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.

The discipline of dreaming

I have not posted on my blog for a long time and whether or not anyone else reads this is neither here not there; I am writing as I process better when I write.

Last week I was one of 7500 attendees at the Global Leadership Summit hosted by the Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, IL. Actually there were over 130,000 people attending all across the USA via satellite sites hosted by churches and other organizations. Nearly a week has passed since the event and having read and heard much about attendees reflections and thoughts, I am wondering how many people will be saying in the next weeks, months and possibly, years, that it was this event that changed the way in which they now lead, empowered them to be courageous and move out to wherever God is leading them, and that there are no good descriptions of the impact of those 2 days. To summarize a comment from Bill Hybels, this was where they heard their "Leadership bell being rung:" LOUDLY. While listening to high caliber church, business and political leaders, this was the event where God spoke to us in such a powerful, meaningful and impacting way that there is only one way forward; create the future. Don't wait for others to create it for us.

I cannot say what will happen in the future. However I am convinced that I will be one of those people who site the 2 days of the Summit, August 11 and 12, 2011, as crucially defining moments of my life as one who follows Christ and has been given the responsibility to lead others in my role as a pastor. Phrases that come to mind describing what happened last week don't even come close to all that was going through me by Saturday; turned upside down, head messed with, never-be-the-same-again.

In the final session (the final of 12 sessions..........over 2 days), Erwin Mamanus stood up front with his Bible in hand and started to talk. Erwin was once asked if he had brought his "notes" to another message/sermon that he gave. He replied, "Notes..........notes...........yes, I have my notes." And then he directed the congregation;

"Open your notes to Matthew 11."

I frequent the website of the church, Mosaic, in LA to whom he pastors, and listen to the podcasts. Erwin ALWAYS brings such maturity and clarity to his congregation. This is some of what he shared at the Summit.

Isaiah 43: 18-19 says;

"Do not dwell on the past. Behold I am doing a new thing! Now is springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness..."
Will you even be aware of it? Will we even perceive it?

Then Erwin continued with his words;

"Evil men do not wait for permission from God to create the future they have in mind. But unfortunately good people sit idly by waiting for God to create a better world. Why do we wait for someone else to create a better future? Those of us who live in relationship to Jesus Christ should realize that we have been entrusted with this stewardship. But when you step into the presence of the creator of the universe, EVERYTHING becomes new."

Another line that resonated with me was this one from another speaker at the Summit; Seth Godin;

"We all wait to get picked. Don't wait to get picked; pick yourself."

So this is my job. To realize the that every human being has potential and to help them find and use the gifts that God has given them. I believe that every human being that has ever been born on this planet is made in the image of God with all the creativeness that comes with that image. God was a artist first; a creator first before anything else. God saw all that he had made and it was VERY GOOD.

There is a lot more that I am processing through six days after I drove home from this inspiring and motivating event. My mindset is changing. It has been challenged to change for the better.

In writing to the Romans, the Apostle Paul said this;

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

So as I continue to process what I heard last week and figure out ways of implimenting some of what was so inspiring, I am focusing on what a new mindset looks like for me.

More on this later.

And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us

I am reading, "Following Jesus," by N.T. Wright. Our Bible study is reading through the gospel of John and I love hearing the continual theme of light and life. Wright devotes a single chapter of the book to John's gospel and I want to share (without Wright's permission of course) his use of John 1:14 - "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

It is so well put and so worth sharing.

On talking about Jesus being invited to the wedding in Cana, Wright says:

"The Word became flesh, and celebrated a friend's wedding; and we beheld his glory, glory as of one who takes the ordinary and transforms it into the extraordinary."

Jesus heals the centurion's servant; "The Word became flesh, and healed the sick; we beheld his glory , glory as of the sovereign giver of life."

The glory of God is ultimately revealed on the cross; "The Word became flesh, and died among us; we beheld his glory, glory as of the one who lays down his life for his friends."
"The Word became flesh, and was crowned king in our midst; we beheld his glory, glory as of the human, bleeding figure, the one given by the Father to save the world."

The Word became flesh, and pitched his tent among us; "We beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father."

On Good Friday, the light was out and darkness covered the world; "The Word became flesh, adn slept among us; we beheld his glory, glory as of the loving God who has finished the work of redemption."

We are to follow Jesus - the ONE - for us he was sent, by the Father, full of grace and truth. As Jesus said to Peter, "You must follow me."
The Holy Spirit lives within us and therefore; "The Word may become flesh once more and dwell among us and within us; and we, having beheld his glory, we must then reveal his glory, glory as of the beloved children of the Father, full of grace and truth."

This is the One whom we follow, full of grace and truth, the Son of God, pointing back to the Father.