“Thank You Very Gracias!

Thanks to Pastor Alfonso the title of this blog has become a common phrase at Grandview Park Presbyterian Church. When he’s feeling really grateful he throws in a “maltiosh” (Maya Quiche for “Thank you!”). Along with Pastor Alfonso we have begun to live these words daily.

“A life in thankfulness releases the glory of God.” ~ Bengt Sundberg

For 48 consecutive weeks we have practiced shared gratitude with our e-mail list called Gimme Five/Dame Cinco. Every Wednesday for 11 months we have shared 5 things for which we are grateful. In the beginning there were about 25 people on our list. Now we have 65. In 48 weeks we have shared over 3200 expressions of gratitude. This shared gratitude has lifted my spirit on many occasions. Each Wednesday I try and stay close to my computer so that I can see what others are thankful for. I’m reminded of Paul’s words, "Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God." (Philippians 1:3)

Dr. Robert Emmons has found through research that when people write down things they are thankful for their happiness increases by 25%. People who participated in this study felt fully 25% happier - they were more optimistic about the future, they felt better about their lives and they even did almost 1.5 hours more exercise a week. Pastor Terry grabbed hold of this the third week of Gimme Cinco. He noted, "By end of day, were it not for this discipline, I would literally ignore, not notice, bypass and forget key people who absolutely paved the way for the path(s) I took in that one day. And by morning, another list emerges: either STILL forgotten from the day prior or ALREADY standing on the road ahead of me, already creating the agenda, the opportunities, the food, the potential for me to move forward with expectancy in the coming hours."

Our practice, I believe is even more beneficial than simply journaling. We share our gratitude. We don’t just write it down and keep it to ourselves. We share it with one another, both the good stuff and the bad. And by sharing we build up one another and we build up our sense of community.

Paul in Ephesians says, “Thanksgiving is our dialect.” (Eph. 5:4). It doesn’t matter whether we say it in Quiche or English or Spanish. When we say “thank you” to God and each other, lives are blessed. So as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday think about how you can share your gratitude. Maybe you didn’t know about the Hump Day Gimme/Dame 5.0 and would like to join the group. All are welcome. The important thing is to practice gratitude daily. The Christian faith begins and ends in gratitude. Faith is a gift. Your life is a gift. Don’t forget to say thanks to the Giver! In the words of Pastor Alfonso, “Thank You Maltiosh Very Gracias!”

Gimme Cinco!
Pastor Rick
(If you would like to join in the Gimme Cinco dialogue just send an email to me at rudyflash@aol.com with Gimme Cinco in the subject line.)

Reassuring Presence

Good Morning Loved Ones,

What has God done for you today?

Psalm 139 (The Message)

^1-6 God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand.
I'm an open book to you;
even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back;
I'm never out of your sight.
You know everything I'm going to say
before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you're there,
then up ahead and you're there, too—
your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful—
I can't take it all in!

I give thanks for a safe and inspiring trip to the Christian Community Development Association conference in Cincinnati. For great messages, music and workshops . . .

I give thanks for my companions on the road -- Pastor Alfonso, Maria, Greg and Ingrid --- for great work yet to be accomplished in our neighborhood and community.

I give thanks for David who stepped forward to contribute even more to the anniversary lunch bill at the church. David's smile, warmth and generosity of spirit are inspiring.

I give thanks for Sam's fall break. I missed half of it, but I give thanks for every moment I have with him.

I give thanks for Luke's inspiring performance in goal last night. It was the last game of the HS season for him, and he and his team never gave up through very trying circumstances.

Go on ahead --- It's your turn. Gimme cinco, for God's sake!

Pastor Rick
http://gimmecinco.blogspot.com/

Don't Let It Get Away

Good morning, Loved Ones (evening to those up late on Tuesday),

Sharing my 5 on Tuesday night because of a trip early on Wednesday.

^{Psalm 34:11-14 (The Message)
11} Come, children, listen closely;
I'll give you a lesson in God worship.
¹² Who out there has a lust for life?
Can't wait each day to come upon beauty?
¹³ Guard your tongue from profanity,
and no more lying through your teeth.
¹⁴ Turn your back on sin; do something good.
Embrace peace—don't let it get away!

I give thanks for the lesson in worship I received Sunday when we experienced two baptisms and a wedding on the 120 anniversary of the church. Actions do speak louder!

I give thanks for the warm smile and personality of Karina Rivera, one of the newest members of Christ's body.

I give thanks for Karina's brother, Max, the heartbeat of our worship experience and the other newest member of Christ's body.

I give thanks for Everardo and Teresa who made their promises to each other in the presence of the great congregation and before God.

I give thanks that after 120 years new promises are being made on the corner of 17th and Wilson.


I'm waiting . . . Dame cinco, por favor!

Pastor Rick

Permission to Be

Good morning, Loved Ones,

Today a few words from Thomas Merton.

The most wonderful moment of the day is that when creation in its innocence asks permission to "be" once again, as it did on the first morning that ever was.
Here is an unspeakable secret: paradise is all around us and we do not understand.
It is wide open. The sword is taken away, but we do not know it:
we are off "one to his farm and another to his merchandise."
Lights on. Clocks ticking. Thermostats working. Stoves cooking. Electric shavers filling radios with static.
"Wisdom" cries the dawn deacon, but we do not attend.
(Thomas Merton, "A Book of Hours")

Let's attend to the wisdom of gratitude this brand new day.

For sidewalks and quiet streets and a four-legged companion to walk me into this day . . .
For God's permission to "be" once again and to shake off the doubts and dread of night . . .
For the paradise around us that we seldom see or understand . . .
For the radiant face of God in Jesus Christ which obliterates the shadows of our childish, vengeful, angry, sword toting god of punishment . . .
For the Wisdom found in little things . . .

Today I give thanks.

Pastor Rick
http://gimmecinco.blogspot.com/

In Good Hands

Good morning, Loved Ones,

Welcome to Wednesday. Praying that all is well with you and yours today.

Psalm 146:5-10 (The Message)

^3-9 Don't put your life in the hands of experts
who know nothing of life, of salvation life.
Mere humans don't have what it takes;
when they die, their projects die with them.
Instead, get help from the God of Jacob,
put your hope in God and know real blessing!
God made sky and soil,
sea and all the fish in it.
He always does what he says—
he defends the wronged,
he feeds the hungry.
God frees prisoners—
he gives sight to the blind,
he lifts up the fallen.
God loves good people, protects strangers,
takes the side of orphans and widows,
but makes short work of the wicked.
¹⁰ God's in charge—always.
Zion's God is God for good!
Hallelujah!

Today I give thanks . . .

. . . for the pit crews at our two NASCAR booths last weekend. It's hard on the the feet, the knees, the back, the ears and sometimes even the spirit and the soul. But it's a good bonding time and definitely helps fund the ministry of Grandview Park. Thank God for people willing to give their time and energy.

. . . for those two disciples with the repetitive syllable names, DeDe and Gigi, who fueled and organized the pit crews for our NASCAR fund raiser. It takes months to prepare and weeks to recover. Thank God for leaders.

. . . for young people who don't give up even in the face of odds and worldly systems that are stacked against them. For poorly funded and coached urban futbol teams who get sent into the lion's den of suburban soccer mom's and dad's and team's with four coaches and top dollar facilities. I give thanks that God is faithful even in unjust situations and that young people can trust in God even when injustice surrounds them.

. . . for a church and elders and deacons who are ready to receive a new vision after 120 years of service and ministry. Thank God that Grandview Park did not get stuck in any one of those 120 years and is ready to follow Jesus into the next 120 years.

. . . for Bump Haynes and others like him who are facing health challenges and have put their hope in God.

We are in Good Hands (and I'm not talking about Allstate!). Let's share our gratitude that God is in charge.

Pastor Rick
http://gimmecinco.blogspot.com/