As we walk through this day that God has given us may our hands do the work of healing and touching the brokenness we encounter as the body of Christ - incarnate - in the world.

May our ears be the ears of Christ as he sat at the well listening to the woman who was empty and searching and SURPRISED that someone would listen.

May the words that roll off our tongues not be words of fire and destruction tearing down and adding to the chaos but words of peace and encouragement as a soothing oil in the midst of the noise and hurtful banter of the world.

May we find the peace of Christ today, bring the peace of Christ to others today, and be the peace of Christ as Children of the Prince of Peace in a hostile and violent world.

By His strength, In His strength, In His name, and for His Glory,
AMEN

Prayer for a difficult person today.

Lord as we wander, run, hike, drive, stumble through this day stop us and remind us to thank you for three difficult people that we encounter. Three because it's a start and a goal we can reach... maybe.
Help us to thank you for them without their noticing, especially if they might have read this too. Three because it will be one for each of you... Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

Father, you have created this person before me and you love them with a depth beyond the love that I can feel for any human being... my children... my spouse... my best friend. You didn't make a mistake when you made this person; you made someone with whom you want to have fellowship and a friendship and who you hope will become an heir of your riches.

Lord Jesus, this is a person for whom you stepped out of glory... this is someone for whom you were willing at every turn and temptation to choose good rather than evil... this is a person for whom you weep when they weep and with whom you rejoice when they rejoice... this is a life for whose healing you paid by the whipping and scourging; the piercing and nailing; and whose sin was taken care of in the moment of the war cry... "IT IS FINISHED!"

Holy Spirit you are the comforter and I ask that you comfort this person who is making my life difficult today. There is probably a deeper hurt in their life than this moment they're having with me, and it might be something only you know, they might not even know it... give them comfort. And you are my teacher and comfort too... give me a spirit that doesn't need to feel offended; give me a heart to hear some truth being told to me, even if it's not being told to me well... and remind me that 80% of what you're teaching me today you're teaching me through the encounters I am having with other people; you're teaching me equally through pats on the back, and slaps in the face.

Remind me that I might be a difficult person for whom someone stops and thanks you today...
Father, Son, Holy Spirit
AMEN

The Worth of Water... River Haus in the Pines

"We never know the worth of water

till the well is dry."

-Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732

Water is an amazing substance... and it changes things.  Not just the drinking of water, though it's significant beyond argument.  There's nothing like a long cold drink of water on a hot day to take one's dry and thirsty body and bring it alive with refreshment.  We just need water... it's a necessity of life.

Thanks to the generosity and thoughtfulness of our friends at MLCC Sharlyn and I had a bit of time away this weekend at the River Haus in the Pines, in Leavenworth Washington.  If you get a chance to get away... go to this delighful Bed and Breakfast.  The food was fantastic, the room was splendid, Mike and Cindy are just charming individuals with a heart for people (if I was going to build a house in Leavenworth - and not do the work myself - I'd call Mike), and Cooper (the dog) was very friendly and unique.  

But there's more to water than just the drinking.  The sound of the water from our room, we left the window open the whole time we were there, was incredibly relaxing.  There's nothing quite like the sound of water.  The gentle and soothing sound of the water is medicine to the soul in the midst of the noise in which we all seem to live.  To awaken at 3:00 AM and hear the water continuing on its way to wherever it's going... so refreshing... it's a necessity to the soul to stop and just listen ocassionally.

Beyond all that, watching the water flow, is a good reminder that it's the way of things.  The water keeps running, moving, never stopping; there is a constant stream of water moving from up to down and it reminds me of the flow of history.  The stream of the river is like the stream of history... it never stops.  God is writing a grand story, and I'm part of that story... as small as I know I am.  I am reminded of David in Psalm 8, "who is man that you are mindful of him."

There is nothing like a little time beside the water for reflection.  We are so grateful to our church family, and to Mike and Cindy.  It's good to have a new perspective once in a while; and good to just hear the water.

Quote of the Day

The quote of the day is from Leavenworth Church of the Nazarene where Sharlyn and I engaged in corporate worship.  Pastor John Vandel gave us this quote from Samuel Johnson,

"The person who waits to do a great deal of good at once will never do anything."

This is such a challenging idea to me because I have a tendency to want to "get it all done" no matter what it is that needs to be done.  The context was stewardship and sharing our wealth and resources.  His point was that if you're not giving God 10% now we won't give Him a 100% later.  God is concerned with our faithfulness with what we have right now.

To do what's in front of me right now... faithfulness in the moment.  It's a good challenge.



Today and Time



Sitting in Gustav's in Leavenworth WA earlier today having dinner with Sharlyn.  We've been there a bunch of times over the years, and a few times when our kids were younger.  A young family came and sat at the table next to us... mom, dad, and three little ones under the age of four I'm sure.  It was, as they say, deja vu all over again!  They were a simply delightful young family, but there were just a few moments when you saw that... "Really... we're doing that?" face on mom and dad.  Made me smile.





I remembered suddenly those moments when you're in a restaurant with your little ones trying to keep them quiet so you're not disturbing the old grumpy patrons, you've got the four restaurant color crayons and the kid's menus with the maze, the picture to color and the three kids choices.  Cheeseburger, Chicken Fingers, Mac & Cheese... or if it's the expanded kid's menu there's a hot dog or corn dog on the menu!  Woo hooo!  One of the little ones is trying to climb out of the high chair... another is under the table... the third... eating the crayolas and then, there goes the water!  It's all over the table, the napkins are wet, the coloring pages are coming apart... sop it up... sop it up... quick, get more napkins!



I watched this young family and remembered, and as happy as I am about watching the boys grow into adulthood... I miss those little ones, and the simplicity of those days.  Ok, it's cliched... I know.  Don't forget, and this is profound, cliche's can only become so if they're true so we shouldn't belittle their importance.

Also on the way to Leavenworth we stopped and saw a long-time friend and her little baby girl - priceless - beautiful little life.  First time we've really been with them together, other than large gatherings... she's 6 months old already.

A family with whom we're acquainted finalized the adoption today of their new son... just about 13 years old.  Couldn't be there, but was told it was awesome.  It's his first "full-time family" ever... is it ok to say that?  Not sure how to talk about it, except what he says is, "I can't wait to know that I'm in a family I won't have to leave." 





Ok!  Enough already?  Well it's just this... look them in the eye... take a good look at their bewildered, ketchup covered, water spilling, mac and cheese mess, crawling out of the high chair and under the table little made in the Image of God through and through faces and breathe a prayer of thanksgiving to Him for them.  Then kiss their wet and sticky, snotty, drooling, cheese flavored, mischievous smiling made in the Image of God faces and remind them and yourselves how delighted you are to have them... because in a minute it all changes - and you can't get it back.



 For us... the forward has been good... but there are moments when you miss those bygone days ALOT.

Presence is Incarnational

I am challenged by the idea lately of seeing the face.  Today when I went into Starbucks I came face to face with a person who wasn't having fun, and it was painfully obvious by the look of her face.  I thought of making a joking comment to lighten the moment.  It wasn't a person I knew, but you know the way it works when, suddenly, you're in relationship a little more intimate than just walking by someone, but not to the point of really knowing the person or anything that's going on... it can be uncomfortable... so it's easier to take a cumbersome moment and make it lighter.

But for this one moment it flashed into my mind... don't make light... even if it lightens the moment.  Look into the eyes, slight knowing smile that says, "I can see by your face that it's not all ok" and then move off about your own business.  How quickly we walk through the crush of humanity never really seeing the face of another human... really.

When scripture talks about "the face of God" it sometimes, not always... but sometimes, means "presence."  "Because the face reflects the personality and character of person, the term is frequently translated person, or presence." (Holman Bible Dictionary).  This moment made me think that when someone in scripture says, "Your face I seek Oh God" they are really saying, it's your presence. 

Presence is incarnational - Christ chose to be present in our world.  When I see, really see some one's face, then I am present with them in that moment.  There is little in this world more profound than to be present with someone in the moment, and perhaps there is nothing more difficult. 

Epic stories remind me of the EPIC STORY

I've spent the past few days watching Epic stories.  Two very different stories, and yet really quit the same when all is said and done.  First I watched Lonesome Dove with Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall.  I think by far the best western I've ever seen, with two of my favorite cowboy actors.  Then tonight gathered with some friends watching the extended edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.  I must admit I fell asleep during part of it... but I did stick out most of it.  It's just Sunday night and I dozed off.  I plan to watch the extended version trilogy of LOTR over the next couple weeks.  It's been a while. 

Those stories move me because they are filled with struggle, victory, loss, evil, overcoming, and friendship.  Most of our stories are less dramatic, but every story seems to involve the same elements and so I'm reminded of the importance of perseverance in trial, the sweetness of overcoming, and the blessing of friendship along the way.

One of my favorite sequences in the Fellowship of the Ring is the dialogue between Gandalf and Frodo in the Mines of Moria when Frodo says, "I wish the ring had never come to me."  Gandalf's response is profound on the one hand, and so simple on the other.  No one wishes for these times, but in the end all we can do is what is before us.  I am encouraged to be faithful for the moment with the task before me... whether is seems big or small, significant or not.  All we have is this moment, and how we live it.  It seems like we miss a lot either hoping for this moment to pass... or expecting the next one to come.  I want to live present to the moment and faithful to the task at hand.