Chester's Cheetos

My "Minister" Annual Report for 2011

2012-02-03T09:52:00.000-08:00

The title is the link. What a year 2011 was!

Teacher Jesus - Mark 1:21-28

2012-01-29T12:25:00.000-08:00

Title is link to sermon transcript. Got some good feedback on this one....
Worship was awesome this Sunday morning; counted 102 which packs out our little sanctuary. Almost everyone I invited came. Gil Flores and Holly Roach led praise music. And we were praising God.
Kids led some of the readings and did a great job. Thanks be to God for a great morning.

Children of Haiti

2012-01-26T00:02:00.000-08:00

In this powerful documentary, the story of three homeless children is told, intertwined with the telling of the reality of the 500,000 homeless street children of that country; an estimated number before the 2010 earthquake. After seeing the film, and recalling the ousting of then Haitian President Aristide in 2004; I could not help but weep. I was reminded by a friend of a sign displayed in Cuba that says in Spanish something like, "The world has X number of homeless children...none of them lives in Cuba."

One of the three boys is recorded toward the end of the film (about minute 46:30) saying of the "sanguine" or "soulless" as the street kids are called: "A lot of us have talent, we are intelligent, but we can't find anyone to help us. If there was a serious government, they would do everything possible to help us. Then we would have a good country; where violence would go down; there would be no kidnappings and corruption; people wouldn’t just use the country for personal gain; and the country would be beautiful, like so many other big countries. Haiti is going to change; Haiti must change; but we have to put our hands together. It’s then that we’ll honor ourselves, as a people with liberty, equality, and brotherhood. Then God will bless Haiti."

May God bless Haiti indeed....

Moving Forward Together

2012-01-24T07:14:00.000-08:00

The title is a link is to a presentation I gave to the elders and deacons and others who attended in August of 2011 in the WPC social hall. It is a reflection on what some of my ministry at WPC has looked like over the past (now five) years, and a challenge to a new direction in doing ministry together. Consider it an upgrade from home phones with a rotary dial to a cell phone. Or maybe Apple OS 4.0 to Apple OS 8.0 (still a ways to go to get to OS 11).

Fishing Stories

2012-01-22T06:21:00.000-08:00

Sermon for Sunday (title is link)

Strange "run in" at Smiths

2012-01-21T20:17:00.000-08:00

Had to "run in" to pick up a few things at Smith's this evening; was feeling pretty good after a visit with a cool family, the Grahams, who just lost their mother. It's amazing what I sometimes notice when in a mood to look and really see.

As I was walking in one set of sliding doors, I saw a man with a stern face walking out pulling a small luggage cart with wheels. There was commotion behind him. Store clerks were yelling, "SIR! STOP!" The alarm sensor was sounding. He wasn't stopping, as his brisk walk turned into a run, and several clerks ran after him....As children and parents starred.

I picked up my items, and after grabbing some milk I saw a woman attempting to scale the food storage racks in order to reach a high item. "Can I help you with that ma'am?" She was grateful as I reached what she was after. Seeing her like that reminded me of Ruby scaling our cupboard and sometimes falling! She laughed when I told her that image.

As I was self-checking out, I saw a man standing with a child about 8 years of age holding a bag of groceries he'd already purchased; and I thought he was trying to communicate with me. He was actually signing to another child who I saw to be on the verge of tears, signing back and holding a bag of chips. I don't read sign, but I knew what the kid was after. I signaled, as I was completing my check out to the apparent father, that I could buy the bag for the kid. He didn't indicate one way or another, but, then came up behind me and handed me the bag...Cheetos no less :).

I scanned it through and handed it back. The kid said, "Thank you!" and both boys gave me a high five.

As I was leaving the Smiths parking lot, police cars were out near the parking lot exit to Cerrillos Rd. The man with the luggage bag had been apprehended. I was sad that whatever his circumstances were, he was in that position, face down, being cuffed....

Rev. Dr. King Preaches at WPC Jan 15, 2012

2012-01-15T08:21:00.001-08:00

Click title to view sermon

It's 11:30pm

2011-12-22T22:33:00.000-08:00

And both of my kids are not asleep. They are living up to the advent motto: Keep Awake! We have been trying since 8:30 to get Ruby to sleep. She doesn't feel well. Zia has been crying out in pain for some of the night; the operation is having its effect....and getting any kind of work done has been almost impossible this week...Oh holy night. Silent night. You are the nights I long for in hours such as these.

Advent4 - Mary

2011-12-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

Surgery for Zia

2011-12-16T01:09:00.000-08:00

Life proceeds, and then the unanticipated happens. This time of year there is a lot of focus on the Holy Family making pilgrimage to Jerusalem in order to be counted for the census. How a woman expecting child was expected (forced?) to make such a journey is beyond modern day thinking, at least for those for whom life is fairly predictable. But, across the world there may be the unexpected that leaves mothers and fathers with little to no choice about having to journey far from home, some of whom may never anticipate except in faint dreams the possibility of returning. Because Trasie and I were asked to be the Holy Family in this years Christmas Pageant on Dec 24, I have been a little more intentional about paying attention to Mary and Joseph's reality, or at least, the way their experience has been interpreted over the years. Las Posadas processions, the biblical story, and el Dia de la Virgin, all signal us to remember the story and, gradually, it become part of our lives.

While I can't truly conceive of the experience of the Holy Family 2000 years ago, yesterday, I was at a children's clinic of UNM hospital where parents were coming from all over the state to seek any range of treatment for their children. It was difficult to see the looks of desperation on some of the faces of the parents whose children were really struggling. I was impressed by the courage of the caregivers of the hospital to try and address the problems and give peace to the parents/guardians/caregivers of the children.

We were there for Zia. The doctors and techs and nurses were wonderful. We never anticipated leaving Albuquerque with a surgery scheduled for Monday. We thought there would be some additional preliminary steps. However, the doctor assured us that this procedure was one in which we need not worry. The pediatric surgeons, with over 50 years of experience and access to all the necessary equipment, would provide us with the best possible care we can have. And they felt best to take action sooner rather than later, as the mass has grown and they want to know what it is. "Don't worry," we were told (Jesus said that, too)...still working on that one.

So, with pending surgery, we now must make a journey we didn't anticipate; one we would prefer not to make; but one that is necessary. Through all of this, we are being reminded of how necessary it is to trust. Trust that ultimately, in the midst of all the variables and potential scenarios that could have played out, we proceed with confidence that Zia is in God's loving care. As I sat with Zia last night on the bed, before lights were turned out, she was in a wonderful quiet alert state. She was looking curiously in many directions; her arms were active, her lips pursing and relaxing, her tongue protruding and retracting. My heart was ready to burst out of my chest.

We invite any who would care to, to join us in trusting and in prayer. We do not yet know the time of the surgery, as they will call us to confirm today, but we anticipate the morning. It should last an hour, and the results of the analysis should come before the end of the week.

As a result of this unanticipated event, we, as a family, most likely will not able to be the Holy Family for the pageant. If there is a couple interested in subbing (Allan and Rachelle? Antonio and Liz? Jessica and Edgar? anyone else?), we'll take the sub! I most likely will be without my wife and youngest for the pageant, but Ruby will be ready with all of her enthusiasm and cheer, as will many other children. And it will be great!

How - Advent3

2011-12-11T19:58:00.000-08:00

title is a link

Brinca - the great running trainer

2011-12-07T20:49:00.000-08:00

Our dog Brinca is 6 years old. She and I have been running together for six years. Before this year, I've never really tried to improve my running time, as I've just done it casually - for pleasure...no, really. But, there have been many times we've run together and we're just not in sync. She would slow me down! And since she is usually on the leash, it would pull me back. I found it quite annoying. She was especially slow in the summer - a black fur coat doesn't do her any favors. I would intentionally seek places to run where I could let her off leash, but that's not always an option. Adding to some of the frustration of her slowing me down, I found that when I let her off leash, she still had plenty of energy to chase after any moving object in the bushes off trail -- a rabbit or prairie dog. But, she didn't have enough energy to keep up!

But recently, I noticed that it wasn't necessarily that she was slower than me, it was just that our pace was different. My jogging pace was faster than her trot, but her canter was faster than my jog.

I've never really used anything to pace me, to speed me up, but tonight on my jog, I found that if I wanted to run faster and maintain a faster pace, I needed to run at her canter pace. She would never have let me onto this, being a good submitting dog not wanting to drag me (and she's a bit lazy, so maybe didn't mind that I would drag her along).

And just like that, after six years, and several frustrating runs with Brinca "slowing me down", she has all of a sudden become the perfect training partner for me as I seek to improve my running times.

Life is often not what it initially seems. So much of our enjoyment of life is simply a matter of perspective. Sometimes we don't realize the gift that others (people and animals) are to us.

Thanks, Brinca for being a great running dog.

Advent 2- CommunityUnoccupied

2011-12-04T15:47:00.000-08:00

Advent1 - CommunityAwake - Isaiah 64:1-9

2011-11-27T14:17:00.000-08:00

A video to a dance

2011-11-17T01:39:00.000-08:00

This guy's movements (amazing) say to me, "You have a newborn a two year old and aren't getting much sleep."
Sorry I can't embed the video, but worth a 2 minute watch.

http://www.wimp.com/streetdance/

Prayers for Peace

2011-11-16T22:03:00.001-08:00

From an interfaith email I received:

Hindu Prayer for Peace

Lead us from darkness to the light.
Peace, Peace, Peace unto all.
May there be peace on earth.
May the waters be appeasing.
May trees and plants bring peace to all.
May all beneficent beings bring peace to all.

May all things be a source of peace for us.

Buddhist Prayer for Peace

May all beings everywhere
Plagued with sufferings of mind and body
Be quickly freed from their suffering.
May those frightened cease to be afraid,
And may those bound, be free.
May the powerless find power,
And may people think of befriending one another.
May those who find themselves
In trackless, fearful wilderness--
The very young and the very old,
The unprotected and those in poverty--
Be surrounded by great compassion and love.

Christian Prayer for Peace

St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of thy Peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen

Zia Lanier Topple - born Oct 29, 2011

2011-11-09T14:32:00.000-08:00

Because Trasie was considered a high risk pregnancy, in addition to having low fluid in her uterus during the final week of pregnancy AND the 2 cm growth on the developing baby's bottom, her doctors recommended she go in when contractions were consistent at 10 minutes apart. When she woke me up at 2 am on Saturday, Oct 29 and told me that this was the case, I said to her, "Let's wait until they are 7 and a half minutes apart?" Not a great performance on my part; I'm hard to rouse at that hour, no matter the circumstance. When I came to my senses, we were off to St. Vincent's in a flash.

Labor was fairly mild....from my perspective anyway. Contractions slowly became more frequent that by 5 am we were moved from triage and to our own labor room. Different from last time when she was connected to an IV and restricted in movement, Trasie was freer to move about and even get in the jacuzzi--which she did! Her mother, Suegra, came about 7, and there we encouraged Trasie as she did her thing. About 11:30am, we became a little restless predicting another false alarm, "This baby's not coming 'til tomorrow," we both agreed. Trasie was silent on this issue, just reminding us when she was having another contraction. Suegra and Papa Dale went off to get a bite to eat at noon, and no sooner had they walked out of the room did groans I hadn't heard since Ruby Gene's birth, came, reminding me of hidden memories from 2 and three quarter years ago. I didn't panic, remembering that these went on for about 4 hours with Ruby. However, I now was convinced that the baby was coming sooner rather than later. I sent a quick text to Suegra, "Contractions getting more intense."

About 30 minutes later, Trasie requested a revisit to the jacuzzi. I asked the nurse, Julie Paige, it it would be okay. "Sure," she said, "after we give her another dose of antibiotics" Trasie would never make it back to the jacuzzi. Hooked up to her IV, she was limited in movement. Time suddenly began to speed up dramatically. The moans from room 3619 were echoing in the hallway. I sent another text to my suegra: "Come asap!" Trasie yelled, "This baby's coming." All of us - the nurses, Trasie's mother, the on-call doctor (who was at his child's soccer game), even me - had been incredulous. Now we believed! Activity picked up in the room: nurses were coming in and out, the cart with surgical tools and the "baby receptical" were brought in, and Suegra came rushing in. Suegra took her place opposite me, as we were flanked Trasie. Since no doctor was around, nurses began to debate who would put the catcher's mit on: "you're in midwifery school" "I'm not done with the program yet; besides you've got more experience." Had I had my wits about me, I'm sure I would have stepped in and said, "I'll catch this baby!" But instead, I paniced a bit and shouted, "Where's the....." I stopped, what good did it do to intensify the already intense atmosphere. Ironically, we almost moved back to Atlanta out of concern for the well being of this baby, and here we were, about to give birth, and there was no doctor present...

Soft music from Nakai sounded over the iPad. The room was spinning.

Trasie pushed once, then twice, and a purple head was unveiled. "The cord is wrapped around the baby's neck," said the catching nurse. "Cut it!" directed another. Trembling hands held scissors that snipped the tangled cord from the neck.

Another push and out she came!

And just like that, at 1:21 pm, Oct 29, 2011, Zia Lanier Topple nearly became the 7 billionth human being to populate the Earth.

She was handed to her mother. Is there anything more pure and beautiful than a newborn in her mother's arms? Flesh upon flesh. Grace upon grace. God is good.

What happens on September 11 after 9/11?

2011-09-11T08:02:00.000-07:00

¡Que viva la fiesta! I've seen many signs up around town announcing events, part of Fiesta, that take place on Sept 11. Before 10 years ago, I wouldn't have thought twice about having a circus on Sept 11, but now, I had to ask, is that an appropriate way to acknowledge what happened? My friend, George, was born on Sept 11. 11 years ago this date meant nothing more to him than the date his mama gave birth to him. Now, he wonders if he should celebrate his birthday on that date. When I lived in Santiago Chile in the year 2002-3, one of their main streets is named 11 de septiembre. Had I been there 2 years earlier, I may not have even noticed there was a street with that title (it marks the day the coup de'etat that took place in that country in 1973). Ignorant of Chilean history, when I saw the name of the street, I thought to myself, gee, that was nice of this country to recognize the tragedy of 9/11. This year, Sunday Sept 11 before 10 years ago, would have simply be another Sunday in the life of the church. The first Sunday after labor day; life as usual. But, the media, and our memories will continue to remind us that we live in a "post-9/11" reality in the United States. And so we will observe the events that take place 10 years ago, as well as what has come in the aftermath. And at the heart of the worship service will be the theme of forgiveness (Matt 18:21-35), as we continue our series: The Heaven on Earth Project, A Systemic Overhaul. As Christians, Jesus is most clear about the necessity of forgiveness. Yet, in our society, our response when we feel someone has done us harm is the seek retribution, which we call "justice", and we are very good at holding onto bitterness and hatred instead of forgiving. This is another area where we, who seek to be disciples of Jesus, need a Systemic Overhaul. With this in mind, and in light of the spirit of Zozobra, we will attempt to ritualize our own need to forgive, and seek to live as more liberated and forgiving disciples in the world.

Heaven on Earth Project: A Systemic Overhaul pt. 1

2011-08-28T22:58:00.001-07:00

The Heaven on Earth Project: A Systemic Overhaul, pt. 1

One of my all-time favorite teachers was Mr. Middleton, 8th Grade earth science. He was 5 - 6, African American, with long dripping jheri curls.

To be honest, I don’t remember much of the earth science part. But I remember him climbing on top of his desk to get our attention.

He would hold his prepubescent audience captive captive by espousing life philosophies which have stuck with me even after all those years. 1990.

Might, might not, you can never tell, more than likely, not hardly.

Don’t talk about anybody, unless they are famous or a politician.

My favorite:
You don’t have to do anything! (that was great for an eight grader who didn’t do his homework. Middleton had no problem flunking anyone - teaching there are consequences for not doing)

Unless he taught us that the earth was round, I don’t remember much of earth science, but I remember those things.
We remember our favorite teachers.
But sometimes, we don’t always remember the purpose of their teachings.

Who are some of your favorite teachers?

Do you consider Jesus one of your favorite teachers?
Well, what was the point of his teachings?

[What follows draws heavily from Cynthia Beaurgault’s Wisdom Jesus:]
We may remember:
The good samaritan. prodigal son, lords prayer.
some beatitudes.

What was he trying to teach?

One texas theologian who remembers after growing up going to sunday school week after week, coming away with the whole of Jesus teaching in this way:
“Jesus is nice, and he wants us to be nice, too.”

Is that what Jesus wants from his followers? To be nice?

I wonder why we don’t know more about what he taught.

Well, most of Jesus’ teachings were in parables.
And sure, a few of his parables are easy to understand.
But, most really are difficult to understand.

Jesus said: The reason I speak to them in parables is that "seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.' (Matt 13:13)

No wonder we don’t spend must time on his teachings.
We’re just being obedient, we don’t understand.

And aside from parables, Jesus taught hard to and impractical lessons such as love your enemies; yet, our country, where the majority say they are Christian, loves to make war.

Jesus taught: Do not Judge,

yet the American Church is infamously known as being judgemental.

Jesus taught: “it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Yet, the American Dream implies accumulation of wealth and things.

As a result of the difficulty of understanding and much less applying Jesus’ teachings,
for the past 1600 years in the church, there seems to have been a lot more emphasis teaching about Jesus, instead of what he taught.
Many Christians have been trained fairly well in systems of belief.
having the right belief. Doctrines and dogmas.
If we can believe the right things, That will save us.
So we make sure we call Jesus God and human,
affirm his birth by a virgin
His Suffering under pontious pilate. His crucifiction, death, burial, and on the third day, her rose again from the dead. He assended into heaven. And sittith on the right hand of God the Father almighty!
We have learned pretty well teachings about Jesus
But, the earliest followers of the way of Jesus seemed much more focused on what Jesus taught, than on right doctrine.

And maybe we should, too.

The rubber hits the road not in what we can affirm about Jesus, but in putting his teachings into practice.
Jesus says this himself:

"Not everyone who says to me,
"Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven..”

So today, and in the following 5 weeks we are going to look at some of these evidently intentionally confounding teachings,
with a specific emphasis on when Jesus teaches about “the kingdom of heaven.”
The kingdom of heaven.

Quite often, when we think kingdom of heaven, we think of that home far away, up in the sky. sweet by and by. Heaven. The place of the afterlife. The place where we one day hope to go.
But, is that what Jesus is talking about?

At the beginning of matthew’s gospel, John the Baptist appears in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." (Matthew 3:1-2)
Jesus, [too] proclaimed, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." matthew 4:17
that doesn’t sound like some place way off in the distance?
It has come near; it is at hand.
Even, it is within--something accessible to you right here an now.

Another way in which people have understood the kingdom of heaven is that is it is some kind of political utopia. An earthly utopia.
realm in which there is an equal distribution of goods - a sign of God’s justice.
But, Jesus seems to deny this as well.
His own people wanted him to be the Messiah who would establish this earthly utopia--

A political system which would re-establish the reign of David.

But Jesus rejects that understanding, and instead accepted the cross.

But perhaps what Jesus is getting at in his teachings, is a systemic overhaul within the minds of his students.
He teaches, so that our system --the system of our minds--experiences a complete overhaul.

It has been suggested that “kingdom of heaven” is a code word for a state of consciousness.
Not a place you go to, but a place you come from.

A transformed consciousness.

Non-dual consciousness. Or unitive consciousness.
Non duality is a state of no separation.
No separation between God and humans,
no separation between humans and humans,
No separation between humans and creation.

We are one. Somos Uno.

The transformation of consciousness is the repentance that Jesus may be talking about.
The word “repent” comes from the greek: metanoia -
Repent may not really mean:
feel bad or feel sorry for yourself for all the bad things you’ve done.

Instead meta noia - literally means go beyond the mind,

or go into your larger mind.

See with the eye of the heart,
JEsus is the master of repentance,

as he leads followers see with the heart.

For those who know computers, think of it like upgrading your operating system.
From OS Binary to OS Unitive

we’re calling this series on Jesus’ teachings about the kingdom of heaven:

The Heaven on Earth Project: A Systemic Overhaul

This title, suggested by Holly Roach, a new comer to WPC, gets to exactly what I think Jesus is trying to teach.

For starters, we’re going to get a glimpse of these kingdom of heaven sayings and parables.
A sampler plate of Jesus teachings.
And then week by week, we’ll look more in depth.

Jesus talks about the Kingdom of Heaven throughout Matthew sometimes in short phrases,
sometimes in parables,

to describe what the kingdom of heaven is like.

This morning six different people or groups are going to present on these parables in their own creative and fun way.

Each narrator is saying the words of Jesus but,
most of the translations they will be using come from the Message Translation.
So it may sound a bit different from what you’re used to for more familiar parables.

The Heaven on Earth Project: A systemic overhaul.

Hear what Jesus teaches his followers:

9"Are you listening to this? Really listening?"

Cindy: Matt 13:25-30
Jesus told a story. "The kingdom of heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. That night, while his hired men were asleep, his enemy sowed thistles all through the wheat and slipped away before dawn. When the first green shoots appeared and the grain began to form, the thistles showed up, too.
27"The farmhands came to the farmer and said, 'Master, that was clean seed you planted, wasn't it? Where did these thistles come from?'
28"He answered, 'Some enemy did this.'
  "The farmhands asked, 'Should we weed out the thistles?'
29-30"He said, 'No, if you weed the thistles, you'll pull up the wheat, too. Let them grow together until harvest time. Then I'll instruct the harvesters to pull up the thistles and tie them in bundles for the fire, then gather the wheat and put it in the barn.'"

"Are you listening to this? Really listening?

Mike and Keri:
From Matthew 13:44-51

31-32Another story. "The kingdom of heaven is like a pine nut that a farmer plants. It is quite small as seeds go, but in the course of years it grows into a huge pine tree, and eagles build nests in it."

"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidentally found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic—what a find!—and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field.
45-46"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for excellent pearls. Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it.
47-50"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a fishnet cast into the sea, catching all kinds of fish. When it is full, it is hauled onto the beach. The good fish are picked out and put in a tub; those unfit to eat are thrown away. That's how it will be when the curtain comes down on history. The angels will come and cull the bad fish and throw them in the garbage. There will be a lot of desperate complaining, but it won't do any good."

Another story. "the kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman works into the dough for dozens of loaves of barley bread—and waits while the dough rises."

"Are you starting to get a handle on all this?"

Three: Chavez/Nadell   Mt 18:23-35
23-25"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.
26-27"The poor wretch threw himself at the king's feet and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.
28"The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, 'Pay up. Now!'
29-31"The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.
32-35"The king summoned the man and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?' The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy."

"Are you listening to this? Really listening?

Four: Trasie, Bruce, Little
Mt 20:1-16
1-2 "The kingdom of heaven is like an estate manager who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
They agreed on a wage of a dollar a day, and went to work. "Later, about nine o'clock, the manager saw some other men hanging around the town square unemployed. He told them to go to work in his vineyard and he would pay them a fair wage.
They went.
"He did the same thing at noon, and again at three o'clock. At five o'clock he went back and found still others standing around. He said, 'Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?'
"They said, 'Because no one hired us.'
  "He told them to go to work in his vineyard.
"When the day's work was over, the owner of the vineyard instructed his foreman, 'Call the workers in and pay them their wages. Start with the last hired and go on to the first.'
"Those hired at five o'clock came up and were each given a dollar. When those who were hired first saw that, they assumed they would get far more.
But they got the same, each of them one dollar.
Taking the dollar, they groused angrily to the manager, 'These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.'
"He replied to the one speaking for the rest, 'Friend, I haven't been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn't we?
So take it and go.
I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you. Can't I do what I want with my own money?
Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?'

"Are you listening to this? Really listening?

Five: Holly, Mt 22:1-14
1-3 Jesus told still more stories. "the kingdom of heaven is like a king who threw a wedding banquet for his son. He sent out servants to call in all the invited guests. And they wouldn't come!
4"He sent out another round of servants, instructing them to tell the guests, 'Look, everything is on the table, the prime rib is ready for carving. Come to the feast!'
5-7"They only shrugged their shoulders and went off, one to weed his garden, another to work in his shop. The rest, with nothing better to do, beat up on the messengers and then killed them. The king was outraged and sent his soldiers to destroy those thugs and level their city.
8-10"Then he told his servants, 'We have a wedding banquet all prepared but no guests. The ones I invited weren't up to it. Go out into the busiest intersections in town and invite anyone you find to the banquet.' The servants went out on the streets and rounded up everyone they laid eyes on, good and bad, regardless. And so the banquet was on—every place filled.
11-13"When the king entered and looked over the scene, he spotted a man who wasn't properly dressed. He said to him, 'Friend, how dare you come in here looking like that!' The man was speechless. Then the king told his servants, 'Get him out of here—fast. Tie him up and ship him to hell. And make sure he doesn't get back in.'
14"That's what I mean when I say, 'Many get invited; only a few make it.'"

Are you starting to get a handle on this?

Six. Avery, Mt 25:1-13
Jesus taught: "the kingdom of heaven is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. Five were silly and five were smart. The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. The bridegroom didn't show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep.
6"In the middle of the night someone yelled out, 'He's here! The bridegroom's here! Go out and greet him!'
7-8"The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. The silly virgins said to the smart ones, 'Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.'
9"They answered, 'There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.'
10"They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked.
11"Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, 'Master, we're here. Let us in.'
12"He answered, 'Do I know you? I don't think I know you.'
13"So stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive.

Are you listening?

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Repent, go beyond the mind, and move into the heart.
Let us learn from Jesus’ teaching and be transformed so that as we go, we may proclaim the good news, for "The kingdom of heaven has come near.' (10:11)

Daniel 2:44 NRS

And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall this kingdom be left to another people. It shall crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever;

What do we think of when we hear the kingdom of heaven. Different from the other gospels of Mark Luke and John who speak of the kingdom of God. Jesus, in matthew when talking about a certain kingdom, he says the kingdom of heaven.
At bible study Wednesday, we thought that Kingdom of God makes clear who is the ruler...God.
And kingdom of heaven seems to refer more to a geography. The place where the kingdom is located.

Maybe we can think of it in this way (again Beaurgault)
How many computer geeks are out there?
Well, how many of you use computers?
Do you know what an operating system is?
If your a PC user it’s called Windows
And if your a mac user its called Lion, or Tiger, but not yet Bear.
The computers we buy come with an operating system; and if we have them for a while we usually need to upgrade that operating system in order for them to work better with the latest and greatest apps. Are you with me?

So think of us humans being born or at least growing up with a particular operating system.
The binary operating system. The ability to see difference. To separate.
To distinguish between one thing and another.
We learn how to think in terms of good and bad, right and wrong, up and down, before and after. That is the binary mind.
But, perhaps when Jesus is teaching about the kingdom of heaven, he challenges us to install a new operating system. That of unitive, non-dual thinking. That of seeking one. Of seeing wholeness. That it no longer is about right and wrong, right and left, but,
that in Christ there is no east or west, north or south...
IN christ there is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, ...
We are one.

Our Days Will End

2011-08-18T13:50:00.000-07:00

Many in our society struggle to let go and say goodbye. The Christian Tradition, while providing us healthy optimism for resurrection hope (so long as we, of that Tradition, aren't going around condemning everyone not like us to hell in the process;).

Perhaps because of this anticipation of eternal life, we struggle to let things go and acknowledge that we don't understand what the reality of resurrection means for our lives, nor, because of the resurrection, escape the inevitability of death and its consequences, namely separation and loss, particularly for those we leave behind.

The Buddhist Tradition has language that helps to come to grips with the reality of life's finalities. I think it could be very healthy for us Christians to pay attention to this language so that we may be better suited to face that reality. We affirm life's sacredness. Might we affirm the sacredness of death as well. We celebrate beginnings, might we also learn to celebrate endings. A breathing practice (from Larry Rasmussen's forthcoming book: New Kind of Creature):

Breathing in, I know that I am of the nature

to grow old.

Breathing out, I know I cannot escape old age.

Breathing in, I know that I am of the nature

to get sick

Breathing out, I know that I cannot escape sickness.

Breathing in, I know that I am of the nature

to die.

Breathing out, I know that I cannot escape dying.

Breathing in, I know that one day I will have to

let go of everything and everyone I cherish.

Breathing out, there is no way to bring them

along.

Breathing in, I know that I take nothing with me

except my actions, thoughts, and deeds.

Breathing out, my actions comes with me.

Psalm 105 - Just Making Memories Grounded in God

2011-07-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

Sermon - Psalm 105:1-11, 45b

Topic: Just making memories grounded in God - give thanks. Call on God’s name. make known God’s deeds, sing, and tell of God’s wonderful works.

Today will last 86,400 seconds. How many of those seconds will you remember? It’s likely very few.

Yet, without memories, who are we?
It’s interesting to think about how are memories made?

In our family we use a nice concept pasted down from Trasie’s parents. Whenever anything doesn’t go according to plan...which is a lot in life....we say: “Just making memories”
When you’re on a road trip, and you realize you’re driving the wrong way and are hours from your destination - Just making memories.
When you get stood up for a date...just making memories.
When you stub your toe while trying to get to the bathroom in the middle of the night, and find out you broke it! Just making memories.
When I got beat up in the sixth grade in a fight that I instigated...Just making memories..ouch.
Memories come from joyous moments - like the birth of a child. Getting that first job.
Memories come from unusual occasions - Like when it rained this summer. June 30. It rained hard and we danced! Just making memories
Memories come from tragedy. The loss of a loved one. A terrible fight. The falling of the twin towers.
Memories shape us into who we are and what we are about. Just making memories.

(this exegesis draws upon Texts for Preaching, Brueggemann, Cousar, et. al. pp 419-420)

The Psalm 105 calls anyone who reads it to an act of passionate remembering. The remembering, however is not an act of nostagia - it’s not a Garison Keilor monologue. It is a remembering in such a way to define the present in a way different maybe from how we are currently defining it, because it is a present grounded in God; because the memories are grounded in God. It is a remembering that invites the community to a future that is given only by God who is being remembered.

It is written for a community - Israel - who had been rescued, chosen, redeemed. But, those wonderful things... were a long time ago. Israel was forgetful.   This psalm is trying to help that community, “which cannot remember anything important,” to claim its true identity, its true self. Remembrance is crucial in any biblical community of faith. When we forget what God has done for us - not only in our lives as individuals - that time when you first fell on your knees and sang amazing grace; but also our lives as a faith community - Westminster Presbyterian Church; When we forget what God has done for us: We can slip into a pattern of self-sufficiency, even apathy or worse despair?

When we forget God, we become anxious, fearful, and unstable.   If we don’t seem to care about the past of this community of faith, its past gifts and miracles--or if we forget them... will we not “surely misunderstand, misread, and misconstrue the present?”

And really we are quick to forget. How many seconds of today will we remember? This psalm is seeking to battle for a concrete past and at the same time advocate for a different present. It is calling for the redeeming of our memories, so that our present may be filled with hope. God - Yahweh - so central and prevalent in the past.. appears to be irrelevant for these people of Israel... So the Psalm calls them to remember: “Deeds...wonderous works...miracles...judgements.”

Yahweh is our God. In our very identity we are partners with God in covenant, God has made covenant, abiding, persistent, which is the overriding reality of our life. This covenant, to which we are bound, defines the relationship between GOd and God’s people. This is a promise that God will never leave us in our darkest hour. That we are in the care of God’s arms. And that God will help us to resist temptations.
So that we might remember...and be made free to be a blessing for others in our lives.

How do we remember God? How do we remember God’s presence with us at this present moment?
At every moment... We are a forgetful people.

As I thought about this passage, I thought about how memories are made. We have memories in our minds, yes. But we also hold memories in our hearts...those deepest sentiments of both joy and pain.
And we hold memories in our muscles...like riding a bike, or brushing our teeth. Memories are present with us in different ways...and I think this Psalm invites us to capture memories in our minds, hearts, and bodies where God is at the center....

The psalm begins in “an enthusiastic summons to thank and praise.“ The first few verses simply repeat and reiterate in various ways the central act of Israel’s life: praise, and gratitude. It says: “O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.” Habitual and genuine acts that make memories.

Give thanks -   If the only prayer you say in your whole life is ‘Thank You’, that would suffice. said Meister Eckhart. Wake up and say thank you. Leave the house say thank you. Get to where your going, say thank you. Get home, say thank you. Go to bed say thank you. Memories of thanksgiving are formed.

THe next phrase says call on his name - We do this quite well in our society. We call on God’s name a lot. What about when someone does something unbelievable. Oh. My. God! And you remember that stubbing the toe episode in the middle of the night: Jesus. Christ! I was trying to think of how calling on the name of God can be a positive practice: Not like calling to a pet in the evening before locking up the house...? Jesus.
What about calling on the name of God like calling on the name of someone we love who is somewhere in a large crowd and we spot them but they don’t see us, so we’re trying to get their attention: God!
Or it could just be, Holy Spirit, come and fill this place! We can work on that one.

The next section: make know God’s deeds among the people. This is evangelizing. This is witnessing, this is testimony. Each and every moment, we can make known God’s deeds, by sharing love. By working for justice. By living upright lives. A saying attributed to St. Francis goes: “Preach the gospel constantly, use words if necessary.” Making known God’s deeds is about walking the walk. How do our actions show love.

The next ones are sing. Sing! Sing! The wonder and gift of song. If I’m not in a good place, I can sing.
African american slaves gave the world a gift of songs that were sung from a place of oppression in order to lift their spirits -
“I'm gonna sing, sing, sing,
I'm gonna shout, shout, shout,
I'm gonna sing, I'm gonna shout
Praise the Lord
When those gates are open wide,
I'm gonna sit at Jesus' side
I'm gonna sing, I'm gonna shout
Praise the Lord”

I’ve got this great image, when I called Monica and she answered and her radio was blaring..Sorry Chester, I was just jamming out to a WOW CD. WOW is a compilation of christian music.   There are so many good Praise songs out there now. There are old hymns we remember. There’s the doxology. which is basically what we’re trying to get at here. Praising God. A Dios al padre celestial.
songs make memories...

And the last tell. The people of Israel were commanded to tell the story of God’s redemption in their lives. Over and Over. Passover Feasts. Tell the story. We repeat the story as we celebrate Communion. Jesus’ life, Death, and resurrection. It’s vital that we tell our own stories. Whenever we can. How has God redeemed you? How has God brought you up and set you free? Look for an opportunity this week to tell your story of how God has been part of your life....

The Psalm gives us good practices for just making memories grounded in God: Thanksgiving, Calling on the name, making known deeds, Singing, Telling our stories. Our memories are redeemed, and our present reality transformed.

Just making memories grounded in God:
“Israel remembers in order to hope.” We remember in order to Hope.
“Israel praises in order to imagine.” We praise in order to imagine!
“Israel learns” and we learn “that the truth of life consists not in security and achievement and power,
but in miracles remembered, in promises trusted, and a future that is given.”

By Just making memories grounded in God we become a more present people, and in that presence we can rest in the assurance of that given future. A given future full of old promises: “Land...portion...inheritance.”
With redeemed memories we remember God’s promises and we can “move beyond wilderness to land,
beyond exile to homecoming, beyond death to life, beyond marginality to well-being. God intends that none shall live as displaced persons, none shall live without belonging in full membership. And chosen people of God that belonging comes by just making memories grounded in God.

I was with Sidney Brown before he died. He had been suffering from memory loss for a long time.
He didn’t know who I or anyone else really was. As he lay there on his couch, fading away, did he know who he was? I prayed with him before I left, and then began to recite the words of the Our Father. His mouth began to move, and words were uttered as he joined me in saying that prayer: He remembered so little, but somehow, in his mind, heart, body...he remembered. Who he was and whose he was.

That was just making a powerful memory grounded in God. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Israel Palma - Que Descanse en Paz Siervo de Dios

2011-07-23T18:15:00.000-07:00

I just received word from Pastor Daniel Izquierdo, with whom I did a pulpit exchange Sept 2010, that Israel Palma, one of the faithful, died at the age of 80, "after the long illness that was consuming his body but not his spiritual strength," says Rev. Izquierdo.

Israel Palma was one of the seven who consistently and faithfully attended the Presbyterian Reformed Church in San Antonio de Los Baños during the years of religious discouragement (1960s-90s) in that country. He gathered with the other six week after week to read scripture, sing, pray, and ensure that there was a Reformed witness in that town. Because of his courage and strength, there is to this day.
He spent his career as a proud bee-keeper. He and his wife, a Catholic, modeled tolerance in that differences of specific doctrines would not trump their love.

This is a short clip of one of my visits with him. His daily practice was to read from a devotional, "Su Voz", and read from the Psalms. One verse from the Psalm he would write out and recite in English This Psalm, 73:26, gave him strength as cancer ate away at his body: "My mind and body may grow weak, but God is my strength; he is all I ever need." And see that warm smile and laughter at the end of the video..! (And notice the cigars...of which he gave me a few ;))!

I am so thankful to have met him, as his faith was one to be revered.

Oil on the Rock

2011-07-17T15:16:00.000-07:00

Genesis 28:10-19a

This morning’s topic is about recognizing God in our lives, and upon recognizing declaring, how awesome is this place.

Ruby Gene, now that she’s two and a half, knows well how to tell things apart.
She knows that some things function for specific purposes, and for that purpose alone.
She knows that bracelets don’t go on ears.
She knows that her hat doesn’t go on brinca’s head.
She knows her daddy shouldn’t use a sock to blow his nose.
She knows shoes go on feet, gloves go on hands, and diapers go on bottoms.
Ruby knows what pillows are; she has a Dora pillow, and she has an owl pillow that I named Bury (playing on her name).
So yesterday, I had to experiment,
in light of this passage, I had to try a rock.
I selected this one (show it)
brought it inside, and promptly lied down...and rested my head on it.
And I asked, Ruby, do you like my pillow. She went nuts.
Esta no es almuada. Papi. No!
She pulled my hair as she lifted my head several times.
Then she went into the other room to get a real pillow and she said, here daddy, here. Esta es una almuada!

Oh if only she could have seen Jacob out in the middle of nowhere using a rock as a pillow. Esta no es almuada Jacob! Jacob, evidently, had more to his imagination than a 2 year old.

Jacob saw a rock, and said, that will make a great pillow! Maybe not a great pillow, but a pillow none the less.
He was exhausted.# He had left Beersheba a fugitive, fleeing for his life after deceiving his brother, Esau. He’s stumbling toward Haran. a vagabond, somewhere between a conflict-ridden past and an uncertain future. Far from his homeland; at the center of no man’s land. The sun was setting there in that nondescript place. That rock looked like a good pillow to Jacob.

Many of us can relate to sleeping on a rock pillow. Certainly many of us have questioned actions of our past
decisions we made; things we’ve done; We were sleeping on a rock pillow.
And what about our futures? How many of us have had feelings of uncertainty about the future?

And yet we run run run, trying to get somewhere, but where? It’s exhausting, and rocks look like good pillows after a long day of running to no where right? Some of us may be sleeping on rock pillows right now.
And where is God? Do we see God?

The sun is setting on Jacob’s life that was. He falls asleep on his rock pillow....he dreams.

He dreams of a ladder that reaches to heaven with angels of God going up and down on it.
A stairway to heaven connecting heaven and earth. Jacob dreams and God speaks!

God speaks to Jacob where he is; God is not distant and far away, God is immanent, close, present. God speaks, and reminds Jacob of the promises God made to Abraham and Isaac and now to Jacob. God speaks when Jacob is most vulnerable, and reminds Jacob that God is his God.

God speaks and transforms a desperate man into a purpose filled man. God speaks and tells Jacob his future is one in which his life will not be governed by self-interest, but rather he and his off-spring are to be a blessing for all people.

Jacob hears God speak: Then he wakes up. The place has changed. Jacob is a changed man.

Jacob wakes up from his dream, And says, God was here the whole time, I just didn’t see it.
His once bleak desolate world has all of a sudden become AWESOME! How awesome is this place!

So, Jacob’s not through with that rock. Jacob, sees that rock. That rock that he made into a pillow.
And he says, that Rock is going to mark that God has been here. He pours oil on it. And names the place, Bethel - house of God.

I love the imagination of Jacob. Taking something so ordinary. A rock, and seeing a pillow.
Taking something so ordinary, a rock, and seeing an alter for God.

So much of what we see depends on how we see the world. So much of what we see depends on how much of God we recognize in the world. Our imaginations can be holy. As we see what is, and yet, recognize that God is.

Is that just a rock, or is it a pillow? Is that just a rock or is it an alter? Is this just a desolate place, or is it a place where we can find God? Is my life without purpose, or is it a life purposed for God?

We, as human beings, are so creative. Creatures of the Creator, we create some amazing things: from the wheel to the iPad we see materials in certain forms and creating something new. But, I think we can sometimes limit ourselves in this process. Our society has become known as a throw away society. Items and materials that once were purposed and functioned in a specific way, like a can opener, or a spray nozzle for the watering hose; end up in the trash can after they grow dull, or break. We love our well functioning material, until, until, they no longer work well for us.

As creative as we are, so often we have limited visions, limited imaginations, so often we see a rock, and that is all we see. But Jacob saw a rock, and saw a pillow. Jacob saw a rock, and saw an alter for God.

In the middle fleeing anxiety, Jacob saw God’s presence. In the middle of an unknown future, he saw that he was called to be a blessing for others.    How awesome is this place! He says.

I love that Jacob pours oil on the rock. No one is watching him. He is just there, but he has experienced God in a profound way. He has to do something. Something to mark the occasion.

He could have used the rock to give himself a haircut - do any of you do that, get a hair cut when a something big has happened. Getting a tatoo was not really an option for Jacob - I know some of you do this when you go through something big. But he does have oil, so he pours that oil on the rock, and declares it sacred. Bethel. The house of God. How awesome is this place!

How awesome is this place.

How awesome is this place?

I think a lot about this church. This church, the people, and this church the physical building. When I see the people gathered here, coming by, calling, emailing, do I just see people, or do I see children of God - heirs as Paul calls Christians? When I see this building, do I just see bricks and mortar, or is there something else that is happening here? Do I see God’s sanctuary? A holy place?

In the 1950s, key leaders of the congregation, iglesia segunda presbyteriana de santa fe (hispana) had a dream, they had a vision. They saw more than just meeting in some space designated to them by people at First Pres.
They saw a place, a building, a gathering of people who would experience God. They built this building, installed pews, built a chancel; hung a picture on it. Brick upon brick, the sanctuary, the social hall, the rooms were formed, and given purpose. Dedicated to God.

Can you see past generations of people working hard to make this place special? They had experienced God, and wanted to share that experience by building.

And, since then, many have experienced God in this place. In the midst of change and transitions, people have experienced God in this place. Through prayers, through gatherings, through Christmas Pageants, and Easter Sundays. Through music, yes even through session meetings. God’s presence has been felt has been so many:

Have you experience God here?

In a hug when you were lonely, in a smile when you were down. In a bible study, or a Spanish Supper?

I have seen God do some amazing things in this community. I have seen people experience healing and wholeness. I have seen people freed from addiction. I have seen lonely people make friends and live out their calling in confidence. I have seen broken relationships restored. Here in this place, among this people, I see God at work. How awesome is this place!

Right now, this building, which was beautifully and accurately described by Louise Singleton in a recent letter as a dear elderly grandmother who has loved us well and given and given; this beloved building needs some help. The session has approved a 15k capital improvement plan to give the building some help. So, the session is asking for all of us to pitch in and help out.

Building and grounds care group have identified: Getting a stove and a dish washer, doing some energy improvements, some electric work and some roof repair, and hopefully, a history display to honor and celebrate those who had the vision long ago for this place.

We are quick to discard things in this society that no longer function to meet our needs. In the 21st century, life has changed, and this church continues to transition, I believe God is present here, and is calling us out of our past, and constantly re purposing us and giving us a future, to witness to the reality of God in the world, and be a blessing to the nations. So we can exclaim, and future generations can exclaim: How awesome is this place!

I’d like for us to use our imaginations. If you have experienced God in this place, I’m asking that you give a gift to the capital campaign, as your able, which will be like the oil Jacob poured on the rock. Put some cash or a check in an envelope and mark it Capital campaign - oil for the rock.

That’s what I want to call the campaign - oil for the rock.

I also want to encourage us to recognize God’s presence in many places. ON the communion table, are small rocks. I want to invite you, when you come up for communion or before you leave, to take one, take it home with you, and carry it with you each and every day, until a time when you say, Hey, God is present here and I didn’t know it! And place that rock there, and leave it, as a reminder that God is present. I’d love for you to email me or call me when you put your rock some place; and to tell me about that experience, we could have running list of where we saw God.

How awesome is this place. God is present here, There, in our hearts, Everywhere.

And calls us to a future which is a blessing for the nations.

Thanks be to God.

Who Can Change the World?

2011-06-09T20:25:00.000-07:00

"Margaret Mead once said, 'Never underestimate the ability of a small group to change the world. Indeed, they are the only one's who have." - From Tracy Kidder's Mountains Beyond Mountains.
Erik, Barbara and others around the country are in solidarity with Colombian brothers and sisters fasting this week while praying for a more just trade policy. Oh Lord, hear our prayer!

Good Friday/ Earth Day Pilgrimage

2011-04-21T10:04:00.001-07:00

Earth Day Eco-Justice Pilgrimage 2011

Walking the Walk on Good Friday

“We have lived by the assumption that what was good for us would be good for the world…We have been wrong. We must change our lives, so that it will be possible to live by the contrary assumption that what is good for the world will be good for us. And that requires that we make the effort to know the world and to learn what is good for it. We must learn to cooperate in its processes, and to yield to its limits…We must recover the sense of the majesty of the creation and the ability to be worshipful in its presence. For it is only on the condition of humility and reverence before the world that our species will be able to remain in it. --Wendell Berry

“La felicidad de los hombres y la de los pueblos esta en el conocimiento de la naturaleza.” - José Martí

What is the Earth Day Eco-Justice Pilgrimage about?
Inspired by the rare convergence of Good Friday and Earth Day, this year’s Eco-justice pilgrimage provides pilgrims a unique opportunity to reflect on the intersection of faith, justice and the environment. In the Christian faith and tradition, pilgrimages mark both the outward journey toward a physical place and the inward spiritual journey into ones own heart and soul. Through meaningful moments of meditation, contemplative prayer, fellowship, communal worship and silent reflection, the pilgrim journeys inwardly reflecting deeply upon what it means to walk the walk and live a life of faith, justice and eco-consciousness in our world today.

Who is walking in the pilgrimage?
Journey together with community and faith leaders who are pilgrims on the way seeking and wrestling with how to live more environmentally in our world today.

Where does the Pilgrimage begin and what does it entail?
On Friday morning, we will open with an Earth Day worship at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Following worship, we will begin our journey from Westminster to Chimayo. The pilgrimage will involve two days of 15 miles of walking each day interspersed with various liturgies, meditations, reflections and vigils focused on the intersection of faith, justice and the environment. Pilgrims will be invited to partake in opportunities to grow spiritually through mediation and contemplative prayer, personal and group reflection, and discussion exercises and liturgy focused on a wide array of themes including: creation and interconnectedness, environmental justice, the effects of war on the environment, immigration and the environment, food and the environment and the theology of soil and water. Additionally, there will be an opportunity hear from Native American leaders about their understanding of spirituality and the environment.

When is the Pilgrimage?
The Pilgrimage begins with an Earth Day Worship the morning of Friday, April 22nd at Westminster. We will then walk 15 miles to Buffalo Thunder where we will then be shuttled to El Buen Pastor in Chimayo for an Good Friday evening service and dinner. We will spend the night at the Casa De Ortiz in Chimayo. After breakfast and morning worship, on Saturday April 23rd, we will be dropped back off at Buffalo Thunder where we will pilgrim the last 15 miles to El Santuario de Chimayo where there will be a closing worship, reflection, dinner and shuttles back to Santa Fe.

Where do we meet on Friday, April 22nd to begin the Pilgrimage?
We will meet at 8:00am at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 841 West Manahatten Avenue.

What should I bring:
Sunscreen, sunglasses, a waterbottle or camelpak, walking shoes, a light jacket, your favorite snacks.

Do I have to walk all 30 miles?
While much can be gained from making the full pilgrimage, those cannot walk the full 30 miles can have the opportunity to meet up with the pilgrims at Buffalo Thunder on the morning of the second day.

What else should I know?
At each stop, water will be provided as well as pilgrims are encouraged to take advantage of hospitality stations provided by locals along the roadside. Remember, in order to stay energized it is important to stay hydrated and fed. Additionally, pilgrims will be provided with two meals, a lunch during the pilgrimage and dinner after the walk. After arriving in Chimayo, pilgrims will be shuttled back to Westminster Presbyterian Church by volunteers.

T-Shirts
A limited amount of T-shirts are available to pilgrims at no cost thanks to the generosity of Westminster Presbyterian and the Presbytery Christian Witness Committee. Note the proceeds from the purchase of the shirts benefited the environmental and greenhouse program at Capital High School.

How Can I Get Involved?

Be a pilgrim and walk to Chimayo.
Serve as volunteer shuttle driver or driver who meet us with supplies at a stop.
Help prepare lunches and work on other prewalk logisitics
Play a role as a reader or liturgist in one the services.

Who is organizing the Pilgrimage?
Andrew Black, Presbyterian Minister and Aide to Senator Bingaman, Chester Topple, Minister Westminster Presbyterian Church.

For More Information Contact
Rev. Andrew Black, (505) 988-6647 or andrew_black@bingaman.senate.gov
Rev. Chester Topple, (505) 795-4890 or revtopple@gmail.com

Hebel Happens-Face Your Jerusalem Anyway,

2011-04-17T15:55:00.000-07:00

Sermon Topic: In spite of how meaningless life seems, Jesus inspires us to confront our own Jerusalem’s which is where meaning is made; where divine love is revealed.

Palm Sunday, April 17, 2011
Ecclesiastes 1:2-11
Matthew 21:1-15.

I was running around Frenchy’s park yesterday with Ruby Gene, again trying to get her to sleep. Around and a round like a hamster on a wheel until she fell asleep. I noticed an older man there, sitting still, idly on one of the benches. Slumped shoulders, head down looking listlessly at nothing. His blank expression may have said so many things:
Where has my life gone? What was it all for? I’ve worked all my life, What do you have to show for it? What was the point?

Have you asked yourselves these questions before? Kind of depressing really, when we wake up one day, look back and say...what has happened?

Those are good days to turn to Ecclesiastes. Not necessarily for hope, but at least to know, you’re not alone. The author of Ecclesiastes, whose name is in Hebrew is Qoheleth, translated teacher or preacher. Qoheleth, was having a bad day when he wrote Ecclesiastes. Qoheleth looks back at his life and at the world around him. He has no rose colored glasses. He does not see the world with a glass is half-full attitude. His glass is dry. And it isn’t New Mexico high desert dry, it is Atacama desert dry.

Vanity of Vanity.
We toil We work,
We live, we die.
We accumulate. We don’t gain a thing.
We are no different from animals. We are born, we struggle, we die.
There is nothing new under the sun.
I thought the Byrds wrote and sung: turn turn turn. There is a season, Turn turn turn.
But no, as Suzanne Drieth pointed out to me, it was Pete Seager, who sang it with Judy Collins.

But Seager borrowed the words from Qoheleth, and you know who wrote the bible...
There is nothing new. Our lives, our work, our purpose... what.

Go ahead, read Purpose driven life all you want...see if it makes you feel better. If Qoheleth wrote a Hallmark card to his wife at the end of his life it would probably say:
Looking back over the years that we've been together,
I can't help but wonder..."What the hell was I thinking?"

Qoheleth doesn’t say the world is going to hell in a hand-basket, he says, that eventually just turns dark (Ecc 12:1-2). Nothing. On this our last Sunday of lent--Palm Sunday, the precipice before lunging into Holy week, we look at another biblical image of Creation.
There is no careful sculpting of humans as in Genesis 2; just returning to dust.

There is no declaration of a good Creation. For Qoheleth Creation is Hebel. Creation does not assist in healing as in Job, Here it’s just hebel...and a whole lot of hebel at that!
Hebel is the hebrew word translated in various ways: vapor, absurdity, farse, vanity, and you’ve seen the bumper sticker: Blank Happens. You could substitute the word Hebel and you’d be saying the same thing.

Work, maybe you accumulate; maybe you don’t. Hebel. Hebel. Hebel!!!
It’s pointless! On those bad days, Qoheleth may be your best friend.

I wonder if Jesus was having a bad day that day he stood atop the Mount of Olives,

just before he descends to suffering and his end. There from the top he can see all of Jerusalem; he can see for for miles all around. Maybe before his descent into Jerusalem--he looks back on his own life. Persecuted since the day he was born; Herod killed all those innocents trying to get Jesus. Jesus was a refugee. The devil took shots at him.He was thrown out of his church after he read scripture. The authorities were always after him down, every word he spoke was scrutinized, every move criticized.
And his friends...a bunch of losers... following him around and nagging:
Jesus, we don’t have enough food for all these people; what are you going to do?
Jesus, we couldn’t cast out this demon, can you?
Jesus, there’s a big storm do something!
Jesus, which one of us will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Judas betrays him, Peter denies him. The rest abandon him.
If anyone had a right to think it was all hebel, it would have been Jesus.

Jesus could said. Hebel Hebel Hebel! all day long. But, what does Jesus do? He doesn’t avoid or run from life. He doesn’t fear or curse life. He takes it head on. There at the top of the Mt of Olives: he sees the Hebel all around him. And he willingly descends into it.
He faces Jerusalem. the place where he will suffer, and that’s where he goes to show the world...something.

[I really appreciate Cereso Barredos liturgical art which can be found here. ]

We call Jesus’ descent into Jerusalem on a colt to suffering, mockery, and death a story of triumph, a story of victory. What is triumphal about his decision to confront pain, rather than avoid it?

Isn’t avoidance of pain one of our primary objectives? How much money do you think we spend in this country on research for and purchasing of pain killers? Well, we spend about $115 billion in alcohol every year...that’s a start.

And of course parents, what is our deepest desire for our children? For them to be happy! And to not experience any pain.

(What follows is drawn from Cynthia Bourgeault’s “Encountering the Wisdom Jesus”)
But the reality is from the time we are born we run into obstacles, limitations, restrictions in this dense, slow, finite world. I’m getting old and stiffer. The other night I’m trying to do this “relaxing yoga” video (YogaJournal.com).

And this hippie dude with this breathy voice is trying to encourage me. Awkwardly cross-legged, one knee over the other, I’m supposed to be leaning forward, but I’m just trying not to fall backward. Then this dude says:
“One of the things that inevitably and intentionally occurs in the yoga practice is that we come into contact with the obstacles; so as you feel restrictions in the hips or resistance. First, know that it’s normal and natural,”

I’m dying by this point while, of course, the models have their heads to the ground.

Dude: “second know that it’s actually an asset for you, because it gives you a moment in time in which to pay deep attention. It gives you an opportunity to work through internal challenge, of which we have plenty.”

Thanks dude!

There are limits, obstacles, choices; much of our lives we spend struggling to break free from the boundaries. Ruby Gene is in this two year old testing mode. Pushing to see how far she can go, and what our reaction will be. Yesterday, it was stomping on plants. And I hear as they get older it can get worse in terms of testing the limits...Worse than stomping on plants?

It is because of the limits, boundaries, obstacles, and pain that spiritual traditions all over the world see this life as fragile, unsubstantial, and illusion or a mistake. Ecclesiastes calls it hebel. This earth is not our home some say, we are in exile, we are to return to some home, something that truer. We fall into this world - As if we have fallen from a lighter divine state of grace to this hebel of a planet.

Is this what the Truimph of the Triumphial entry is for right?
To get us a ticket to heaven....if we are good, or believe the right things.

But maybe there is another way to look at the triumph of Jesus entry into Jerusalem.
Is Jesus inviting us, there from the Mt. of Olives, does Jesus invite us all to face our Jerusalem? As he looks out at the hebel all around is he encouraging us, challenging us, beckoning us to consider our fears, and descend into them because this is doing the very will of God.

What do you fear? What suffering do you avoid? The reality of an illness in your life?
Avoidance of forgiving someone, or even yourself? Do we ignore the sufferings of others because that’s their problem? And really it hurts to see them. What do we avoid for comfort’s sake?

When Jesus faces Jerusalem and then descends, he is met with the harshness and cruelty. What do we see in this? What does he demonstrate?

Love that was costly, and therefore love that was precious -
through tears and a broken heart emerge qualities such as:
Steadfastness, tenderness, commitment, forbearance, Fidelity.
Without limits and harshness these beautiful expressions of love have no meaning....
By facing Jerusalem Jesus shows us what divine love looks like. By facing Jerusalem, Jesus shows that the harshest places, the hardest things we may have to confront in this life, may be the very places the very opportunities to show God’s love for the world.
When you or I have to come up against the difficulty and suffering and we stand in love anyway, we express the love God has for the world.

That is our business down here, this is what we are up to. This is our purpose.

What does this mean?

Our deepest opportunity this life is not to look at how we can get out. How we can get home from the exile. How we can escape to a better tomorrow. Our deepest opportunity is to face our own Jerusalems, our own fears or suffering, and move toward them, then in some mysterious way we are bearing our part in the suffering of God. The costliness of the the divine love. When we can stand having our heart broken and still love - we give meaning and life to the world. The world through us may witness the very heartbeat of God.

What Jerusalem are you facing? What has God put on your heart to confront,
Where must you descend and still love? How much time will you spend on the Mt. of Olives before you go?

(The following, from an NPR blog, can be found at this link).

A woman named Susan, who has had surgery for two brain tumors, as the cancer had metastasized from her lungs wrote: I know not who I am or why this is happening. There seems to be a space between life and death that takes on a form of its own, but I am just now walking through that gate. I am very, very scared.

A friend wrote back to Susan: Susan, I know that fear. We all know that fear. I wish there was an easy way to make the fear lose its power. A few magic words that would take care of it. But if those words exist, I don't know them. I can say that over time, the fear will lessen a little. But it won't go away. I don't think it ever really goes away.

What is it that we are afraid of? Death? Certainly. But I think what is also scary is the loss of our old lives ... who we were, what we could do. The loss of things that we took for granted. New things take their place, of course. New knowledge, new friends, really a new life. But I don't know that we ever fully come to terms with the loss of who and what we were.

There is a gate, and once you pass through it, you can really never go back. But at the risk of sounding corny, isn't that what life is all about anyway? It is when we pass through the gate, and still love, there we find meaning.

I have found comfort in a saying that I think about a lot. We are not given the burdens we deserve, we are given the burdens we can bear. Susan, we are stronger than we think. We can bear these burdens, [and still love].

There are days when it seems that there is only Hebel all around: But in this Holy week, we remember: God so loved the world. It is this very difficult and frustrating world which is the precise and perfect and only world in which costly and sacrificial love can be experienced. What is your Jerusalem? When you are ready, go there, and share God’s love with the world.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

House Worship, Sunday April 10, 2011

2011-04-10T16:10:00.000-07:00

Report on Neighborhood House Churches Meetings, Sunday April 10, 11 am
As part of the Lenten Lifestyle for Creation emphasis, we seek to be in relationship with God and one another and with God’s creation. How well do we know our neighbors? Do we know who from the church lives nearby? By gathering in a more informal and intimate space with some 5-21 from the church family on Sunday April 10, the church was invited to be in deeper relationship with one another, and to experience God in community in a new way. Everyone was encouraged to go back to our Christian roots and participate in a house style worship service in a home near to where you live. May God continue to bless each house of worship!

Gatherings were in the following locations, along with reports from those locations.

Residents off of Airport Rd.
Host: Elizabeth Ortega-Ethelbal; Worship Leaders: Elizabeth and Keri and Michael Brinegar
Hi,

We had a total of 7 people. I will bring the offering on Sunday. It was a great experience for all of us. I read a meditation on Lent from my Dad. My mom helped me with the translation as did Keri. Michael and Keri brought their instruments, so we had great music. The fellowship was touching and intimate. At first, I didn't know if this was going to work, but it did. Your project turned out to be a success. Liz

Residents around Rodeo Rd/ Camino Carlos Rey;
Host: L.V. West; Worship Leader: Rev. Andrew Black
Sounds like some great experiences. We had a total of nine people in attendance and worked from a liturgy that included a prayer of examen and lectio divinia of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. We had great participation and comments both following the lectio as well as where people had experienced God that week. It was great to hear how folks had encounted the Holy through the loving care of others as well as through nature and by the humble and continual realization of the long history of God at work in our world. A closing remark made was that we should do this quarterly as it offers an intimate and relaxing setting for worship and fellowship in community. Also LV played us Amazing Grace as well as an ancient negro spiritual. All in all, a good experience. Andrew

Residents of El Dorado and Pecos
Host: Barbara Medina; Worship Leaders: Grace Nadell and Gerzain Chavez
El Dorado had 13 people in attendance:
Chavez family - 4
Roghair family - 2
Brugger family - 3
Jackson family - 2
Theresa Garcia - 1
Barbara Medina -1
Good worship/discussion/music/fellowship also, offering was collected - Barbara

Frenchy’s Park Area/ along Agua Fria
Host/ Worship: Topples
We had a small gathering of 6, including the Holts, Suzanne Drieth, Trasie and Ruby Gene who was in rare form, first full of energy and dancing around while we were singing and praying; and who broke down at 12 just before we finished insisting on a nap. I debuted my guitar playing “Daniel in the Lion’s den”. Suzanne was not very impressed (!). Trasie and I enjoyed putting th service together once we made a few key decisions, and varied it up a bit from the usual. We had nice reflection on scriptures including sharing and Lectio Divina as well as good singing, particularly along with some Fernando Ortega songs. It was a very relaxing morning for this preacher, and maybe a glimpse of how Sunday could/should be in terms of peacefulness. We enjoyed a nice meal afterward at the house. Chester

Fort Marcy/ Cemetery
Host: Clyde Tomlin; Worship Leader: Rev. Richard Avery (983-8303)

Dear Chester:
For your evaluations It may be helpful for you to know who came to Clyde's home yesterday and a bit of what we did.

Fifteen people were present and participated with enthusiasm:
      Clyde, our gracious and delighted host.
      Cindy Piatt, who helped prepare the home and refreshments.
      Me, Dick, who presided over the service.
      Consuelo and
      Dwight Walker.
      Bill Taylor.
      John and
      Mary Beth Brient.
      Elizabeth Reed, a friend and neighbor here at Plaza del Monte, currently rather estranged from the Church.
      Steve and
      Joan Spencer, currently bothered by developments in the Quaker meeting and friends of Clyde and me, and originally Presbyterians.
      Sandra Oriel, who has started coming to WPC recently.
      Bob Miles, who, in this very stressful time in his life, probably came with us rather than another group because of his familiarity with me and Clyde.
      Hutch Hutchison.
      Lois Morton.

We invited folks to come from 10:30 on, and we had brunchy-style refreshments, brought by 4 or 5 people, before the service and after, and that encouraged good socializing.

In the service, we briefly honored the house church as the start of it all, introduced ourselves around the circle with bits of information, shared experiences of nature, lined out a "nature psalm", shared considerable silence, looked ahead to Holy Week through the eyes of the blind man Jesus healed on the way to Jerusalem, considered the connection of creation and crucifixion—as both being dramatic signs of God's goodness and love we are called to share in our church and beyond.

Bill Taylor was quite helpful with his flugelhorn on the 3 hymns we sang—with good singers in the group. We also offered "prayers of the people" in the usual way.
Clyde, the Walkers and Cindy all shared leadership, along with the group's conversation in the service.

A good experience, and newcomers and visitors appreciated the event a lot.

Thanks for the idea. I hope other groups had as good a time as we did.

Dick

Rancho Viejo/ Community College Area
Host: Jan and Bob Chesnut
We had a great morning at our house--only six of us, but very significant. We had Cat and Doug, Sherl and Kevin. We used resources from Philip Newell and started off with a little explanation of Celtic spirituality. We followed the simple outline of his Celtic Treasures for daily devotion. We played a chant from his latest CD, "My heart says, 'Seek the Face of God.'" Jan read the scripture from John about Jesus' raising of Lazarus and led us through a lectio devina exercise. Nearly everyone was in tears by the time we finished! Very meaningful morning. Bob and Jan

Gathering in the Church Social Hall -
841 W. Manhattan Ave.; Santa Fe 87501
For those who:
1. live nearby (including East Side near Museums) or very far away from the church;
2. are visiting for the first time;
3. didn’t know or forgot;
Host: Mason/ Sandoval/Naranjos in Social Hall
Worship Leader: Rev. Georgia Ortiz and Gaspar Naranjo

Hey Chester and the WPC family,
We that met in the social hall had a remarkable 21 in attendance. There were at least 4 visitors – 2 others who maybe had been to WPC before, 1 visiting preacher, a wonderful musician helpout with hymns in a delightful young woman named, Faith Amour. We followed the usual WPC format except for a Gaspar led hymn sing as a prelude and everyone introducing themselves and a sort of dialog sermon. Mary brought wonderful breakfast casseroles, Erik brought chicken and other stuff, the Ortiz’s brought soup. All in all we finally cleared the place about 1:30--- visitors hanging around!!   We all want to know what went on elsewhere!.
Georgia

All went very well at the church. We had 21 people in attendance which included 4 first time visitors. Libby

We had total of 21 at the church Sunday--5 of them first time or almost first time visitors. Offering was taken and 2 counters put it together and put it in counter's box in the office.
Erik

Resources:
A Sample Worship Order adapted by each leader, or each leader used their own liturgy.

At 11 the host welcomes those gathered and may use the following or similar language:
A message from Paul to the Corinthians from the 1st Century year of our Lord. “Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, greet you warmly in the Lord.” Many early churches were gatherings of believers in people’s homes. And today in the 21st century, house church gatherings are among the most popular for Christians.
You are welcome in this home, and I am glad you are here. Let us welcome one another as we open our hearts and minds to experiencing God in this home. We will sing the welcome song:

Gathering - Bienvenidos Song
Bienvenido! Bienvenido! Los hermanos hoy aquí, Nos gozamos en decir:

¡Bienvenido! ¡Bienvenido! Al volvernos a reunir, ¡Bienvenido!

Welcoming/ Sharing/ Check in (suggested topic for sharing) - How have you experienced God this week?

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Praise (Unison)
Risen and redeeming God, you came into this world to live among us in your son Jesus. His life, his, death, and his rising have taught us to love. We are bound together with a gift of unity into one Body of Christ. We thank you for teaching us what it means to live in right relationship with all Creation. We praise you for the gift of this community gathered today, growing together in your love. Amen.

Singing Together:
Simple songs that many may be familiar with; you may want the office to run off copies (this is legal) of familiar hymns you would like to sing.
Rev. Avery may make some suggestions for us.

Confession
If you choose, take time to explain why we have confession, then all may pray together:

Confession and Silent Prayer (Unison)
God, in all your Creation you have revealed to us the fragile interdependence of life. We confess, at times, we have rebelled against you with ideas of self-sufficiency and extreme individualism. We reap without sowing and do harm without knowing. Open our eyes and hearts to your Creation and all who labor to offer us daily with food, water, energy, and sanitation. Help us to build a just, sustainable community of equitable sharing, solidarity, and gratitude. Amen

Silent Meditation

All may sing together: Señor Ten Piedad; Cristo Ten Piedad; Señor Ten Piedad

Assurance of Pardon
Leader: As sure as we have gathered here in God’s name, God is here among us. Even as we try and go astray like a sheep who wanders from the flock, God draws us back into life together. May the power of God’s love ever be constant with us, renewing our families, our schools, our workplaces, our churches, our neighborhoods, and all God’s Creation.
All: En el nombre de Jesus, somos perdonados; Gloria a Dios. Amen

Gloria Patria
Gloria demos al Padre, al Hijo, y al Santo Espíritu; Como eran al principio, son hoy y habrán de ser eternamente. Amén.

Scripture Readings - you may choose other scriptures if you would like

1. Shared Reading
Proverbs 8:22-31 - Notice Creation Theme, and Wisdom being from the beginning.
Matthew 4:1-11 - Temptation is a reality in our lives- what are some of the ways we are tempted to not be in better relationship with God and neighbor

Meditation/ Reflection
Consider the following ways to engage the scripture as a small group:
1. Lectio Divina; and/or
2. Corporate Sharing; or
3. Worship Leader shares a brief meditation

Affirmation of Faith - Prayer of Oscar Romero
It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation
in realizing that. This enables us to do something,
and to do it very well. It may be incomplete,
but it is a beginning, a step along the way,
an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference
between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.
Amen.

Sharing of joys and concerns

Prayers of the People

Offering
1. Basket or Jar at the house, or
2. passing a hat

Doxology

A Dios el Padre celestial, Al Hijo nuestro Redentor, Y al eternal Consolador, Unidos todos alabad, Amén.

Closing songs/ Hymns

Sharing of announcements or upcoming events which will be included in the weekly email. Especially invite people to come to the holy week events:
Sunday April 17 - Palm Sunday and celebration of April Birthdays
Maundy Thurs April 21 - Tenebrae service with special guest musicians - 7:30
Good Friday April 22 - 8 am Worship at WPC, and pilgrimage to Chimayo
Easter Sunday April 24.

Blessing and Peace

Vista desde el Portal - The Spirit of the Place

2011-04-09T14:23:00.000-07:00

Most recent Farolito Newsletter article:

I write this from the Benedictine Monastery in the Pecos. This is my second time here; third time if you count the time I went to Monastery lake and caught two fish. Each time I have come, I have sensed God’s presence in a powerful way. There is something about the spirit of the place. Peacefulness strikes you when you drive in--strike is not the right word--instead, a weight is lifted; deep spiritual freedom and
awakening begins to emerge. Intimidating at first: the exterior walls are high and there are large old imposing wooden doors at the entrance. But, you enter and no person, rather the Spirit of the place, greets you. Here, nothing is expected of me, I am not responsible for anything except my own spiritual well being and practice, which, of course, I am not responsible for either, that is what God is up to. I have no goals; I am not trying to produce; I will just be. If I decide to write or read, wonderful; if I just sit and watch and listen, wonderful. This place has an intentional mandate: Live counter culturally! In a world that says our value is based on our production, our virtue, our accomplishments, this place says, because you are, you are of value. Simply “be.” Be aware of God's presence within and all around. No
one seeks to interfere with what God has in store for me this day; but people are available to help in that process as the spirit leads. As I sat, and reflected and absorbed, I wondered: How is it that the spirit of this place can be so transformative and life giving?

While I have experienced God's presence at WPC, there have been many times when I, and others, have felt no shortage of anxiety and unrest at 841 W. Manhattan Ave. But, were I to ask: "Would you want to be part of the spirit of a place in which from the very moment you drive into the parking lot or walk into the building, you are deeply aware of God's presence within and all around?" Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

As the minister of WPC, I am inviting our community on a journey to discover how we all can participate in making the spirit of the place at our church something sacred, something transformative, something in which we are struck by God’s presence; or, rather, the burdens of the world are lifted when we are in that physical place and surrounded by the people there. Can we do it? Desde la vista del portal, I must say, it will be a challenge. But, I believe that in our spiritually shallow world, this is our calling as the people of God. Over the next several months, in this section of the Farolito, and with church leaders, I will share observations from the Monastery, in hopes that some of that place may transform our own community. Let us join with one another in prayer and expectation.

I would encourage any and all to take a day and spend time at the Pecos monastery–alone, with a friend, with family--go and be in that space and be open to encountering God. If you would like for me to go with you as a companion, I would welcome the opportunity. La Paz de Dios esté con todos.

Job finds healing, Job 38-42 selected verses

2011-04-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Santa Fe
April 3, 2011

Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:26-29 - Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.

Today’s topic is, how nature can heal our wounds; or to put it more bluntly - how nature can put us in our place and give us proper perspective about who we are, and who God is. I was out at the Pecos Monastery this past week. The spirit of that place is one of: Don’t worry about a thing. come as you are. Experience the love and grace of God in this place. It’s nice! I wish every place we went to could speak to us that way.

Picture of the Pecos Monastary

With me I was carrying some burdens, some worry and anxiety. On my mind were some mistakes I had made; things I had done, things I had left undone. Actions of others where weighing on me. Yes, I was caught up in my own little world, but I also carried my concern for the world around me. Along the lines of the Lenten Lifestyle for Creation theme this Lent, it seems everywhere I turn we humans are doing an awesome job of destroying God’s creation, without giving it much thought.

When I arrived there, the first thing I did was go out and sit by the pond to just spend some alone time with God....more on that later.   In an attempt to relativize my sufferings, I know what have I been through in my life doesn’t even come close to some of the terrible things that people go through in this life. I’ve met homeless people who have lost everything they had practically overnight. I know refugees from around the world who flee from the evils of war. I know innocent people who are victims of violence. I know families who have lost loved ones in car crashes. I know people who have been told they have terminal illnesses. And have you considered Job. The servant God is so proud of.

At the beginning of the book, the image is one of God gathering all of the divine counsel, and in comes Satan. God impressed by Job’s faith and loyalty, makes a wager of sorts--doesn’t God know not to make deals with the devil?-- and the deal is like something from the movie Trading Places: “It was the Dukes it was the Dukes!”--
“My servant Job is so faithful,” says God.
and Satan says, “destroy his life and see how faithful he is then.”
“Deal” - wink and shake.
And In the blink of an eye, Job losses all that was dear to him, his land, his crops and livestock, his family. He is left with his wife who just nags him, “Curse God and Die, why don’tcha.”

While it may be troubling for us to reconcile this behavior of God with Job’s predicament,
what we do know: suffering in the world is real, and it seems that when the Job became part of the ancient Hebrew Bible back in the 7th century BCE, people identified with and found comfort in his his story. Why do we suffer? Who is responsible for our suffering? What is to be our response to suffering? Where is God in our suffering?

Job offers an answer.

As Job is stripped of everything he ever had, made ill, displaced and left in an ash heap, He asks, Why? People offer him answers. “You suffer because of your own sin,” some said. “Why ask why, Try bud dry.” Said others..

But Job says, I want to hear from God’s very self. God needs to tell me why this happened.

And finally 38 chapters later, he gets his wish. Be careful what you ask for right. God shows up in the whirlwind--and ancient symbol of threat and terror; and God speaks.... 123 verses to Job’s 9. God is not gentle with Job, God does not pick him up and kiss his wounds. God basically says to him: “you want answers!”
“I think I’m entitled them.”
“You want answers!”
“I want the TRUTH!”
“You can’t handle the truth!” God says...sort of.

Cindy Piatt and I will read selected verses of God’s answer to Job found in Chapters 38-42. verses I hope will capture the essence of God’s answer. I would encourage all of us to go and read the entire response from God at home sometime this afternoon. Job is given the best panoramic picture of the Creation Story found in the bible.

Let us listen for God’s word to us:

1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me. "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?

¿O quién encerró con puertas el mar? Puse puertas y cerrojos, y dije: "Hasta aquí llegarás, pero no más allá; aquí se detendrá el orgullo de tus olas"? ¿Alguna vez en tu vida has mandado a la mañana, y hecho conocer al alba su lugar, para que ella eche mano a los confines de la tierra?

"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the cords of Orion? Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season, or can you guide the Bear with its children? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth?

¿Puedes cazar la presa para la leona, o saciar el apetito de los leoncillos, ¿Quién prepara para el cuervo su alimento, cuando sus crías claman a Dios, y vagan sin comida? ¿Quién dejó en libertad al asno montés? ¿Y quién soltó las ataduras del asno veloz, al cual di por hogar el desierto, y por morada la tierra salada? Se burla del tumulto de la ciudad, no escucha los gritos del arriero.

"The ostrich's wings flap wildly, though its pinions lack plumage. For it leaves its eggs to the earth, and lets them be warmed on the ground, forgetting that a foot may crush them, and that a wild animal may trample them.

¿Das tú al caballo su fuerza? ¿Revistes su cuello de crin? ¿Le haces saltar como la langosta? Terrible es su formidable resoplido; escarba en el valle, y se regocija en su fuerza; sale al encuentro de las armas. Se burla del temor y no se acobarda, ni retrocede ante la espada.

"Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and spreads its wings toward the south? Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes its nest on high? It lives on the rock and makes its home in the fastness of the rocky crag. From there it spies the prey; its eyes see it from far away. "Look at Behemoth, which I made just as I made you; it eats grass like an ox. Its strength is in its loins, and its power in the muscles of its belly. It makes its tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of its thighs are knit together. Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like bars of iron. "It is the first of the great acts of God— only its Maker can approach it with the sword.

Ciertamente alimento le traen los montes, y todas las bestias del campo retozan allí. Bajo los lotos se echa, en lo oculto de las cañas y del pantano. Lo cubren los lotos con su sombra; los sauces del arroyo lo rodean. Si el río ruje, él no se alarma; tranquilo está, aunque el Jordán se lance contra su boca.

Then Job answered the Lord: "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. "Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

Y el SEÑOR restauró el bienestar de Job cuando éste oró por sus amigos; y el SEÑOR aumentó al doble todo lo que Job había poseído.

La palabra de Dios. Te escuchamos O Dios.

As troubling as the suffering of Job may be to our modern ears, perhaps even more troubling is God. We want to know why we suffer; and God basically says, who are you to question? What do you know? Job’s response to God: You’re right...I’m ready to die now.

Where is the: Comfort, O Comfort my people.

But perhaps these are our own issues, which may not allow us to hear what is going on in this passage. In our society in which we strongly emphasize a sense of entitlement, and that we deserve the best, on the one hand. While on the other an avoidance of any pain, and one in which we fear death and seek to escape it using extreme measures; basically, we don’t do well when things don’t go our way.

But, still, we suffer, maybe not like Job, or others we know, but we do. And there is something about what happens in our suffering. It is in our suffering, as painful as it can be, as terrible as it is and as much as we wish we did not have to suffer and experience loss, it is during these times that we may by God’s grace experience true transformation, metanioa - change of heart and perspective, very often as we have sought God and answers in the midst of our suffering, we, like Job have encountered God in a profound way.

And, what is God really saying to Job and his girded up loins? Simply man up! or perhaps, put simply in another way: Come with me on a tour of the universe. Look! Look all around you. You are not at the center of the universe. I am. While you are important to me, you are no more important than the lions, and ravens, the mountain goat or the war horse. You’re very being is like the mythological Behemoth, You are no better than any of these wild creatures and by the way have you considered Leviathan? I value them, I care for them, I delight in them. Look at them Job...Just look at them. On the wild edges of the world. And see how free they are.

When you suffer how much are you thinking you should be controlling things, and not God. Be free, and allow God to be God. This was God’s answer. Which evidently comforted Job to some extent. God’s answer may or may not bring comfort to you. But for me, I find them extremely helpful. I’m not in control. Frightening but wonderful. I can rest and not always be banging my head up against the wall trying to get things to work they way I want them to; trying to get life to work out for me the way I want it to.

It also reminds me, as Jesus does, to look out and look up. Look at the world around me, and allow what God has created to heal me. The wonders of God’s creation, the beautiful sun sets, the freedom of wild animals. I cannot even begin to imagine what Job suffered in his losses. I cannot even begin to imagine what any of you have suffered in your losses. But, it is when Job becomes a brother of jackels and a companion of ostriches (Job 30:29), that he finds his place, “As they are free so are you!”

What’s your homework this week? Sit outside or go take a walk or even a hike, may we remember our place as creature, and sit with the creator in prayer each and every day.

Be careful, you may find the experience transformative.

On Tuesday at the Monastery, in the cool but not unbearable breeze I sat quietly outside and let the sounds and sights of nature fill my ears and eyes with grace. As I was able to quiet my heart and mind and body, almost in an inverse relationship, the sounds and sights of nature became more present and made aware to me. Their volume was turned up and it was beautiful.

I saw a king fisher perch on an electric cable over the rippling water of the small pond, gazing intensely into its depths - Consider the birds of the air. I saw sparrows dancing around in the air at all levels and heights--his eyes are on the sparrow, and I know he watches over me--.
A magnificent hawk emerged from the depths of the woods--But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. I saw a northern flicker descend from a tree branch close to the waters, and then ascent up to a small hollow where apparently she had recently hatched nestlings--how I long to gather you under my wings. I saw a raven flying high in the sky.

God said to Job: See the Lion and the raven Observe the mountain goat and the deer; Watch the ostrich and the warhorse, marvel at the hawk and the vulture. In the wild, outer edges of nature Job found peace. Healing began. and eventually Job was made well.

Thanks be to God. Amen

Genesis 2 and 3 - Where are You?

2011-03-27T14:41:00.000-07:00

Genesis 2-3 Selected verses - Where are you?

Turn to someone sitting near by you and ask:
Where is God? Answers?

How many times in this past week did you wonder: Where is God? What were the circumstances? Of course, this question presumes that God exists. That there is something behind and within all that is. It bears some inkling that God is out there somewhere; from beyond ourselves we have been given our life and meaning. But when circumstances in life lead us to wonder: what is our purpose? What are we here for? We may wonder: Where is God?

And when there is no confirmation or satisfactory answer to this question: Where is God? It may be easy to take a second step, which is to dismiss the notion of God's existence all together. "Where is God" becomes "There is no God," or maybe less overtly, "we all alone spinning around on this third rock from the sun." And once that notion becomes our most prevalent thought...
Oh, it’s on. Let the rat race begin.

Throughout human history, once humans had any kind of language--”that vast symbol system in which sounds in the air stand in for actions, feelings, relationships and instruction” (L. Rasmussen) Whooo, you should have heard Trasie’s sounds fill the air yesterday when Ruby Gene took off running out of the yard and into the street! Once humans had language with which to express themselves, this combined with human developing a capacity to think beyond the present moment--You may say I’m a dreamer...but I’m not the only one. An ability to detach from our present reality it “in order to envision and create other worlds, or imagine different pasts and altered futures, with different ways to achieve them.” (L. Rasmussen)

Making sense of it all: we encounter stories about God... or gods - consistent in human stories throughout time. Scientists seek to discover the place where God is in the brain, as those very scientists try to make sense of it. God is all around - in the unexplained, and in the explained too. Ruby Gene bowed her head to pray by her self the other day, Gracias Dios. She said. Thank you God. A God moment! And ours, a second biblical creation story from an ancient Hebrew people: Genesis 2-3, It’s a dirty story as in God with dirt on the divine hands forms Adam out of the dirt and breathes life into Adam and it wasn’t mouth to mouth, but mouth to nostrils...God is also an anesthesiologist who puts Adam to sleep, takes out a rib and shapes Eve; they are in a Garden and there are two trees, The tree of Life and the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. And a serpent - the most crafty among the wild animals.

This imaginative story, which in no way is supposed to be used for any scientific understanding of how things are in the world, but rather an etiological story (a wonderful Greek phrase), a story that attempts to explain why things are the way they are, like: Haven’t you always wanted to know why birthing a child is so painful; or Why we wear clothes instead of running around naked like every other animal; or why give pets names - incidentally, the animals were for naming not eating in the story.

Goat heads, the declared enemy of bikers and Trasie alike.
It answers our queries: why goat-heads are there to pop your bike tires; why we get married; why we get in arguments. and why women hate snakes, except for Rachel of course.

And even deeper, why there seems to be a feeling of separation between Creature (us) and Creator (God). And a tendency to blame others for our actions. “Had it not been for Eve, we'd just be living it up without a worry in the world. The good ole blame game, It’s all women’s fault! Hey women...Eve blamed it on the snake... ehhemm

But even deeper, It speaks to all of our doubt of the existence of God in the world. So often we have more than we need, but our needs are unsatisfied, we seek to fill those needs by consuming whenever however much we can. As a result, we are wreaking havoc on our god given companions, animals and other humans alike. Because we ask: Where is God? Is there a God?

But it could be, as God walks in the divine garden of Creation, as we eat and consume and habitats are destroyed; the earth groans with earthquakes. We consume and wars are fought around the world. It could be, that the question is turned in reverse: instead of where is God.
God asks us as he asked Adam and Eve in their hiding: Where are you, humans?

Play by Cindy Piatt

Genesis 3: 1-24
JUDGE: Here we have this beautifully luscious garden, big enough for all to enjoy and live in. But it seems that you all can’t decide how to use it wisely and for everyone’s benefit. So now it’s come down to a trial.
My first question to all of you is: Why can’t we all just get along?
Is coming to court the only way that you can think of to settle your disagreements?
Oh well, let’s proceed. Women first seems only fair – Eve. What’s your view of the problem?
SNAKE: So what am I, chopped liver? I’m female, too, you know.
JUDGE: You just wait your turn. Humans first because they’re in charge, as it says in the Bible.
EVE: Well, judge. This snake sort of dared me to eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden. I told this cunning length of scaly membranes that God said not to even touch it, but then was told that we really wouldn’t die. What did you expect me to do? I had never been tempted before. In fact, I think this is the first time ever that temptation reared its ugly head.
SNAKE: Whoa! Are you calling me a temptress now? I won’t stand for it.
EVE: No worries. You can’t stand anyway!
SNAKE: Oooo – you’ve got a point there. One for you!
JUDGE: So where were we? Snakester, did you really tell Eve that God didn’t want them to eat the fruit of that tree because God didn’t want them to be like God and know what is good and what is evil?
SNAKE: Why, Mr. Judge, sir, the thought never crossed my mind. Shouldn’t we all enjoy the fruits of our labor?
JUDGE: Just answer the question.
SNAKE: Well, I guess in a manner of speaking, I spoke those words. And I wish to point out that she understood each and every one of them.
JUDGE: (to Eve) And did you share the fruit with Adam?
EVE: Well, of course I did? Isn’t that what loving couples do – share and share alike?
JUDGE: (to Eve) And then what happened?
ADAM: We realized that we were naked – wow! That was an eye-opening experience!
EVE: We felt like we had done something wrong, so we covered ourselves up.
ADAM: With the tons of fig leaves that were around.
SNAKE: Another precious living thing that will end up with a bad reputation because of all of this.
JUDGE: OK, OK. Let’s move on. What happened after that? Adam, you first, then Eve, and then Snakester.

ADAM: Well, it was evening by then and we heard loud footsteps in the garden. It had to have been the Lord God. So we did what would become normal for all naked humans – we hid!
EVE: And then we heard God call out to us. Uh oh, we thought. Now we’ve done it. But the curious thing was, we didn’t even know what “it” was!
ADAM: All we knew was that it must have had something to do with these stupid fig leaves that we’re wearing. I’d rather have them off anyway – they just itch.
JUDGE: (to God) So…What was your intent in calling out for Adam and Eve? In your way of thinking, what had they done wrong?
GOD: I just wanted to know where they got the idea from that they were naked. After all, I hadn’t had the birds and the bees talk with them just yet. So I asked them if they had eaten the fruit that they weren’t supposed to touch – which, by the way, was for their own good … and innocence.
SNAKE: Innocence of the law is no excuse!
JUDGE: Quiet! Wait until you’re asked a question. (to God): Well, what happened next?
GOD: I simply asked the man where he had gotten the fruit.
ADAM: (to judge) I told God that she (pointing) gave it to me. It’s all her fault.
EVE: Wait just a minute. I’m not taking the blame for this. Snakester put me up to it. “Nothing will happen to you. Look how soft and juicy it looks. Go ahead and take a bite.” Now, I ask you, who could refuse an invitation like that?!
SNAKE: There was no one else to point to, so I ended up taking the blame for this whole ridiculous affair. And God punished me by taking away my legs so that I could never stand again.
EVE: Well, you got it easier than I did! Have you ever thought how easy your childbirthing experience is compared to mine? Ohhh, the pain of it all! And now, I have to listen to everything that he (pointing to ADAM) tells me to do. It’ll be eons before I outlive that edict!
ADAM: Yeah, well, I now have to work endless hours to get this dry land with not enough moisture to produce anything - when I could be listening to music or going to the tavern and enjoying the fruits of the vine. You call that “winning the prize”!
SNAKE: and to top it all off
EVE: we all got banished from the garden
ADAM: forever.
SNAKE, EVE, ADAM: Why would GOD would do that to his Creation?
ALL TURN TO CONGREGATION WITH ARMS OUT TO LET THEM ANSWER THE QUESTION
as JUDGE: So there you have it folks. What’s your verdict?

When we say there is no God, and we do not concern ourselves with the consequences of our actions. When we say there is no God and we can do whatever we want, we take a bite of the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil, and we become the judges. We are the ones who are ultimately going to decide what is best for us. We are going to place ourselves in a position to judge others.
Do not Judge is how Jesus bluntly puts it. When we do not take the time to be with God, to listen to God, to live our lives out of a place where God's very breath fills our lungs and God's very heartbeat pumps our blood, we are lost. We begin to see talking serpents. We ask where is God, and we are asked back, Where are you, humans?

This Lenten season, as you live sacrificially for the earth and for God, incorporate as part of your practice, breathing in God's mercy. And breathing out God's mercy on others. Sit with God, Speak with God. and there a mutual discovery of presence will be celebrated. Because the paradise God created is inside each and every one of us; and it is all around us.