. I have found it a very refreshing thing to do, to stop and pray; to stop and check in with God; throughout the day whether I am in the middle of reading a novel or having a water battle with Eric stopping to make time for God has been really good.

Please pray for me that I continue to make time for God and grow in this all-important relationship.

Midsummer Doldrums

Yes its the middle of the summer and I'm feeling lost in the midst of a wide open stretch of windless water, a bit ironic I must admit as yesterday's winds in the Magic Valley were gusting above 30 miles per hour. It's not that I'm bored or that there is nothing to do, not with a week and a half of evenings full of meetings or social and family times coming up. No, it's more about being between the wonderful things that have happened over the past few weeks in worship and things that are unfolding over the next month or so.

In the midst of this low time I pulled out a resource about Sabbaticals, as you may know I'm eligible for one in the summer of 2011. As I've been dreaming about that I've been following Jan Edmiston's blog, www.achurchofstarvingartists.com which is chronicling her sabbatical this summer. It is fun and interesting and eye opening all at the same time. She has visited with former members of the church she serves in Alexandria in places like Texas and Istanbul. She led a workshop at the conference I attended in North Carolina. She also blogged about church members not really understanding the sabbatical once she was gone. So I've picked up some ideas and hopefully will be able to implement them in the two years leading up to sabbatical.

I've also been using this in between time to practice some new prayer forms. One that I'm really excited about is "Praying in Color" by Sybil MacBeth. The basic idea is that many of us get hung up in prayer in trying to figure out what words to use, but this new prayer form encourages us to hold a person's name or a desire of our heart or even scripture before God and doodle, yes drawing shapes and using various colors, as a way of holding that person or idea before God in order to keep our mind from wondering. It has been a great way for me to pray with and for our congregation, especially in this in between time.

I've also been reading a lot of fiction, in particular alternative history. It has been a good escape without having to leave Twin Falls.

I'm sure this season of my heart will pass and the next few weeks of meetings, Eric's birthday, Kathy's trip to Sheridan, two weddings, and Kathy and Eric's trip to Seattle will ease me through the doldrums of the summer.

A Wonderful Person!

Recently my mother sent me an obituary, granted it is a rather strange thing to send someone, but in this case I was glad that my mother did so. The obituary is for Mary Landis, 84, of Lititz who passed away on June 27, 2009.

Mary Landis is not my grandmother nor is she an aunt, rather she was my Third Grade teacher. Mrs. Landis made quite an impact on me as a third grader as well as on my sister who had her the following year. And through my mother, Mrs. Landis was able to keep up with what my sister and I did in the years following our elementary school years. And because of that contact I received cards from Mrs. Landis as I made my way through college and then seminary and then through Kathy's Christmas Letters we also received updates from Mrs. Landis' life in the years that we served in Kentucky, Colorado and now Idaho.

Not only was Mrs. Landis a phenomenal school teacher, she was also very active in her local Mennonite church of which she was a charter member. Her faith was part of who she was and influenced how she taught in the classroom if not what. Mrs. Landis was a shining example of a Christian serving in the public schools. No, she never to my knowledge crossed the church/state divide in her lessons. More importantly than trying to "sneak" Christian content into her lessons, she treated students and parents alike as fellow siblings in Christ which meant more in the classroom and over the span of the last thirty years of my life.

I am grateful to have had Mrs. Landis as my third grade teacher and to have been given the privilege of knowing her as an adult even as I have moved far away from the small town in eastern Pennsylvania where I was raised and where Mary Landis served God faithfully as a teacher and child of God.

"Christ the Lord: the Road to Cana" by Anne Rice

Wow! Magnificent! A must read!

Over the last two Mondays (my day off) I have had the opportunity to read Anne Rice's (of vampire fame) latest in her series of novels about the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth. "Road to Cana" came out in 2008 and for some reason I didn't rush out and buy it, perhaps I let that whole election thing distract me, who knows, but I'm glad that I finally took the time to check it out from the Twin Falls Library because it was hard to put down once I opened it up!

Perhaps that's too many exclamation marks for one blog, but I just can't help but to underline how worth while the latest book was, not to mention the first in the series "Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt". With "Christ the Lord" Anne Rice does a good job of honoring Christian Orthodoxy (she is a recent convert to Catholicism) while at the same time bringing her gift of writing compelling characters and a moving plot. Her Jesus of Nazareth feels like and sounds like your and my Lord and Savior. If we had more than just what the gospels say about Jesus, this "Christ the Lord" that Anne Rice is writing on behalf of sounds like the very one to whom we turn in prayer and guidance for life.

So as Memorial Day approaches and you are looking for something to read on vacation I strongly encourage you to check out both of Anne Rice's "Christ the Lord" books, they are both available in paper back or you can simply check them out at your local library, you won't be disappointed.

Habitat for Humanity Breakfast

I just got back from a delightful breakfast at the Ascension Episcopal Church in Twin Falls where the Magic Valley Chapter of Habitat for Humanity hosted a Helping Hands breakfast. The food was great, there were smiles all around and a positive energy about what Habitat for Humanity can accomplish in the Magic Valley in the year to come.

Hopefully you all know what an amazing ministry and mission HFH is; in case you don't their objective is to impact poverty housing and homelessness by renovating and building homes which people buy through no-interest loans and investing what HFH calls "sweat equity" a set number of volunteer hours on their own home usually in the neighborhood of 300 to 500 hours of work. So by the time that HFH gets done with the home the new owner has invested many hours of their time and can afford to sign a mortgage they can afford to become a homeowner.

HFH not only provides the opportunity of home ownership to those who are financially disadvantaged, but they also raise the value of homes in a variety of neighborhoods across the Magic Valley in the world. And so regardless of political or theological perspective, Habitat for Humanity is a mission that all can get involved with and since HFH makes use of people with both construction skills and no skills at all other than a willingness to Lend-a-Hand this is a mission in which all can get involved.

I hope that you will consider offering your time and talents to HFH in the Magic Valley.