A New Beginning . . .

Sounds redundant, doesn’t it? I mean, aren’t all beginnings ‘new’? So maybe, we are renewed in ever-deepening cycles of Life. Our transformations happen one layer at a time, one level at a time, slowly…but then, sometimes, we are thrust by the pressures of Life into its rapids–and a new ‘beginning’ bursts through all the walls we’ve constructed against it, into our consciousness–Living water–pushing and shoving, washing away the dust of our old understandings, and suddenly, for a space in time, we see clearly.

May 2012 bring you clarity. . .

Take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you. (Ephesians 4:20)

Transforming Grace . . .

I’ve been praying for healing a long time–for all of us. For friends, colleagues, families, those who struggle and those who suffer. It’s a long list–as long as the entire population of the earth. We’re hard on each other, and on ourselves. But there is a road to healing that bypasses our human baggage: our memories, our wounds, and the spirit of offense we cling to throughout our lives. But that journey requires our willingness to lay down our own understandings, and live in God’s presence–continuously.

Phoenix Rising…Again…

It’s been a long, challenging summer–at least for me. In June a truck t-boned me on the way to work–just past the abandoned shell of a barn from my last post. He came up over the hill and into my car before I was through the intersection. I never saw him coming until he was two feet from my passenger door. He never stopped, slowed down, or even swerved, although there was an empty parking lot on his right side–no evidence (e.g., tire skid marks)  that he ever even hit the brakes.

So again, another ambulance trip to Hershey’s Trauma Center, and another night in their ICU… <sigh> I am so tired of this ‘trauma by auto.’ I am recovering though–except for some residual neck and chest wall issues.

It’s Almost Gone . . .

Mystery of the Disappearing Barn

Disappearing Barn

This post ought to begin with “it was a dark and stormy night” Because it was. I  was driving through the rain, on a stretch of back road, on my way home from work. It was close to midnight and, as I approached the intersection of Locust  and rte 641, I saw a tractor-trailer on the road just ahead of me.

Dust

Lord, You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.” You sweep people away in the sleep of death— they are like the new grass of the morning: In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered. (Psalm 90:3,5-6)

Today is Ash Wednesday, and the first day of Lent–40 days of fasting and abstinence. It’s also a day in the Christian liturgy marked by the distribution of ashes, with the sobering admonition to ‘remember man that you are dust, and to dust you will return.’

Ponderment . . .

I’m tooling through Walmart, past the movie DVD’s, the CDs, and HD TV’s, and around a circular counter display of myriad small, black, shiny, rectangular things… “Mobile Communication and Entertainment Devices”, in uniform rows–prices, descriptions, platforms, alpha-numeric pads… so many choices, so much technology — every electronic option — to play music on, plug into, talk into, tap into, or text into… I think about the possible uses; the number is unnerving

Who said we needed to hot-wire every waking moment of our lives?

Who decided we should plug up all our orifices with noise or sensation?

What we we trying to block out or drown out?

Isn’t Creation enough?

Prayer Changes Everything!

Yet still, the future belongs to those who pray. Prayer is the bridge between what should be and what will be. The diligent prayer of a righteous people will ultimately determine the destiny of our children. Therefore, it is our responsibility to leave to those-yet-to-be-born a world in revival as their inheritance. Hanging in the balance of eternity is the ultimate climax of our Creator – the kingdoms of this world becoming the Kingdom of our God. (Kris Vallotton, Bethel Church)

2011 – A Year of Peace-full Change

Through the heartfelt mercies of our God, God’s Sunrise will break in upon us, Shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death, Then showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace. (Luke 1:78-79)

May 2011 be a year of healing, restoration, and reconciliation among families, friends, colleagues, neighborhoods, and nations!  May we all know fuller lives, deeper loves, less stressful times, financial relief, and abundant blessings from our loving God! AMEN!

In His Presence, Peace . . .

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:76,79)

May we all become fully aware of His Presence  in our lives, and may that awareness unleash His healing, restoring, and reconciling Power over our lives, families, and World!