WORLDS ARE FORMING

An Anniversary: On Doing What I Had To Do.

January 2003: I moved to the breathtaking Northern Oregon Coast, two blocks from one of the most beautiful beaches in America, two blocks from the Pacific Ocean.  I was living in a small furnished apartment, upstairs from a generous 73-year-old man named Glenn, and was friends with his Australian Shepherd, Dutch.  I worked half time at a camp, half time at a church.

I would take drives deep into the forest, long drives along the 101, and drives through Tillamook County farmland.  I would walk along the beach for hours on Saturday afternoons, looking for glass made smooth by years of tumbling in the water, crashing against the rocky beaches.  I was 24.

It should have been perfect.  I was miserable.

January, February, and March on the Oregon Coast. On average: 44 degrees. 10 inches of rain in three short months.  Sun rose late, set early.  It was dark.

New Month: New Banner.

Ok...so it is almost a new month.  I just got a little ahead of myself.  Enjoy.

(P.S. Where did March go?)

Color, Texture, and Light: Findings From an Early Spring Walk.

A Shout Out to Jurgen Moltmann.

"[The resurrection of Jesus] was a theological symbol for faith in the victory of God's righteousness and justice at the end of history... Righteousness has to triumph in the end because it is God's righteousness.  Because even death can lay down no limits for God, the dead will be raised for God's final judgment.  It is not the desire for eternal life that dominates the prophetic expectation of the resurrection of the dead; it is the thirst for righteousness...if at the Last Judgment the crucified One himself is the judge, the justice that will prevail is his merciful and justifying righteousness, and none other." 
                :: Jurgen Moltmann, The Way of Jesus Christ, 224-5 (emphasis mine)

Fun New Spring Music: The Weepies.

April introduced me to Deb Talan a few months ago.  I liked Deb!  Then, Adam introduced me to The Weepies this past week.  Deb Talan is one half of The Weepies.   Fun! 

They have such a unique sound, good lyrics, just fun to listen to.  I'd classify them as good Spring music, for sure.  (And if I had a band that had an album, I'd have a CD cover just like theirs.  I really like it.)

Hannah Snelling Has a Blog.

I had nothing to do with this.  She finally caved.  After years of blog mockery (yet faithful reading), Hanny finally has a blog.  She has great potential here in the blog world...if she lasts.  ;)

William Wordsworth. Daffodils.

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

In The Words of Pink, Mya, Lil' Kim, and Christina...

        Hey sista, go sista, soul sista, flow sista
        Hey sista, go sista, soul sista, flow sista
            :: Lady Marmalade, Moulin Rouge.

Here's a story for you. Today at church, I was in charge of the passing of the peace.  This has been a fearful task for me in the past, and I am just now getting comfortable with it.  Our church has it's own way of doing it, and we basically say the same thing every time as we introduce the peace passing.

I appreciate gender inclusivity in worship leadership, and try to include both males and females in my verbage.  So, quite often, I'll say, "Friends..." or "Brothers and sisters..." or "Sisters and brothers..." when I am addressing the congregation.

Until today, that is.  At our 11:00 traditional service, as I was passing the peace, I was a little bit...gender exclusive...but on the other extreme.  I didn't realize this until I was walking down the steps from the pulpit and saw my co-interns (all female) laughing, red faced.  "What!?"  I whispered.  Apparently, this was my passing of the peace to a middle class congregation of men, women, and children....

"Sisters, as sinners forgiven by a gracious God, let us affirm our forgiveness by the passing of the peace, and extending Christian hospitality to all who enter here, let us pass the peace of Christ.  The peace of Christ be with you all..."

No brothers, folks. I am such a feminist.

So, here are some theories that my co-interns came up with, to try to make me feel better.

1. Josh is trying to make up for the years of gender exclusivity towards women, and now only wants to welcome women into the church.
2. Josh is part of a cult which worships the goddess Sophia, but he has been parading as an Evangelical Christian.
3. Josh has four sisters.
4. Josh uses the word "bro" so much that he has maxed out his ability to say the word "brother" in full.
5. Josh just forgot about the "brothers" in the house.

Needless to say, I was teased mercilessly by my pastors and sisters today after church.

Love Needs That.

"I believe that God forgives me.  I do not doubt that.  The matter between God and me is closed.  But what about the matter between Eric and me?  For my regrets remain.  What do I do with my God-forgiven regrets?  Maybe some of what I regret doesn't even need forgiving; maybe sometimes I did as well as I could.  Full love isn't always possible in this fallen world of ours.  Still, I regret.

I shall live with them.  I shall accept my regrets as part of my life, to be numbered among my self-inflicted wounds.  But I will not endlessly gaze at them. I shall allow the memories to prod me into doing better with those still living.  And I shall allow them to sharpen the vision and intensify the hope for that Great Day coming when we can all throw ourselves into each other's arms and say, 'I'm sorry.'

The love of God will surely grant us such a day.  Love needs that."
                                                        :: Nicholas Wolterstorff, Lament for a Son, 65.

If someone you love were to ask you...

"Why pray?"

In a sentence or two, how would you answer?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

(This week for my internship, I am leading the New Members' class, and our topic is prayer.  I'm asking this question to them, and also...to you.  What would you say?)