God of all creation, you have journeyed with the church through seasons of Lent and Easter; we have experienced the glory of the cross, the surprise of resurrection morning, and celebrated the Lordship of the Ascended Christ.
Today as we again gather gather from with own diverse individual histories and varied ecclesiastical traditions, we long to understand each others perspectives and we yearn for essential unity in Christ.
During this green and growing season of ordinary time, may our conversations continue to bear fruit in ways that extend far beyond this place and this time.
In the name of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen for the life of all creation—Amen!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
the five books of moses
The Five Books of Moses, The Schocken Bible, Volume 1, aka "Schocken Pentateuch." 
the sound and the sense…
…of the original. Newly translated by Everett Fox with (lots of) commentary and notes, this version of Torah brings with it a lifetime of devotion and scholarship; it is an outstanding study resource and an exceptional choice for public reading. Fox brings the sensibilities, rhythms, literary devices, and general styles of the original Hebrew into English in ways that make reader and especially anyone listening during worship wonder if they've really heard that passage before! As the translator explains, principles in the work of Martin Buber and Franz Rosenzweig influenced him—in many ways he's gone beyond those giants. And why not? After all, The Five Books of Moses is copyright 2000 though parts were published earlier, starting in 1983. The commentary is especially valuable to me as someone far more familiar and experienced with interpreting the New Covenant scriptures than the Old. One reviewer suggested it would be even better as an interlinear or side-by-side English/Hebrew bible and I agree, though keeping the same highly readable text size and style might make the book too awkward and heavy.
Printed in large serif type on quality paper, this paperback is solidly sewn and glued in signatures; the 1.75" thick book is a pleasure to heft and it easily stays open! If you're passionate about scripture, please consider adding this Torah version to your library.
my amazon review: the sound and the sense
the sound and the sense…
…of the original. Newly translated by Everett Fox with (lots of) commentary and notes, this version of Torah brings with it a lifetime of devotion and scholarship; it is an outstanding study resource and an exceptional choice for public reading. Fox brings the sensibilities, rhythms, literary devices, and general styles of the original Hebrew into English in ways that make reader and especially anyone listening during worship wonder if they've really heard that passage before! As the translator explains, principles in the work of Martin Buber and Franz Rosenzweig influenced him—in many ways he's gone beyond those giants. And why not? After all, The Five Books of Moses is copyright 2000 though parts were published earlier, starting in 1983. The commentary is especially valuable to me as someone far more familiar and experienced with interpreting the New Covenant scriptures than the Old. One reviewer suggested it would be even better as an interlinear or side-by-side English/Hebrew bible and I agree, though keeping the same highly readable text size and style might make the book too awkward and heavy.
Printed in large serif type on quality paper, this paperback is solidly sewn and glued in signatures; the 1.75" thick book is a pleasure to heft and it easily stays open! If you're passionate about scripture, please consider adding this Torah version to your library.
my amazon review: the sound and the sense
Friday, May 25, 2012
friday of easter 7
…from the margins…
What's the essential condition for resurrection from the dead? You gotta be dead (of course).
Pastor Alan Roxburgh reminds us the poet and the prophet speak from the margins. I've been trying to explain I've spent too much time on the subverse, a location even more radical than the edges, but doesn't radical imply root and foundation as much as it evokes counterculture and unconventional? I've hung onto edges of mainline church and margins of mainstream society and I need to speak, I need to be heard. Abram was an Ivri, a Hebrew: one from the "other side"—not even from the edges or margins! In Christ Jesus we meet the God from the very other side...
In the past I've written lots about geographical and "other" centers, hearts, edges, margins but can't put many words together this evening. Earlier today I read something I wrote eight years ago and it truly wowed me. I've been trying to cull some books, especially those with content I easily can access online (no, not exclusively written by my professors) and I'm astonished at the heavy-duty theology I used to read for fun. Also surprised I'm not reading anything these days. Eight or nine years ago Marian C posted to me on a forum, "Leah, I think you're the kind of poet-theologian Pastor Roxburgh is talking about; the Church so needs your leadership at this time." I agree. The Church truly does need my voice and presence: call it leadership if you'd like! Interesting bit of my own history: long ago in city of history I was having a casual conversation with senior pastor who said to me, "You have some leadership ability but..." I finished the sentence: "I try to make sure everyone gets to participate," and he replied, "Exactly. And that's not always a good idea."
By definition edges and margins are parts of the whole and cannot exist with the usually larger main object that sometimes is called the center or at least presumably contains a center. Do you remember Gerry Rafferty's City to City? In "The Ark" we hear, "we'll meet out on the water, where all strangers are known." Water has no permanent edges, no enduring center. Still and forever I remain a daughter of the church. Paul Tillich spoke of the pain of our frequent human state if being separated and yet bound. These days in many ways I remain separate from the main stream yet eternally bound to the whole by Water and Word.
More recently than Gerry Rafferty, poet-musician Rascal Flatts sings "My wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it to."
The habitat that's my street address reeks of death but you gotta be dead in order to be raised to new life!
What is my wish for myself? Life, community, a summer, opportunities, resurrection. You need to move out the old furniture to make room for the new. I'm considering neatly completing the Easter cycle with the Feast of Pentecost at Church up the Hill and then figuring out a "what next" place and location. How on earth did someone like me who thoroughly, intentionally, and passionately prepared for a lifetime of urban ministry (after all, "I appreciate the concentration of pathology in the inner city," a somewhat younger me explained) find herself at a location like Church up the Hill? No response to that one! For myself I wish, desire, long for life, community, a summer, opportunities, resurrection. Life only can be received, as a room receives light simply by being and not being an agent of anything. That's Will Willimon's analogy, though likely not at all original with him.
Sunday two days away we celebrate the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit of Life that raised Jesus from the dead.
My life cries out for resurrection.
What's the essential condition for resurrection from the dead? You gotta be dead (of course). Pastor Alan Roxburgh reminds us the poet and the prophet speak from the margins. I've been trying to explain I've spent too much time on the subverse, a location even more radical than the edges, but doesn't radical imply root and foundation as much as it evokes counterculture and unconventional? I've hung onto edges of mainline church and margins of mainstream society and I need to speak, I need to be heard. Abram was an Ivri, a Hebrew: one from the "other side"—not even from the edges or margins! In Christ Jesus we meet the God from the very other side...
In the past I've written lots about geographical and "other" centers, hearts, edges, margins but can't put many words together this evening. Earlier today I read something I wrote eight years ago and it truly wowed me. I've been trying to cull some books, especially those with content I easily can access online (no, not exclusively written by my professors) and I'm astonished at the heavy-duty theology I used to read for fun. Also surprised I'm not reading anything these days. Eight or nine years ago Marian C posted to me on a forum, "Leah, I think you're the kind of poet-theologian Pastor Roxburgh is talking about; the Church so needs your leadership at this time." I agree. The Church truly does need my voice and presence: call it leadership if you'd like! Interesting bit of my own history: long ago in city of history I was having a casual conversation with senior pastor who said to me, "You have some leadership ability but..." I finished the sentence: "I try to make sure everyone gets to participate," and he replied, "Exactly. And that's not always a good idea."
By definition edges and margins are parts of the whole and cannot exist with the usually larger main object that sometimes is called the center or at least presumably contains a center. Do you remember Gerry Rafferty's City to City? In "The Ark" we hear, "we'll meet out on the water, where all strangers are known." Water has no permanent edges, no enduring center. Still and forever I remain a daughter of the church. Paul Tillich spoke of the pain of our frequent human state if being separated and yet bound. These days in many ways I remain separate from the main stream yet eternally bound to the whole by Water and Word.
More recently than Gerry Rafferty, poet-musician Rascal Flatts sings "My wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it to."
The habitat that's my street address reeks of death but you gotta be dead in order to be raised to new life!
What is my wish for myself? Life, community, a summer, opportunities, resurrection. You need to move out the old furniture to make room for the new. I'm considering neatly completing the Easter cycle with the Feast of Pentecost at Church up the Hill and then figuring out a "what next" place and location. How on earth did someone like me who thoroughly, intentionally, and passionately prepared for a lifetime of urban ministry (after all, "I appreciate the concentration of pathology in the inner city," a somewhat younger me explained) find herself at a location like Church up the Hill? No response to that one! For myself I wish, desire, long for life, community, a summer, opportunities, resurrection. Life only can be received, as a room receives light simply by being and not being an agent of anything. That's Will Willimon's analogy, though likely not at all original with him.
Sunday two days away we celebrate the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit of Life that raised Jesus from the dead.
My life cries out for resurrection.
inspirations 5
inspirations 5 on the RGBP site
Sally hosts and suggests, "Very quickly; this week,"
1. Realizing and remembering we live in the Pentecostal reign of the Spirit of Life that raised Jesus from the dead again has encouraged me; this coming Sunday we'll celebrate the Day of Pentecost!
2. More splashes of colour, pattern, line, typography have inspired me again... creativity! it chimes like a small, clear bell at the heart of the human spirit!
3. My ongoing attempts to do life on my own with zero response to my attempts to reach out and draw others into my world and vision along with futile attempts to find ways to participate with others in theirs continue to challenge me.
4. Working through more digital versions of a couple of my analog drawings made me smile; I've illustrated this post with one of them.
5. Watching another citizenship ceremony with a couple of hundred troops who've been serving in the USA military brought a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye in a good way.
Sally hosts and suggests, "Very quickly; this week,"
1. Realizing and remembering we live in the Pentecostal reign of the Spirit of Life that raised Jesus from the dead again has encouraged me; this coming Sunday we'll celebrate the Day of Pentecost!2. More splashes of colour, pattern, line, typography have inspired me again... creativity! it chimes like a small, clear bell at the heart of the human spirit!
3. My ongoing attempts to do life on my own with zero response to my attempts to reach out and draw others into my world and vision along with futile attempts to find ways to participate with others in theirs continue to challenge me.
4. Working through more digital versions of a couple of my analog drawings made me smile; I've illustrated this post with one of them.
5. Watching another citizenship ceremony with a couple of hundred troops who've been serving in the USA military brought a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye in a good way.
Friday, May 18, 2012
friday 5: pests?!
5 about pests on the revgals blog; Jan hosts because...
1.In this broad geographical area of 4 microclimates (desert, mountain, beach, inland), termites are super-common.
2. My best guess is temperate, atmospheric pressure, and humidity (aka "weather") have some effect on insect and pest activity, but I can't say what or how.
3. This is my second longish sojourn in southern California, and both times termites have been the major concern; the termite experience was new to me the first time. Driving down the street you frequently will see houses or businesses tented for termites and it's especially fun when the biz is a restaurant!
4. Although in general I don't have major problems with insects and tend to get fewer bites than other people, way back in the day I had a kettlecloth dress I'd made in a kind of neon coral, and the mosquitos adored it, so I've a clue as to how other victims sometimes suffer. However, if I'm going to the mountains, desert (or beach) in season I usually wear insect repellant.
5. My anything else about insects and pests is that my late Dad, whom I never knew (I met him at least once, or I may have conflated several meetings as a pre-schooler into a single memory) was an entomologist for the forest service and my late grandmother on my maternal side insisted if she'd had a chance to continue her education she'd have become an entomologist, too. I've been involved some in the South African Sabi Sands Game Reserve leopard communities on Facebook, and learning a little about the ecological benefits of termites has been fascinating—leopards absolutely love to lounge on terminate mounds!
Thanks, Jan!
After lots of rain and high temperatures, the flea population has mushroomed in Corpus Christi, TX, more specifically in our home! We have three dogs and one indoor cat, who have had their monthly flea treatments to no avail. Unfortunately, my female body is the one the fleas love to bite. So as you are reading this FF, our pets and ourselves will be gone from the house for 3-4 hours, after a pest company sprays all the floors.With fleas on my mind and on my body, here is an insect-ious Friday Five.
1.In this broad geographical area of 4 microclimates (desert, mountain, beach, inland), termites are super-common.
2. My best guess is temperate, atmospheric pressure, and humidity (aka "weather") have some effect on insect and pest activity, but I can't say what or how.
3. This is my second longish sojourn in southern California, and both times termites have been the major concern; the termite experience was new to me the first time. Driving down the street you frequently will see houses or businesses tented for termites and it's especially fun when the biz is a restaurant!
4. Although in general I don't have major problems with insects and tend to get fewer bites than other people, way back in the day I had a kettlecloth dress I'd made in a kind of neon coral, and the mosquitos adored it, so I've a clue as to how other victims sometimes suffer. However, if I'm going to the mountains, desert (or beach) in season I usually wear insect repellant.
5. My anything else about insects and pests is that my late Dad, whom I never knew (I met him at least once, or I may have conflated several meetings as a pre-schooler into a single memory) was an entomologist for the forest service and my late grandmother on my maternal side insisted if she'd had a chance to continue her education she'd have become an entomologist, too. I've been involved some in the South African Sabi Sands Game Reserve leopard communities on Facebook, and learning a little about the ecological benefits of termites has been fascinating—leopards absolutely love to lounge on terminate mounds!
Thanks, Jan!
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Charlotte and the White Horse
Charlotte and the White Horse on amazon
"Enchanting" is an overused word, but Maurice Sendak's illustrations and Ruth Krauss' narrative in Charlotte and the White Horse are enchanting without a quibble or a doubt. In this story about love, hope, newness, and possibilities, author Krauss sprinkles allusions to the biblical Song of Songs / Song of Solomon throughout the tale of Charlotte and her colt "— not a lion, not a fire engine —" Milky Way. The wind and the rains are gone, grasses sprouting, trees in bud. With radishes planted and winter over, spring and the time of singing have arrived in the land where Charlotte and Milky Way live. Sendak's full-color watercolor illustrations are simple yet wonderfully detailed. Charlotte and the White Horse would be a wonderful keepsake for yourself or a gift for someone of any age, from preschool to centenarian. Maurice Sendak died this morning, 08 May 2012, at the age of 83; I'd long intended to review and blog Charlotte and the White Horse, and finally, here's my review.
my amazon review: beauty and timeless hope
"Enchanting" is an overused word, but Maurice Sendak's illustrations and Ruth Krauss' narrative in Charlotte and the White Horse are enchanting without a quibble or a doubt. In this story about love, hope, newness, and possibilities, author Krauss sprinkles allusions to the biblical Song of Songs / Song of Solomon throughout the tale of Charlotte and her colt "— not a lion, not a fire engine —" Milky Way. The wind and the rains are gone, grasses sprouting, trees in bud. With radishes planted and winter over, spring and the time of singing have arrived in the land where Charlotte and Milky Way live. Sendak's full-color watercolor illustrations are simple yet wonderfully detailed. Charlotte and the White Horse would be a wonderful keepsake for yourself or a gift for someone of any age, from preschool to centenarian. Maurice Sendak died this morning, 08 May 2012, at the age of 83; I'd long intended to review and blog Charlotte and the White Horse, and finally, here's my review. my amazon review: beauty and timeless hope
Friday, May 04, 2012
birthday 5
birthday Friday 5 on the RevGals hosted by KathrynZJ
I found this wonderful slice of cake by Gracey Stinson on morguefile.
1) The first birthday I clearly remember was my 7th, maybe because I had 3 cakes!
2) With this quick play I can't immediately think of a a favorite gift, but I really enjoyed my birthday after my mother's passing. Heather gave me a yellow (my color!!!) sweatsuit (pants and top), almost enough earrings for all my ear piercings and my first ever and still the only professional manicure. Heather has an art degree and a cosmetology license, so it definitely qualified as pro.
3) That long ago surprise party was not fun, mainly because I thought someone had invited me to dinner with her family and it turned out to be a lot more people. It's strange that I was so ungracious and upset, because I crave an audience the way an addict craves cocaine and I adore being on stage. Life happens…
4) There are so many potential favorite birthday desserts… the cake illustrating this post looks yummy, though it needs a huge scoop of ice cream and maybe hot fudge or strawberry or butterscotch or caramel sauce. I love pies and cobblers; they need ice cream, too. However, I'm almost totally disinterested in sweets (which always need to be decadent and high-end)unless I've had a succulent, savory meal beforehand.
5) A perfect birthday would happen because someone had remembered it was going to be my birthday without a hint or reminder (Facebook birthdays rock, and what's more fun than a few hundred greetings from peeps who've happened to log in and notice but they are anything but sufficient). I'd like an opportunity to dress up. A nice restaurant, someone's home, the beach or any natural settings would be ideal. I don't need gifts, but I'd love the aforementioned succulent, savory meal and an amazing dessert. Tiramisu? Lava Cake? The cake in this blog post?
Thanks, Kathryn! Happy Birthday, everyone!!!!!
I found this wonderful slice of cake by Gracey Stinson on morguefile.1) The first birthday I clearly remember was my 7th, maybe because I had 3 cakes!
2) With this quick play I can't immediately think of a a favorite gift, but I really enjoyed my birthday after my mother's passing. Heather gave me a yellow (my color!!!) sweatsuit (pants and top), almost enough earrings for all my ear piercings and my first ever and still the only professional manicure. Heather has an art degree and a cosmetology license, so it definitely qualified as pro.
3) That long ago surprise party was not fun, mainly because I thought someone had invited me to dinner with her family and it turned out to be a lot more people. It's strange that I was so ungracious and upset, because I crave an audience the way an addict craves cocaine and I adore being on stage. Life happens…
4) There are so many potential favorite birthday desserts… the cake illustrating this post looks yummy, though it needs a huge scoop of ice cream and maybe hot fudge or strawberry or butterscotch or caramel sauce. I love pies and cobblers; they need ice cream, too. However, I'm almost totally disinterested in sweets (which always need to be decadent and high-end)unless I've had a succulent, savory meal beforehand.
5) A perfect birthday would happen because someone had remembered it was going to be my birthday without a hint or reminder (Facebook birthdays rock, and what's more fun than a few hundred greetings from peeps who've happened to log in and notice but they are anything but sufficient). I'd like an opportunity to dress up. A nice restaurant, someone's home, the beach or any natural settings would be ideal. I don't need gifts, but I'd love the aforementioned succulent, savory meal and an amazing dessert. Tiramisu? Lava Cake? The cake in this blog post?
Thanks, Kathryn! Happy Birthday, everyone!!!!!
Friday, April 27, 2012
sacraments friday 5
sacraments 5... all is holy? on the RevGals
I need to remind myself these Friday 5 memes are quick ways to get to know each other better and as Sally says, "I'd like to ask you some simple questions about the sacraments:" In other words, not a multi-volume series and not even an ordination paper.
1. What does the Lord's supper/ Eucharist mean to you?
All time and all space coming together for the messianic feast, a proleptic experience of the fullness of the time of salvation. "Jesus Christ, the Bread of Heaven; Jesus Christ, the Cup of Salvation"— as we experience the broken bread of heaven and poured-out cup of salvation, we also recognize the stranger in our midst as the Christ.
2. How important is preparation for this, and what form does it take?
Along with constant awareness that the Sacrament is God's gracious gift that yet requires human participation, I still need to prepare by doing my best to practice justice to all creation, daily to live the kindness that is love in action, both within the church (church is not exempt!!!) and in the world.
3. What does baptism mean to you?
My incorporation into the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of IX and into the covenant community of the church; God's eternal claim on me as a daughter of the church.
4. How important is preparation for baptism and what form does it take?
If a person is reasonably of age (8 years or older?) at least some instruction in scripture and a modicum of human awareness that despite baptism being God's gift and a joyful, cosmic event, it still is a serious, lifelong human commitment.
5. A quote/ poem/ song that brings you before God in a sacramental way, and helps you to engage at a deeper level...
I couldn't find a video, but to the tune of the famous "I, the Lord of sea and sky..." a few years ago someone in the PCUSA wrote new lyrics that included:
"I, the Lord of font and cup, covenant to lift you up;
Splash the water, break the bread, pour out your lives..."
Saturday morning post-script:
because this was Friday 5, I did my best to do a short, concise play, though as I visited other blogs I discovered all but one participant had outlined some very thoughtful serious stuff. Given the typical tenor of this blog, I'm still feeling cheated that I didn't do so, though I realize my anger reflects my current place of nowhereness and desolation. A few minutes ago I visited a blog where a comment included a poem about rugged days. I commented and will say here, some days, years and decades are more rugged, ragged, and jagged than others.
My life still cries out for resurrection! peace, world!
I need to remind myself these Friday 5 memes are quick ways to get to know each other better and as Sally says, "I'd like to ask you some simple questions about the sacraments:" In other words, not a multi-volume series and not even an ordination paper.
1. What does the Lord's supper/ Eucharist mean to you?
All time and all space coming together for the messianic feast, a proleptic experience of the fullness of the time of salvation. "Jesus Christ, the Bread of Heaven; Jesus Christ, the Cup of Salvation"— as we experience the broken bread of heaven and poured-out cup of salvation, we also recognize the stranger in our midst as the Christ.
2. How important is preparation for this, and what form does it take?
Along with constant awareness that the Sacrament is God's gracious gift that yet requires human participation, I still need to prepare by doing my best to practice justice to all creation, daily to live the kindness that is love in action, both within the church (church is not exempt!!!) and in the world.
3. What does baptism mean to you?
My incorporation into the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of IX and into the covenant community of the church; God's eternal claim on me as a daughter of the church.
4. How important is preparation for baptism and what form does it take?
If a person is reasonably of age (8 years or older?) at least some instruction in scripture and a modicum of human awareness that despite baptism being God's gift and a joyful, cosmic event, it still is a serious, lifelong human commitment.
5. A quote/ poem/ song that brings you before God in a sacramental way, and helps you to engage at a deeper level...
I couldn't find a video, but to the tune of the famous "I, the Lord of sea and sky..." a few years ago someone in the PCUSA wrote new lyrics that included:
"I, the Lord of font and cup, covenant to lift you up;
Splash the water, break the bread, pour out your lives..."
Saturday morning post-script:
because this was Friday 5, I did my best to do a short, concise play, though as I visited other blogs I discovered all but one participant had outlined some very thoughtful serious stuff. Given the typical tenor of this blog, I'm still feeling cheated that I didn't do so, though I realize my anger reflects my current place of nowhereness and desolation. A few minutes ago I visited a blog where a comment included a poem about rugged days. I commented and will say here, some days, years and decades are more rugged, ragged, and jagged than others.
My life still cries out for resurrection! peace, world!
Saturday, April 21, 2012
eve of easter 3 / eve of earth day 2012
Tomorrow morning I'll celebrate eucharist, the ultimate earth day festival, and then go to Big Municipal Park for EarthFair 2012, "the largest free annual environmental fair in the world!" My sketchbook, markers, pencils and eraser are ready to go and so are my bright new business cards—you never know who you might meet. I never can tell who might be there at the fair…
Meanwhile, I need to put together what I want and need out of life, out of this world, out of this town and out of the church. As Neil Brown commented at a choir party sometime before his passing, "I have gifts, skills, and education I need to use if I'm to be whole, and that's not vanity!"
So often I don't quite trust my own perceptions and convictions and his words still ring very true to me; they soothe me some, as well.
Happy Earth Day, World!
PS My life still cries out for resurrection!!!
psalms for praying
Psalms for Praying: An Invitation to Wholeness, by Nan C Merrill
Nan C Merrill has provided a lovely version of the psalter for occasional, or possibly daily, devotional use. Psalms for Praying is very much a version rather than a translation, yet it's a faithful and faith-filled version of the prayerbook of the synagogue and the church. Some of it is removed from historical context, but every one of us uses prayer models from scripture and from other writers as inspiration for shaping our own private - and sometimes public - prayers. What is prayer and preaching worth if it's not contextualized into this here and now? At times in my life I've used Psalms for Praying as a daily resource, at other times another version of the psalms or a different devotional or prayer book has suited my situation better, yet this has remained a treasure I frequently recommend and definitely would give as a gift. Merrill's language is the beautiful and elegant speech of poets, though she downplays desolation and despondence in favor of encouragement and optimism. Sometimes you gotta get help to get outta your funk! I strongly recommend this book with the caution not to expect it to become your only psalm book or your sole prayer book.
my amazon review: psalms for some situations
Nan C Merrill has provided a lovely version of the psalter for occasional, or possibly daily, devotional use. Psalms for Praying is very much a version rather than a translation, yet it's a faithful and faith-filled version of the prayerbook of the synagogue and the church. Some of it is removed from historical context, but every one of us uses prayer models from scripture and from other writers as inspiration for shaping our own private - and sometimes public - prayers. What is prayer and preaching worth if it's not contextualized into this here and now? At times in my life I've used Psalms for Praying as a daily resource, at other times another version of the psalms or a different devotional or prayer book has suited my situation better, yet this has remained a treasure I frequently recommend and definitely would give as a gift. Merrill's language is the beautiful and elegant speech of poets, though she downplays desolation and despondence in favor of encouragement and optimism. Sometimes you gotta get help to get outta your funk! I strongly recommend this book with the caution not to expect it to become your only psalm book or your sole prayer book. my amazon review: psalms for some situations
Friday, April 20, 2012
friday of easter 2
Cornel West
In my blog and review of Race Matters by Cornel West, I quoted the author, "We have rootless, dangling people with little link to the supportive networks—family, friends, school—that sustain some sense of purpose in life." [page 9] Professor West perceives an "eclipse of hope and a collapse of meaning" [page 19] and describes "Nihilism [as] ... the lived experience of coping with a life of horrifying meaninglessness, hopelessness, and (most important), lovelessness." [pages 22-23] In my blog and review I continued by saying he could be talking about almost everyone affected by what's politely called "economic downturn," the folks who find themselves less structurally connected than they were, and especially less able to reconnect in ways that help rebuild a recognizable identity and reclaim a place in the world. Two years after posting that review, I'll say it out loud: that describes my situation well.
Cornel West says there's "...a crisis of too much poverty and too little self-love." [page 93] When I lived and served in the inner city I observed ways people exist in many kinds of poverty, economic almost being the least, albeit often becoming the last straw. My financial situation is close to scary, yet as I told my deacon from Former Church maybe three years ago, "this isn't about $$$," and she replied, "I know. That would be so simple."
A few months of Faith, Order & Witness meetings ago a regular participant told us with amazement he'd recently learned how social order and structure emerges "among the homeless;" I replied, "Yes, of course. Why would it be otherwise?" I'm still dangling in free fall, without organic or structural connections to organizations and individuals who can help provide me with opportunities and help resurrect my humanity.
mayoral candidates debate
Thursday evening during the local mayoral candidates debate someone suggested we and they and everyone need to stop talking about the past and concentrate on the future. However, in real life the city needs to start right here and right now, where past and future intersect and so do I.
imagining my future
Support system sounds technical and abstract, but I need something with components, parts and pieces that work together and function as a whole and despite what I often imagine, I'm not quite starting from zero. J and J are friends in the complex where I live. There are people at Church up the Hill, though I don't know how many of them would be interested or able to figure out where I am. There's J from Former Church. A few days ago I was sorting through, throwing away some of the miscellaneous paper of every kind that collects and at first thought the notecard from Nick I found was from autumn 2008 but it was from autumn 2003. Nick's handwriting is plenty large enough and clear enough; my error was wishful thinking. Do I try to reconnect with him? How and why did we get disconnected? Partly because my own scratch for life situation makes sustaining relationships overwhelmingly difficult and partly because of Nick's lack of a computer at that time. A few blogs ago I mentioned being at the end of the "optimal - balanced - strained - burnout - breakdown" taxonomy and I'm at the bottom of Maslow's hierarchy, too. You cannot change what you do not acknowledge, and what do I imagine for a future? At this stage needs and desires are about equivalent.
Ten years ago at this time I'd almost finished the Community Economic Development certificate at Big State University. I researched the classmate I collaborated with for my affordable housing final project and she's now - or recently was - a poverty scholar at A Famous Seminary in NYC and was nominated for Scholar in Residence. Comparing people and situations is such a terrible idea, but as the CED program director told me, though every year they admitted at least one person without the requisite undergrad degree, former classmate was highly unqualified but they pushed her through and apparently she already had enough [historical] connections to get kicked upstairs afterward. Despite my initially hoping for a lifelong friendship with her, she spit in my face a few too many times so I made no attempt to stay connected. I could retrieve and recite the too many times she considered me a threat and acted rudely because of it but won't right now—or at least not in this public forum. Right now I need find ways to reconnect and especially to have the first good summer since 2002!
You cannot change what you do not acknowledge, and what do I imagine for a future? At this stage needs and desires are about equivalent and they're a subject for the next blog in this "life stuff" series.
It's almost Easter 3 and my life cries out for resurrection!!!
In my blog and review of Race Matters by Cornel West, I quoted the author, "We have rootless, dangling people with little link to the supportive networks—family, friends, school—that sustain some sense of purpose in life." [page 9] Professor West perceives an "eclipse of hope and a collapse of meaning" [page 19] and describes "Nihilism [as] ... the lived experience of coping with a life of horrifying meaninglessness, hopelessness, and (most important), lovelessness." [pages 22-23] In my blog and review I continued by saying he could be talking about almost everyone affected by what's politely called "economic downturn," the folks who find themselves less structurally connected than they were, and especially less able to reconnect in ways that help rebuild a recognizable identity and reclaim a place in the world. Two years after posting that review, I'll say it out loud: that describes my situation well.
Cornel West says there's "...a crisis of too much poverty and too little self-love." [page 93] When I lived and served in the inner city I observed ways people exist in many kinds of poverty, economic almost being the least, albeit often becoming the last straw. My financial situation is close to scary, yet as I told my deacon from Former Church maybe three years ago, "this isn't about $$$," and she replied, "I know. That would be so simple."
A few months of Faith, Order & Witness meetings ago a regular participant told us with amazement he'd recently learned how social order and structure emerges "among the homeless;" I replied, "Yes, of course. Why would it be otherwise?" I'm still dangling in free fall, without organic or structural connections to organizations and individuals who can help provide me with opportunities and help resurrect my humanity.
mayoral candidates debate
Thursday evening during the local mayoral candidates debate someone suggested we and they and everyone need to stop talking about the past and concentrate on the future. However, in real life the city needs to start right here and right now, where past and future intersect and so do I.
imagining my future
Support system sounds technical and abstract, but I need something with components, parts and pieces that work together and function as a whole and despite what I often imagine, I'm not quite starting from zero. J and J are friends in the complex where I live. There are people at Church up the Hill, though I don't know how many of them would be interested or able to figure out where I am. There's J from Former Church. A few days ago I was sorting through, throwing away some of the miscellaneous paper of every kind that collects and at first thought the notecard from Nick I found was from autumn 2008 but it was from autumn 2003. Nick's handwriting is plenty large enough and clear enough; my error was wishful thinking. Do I try to reconnect with him? How and why did we get disconnected? Partly because my own scratch for life situation makes sustaining relationships overwhelmingly difficult and partly because of Nick's lack of a computer at that time. A few blogs ago I mentioned being at the end of the "optimal - balanced - strained - burnout - breakdown" taxonomy and I'm at the bottom of Maslow's hierarchy, too. You cannot change what you do not acknowledge, and what do I imagine for a future? At this stage needs and desires are about equivalent.
Ten years ago at this time I'd almost finished the Community Economic Development certificate at Big State University. I researched the classmate I collaborated with for my affordable housing final project and she's now - or recently was - a poverty scholar at A Famous Seminary in NYC and was nominated for Scholar in Residence. Comparing people and situations is such a terrible idea, but as the CED program director told me, though every year they admitted at least one person without the requisite undergrad degree, former classmate was highly unqualified but they pushed her through and apparently she already had enough [historical] connections to get kicked upstairs afterward. Despite my initially hoping for a lifelong friendship with her, she spit in my face a few too many times so I made no attempt to stay connected. I could retrieve and recite the too many times she considered me a threat and acted rudely because of it but won't right now—or at least not in this public forum. Right now I need find ways to reconnect and especially to have the first good summer since 2002!
You cannot change what you do not acknowledge, and what do I imagine for a future? At this stage needs and desires are about equivalent and they're a subject for the next blog in this "life stuff" series.
It's almost Easter 3 and my life cries out for resurrection!!!
internet connections 5
internet connections 5, hosted by Jan, with the rationale, "I have vaguely been hearing about the coming trend of people using mobile internet devices rather than desktop computers. Having four adult children, I see them using cell phones, laptops, tablets, ipods/iphones/ipads instead of the desktop computer, which I am using right now. So I am asking you to answer the following questions about whatever device you most often use these days, first by telling us what you have:"
1. social connections: My design page is my main Facebook endeavor; on 19 May it will be 3 years old and by that date I'd love to reach 1,000 fans or individual "Likes" in FB's current less-committal way of becoming a fan. suntreeriver design (sun, tree, and river are persistent biblical images…) features some of my own art and design, photography and art by guests, and since last July, music videos every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
On Facebook I've made some wonderful theology, design, wildlife/nature, and cat connections and though I play 2 games - Happy Horses and Restaurant City - I don't really do a lot of FB other than my page. I have 2 twitter accts, suntreeriver that's connected to my LinkedIn, to at least some of my blogs and to my FB design page; liturgylegacy is my twitter newcomer. On LinkedIn that I don't take very seriously, I've listed only design stuff and visit the site only when I get a message someone has linked to me.
2. texting: Despite being exceptionally software literate, I have only a basic phone with a standard VGA - 1/3 MP camera, and text only rarely. It is so labor-intensive with a regular keyboard and predictive text doesn't always imagine what I'm trying to say!
3. games: Per my answer to (1), I play Restaurant City and Happy Horses. In some ways RC is getting old since in 1.5+ years I've leveled up lots, but it's a visual delight so I won't quit soon. Happy Horses is basic and not very sophisticated, but I enjoy my Quarter Horse and Clydesdale. Back in the day I used to ride some, and enjoyed going out to the stable on a day or half-day off, taking a lesson, working for a while grooming horses and mucking out stalls and then getting a free trail ride in payment.
4. predominant use of electronic devices? • Phone for talking, listening to voice mail, and an occasional quick pic; • iMac Computer for graphic design and internet.
5. blogging: This blog, the flagship and currently the only active one of my 4 theology blogs, will be 10 years old on 16 July! When I started way back then, besides pitas that you no longer can register with and the related diaryland, blogger was the only platform. Since I switched to the new blogger interface I'm heartened to know I've been getting about 100 hits a day, which is excellent, though I'd love more comments from those visits.
Bonus: Anything I want to add? 1. Related to my comment about being so software-literate, I use a paper rather than an electronic calendar and love stacking up calendars from previous years. 2. A FB friend invited me to a virtual New Year's party and through that event someone friend requested me telling she was "another baby boomer who tested as a millennial" in a quiz going around at the time that mainly asked about our uses and attitudes toward technology.
1. social connections: My design page is my main Facebook endeavor; on 19 May it will be 3 years old and by that date I'd love to reach 1,000 fans or individual "Likes" in FB's current less-committal way of becoming a fan. suntreeriver design (sun, tree, and river are persistent biblical images…) features some of my own art and design, photography and art by guests, and since last July, music videos every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
On Facebook I've made some wonderful theology, design, wildlife/nature, and cat connections and though I play 2 games - Happy Horses and Restaurant City - I don't really do a lot of FB other than my page. I have 2 twitter accts, suntreeriver that's connected to my LinkedIn, to at least some of my blogs and to my FB design page; liturgylegacy is my twitter newcomer. On LinkedIn that I don't take very seriously, I've listed only design stuff and visit the site only when I get a message someone has linked to me.
2. texting: Despite being exceptionally software literate, I have only a basic phone with a standard VGA - 1/3 MP camera, and text only rarely. It is so labor-intensive with a regular keyboard and predictive text doesn't always imagine what I'm trying to say!
3. games: Per my answer to (1), I play Restaurant City and Happy Horses. In some ways RC is getting old since in 1.5+ years I've leveled up lots, but it's a visual delight so I won't quit soon. Happy Horses is basic and not very sophisticated, but I enjoy my Quarter Horse and Clydesdale. Back in the day I used to ride some, and enjoyed going out to the stable on a day or half-day off, taking a lesson, working for a while grooming horses and mucking out stalls and then getting a free trail ride in payment.
4. predominant use of electronic devices? • Phone for talking, listening to voice mail, and an occasional quick pic; • iMac Computer for graphic design and internet.
5. blogging: This blog, the flagship and currently the only active one of my 4 theology blogs, will be 10 years old on 16 July! When I started way back then, besides pitas that you no longer can register with and the related diaryland, blogger was the only platform. Since I switched to the new blogger interface I'm heartened to know I've been getting about 100 hits a day, which is excellent, though I'd love more comments from those visits.
Bonus: Anything I want to add? 1. Related to my comment about being so software-literate, I use a paper rather than an electronic calendar and love stacking up calendars from previous years. 2. A FB friend invited me to a virtual New Year's party and through that event someone friend requested me telling she was "another baby boomer who tested as a millennial" in a quiz going around at the time that mainly asked about our uses and attitudes toward technology.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
praying the gospels with Martin Luther
Praying the Gospels with Martin Luther: Finding Freedom in Love by Paul W Meier
and Praying the Gospels website, where you can read the entire text of each sermon related to each prayer.
The author tells us, "The picture on the cover is one of the caves at Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Martin Luther said we can find the gospel in both testaments, in the promise of the Messiah and then in the fulfillment of that promise. The image is a reminder that treasure can be found in unexpected places. I hope you find a treasure worth sharing with others as you meditate on these prayers."
Pastor Paul Meier crafts each of his prayers in this collection on a sermon by Martin Luther, thus Praying the Gospels alongside the tradition in which sermon and hymn of the day invariably are based on the appointed gospel text for that Sunday or feast day. Several short paragraphs of acknowledgments of God's loving presence and saving actions, confessions, admissions, pleading, petitions and requests comprise each prayer and express the spirit of the related sermon in contemporary, yet reverent language; some of it reminds me of Eugene Peterson's Message version of the Bible. Pr Meier addresses God differently each time: Sovereign God and Lord; Love of My Life; Protective Lord; Hidden Lord; Loving and Empowering Word; Good and Merciful Rescuer...
The book ends with discrete prayers for Good Friday and one for "Confession and the Lord's Supper," and concludes with a bibliography of works cited.
I've read enough Luther that I can sense his persona in many of these prayers. I love how each one ends with a stanza or two from a hymn by Luther! You can find "A Mighty Fortress" in every denominational and free church hymnal, but he wrote dozens (maybe hundreds?) more than that musical icon of the Reformation. Many are not well-known outside the various Lutheran church bodies, so check them out, take them to your heart and try to find a score, a video or a sound file for your favorites.
The outstanding introduction includes this partial explanation of the reason behind this book: "[Martin Luther] preached that we can only show our love for God through loving our neighbor. And he left no doubt that salvation that comes through faith alone by the grace of God produces more good works for our neighbor than the church in Rome ever demanded of anyone. Luther’s sermons gave me a new sense of freedom— a new kind of power and confidence to be bold in my faith walk. I believe the concepts I share in the prayers of this book will give you that same freedom."
As Pr Meier suggests, this is more a resource for meditation, pondering, praying and reflection than it is something you'd read straight through. I'd like to give another high five to the author for the Amazon free giveaway that enabled me to get the Kindle version. Most likely I'll spring for an actual copy because that format is more conducive to meditation, pondering, praying...
my amazon review: praying Luther's words today
and Praying the Gospels website, where you can read the entire text of each sermon related to each prayer.
The author tells us, "The picture on the cover is one of the caves at Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Martin Luther said we can find the gospel in both testaments, in the promise of the Messiah and then in the fulfillment of that promise. The image is a reminder that treasure can be found in unexpected places. I hope you find a treasure worth sharing with others as you meditate on these prayers."Pastor Paul Meier crafts each of his prayers in this collection on a sermon by Martin Luther, thus Praying the Gospels alongside the tradition in which sermon and hymn of the day invariably are based on the appointed gospel text for that Sunday or feast day. Several short paragraphs of acknowledgments of God's loving presence and saving actions, confessions, admissions, pleading, petitions and requests comprise each prayer and express the spirit of the related sermon in contemporary, yet reverent language; some of it reminds me of Eugene Peterson's Message version of the Bible. Pr Meier addresses God differently each time: Sovereign God and Lord; Love of My Life; Protective Lord; Hidden Lord; Loving and Empowering Word; Good and Merciful Rescuer...
The book ends with discrete prayers for Good Friday and one for "Confession and the Lord's Supper," and concludes with a bibliography of works cited.
I've read enough Luther that I can sense his persona in many of these prayers. I love how each one ends with a stanza or two from a hymn by Luther! You can find "A Mighty Fortress" in every denominational and free church hymnal, but he wrote dozens (maybe hundreds?) more than that musical icon of the Reformation. Many are not well-known outside the various Lutheran church bodies, so check them out, take them to your heart and try to find a score, a video or a sound file for your favorites.
The outstanding introduction includes this partial explanation of the reason behind this book: "[Martin Luther] preached that we can only show our love for God through loving our neighbor. And he left no doubt that salvation that comes through faith alone by the grace of God produces more good works for our neighbor than the church in Rome ever demanded of anyone. Luther’s sermons gave me a new sense of freedom— a new kind of power and confidence to be bold in my faith walk. I believe the concepts I share in the prayers of this book will give you that same freedom."
As Pr Meier suggests, this is more a resource for meditation, pondering, praying and reflection than it is something you'd read straight through. I'd like to give another high five to the author for the Amazon free giveaway that enabled me to get the Kindle version. Most likely I'll spring for an actual copy because that format is more conducive to meditation, pondering, praying...
my amazon review: praying Luther's words today
Saturday, April 14, 2012
easter saturday
...no one can live without defenses; some situations are ambiguous and quite a few are not; there's extreme rationalization and there's lying. No matter how I parse everything, my life has not rewoven the connections and opportunities I need to be human and whole. It's one thing to say (no lie and not rationalizing!) I've accomplished more than I'd ever imagined, but as Oprah said to the teenager, you know you can't do life on your own and as the guy at the Bethsaida Pool replied to Jesus' asking, "do you want to be healed?"—"there is no one to pick me up and put me in the pool after the angel stirs the waters." I've more than caught the dreams of the preschooler who was going to be an artist; I've more than fulfilled the promise of the urban teenager with a scholarship in piano to a major music school; I've more than claimed the vision of the 23(!)-year old leading the intercessions she'd written from the chancel of the Philadelphia seminary. God created us for community and calls us to use our gifts for the world, so it's not about standalone, disconnected, unconnected skills, education, accomplishments—it's about a place and time to use them in service to others. If there are no takers it cannot happen and, by the way, real life is local! a recent Facebook note copied from notes I put together close to a decade ago:
• optimism
• support
• self-narrative
"the unknown undoes us so badly"
no hurry!
meaning & purpose keeps you sane!
I had a normal and it's gone...
define success differently:
• get through today; not life goals yet!
• real short-term goals
• an hour, afternoon, day at a time
not just loss, but also change
ask for help!
hill too steep to climb?
set up your support system
let people give to you
support system is critical
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
During summer 2008 I believed I'd finally be starting new years of shared history when I signed on for Reading the Bible Economically—after all, the participants were people with similar passions to mine and now, almost 4 years later, what now? It was about the 23402398th instance of "this next thing will work; this next thing will work; this next thing will work" and none of them has yet. God created us social beings. Am I that incompetent and inept, or have the decades of social isolation made me sooooo strange to others (as well as to myself) that no one wants anything to do with me?
I am a good self-observer, yet have the wisdom (especially after all these years of social isolation) not to trust myself, (especially without having the mirror of the other to let me know how I'm doing). But glancing back, the one thing I can confidently say is this is the story of someone who's been trying to do life on her own.
My life (still!) cries out for resurrection!!!
more on Friday, 04 May: two years ago, during Lent 2010 I spent $200 I didn't have to attend the Prophetic Imagination Conference at Local Church-Related University by the Ocean. I'd been back in town almost 10 years and as a liturgical artist and/or with my interest in ecological theology *should* have been one of the local presenters, but in any case, at the conference I introduced myself to almost everyone around me and no one cared. It's not who you know or what you know; it's who knows you. When you move to a new city or section of the country it takes a while to meet and connect, and for a while it can be fun and an adventure. But it is now almost 12 years.
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