Buckets of Salvation

Good Monday, Loved Ones,

Your gratitude offering comes early this week. I'll be out of town until Thursday night and am disconnecting from cyberspace. So, please respond this week when you can.
Our inspiration this week comes from Isaiah.

Isaiah 12:2-6 (The Message)

²"Yes, indeed—God is my salvation.
I trust, I won't be afraid.
God—yes God!—is my strength and song,
best of all, my salvation!"

^3-4Joyfully you'll pull up buckets of water
from the wells of salvation.
And as you do it, you'll say,
"Give thanks to God.
Call out his name.
Ask him anything!
Shout to the nations, tell them what he's done,
spread the news of his great reputation!

^5-6"Sing praise-songs to God. He's done it all!
Let the whole earth know what he's done!
Raise the roof! Sing your hearts out, O Zion!
The Greatest lives among you: The Holy of Israel."

Today I raise the roof because . . .

. . . Kent Parrett took time and used his skills to produce a stained glass nativity scene for the front of the church. Can't wait to see it during the candlelight service.

. . . Javier Ruiz has agreed to fill in and coach Los Tiburones Tuesday evening weather permitting. Baby it's cold outside!

. . . Jim and Carolyn Mallinson, with dogs in tow, escaped a deadly, devastating fire at their home outside Sedalia Friday night. They lost everything but the clothes on their backs. Please keep them in your prayers.

. . . Bump Haynes continues to receive good reports in his health struggles. Keep praying.

. . . Alexander Jeffrey Dean's surgery was successful and he has begun the long and challenging process of healing and rehabilitation. Keep him and his mom, Amy, and dad, Greg, in your prayers.

. . . good folks at United Access handicapped equipment rented us a van at 1/2 price to get Alex home from the hospital on Friday. This would have been a very difficult task without the van's special equipment. Their generosity and compassion made the move a breeze.

OK, I pulled up one extra bucket of salvation water. What do you have the strength to pull up from your wells of salvation this week. Let's raise the roof with our heartfelt gratitude.

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

Inadequate Thanksgiving

Good morning, Loved Ones,

Here's praying that this season of Advent finds you with your heads up, standing tall and paying attention. Live into hope!
Today's scripture for your reflection:

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 (The Message)

^9-10What would be an adequate thanksgiving to offer God for all the joy we experience before him because of you? We do what we can, praying away, night and day, asking for the bonus of seeing your faces again and doing what we can to help when your faith falters.

^11-13May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers.

Today I give thanks for . . .

. . . Alexander Jeffery Dean, our nephew, who today is undergoing an extensive surgery on his legs. He's a brave trooper. Please pray for him today and for his mom, Amy, and dad, Greg.

. . . Pastor Alfonso Tot, my partner in ministry, for his steadfast commitment to building a community of faith, justice, peace and hope. His head is up, he stands tall and he pays attention while struggling with the incredible challenge of Parkinson's. Keep him in your prayers every day. I know you are in his.

. . . Sam, my son, who has chosen to spend his next semester in a border studies program rather than an exotic semester in Argentine. He'll be studying immigration issues and working with justice ministries and programs along the border. Keep him in your prayers.

. . . Lucas, my son, who has chosen the difficult IB studies program and continues to be committed to the life of his church and his music, soccer and swimming. He is growing into a fine young man. Please pray for Lucas.

. . . the ministries of Grandview Park Presbyterian Church, the justice work of IJAM (Immigrant Justice Advocacy Movement) and the neighborhood development work of AQUI (Affiliated Quality Urban Initiatives). All of this work is about the love of God filling our lives and splashing over on everyone around us. Pray for these efforts.

We are full of hope and the thanksgiving we share is insufficient for all the blessings we experience daily.

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

Today we welcome Ingrid and Maria to our sharing of gratitude.

“Pointed Toward the Sun”

Luke 21:25-36
November 29, 2009

Heads up.
Stand tall.
Pay attention.
These are the three points of my sermon today.
Shall we call it a message and head toward lunch?

This is the first Sunday of the Advent season.
The Advent season is a time of waiting and hoping.
It’s the first Sunday of the church year.
And what does the scripture describe this beginning Sunday?
The End.
The End, which in reality is a new beginning.

Have I got you totally confused yet?
Well, don’t be.
It’s very simple.
Heads up!
Stand tall!
Pay attention!

In this scripture today, Jesus wants us to be ready.
The world is a tumultuous place.
Tomorrow is always a question mark.
But when faced with the question of tomorrow Jesus says . . .
Heads up.
Stand tall.
Pay attention.

Apocalyptic movies are big these days.
2012, The Road, The Mist, The Happening, I Am Legend, Zombie Movies abound.
This passage from Luke’s gospel would be a great start for a screenplay.
“It will seem like all hell has broken loose sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking.” (Luke 21:2-5-26, The Message)

For 2000 years people have believed this was their story.
Wars, rumors of wars, plagues, hurricanes, financial meltdowns . . .
All lead us to believe that this must be it . . .
. . . the beginning of the end.

When Luke wrote this gospel the temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed.
It seemed the beginning of the end.
When Rome was sacked it seemed like the beginning of the end.
When the Black Death hit Europe it seemed like the beginning of the end.
When the planes hit the twin towers it seemed like the beginning of the end.

When these things happens, Jesus says . . .
Heads up!
Stand tall!
Pay attention!

Keep your heads up!
Don’t stop looking up just because bad things are happening.
Don’t start walking around with your head down, fearful that the next axe will fall on you (even though it might).
Be optimistic because you have reason to be optimistic.
Why?
You can be optimistic in all circumstances because you know the end of the story is the beginning of the story.
Keep your head up.

Stand tall.
Stand tall in the face of trouble and persecution.
Don’t let the intimidation and fear that comes with bad events stop you from doing what is right.
Stand up for justice, for peace, for reconciliation and hope when others are acting out of fear and retribution.
Stand tall.

Pay attention.
Don’t get caught napping.
Don’t let your faith get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. (The Message)
Keep your eyes open to what needs to be done while others are at Macys.
Pay attention.

Little apocalypses can happen in our lives day to day.
The wind can get knocked out of our lives so quickly.
We can't say what will happen tomorrow.
At any moment our world could come crashing down around us.
Yes, the world get s turned upside down for someone every single day—
. . . the death of a child or parent or spouse,
. . . a divorce
. . . a pink slip,
. . . a few little words from a doctor,
. . . a visit from Immigration Customs Enforcement.
The time will come when things like this will happen to you and to me.
How will we respond?

Nelson Mandela spent 27 years of his life in prison.
He spent that time in prison because he was committed to justice, hope & reconciliation.
During the worst years of South Africa’s reign of apartheid evil, Mandela was in prison.
He endured and came out of prison to lead the country toward reconciliation.
These are his words:
“I have found that one can bear the unbearable if one can keep spirits strong even when the body is being tested. Strong convictions are the secret of surviving deprivation. Your spirit can be full even when your stomach is empty. I always knew that some day I would once again feel the grass under my feet and walk in the sunshine as a free man. I am fundamentally an optimist. Part of being an optimist is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward.”

Jesus tells us that in the end is the beginning.
In fact, Jesus’ death was the beginning.
As we point ourselves toward celebrating his birth, let’s not forget the real beginning.
The birth of a tiny Baby is the beginning of the end.
And the End is the beginning of God’s Kingdom without end.

So, no matter what happens tomorrow ‘keep your head pointed toward the sun.’

Heads up!
Stand tall!
Pay attention!

The Joy of Human Love

Good morning, Loved Ones,

Today is the one year anniversary of our Gimme Cinco discipline. Over 3700 expressions of gratitude have been shared among us in 52 weeks. We started out with 25 friends on our list and now have 74. Today we welcome eight new thankful people. Bienvenidos a Christy, Chrysanne, Jeanine, Jeanette, Deanna, K.R., Vicki and Ron. All are friends from communities across Kansas.

As you prepare to celebrate with family and friends this week consider this 'familiar' verse:

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

Today I give thanks for . . .

. . . this community of gratitude and hope, for the shared thankfulness that has lifted me up week after week for the last year, for the stories we have shared of grace and challenge.

. . . my old buddy, Bob, who has reached out and created an opportunity for us have some fun together and reconnect.

. . . the Public Square community of friends who together are bringing new life to small towns and communities.

. . . the youth of Grandview Park Church and their leader, Randy, who continue to amaze and inspire, for their special thanksgiving dinner and gathering last night that brought together a wide variety of friends.

. . . Sam who returns today at 1:45 pm, for Luke who is out of school and has more time to battle me on FIFA 2010.

. . . Los Tiburones U17 soccer team -- a group of young men who help keep me young.

. . . an unexpected call this morning from a friend testifying to the power of prayer, community and the joy of human love.

OK, so I overshot the goal by two. Gimme Cinco or Gimme Siete or Gimme Doce. Just give me some "gentle thoughts and mild." Let's share our gratitude.

Gimme Cinco and hit reply to all!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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

Intimate, Open and Bold

Hebrews 10:19-25
November 15, 2009

Shots fired on Tuesday night . . .
In front of the church . . .
By a member of the church . . .
By one of our own . . .
By someone whom we love . . .
By someone in whom we have invested much time and hope . . .
Makes you want to scream . . .
Makes you want to get on your knees and punch the ground . . .

Shootings at 18th & Central . . .
Healthcare bills that don’t even consider 12 million people . . .
Fears being spread through people of faith that the economy will collapse . . .
Darkness and clouds and winter sets in and the light of the sun slants away from us . . .

Sometimes it seems that evil is having its way with us.
And we are tempted to lose hope . . .
We are tempted to throw in the towel . . .
Sometimes we are tempted to forget . . .
To forget all that we have shared together . . .
To forget all that God has taught us . . .

But the author of Hebrews wants us to remember.
We are called to remember . . .
To remember that we are part of a new way of living . . .
We are invited to live in an intimate relationship with the God of all creation.
Remember that Jesus has made it possible for us to draw near to God.
We can walk right up to God, right up to the Holy Place . . .

Because of Jesus.

Not because we are good . . .
Not because we do all the right things . . .
Not because we are anywhere close to perfect . . .
Only because Jesus has opened the door for us . . .

Jesus makes it possible for us to come to God and cry out and know that we have been heard.
Know that this Holy Parent will see us through the worst of times.

Because of Jesus we can be intimate with the God of all creation.
Because of Jesus we can be open with the God of all creation.
Because of Jesus we can even be bold with the God of all creation.

Intimacy – Its something sadly lacking in our world today.
Oftentimes our culture equates intimacy with sexuality.
But intimacy is the relationship a mother has with a child.
Intimacy is a husband and wife freely talking with each other about their fears, hopes and dreams.
Intimacy is brothers and sisters in Christ working elbow to elbow in the kitchen in service.
Intimacy is friendship, true friendship that hopes all things, believes all things and endures all
things.
This is the kind of relationship we have been invited to with God.
Intimacy with the God of the Universe . . .
Amazing!

Openness is a part of that intimate relationship.
When you have intimacy with a friend you are free to be open.
When you are angry, you can complain.
When you are sad, you can weep.
When you are joyful, you can sing.
And God sings, weeps and complains right along with you.
Just like your best friend.
Just like a loving spouse.
Just like good mother.

Intimate.
Open.
And bold.

We can be bold with God.
Because we are intimate and open we don’t have to be afraid to ask.
We can be bold with new ideas, with new activities, with living new life in the face of despair and
death.

And so, the writer of Hebrews says, because we have this intimate, open and bold relationship
with God through Jesus . . .
Because we know God like a best friend, like a loving spouse, like a good mother . . .
We can always move forward no matter what the circumstances.
We “keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going.” (The Message)

But Hebrews reminds us that it’s not just about you and your relationship with God.
The writer goes on to say that the confidence we get from our relationship with God, makes us
cheerleaders for one another.
We are to be inventive, provocative, bold in our love for each other.
And we are to cheer each other on to do good works.

The love we have for one another and the good works we do come from our intimate, open and
bold relationship with God, not the other way around.
We are not invited to the Holy Place because of our love and good works.
Our love and good works become real because Jesus has opened the door for us.

So, while the shots are fired . . .
While the economy crashes . . .
While our politicians ignore those in need . . .
While the darkness of winter sets in . . .
We dance.
We celebrate Karina, a young woman who has an intimate, open and bold relationship with God.
We share what we have and eat wonderful feasts together.
We do not neglect to come together.
For quinceneras . . .
For birthday parties . . .
For dinners . . .
For coffee . . .
For Bible study . . .
For prayer . . .
For worship . . .
For worship . . .
For worship . . .

Why?

Because of Jesus.

He is our best friend.
He is our loving spouse.
He is our good parent.

Be intimate.
Be open.
Be bold.

No matter what happens.

God is with you.

Each Hour

Good morning, Loved Ones,

As the Thanksgiving holiday rapidly approaches, perhaps our Gimme Cinco discipline will gather strength. Today a hymn verse:

For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

I give thanks for Karina's beautiful 'hour' on Saturday. For a celebration in which all could share. A quincenera full of solid worship, great food and joyful dance.

I give thanks for Richard who enacted our "Intimate, Open and Bold" message Sunday by raising his hand in the middle of the sermon and asking a question that was on his mind. What an incredible blessing to have young people engaged in worship!

I give thanks for Jennifer who remembers a great 'hour' she had at the Presbyterian Youth Triennium 12 years ago and has encouraged many of our youth to be a part of next Summer's gathering of 7000 youth.

I give thanks for Public Square Communities, Pastor Terry's ministry to small towns and communities. Thousands of people's lives are being changed and the 'hour' for their yearly gathering is this Thursday and Friday in Hutchison, KS.

I give thanks that Lou Dobbs 'hour' on CNN has come to close. No matter where he goes or what he does in the future, at least he won't have the CNN banner to give him credence. Thank God that one bully's voice has been silenced, if only for a few 'minutes.'

The big Day is approaching. Has the Gimme Cinco discipline given you any new insights into gratitude? What 'hours' are you thankful for?

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

Not a Mouse

Good morning, Loved Ones,

Today I am awake to the many challenges we face as a church, as a community, as the people of God in this world. Let's not gloss over the challenges as we thank God even for the challenges.

Psalm 36:5-12 (The Message)

^5-6 God's love is meteoric,
his loyalty astronomic,
His purpose titanic,
his verdicts oceanic.
Yet in his largeness
nothing gets lost;
Not a man, not a mouse,
slips through the cracks.
^7-9 How exquisite your love, O God!
How eager we are to run under your wings,
To eat our fill at the banquet you spread
as you fill our tankards with Eden spring water.
You're a fountain of cascading light,
and you open our eyes to light.
^10-12 Keep on loving your friends;
do your work in welcoming hearts.
Don't let the bullies kick me around,
the moral midgets slap me down.
Send the upstarts sprawling
flat on their faces in the mud.

I am thankful today that we have not slipped through the cracks and that bullies ultimately lose. A gun was fired in front of the church last night and no one was physically hurt. The emotional trauma and scars are there, but, thank God, no blood was spilled. Let us pray for the shooter who is one of our own.

I am thankful today that Pastor Alfonso and Randy and Greg were there last night when the trauma occurred and that they comforted the young man who was terribly shaken. Let us pray for this young man.

I am thankful today that the church's response to threats and bullies is, first of all, to care for the shaken, troubled and injured, and, secondly, to work for reconciliation and peace.

I am thankful for IJAM, the 40 congregations who are working for positive, humane and merciful immigration reform and working against the "bullies and moral midgets" who attack us and slander our brothers and sisters. O for a mud pit large enough to hold them all.

I am thankful today for a warm bowl of oatmeal loaded with brown sugar and an early morning bike ride around the lake with a friend. (I give thanks especially for the brown sugar.)

God's love is exquisite. Tell me about it! Gimme cinco.

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