Good morning, Loved Ones,

Today we look at a traveler's psalm. Psalm 121

Psalm 121 (The Message)

A Pilgrim Song

^1-2 I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
^3-4 He won't let you stumble,
your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel's
Guardian will never doze or sleep.
^5-6 God's your Guardian,
right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
sheltering you from moonstroke.
^7-8 God guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now, he guards you always.

This psalm is one of the psalms of ascents. It was a blessing for those about to travel 'up to' Jerusalem. It acknowledges the dangers along the way; the temptation to be drawn away to the mountain top altars burning to Baal, the hazards of bandits, the blistering sun, the terrors of night. But even as it acknowledges the terrors of the journey, the terrors are trumped by the unwavering companionship and protection of the Lord of heaven and earth who does not snooze nor snore.

Whether you journey is of the weekend variety or the lifetime sojourn, give thanks for the Guardian God who 'walks with you and talks with you along life's narrow way.'

Thank you, Lord, that though I still live and work in the city of my birth, you have taken me far from the comforts and confines of a parochial faith.
Thank you, Lord, for being there during the terrors I have experienced in life.
Thank you, Lord, that most terrors are not at all what they are made out to be.
Thank you, Lord, that today we are able to travel and journey with a level of peace and safety unheard of in the history of the world. Yet, Lord, we offer prayers for those who, around the world, make life-threatening journeys across borders for better lives.
Thank you, Lord, that our life-long journeys with you are full of beauty, grace, hope, peace, welcome and overcoming.

Where are you headed today? Do you know that the One "who made heaven, and earth, and mountains" is with you?

Gimme cinco!

Pastor Rick

Shouting Gratitude

Good morning, Loved Ones,

Hump day is a day late this week. My apologies, but yesterday got away from me.

Today we look at the gospel reading from Sunday's lectionary.

Luke 17:11-19 (The Message)

^11-13It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"

^14-16Taking a good look at them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests."

They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus' feet, so grateful. He couldn't thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.

^17-19Jesus said, "Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?" Then he said to him, "Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you."

Today I give thanks that the church's healing is often found in those who are considered outsiders.

I give thanks for the work of Elena Morales and the MUSA theatre group who bring healing and hope to those who are survivors of domestic violence.

I give thanks for the bi-lingual prayer group gathering at the church last night.

I give thanks for the voices of little Alin and Ashley reading many scriptures aloud last night, but particularly Philippians 4:6-7 about not worrying and turning our worries into prayers. If I had a recording of their voices reading that passage to listen to once a day, then worry would occupy far less of my day.

I give thank for hot chocolate, sweet bread and apples with caramel dip.

We're a day late, but not short on gratitude,

Gimme cinco!

Pastor Rick

Good afternoon, Loved Ones,

One of the psalm passages from the daily lectionary is Psalm 65.

Psalm 65:9-13 (The Message)

^9-13 Oh, visit the earth,
ask her to join the dance!
Deck her out in spring showers,
fill the God-River with living water.
Paint the wheat fields golden.
Creation was made for this!
Drench the plowed fields,
soak the dirt clods
With rainfall as harrow and rake
bring her to blossom and fruit.
Snow-crown the peaks with splendor,
scatter rose petals down your paths,
All through the wild meadows, rose petals.
Set the hills to dancing,
Dress the canyon walls with live sheep,
a drape of flax across the valleys.
Let them shout, and shout, and shout!
Oh, oh, let them sing!

Today I give thanks that the creative work of God continues each day even as we struggle with our personal, family and church challenges.

Today I give thanks for our presbytery, for it's staff and for the careful support and care given to congregations who are hurting.

Today I give thanks for friends who listen and help.

Today I give thanks that God promises that all things work together for good.

Today I give thanks for Grandview Park Church, it's past, present and future.

Gimme cinco.

Blessings,
Pastor Rick

Reckless Love

Good afternoon, Loved Ones,

Today you get a tandem jump on the Gimme Cinco skydive. Let's hope the chute opens!

As Pastor Terry and I work together preparing for a community conversation tomorrow night in Conception, MO we ponder our gratitude with the daily lectionary passage ringing in our ears.

John 12:24-26 (The Message)

^24-25"Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.

It is wheat planting season. Thanks for those who plant in faith knowing that something has to die in order for something else to be born.

Already in Meade County last week's tragic death of Craig Unruh has given birth to the mystery of hope and new energy.

For support that is all around us in friends and strangers and the reckless way God loves us through them.

I give thanks for the times I have failed, been terminated and been sued. These have taught me life's best lessons.

For the cracks in my heart and armor in which the seed of God's love can find it's way in and out.

I give thanks for mentors who have died and who's seed I have seen multiply: my mother and dad, Morris McCrackin, Otto and Sally Handwerk, Alma West, Bert Cantwell.

I give thanks for mentors who are living who are continually "dead to the world" and alive in Christ: Tom Williams, Phylis Rauh, Bill Mularky, Donna Chavez, Doug Hubbard.

I give thanks for wisdom and mentoring that can come even from our children . . . Sam and Luke, thanks!

I give thanks for the reckless loving of Chip, our newly adopted dog who we accidently locked in the shed for two days without food or water, yet who cam bounding out, playful and giving kisses to Eldonna and me.

I give thanks for all who "listen carefully." Theirs is the Kingdom of God.


Well, I think the chute opened, and now that our feet are back on the ground . . . back to work!

Gimme cinco!

Pastor Rick & Pastor Terry

Mercy Is Infinite

Good evening, Loved Ones,

It is the wee hours of Thursday morning and I am just now preparing for sleep and drumming up thankfulness. My meditation for the night comes from the movie Babette's Feast. In the movie, set in an isolated coastal town in Denmark, a small faith community of puritans is given a gift of an exquisite feast. The feast cost Babette, the servant cook, the entirety of her lottery winnings which would have enabled her to return to Paris and live comfortably. Instead, Babette chooses to lavish an incredible feast upon those who would not even have the least idea of the incredible value of the meal. An army general attends the meal and is able to communicate to puritan brothers and sisters the phenomenal gift of rich food and drink they are sharing. As he revels in the moment he remembers the words of the community's deceased pastor.

"Mercy and truth have met together. Righteousness and bliss shall kiss one another. Man, in his weakness and shortsightness, believes he must make choices in this life. He trembles at the risks he takes. We do know fear. But no. Our choice is of no importance. There comes a time when your eyes are opened. And we come to realize that mercy is infinite.We need only await it with confidence, and receive it with gratitude. Mercy imposes no conditions. And, lo! Everything we have chosen has been granted to us, and everything we have rejected has also been granted. Yes, we even get back what we rejected. For mercy and truth are met together; and righteousness and bliss shall kiss one another."

In these early morning hours hours I give thanks that, though we lose sleep over the trials of today and the challenges of tomorrow, we can be confident that mercy is infinite.

As I sit here in bed and consider my own limitations and my own failings I give thanks that mercy imposes no conditions.

At the close of the day I give thanks for moments of sharing with my best friend DeDe about our day.

In this infinitesimally small moment of my existence I give thanks that, as St. Julian of Norwich said, "all shall be well and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well."

I give thanks that today I have had life, and tomorrow, God willing, I'll have more of it.

Blessings and Mercy,
Pastor Rick

Listen Hard

Good morning, Loved Ones,

Our text for today, though it may initially sound like a lamentation, is in the end a statement of trust.

Psalm 130 (The Message)

A Pilgrim Song

^1-2 Help, God—the bottom has fallen out of my life! Master, hear my cry for help!
Listen hard! Open your ears!
Listen to my cries for mercy.
^3-4 If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings,
who would stand a chance?
As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit,
and that's why you're worshiped.
^5-6 I pray to God—my life a prayer—
and wait for what he'll say and do.
My life's on the line before God, my Lord,
waiting and watching till morning,
waiting and watching till morning.
^7-8 O Israel, wait and watch for God—
with God's arrival comes love,
with God's arrival comes generous redemption.
No doubt about it—he'll redeem Israel,
buy back Israel from captivity to sin.


Today I give thanks that God hears the cries of the people.

Today I give thanks that forgiveness is God's habit.

Today I give thanks that God's arrival means the arrival of love.

Today I give thanks that waiting and hope are essentially the same word in Spanish. (Esperar-Esperanza)

Today I give thanks that God is in control.

I ask for two special prayers from you today.
1) Please pray for my son's (Sam) safety as he travels back to school in Ohio on this rainy first day of September.
2) Please keep Grandview Park Church in your prayers as we go though some very significant challenges.

Friends, wait and watch for God . . . and as you wait . . . give thanks.

Peace,
Pastor Rick

Good Terms

Good morning, Loved Ones,

Our scripture for the day is a small portion of one of the lectionary passages for this Sunday. The entire passage is Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16.

Hebrews 13:1-2

^1-2Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Be ready with a meal or a bed when it's needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it!

The challenge of being held together by love seems to have a connection to hospitality. In the times when relationships are strained and stretched, hospitality may be the best and only medicine.

I give thanks for . . .

. . . the act of generosity from the family of Misa who last Sunday provided a meal for the congregation when one was not available. Hospitality often comes form the 'new' person.

. . . Pastor Alfonso who goes above and beyond the call of a pastor by seeing that the trash gets where it needs to be, enlisting folks like Hugo, Veronica, Luis, Telma and many others to join him in cleaning the church, and working each day to make the church a place of welcome for all people.

. . . my grandparents, the Behrens, the Davidson's and the Nelson's (three sets of grandparents - one of the benefits of having a step-dad!). Grandparents have hospitality figured out. I remember delicious rice and toast at G-ma & G-pa Davidsons, Saturday nights with Yahtzee games and 'comfortable' couch-beds at G-ma & G-pa Behrens and Lincoln Logs and fried chicken at G-ma & G-pa Nelsons.

. . . the incredible welcome and hospitality offered every Wednesday night in homes that are opened for weekly prayer group. Prayers, songs, food and fellowship.

. . . all those who have offered unmerited hospitality to me in my 50 years. I give thanks that hospitality is an act of faith that can heal and strengthen us.

My prayer today is that we would learn from all those who have acted in faith and offered hospitality to angels.

Gimme cinco.

Pastor Rick