This is my Father's world

I have been in the State of Washington for nearly two weeks and one of the things of which I am acutely aware is being surrounded by so much beauty. It is everywhere. No matter where I turn my head, there are mountains, bodies of water demonstrating their power by throwing copious amounts of stones and wood onto the beach and the colors of the evening skies are visible markers that I live in a created world that was specially put together by a designer whose creation cannot be bettered. I am reminded of the old hymn, "This is my Father's world."

This is my Father's world, and to to my listening ears all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the sphere.

This is my Father's world: I rest me in the thought of rocks and tress, of skies and seas His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world, the birds their carols raise, the morning light, the lily while, declare their makers' praise. He shines in all that's fira; in the rustling grass I hear hi pass, He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father's world, O let me never forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my Father's world: the battle is not done; Jesus who died shall be satisfied and earth and heaven be one.

My chiropractor told me yesterday that if I were to take better care of my spine I would regain my creativity, my energy, improve my sleep patterns and upgrade my well-being to that of being so much better than it is at this present time. My creativity is partially dependent on what I see in the outside world. My eyes have seen live pictures of mountains, lakes, rivers, hills and beaches. As my eyes are the lamp of my body, what they see makes a difference to my well-being.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light" (Matthew 6:22).

I think my creative levels are rising up and to the right....

Are we different?

I wrote this post several weeks ago and didn't post it. I think I want to now. What is it about being a disciple of Jesus Christ that makes us any different from the rest?
This is from September, 11, 2011

I read this morning from Seth Godin's blog;

"But now more than ever, I believe we have an obligation to stand up, stand out and to do work that matters. Wherever you are, there's an opportunity to be different, with respect."

He wrote those words on September 11 under a blog title, "It's different here." He was talking about New York; the good things about a city where over 40 languages are overheard in the public library, where every kind of food is found and can be cooked any way, where the city is constantly changing, constantly active and constantly vibrant.

I like that.

It led me to consider how, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are different and in ways that really make a difference for good. I was in Panera Bread last night, getting dinner before meeting up with a friend and the servers had misplaced my order. They were so apologetic that I stopped to wonder just how often they are spoken to less then graciously when food is not before us asap. We are so used to fast food being FAST that when it is slower than fast, we show frustration and annoyance rather than grace.

We have an opportunity to be different. May we be different with respect to how we are as disciples of Jesus Christ.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

The Olympic range is behind us, snow is covering the tops of this alpine vastness. The air is thin and the landscape is calling out to be explored. Not today, though. Someday I will come back and hike this natural beauty.

The view from 5000 ft is pretty good....

Smooth crossing

This is the view from the ferry boat from Whidbey Island (Coupeville) to Port Townsend. During the 1/2 hour ferry ride I had to get outside though the open space on the boat; downstairs about 30 vehicles and their passengers waited patiently for the crossing. I was not one of them. Too many views to see and if there is a mountain or natural creation to see, I am not going to miss the opportunity.

I do not know what it is but there is something about the water to me that is therapeutic. I speak to many people who long to live next to water - some of them do. What is it that we long for? Is it the strength of the waves against the shore, or perhaps the natural ebb and flow of the water lapping to the sides of the boat - the rhythm of life and energy. Or could it be the gentle swell of the entire body of the sea wooing us to this love of the vastness of this resource?

However, I know also that the water brings danger. All along the coast line are tsunami warnings; at any time, the undercurrents of the plates could collide in an unwanted way to create incredible power that will overwhelm and destroy; we have seen the results of that devastation in other parts of the world....yet it is possible here too.

For the time that we have today, the sea is beautiful and calm; just right for a day to breathe in the clean air that we have in abundance across the waters.

Seasonal pointers and memories

The last time I was in my home country of Scotland was over the winter break in December 2009. I had just finished my penultimate semester in Seminary and had 24 hours after completing my last final to pack and get ready to fly across the ocean (on a jet plane of course). Being tired and not a little emotional at making this trip home having not been there since January 2008, I decided to do the sensible thing and go the to the all-night seminary "it is finished" party, watch a few shows of "Friends," while falling asleep on the sofa. Logical thinking led to believe that by not going to bed I would be able to finish packing and look forward to several hours at airports, airline sleeping while vertical and movies on a too small screen.

However, all that was all OK because soon I would be back with my ain (own) folk and paying for my Starbucks with pound sterling rather than dollars. Perhaps it was my rosy coloured thinking of Christmases past but all I could imagine was enjoying a Eggnog latte made at home. However, to make that particular style of latte, one needs eggnog but Scotland has bad memories of that additive as being of an alcoholic nature so it doesn't stock it - anywhere. I tried the old favourites: Marks and Spencer, Tescos, Sainburys...even Waitrose and Safeway but no one has it on their shelves. My dream of having an Eggnog latte was over - at least on this side of the ocean.

Why am I telling you this? Because today we bought, for the first time in 2011, eggnog and so tomorrow morning, that particular elixir will complement my morning coffee and I will sit on the deck, looking across to the Olympic range of mountains and thank God for this seasonal pointer to the period of time we remember and celebrate God breaking into the human world and putting on skin for us because God loved the world THAT much.

How about making the L less long?

I overheard this comment today from 2 students who were putting together a logo on the computer.

"How about making the L less long?"

Their comment did not invite a reply from me but as these words hung in the air, I couldn't help responding with the following; "Don't you mean to say how about making the L shorter?"

They turned around and smiled. "Yes. Make it shorter."

My dad loves to correct my grammar and would have pounced on this inconsistency immediately without a thought. Actually, most of his reaction in response would have come from years of grammar being drilled into him like there was no tomorrow. Both he and my mum frequently yell at TV newscasters and anchor men and women misusing comparatives:

"Less short," instead of "longer."
"More sunny," instead of "Sunnier."
"Far bigger," instead of "greater..." and so the list goes on.

However, I am wondering if being right is a good enough reason to correct another person and even if it is, the correction must be done in a manner that does not override the other's self esteem of sense of worth; in this case, for instance. If correction is to be given, it matters how it is given.

I am in the process of preparing for Sunday's sermon and I am preaching on John 4; Jesus' interaction with a woman, a woman whose name we are not given. However this woman's response to Jesus' words is running back to her town and announcing to anyone that will listen that Jesus is the Messiah, the one for whom they have been waiting, as he told her "everything" she ever did (this is not quite true as all Jesus told her was that she has had 5 husbands and the man with whom she was currently living was not her husband). But the point is that Jesus' words to her caused her to act well and not to get defensive over her past mistakes.

How we respond and react to people with our words really matters. Using our words carefully, even in correction is vital and even if the L needs to be shorter rather than less long, our need to correct must reflect that love is always the app from which we speak.

Stand up and stand out

I read this morning from Seth Godin's blog;

"But now more than ever, I believe we have an obligation to stand up, stand out and to do work that matters. Wherever you are, there's an opportunity to be different, with respect."

He wrote those words on September 11 under a blog title, "It's different here." He was talking about New York; the good things about a city where over 40 languages are overheard in the public library, where every kind of food is found and can be cooked any way, where the city is constantly changing, constantly active and constantly vibrant.

I like that.

It led me to consider how, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are different and in ways that really make a difference for good. I was in Panera Bread last night, getting dinner before meeting up with a friend and the servers had misplaced my order. They were so apologetic that I stopped to wonder just how often they are spoken to less then graciously when food is not before us asap. We are so used to fast food being FAST that when it is slower than fast, we show frustration and annoyance rather than grace.

We have an opportunity to be different. May we be different with respect to how we are as disciples of Jesus Christ.