NOOMA

My small group from church has been watching a series of DVDs by Rob Bell called NOOMA. In each little vignette Rob talks about a metaphor for God and spirituality meant to start a group discussion. The one we watched tonight was called "Rhythm". In it he compared God's creation to music, and how we each have a part in the song. We're always playing the music because we're part of God's creation. The question is- are we in tune with the music? God's not some big guy standing behind a curtain, pulling some levers, deciding to heal this person or help that one. God is the composer of a wonderful symphony and he's directing every little detail. Only he's given us the choice to either follow his direction, or to play what we want... even if it's off key and not in rhythm.

Rob's explanation in the video was much better. I definitely recommend checking them out at www.nooma.com. It'll make ya think.

How Many Kings

I heard this song on the radio this morning and thought I'd share it.

Follow the star to a place unexpected
Would you believe, after all we've projected
A child in a manger?
Lowly and small, the weakest of all
Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl -
Just a child
Is this who we've waited for? 'cause...

How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior
All that we have, whether costly or meek
Because we believe
Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross he will suffer
Now, do you believe?
Is this who we've waited for?

How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only one did that for me.

All for me, all for you
All for me, all for you

-"How Many Kings" by Downhere, Bethlehem Skyline

Ruth

Ruth watched her mother-in-law preparing their breakfast. Her knuckles were swollen with arthritis. Her steps seemed a little slower each day. As she kneaded their bread for the day she let a small sigh escape. Ruth knew Naomi was growing tired of this life. She spoke often of her beloved husband and two sons. How will they be remembered? How will their names be carried on?

Ruth remembered the day when she had agreed leave Moab with Naomi. She had been married to her son only a short time. But in that time Naomi, her husband and two sons had become her family. Naomi had taught Ruth everything she knew. She told her about her history, her people, her faith. They had endured famine and poverty together. And they had grieved for their husbands together. After her sons had passed away, it seemed Naomi's only choice was to return to her homeland in Judah. Ruth was faced with the decision to leave her people and everything she had known, or to leave everything she had come to know. She remembered clearly the question in Naomi's eyes as she asked Ruth to choose. And she remembered the whisper in her heart, telling her the way she must go. "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."

Now Ruth was faced with another decision. Will she face the unkown to care for her family? In order for Naomi's family to continue Ruth would have to marry again. A perfect stranger to her, but one of Naomi's people who would carry on the name of Elimelech. Could she do this? Could she risk the humiliation and disapointment of being rejected? Could she risk her life?

Little did she know that her sacrifice for her aging mother-in-law would one day bring the birth of a child who would sacrifice his life for the world.

Will you also offer your sacrifice? Will you also follow the call?

Lost in the desert

Almost two years ago I decided I wanted to try to read through the Bible in a year. I've made it to Judges. :) So I might be a little behind.... But it has been an interesting journey reading the story of Israel. What a powerful history! And to think that Abraham and Jacob and Joseph and Moses and Joshua were all normal people just like you and me who followed God's calling. They weren't without their faults and mistakes, but they always remained faithful. Imagine what God has planned for our lives! Did you ever think you would be where you are now? I've often had to wonder what God had in mind for the Israelites though. Amongst all the stories of war and battles and times when Israel was doing everything but following God, it can be difficult to see how God was present.

This reminds me of a story I heard a few years ago about a little boy named Timmy. He was only about 6 years old and was taking piano lessons. His mother wanted to give him a little inspiration, so she decided to take him to New York City to see the great pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski in concert. While Timmy and his mother were waiting for the concert to begin his mother chatted with the people sitting next to them. Now, of course this was a formal event and Timmy had to wear a suit and tie. As he waited patiently his collar began to itch. And his new shoes felt a little tight. Timmy began to squirm. He swung his feet. He tapped on the seat. Then he noticed that his mom hadn't noticed his impatience. So he scooted farther off his seat and tapped the seat in front of him. His mom still had not noticed. Timmy stood up and paced between the seats, still unnoticed by his mother. Timmy even squeezed past the other concert-goers in his row and made his way out into the isle, then began running and skipping through the auditorium. Of course everyone else noticed his misbehavior, except for his mother. Until the whispering became more demanding. "Who is that boy?!" "Where's his mother?!" "Where's security?!" Timmy's mother frantically searched for her son, only to see him running down the isle towards the stage. In all the commotion Timmy had gotten scared and couldn't find his seat again. He saw a security guard coming towards him and ran for the first familiar thing he saw- the piano. He hopped up on the bench and began pounding out Chop Sticks as loud and as fast as he knew how. The whispering had become very insistent shouting now and security guards were trying to make their way through the isles to corral Timmy back to his mother. Just as one of the guards made it to the stage, Paderewski stepped out. He motioned the guard off stage and walked out to the piano. The audience went completely quiet, you could have heard a pin drop. Except for Timmy's Chop Sticks. Paderewski knelt down behind Timmy and slowly put his arms around him, whispering "You're doing great. Keep playing". As Timmy continued playing, Paderewski began creating a concerto based on the tune of Chop Sticks. And all the while he whispered to Timmy "You're doing great. Keep playing".

Life gets hard sometimes. We don't always know what we're doing or where we're going. Or even where we are now. Sometimes all we can do is run frantically to the piano and pound out the only song we know as loud and as fast as we can. But God is always there, kneeling behind us, wrapping his arms around us. Whispering in our ear "You're doing great. Keep playing". While he creates a masterpiece with our lives.

Keep playing. You're doing great. :)

You know you're from Garrett County when....

A few minutes ago I went downstairs to get something off the printer, only to find my old piano teacher talking to our office manager. A little surprising. It's been years since I took piano lessons and I've only seen her once or twice, maybe, in passing. (probably at Walmart....) I really liked her and whenever I see her now she always recognizes me and says hi. Today she tells me she thinks she delivers my mail. I'm thinking she must remember where my parents live and delivers their mail. Then she says "You live up on Pysell Rd. right?". It's kinda weird knowing that my old piano teacher delivers my mail and knows where I live.... That's Garrett County for ya. It's interesting how our lives are kinda woven together with the people we meet and interact with. Even though I didn't know Cathy well or very long, she still made an impact on me. Makes me wonder what kind of impact I'm making on the people I meet....

New Beginnings

It seems I've once again convinced myself that I should have a blog. The last attempt obviously was not a huge success (hence the whopping 3 posts), so I have no idea how often this one will be updated or how long it will continue. Or if anyone will even read it. But this blog will be different. No, this blog will not be about all the itsy bitsy details of my life that you don't want to know about anyway. It will be, well probably just my own ramblings.....

I often find myself pondering things that I've read or heard recently, things that are important to me, or just random thoughts that seem to find their way into my consciousness at the strangest of times. This blog is my scribble pad to put those thoughts on paper... er screen, in the hope that you might gain something from my ponderings as well.

For example, I've been thinking lately about what kind of life Christ calls us to live. This is not a new subject for me, but definitely one that should be revisited. Of course there's always the Golden Rule- "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" and "Love your neighbor as yourself", which is all well and good, but we all know that sermon already. I believe that, as children and disciples of Christ, we are called to live in joy, with joy, and to celebrate the things that give us joy. We are called to live in the joy of our salvation. Jesus gave up his place in heaven, a place without sin, to become completely human. He CHOSE the nails. He allowed his child to put nails in his hands and thorns in his head as he became completely separated from God and suffered the heart-breaking consequenses of sin. And he won! He defeated Satan! And he did it for us, for you! He suffered so we could be given the joy of living in relationship with him for eternity. (read He Chose the Nails by Max Lucado for more)

What more reason do we need to live joyfully? We live anxiously, impatiently, greedily, but how often do we live joyfully? Do we live with the same passion as Jesus? Do we really go about our lives eminating the joy Christ has given us, or do we get caught up in the rat race of all the little details of our lives? For example, my work. I love my kids. I love doing what I do. But do I really do my job joyfully and passionately? Do I really work to change these kids lives and show them the joy Christ can bring them? Or am I just trying to get through each day, getting a kid to sign my service ticket so I can say he's in rehabilitation, filling out all the paperwork to make my bosses happy, and grumbling about everything that's wrong with my job while I'm waiting until the clock says I can go home? I'd have to admit that it's usually the later.

I also believe that God created each of us with unique gifts and talents, dreams, and passions. And he gave us each of these because he meant for us to use them, to become a part of his masterpiece. We all have things that give us joy, things that we're passionate about, big and small. For me it's the sound of rainstorms, memories and family traditions, friendships, cooking, photography, writing (another reason for this blog), listening to people's stories and making them smile... the list goes on and on. But how often do I really take the time to appreciate those things and do things that give me joy? How often can I say that I did something today that I'm passionate about? Or that I worked to fulfill a dream? How different would the world be if we all lived joyfully? Challenge yourselves to live one week, or even one day, joyfully and see what happens. :-)

See, I told you I would ramble. :-) Maybe I should call this my pulpit instead.....