An Elder Pilgrim's Reflections

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor  on the lowly state of his servant..." (from  Luke 1:39-45 ) When I sing songs of praise to God while in the shower, I hope God isn't listening., but looking with favor on his lowly servant. God knows, we need some songs of hope. Mary lived in a more honorable time that was much different from the stressed-out society we experience today. Today we experience a Christmas market mentality, continuous traumatic news, sex-abuse scandals, divisiveness, and a sense of chaos. So, yes, God knows we need some songs of hope. One song of hope is God's promises affirmed in others which is happening when Mary makes the journey to Elizabeth. A second song of hope is God’s constant mercy. As Mary’s song moves from personal, she sings of what God has done in the lives of people around her from “generation to generation” and “forever”. Whatever mercy God is doin...

"Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” And the crowds asked him, “What, then, should we do?” (From Luke 3:7-18 ) During fellowship time after worship, the conversation at my table turned to drones. Folks began to drone on about drones. "Why don't they just shoot them down?     With apologies to Longfellow:         "I shot the drone in the air,         It fell to earth, I know not where." "Why don't they just tell us what they are? The FBI and DHS stated they believe most of the drone sightings are cases of “mistaken identity." Most of the public are misidentifying small, legally operating manned aircraft, or commercial airliners, as drones which may actually be commercial drones. The sightings create a sense of urgency, and anxiety.  What should we do? This is the same question people asked John the Baptist after he warned the...

As it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.” (from  Luke 3:1-6 )   The last place I want to be during the Black Friday Season is the wilderness of Walmart. The long paths to the check-out registers are definitely not straight as people usually wait patiently to purchase their presents. The Season continues with Cyber Monday and intensifies until reaching “Last Minute Shopping”. Our practice is to shop small business on-line, most of which we have visited at one time or another. There’s a backstory to Black Friday. Around 1951, "Black Friday" came to be used by Philadelphia police to describe the crowds and traffic congestion when the Christmas shopping season began. There’s also a backstory to John the Baptizer’s appearance at the Jordan River. According to Malachi, a prophet filled with the Holy Spirit will appear filled with a message of re...

Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (from  Luke 21:25-36 ) In 1963 Bob Dylan wrote "The Times They Are a-Changin'" during a time when the civil rights movement was underway and demonstrations against the war in Vietnam were gearing up. It would become the anthem of his generation. Dylan wrote the ballad as a deliberate attempt to create an anthem of hope during the changes of the times. Now, more than 60 years later, it throbs with new meaning. Today our world is flooded with uncertainty, injustice, conflict, indifference, pain, judgment, and condemnation of anyone who thinks differently. A word of hope and redemption is greatly needed. This is nothing new, that’s why the prophets wrote about a “Day of the Lord” when the Lord decisively intervenes to redeem God’s people. On the “Day of the Lord” the...

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. (from Rev. 1:4-8 ) About 17 years ago I wrote a letter to the people in the United Church of Underhill. The purpose of the letter was to explain I was retiring at the end of the Conference Year. I felt the time had come for me personally to move on and for the church to grow with a new pastor. I secured a moving company while the church formed a search committee as we both prepared for the inevitable. This is the nature of the book of Revelation, as recorded in 1:4: “John, to the seven churches in the province of Asia.” This is Revelation’s context: it was written for the benefit of particular people at a particular time for their particular situation. John’s letter narrates a drama about God’s imminent invasion of the “kingdom of this world” ...

“When you hear of wars and rumored wars,  keep your head and don’t panic.  This is routine history, and no sign of the end.” (From Mark 13:1-8 ) For five years I worked at a boy’s summer camp as an assistant riding instructor. I had a great deal of respect for him because he not only taught me about riding and teaching but also drew me into a greater maturity. I loved him for his teaching and mentoring at a significant time in my life. In the Spring I learned he would not be returning to camp and there would be a new instructor. That was a Summer of adjustment and grief. Two summers later I was asked to be the camp riding instructor. I knew that would be a great responsibility and wanted to do my best as his protégé. Without him there, it wasn't easy to recall and practice his teaching. I would imagine the disciples experienced similar feelings and questions. Without Jesus there physically with them, what did it mean to follow him? What, if anything, changed in being a discipl...

"She did as Elijah had told her. So there was food daily for Elijah the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah."  (from 1 Kings 17:15-16 ) Elijah is on a mission to announcing to everyone a coming drought unless God provides rain. Elijah’s miracle lunch break begins when the Lord tells him to go camp at the Cherith canyon, where the ravens feed him twice daily. Eventually the canyon's waters evaporate producing a drought. Go to Zarephath, the Lord tells Elijah, where a woman will feed you. He goes, meets a woman gathering sticks, and asks her for a bite to eat and a drink of water. She reacts sarcastically saying, “I have a handful of flour and a little oil; you found me scratching together enough firewood for a last meal for my son and me!” Elijah answers, “Don’t worry about it. First make me a small biscuit and bring it back. Then make a meal from ...

 When the widow put her two in the offering plate, Jesus said: “Truly this poor widow put more in the treasury.  All of them have contributed out of their abundance,  but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had,  all she had to live on.” Adapted from Mark 12:38-44 Come Stewardship Sunday, one of the most common texts you will hear is Mark 12:41-44 focusing on the widow as a model of sacrificial giving. It’s one I used often for the same reason; make a sacrificial offering for the ministries of the church. Another way I used the text was to highlight the difference between God’s ways and our ways. The scribes paraded around the marketplace in their robes while they “devour widow’s houses” while this poverty-stricken widow gives her last two coins to the temple. The widow, therefore, is a model disciple because she gave all she had. There’s a problem here; it doesn’t seem like Jesus to ask a destitute woman to give all she had to God. Jesus, ...

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Ps.118:24 The beauty of the day is not that it is new, but that we are being made new. The glory of the day is not that it marks a change, but that we are being changed. The blessing of the day is not that it is a day off, but that it is the Lord’s Day. R.C. Sproul Jr. The day began with my first-ever distressing case of acid reflux. A call to The Dr. resulted in a prescription for omeprazole (Prilosec) which the pharmacist dispensed along with 2 pages of “instructions, warnings, and in some cases” comments. Returning home I immediately took a pill, without reading directions, and my body began a disagreeable adjustment to the medication. A portion of the adjustment was not being able to write last Monday’s “Reflections”, which I enjoy. It’s Friday, and the Structured Me said it’s time to reflect on the Day the Lord gave. I have reason to rejoice because in reflecting on the unexpected I came ...

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Appoint us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." (from Mark 10:35-45 ) I have a passion for historic train rides. That’s why I drove 6 hours to ride the Conway Scenic Railway to Crawford Notch. That same passion led me to New Hampshire and the Mount Washington Cog Railway, the world's first mountain-climbing cog railway, The epic ride, however, was the narrow-gauge rail through the San Juan Mountains along the Animas River from Durango to Silverton, Colorado which has run continuously since 1881 transporting silver and gold ore. Along with the history came the breathtaking view of the river flowing along the canyon’s floor and the canyon’s walls which one could almost touch from the open-aired coach. As the train ascende...

“Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (from Heb. 4:12-16 ) Empathizing with the suffering experienced by the people devastated by the hurricanes is beyond my capacity. I see the damage, I watch evacuating traffic, I hear the stories of people coping with unimaginable situations. What must it be like to dig through the rubble and mud to search for remnants of one’s life? This morning in my devotional reading I came across a quote from Julian of Norwich: “But all will be well, and all will be well, and every kind of thing will be well”. This often-quoted passage is from her book, Showings, where she deals with the concept of sin. Why, she asks did God allow sin in the first place? The question I ask is, “Why, God?” Why have you allowed the suffering and devastation of so many people? When I look at the world and into my own soul, it’s hard to believe “All will be well,” that we will receive gr...

“Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.” (from Mk 10:2-16 ) Kids Say the Darndest Things a television program that ran 1959 to 1967 and hosted by Art Linkletter would begin by asking a child question about a life topic, such as “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The child usually responded with their own innocent, timeless wit and wisdom often comical perspective of life through a child’s eyes. Previously, Jesus heard the disciples arguing about who was the greatest, so he scolds the disciples, takes a child – a first century image of having little rights, seen as a nuisance, and merely tolerated – takes it in his arms and says, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Here, Jesus does something else. Children are approaching Jesus who welcomes them scolding the disciples who try keeping them away. In the...

"The law of the LORD is perfect,     reviving the soul; decrees of the LORD are sure,     making wise the simple;" (From Psalm 19:7-14 ) On our way to Brattleboro, VT, we were following directions I downloaded from Google Maps.  We had been following Rt.9 when it seemed as though we had made a wrong turn when we came to an intersection where we had to turn right or left.  I knew this was wrong, but realized our accommodations were on Main Street. Following that prompting of the Spirit, we turned left and in faith we kept on eventually we arriving at our accommodations.  Psalm 19 celebrates God’s ordering activity through the use of two different literary elements. The heavens give witness The psalms' initial claim is that the heavens provide a witness to God’s establishment of order (verses 1–6).  Though the heavens cannot speak the words of humans, they tell a clear story nevertheless. The sky stays high above the world. The movement of the heave...

"Whoever welcomes one such child  in my name welcomes me,  and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me,  but the one who sent me.”  (from Mark 9.30-37 ) Yogi Berra, the brilliant baseball player, reportedly said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Robert Frost’s poem "The Road Not Taken", describes making a decision when coming to a fork in the road. Frost’s poem discusses emotions that come with facing decisions, and how choices can often lead regrets or wondering what could have happened differently. Frost implies making a wrong, regrettable choice, is unchangeable, so we must choose wisely. In Capernaum, Jesus is teaching about his death and resurrection when an argument develops among the disciples about position, status, and greatness. The disciples haven’t’ paid attention to what Jesus taught and they watched, his vision for the needy. Instead, they’re arguing about power and status as a benefit for being a disciple of Jesus. Jesus hears ...

"He called the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (from Mk.8:27-38 ) First-century Jewish leaders had expectations and hopes of a messiah who would judge the wicked and restore Israel’s righteousness. None of these Jewish leaders expected a messiah crucified by elders, chief priests, and scribes or that the followers would be given a cross to carry to their own execution. In 66 BC Cicero said “To bind a Roman citizen is a crime; to flog him, an abomination. To slay him is virtually an act of murder. To crucify him is—what? No fitting word can possibly describe a deed so horrible” It’s no surprise that when Jesus clearly explains to the disciples that the Son of Man must choose the cross of suffering, Peter doesn’t want to hear it. (vs.33). Choosing this cross is hard to follow. In 1993 the New Yorker reported on Macy’s cross boutique where you could buy the latest...

"Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.” (From Isaiah 35.4-7 ) "Blessed Assurance", by Fannie J Crosby, is one of my favorite hymns. Fanny, visiting her friend Phoebe, who was having a pipe organ installed, played a newly composed melody on the piano. Phoebe asked Fanny, "What do you think the tune says?", Fanny replied, "Blessed assurance; Jesus is mine." Because of Fanny’s words, the tune is now called "Blessed Assurance". Aren’t there times when we all need a “blessed assurance?” That was certainly true for the exiles returning to a promised, yet unfinished Jerusalem. To picture a restored Jerusalem, the Lord sent Isaiah who wrote an oracle of salvation, “words of assurance”, to the exiles needing a vision of hope. The vision is a transformed land from a desert to a fertile Way of Holiness leading to seeing the gl...

O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart; Those who do these things shall never be moved. ( Psalm 15 ) Traditionally in the Methodist Church, Conformation Class’ purpose is renewing one’s baptism covenant. That makes the Apostles’ Creed the best curriculum for Confirmation Class. I would begin the class asking a question such as, “Do You Believe in God?”  The youth respond saying, “I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.” as our discussion for that day. At the conclusion of the classes, the youth would stand before the congregation, say the vows and confirm their baptism a I responded, “Remember your baptism and be thankful.” Psalm 15, is an affirmation of faith concerning walking in God’s way. When the question is asked, O Lord, who may abide in your tent?   Who may dwell on your holy hill? The answer begins in the next ...

"Finally, be strong in the Lord  and in the strength of his power.  Put on the whole armor of God,  so that you may be able to stand against  the wiles of the devil."  (from Ephesians 6:10-20 ) In 1944 the inexperienced U.S. Third Army was about to invade France. To inspire the troops, Gen. George S. Patton gave several motivational speeches urging them to do their duty in spite of personal fear. Their coming combat required powerful and constant offensive action. The speeches recalled their heritage and promised honor resulting from their bravery, assuring them that valor, not numbers, will prevail against the mighty army they were battling. In 63, the small church of Christians in Ephesus endured oppression by Emperor Nero and Jewish leaders The apostle Paul, in chains, relying on God’s army for prayers and depending on the Lord’s strength composes a motivational letter to the Ephesians urging them to proclaim the gospel no matter what opposition the...

Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. (from Ephesians 5:15-20 ) A wise person once said to me, "On Sunday, you will find me in church someplace." I also practice this discipline because I believe that emerging from Sunday worship is a strengthening of one’s spirit through the “Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” we sing to the Lord. So, as I enter a church, I am eager for the strengthening of my spirit through the music as we sing to the Lord and encourage each other. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians encourages them (and us) to live a life filled with the Spirit giving thanks at “all times and for everything” in Christ’s name. This is the beginning of wise living emerging from individual Christians and Christian communities. My understanding of evil days is the tension created by violence, hatred, and discrimination resulting in a lack of hope for people experiencing these hostilities....

Suddenly an angel touched Elijah and saying, “Get up and eat.” He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. (from 1 Kings 19:4-8 ) Since retiring from a preaching schedule and special needs school bus driving, I spend more time reading historical novels, biographies, and memoirs. One memoir I appreciated was “A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier” which is story of war through the eyes of a child soldier. The author tells how, at twelve years old, he fled attacking rebels in Sierra Leone, wandered a land made unrecognizable by violence, and by age thirteen, been picked up by the government army, and trained as a soldier. By age 18, he moved to the United States finishing high school at the United Nations International School in New York. In 2004 he graduated from Oberlin College with a B.A. in political science. Elijah’s memoirs would include competition with the prophets of Ba‘al on Mount Carmel followed...

Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven he rained down on them manna to eat, and gave them the grain of heaven. Mortals ate of the bread of angels; he sent them food in abundance. (from Psalm 78:23-29) The Sunny Side Diner in Bennington, VT. is about halfway between home and bow, NH, the first stop on our journey to Maine. We arrive there just about noon, while breakfast is still being swerved allowing us to have their generous sized blueberry pancakes and real maple syrup . It's also possible to order a 3-egg omelet served with toast and freshly made strawberry-rhubarb jam. It's the relaxed, friendly spirit of the diner that makes it a refreshing stop on our journey. We mortals, having driven three hours, enjoy God's gifts of wheat real maple syrup freshly made strawberry-rhubarb jam available in abundance. Psalm 78 recalls the Israelite’s journey out of Egyptian slavery towards the promised land. The Psalm reminds the people of their c...

Then Jesus took the 5 loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” (from John 6:1-21 ) Rev. Dr. Tracy Blackmon tells the story of her “most holy” of Holy Communions. Dr. Blackmon tells of being fed by Cathy “Mama Cat” Daniels. Mama Cat had been serving Sunday meals to demonstrators outside the Ferguson Police Department’s headquarters nearly every week since Michael Brown was shot by Officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9, 2014. In Mama Cat’s words, “These [sic] our mothers, and fathers, and brothers, and sisters, and nieces and nephews. It’s our people, so when we say black lives matter, we need to know that we need to include every last one. I can’t sleep at night knowing people is laying out in the cold. I spent the night out here two days before Christmas because you got to understand w...

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” (From Mark 6:30-34) Sometimes I just feel like I need a Creemee (Google it) to take me back to the beginning of my pastoral ministry in Vermont. I feel a need to get grounded as I reflect on the road of my pastoral ministry and where I am still traveling. Like the disciples, I have worked and taught faithfully in each parish and the Lord’s work in retirement. I’m experiencing the world in a precarious, ever-changing situation politically, nationally and globally with continuous brutality and new challenges. Jesus call to the disciples to “come away to a deserted place” seem like just the place to go. Deserted places are critical places, places to get re-grounded. Significantly, the Gospel of Mark begins in a deserted place: a wilderness of forty days. Jesus is baptized in the Jordan, the heavens are opened...

Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. (from Psalm 83) Friday, July 12, was a day in which I felt a sense of deep peace gently surrounding me.  One place was sitting on a bench alongside a quiet pond surrounded by trees a view of nearby mountains with billowing clouds above. Another was the peaceful singing of Psalms by a small group accompanied by acoustic guitars. Psalm 85:8–13, portrays the abundant life that God wills for all people in all times and in all places. Later, into this pastoral scene of deep inner peace burst the exterior scene of violence at a political rally leaving physical and spiritual wounds. In Psalm 83, the Lord speaks peace to his people by summoning and challenging his people “to look for and pray for” the abundant life that God wills and to work toward that abundant life for all. The basic challenge is to shape a world where everyone is fed, clothed, and c...

"Jesus took her by the hand and said to her, 'Talitha cum,' which means, 'Little girl, get up!' And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement." (From Mark 5:21-43 ) There’s a song in the musical “Hamilton” called “It’s Quiet Uptown” sung after Alexander and Eliza Hamilton’s firstborn son Philip is killed in a duel. It begins like this: There are moments that the words don’t reach There is suffering too terrible to name You hold your child as tight as you can And push away the unimaginable.   Unimaginable. That had to be the parent’s feelings sitting by their son’s hospital bed. He had attempted suicide, it failed, and now he was on life support, his parents facing the hardest, most heartrending decision possible. I stayed with them, sometimes silently, sometimes in prayer, sometimes offering what felt like inadequate answers to difficult questions. What do you say to parents...

"As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until he has mercy upon us." (from Psalm 123 ) My way of "observing the Sabbath to keep it holy" (Ex.20.8) is by attending church somewhere on Sunday.  When I am away, I usually locate a nearby United Methodist Church, or occasionally a Baptist, Presbyterian, or Episcopal church to experience the Spirit moving differently within them. I make this Sunday Pilgrimage out of two needs, the first is by looking to God helps me focus on heaven where God is crowned as creator and ruler over all the earth. Just as the servant and maid look hopefully to the master for providing, so I look hopefully to God for providing a sign of divine mercy as God completes God’s purposes for the world. The second need comes from seeing a world filled with contempt by people in authority looking down on those around them. The arrogant looking at ...

A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. (from Mark 4:35-41 ) I clearly remember the time I was in a canoe with a Scout on Chesuncook Lake in the Maine wilderness. It’s about 22 mi. long, 5 mi. wide and 150 ft. deep The lake was relatively calm when the wind seriously picked up, blowing the canoe sideways, sending water into the canoe. Fear of being swamped is an understatement the Scout and I felt  The Sea of Galilee, much smaller, narrower, and shallower, has a geographic location causing storms developing quickly, without warning, immediately threatening small boats. The disciples, the Scout and I experienced the panic of drowning. Jesus continued preaching the impending Kingdom of God and the necessary repentance and acceptance of the good news. This is not just a boat ride to the other side, but an apocalyptic boat ride from hades in which we learn Jesus’ identity. The storm has come up, Jesus confront...

He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which,  when sown upon the ground,  is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; (from Mark 4:26-34 ) Growing up learned two different meanings of the Mustard Seed parable. In the first meaning the mustard seed, the smallest of seeds, is sown yet becomes the greatest shrub, so birds can make nests in its shade. One meaning had to do with one’s faith. Like the mustard seed, God will grow your faith if you cultivate it. Another meaning had to do with encouragement. Like the small mustard seed, a small beginning in faith may become something very large. Like the mustard seed, be inspired by using your faith in small ways because God can use it to do great things with it. These meanings are very helpful because they help with life’s lessons. It’s a parable though which is meant to overturn, criticize, frustrate, and transform the listeners. Jesus asks, what para...

 Grace and Peace, There seems to be a problem between God, Facebook, and ptd.net. FB notified me that the post on  Garden of Eden didn't meet community standards and if  that continued my account would be cancelled. ptd.net labeled the post as having spam content in the message and wouldn't deliver it. I will have another post on Monday that I hope isn't spam and meets FB community standards. PR

The Lord God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” (from Genesis 3:8-15) Imagine it’s the end of the day and God has decided to walk in the garden to enjoy the evening breeze. God looking for a deeper relationship and holy conversation, realizes Adam and Eve are hiding, so God asks, “Where are you?” God knows their emotional and spiritual condition since they are afraid and hide shamefully knowing they are naked. God, acting like a prosecuting attorney, asks, “Who told you that you were naked?” Then the Blame game begins. Adam, avoiding responsibility for eating the fruit of the tree, responds by indirectly blaming God for giving him woman. God asks the woman for her testimony, “Who told you?” She blames the serpent for deceiving her into eating the fruit; a really bad choice because it results in being banished from the Garden of Eden. God concludes the questioning and acts as the judge. The verdict for the snake is...

"Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy." Exodus 20:8 "Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you." Deuteronomy 5:12 One clergy group I belonged to would spend a week-long retreat at Weston Priory. We divided our time between worship with the brothers, study, and fellowship. During our gathering, before the retreat started, our conversation was usually about the need for time away from routine parish life such a visitation, Bible study preparation, and preaching. The retreat was a sabbath time. Genesis describes sabbath time after God created the earth in six days. God rested on the seventh day, blessing it and setting it apart for humans to imitate God, by honor that day. The Bible describes two ways to honor God’s sabbath blessing. First, in Exodus 20:8: “Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy”. Second, in Deuteronomy 5:12: “Observe the Sabbath day, and keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you.” T...

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” (From Mark 9:2-9 ) My mountaintop experience began when a good friend of mine, John, asked if I’d hike with him on an overnight to the Lake of the Clouds hut on the Appalachian Trail. Sure. We drove up the Mt. Washington Toll Road, it’s own exciting adventure! An extremely dense cloud at the summit made the trail to the hut a challenge. We began the 1.5-mile hike over a clouded, rocky trail arriving at the hut in about 45 minutes. After spending the night among other hikers, we returned to the fogged in summit. I’m not sure how we would have reacted if a voice came out of the wind and clouds, but I can guarantee you, we wouldn’t have pitched a tent!   It is no accident that this story takes place on a mountain.   This story takes place on a mountain top because ancient civilizations understood mountains as heaven and earth’s meeting place. The ...

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (from John 16:4b-15 ) Our family had experienced a financial crisis. We had to move into our summer cottage, have it winterized, and begin a new school. My Dad knew I was anxious about entering high school, from my new elementary school. So, Dad said to me that when I get off the school bus, and before I enter the building, stop, take a deep breath and say to myself, "you can do this." Weird as it felt, I did as Pop said. It was a good day. The words, their source, the deep breath, brought comfort to my anxious heart. Jesus, was aware of the tensions created by his ministry realized the disciples would be facing a crisis after his death. To care for his disciples, Jesus promised he would pray to God to send the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, that would comfort them in their anxiety. (John 14:1...

"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." (From 1 John 5:9-13 ) Elaine's mother had a household rule: never call between 7:00 and 7:30! Jeopardy!  is on! I wonder if her mother got to the pearly gates, asked St. Peter which room  Jeopardy!  was on at 7:00. There's a big difference between heaven's’ pearly gates and eternal life  The Bible describes heaven as mainly God's dwelling place. As Cleland Boyd McAfee describes in his hymn, “There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God.” It’s where Elijah was taken in a whirlwind and the Spirit in Revelation 14:13 says, “they will rest from their labor.” In heaven, God is surrounded by angels in a community of peace, love, and worship. Eternal life is something very different. In John 3:16 and in 1 John 5:13, eternal life isn’t referring only to life beyond the grave. Eternal life is full life, now and in th...

O sing to the Lord a new song,  for he has done marvelous things.  His right hand and his holy arm  have gotten him victory. (from Psalm 98 ) When The Faith We Sing, a new songbook, was published I discovered there were several types of new songs. Some of the new songs, such as "Down to the River to Pray", had been around for a long time, but singing it was a new experience to me. Other songs, such as "Where Children Belong" were new because they were recently composed, so I had to learn them. The oldest “new” song to me is the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32:1-42 because I hadn't realized it was a song. Psalm 98 is an extremely important psalm anchoring the collection of “the LORD is king” enthronement psalms so it’s considered “the theological ‘heart’” of the Psalms. The possible origin of Psalm 98 was a response to the exile crisis with the “marvelous things” referring to God leading the people out of Babylon in what amounts to a new exodus. The m...

"But whenever you pray,  go into your room and shut the door  and pray to your Father who is in secret;  and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:6) As my fall risk increased, my doctor prescribed physical therapy. My first appointment concluded with the therapist saying, “We’ll start by building up your core muscles which are the basis for stability." So, I wondered what core spiritual practices are the basis for strengthening my faith? Four core spiritual practices are clear: Bible reading and study, prayer, worship., and acts of justice. Centering prayer is a core practice which is not an obvious way to deepen your relationship with God.  Centering Prayer, based on Matthew 6:6, says “But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Centering prayer works like this: First, “enter your room”, meaning finding a quiet place.  Choose a sa...

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.    He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;    he restores my soul." (from   Psalm 23 ) Lectio Divina , is a method involving reading, meditating, and praying Scripture verses aiming to help people connect more deeply with God.    There are four basic steps:  1.     Reading the Scripture passage several times slowly listening for God's small voice. 2.    Thinking about how it applies to your life. 3.    Praying and opening your heart to God 4.    Being still and listening for what God is saying to you. As I read Psalm 23, two words stand out for me; water and soul. Places where I have been quiet and listening for what God may be saying are the shore and waterfalls. At the rocky shore of Acadia, N.P., God speaks through the rhythm of the waves rolling against the rocks in sets of three. God says, the rhyt...

While they were talking about this,  Jesus himself stood among them  and said to them,  “Peace be with you.” (from L uke 24:36b-48 ) Each Sunday my pastor tells us to turn to a person near us and say, “Peace be with you,” a greeting we all say. Some disciples were discussing the facts about the risen Lord and how they saw a connection between Moses, the prophets, and the Scriptures. Their conversation included Jesus’ ministry, focus on table ministry, and their experience of the resurrected Jesus.  When Jesus walked with the disciples and said,” peace be with you,” it was more than a customary welcome. Jesus standing with them continues sharing the message salvation to disciples gathered after his death. This greeting connects a wish for common well-being, and is also related to the Hebrew notion of shalom, indicating social relations and justice. “Peace be with you” is also a reminder Christians are commissioned to forgive sins which can sometimes mean salvation. So...