I have been reading a fascinating book, penned by our pastor and his Jewish Rabbi friend. It's a dialogue called Mount and Mountain and looks at The Ten Commandments from the Christian and the Jewish perspective. I'm more than half-way finished; it's a good read, and I am learning so much from each post. What has surfaced, again and again, in my thoughts is how very little I know...or have ever thought about...this subject (and others), especially from another perspective. The only perspective I have is my own: conservative...Christian. I can see how limiting that is...and how almost liberating it is to open my eyes and heart and mind to how others think and view God and the things of God.
I hope you'll purchase the book, by Dr Michael Smith and Rabbi Rami Shapiro. You'll be glad you did!
Now, for a few quotes from the book, as a sneak preview for you:
"The best hope for peace and justice in the world may lie in nurturing friendships across religious boundaries and in the conversations that occur in the context of such friendships." -ms
"Racism, imperialism, and the like rank as some of the big-time idols we must die to in our era. Of equal importance are the more personal idols, little household gods as it were: greed, fear of the other, vengeance, and their kin." -ms
"There is a Jewish ceremony one does when moving into a new home...we...use bread, salt, and a broom. The bread and salt are a way of asking that God never leave this household bereft of the basic necessities of life; the broom deals with your household gods...Each guest is invited to sweep out one of the household idols saying, 'may this home never be visited with anger,' or 'may this home never be visited by violence...'" -rs
"...Miriam's story reveals our complexity, that strange blend of love, ambition, pettiness, and nobility found within each of us. It also reveals that, even so, we may still become partners with God as he reshapes humanity and the world." -ms
"We Jews speak of Oneg Shabbat, Sabbath joy, because when we allow reality to be reality, and realize we are not able to control it, we suddenly discover that we are able to navigate it. Remembering Shabbat teaches us how to surf the chaos rather than conquer it, and that insight just might make our living in the week to come much lighter and more loving." -rs
"Surfers know better than to try to control waves. Joy comes in riding the wave as it is." -ms
There is much meat on each page...much to savor and digest and learn. I am intrigued by the differences in background, perspective, starting point...and how each author/friend seems to come to some common conclusions nevertheless. It is just fascinating.
I have an idea I'll be thinking a little more outside the box from now on. I'll appreciate what I believe and why I believe the way I do. I'll frame others' views in light of their perspectives and try to take that into consideration when I hear someone who believes differently from the way I do. I'll keep on reading and praying and learning so that I can keep on growing and maturing in my Christian walk. I actually feel stronger in my personal faith having read what I've read. It's interesting: one might think that hearing others' views (especially the ones that at first reading seem so strange...so different) might make me question my own views. I've found that it is just the opposite. I'm grateful for a faith that is strong and getting stronger. And also gratitude for dialogue which is open and honest, given and received with mutual respect, not in an argumentative spirit.
I hope you'll order your copy of Mount and Mountain and experience these words for yourselves.
CONCORD CHRONICLE - Dedicated to God, the author of peace and lover of concord
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Springtime
We must be the luckiest folks alive! Here it is, not even officially spring yet, and the temperature outside is 80 something! We had a thunderstorm night before last, grilled out (in shorts!) last night, and have worked outside most all day in the warm-to-hot sunshine. It just doesn't get any better than this...and oh, I almost forgot: flip flops! Greatest footwear invention ever...especially for one with feet that need surgery and whose shoes (all of them) hurt like heck. Yes, I'm in heaven.
I started off this morning pulling weeds. Not the most glamorous job, it is true; but very satistying. I got about 2 gallons-worth pulled and discarded. Then onto pick-up-sticks. Then to fertilizing our azaleas, all 58 of them! Most are budding, so I can't wait til we see that snowy sea of white again, circling our house. We have a few red ones mixed in, on the back bank, and a couple old pink ones which were here before the house was built, on the corners of the lot. Hope they liked their acidic drink and show me their appreciation soon!
John is busy spraying every square inch of our cedar trim, in an attempt to thwart the annual onslaught of carpenter bees. They dearly love our house, but we do, too. And this year we will win, mark my words!
The redbuds are blooming...and the forsythia, quince, jonquils, and tulips. Soon we'll have geraniums, zinnias, and marigolds, as they join the pansies, daisies, daylilies, and knockout roses. Then all the wildflowers will join in, and the hydrangea and dogwoods. Once again, heaven on earth.
We have wild raspberries and blackberries in our woods, and before the sticker-bushes (briars and brambles) come fully out, I'll get a few each morning to round out my breakfast. Nothing sweeter!
This year, we have a special treat as our long-awaited evergreen clematis finally bloomed! We have waited three long seasons to see the beautiful and fragrant white blossoms, and we have not been disappointed. It is COVERED! The vines have climbed the pergola and droop down low, just for me to see. They have been well-worth the wait! We also got a few blooms off the Carolina Jasmine, but only a few. Maybe next year!
So much for my yard-in-review. Our friends in DC are enjoying the cherry blossoms; our Florida family have already had camellias and azaleas; so folks all over can join in saying, "Happy Spring!" Thank you, God...for a job well-done!
I started off this morning pulling weeds. Not the most glamorous job, it is true; but very satistying. I got about 2 gallons-worth pulled and discarded. Then onto pick-up-sticks. Then to fertilizing our azaleas, all 58 of them! Most are budding, so I can't wait til we see that snowy sea of white again, circling our house. We have a few red ones mixed in, on the back bank, and a couple old pink ones which were here before the house was built, on the corners of the lot. Hope they liked their acidic drink and show me their appreciation soon!
John is busy spraying every square inch of our cedar trim, in an attempt to thwart the annual onslaught of carpenter bees. They dearly love our house, but we do, too. And this year we will win, mark my words!
The redbuds are blooming...and the forsythia, quince, jonquils, and tulips. Soon we'll have geraniums, zinnias, and marigolds, as they join the pansies, daisies, daylilies, and knockout roses. Then all the wildflowers will join in, and the hydrangea and dogwoods. Once again, heaven on earth.
We have wild raspberries and blackberries in our woods, and before the sticker-bushes (briars and brambles) come fully out, I'll get a few each morning to round out my breakfast. Nothing sweeter!
This year, we have a special treat as our long-awaited evergreen clematis finally bloomed! We have waited three long seasons to see the beautiful and fragrant white blossoms, and we have not been disappointed. It is COVERED! The vines have climbed the pergola and droop down low, just for me to see. They have been well-worth the wait! We also got a few blooms off the Carolina Jasmine, but only a few. Maybe next year!
So much for my yard-in-review. Our friends in DC are enjoying the cherry blossoms; our Florida family have already had camellias and azaleas; so folks all over can join in saying, "Happy Spring!" Thank you, God...for a job well-done!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Newness
The year was 1959. I was 10 years old and had just experienced one of my most memorable years ever. For we had moved from our home-of-7-1/2-years in Norris, to an older frame house on Dogwood Road in Fountain City. I guess I was, in hindsight, rather traumatized by the move...leaving my first friends, our church, school...life in a tiny town where we had free-run of the entire community; where we "charged" our groceries at Archer's Market; where we knew everyone and everyone knew us; where it was safe and innocence reigned...to the much larger community just north of Knoxville.
Not that Fountain City was a huge city, by any means. But it certainly was many times larger than Norris. As a matter of fact, it was, at the time, the largest unincorporated city in the nation. It had not yet been annexed by the City of Knoxville. It was March when we moved, so I was going into a fourth grade class that was nearing the end of the school year. I went into Shannondale on that cold March morning, not knowing a soul...I'll never forget Mrs Fox, the principal, walking Mother and me down the long hall to Mrs Richardson's room. I was kind of scared...nervous...anxious. Mrs Richardson was so nice and welcoming; I soon felt right at home and made many friends who are still my friends! (We are having our 45th high school reunion this July; I'll see many of them again...53 years after meeting several of them that day in March 1959!)
Yes, that move gave me a taste of "newness" in many ways. New friends, new neighbors, a new school, a new church, new experiences, a new town where buses ran, with stop lights!, and more than one filling station and restaurant like I was used to!
In the sermon Sunday, our pastor asked, "For what do we pray?" His answer, in short, was: for a brand new world...and for a brand new me. I've thought about this all week...about a new world, a new me. What changes would I wish for our world? How would I be different, as a new me? Those are large questions, with many answers. Here's my view, nutshell version:
- My new world would be peaceful, free of war and strife
- It would be free of drought and famine and disease
- It would be God-centered
- It would be a land where people cared more for each other than being obscessed with selfish desires
- It would have its priorities straight
- It would be void of bigotry and prejudice and meanness
- All children would have the chance to live in good homes with good parents and unlimited opportunities
- A new me would closely follow Jesus
- I would be consistent
- I would be loving and giving always
- Fairness and wisdom and humility would be my benchmarks
- I would witness with my life and actions
- I would put others first
- I would leave judgment to God and love unconditionally
- I would empty out myself and ask God to fill me with His Spirit, moment by moment, day by day
Yes, as we talk about newness...may we pray for a brand new world and a brand new me. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man (or woman) availeth much." Multiply one person's prayer by millions and millions and just think what we might experience! Something new to look forward to for sure! Oh God, may it be so...and let it begin with me.
Not that Fountain City was a huge city, by any means. But it certainly was many times larger than Norris. As a matter of fact, it was, at the time, the largest unincorporated city in the nation. It had not yet been annexed by the City of Knoxville. It was March when we moved, so I was going into a fourth grade class that was nearing the end of the school year. I went into Shannondale on that cold March morning, not knowing a soul...I'll never forget Mrs Fox, the principal, walking Mother and me down the long hall to Mrs Richardson's room. I was kind of scared...nervous...anxious. Mrs Richardson was so nice and welcoming; I soon felt right at home and made many friends who are still my friends! (We are having our 45th high school reunion this July; I'll see many of them again...53 years after meeting several of them that day in March 1959!)
Yes, that move gave me a taste of "newness" in many ways. New friends, new neighbors, a new school, a new church, new experiences, a new town where buses ran, with stop lights!, and more than one filling station and restaurant like I was used to!
In the sermon Sunday, our pastor asked, "For what do we pray?" His answer, in short, was: for a brand new world...and for a brand new me. I've thought about this all week...about a new world, a new me. What changes would I wish for our world? How would I be different, as a new me? Those are large questions, with many answers. Here's my view, nutshell version:
- My new world would be peaceful, free of war and strife
- It would be free of drought and famine and disease
- It would be God-centered
- It would be a land where people cared more for each other than being obscessed with selfish desires
- It would have its priorities straight
- It would be void of bigotry and prejudice and meanness
- All children would have the chance to live in good homes with good parents and unlimited opportunities
- A new me would closely follow Jesus
- I would be consistent
- I would be loving and giving always
- Fairness and wisdom and humility would be my benchmarks
- I would witness with my life and actions
- I would put others first
- I would leave judgment to God and love unconditionally
- I would empty out myself and ask God to fill me with His Spirit, moment by moment, day by day
Yes, as we talk about newness...may we pray for a brand new world and a brand new me. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man (or woman) availeth much." Multiply one person's prayer by millions and millions and just think what we might experience! Something new to look forward to for sure! Oh God, may it be so...and let it begin with me.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
A Murphy's Law-kind-of-day
It's been one of those mornings. You know: the Murphy's Law kind. Nothing horrible but just irritating and frustrating. We just got home from a wonderful week with the Florida Heatherly's, so I was pretty much "set up" for something, if you know what I mean...kind of like the day after Christmas or first day after vacation ends. When you've had lots of fun and been extra happy, you are bound to be a little let-down...so Murphy's Law catches you a little quicker, I think.
I set out early to accomplish my to-do list: pick up mail at PO; take watch for repair (again) and discuss why other repair was done, without an estimate first, as requested; get tea from McDonald's (you know me and my tea!); pick up tax packet from CPA; go to grocery store.
So here's a short version of what happened: in the mail was a corrected form to submit to CPA (after CPA has already finished preparing the taxes!) ...not good...jeweler got the watch going quickly (good!) but copped an attitude when I asked why he repaired the other one without calling me with an estimate first. He tried to blame his worker for it, then tried the guilt-trip thing with me ("you can pay or not, you decide"...then took the Lord's name in vain. I chose not to pay. I'll discuss this with hubby and get back to you on what our final decision is :( Part of me thinks I made a good decision; the other part of me wonders. Guess I'll be finding another jeweler either way.
Then, on to McDonald's for my half sweet/half unsweetened tea, with three lemon slices. Drive-thru only since they are under construction. So, I park to doctor my tea, and guess what? It's VERY sweet. Oh well, I can handle this. No big deal. I just need a little totally unsweet to add to it...and mission accomplished. Around I go, through the drive-thru again, and the nice little man apologizes and says, no indeed, you get a whole new tea on the house! And with smiles, no less.
On west to the CPA's. I presented the corrected forms and luckily, the form was identical to the one I had taken earlier; so no changes were necessary! This day is getting better! Then, before I drove back home, I opened the tax package and noted we owe the Federal government a sizable amount, the State of Tennessee a sizable amount, and each quarter through next January we owe sizable amounts! Boo and hiss. Not good. Social security did us in! Good problem, though, all in all. I do like getting my little check each month :)
I am glad to report that nothing bad happened at the grocery store. I stocked up, paid, and got home without a single incident.
All this to say, irritating things happened, but it's all ok. I listened all morning to my Christian CDs as I drove about, and they spoke to me in a positive way, as usual. It made me realize how small my irritations were, in the larger scope of things. I recalled a message from our good friend Tommy G a few weeks ago, and with his permission, I'll share a lesson he learned and passed on to me, for such a time as this:
"Here is an experience I had the other day as I was trying to put Max down for a nap. He had been running around all morning and playing hard - so we put a baby DVD into the player to let him watch as he dozed off. Well that didn't happen. So I picked him up and laid him against me and put my arms around him. Well, he still wanted to get up and take off, so I just hugged him a little closer and he was asleep within 5 minutes. Here is what I learned from my grandson: In my life, I am running around all day and playing hard; and Jesus says, 'Tommy, sit down and smell the roses.' But I am so busy I don't really do that. So He picks me up and holds me against His chest and He lets me struggle a little, but then He pulls me closer, and I feel His breathing and it puts me at ease. Before I know it, I am completely relaxed and lost in Him (just as Max was so sound asleep and at peace in my arms.) So this little experience with Max brought home to me that if we will just let go, we can be at complete peace and be at rest in the arms of the One who loves us so."
So, next time I find myself in situations like I experienced today, I'll think of Tommy's story and its moral...and how blessed I am...and loved...and how little bitty my "problems" really are. I'll slow down, smell those roses, quit struggling and just rest and relax in peace...the peace that passes understanding. I'll keep playing my music and listening for its messages to me. And being grateful for good friends who point me to Jesus, who is the answer to everything we face, big or small.
I set out early to accomplish my to-do list: pick up mail at PO; take watch for repair (again) and discuss why other repair was done, without an estimate first, as requested; get tea from McDonald's (you know me and my tea!); pick up tax packet from CPA; go to grocery store.
So here's a short version of what happened: in the mail was a corrected form to submit to CPA (after CPA has already finished preparing the taxes!) ...not good...jeweler got the watch going quickly (good!) but copped an attitude when I asked why he repaired the other one without calling me with an estimate first. He tried to blame his worker for it, then tried the guilt-trip thing with me ("you can pay or not, you decide"...then took the Lord's name in vain. I chose not to pay. I'll discuss this with hubby and get back to you on what our final decision is :( Part of me thinks I made a good decision; the other part of me wonders. Guess I'll be finding another jeweler either way.
Then, on to McDonald's for my half sweet/half unsweetened tea, with three lemon slices. Drive-thru only since they are under construction. So, I park to doctor my tea, and guess what? It's VERY sweet. Oh well, I can handle this. No big deal. I just need a little totally unsweet to add to it...and mission accomplished. Around I go, through the drive-thru again, and the nice little man apologizes and says, no indeed, you get a whole new tea on the house! And with smiles, no less.
On west to the CPA's. I presented the corrected forms and luckily, the form was identical to the one I had taken earlier; so no changes were necessary! This day is getting better! Then, before I drove back home, I opened the tax package and noted we owe the Federal government a sizable amount, the State of Tennessee a sizable amount, and each quarter through next January we owe sizable amounts! Boo and hiss. Not good. Social security did us in! Good problem, though, all in all. I do like getting my little check each month :)
I am glad to report that nothing bad happened at the grocery store. I stocked up, paid, and got home without a single incident.
All this to say, irritating things happened, but it's all ok. I listened all morning to my Christian CDs as I drove about, and they spoke to me in a positive way, as usual. It made me realize how small my irritations were, in the larger scope of things. I recalled a message from our good friend Tommy G a few weeks ago, and with his permission, I'll share a lesson he learned and passed on to me, for such a time as this:
"Here is an experience I had the other day as I was trying to put Max down for a nap. He had been running around all morning and playing hard - so we put a baby DVD into the player to let him watch as he dozed off. Well that didn't happen. So I picked him up and laid him against me and put my arms around him. Well, he still wanted to get up and take off, so I just hugged him a little closer and he was asleep within 5 minutes. Here is what I learned from my grandson: In my life, I am running around all day and playing hard; and Jesus says, 'Tommy, sit down and smell the roses.' But I am so busy I don't really do that. So He picks me up and holds me against His chest and He lets me struggle a little, but then He pulls me closer, and I feel His breathing and it puts me at ease. Before I know it, I am completely relaxed and lost in Him (just as Max was so sound asleep and at peace in my arms.) So this little experience with Max brought home to me that if we will just let go, we can be at complete peace and be at rest in the arms of the One who loves us so."
So, next time I find myself in situations like I experienced today, I'll think of Tommy's story and its moral...and how blessed I am...and loved...and how little bitty my "problems" really are. I'll slow down, smell those roses, quit struggling and just rest and relax in peace...the peace that passes understanding. I'll keep playing my music and listening for its messages to me. And being grateful for good friends who point me to Jesus, who is the answer to everything we face, big or small.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)