Monday, March 30, 2009
Trip to New Mexico
On Wednesday, April 1 (yes, April Fools Day) I will be going to ABQ, New Mexico to be with my mom after she has surgery. She is having her rotator cuff replaced and will not be able to drive and will need some tending as she recovers. I'm looking forward to this time with her and with the rest of my family. My brother Bill just bought a Harley-Davidson, so maybe he will take me for a ride. His son, my nefew Tristan will be celebrating his 7th birthday while I am there. On Friday, April 10 (opening day for the Royals-against the Yankees-what is that about) is also Good Friday and not having my whole life centered around the suffering and death (and the church's re-enacting and embodying)of Jesus seems odd. I think that my sister Becky is getting us tickets to see the Alb. Isotopes. Then on Saturday I will take a plane to OKC and meet Will. We will celebrate Easter with his family in OKC. I've very excited about all of this. It will be good to get away and enjoy family.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
A Japanese paraphrase of the 23rd Psalm
The Lord is my pace-setter, I shall not rush
He makes me stop and rest for quiet intervals;
He provides me with images of stillness,
Which restore my serenity.
He leasds me in the way of efficiency
through calmness of mind and His guidance is peace.
Even though I have a great many things to accomplish each day.
I will not fret
For His presence is here
His timelessness, His all-importance will keep me in balance.
He prepares refreshment, His all-importance will keep me in balance.
He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of activity
by annointing my mind with His oils of tranquility.
My cup of joyous energy overflows.
Surely harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hours.
I shall walk in the pace of our Lord and dwell in His house forever.
He makes me stop and rest for quiet intervals;
He provides me with images of stillness,
Which restore my serenity.
He leasds me in the way of efficiency
through calmness of mind and His guidance is peace.
Even though I have a great many things to accomplish each day.
I will not fret
For His presence is here
His timelessness, His all-importance will keep me in balance.
He prepares refreshment, His all-importance will keep me in balance.
He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of activity
by annointing my mind with His oils of tranquility.
My cup of joyous energy overflows.
Surely harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hours.
I shall walk in the pace of our Lord and dwell in His house forever.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or FESTER like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or CRUST and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or FESTER like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or CRUST and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Monday, March 02, 2009
Is being angry a sin?
You may remember a family member or parent with a raised hand, a clinched fist, a slammed door, crossing arms, flaring nostrils, a cutting remark, or a blank stare. These are destructive expressions of anger. These may cause a knee-jerk answer “yes” to the question: “is being angry a sin?” Without pausing to really consider it, we may automatically assume that anger is a sin. Anger caused all of this destruction and therefore, it must be a sin. Anger destroys relationships, marriages, families, churches and communities.
This is all very natural to think and feel, yet it is only partly true. Anger is a normal response. It is an emotional response to something that seems to threaten us. A switch is flipped inside of us alerting us to some danger. It is a sign that something is wrong.
A friend of mine tells a story about becoming angry with interruptions. He is a writer and just as he gets into the rhythm of his writing, inevitably the phone rings and it is a telemarketer. This phone call flips a switch inside him. He becomes angry. There are a number of reasons that this phone call could cause anger. Perhaps, he sees it as a threat because he is anxious about his writing, insecure, scared of failure, and the constant interruptions remind him of the question that taunts him: “what will happen if this book is not a success?”
Anger is understandable and natural. It is really all right to be angry. Scripture makes it clear that even God gets angry. Jesus was angry more than a few times. Perhaps, the most familiar incident was when he overturned the tables in the courts of the temple.
Being angry is not a sin; yet staying angry is a sin. Scripture calls this bitterness or resentment. Being angry is not a sin, yet, destroying relationships through words and actions is sin. Being angry is not a sin, but succumbing to fits of rage is a sin. Scripture calls this being quick-tempered or lacking self-control.
In Ephesians 4:26-27 it says (The Message): “Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.”
In fact, there are so many things that should make us angry: abandoned and abused children, corporate executives that beg for bailout money while flying around the country in private jets, untrue slander spoken about a friend, receiving notice that you will no longer have a job, vandalism, rape, poverty. We should all be angry about these social ills that threaten our community. We should be angry and that anger should fuel us with courage to speak up, to advocate for others, to offer a helping hand or a listening ear to those who are affected.
The next time you feel anger well up inside of you, prayerful ask God to help you figure out who, what, how it happened. Consider whether the threat real or imagined. Consider a good and appropriate response. Consider how you can cope with and express your anger as to help and not destroy other people.
(this is my article for the Ministers Forum, Leader Union, to be published this Wednesday, March 4)
One of the best sources on this subject is "The Angry Christian" by Andrew D. Lester. He is an American Baptist and former professor of Pastoral Care at Brite Divinity School. Check out my "library thing" on the side of my blog for copyright info.
Another question to follow up on the topic: how does someone in my position write about the constructive and destructive expressions of anger and not appear "angry?" I would love to hear comments about whether I seemed angry in this article. I am craving constructive critisism, so please, whatever you got, share!
This is all very natural to think and feel, yet it is only partly true. Anger is a normal response. It is an emotional response to something that seems to threaten us. A switch is flipped inside of us alerting us to some danger. It is a sign that something is wrong.
A friend of mine tells a story about becoming angry with interruptions. He is a writer and just as he gets into the rhythm of his writing, inevitably the phone rings and it is a telemarketer. This phone call flips a switch inside him. He becomes angry. There are a number of reasons that this phone call could cause anger. Perhaps, he sees it as a threat because he is anxious about his writing, insecure, scared of failure, and the constant interruptions remind him of the question that taunts him: “what will happen if this book is not a success?”
Anger is understandable and natural. It is really all right to be angry. Scripture makes it clear that even God gets angry. Jesus was angry more than a few times. Perhaps, the most familiar incident was when he overturned the tables in the courts of the temple.
Being angry is not a sin; yet staying angry is a sin. Scripture calls this bitterness or resentment. Being angry is not a sin, yet, destroying relationships through words and actions is sin. Being angry is not a sin, but succumbing to fits of rage is a sin. Scripture calls this being quick-tempered or lacking self-control.
In Ephesians 4:26-27 it says (The Message): “Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.”
In fact, there are so many things that should make us angry: abandoned and abused children, corporate executives that beg for bailout money while flying around the country in private jets, untrue slander spoken about a friend, receiving notice that you will no longer have a job, vandalism, rape, poverty. We should all be angry about these social ills that threaten our community. We should be angry and that anger should fuel us with courage to speak up, to advocate for others, to offer a helping hand or a listening ear to those who are affected.
The next time you feel anger well up inside of you, prayerful ask God to help you figure out who, what, how it happened. Consider whether the threat real or imagined. Consider a good and appropriate response. Consider how you can cope with and express your anger as to help and not destroy other people.
(this is my article for the Ministers Forum, Leader Union, to be published this Wednesday, March 4)
One of the best sources on this subject is "The Angry Christian" by Andrew D. Lester. He is an American Baptist and former professor of Pastoral Care at Brite Divinity School. Check out my "library thing" on the side of my blog for copyright info.
Another question to follow up on the topic: how does someone in my position write about the constructive and destructive expressions of anger and not appear "angry?" I would love to hear comments about whether I seemed angry in this article. I am craving constructive critisism, so please, whatever you got, share!
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