Just a quick note

Nancy and I will blessed with the receiving of a cd done by Spirit Wave which is a gospel group from Auburn United Methodist Church. We have known the members of the group every since we joined the church down in Auburn prior to my going into ministry. The group are quite talented and I greatly enjoy their music. They even came to Springfield to sing.
What makes this CD even more exciting is that Nancy did the art work on the cover of the album and the CD. It is great to continue to be part of the group's work. I would invite those who might be interested to come and listen to them.

Wednesday December 9th

We survived another snow storm. We received about 8-9" and with the wind had a four foot drift in the middle of our driveway. With that drift and the one made by the street by the plows, there was a part of me wondering if I would not have to get out until the next thaw. All I have is a snow shovel and a small electric snow blower that certainly is a help but with those drifts nearly impossible to use. As I was using the small snow blower having to lift and use it like a shovel someone drove by with a plow on their pickup. He and his wife turned around and plowed out the driveway. I did not know them and when I asked if I could do anything for them all they said was "that is what neighbors are for." Indeed that is what it means to be a neighbor to do something for someone that you don't know and not expect anything in return. I guess that is why it is important to thank those who help you and to pass it forward to someone else.

What made this more meaningful for me, was that I was reading for our Advent study about there was no room for them at the inn Luke 2:7b. The author was talking about that the very first villain in the New Testament was the inn keeper. Where I don't necessarily agree with that, I do think about how important it is to be willing to receive others in our lives. Also it is important to be open to those who are often alone, rejected, depressed, anxious, hungry, and seeking something to make sense of their lives. We can be like this neighbor who is unknown but like the good Samaritan or we can be like the inn keeper keeping people out. I certainly saw the work of God in this neighbor's act. I pray that I can do the same for someone else.

Advent study

Yesterday was the first of our Advent studies. We began by looking at this time as a time like preparing for a Christmas pageant. Last night was looking at the prophets and the backdrop for setting the stage. We looked at four different aspects of this background. They included preparation, promise, peace, and messenger. As we discussed what Advent was we focused on the season as we come to Christmas.

We discussed ways that we have to prepare ourselves for this season. In many ways and in many traditions, we found that when we spent time to reflect we were aware of the traditions that speak to the birth of our Savior. We also have some traditions that may not point to the coming of our Lord. As one member stated it was a time of life versus life. That is what is it that we choose to focus on this worldly life or the life that we find when we receive Jesus and the life he offers.

The question remains as to what are we preparing for, what promises do we trust, where do we find peace in our lives, and where do we look for God's messengers today? I believe it is important that we spend some of our time and effort to remember what God has done and what God is doing and what God will do. Let this Advent time be a time for all of us in preparing not only for the Holy day but also in the anticipation of God's promise fulfilled.

Wednesday Advent meditation

As I prepare for the Wednesday communion services, I have been reading and meditating on a variety of devotionals. There are two in particular that have struck me. One I picked up at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church titled 5 minutes in the Word. I have found that to be very insightful in a variety of ways. I also picked an Advent devotional based on some of the writings of my favorite author Henri Nouwen. The devotional is titled Advent and Christmas. Each day of Advent has a scripture, a word of wisdom from the works of Henri Nouwen, a prayer and ends with something to add to each day for preparation for Christmas. I have taken some of the ideas that the writer puts, Judith Baeur, and want to share some of those insights. I would recommend the book printed by A Redemptorist Pastoral Publication which I picked up at Soul Desires in Omaha. Here is what I will be sharing for this week at the communion event. I will be expanding on some of these and this only takes some ideas from the book and others.

Advent Week one preparations

1. Each day look for one small sign that God is present in your daily life. Give thanks for His presence.
2. Prepare the way of the Lord by making proposed contributions of service or positive changes in your own spiritual life. Though don’t plan too precisely leave some room for God’s input.
3. Jesus went out to deserted places to pray. Look at times in your life that you have been active and times when you have had solitude. Note how you felt in both situations. This Advent make sure that there is a balance between the two.
4. Find a scriptural motto and hold the words close in your heart every day.

Thanksgiving eve eve

Tonight is the eve of eve of Thanksgiving. I am not sure about anyone else but it seems that as we approach the family holidays the days become more hectic and at times more chaotic. Not only planning for family gatherings but for me it is doing a homily for an ecumenical service tomorrow, planning for my sermon on Sunday which is the first Sunday of Advent, a baptism, and babysitting my three grand daughters. Seems to be a busy time. The weather also has not helped with cloudy misty days.

I am going to talk tomorrow on worry and anxiety from the scripture in Matthew 6:25-34. With all that is going on in the world and in our community with the economic issues, health issues, and war issues, it seems important to think about what it is that we worry so much about. Maybe we need to spend more time thanking God for what we have and sharing that then thinking about all the problems that exist. I know that as I work on the homily, I will be thinking about how much we spend our time and energy worrying about things that often we have no control over. Think about the serenity prayer. We need to address the problems that our society faces and at the same time we need to remember that we are called to lift up ourselves to our Savior. So in this Thanksgiving time spend a few moments not worrying about tomorrow but thanking God for the gift of life, the gift of grace, and the gift of mercy that He has bestowed on you and I.

Have a wondrous Thanksgiving and enjoy the company of those around you.
Eldon

Saturday afternoon

It has been quite a while since I have taken the time to write anything. As we approach the time of year that we remember Advent and Christmas, I thought that I would spend some time reflecting on this season. Already many people have put up their lights and decorations. Stores have put all their Christmas displays up and pre-black Friday sales are on-going.

It is easy for one to get so caught up in the hectic time that one forgets about spending time reflecting on what this season is all about. I know that I will be preaching this Sunday on Christ the King. This Sunday is the last Sunday of the Christian year. The year begins with Advent where we await not the birth but the return of Jesus. So often Advent becomes compressed to maybe one or two Sundays and then everyone wants to sing Christmas Carols and put out the manger scene. The second season of the year is Christmas and Epiphany. This is the time that we remember Jesus and spend time with Jesus as he grows in his ministry. Lent and Easter time are another season when we remember the sacrifice that Christ made for us. Pentecost and Kingdom time speak to the church. It all ends with the remembering that all seasons of the year and of our lives is found in Christ. Our submission to Christ makes it possible to enjoy and at times endure the seasons of our lives.

On our marquee at the church, the sign states, "We don't change the message, the message changes us." I believe it is so important in a world seeking constant change often for change sake that we remember that in Christ and in God there is a constant message to us that never changes. How we receive can change but not so much that change becomes the end. It can only be the means to the message that all things are possible and come from the Will of God.

For me, I need to keep myself in the word so that I stay connected in my relationship with God. The more that I do that the more I am able to enjoy the seasons of my life.

Tuesday musings

Ever wonder how much control we have over our lives. Ever feel that somehow things are getting away from you and you spend so much time trying to find just the right thing to do or the right program or book to read that will provide all the answers. I was able to have the awesome time last week preparing for two funerals of two wonderful women, one was 102 and the other 90. As I talked to the families about their memories of their mother, grandmother, great grandmother and even great-great grandmother, I got to thinking about all they had witnessed in their lives. The eldest from the turn of the century to the turn of the century. They had survived wars, the Great Depression, and the rise of technology.

The youngest of the two I had the fortune of knowing her. She never let her age, her physical condition ever hinder her in what she was willing to do. She even went para-sailing at the age of 75. She was able to live her life fully. She never seemed to spend time worrying about what she could not do but was always flowing with what she could do.

I know that when I am at the age, if I am so lucky, I want to have the same attitude as she did. I believe that you don't find that in a book, a program, or the latest self-help fad. I believe it comes from a foundation of faith and a willingness to let God be God. I sometimes feel the same about church. As we prepare ourselves for our church conference, I would like to have us remember that no matter what we attempt to do, our first priority should be seeking God's Will.

So let go and let God. Remember the serenity prayer and resolve to change the things you can, accept the things that you cannot change, and have the wisdom to know the difference.