What I am reading:

Hope lies in the book of Isaiah:

If there were one bible course I wish I could have taken while at Seminary it was Isaiah. In short snippits, I have always loved the way the author writes, not to mention his message.

This coming Sunday I am honored to be reading selections out of Isaiah’s 43^rd chapter at the ordination of one of my dear seminary friends, Beth.

Isaiah speaks messages to us from God about God’s presence, activity and promises. They abound in these verses.

This reminds me of years in High School. In a class of 620 students I seemed always to be just beyond the limits of the ‘inside’ group. Just outside the top 10%, just a smidge beneath the honor role.

In the spring of my senior year, the first year competitive women’s athletics were offered in Wisconsin, I decided to try out for the women’s softball team. I had played softball during my elementary years and then had been my younger brother’s practice partner while he competed in Little League – I pitched/tossed and he caught.

After a week of ball tossing, airball fielding and base running, I was sent home. The last one cut from a team that would eventually take the first Division 1 title for girls in Wisconsin.

Close, but no cigar… again.

But because of the words of Isaiah, I can take heart. Since, in God’s eyes I am chosen, I am forever on God’s team. I have known you, God says, you are mine – God says. Besides, it’s not about me, anyway. It’s about God and God’s glory, God’s legacy!

God never said the walk would be easy – in fact, Jesus BEGAN his ministry in the midst of wilderness and temptation. But God does promise to be with us, so we are not to fear (or get discouraged) as we walk through these almost, but not quite places of desolation.

God also promises that in God’s time something new will come; that the Spirit of God will pour rain on dry water beds so that they become rivers in the desert. That promise came in Jesus.

This is the Word of the Lord, whom Julian of Norwich calls ‘I it am’. The living, breathing, walking alongside, promise fulfilling 

God. This is my hope. My legacy.

To all who have fall, to all those who served and came home and to their families. We honor you for your service to us, the greater good and our country.

We were soldiers - This is my story

copy and paste the movie clip below and watch
http://www.wingclips.com/movie-clips/we-were-soldiers

What I am reading:
This week I continue to read Proverbs. It is interesting that few of the sections of the Proverbs are included as regular reading in the three year scripture cycle (known as 'the Lectionary' used by many denominations. Just nine texts are listed in the Bible Index of Working Preacher, one of my key sources as I prepare to preach God's word. Much of what we know of the Proverbs are the 'Solomon sayings' found beginning in chapter 10, one verse nuggets of wisdom.

But the first ten chapters of Proverbs contain a plea from God we all need to hear; a plea from Wisdom, for wisdom. In the first text on the lectionary list (Proverbs 1: 20-33), Wisdom, the Spirit of God, cries in the street, calling out to all God's children, how long will you remain simple, how long will scoffers continue to scoff, and fools resist understanding?  Only when storms rage and calamity come do we shoot pleas to heaven, only then do we seek the movement of God's hand over the waters.

It says that because we hate knowledge -- what Jesus called 'the Truth' -- we did not (and do not) choose the fear of the LORD, nor would we have any of wisdom's counsel. Boy, are those words an indictment!

By the way, the word 'fear' in scripture does not hold the same weight of understanding as it does in today's english language, it means utter, total and overwhelming awe and reverence at the height, depth and breadth of God.

Have you not known? Have you not heard? Isaiah says: The LORD is the ever-lasting God, the creator/maker and redeemer -- of all ends of the earth.

...God's love for us, God's compassion for all of creation, God's mercy, God's power to stop evil and to change a life for good are all greater than we could ever imagine -- and are accessible to us if we only trust. Don't ever doubt that your prayer will be heard... no matter how it's prayed... whether you have the words to speak... or the words spoken are filled with anger or despair.

This Sunday there will be preaching about the Spirit coming into the midst of Jesus chosen disciples, to bring them the power Jesus promised to preach God's Gospel to 'the ends of the earth'. I regularly pray for the Spirit of God to rekindle our hearts... But, as David Lose mentions in his 'Dear Working Preacher' column this week, when we ask the Spirit to come, do we really mean it? In the same way, when we pray, 'Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest', do we really want Jesus to be present?

This week, I pray for wisdom... for patience and mercy... for understanding. I pray that you you too, will be still and know that God is God.

For your information...


Several of you have spoken to me about trying to post responses to my blog. Alas, since I am new at this I have been learning how to set up a safe, moderated environment that lets you openly comment to me and to one another. Hopefully now I have gotten things up and going well.

To comment, first it will ask you to identify yourself -- by name and email. Blogger will shoot me an email giving you permission to leave a comment. Once I say yes, you will then be able to comment at will (at least this is my intent). Try it out and see this week. Thanks in advance for your comments.

K

What I am thinking:

So many vegetables to grow, so little time.

When we moved to our new home 4 months after I began my first call, Jon and I began planning our gardens. We were excited. After years of not have enough sun or space in our last yard, we were designing and sketching out plans for our sun drenched side lawn.

For the first time, we decided to build raised beds. Or I should say I decided... Jon had yet to be convinced. You Tube came to the rescue, and after Jon watched a young man build a 4' x 12' x 12" high box while at the same time tossing a frisbee to his two black labs Jon concluded he would make the attempt. Once he built the first box, he was pumped. This was a carpentry project he could be successful with.

After filling the 6 boxes Jon created and set in place on our lawn with 2 yards of lovely composted soil with set about planting seeds and sets. Carrots and beets and lettuces. Four varieties of tomatoes. Zucchini and crook neck summer squash. Acorn Squash. English cucumbers, Bell Peppers and Eggplants. And, potatoes. Of the hundreds of varieties that exist in the world, very few are available for purchase in western Wisconsin.

The second year we added a couple more boxes so Jon could grow potatoes. Katahdins (which come from potato country in Maine), Yukon Golds, Norland Reds, and Russets were all lovingly planted, mounded, and harvested. In our third year of planning, we have added 3 more boxes -- completing our three year plan creating our garden space. This year I grew tomatoes from seed, and have just this afternoon placed cucumber and winter squash seeds into pots to hedge against a frost that could take out early outdoor plantings.

Growing plants in this environment, in lovely composted soil with few weeds just miles from the St. Croix river seems a nearly ideal situation. And yet, not all seed successfully grow into hearty vegetables for harvest even in the most ideal environment.   Some plants, like celery require black, mucky soil -- while others will wither if they are watered late at night.

How similar this is to people and their life of faith.

Every congregation is it's own unique context, offering a specific environment that is more or less healthy for those who live in the greater community. Strong personalities, like aggressive plants can push aside less hearty souls. Longtime (heirloom) members are a church's backbone, their roots running deep and their loyalty to the place apparent. The Holy Spirit brings the word alive in the hearts of each seed -- like varying levels of water and fertilizer. I have witnessed people flourish, like plants that have received water and fertilizer, and I have poured on extra love as others have withered, with varying levels of success.

How important it is to remember that, whether gardens or congregations, it is God who creates and maintains, it is God who brings abundant fruit to bear. We can make, we can tend, even nurse and coddle, but is God alone who makes abundant life.

Living...
Life is more about the discipline of centering than a balancing act.

In my third year of ordained ministry I continue to balance the needs of my congregation, my relationship with my husband who has struggled to find full time work since we moved to Hudson, navigating parenthood with two adult daughters one who just got married and the other who will be getting married this coming July, my daughterhood with aging parents, the loss of a long time pet, supporting my friends who are in ordained ministry and moving toward ordained ministry, and my friends who are living out their faith in daily life. At times it seems there is not enough time or energy for all.

Add to this my decision the first of the year to focus on getting healthy. No more excuses. No compromises. I have now lost over 30 pounds since March 30, 2011 and have increased my level of exercise. This is a sea change -- a way of life, not a temporary diet. Aspects make it difficult but great progress is being made. I will speak more of this and it's challenges in coming posts.

Underlying these many varied and sometimes overwhelming roles is my continued desire to center my life in the Word and creative activity of God. I began an effort a year ago to develop and maintain more intentional spiritual practices. It has been at times a bumpy road, but is making a big difference in my faith life, my ministry and my relationships with others as well.

This weekend? A bridal shower and Mother's Day, in addition to weekly Sunday worship. Breathe.

What I'm Reading...

At the beginning of this week I read the book of Esther as part of my daily devotions. 
The tale of Esther, Mordechai, Haman and King Ahasarius, who my colleague Mike Wollman once dubbed King Aha in a week of Vacation Bible School where we were studying Esther ---

 is actually a great story to be reading around Mother’s day –

even though there are no ‘mother’ characters in the book of Esther. In fact, God isn’t even mentioned directly in the story.

What is apparent, even central in the story of Esther is that love makes a difference…love, in fact, conquers all.

This is a story of a man, Haman, who hates… and a woman, Esther, who is willing to risk her own life to show that love can conquer hatred. Esther is placed in a position where she can make a difference in one man’s life – and in the lives of the Jewish people as well.

Haman wants to control the Jewish people – who refuse to bow to anyone except God alone.

Haman gets King Aha, who trusts his chief Aide, to agree that all the Jewish people in his Provinces should be destroyed since Mordechai – Queen Esther’s uncle, would not honor Haman by bowing to him as the King had commanded.

All that is said in the story in this regard is that Mordechai would not bow because he was Jewish. We know that as a faithful Jew he would not honor any other as god. Jews only honor and revere God, and God alone.

And Esther who has won the favor of the King – another way to say the king loved her – is offered the opportunity to beg for her life and the life of her people. Her husband, the King chooses love over hatred, and has Haman hanged on a scaffold of his own making.

We are created to live in this world, yet we are not of this world. We are to respect those in authority but never show them or the world more honor than we show our Lord and maker.

For whom and for what cause are you willing to risk your life? If your ‘kind’ is being attacked will you just stand by or will you stand up and say something?

What I'm Reading... 
I have been following the 'Eat this Book' reading guide, along with several of my friends from Madison. This week I'm reading the books of Esther and Job. Why not read along with me.
http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/eat_this_book_esther.pdf


Here's an overview of Esther. Check back later in the week for an overview of Job.

Reading Esther

-- Yahweh is never mentioned: Although God seems absent, he is guiding events according to his purpose.

When we scrutinize the text of Esther for traces of God’s activity, we are doing what the author has made us do. The author would have us probe the events we witness in our own lives in the same way. He is teaching a theology of possibility. The willingness to face history with an openness to the possibility of divine providence, even when history seems to weigh against its likelihood, as it did in the dark days after Haman’s decree. In this way, the book offers a stance of profound faith. -- Michael V. Fox, Character and Ideology in the Book of Esther.