Life Worth Living

Good morning, Loved Ones!

Which comes first? Faith or Gratitude? Is faith a prerequisite for gratitude? Or, is it possible, that the discipline or spontaneous experience of gratitude can produce faith? Last night at our Urban Network meeting one of our gimme cinco-ers, Julie Murphy, speaking of our Wednesday morning sharing said, "Sometimes I receive the Gimme Cinco in the morning and I think, 'I don't have time for this.' But, when I stop and take the time, my day is reoriented." (my paraphrase! Thanks Julie!) Faith is fundamentally reorienting our lives. I'm not sure I understand all this, but perhaps the author of Hebrews has a clue.

Hebrews 11 (The Message)

^1-2The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.
³By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, what we see created by what we don't see.

Faith is fueled by gratitude. Gratitude is an act of faith. Let's act out!

Thank you, Lord . . .

. . . for the glimpses of sun over the past few days . . . the promise of warmer, brighter days to come.
. . . for Sam's calls back home, his new family in Tucson and his inspiring pictures of ugly border walls graced with art that speaks against all that the ugly walls represent.
. . . for Luke's newfound auto freedom, his ability to get himself to his commitments without having to wait for Mom, Dad or Grammas to get him.
. . . for the fox trot, the rumba, cha-cha, waltz, tango, salsa and swing and the joy of learning to dance at 50 with a younger woman!
. . . for another morning of Cafe en la Calle, the gifts of many who are hearing of this ministry and sharing coffee, sandwiches, thermos', hot chocolate, granola bars and taquitos.

Fuel your faith today and share your gratitude. Gimme cinco!

Please continue to pray for Haiti and to see other ways to help visit:

http://www.pcusa.org/pda/

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

“...but God was not in the earthquake”

Here is a poem by Gerardo Oberman, translated by Katherine H. Fiegenbaum, written in solidarity with the people of Haiti.
Thanks to Dennis Smith for sharing.

“...but God was not in the earthquake”
(1 Kings 19:11)

The ground shook like a furious animal,
the mountains trembled and the ocean let loose its anger,
the ground opened and all that was built was destroyed,
and a village tired of suffering began to suffer anew.
We saw their faces and heard their cries,
the images shook and beat us,
people wandering about, crushed bodies,
destruction and death, pain and anguish
after the cruel and devastating earthquake.

But God was not in the earthquake...

Children without mothers, mothers without children,
siblings without siblings, friends without friends,
thousands and thousands of lives squashed in seconds,
histories, hopes, dreams, wishes
disappeared in the opening and closing of an eye.
The horror left its indelible mark
in the blank stares, in the desolate faces,
on the dead, on the trapped, on the mutilated,
in each life broken by what was not expected.

But God was not in the earthquake...

Someone shouted in shock, other voices joined in.
Someone offered up a prayer, others followed,
someone sang and many sang,
someone lifted a piece of rubble
and others began to lift the stones,
someone hugged one of the wounded,
and others carried the wounded
someone offered their hand
and thousands of hands were united.

And God was with them.


In solidarity with the people of Haiti.
Gerardo Oberman
Castelar, January 13, 2010
Engl. Translation: Katherine H. Fiegenbaum

“…pero Dios tampoco estaba en el terremoto.”

Here is a poem shared in solidarity with the people of Haiti written by Gerardo Oberman.

“…pero Dios tampoco estaba en el terremoto.”
(1º Reyes 19:11)

La tierra se sacudió como animal furioso,
temblaron los montes y el mar desató su enojo,
los suelos se abrieron y lo construido fue destruido,
y un pueblo cansado de sufrir vuelve a sufrir.
Vimos sus rostros y oímos sus llantos,
las imágenes estremecían y golpeaban,
personas deambulando, cuerpos aplastados,
destrucción y muerte, dolor y angustia,
tras el terremoto cruel y devastador.

Pero Dios no estaba en el terremoto…

Hijos sin madres, madres sin hijos,
hermanos sin hermanos, amigos sin amigos,
miles y miles de vidas aplastadas en segundos,
historias, esperanzas, sueños, ilusiones
qiue desaparecieron en un abrir y cerrar de ojos.
El horror dejó su marca indeleble
en las miradas perdidas, en las caras desoladas,
en los muertos, en los atrapados, en los mutilados,
en cada vida quebrada por lo no esperado.

Pero Dios no estaba en el terremoto…

Alguien gritó su espanto, otras voces se unieron.
alguien elevó una plegaria, otras siguieron,
alguien cantó y muchos cantaron,
alguien levantó una escombro
y otros más comenzaron a levantar las piedras,
alguien abrazó a un herido
y otros más los cargaron en brazos,
alguien tendió su mano
y miles de manos se unieron.

Y Dios estaba entre ellos.




En solidaridad con el pueblo haitiano

Gerardo Oberman
Castelar, 13 de enero de 2010

Close to Your Heart

Good morning, Loved Ones,

As we stumble through the fog and rain this morning here in Kansas City we are once again praying for the people of Haiti who have experienced another earthquake. Below is a prayer produced by leaders of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

We pray for Haiti

God of compassion
please watch over the people of Haiti,
and weave out of these terrible happenings
wonders of goodness and grace.
Surround those who have been affected by tragedy
with a sense of your present love,
and hold them in faith.
Though they are lost in grief,
may they find you and be comforted.
Guide us as a church
to find ways of providing assistance
that heal wounds and provide hope.
Help us to remember that when one of your children suffers
we all suffer;
through Jesus Christ who was dead, but lives

and rules this world with you. Amen.

— Bruce Reyes-Chow, Gradye Parsons and Linda Valentine

If you are looking for ways to help and haven't found a way yet, please visit -

http://www.pcusa.org/pda/response/latinamerica/haiti-index.htm

There you can find updates about the Presbyterian Church's efforts to help.

Today I give thanks for a warm bowl of oatmeal.

. . . for a patient and friendly companion dog who accompanied me to the airport this morning and comforted me while Sam is winging his way to Tucson.

. . . for Greg Take who filled in for Randy with the youth last night and for Randy who, though he was far away working in Garden City, called and ordered pizza for the youth to share.

. . . for new friends in Conception, Mo who are embarking on a great Public Square community building venture with the hopeful participation of young people.

. . . for new ballroom dance classes that my partner-for-life and I are taking on Wednesday nights.

. . . for my friend Roger Harrison from Leavenworth who heard about Cafe en la Calle and has begun to donate warm clothes to share.

. . . for more good news for Wyandotte County and soccer fans about a new stadium for the Wizards and 4000 new jobs for the area.

Keep the people of Haiti close to your heart in prayer and find some way to help.

Gimme Cinco,
Pastor Rick
http://gimmecinco.blogspot.com/

Great Hands of Light

Good morning, Loved Ones,

Last week, my friend, George Pasley, pastor in Ketchikan, Alaska, sent me this poem by Mary Oliver. It's a great message for epiphany, for the dark days of winter, for the dark days of our souls.

WHY I WAKE EARLY
By Mary Oliver
Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who wake the morning
And spread it over the fields
And into the faces of the tulips
And the nodding morning glories,
And into the windows of, even, the
Miserable and the crotchety-

Best preacher that ever was,
Dear star, that just happens
To be where you are in the universe
To keep us from ever-darkness,
To ease us with warm touching,
To hold us in the great hands of light-
Good morning, good morning, good morning.

Watch, now, how I start the day
In happiness, in kindness.

* * * * * * *

To the Great Hands of Light I say thank you for . . .

. . . Randy Lopez, who in the midst of great tragedy and the loss of his dear grandfather, came to youth group last night and led the youth in an energetic discussion of discipleship. Randy lived his message last night. Thanks be to God!

. . . Pastor Terry, who serves as a pastor to this pastor and many more. Thanks be to God for ears that hear and good counsel!

. . . Sam, who is heading to Tucson to study border issues and serve in a day labor center at Southside Presbyterian Church. Thanks be to God for opportunities to learn, grow and serve!

. . . Jean Parrett who stands ready at a moment's notice to come to the church and share the Deacon's Compassion Fund resources with those who are about to have their electricity or heat shut off, who are about to be evicted, who are lacking food and hope. Thanks be to God for faithful servants and willing workers!

. . . Max, Karina, Diosselyn, David, Sam, Greg, Telma and Pastor Alfonso who distributed warm sandwiches, coffee and hot chocolate to the day laborers early this morning and for DeDe who scored some tasty sausage, egg, cheese and biscuit sandwiches from Harvesters for us to share. Thanks be to God for a day started in happiness and kindness.

Please remember today to pray for the people of Haiti. Look for ways we can help bring light to those who are suffering today.

Keep praying and sharing and gimme cinco!

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

Aha!

Good Morning, Loved Ones,

Our scripture for today is the first few verses of Isaiah 60

"Get out of bed, Jerusalem! Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight.
God's bright glory has risen for you.
The whole earth is wrapped in darkness,
all people sunk in deep darkness,
But God rises on you,
his sunrise glory breaks over you." (The Message)

Today is Epiphany. The day of Tres Reyes, the biblical foreshadowing of the Good News being shared with the whole world. The Magi carried the Good News beyond Jerusalem even before Peter and Paul.

An epiphany is an "aha!" moment, a moment of revelation when the cartoon light bulb over your head switches on. God's sunrise glory breaks over us. Let's give thanks

I give thanks for Pastor Alfonso's synergy message last week and when he giggled and laughed in the pulpit. Aha-ha-ha!

I give thanks for Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver whom we visited Tuesday morning to try and convince him to co-sponsor the new immigration reform bill, only to find that he had already done it! Aha-ha-ha!

I give thanks for Luke's joy last night in hearing that school was canceled for today. Aha-ha-ha!

I give thanks for another day of Cafe en la Calle. Surprised by the familiar faces who now smile when they see us and say they were worried we might not be coming because of the cold. Aha-ha-ha!

I give thanks for my doc, Ted, who at my physical on Monday gave me a cane with a horn, a rear-view mirror and a slow moving person sign on it to commemorate my 50th year. Aha-ha-ha!

Even if you are snowed in and froze up, "God rises on you" Give thanks!

Pastor Rick

http://gimmecinco.blogspot.com/