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I’m working on a sermon for Sunday.  Continuing in the Biblical book of James.  A book strong in action. 

The third chapter talks of the tongue and it’s ability to harm or help.  Then the statements go into a discussion of wisdom.

I remember that the original writings had no paragraphs.  They were just strung together.  You needed to figure out the flow of the content yourself.

Unfortunately some times the contemporary paragraph breaks throw off that flow.  In James 3 the tongue is discussed, then wisdom.  As though they were two separate thoughts.  But, perhaps not.  Perhaps the way to get past wise cracks that are silly is to come to a deeper understanding of wisdom that changes the heart, so that from the inside the tongue speaks.

Well, at least that’s the start of the sermon.  We’ll see what evolves by Sunday!!

Actually, this Sunday appears to be one of rest.  I hate to say it, but often a pastor’s Sunday is less than restful.  We seek out other days in the week to rest.  And we wish our Sunday’s could be restful.

Not that the day needs to be without responsibility.  But rather, that the day would have a sense of peace and unhurriedness.  Some days this happens, others I feel frazzled and frantic. 

Perhaps it was visiting with my native Alliance Christian friends (they live in a much more lenient sense of time).  Whatever prompted the day, I took it slow and tried not to be overcome with worry or concern.  The tasks were actually more than usual, but the enjoyment was on a whole different level. 

Perhaps I’m also sensing a greater sense of God-sufficiency instead of self-sufficiency.  In other words, God’s making it clear that I can’t fix things or make things happen.  A good reminder, so that all I need to do is rest in what God is doing.

Perhaps there are other things, but for the moment I’m just enjoying the day — and the analysis will follow.

God be thanked. 

We’re back!  Prince Albert was raining, the road back was wind-whipped, and now we are preparing for an evening’s rest.  It’s all good!

Well, we made it to Prince Albert by 3:00.  The church where we are renovating was open and supplies were just being delivered.  By 6:00 we had things cleaned up and some junk removed to the dump. 

Part of the fun is ripping out walls and imagining what needs to be done.  After supper we actually got to building a wall.  We thought we had it figured but were out a little bit — nothing we can’t fix but after all that measuring . . . And I had set it up to have studs going one way instead of the other.  Again, it can all work, which is the fun of renovating.  Sometimes innovation is the word of the day.

And so, Saturday we are off to “innovate” some more.  Oh yes, we do have plans, but there is a bit of “squeeze” room to make things work.  Or should I say “hammer” room.  Sometimes a bit of persuasion does amazing things!!