Hi all,
Short post just to let you know I'll be back. After returning from the National Gathering in New Orleans, and planning our Men's Retreat, I'm still in recover mode. Blessings to you all!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Getting things done!
Did you ever notice that when you are preparing to go away for a time, it seems that we become driven to ensure that everything is in good order and everything that can be done is just that--done!
Preparing for the ELCA National Youth Gathering really has Karen and I in overdrive mode. Paperwork-check....packing--almost....bills paid-check....lawn mowed-check....house cleaned-almost....Community days prep--almost, the list goes on and on. Why is it that no matter how much gets finished, it seems that there is always something else that needs to be done. For us, we will work tomorrow at the church, Friday at home until we go to retreive the daughter at Sequanta as she prepares to be an adult volunteer at the gathering. See, the list goes on!
I really dare say, that for me 'getting things done' is a dream that will only be realized when I enter into the presense of God and meet face to face the one who really got things done. Should I give up? Nope--I'll do what I can to the best of my ability as long as I can possibly do it. God's wonderful grace unto forgiveness is what completes me in my journey and God's spirit inspires, and challanges me to ensure that I will not fall into complacency. Thank God for the things I get done--I pray that you too are getting 'some' things done!
Preparing for the ELCA National Youth Gathering really has Karen and I in overdrive mode. Paperwork-check....packing--almost....bills paid-check....lawn mowed-check....house cleaned-almost....Community days prep--almost, the list goes on and on. Why is it that no matter how much gets finished, it seems that there is always something else that needs to be done. For us, we will work tomorrow at the church, Friday at home until we go to retreive the daughter at Sequanta as she prepares to be an adult volunteer at the gathering. See, the list goes on!
I really dare say, that for me 'getting things done' is a dream that will only be realized when I enter into the presense of God and meet face to face the one who really got things done. Should I give up? Nope--I'll do what I can to the best of my ability as long as I can possibly do it. God's wonderful grace unto forgiveness is what completes me in my journey and God's spirit inspires, and challanges me to ensure that I will not fall into complacency. Thank God for the things I get done--I pray that you too are getting 'some' things done!
Monday, July 2, 2012
Freedom to...
This week, we celebrate Independence Day. What I hear from many is the overarching theme that our freedoms are slipping away.
Personally, I don't believe that. I believe we are still living in response to what occurred on 9/11/01.
Increased security and government working to ensure that it never happens again comes with a price.
There is never a day that I get up and think that if I choose to go somewhere that I would not be able to go where I want (except financially). There is never a day that I awaken that I am afraid to pray or go to work in a Christian Church. There is never a day that I awaken that I am afraid of being stopped and taken away for questioning. There is never a day that I awaken to fear that my villiage is going to be overrun by tanks or bombs.
For most of us living in central PA, we are living a very sheltered and safe world. The challange with that is that we can so become focused on the changes that challange us rather that the why of what is. Sitting with a wonderful young woman who is working on her master's degree in Europe found herself among classmates who have a very different story. One whose neighborhood was totally bombed and she became a refugee in another country. One who watched as many neighbors in her community began to disappear, later to find that they left for Canada or other parts of the world because of fear of living in their own land. For our friend, her story was that she grew up in central PA--safe, free, sheltered!
Rather than living in fear, I choose to live in my freedoms. This Wednesday, I encourage all of you and me alike to wake up and pray for this great nation. Do we have problems as a nation--you betcha!
But what we do have is something that I am not willing to give up. We are so blessed--often blessed to the point of complaining about things that we do not fully understand. It is not easy to be the United States of America, but for those of faith, we should not and cannot allow ourselves to forget that if we are nation under God, then it is our obligation to speak that, live that, and be the example to others. If God is leaving this great land, it is not Government making it happen. It is the complacency of Godly people forgetting the greatest commandment "LOVE."
God bless all of you, God bless the USA, God bless the world that God created!
PJ
Personally, I don't believe that. I believe we are still living in response to what occurred on 9/11/01.
Increased security and government working to ensure that it never happens again comes with a price.
There is never a day that I get up and think that if I choose to go somewhere that I would not be able to go where I want (except financially). There is never a day that I awaken that I am afraid to pray or go to work in a Christian Church. There is never a day that I awaken that I am afraid of being stopped and taken away for questioning. There is never a day that I awaken to fear that my villiage is going to be overrun by tanks or bombs.
For most of us living in central PA, we are living a very sheltered and safe world. The challange with that is that we can so become focused on the changes that challange us rather that the why of what is. Sitting with a wonderful young woman who is working on her master's degree in Europe found herself among classmates who have a very different story. One whose neighborhood was totally bombed and she became a refugee in another country. One who watched as many neighbors in her community began to disappear, later to find that they left for Canada or other parts of the world because of fear of living in their own land. For our friend, her story was that she grew up in central PA--safe, free, sheltered!
Rather than living in fear, I choose to live in my freedoms. This Wednesday, I encourage all of you and me alike to wake up and pray for this great nation. Do we have problems as a nation--you betcha!
But what we do have is something that I am not willing to give up. We are so blessed--often blessed to the point of complaining about things that we do not fully understand. It is not easy to be the United States of America, but for those of faith, we should not and cannot allow ourselves to forget that if we are nation under God, then it is our obligation to speak that, live that, and be the example to others. If God is leaving this great land, it is not Government making it happen. It is the complacency of Godly people forgetting the greatest commandment "LOVE."
God bless all of you, God bless the USA, God bless the world that God created!
PJ
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