What makes some things work?
I spent part of a summer working for a car dealership while in collage. The first half of that summer I was in the library completing the research for an economics professor. I came home looking for a job and applied with the owner of the dealership. I told him I just wanted out of the library. I wanted some outdoor labor involving some sweat. In less than an hour I was out back patching the parking lot with a shovel and a large pile of asphalt. He was able to accommodate my request. A revelation came to me while working on that job. Cars work because of petroleum. It really hit me as I spent a Saturday cleaning up all of the oil in the shop bays. Oil was everywhere, and it was everywhere because that is what enables cars to work. Petroleum is in the gears, in the transmission, in the motor, in the wheel bearings, in the tank, on the hinges. It is used through out the car, and without it the car would not go, yet we cover that aspect up of the car up because it is not attractive. In the process of cleaning up the floor, which was saturated in all of these oils, it became apparent cars work because of petroleum.
Christianity runs on love. Through watching my wife take care of our children I have come to grasp that love is often displayed in ordinary everyday ways. Love is often messy. I have seen it displayed in the changing of diapers, the wiping of noses, the cleaning up of spilt milk. She displays it in the listening ear and kind words she has. I know my own mother did these things when I was a child. I think it is often our mothers who teach us that love often means that we must get involved in the mess. Mom’s often see a need and without looking for thanks reach into that need and fill it. They are an example of living a life of love.
Christ said in John 14:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Christ got involved in the mess of life. He loved by being directly involved in the hard and often messy parts of life. He never turned from love nor did he ever shy away from the mess, and yet the mess never made him dirty.
As I celebrate this mother’s day I am more able to reflect on the extraordinary importance of love as an everyday ordinary practical act. For me to be made more like Jesus is to learn to live out love in the everyday messiness of life.
Rev. Patrick Evans
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Thermostats and Thermometers
In life we often live as either people who can be controlled by our environment or as people who effect our environment. According to Joe Hodowanes, “We all tend to function as either one or the other. One tells about the conditions surrounding it while the other makes a difference in those conditions in the environment where it's located. What most of us would like to be is a thermostat — someone who controls the temperature in our situation. Your family and friends welcome someone who is under control, who doesn't succumb to the stress, who's steady and caring and peaceful. Those thermostat people are rare — and valuable.” Mr. Hodowanes article is about job searching and successful habits. It is an insight that has value.
The question for me is how as a Christian am I to control my environment? This was a question that can be answered from scripture. (Ephesians 5:19-20) “ Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” To do this in reality can be difficult. It can become a wooden, stiff, forced thing that no one believes. I think we have all seen that; but, the true authentic change is a beautiful and contagious reality. The key is the authentic relationship with Christ.
As I thought about the differences between a thermostat and a thermometer one real difference occurred to me. The thermostat is connected to the power. If you disconnect the thermostat from the source of power it can do nothing. The importance of worship is that it brings me into the presence of God. It keeps me connected. God then changes my attitude, and gives through me the power to live out that authentic attitude.
When difficult times come — and they will; when pressure mounts – and it does; and when people misbehave – as they often do; our response is to turn to God and worship. In this act of worship I rebel against forces that want to make me a thermometer, and God uses me as a thermostat. So here is a psalm, a hymn, a spiritual song that I speak to you today.
Pastor Pat
In life we often live as either people who can be controlled by our environment or as people who effect our environment. According to Joe Hodowanes, “We all tend to function as either one or the other. One tells about the conditions surrounding it while the other makes a difference in those conditions in the environment where it's located. What most of us would like to be is a thermostat — someone who controls the temperature in our situation. Your family and friends welcome someone who is under control, who doesn't succumb to the stress, who's steady and caring and peaceful. Those thermostat people are rare — and valuable.” Mr. Hodowanes article is about job searching and successful habits. It is an insight that has value.
The question for me is how as a Christian am I to control my environment? This was a question that can be answered from scripture. (Ephesians 5:19-20) “ Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” To do this in reality can be difficult. It can become a wooden, stiff, forced thing that no one believes. I think we have all seen that; but, the true authentic change is a beautiful and contagious reality. The key is the authentic relationship with Christ.
As I thought about the differences between a thermostat and a thermometer one real difference occurred to me. The thermostat is connected to the power. If you disconnect the thermostat from the source of power it can do nothing. The importance of worship is that it brings me into the presence of God. It keeps me connected. God then changes my attitude, and gives through me the power to live out that authentic attitude.
When difficult times come — and they will; when pressure mounts – and it does; and when people misbehave – as they often do; our response is to turn to God and worship. In this act of worship I rebel against forces that want to make me a thermometer, and God uses me as a thermostat. So here is a psalm, a hymn, a spiritual song that I speak to you today.
Pastor Pat
Thermostats and Thermometers
In life we often live as either people who can be controlled by our environment or as people who effect our environment. According to Joe Hodowanes, “We all tend to function as either one or the other. One tells about the conditions surrounding it while the other makes a difference in those conditions in the environment where it's located. What most of us would like to be is a thermostat — someone who controls the temperature in our situation. Your family and friends welcome someone who is under control, who doesn't succumb to the stress, who's steady and caring and peaceful. Those thermostat people are rare — and valuable.” Mr. Hodowanes article is about job searching and successful habits. It is an insight that has value.
The question for me is how as a Christian am I to control my environment? This was a question that can be answered from scripture. (Ephesians 5:19-20) “ Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” To do this in reality can be difficult. It can become a wooden, stiff, forced thing that no one believes. I think we have all seen that; but, the true authentic change is a beautiful and contagious reality. The key is the authentic relationship with Christ.
As I thought about the differences between a thermostat and a thermometer one real difference occurred to me. The thermostat is connected to the power. If you disconnect the thermostat from the source of power it can do nothing. The importance of worship is that it brings me into the presence of God. It keeps me connected. God then changes my attitude, and gives through me the power to live out that authentic attitude.
When difficult times come — and they will; when pressure mounts – and it does; and when people misbehave – as they often do; our response is to turn to God and worship. In this act of worship I rebel against forces that want to make me a thermometer, and God uses me as a thermostat. So here is a psalm, a hymn, a spiritual song that I speak to you today.
Pastor Pat
In life we often live as either people who can be controlled by our environment or as people who effect our environment. According to Joe Hodowanes, “We all tend to function as either one or the other. One tells about the conditions surrounding it while the other makes a difference in those conditions in the environment where it's located. What most of us would like to be is a thermostat — someone who controls the temperature in our situation. Your family and friends welcome someone who is under control, who doesn't succumb to the stress, who's steady and caring and peaceful. Those thermostat people are rare — and valuable.” Mr. Hodowanes article is about job searching and successful habits. It is an insight that has value.
The question for me is how as a Christian am I to control my environment? This was a question that can be answered from scripture. (Ephesians 5:19-20) “ Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” To do this in reality can be difficult. It can become a wooden, stiff, forced thing that no one believes. I think we have all seen that; but, the true authentic change is a beautiful and contagious reality. The key is the authentic relationship with Christ.
As I thought about the differences between a thermostat and a thermometer one real difference occurred to me. The thermostat is connected to the power. If you disconnect the thermostat from the source of power it can do nothing. The importance of worship is that it brings me into the presence of God. It keeps me connected. God then changes my attitude, and gives through me the power to live out that authentic attitude.
When difficult times come — and they will; when pressure mounts – and it does; and when people misbehave – as they often do; our response is to turn to God and worship. In this act of worship I rebel against forces that want to make me a thermometer, and God uses me as a thermostat. So here is a psalm, a hymn, a spiritual song that I speak to you today.
Pastor Pat
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
The Best Water
The best water I ever drank was while on a camping trip. We had hiked quite a distance in the New Mexico Mountains. Several of us ran out of water with several miles to hike. We had less than a quart between 10 of us. When we reached camp we were able to get more water yet we had to wait for the purification tablets to work. That meant we were without water for about an hour longer. Later that evening it was also a good dinner because we were all hungry. The need and desire became connected. Sleep felt good because we were tired. We were blessed by the experience. We came to understand being satisfied.
This memory helps me understand the Beatitudes.
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Jesus in the Beatitudes is saying that in being in the right attitude we are set to be blessed. The process of blessing is in motion. Blessed are those who long for the right things… for they can look forward to the day when they will be satisfied. Jesus turns the world upside down in saying that comfort and self absorption are not the ends or the means to a meaningful life. This then leads me to the question; am I a person who longs for the right things, the things that will satisfy? The world today keeps telling me the things I should long for, but do I listen to the words of my teacher, my Lord? Do I long for the things that will satisfy?
The best water I ever drank was while on a camping trip. We had hiked quite a distance in the New Mexico Mountains. Several of us ran out of water with several miles to hike. We had less than a quart between 10 of us. When we reached camp we were able to get more water yet we had to wait for the purification tablets to work. That meant we were without water for about an hour longer. Later that evening it was also a good dinner because we were all hungry. The need and desire became connected. Sleep felt good because we were tired. We were blessed by the experience. We came to understand being satisfied.
This memory helps me understand the Beatitudes.
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Jesus in the Beatitudes is saying that in being in the right attitude we are set to be blessed. The process of blessing is in motion. Blessed are those who long for the right things… for they can look forward to the day when they will be satisfied. Jesus turns the world upside down in saying that comfort and self absorption are not the ends or the means to a meaningful life. This then leads me to the question; am I a person who longs for the right things, the things that will satisfy? The world today keeps telling me the things I should long for, but do I listen to the words of my teacher, my Lord? Do I long for the things that will satisfy?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)