The size of change

  • Post author:
  • Reading time:2 mins read

There is a constant in life that looms alongside other things that remain.

All is flux, is how one person describes this constant.

Of course, when I was younger, flux was used to solder metals together.  It was not the solder.  The flux went with the solder and made the weld strong by cleaning out and preparing the place where the joint would fit.

I suppose change is that flux.  You can put your foot in a stream and think you know all about the water.  But in a moment’s time, new water passes by, the stream may overflow and a new path be formed. 

A few years ago I put this poster on the side of a filing cabinet.

Blessed are the flexible for they will not be bent out of shape.

I suppose that was a reminder to me.  I am one who likes to have things in place.  As my mother used to say, “A place for everything and everything in its place.”

Following that advice is very helpful, but every once in a while things shift and your plans fall off the shelf.  And we are left to pick things up, perhaps rearrange them differently, and joyfully view a new sight.

Last night I was asked to rearrange a schedule that I thought was set in place.  The new schedule is helpful to others (and probably to myself) – while possible for me to accommodate.  And so, looking at the change, I can decide to be bent out of shape or be flexible. 

I’m going to chose to be flexible!!

Crying Out

  • Post author:
  • Reading time:2 mins read

The sermon I preached yesterday morning was on Psalm 126.  Crying out.

As the afternoon progressed into evening, I was seeking to understand a bit of what that means. 

I continue to hear people wonder about my grieving process after my first wife’s death almost two years ago.  I am crying out to God to help me understand.  I have a peace that I don’t understand.  At the same time I look at others who were friends and relatives of Jill.  Some are still stuck.

One relied heavily on Jill.  They still despair at times – I am crying out that they would find new friends.  Another has seemingly lost contact with me – I am crying out that our friendship would be rekindled.  Another is still working through my remarriage – I am crying out that a warmth of relationship would return.

And for myself – I spent part of the weekend in reminiscence.  I must admit that every day things remind me of my first wife.  The heaviness of those remembrances has almost disappeared.  Now there is more joy and desire to move into the future.  I cry out for understanding – in no small part so that I can comfort others.

Not how I had imagined applying my sermon a week ago!

Writing a sermon

  • Post author:
  • Reading time:2 mins read

As I awoke early this morning, I was in a “get going” state of mind.  Throughout the week I had been working on a sermon.  I just needed to take some concentrated time to write it.

So from 6:00 – 9:00 I sat down. 

In a desire to remain concentrated, I didn’t look at my emails, check the clock or stray into other areas of thought. 

I loved it.  The sermon starter came easily.  And then the body of the sermon just followed, with a conclusion that will lead into our final song of the morning.

And just because I was having so much fun, here’s a thought from my sermon.

I have been an outdoor camper since I was a child and our parents whisked us across this country in a tent. 

I have found that there are three types of campers.  One just passes through – lightly touching down on the campsite overnight.  Other campers come for a few days with activities and things to do in mind.  And other campers come for the scenery. 

Most of us who have camped for some time, have experienced all three approaches!

I think Bible reading is the same.  The daily Bible reading schedules are a good way to get an overview of the country of the Bible.  The activity times of examining themes and systematic outlines let us pull together a picture of God in bite size chunks.  And, just camping on a short passage lets us spend time looking at the scenery of who God is in ways that we would otherwise miss.

Use all three approaches to Bible reading and you will be better for it!

Rethinking

  • Post author:
  • Reading time:1 mins read

The raised eyebrows did it.  Of course, pointing out that the eyebrows were raised didn’t hurt either.

I had just answered a question with a straightforward “no.”  The other person, without asking but just raising the eyebrows, wondered where that had come from. 

I proceeded to give a variety of reasons.  All of which I thought were very straightforward as well. 

Until the evening wore on and I contemplated what I had said. 

Was I being fair?  Was my answer merely one of emotion?  Was I looking back on the past and coloring the future with that brush?  What would it look like to consider how Jesus would have answered? 

By the end of the evening, I was ready to rethink my answer.  I realize that the answer may not change.  That is not the question – or the answer.  The answer is in being willing to be wrong, to own up to that, and to change.

Not an easy road.  But no one ever said the road would be easy.