Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Two expressions

Here we are, tomorrow is (well, given the time I should say that today) the last day of September. It's been a fruitful and crazy month in my life. How have things been for you? This month my son Sam was baptized, we had a very cool Soul Cafe service at the church that involved Rev. Jackson Henry of Nashville, Dr. Michael Hawn, Ross Pederson, Kristin Stilley and myself, I officiated a wedding in New York, seen one of my friends lives implode in a very public way, hosted three different families from around the country in our home at various points, learned a ton of new music, attended the Dallas Stars training camp for a day, started a new children's choir program, rejoiced in my young family (life with a two and a half year old and a two month old is interesting!) and cantored the service celebrating the installation of our new bishop while still doing everything else that one does as a pastor and musician.

While all of this has been rewarding, I have to say it has left me, well, tired.

The feeling is that strange kind of tired you get that you can't shake, even after a low-key day or two.

Please don't read this as a complaint: I am thrilled to do all of these things. I just wonder sometimes about priorities and opportunity cost, and Sabbath and faithfulness. Know what I mean?

So, that leads me to these wonderful two expressions that I am hoping to incorporate as guiding statements this month.

The first expression i want to share with you I learned this weekend from the incredible Rev. Diana Holbert and it is this:

"Breathe Peace."

Isn't that lovely? I hope that I can begin to breathe peace in my own life and into the lives of others as well. If we all took a turn at that in October, the world would be transformed.

The second expression is one that I was reminded of by way of a Matisyahu song that was on Ovation TV. The phrase comes (at least my initial exposure to it) from a album by Donald Lawrence called "I Speak LIfe."

To "Speak Life." God, I want to do that! In the midst of all of the nonsense and fear and hate that we all come across in this world, as screwed up and broken as this thing is at times, what a gift it would be to Breathe Peace and Speak Life to the world.

Breathe Peace...Speak Life

I'm gonna roll with that this month, want to try it with me?

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Reflections for the near passing of a different storm

Jeez, September has been crazy full! I can't believe the last time I posted was September 3rd! It's not from lack of desire but rather my lack of posts has been from lack of time. Between a jazz soul cafe, starting two new choirs, kicking all of the old ones off, officiating a wedding in New York, doing my FUMMWA thing, having a eight week old and doing some conference stuff, the month has passed me by! I am going to try to "faith" the practice of posting a bit more!
Have a great day!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Morning Reflections from a Storm

"God is good! All the time! All the time, God is good!'

I use this refrain, well, all the time. Whether starting a worship service, with a choir, among friends, etc., the staff at my church have begun to associate this phrase (which did not have its genesis with me by any stretch of the imagination) with me because I use frequently. This morning, I was struck by (to use a phrase from Charlie Hall, which he borrowed from someone else) the phrase "the bright sadness" in regards to the aforementioned liturgical piece. Sometimes, it's an easy thing to say, other times, it's an act of faith to proclaim it!

This morning I enjoyed a wonderful cup of hot coffee sitting in my backyard in beautiful, overcast, cool weather, while praying the Office of the Dawn. The liturgy had, as usual, several interesting intersections with what is going on in this part of the world lately. How can we affirm the statement, "God is good all the time!" in the midst of hurricanes and poverty, and war? On the face of it, it's pretty tough to do, as a Christian, unless you have the Christian hope alive in you. Unless you have the hope that comes from knowing that Jesus is the true Lord of Creation, that in his life, death, and resurrection Jesus conquered death and inaugurated the reclamation project that is the Kingdom of God and that God is at work, with us, in bringing about the new heaven and the new earth that God has promised as found in Revelation 21 and 22. Without that hope, Christian faith doesn't make a lot of sense, at least not for me. I wonder, perhaps, reconciliation project is a more appropriate phrase than reclamation project?

As I prayed outside this morning, the winds were swirling and you could see the rotation of the bands from Gustav overhead. The trees and our windchimes were very noisy, the neighbors had things being knocked around their patios. All of these sounds and sensations were juxtaposed with the words from the office.
The opening line, chanted out loud, sounded more like a statement of faith and a challenge in this setting: Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God! How pleasant it is to honor him with praise!

Which was followed with: My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

In the midst of the challenges in this life, God is at work! The already-not-yet-ness of the Kingdom of God on full display!

The liturgy continued with two stanza's from Charles Wesley's "Rejoice, the Lord is King."

Rejoice, the Lord is King!
Your Lord and King adore;
mortals, give thanks and sing,
and triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
rejoice; again I say, rejoice!

Jesus the Savior reigns,
the God of truth and love;
when he had purged our stains,
he took his seat above.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
rejoice, again I say, rejoice.

In the midst of the storms of life (both literal and figurative) Jesus the Savior reigns! Sometimes, it's easy for me to lose that in the swirling winds of life. Do you struggle with that from time to time?

Penultimately, here is the small verse from this morning's office, which speaks yet again to what God is doing!
"Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you together; yea, I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the Lord."
Zephaniah 3:19-20

Hello!!!!!! Liturgy and life, intersecting, informing, and shining light on each other!

Do you see it?

It is beautiful.

May you receive this blessing today, which also comes from the office: May the Lord bless us and keep us and cause His face to shine upon us from this day forth and forever more. Amen.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Some random thoughts on a Tuesday night...

Howdy! I hope life is treating you well! It's been a while since I've posted so here's some random thoughts...
1. Sam is getting baptized on Sunday, which is awesome!
2. The remnants of Hurricane Gustav are coming through the North Texas area today and it's quite windy! Being able to actually see the rain bands has been intense! Our skylight is making some crazy noise and we are hundreds of miles away from the gulf! Incredible!
3. Speaking of Gustav, it's hard to imagine that 1/2 of Louisiana doesn't have power, but it's true.
4. I have been listening to the new Charlie Hall album and am really enjoying it. The album has a wonderful tune called "mystery" that uses liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer.
5. It's sad to see protestors get gassed.
6. I am feeling very sorry for Sarah Palin's daughter. It must be a very, very difficult for their family.
7. I am watching the RNC convention. It's mildly interesting. I thought the Rabbi who gave the benediction today, by actually endorsing John McCain in his prayer, is putting his congregation dangerously close to being checked-out by the IRS.
8. If I had to vote for a Republican, I'd vote for McCain.
9. This weekend I am looking forward to seeing the Counting Crows, which is going to be sweet!
All right, it's time to go to bed! These are interesting times, eh?