Striving for Higher Ground

Lean Into the Light! - a sunday sermon slice from 1/5/2013

2014-01-04T19:06:00.000-08:00

LEAN INTO THE LIGHT! John 1: 1-5, 14-18

The year of our Lord, 2014 has dawned and the scramble has begun. Folks are scrambling to get their goals in place, their resolutions together, their peace restored or established for that matter, and their last year’s journeys pushed into the background.

In one of Holy Scripture’s mightiest Psalm, Psalm 119 the Psalmist joyfully declares this great truth speaking of the Lord beginning in verse 129 (ESV)

“Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”

Where is the light of Jesus Christ already shining in your life? Where are all your dark, dank and dusty corners? Are you ready to re-open your heart and let that Jesus light shine in again or for the very first time?

A timeless story is told of an Englishman who transcended his childhood spent as a street urchin, an urchin is an old 14^th century word used to refer to a child who is poor and dirty causes trouble out on the street and who tends to annoy people; if you guessed we don’t use this term much in America, you’re right! This child of whom I speak grew up in London. He grew up, and against all odds became a reasonable successful writer with a nice home and a loving family.

But, being a writer every now and then he ran into what’s known as “writer’s block.” For some time he was unable to feel inspire to write. It seemed as though the creativity that had once sustained him had suddenly turned off. His debts were mounting and he was under pressure from his publisher. He was becoming more and more depressed as he thought that if he couldn’t break his case of writer’s block his children would wind up on the streets. He was discouraged. He was depressed. He couldn’t sleep. He began to spend his nights walking the streets of London.

He saw the poverty, the inhumane conditions of the children working nights in the factories, the terrible struggle of parents trying to eke out a living for their families. Gradually, the full reality of what he was seeing began to sink in – the impact of the greed and those who would take advantage of others. An idea touched his heart and began to grow in his mind. There was something he could do to make a difference! He returned to his writing with new energy and enthusiasm he had never known.

The vision of contributing impassioned him. He no longer felt doubt or discouragement. He didn’t worry about his own financial concerns. He wanted to get this story out, to make it as inexpensive as possible, and to make it available to as many people as possible. His whole life had changed. It was as though he had really SEEN THE LIGHT!!!!! And, as a result the whole world changed! Charles Dickens’s masterpiece, A Christmas Carol has brightened the lives of millions of people around the world for 150 years! (I am grateful to Stephen Covey for the retelling of this story of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol in his book, First Things First.)

Out text from John’s Gospel tells us that Jesus is the light of all people and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness shall not overtake it! LEAN INTO THE LIGHT OF JESUS AND YOU CAN RELY ON HIM TO SHOW YOU YOUR DIVINE DESTINY IN THIS NEW YEAR!

A Hard Lesson in Survival

2012-02-03T10:46:00.000-08:00

If you've ever whispered a prayer in an airplane during a storm you'll feel the fear that gripped the group of oil riggers who were flying in a snowstorm during some of the early moments of the movie, The Grey.

Some critics called it formulaic but issues men rarely talk about with each other came out in the conversations of the group of men who were simply trying to hold on to survive as they tried desperately to get back to civilization and the rest of their lives with their families after a terrible plane crash.

I couldn't help but remember the real life story of the lead actor, Liam Neeson. His wife, Natasha Richardson, died tragically on March 18, 2009 after sustaining a head trauma on a ski slope at Mount Tremblant Resort in Quebec. The distant, troubled look in his eyes (in the pic above) reminded me of the search for meaning we all live with as we face the ups and downs of living.

This was not the triumphant story of the folks who survived the plane crash in a movie of my childhood called, Alive. The brutal Alaskan wilderness would not let go of these men as though their fate had been decided from the moment they stepped onto the plane itself.

Some critics called it too long and too slow. But I find in my life and ministry that there are too many platitudes we use when we're talking about the meaning of life. I love God deeply and believe that my destiny is caught up in what God would have me do, achieve and experience. I accept that some suffering in this life is God ordained and must come my way to make me stronger, wiser and more courageous myself.

But watching the men in this movie struggle with memories, hopes, heartaches and finding courage got my spirit wrestling. Can you keep going when folks around you doubt you? Can you forge ahead when the finish line is so far away that you lose sight of it or your vision of it? When someone is depending on you to get something right are you ready to complete that task or all of those tasks well?

The fight and the journey is worth pursuing! Whatever you're going through...search your heart and know that your trust in the Divine and in yourself is worth it regardless of the outcome. I'd love to get the feedback from others, particularly men who have taken the time to see the movie. Share your thoughts!

Reactivating Vision Power

2011-10-06T14:57:00.000-07:00

What if Steve Jobs was right when he admitted a key thing about his vision for Apple Computers? He admitted, "We started out to get a computer in the hands of everyday people, and we succeeded beyond our wildest dreams." Could one of America's great visionary corporate leaders have had a vision that didn't match with the outcome?

He said it happened. I have been blessed to attend the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection's Leadership Insititute on four occasions now. And their visionary pastor, Rev. Adam Hamilton said he, "never imagined he'd be the pastor of a congregation of thousands of members." And yet, there he is in Kansas City, Kansas with one of the most vibrant churches in the post modern age.

Nehemiah is always cited as a biblical example of an extraordinary, visionary leader. And, as a pastor, I have felt the pressure to produce just like Nehemiah did. But a great truth was revealed to me recently by Michael Fletcher, author of Overcoming Barriers to Church Growth. He noted, "Visioning may be the hardest but most important job of the senior pastor-finding God's vision for the local church he (she) leads." And if we start visioning, somehow, with a particular hope, dream or end in mind its probably because that would represent good planning, right?

I remember hearing about the comedian, Dave Chappele. Success hit for the brother! He went from stand up in clubs, on the road, to a hilarious Comedy Central Show where he was the principal star, writer and producer. It seemed he had everything he wanted. The cash was flowing and he was firmly planted in one place where his televsion project was doing well. And one day he flipped out. He just left. He moved to Africa (or so the rumor said) and took a break from his responsibilities on Comedy Central.

Was his vision power somehow too puny to see the success that he experienced?

How do we activate or reactivate the power of BIG visioning that turns impossible situations into miracles from on high? I know it can't happen without prayer. Strong leaders must emerge in churches who can stomach the threat of failure remembering Tavis Smiley's encouragement to "fail-up." There are other hints, other clues and other answers to this question that I really would like your feedback on. Would you help in this process? I'd love to hear your suggestions.

Can We "Virtualize" Community?

2011-09-19T21:25:00.000-07:00

There is a whimsical joy I get from just trying to imagine what these three penguins were grooving to at the time somebody snapped this picture. These three are enjoying some community time...time together, face to face.

The church is at its best when we are in community. I was reminded of that as I spoke to a member of my congregation. He's twenty-three years younger than me and is very close to being a "digital native." The kinds of electronic devices he grew up with were much different than the ones I grew up using. When soul singer Celo Green croons the line, "She's an X-box, but I'm more Atari," I realize just how old I'm getting. I was actually living before the Atari video game was available.

I called this younger member on the phone. Most of the time, though, we keep up with each other on Face Book. I told this younger member I want to reach out to him and start trying to build community with he and his peers. I let him know that I would leave the church grounds to make a meeting time happen.

I am interested in knowing more about what the term "community" even means to another generation of adults. I saw a definition by Dr. Ruth Tucker that interested me even though she's at least twenty years older than I am now. She wrote that when she thinks of "community"......

It relates to my childhood memories and to my adult life, especially in relation to the church and workplace. Whatever the word means, I know I have rarely experienced it in adult life with the exception of my marriage to John, which is a wonderful combination of community and intimacy.

I still remember discovering the world of blogging and bloggers and the virtual community we all share. I dropped out of this community for awhile but now I want to get back in. I have begun to study answers about how to write and maintain a great blog but I find myself coming back to this writing task with more questions than answers. (I understand that blogs that give 'tips' are especially popular) I'm trying to find that elusive balance between the virtual world and the kind of "community" I can share with other people face to face. Seeing the joy of those penguins was just the start of coming back to blogging for me. I'm hoping that we'll share our tips, our reflections, our hopes and dreams as we reach out to each other in this awesome task known as blogging. In the meantime, I'd love to know whether you feel anywhere near as satisfied in the virtual world of Face Book, Twitter, etc versus places like the church, or in a relationship where your community requires you to show up and spend some "face time" with other folks.

4 Living Life to the Fullest Lessons from the movie Last Holiday

2010-11-24T16:18:00.000-08:00

I must admit that the movie Last Holiday charmed me because of the warmth of the two lead actors, Queen Latifah and L.L. Cool J. In that red dress Queen Latifah is styling to the max!

The love story between the Queen and L.L. won't win any famous awards but the life lessons of the story are hard to resist. Here are four of those lessons that I hope will help you:

That Special Trip or Vacation is Definately Worth SAVING For!

The depth and length of this recession we find ourselves in, the Great Recession (some are calling it) reminds us that spending some and saving some of our precious dollars is what we all need to do. Saving for travel can be exciting because the anticipation of visiting famous destinations can sustain us until it's time to go! We all can benefit by looking forward to a time when we can throw caution to the wind and just kick back and enjoy ourselves.....even if it's only for a little while.

2.   Don't Keep Your Talents to Yourself!

Queen Latifah's character, Georgia from New Orleans, was so careful about her life that she kept her talents hidden and obscured. She kept them to herself. But when a doctor told her she only had 3 weeks to live (sorry to spoil for you if you haven't seen it yet) all of a sudden she let her talents flow. And folks took notice too. Your talents are meant to be used and shared. USE THEM!

3.   Let Love Take Hold

L.L. Cool J's character, Sean, didn't even know that Georgia was diggin' on him. Not really. But once he got the hint he could follow up and it turned out he was carrying a torch for Georgia himself. They looked like a happy couple on screen. We've got to let the folks we love know it. We've got to let go of all that fake shyness and let love flow!

4.   Don't Be Shy About Making New Friends

Another lesson of the movie was the relationship that developed between Queen Latifah and the french chef at the hotel where she was staying in Europe. He felt appreciated because she ordered every dish on the menu. She clearly took delight in enjoying the gourmet dishes the chef prepared. If we can simply learn to enjoy the moments we're given and live life to the fullest while we can there are people out there waiting and willing to befriend us and make our lives fuller and richer.

If you're going to pick up a movie this holiday season on DVD....try this one! It's great entertainment and the love story also re-enforces some life lessons that remain timeless. Enjoy!

Living With a "Bucket List" Mindset

2010-05-20T22:38:00.000-07:00

"You only live once, so why not go out in style?"

I have lived with that line in the trailer of one of my favorite movies for a long while. And after a visit with two of my favorite cousins, who have made it a point to travel the world shamelessly, I was reminded again that life is short. We've got to live it to the fullest while we have the chance. Living with a "Bucket List" Mindset means doing five important things while you can.

See these 5 important tips below!

Travel the world and never look back! International travel is hard to beat in terms of what it teaches us. The beauty of a place like Rio in Brazil or the sugar cane fields of Barbados can only be fully experienced up close. Don't wait, travel the world!
Find a friend who you can speak truth to and who can speak truth back to you! The world is filled with hucksters, liars and fools! Avoid them and find a friend who can be counted on to "zing" you every now and then!
Laugh.....even when you feel like crying. Oh, don't skip the crying part but a great sense of humor is a great helper in times like these! Laughter AND crying is good for the soul.
Connect with your spiritual self and don't ignore it! In the movie, Morgan Freeman is heard even quoting his pastor at one point, IMAGINE THAT?
Reconcile those old hurts! Jack Nicholson's character must gather himself to reunite with a daughter whom he'd been previously estranged from.

Maybe the movie was emotional for me because I visit hospital rooms regularly as a church pastor. I see families at their best and at their worst. Maybe the movie was emotional for me because I recently found out that a good friend who was about six years younger than me died suddenly....or at least suddenly from the perspective of a person who only saw her occasionally after college. I've lost so many family members to the scourge of cancer also.

Maybe the movie was emotional for me because I could buy the DVD itself for a rock bottom price as my favorite Albertson's Grocery store in my neighborhood was moving out because of the recession.

Find out what chords are touched in you when you watch the movie, The Bucket List. But, take the five tips to heart and you will find gifts of God in unexpected places, people and things!

A Thought to Sustain Your Spirit in Tough Times

2010-03-16T22:37:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the achievement is to make it through to the blessing on the other side of your challenge! Listen to the wisdom of George Washington Carver, the great inventor and innovator who took the peanut and made it shine. He wrote:

In these strenuous times, we are likely to become morbid and look constantly upon the
dark side of life, and spend entirely too much time considering and brooding over what
we can't do, rather than what we can do, and instead of growing morose and
despondent over opportunities that are shut from us, let us rejoice at the many
unexplored fields in which there is unlimited fame and fortune to the successful explorer.

Explore the "can-do" things in your life and move, thrive and live abundantly!

Who is Controlling You?

2010-01-06T19:51:00.000-08:00

The great African American novelist Charles W. Chestnutt once offered this interesting opinion that is truly food for thought as this new year and new decade dawns, he wrote:

"We are all puppets in the hands of fate and seldom see the strings that move us."

I hate to think of myself as a "puppet" especially in light of all the self help resources that are available to nurture my mind and challenge me to lead a life that matters. But there are some responsibilities that drive a great deal of what I do in my life.

How about you? Do you feel fully in control of all the circumstances in your life right now? I am frequently with folks who have taken ill or had some other traumatic event take place in their life. Some of them have talked about how surprised they were to have to face their illness or trauma. Yet, when pressed they could tell of warning signs or ways they were living that might have led to the very illness or trauma they were facing.

I was reminded of the kind of dedication to the unknown our soldiers face at a recent event with one of my favorite World War II veterans. He could joke about the paths his life had taken before, during, and after the war as he reflected about it. But it also seemed to me that he mastered the art of living fully in the moment, somehow.

If we can live fully in the moment in this new year maybe we can shake some of those unknown forces trying to control us and turn us into puppets. Maybe we'll truly be able to make up our own minds about living green, losing the pounds and loving our friends, lovers, and family members in the ways that will really matter.

A wise sage wrote of "a time for every season under the sun" in the 3rd chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes in the Hebrew Scriptures. Day by day I'm finding that book of the Bible a bigger and bigger gift!

Consider who and what is controlling you as this new year begins. Live each moment out loud, fully, expressively, and joyfully! Make this new year and this new decade brighter and better as you move along in it! Keep striving for higher ground!

Be Careful of Your Next Adjustment

2009-12-15T21:47:00.000-08:00

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired me with his stand for peace, his witness for justice and his commitment to non-violence. I must admit that one of my favorite quotes of his was this one,

Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.

We live in need of constant adjustments. Our eyes adjust from darkness to light. Our feet adjust to different surfaces as our bodies encounter them. We adjust what we wear according to the weather.

For me as a Christian this is the time of year when we really focus in on salvation. The celebration of Christmas is all about God's creative act in sending Jesus to earth to live, to minister and to die.

But an urgent call I got recently reminded me that the work of salvation is undone until everyone is free to live fully. A counselor called from one of our locally run groups for the developmentally disabled. She called to see if there was anything some of the developmentally disabled adults could volunteer to work on in my church.

Before I could answer her she said she had called more than twenty churches asking whether or not there was something in those churches the volunteers she works with could do. She encountered one, "no" after another.

It seems that even in this special time of the year there are still some hearts that are frozen cold. Have we done what we could to reach out the those who are physically or mentally less abled?

Have we sought salvation not just for ourselves but also for those who are still discrimated against, even today? Dr. King's word rings out in my mind again. We are called to be 'creatively maladjusted.'

Let's not adjust to injustice, to malice and meanness, to hurt and heartache. Let's make this a season where we creatively reach out to the ones in our midst who deserve our attention, our care and our involvement.

Don't Make the Cash Cow Moo!

2009-12-09T20:15:00.000-08:00

This holiday season can bless you if you let it. I have often gotten to December feeling depleted and sometimes even dejected. I've often seen the holiday season as something to get through with too many things to do. Mid-life won't let me continue down this perilous path.

I want to spend less, worship fully and enjoy my family and friends. I'm not basing my happiness on how much I spend or, "make the cash cow moo!"

This year I'm trying some new things, some simpler, less expensive things. I was grateful to read an old blog of Rev. Dr. Todd Bolsinger, who used this video a few years ago with his congregation. I want to encourage you to take a look at the 2009 version and let it rock your world! Watch this and see what God might be calling you to do next! www.adventconspiracy.org

Get a Life....a Prayer Life!

2009-12-03T09:16:00.000-08:00

I've got one more post about this Tiger Woods fiasco. I promise that after this I'm going to take my own advice and 'leave Tiger Woods alone!' He just opened a door so widely in one of his public statements that I cannot let it go.

Tiger said, "Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions." I like this statement very much. Yet, at the same time I'm reminded of that powerful scene from the movie, The Godfather Part III where Michael Corleone confesses his many sins before the preist after almost going into a diabetic coma. It was as though his confessions helped him deal with his many sins so that his inner turmoil would not eat him alive.

Press releases and public confessions aren't really necessary, it's true Mr. Woods. But here is one of the chief reasons why an active prayer life between us and God is necessary, helpful and something to treasure.

God forgives. I also hope that forgiveness flows through families. I hope that ongoing grudges and claims made by one family member to another that they will 'never forgive' in this situation or that situation will not be the chief end of any issue.

One of the great truths of folks of faith and good will is that we all know that one day we all will stand in need of forgiveness for something. An active prayer life is an outstanding place to converse with God about our personal sins, our shortcomings and the times we miss the mark.

On the internet there is a place where you can get some answers to questions you might have about prayer. Its: www.allaboutprayer.org Visit the site for answers to questions you might have about daily personal prayer, family prayer and gaining greater intimacy with God. I'd love to know if you've started or re-started your prayer life recently. Leave me a comment and may your active prayer life bless you!

Leave Tiger Woods Alone!

2009-11-28T12:17:00.000-08:00

The news of the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday weekend concerning the world's number one golfer Tiger Woods caught me by surprise. But scrolling through some of the speculation about his auto accident made me stop and think about our celebrity culture with over zealous reporters and people out there willing to just say anything to ride the headline!

British tabloids are often the harshest critics and speculators! As for me, my hope is that we will all leave Tiger Woods alone to work out whatever happened behind the scenes. In a long past era, one of the great African American boxing champions, Jack Johnson was quoted as saying:

"I know the bitterness of being accused and harassed by prosecutors. I know the horror of

being hunted and haunted. I have dashed across continents and oceans as a fugitive, and have

matched my wits with the police and secret agents seeking to deprive me of one of the greatest

blessings man can have - liberty."

I'm not saying that Tiger's case is anywhere near as serious as some of the things that Jack Johnson went through in his tumultuous boxing career.

But give Tiger the chance to heal from his injuries in the accident and give him the freedom to work out whatever needs to be worked out......in peace! Take a deep breath people!

The Sad Story of Shaniya Davis Should Shake Us to the Core

2009-11-18T07:30:00.000-08:00

"Innocent until proven guilty" is an axiom we apply in our criminal justice system. But the case of 5 year old Shaniya Davis is one of the saddest I've heard about in a long time. I attended the National Council of Churches of Christ General Assembly held in Denver in 2008 and learned about the horrific problem of human trafficking in our world today. Folks at the PolarisProject.org report that, "over 200,000 children in the United States are at high risk for human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation."

It is Shaniya's mom, Antoinette Davis, who stands accused of starting the chain of events that led to Shaniya's eventual death.

Human trafficking is one of the greatest tragedies of our world today. It happens under the radar screen of the things that often hold our attention. But for people of faith, good will and good conscience there is an organization that is working on this and they deserve and very much need our help. Click on the PolarisProject.org and see how you can help stop human trafficking problems in the future. It would be great if no other 5 year olds like Shaniya would ever have to die again.

Want Spiritual Uplift? Try This!

2009-11-17T09:56:00.000-08:00

So there I was sitting in front of the television one evening recently surfing through the channels trying to find something to watch. I stumbled onto CNN and a special show on their effort to name their 2009 Hero or maybe "She-ro" of the year. A racially and culturally diverse set of ten finalists each has a story that is sure to inspire you!

From wheelchairs provided to kids in Iraq to homeless veterans being helped in Florida I was inspired. There was the story of wine sold in America so that water can be provided to folks in developing countries and a door to door appeal to encourage women to take care of their breast health.

In Zimbabwe there is a program to aid sexual abuse survivors and hot food, coffee and goodwill provided to homeless folks in Queens, New York. There is a Filipino teen who is getting other Filipino teens to consider alternatives to gang life and an orphanage in the home of a couple in Indonesia.

There is a drummer in New Orleans who is helping kids after school choose music rather than trouble and help for amputees all over the United States from a young amputee who lives in a city I used to live in, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Please learn the names of the ten people responsible for these inspiring acts of courage and, if you can, vote for just one. You will surely be uplifted for your effort! Just click on this link and learn more: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/

Answers for Suffering and Stressful Situations

2009-08-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

Could the writer James Thurber have been correct when he wrote, "It is better to ask some of the questions than to know the answers"? There are questions we all have when we have to deal with suffering and stress in our lives. Have I been faithful enough? Haven't I been a good person? Isn't there supposed to be a God that sits high and looks low that is looking out for me? Sometimes the way life teaches us lessons about the universe and how we manage our suffering and stressful situations is clearly in retrospect; as we look back. We have to look back to times when we didn't understand when or why we were going through those stresses and all that suffering. Such was the case of a man who never dealt with the grief of his father's death. He tried to live on thinking that if he could just make it through to his next set of challenges he would be okay. Well, as he lived out his life his sister got sick and his mother developed cancer and finally when he looked around and realized that he might be alone in the world without all three family members in his life anymore he began grieving.

The grieving he did led to a high amount of stress and a significant amount of suffering. His physical body began to betray him. He had chest pains and palpitations to the point where he thought he was suffering a heart attack. He developed insomnia and found it hard to complete simple tasks at work.

Now I believe deeply that as we navigate this road of life we are always trying to find companions, other men and women who have been through what we're going through or what we're about to go through. I believe that you can find good people in churches, and mosques and synagogues .

Some people say, "its hypocrites that populate the pews of those places." But where can we ever go to find perfect people acting perfectly? Nowhere, that's where! A relationship can only thrive if we bring real emotions, real feelings, real intentions and real goals into it.

There will be many things in life we won't have answers to when we go through them. The proposition Thurber posed is definately the best one we can ever pose......."It is better to ask some of the questions than to KNOW all of the answers."

Sorting Out Your Spiritual Season

2009-05-27T12:12:00.000-07:00

I am firmly convinced that we are spiritual people. Our hearts lead us in directions sometimes that our minds find unimaginable. Our minds strive to convince us of all that is rational and all that can be proved by our other senses. I was reading some stories from a little book called, Charleston's Ghosts. The book went into great detail about some of the ghost stories told in the town of Charleston, South Carolina. I remembered visiting there for vacation and thinking about how the trees seemed to sway in the breezes differently than I had experienced in any other place. Certainly there was more going on in Charleston than met the eye!

We live in an age where spiritual people sometimes feel pushed out to the fringes of existence. Yet, we can celebrate the ways that our hearts and souls do speak. Our hearts and souls do push us every now and then to become the best people we can become. Pehaps that is because we serve a God of infinite possibility.

The writer of Ecclesiastes wrote in the 3rd chapter of the Holy Bible that for everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under the sun. Sometimes we want to rush the season we find oursleves in. Sometimes we want different seasons to overlap. When we pray we're not satisfied unless our prayer answering season overlaps with our prayer asking season. We want instant answers from a God of infinite possibility. Sometimes we would be wise to recognize what that writer wrote who wrote, "God gives us people in our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. " Some friendships are meant to last for a season. The same can be said for some romances. As much as we might want them for a lifetime those realtionships may only have temporary, seasonal lasting power. The question then becomes: Are you sorting out your spiritual season, right now? Do you really see or feel where you may be rushing things along or hoping for outcomes when you should be striving to fully experience the blessing you find yourself in right now. What season is it for you? Sort it out. For there is a blessing in the sorting and figuring out also. There is a blessing in THIS SEASON FOR YOU RIGHT NOW!

Moving in Mellow Thanks for Mighty Mothers

2009-05-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

Once a year has never been enough to show our appreciation to the mighty, loving and committed mothers that move us to action in our lives. As I thought about that first miracle repored by St. John in the 2nd chapter of John, verses 1-5 (NRSV Bible), I couldn't help but think about the ways my own mother and so many other mothers have moved us to action going all the way back to Jesus' mother Mary. Hard times were due to define the marvelous wedding feast in a little village called, Cana, in Galilee. But Mary, mother of Jesus, would not have it! She stood her ground and did three things that marvelous, mighty mothers have continued doing well over the ages. The first thing she did was she anointed and appointed her son Jesus to get started with His earthly mission. Yes, Jesus was sent to do God's work here on earth but I'm sure Jesus would have preferred to get started AFTER he gathered his whole 12 disciples. Mary saw the wine was running out at the wedding and knew what her son Jesus could do. Mary blessed Jesus to get to work. Have you ever felt the gentle nudge of your mother pushing you to get to work? I have. The second thing mother Mary did was she let Jesus know that sometimes miracle making is not just about supernatural things, only. Sometimes letting the supernatural things serve practical purposes is really what matters most. Didn't your Mama ever insist that you think practically? Mine did. Thirdly and finally, mother Mary did something that Mamas over the ages have been known for! She made sure it was her child, her adult child here with Jesus, was going to come, reach out and help. Mother Mary knew that we can't have a faith or a gift that we don't use. You don't have to be the greatest theologian on earth to recognize that there is wisdom in using ALL THE GIFTS GOD GAVE YOU! And that earthly axiom is true about using your faith and your gifts. If you don't use them, you'll lose them. I hope everyone who reads this blog found a special mother or two to celebrate for Mother's Day, 2009. But more importantly I hope we will take all the good feelings we feel for mothers into the rest of our moments, days, weeks and years ahead. Keep moving in your mellow thanks for mighty mothers TODAY!

Living the "Abundant Life! RIGHT NOW!"

2009-05-07T13:01:00.000-07:00

If you've heard the biblical injunction that Jesus came so that we can have life and have it, "more abundantly" then you know this abundant life isn't about material things, only. It's also about the people we hang out with and the choices we make. Some clues to living the abundant life were in the words of an anonymous poet who penned the piece, "Choose to......" And when I saw it I knew I had to share it. May it nourish your spirit. Here it is:

Choose to love RATHER THAN to hate
Choose to laugh RATHER THAN to cry
Choose to create RATHER THAN to destroy
Choose to persevere RATHER THAN to quit
Choose to build up RATHER THAN to tear down
Choose to prasie RATHER THAN to gossip
Choose to heal RATHER THAN to wound
Choose to give RATHER THAN to take
Choose to act RATHER THAN to procrastinate
Choose to grow RATHER THAN to rot
Choose to pray RATHER THAN to curse
Choose to light a lamp RATHER THAN to snuff one out
Choose to LIVE RATHER THAN TO DIE!!!!!

Surely, these times we're living in are tough! And disappointment may feel like its close at hand. But be encouraged today......as you choose well! Choose to live life abundantly!

Real Moments for Lovers and Cupid's Spell

2009-02-11T09:10:00.000-08:00

Real Moments for Lovers is one of the great books by Dr. Barbara DeAngelis. She suggests in that book that, "your relationship should be a place you often retreat to, not a place to run from." This is something I try to get across to the couples all the time. In the kind of tough economic times we find ourselves living through 'retreats' and time away is surely getting lost behind job stress. If we are working we find ourselves routinely trying to handle the jobs of two, three or more people. If we are not working we are struggling to make ends meet and with the feeling that we have little to bring to our relationship. I want to encourage you to think about that special person in your life this coming weekend. Give in to "cupid's spell." Let the love bug bite. Spend some intimacy time with that special person in your life and try to stop retreating to the 'man cave,' guys. And ladies stop retreating to your quiet pursuits away from your mate, like reading, meditating or whatever takes you away from the one you love. Valentine's day is what you make it. Make it a great one this year!

Longing for More USA Love

2008-07-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

The syndicated columnist and MSNBC political contributor Eugene Robinson did an outstanding job raising the issue of "black patriotism" in an Independence Day weekend column. He went through naming the contributions of African American soldiers of different eras stretching back to Cripus Attucks' death during the Boston Massacre. He used the evidence of his father's service to this country in the military to fortify his argument that folks need to try and understand the patriotism of Senator Barack Obama in spite of whatever reservations folks might hold. I appreciated Robinson's contention, "the fact that African American patriotism is never simple doesn't mean it's in any way half hearted; to the contrary, complicated relationships tend to be the deepest and strongest." Of course, Mr. Robinson is right. As his contention began to flow into my psyche I thought about my own feelings watching the Olympic games, following American politics and local issues in the various places I've lived including, Chicago Illinois, Chattanooga Tennessee, Miami Florida, Sarasota Florida and Denver Colorado. I've always hoped that African American "heros" and "sheros" in every facet of American life would be lifted up and honored and loved because of the skills they've shown and the contributions they've made. I've also hoped for the love to flow because of the people these individuals are too. My heart swelled with pride thinking of the achievement of the Williams sisters at Wimbeldon during Independence Day weekend. As an older sibling I loved that Venus Williams went on and beat Serena in the tournament. Their achievement was an American one in a year when no American males made the finals at Wimbeldon. What kinds of feelings did you have knowing that two African American women played in the finals at Wimbeldon and won the doubles there too? Isn't there room for more USA love being shown to achievers in athletics, politics, government, business, religion and community advocacy who are achievers who just happen to be African American? I think there is room for more love....What do you think? Post it....and let me know! And keep the USA love flowing!

We're Built to Persevere!

2008-07-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

The great heavy weight fighter Muhammad Ali once said, "I hated every minute of training, but I said, don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion." Life can deal us some knock out blows. Goodness knows life will stretch us at times and we've got to look around for mentors, support and positive affirmations. In spite of hard times I believe our Creator has built us to persevere. I have seen the courage to persevere in hospital rooms, in assisted living homes and in places where I least expected it. Every time you're tempted to give up, give in or give out try to remind yourself again that we're built to persevere. God has built us and made us stronger so we not only will face battles but win them too. I remember training for my high school swim team, track team and baseball team. Training always took place behind the scenes where people couldn't hear me straining and stressing to stretch and work out. But I wouldn't have won one race, or achieved anything significant in my life without deciding to go on and do the hard part even when folks couldn't see me doing it. Remember that you too are built to persevere!