LEGO Advent Calendar

LEGO has an Advent calendar.

Celebrate 24 days of festive building with the LEGO City Advent Calendar! This holiday set includes lots of minifigures and accessories, all leading up to the biggest model of all on the last day. A wonderful gift for any LEGO builder or the whole family to enjoy!

• Each day open a new window in the specially designed Advent Calendar box!
• Includes 24 city-themed surprises for the season, including LEGO minifigures, accessories and more!
• Includes 10 minifigures!

 

Smoke on the Mountain Review

Russell Smith over at The Eagle and The Child blog, wrote an interesting review of the Playhouse in the Park production of Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming.

My wife and I saw this play in 2007 and recently saw the latest production in the series Sanders Family Christmas. Comparatively, the Homecoming version had better musicians overall but the story of the current production is also a tribute to America’s veterans. Any plays in this series is worth seeing, especially if Tess Hartman is on stage as June. She is very funny in the role and is once again back at Playhouse in the Park.

Be Still, My Soul

My friend John sang this song in chapel yesterday. I don’t know if his was recorded but I’m hoping to track it down. The video below is not his rendition but this one is also very good.

What a great hymn.

Club conduct in Covington impacts city’s children

The political, business, and community leaders of Covington are working very hard to make the city a great place to live and work. The Center for Great Neighborhoods and the Covington Business Council along with those in City Hall and many others have encouraged the growth of small businesses including many in the areas of technology, arts and wedding planning.

The growth of these businesses is great for the city not only in tax revenue (one of the highest local tax rates in the area) but also in the support these organizations provide for the other sectors of the city. The restaurants, schools and non-profits all benefit from the small businesses in the city. Many of the local technology-focused businesses work with the local schools, hosting students in their office to learn about careers and business in the city.

However, Covington also has several clubs in the city that are having a different impact on the other businesses in the area. It is unfortunate that the city planners have not seen fit to keep these gentleman’s clubs away from schools. But that’s not going to change. What does need to change however, is the way these businesses conduct themselves. The windows on these businesses are blacked out for obvious reasons. But Club Venus on 5th Street, frequently has many of its dancers on the sidewalk or standing just inside the clear glass door, in full view for all passersby. These dancers are not completely clothed and often call out for people passing by, with inappropriate, unwelcome solicitations. Some of the dancers have also been seen conducting illegal transactions in cars and vans in the parking lot across the street.

Not only does this negatively impact businesses nearby but it also negatively impacts the children in the middle school less than one block away. Club Venus and Two Rivers Middle School are separated by a street and a parking garage. Often students walking home after school pass by the club and are exposed to the inappropriate conduct of the Club Venus employees.

I would encourage those in City Hall to consider how they can help these children more effectively. It is important that the boys and girls in Two Rivers Middle School learn without the distractions of illegal conduct and under-dressed parades on the sidewalk. It is important that the boys and girls of Two Rivers Middle School learn that the city cares about their complete well-being and the examples that are available for them. It is important tha the parents of those children know what their children are exposed to. It is important that the churches in the community take a stand against illegal conduct that impacts the emotional and spiritual health of our community’s children.

Club Venus can be a better neighbor by effecting its own change for the protection of the children.

I would like to challenge:

• political leaders to investigate the conduct of Club Venus employees
• parents to speak out against the conduct and its impact on their children
• churches to pray for the spiritual health in our community
• business leaders to work together to document the issues they have witnessed
• neighborhood leaders to strive for a community improvement that go beyond flower boxes to also include protection of the children from exposure to illicit activities like those described here
• Club Venus to be a better neighbor

We know that when we work together, city’s can be improved. Covington needs to continue its improvement not only in the support of small business growth but also in changes that will protect the children of the city.

Prayer for families affected by suicide

In the article Refocusing the Lens, I wrote about how  I have been impacted by a man I didn’t know who jumped from the Roebling Suspension Bridge a few years ago. Unfortunately, I have also known some other men who chose to take their own life.

On Saturday January 31, 2009 at 10:00 AM I’m going to be on the West sidewalk of the Roebling Suspension Bridge (in the middle of the bridge) to pray for families who have been impacted by suicide and to pray for those who are fighting every day with the temptation of suicide. It’s not a formal event and won’t be a long event but if you are interested in joining me feel free to come to the Covington Riverfront or drop me a note.

Update: Due to ice and snow, I’m going to change the location. Instead of being on the bridge I will be on Riverside Drive near the Mike Fink Restaurant.

Dr. Walter Brueggemann to speak in Cincinnati

Dr. Walter Brueggemann, author many books including The Creative Word: Canon as Model for Biblical Education, is scheduled to speak at Christ Church Cathedral in Cincinnati March 4, 11 & 27, April 1, 7:00 p.m as part of the church’s Lenten program.

According to the church’s Web site:

Dr. Brueggemann looks at lessons from Hebrew Scripture on community, social ethic and economic justice and finds parallels with society today.

March 4: The System of Pharaoh and the System of Sinai
Pharaohs Egypt was founded on the assumption of scarcity. In a society based on scarcity, its inhabitants live in fear and anxiety about needs that cannot be met, and its leaders conduct public policy based on manipulation, power and domination in an effort to maintain the state. The result is a society of anxiety. An alternative is found in the society of the God of liberation, as Moses found on Mt. Sinai. What lessons can we in contemporary society draw from these images?

March 11: Unpacking Sinai
The Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai laid down a different principle from that which governed Pharaoh, a principle based on Gods abundant provision. Deuteronomy then broadened their focus on the common good into a social ethic. From Old Testament times to contemporary times, how do Gods acts of generosity break the anxiety of scarcity? How can we affirm a life of Gods generosity rather than nightmare of Pharaohs scarcity?

March 25: Jeremiahs Truth
As history unfolds in the Old Testament, the prophets of Israel come to advocate for a return to the integrity and truth embodied in the law of Sinai and Deuteronomy. Jeremiah in particular summons the people of God to renewed faithfulness. He calls them to challenge the states claims of domination and power. How is the justice of Sinai and Deuteronomy relevant to our own day?

April 1: Finding Jeremiah Today
How can we expand the prophetic voice to answer the needs of the world today? What would be the implications for truth and faithful living? What would be the implications for a culture of domination and power when faced with a hope for life beyond the demands of empire?

Chistmas Time’s a Comin’

Tim O’Brien and Bryan Sutton with Danny Barnes performing Christmas Time’s a Comin’ at Cumberland Caverns.

Learning to be content, choosing not to complain

While reading Exodus and Numbers earlier this year, I was stopped in my tracks as I read about God’s reaction when people complained. Exodus 16:2-3 says, “The entire Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat and ate all the bread we wanted. Instead, you brought us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of hunger!’” While the community aimed their complaints at Moses and Aaron, throughout the OT God repeatedly says that it was him who brought Israel out of Egypt. In v. 8, part of Moses response is “Who are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the LORD.”

 In chapter 16, God hears their complaints and provides for their needs with quail and manna. Verse 11 says, “The LORD spoke to Moses, ‘I have heard the complaints of the Israelites. Tell them: At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will eat bread until you are full. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’” God chose to hear this complaint as a prayer and meet their need.

But in Numbers 21:4-9, the complaint is against the very sustenance God provided in Exodus 16 and God’s reaction is different. Verses 5-6, “The people spoke against God and Moses: ‘Why have you led us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!’ Then the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and they bit them so that many Israelites died.”

While in Exodus, the complaints to God were sin, God had mercy on the complainers and provided them the sustennace they needed for the next 40 years. Here, the people complain again (and it’s not the first time since the Exodus complaint) and God does not have mercy this time. Now he sends poisonous snakes.

I am struck deeply by the Word of God here when I see that complaining about the blessings God has given is sin against him. Rather than complain about what God has given us, we are called to give thanks. 1 Chronicles 16:8 says, “Give thanks to the LORD; call on His name; proclaim His deeds among the peoples.”

Looking back at Exodus 16 (manna) and Numbers 21 (snakes), I’m also reminded of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7:9-12 where he says, “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

As I think about these passages and others like Galatians 5:22-23 and Isaiah 9:6 (in Isaiah, Jesus is called the “Prince of Peace” and in Galatians one of the items listed as the “fruit of the Spirit” is peace), I am stopped in my tracks and deeply convicted about my own complaints. I find myself in the habit of complaining about problems at work, problems with my house, problems in friendships and business relationships. And now that I read this I am bowed before God to get out of this habitual complaining … to find peace with God and peace with myself.

As those who are obiedent to Christ, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, it is important for us to have peace in our lives. Peace with God is discovering that the road we are on is the exact road that he has put us on. Ps 139:16 says, “Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all [my] days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.”

Paul says in Phillippians 4:11 that he has learned to be content in whatever circumstances he’s in. I think it is interesting and important he doesn’t say that God has made him to be content but that he has learned to be content. I believe the Holy Spirit is his teacher, but while Peace is part of the fruit of the Spirit, we have to learn to seek God first and to trust him completely (cf. Joshua 1:9).

Impact of Spiritual Leaders on a Community

Earlier this year, Dr. Joan Gray, moderator of the PC(USA), spoke at Covenant-First Presbyterian Church, in Cincinnati. During her presentation she said, “A church can never rise above the spiritual growth of its elders.” I think this is an important point for any church leader, elder or otherwise, to consider.

As I’ve participated in many churches and denominations across the U.S. and Canada (probably not nearly as many as Dr. Gray), I’ve noticed that typically it is not the pastoral staff that stagnates or stimulates the spiritual growth of a congregation but it is the elders and lay leaders that have the most impact.

When invited into leadership positions, each individual should consider the responsibility that comes with the position and if they are equipped for the position. It may be prestigious to be in leadership, but the roles and responsibilities that come with the position are sometimes less than prestigious. Spiritual maturity is often evidenced by how the leaders handle difficult situations.

Consider the example of Nehemiah, who recognized sin in his community. Immediately he  “sat down and wept and mourned for days, and continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven….” And when he prayed, he repented of the sins of the community. He sought God in repentance and then followed God for the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

When the Bible provides examples of Godly-leadership, the examples are those of servant-leaders who are not seeking their own prestige but are seeking the well-being of the community for the glory of God. When church leaders, lay or ordained, take on the role of a servant-leader they will be called to lead communities to repentance as well as to proclaim the Word of God.

Dr. Douglas Kelly, of Reformed Theological Seminary, says that each of us are called to be priest, prophet and king. He says that too much emphasis on any one of these roles in the life of a believer is dangerous. I would assert, too much emphasis on any one of these roles in the life a leader is dangerous to a congregation or a denomination. A servant-leader is one who understands the difference between these three roles and knows when to appropriately apply the right principles. In case its not clear:

• A prophet proclaims the Word of God
• A priest comforts the hurting
• A king cares for the administrative needs of the community

The New Testament is clear that all followers of Christ are called to these roles but not all are called to be elders and deacons. But I also think the example of Amos is an important one, when there is not a leader to proclaim the truth, sometimes a vine-dresser is called to do that job. So when leaders sin, God can, and does, raise up someone to keep them accountable.

Leaders must also keep one another accountable. If pastor or professor disavows the diety of Christ, it is the responsibility of the leadership (moderator, president, pastor, elder or deacon) to deal with the heresy in a biblical manner, a servant-leader sometimes gently prods (Jesus and Peter) and sometimes tears down (Jesus and the temple).  If a leader puts too much emphasis on the administrative needs of the community, those who are hurting are not comforted and the Word of God is not proclaimed.

But servant-leadership doesn’t come naturally to us, we must learn it through study of the life of Christ, deep levels of Bible study, and mentoring from good Christian leadership.  Churches must strive to pass on the faith, as well as the models of leadership that are found in Scripture. As new generations come into leadership, they must know that there will be many voices calling to them to respond in certain ways, but the call of God is to a Biblical approach to the issues that face us in our daily lives.

When leaders are unprepared for the challenges they will face, lacking the foundational knowledge and maturity in faith, the damage they can leave on the community can last for generations.

Escher’s Perspectives

Back in college my friend Byron introduced me to M.C. Escher, the artist famous for some unique perspectives on symmetry and his mathematical prints. Some of his most popular works include Belvedere, Waterfall and Ascending and Descending. These three (and many of his other works) provide unique perspectives of a 3D world on a 2D canvas.

The M.C. Escher Web site has provided some interesting “Virtual Rides” through these three works to help see the perspective Escher brings out in his work. The Virtual Ride through Belvedere gave me a new appreciation for this work, which I never gave much thought to before. And the Virtual Ride through Waterfall is equally interesting. As for the Virtual Ride through Ascending and Descending, I thought it was somewhat less interesting, but maybe you will see something in it I haven’t yet seen.

If you have any interest in Escher, these Virtual Rides are worth a few minutes of exploration.

How do you think different unique perspectives like these from Escher, help us to see real life differently?

Humility of Christ

Reprinted from Called by the King, published by Covenant-First Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati

Read Philippians 2:1-11

No doubt as you drive through most any neighborhood this week you will notice bright lights and plastic figures adorning most of the yards. We know that Jesus wasn’t born in the midst of bright lights or plastic figures. No, he was born in a barn, in the dark, among living, breathing, snorting animals. Matthew and Luke also tell us there was: a special star, kings bearing gifts, an angelic proclamation to shepherds, singing and worship. Angels are proclaiming his coming to shepherds as all of heaven watches and here on earth, there is not even a room for him.

Even as the gospels paint this vibrant picture for us, there is still more happening behind the scene as God comes to earth to participate in humanity. Paul has that in view here in Philippians 2 as he describes Jesus humility. Paul’s description of Jesus’ humility in verses 5-8 feels like a downward spiral. You can almost see Jesus putting on layers of humility as this song builds towards its center.

Paul’s song of Jesus’ humility challenges us in many ways, not only to see Christmas in a different light but also reveal the depth of Jesus’ obedient sacrifice in the light of eternity and the nature of God. The humble beginnings of the Incarnate Jesus in a barn are not just to add flavor to an interesting tale of a man who rises above his circumstances. But the humility of Jesus is part of his work, the work that is not complete until he dies on a cross.

While the work of Jesus is complete, the song in our passage does not end here. The obedient humility of Jesus and his work has a purpose that includes the exaltation of Christ and the glory of the Father.

Questions for Reflection

1. (v 3) How does Paul direct us to apply Christ’s humility to our own lives?

2. (vv 5-7) How should our attitude mimic Jesus’ attitude?

3. (v 7) How did Christ take on the nature of a servant?

4. (vv 8-9) To whom was Jesus obedient?

5. (v 11) What is the purpose of Christ’s humility?

6. How have you followed Christ’s example by being a servant to others?

7. How does the humility of Christ challenge you at work and in your family?

8. What purpose does humility serve in your life?

Prayer

Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus you are the highly exalted King who is seated at the right hand of the Father. Thank you for the humility of the Incarnation and the sacrifice for our sins on the cross. As the day approaches on which we observe the celebration of the Incarnation, filter out the bright plastic and blinking lights and give me eyes to see the humility of Christ Jesus and the glory of God this Advent season. Give me a willingness to be a servant and to look out for the interest of others that you might receive glory and praise. Amen.

Related Posts

http://rodford.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/advent-devotional-for-2008/

Banjo Cheer

“Banjo Cheer,” written by John Douglas, first appeared in the December 1911 issue of The Cadenza, a string instrument magazine of the time. These are his words.

Christmas seems to be a good and appropriate time to discourse on banjo cheer, for all the instruments the banjo is par-excellence the one most strikingly adapted to moments of comfortable joviality.

Happy is he who with the magic light of the open fire shining on his face, and the cracking of nuts sounding in his ears, can nurse his old JO and draw from its strings the lovely strains of Annie Lori.

Talking about banjo cheer, my biggest experience of it happened some fifteen years ago in Northwest Canada a few miles above Medicine Hat.

As a solitary homesteader with only a horse for company and the nearest neighbor nine miles away, I set out one Christmas eve to visit the homestead of a friend, some good distance across the snow blanked prairie. My horse had unfortunately gone lame, so I had to force to walk, a decide ling foolish thing to do in the far North West in the dead of winter, with the skies portending to snow. I had not traveled more than five miles when the wind began to rise, the thermometer stood no doubt at about nine below zero, and it was destine to go lower before the morning.

Soon snow began to fall, and near my journey’s end I found myself in as blinding a blizzard as ever struck the land. I felt the piercing cold all the more keenly on account of the storming wind, and I became afraid that I would never see the end of my trip, I staggered blindly forward in what I thought the right direction, but at the end of an hour I had to acknowledge that I was hopelessly lost.

Over the darkness the raging blizzard and the stinging cold I began to feel stupid and tired. I had begun to long to take a rest that I knew would be dangerous to me when I suddenly ran head-first into what was clearly a straw stack, I was very thankful for this piece of luck, for I could burrow into the stack to windward and thus save my precious life.

The stack might be only fifty yards away from some settler’s cabin, or it might be half a mile away. The straw stacks are left wherever the trashing is done. I knew better than to go wandering in search of something I could not see, and it was not long before I had burrowed into the huge pile of straw eight feet or more, sheltered completely from the wind I lay and listened to the raging of the storm without. By kicking my feet together and beating my hands vigorously, I managed to keep from actually become frozen.

But, towards morning I must have slept I dreamt I was at home with my old banjo on my knee and somehow it seemed to be playing itself in a light ethereal tone, then I became aware of something pricking my face, it was the straw. I open my eyes and saw that the sun was shining brightly outside the stack, and yes, but no I must be still dreaming was that a real banjo I heard.

Faintly to be sure, but a banjo never-the-less it must be.

I scrambled out of the stack and there but a few yards away stood a sod shanty and a stable, and sure enough, as I stumbled forward through snowdrifts coming faintly to my ears I heard the dear old melody of “Come All Ye Faithful,” and a banjo, a good old banjo, a real one, truly banjo cheer par excellence.

Yes perhaps you can get good cheer out of other mediums but for banjoists a banjo every time.

So saying, I wish everyone a right merry Christmas

Advent at the bottom of the sea

During Advent my pastor, Russell Smith, is speaking from Jonah during the Wednesday afternoon service. I have to admit I never gave much thought to Jonah in the context of Advent, but last Wednesday in the midst of Jonah’s prayer in chapter 2, our pastor showed how as Jonah looks to the temple he looks to the place of Israel’s sacrifices, the place of that represented God’s presence in the community. And the place that points to Jesus, Immanuel, God with Us as proclaimed by Matthew. Russell pointed out that as Jonah looks toward the Holy Temple, we too can look toward Jesus when we are sinking and the darkness closes in and the seaweed wraps around us.

I don’t remember if Russell pointed it out, but re-reading Jonah 2 today, I’m struck by the contrast between verse 2 and verse 3. In verse 2, Jonah says he cried out to God for help and in verse 3, he says that God threw him “into the depths, into the heart of the seas and the currents overcame me. All Your breakers and Your billows swept over me.”

Jonah recognizes that God answers his prayer for help by throwing him into the sea. And that it is God’s ocean, God’s waves that sweep over him. This also reminds me of the storm that so scared the apostles, they woke up Jesus who was sleeping in the hull of the boat. After he calmed the seas and the storm, there were amazed that the seas obeyed him. Jesus in the NT, Yahweh in the OT both control the seas. It is God’s sea to move and stir as he desires.

I used to be a search and rescue scuba diver. The challenges that face a search and rescue diver are primarily psychological. During the training I spent a lot of time on the bottom of the Ohio River, unable to see any thing, surrounded by darkness and often the only diver in the water. In normal scuba training you are taught to never dive alone, always have a buddy. In search and rescue diving, you dive alone because another diver may be searching another location. There may be a safety diver standing by in case of emergency, but you dive alone. And at the bottom of the Ohio River the darkness is complete. I literally couldn’t see my own hand when I touched my mask. During training, the search and rescue diver spends a lot of time learning to deal with the isolation and claustrophobia. I can remember vividly battling feelings that the world was closing in on me as I simply sat on the bottom of the Ohio River during a training event. I was only 30 feet down, with lots of safety divers and tenders in place and still the feelings of isolation were real.

One particular training event was an evening session. As I sat on the bottom of the river, I realized my breathing apparatus was not working properly. Rather than breathe normally, I actually had to pull air from the tank with my lungs. Every breath was laborious. I should have indicated the problem to someone but I stuck it out. Battling through the fear and pain to complete the training session. With every breath I not only had to struggle to breathe but also to stay focused on the task and not fight my way to the surface, where open spaces and air would be plentiful. It was one of the toughest mental challenges I’ve ever faced.

As Russell spoke of Jonah being over come by the watery depths, I was reminded of this experience and how much worse it was for Jonah who had no air supply before being swallowed by the fish. And how Jonah’s experience of the watery depths speaks beyond the oceans into other situations. I also remember being in some dark times when I was not under water in a polluted river; feeling like the watery depths were over taking me, longing for the green pastures and still waters of Psalm 23. And somehow in the darkness and isolation, knowing God was present.

Russell ended the service with his usual blessing and while I’ve heard it more than 75 times I guess, today it struck me deeply. As he said, “may [Jesus] go above you to watch over you, beside you to befriend you, behind you to encourage you, within you to give you peace, and before you to show you the way” … I was especially struck today by the “behind you to encourage you” portion. I was struck deeply by the idea that God would want to encourage me. Encourage me to look to the Holy Temple in the midst of darkness I may face. In Jesus, God has given his Word and his Son to bring us light. In the Holy Spirit, God is present with us to encourage us even while we sit in darkness on what seems like the bottom of an ocean.

Thanksgiving in God’s presence

Today, I had the opportunity to speak at the CVG Interfaith Chapel at the Northern Kentucky / Cincinnati International Airport. The message I brought from the Bible follows:

Read Psalm 23

This is perhaps one of the most recognizable Psalms in the Bible. Many of us have grown up memorizing it or hearing it quoted often. Because we are so comfortable with this Psalm, sometimes we can forget the truths it declares about God and about ourselves.

The first four verses describe God as a shepherd–an image often seen in the Bible. The shepherd is the one who is always present with the sheep. He is the One who leads. And the Psalm shows us that God not only leads, he renews and he comforts.

And because of his presence, his leadership, the sheep can lie down in green pastures beside quiet waters. This is a scene of contentment and satisfaction. In this Psalm, the sheep are us, those who put their trust in God for their guidance and protection. Those who put their trust in God for their very lives. And from God we receive renewed life.

Lee said that in 1620 the Pilgrims began with 102 members of the Plymouth Colony and by 1621 there were only 52 of them left. Those that survived did so on just 5 kernels of corn a day. I had more than that for breakfast and I suspect most of us here today did too. This is a scene much like that described in verse 4 where the journey for the sheep goes through the darkest valley. While the Pilgrims had been through a dark valley, they still gathered to give thanks to God for his blessings.

The most detailed description of the “First Thanksgiving” comes from Edward Winslow from A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, in 1621:

Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, among other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed upon our governor, and upon the captain, and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.

While 1620 and 1621 were very different for the Pilgrims, they had hope for the future. Hope not because their bellies were suddenly full or because they were trying to look for a silver lining in it all. They had hope because they recognized that the goodness they received was from God. God was present to lead, comfort, renew and provide the blessing of the feast.

As the Psalm continues in verse 5 it shifts to the image of God as a host at a feast table. It is a table that God himself has prepared. We are invited to sit at the table of God and to enjoy his blessings. Blessings that provide for our spiritual needs and our physical needs.

Just as the Shepherd is present in the pasture or the valley, the Host is present at the table. Just as the Shepherd carries a staff to guide and to protect, the host prepares the meal to meet the needs of the participants.

Tomorrow we will gather at my mom’s house just as we have almost every year. She will prepare a turkey with dressing and what may be the best pumpkin pie you’ve ever tasted. She prepares the meal from the resources of her own cupboard. In the same way God prepares to meet the needs of those who come to his table from his own resources. The Creator has a mighty big cupboard, enough to meet our needs and more.

As we gather at God’s table, putting our trust in him for our sustenance, we give thanks to him for his blessing.

Paul writes in Philippians 4:12-13, “I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content– whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

As we sit at the Thanksgiving table tomorrow, we will reflect on the past year. Some of us will reflect on great success while others may reflect on deep grief. Some will reflect on friends and family while others may think about fame or wealth. But regardless of our reflection tomorrow or the size of the harvest that is before us, the most important reflection is on the presence of God.

The last verse of the Psalm is about the presence of God and our participation in his presence. As God is our shepherd in the pasture or the host at the table, He is present to lead, comfort, and renew. And so we give our thanks to God, thanking Him for the blessings that only come from him.

Think about that and share your thoughts with those you will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day tomorrow. May God bless you with his presence throughout the holidays and the new year.

The full text of the complete service is online at the CVG Chapel web site at http://cvgchapel.wordpress.com/2008/11/26/thanksgiving-eve-service-at-cvg

Post-election thinking

Today, I’ve read and even been shouted at some different reactions to the election of the 44th POTUS. Some of reacted wth worry about the next four years. As I waited on the bus today, a passerby was shouting “Obama!, Obama!, Obama!” at everyone she saw. She was giddy with excitement. I’m not sure I remember an election outcome creating such polar expressions. [Disclaimer: I lived out of the country when Clinton was elected, so I have no idea what reactions, if any, may have been expressed.]

Those who know me well, know I’m a conservative. I may be the most conservative thinker most of them know. But as one of the most liberal thinkers in Congress comes to the Executive Branch I am not fearful, I am not bristling with emotion. The past couple of years, I’ve learned that it doesn’t make sense to trust in any man but rather to put all of my “eggs of trust into one basket.” That is to say, to trust in the One who establishes the authority.

Romans 13:1 is clear that God establishes authority. Daniel 4:17 is clear that God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men.

Proverbs 21:1 says,
“A king’s heart is a water channel in the LORD’s hand:
He directs it wherever He chooses.”

So while I participated in the rights I have in our political process yesterday, I approached the day with prayer, knowing that it is God who is choosing who takes up residence in the White House in January 2009. And that it is God who holds the heart of the president in his hand.

And so, I turned to Psalms 118:8-9 where I read God’s word teaching me where my trust should be.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.

I know that God has purposes and that he will accomplish those purposes regardless of who lives where, or what lever I pull in the voting booth. God is not sitting on the throne wondering what he will do if voters choose option A or B. He is working in our lives to accomplish his purposes. Even when we think we are pulling the switches, God is sovereign (1 Tim 6:15) and nothing has changed that.