Ministry in Motion

“The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part…[he] lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. And so Job died, an old man and full of years” Barbara Holmes wrote: We tell our stories because all of us have survived something, because stories are signposts from the past that give us clues about the future. Our stories are a witness to the next generation and an opportunity to understand the universal as well as the particular in tales of trauma, healing, and survival.  Here's my thought: Own your story;  embrace your experiences;  acknowledge your choices,  because the journey has shaped you… Pkes        MinM

  Being For Something - Not Just Against Something, a Sunday Thought Author Sarah Bessey names: the need to be “for” something good, not merely “against” what is wrong. Imagining and contending for what you hope for in this world is one of the hardest and kindest paths I’ve discovered out here. Don’t forget to dream of what could be possible. And don’t forget to live into those hopes with faithfulness. In the midst of all this, don’t forget to imagine something better. Have ideas. In the Apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy’s he put it this way : Stay away from foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they grow into quarrels. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, a good teacher, and patient. The Lord’s servant must gently teach those who disagree. Then maybe God will let them change their minds so they can accept the truth. And they may wake up and escape from the trap of the devil, who catches them to do what he wants.  2 Timothy 2:23-26 Ne

Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. Fire is a wonderful picture of the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is like a fire in at least three ways: He brings God’s presence, God’s passion, and God’s purity. The Holy Spirit is the presence of God as He indwells the heart of the believer. I'm drawn to the story in the Book of Acts (The acts of the Holy Spirit):  When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them... I like what Luke Powery wrote: "At Pentecost, each body and ethnicity is affirmed as sacred and of worth, a human being loved by God. No human voice or body is denied the presence and fire of God." May the f

  But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay,  and You our potter;  and all we are the work of Your hand   ~  I saiah 64:8 Because clay can be both pliable and permanent, it has been used for everything from writing to brick-making, from cave drawing to cooking vessels.   Every culture has left its mark in some form of clay. And the symbolic clay that you are holding today carries the whole story of creation. When was the last time you held a lump of clay in the palm of your hand? Consider this contemplative practice :   Find a comfortable place to sit, hold your clay cupped in your hands.   As you breathe in, notice the ease and naturalness of your breath.  As you inhale and exhale, try your very best to let go of anything you do not need in order to be present — be here and now.  With each gentle breath, in and out, let your eyes close or go soft.   Let your mind rest in the clay. Close your eyes if that makes you comfortable.   Maybe you’ll be content and inclined to simpl

"W e shall not cease from exploration / And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time.” —T. S. Eliot, Four Quartets   Richard Rohr wrote recently: “In the metaphor of life as a journey, I think it’s finally about coming back home to where we started.” Reading these thoughts stirred me to thinking about my personal story, which is not highly publicized, well known or particularly noteworthy to anyone but me. But it’s mine. I own it now and for all generations to come or as long as I’m remembered.   Reading and rereading Rohr’s brief quote concerning coming back home, I’m given to and almost overwhelmed by pause: the beginning beauty and simplicity of my life’s genesis. Not necessarily my family of origin, but my ideals, my expectations, my explorations. Beautiful maybe sometimes illusive and slippery concepts like: equality, justice, life, playfulness, curiosity, friendship, hugs and smiles.   If life is a journey and

Author Kaitlin Curtice writes :   “I believe some of the most powerful places on earth are the rocking chairs on front porches, the benches nestled around dinner tables, the stones set up around firepits … They are the places where we tell stories … and decide how much kindness we will show ourselves and one another.” Why kindness matters.  Kindness is about showing up in the world with compassion and acting for the greater good of all. While being  nice   is about being polite, pleasant, and agreeable and doing what we think we should,   kindness   goes a step beyond.  Kind humans know that life is hard, messy, and complex. Yet they understand that people are doing their best with the tools, resources, and experience they carry. Charles Glassman captured this by saying, “Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.”  Many people view kindness as a weakness, but it's quite the opposite. It is a sign of strength. It is moving from me to we. It's seeing the bigger

According to the Bible, Peter was released from prison by an angel of the Lord after the night before his trial, as described in Acts 12:3–19.  The story goes that while sleeping between two soldiers, Peter was awakened by an angel who struck him on the side and said, "Arise quickly!"  Peter's chains fell off , and the angel told him to put on his clothes and sandals, and follow him out of prison.  The angel led Peter through the first and second guards, and then to the iron gate to the city, where it opened by itself. After walking the length of one street, the angel left…. Liberation.  The gospel is a message of freedom and liberation — the ministry of Jesus was that of liberating captives.  As followers of Faith, our liberation only comes from the redemptive work of Christ. But we have a part in our faith walk too. Like freeing ourselves from negative thoughts, emotions, habits, and behaviors that can be constricting and limiting. It's about taking ownership of our

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Consider this idea credited to Albert Einstein:   ‘that no problem can be solved by the same consciousness that created it.’  This is so brilliant! It makes the case for contemplation being a part of my faith journey almost better than anything.   Richard Rohr wrote: “…I don’t believe I’m overstating it when I say that only the contemplative mind can help bring forward the new consciousness needed to awaken a more loving, just, and sustainable world. We need a practice that touches our unconscious conditioning where all our wounds and defense mechanisms lie. That’s the only way we can be changed at any significant or lasting level…” Holy Spirit, the promised comforter,  continue to be with us,  changing our hearts our minds and our ways,  conforming us to the image of Christ,  Amen… Pkes     MinM

We’ve come to understand the importance of practice in sports, in music, art, in other disciplines even in any successful business. But for some reason most of us do not see the need for it in the world of spirituality. Yet it’s probably more important there than in any other area.  As we sojourn towards the kingdom to come, let’s agree to ‘not get it right’ but to enjoy and learn from the journey…  Pkes       MinM

“ The pattern of transformation, the pattern that connects, the life that Reality offers us is not death avoided, but always death transformed. In other words, the only trustworthy pattern of spiritual transformation is death and resurrection” —Richard Rohr  Pkes    MinM

 The tomb is still empty… Pkes    MinM

When the Twelve Apostles had either betrayed, denied, or forsaken Jesus, four faithful women kept vigil at Jesus’ crucifixion and stood near his cross—these four women were his mother, his aunt, Mary Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. And the woman who is mentioned most in the New Testament, even more than the mother of Jesus, is Mary Magdalene—the most faithful of all Jesus’ disciples and the woman who would become the Easter Evangelist and the Apostle to the Apostles . He is Risen An Easter Sunday Thought… Pkes    MinM

Between Good Friday and Easter Sunday sits Holy Saturday. It’s been known by other names dating back to maybe the eighth century.   I’m not sure the western church gives this particular day much thought, however. It should. Holy Saturday, is the Christian religious belief and observance that ends the Lenten season, falling on the day before Easter Sunday. The observance commemorates the final day of Christ's death, which many Christians traditionally associate with his triumphant descent into hell or “to the dead” This Saturday is sometimes called the Harrowing of Hell and is referred to in the  Apostles' Creed . In this prayer it re-tells that Jesus "descended into hell” This journey is alluded to in the New Testament and in  1 Peter  which speaks of Jesus preaching to "the imprisoned spirits" Really.  So on this Holy Saturday I reflect on the mystery that as the mortal body of Jesus lay in the tomb, His spirit and soul was not at rest. Rather, the Christ was on

  Upon the cross, he bore our sin,   in His agony, our redemption did begin.   With nails and thorns, he paid the cost,  a love for us, not even death could exhaust. Darkness fell upon the land,  as nails pierced through lifeless hands.  Yet in the darkness, a light did shine, a beacon of hope for all mankind. His final breath, a solemn sigh — heaven wept and earth did cry.  For on that cross, love conquered all, and through his death salvation calls. O death, where is your victory?     O death, where is your sting?”  Pkes    MinM

Holy Thursday, also known as "Maundy Thursday," (Maundy meaning mandate) is the first day of the Paschal Triduum . Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, the humble servant attitude of Jesus.  Christians hold and believe that at the Passover meal, the Last Supper, Jesus Christ celebrated the first Eucharist, instituting the New Covenant — being poured out for many … for the forgiveness of sins. The insidious side of Maundy Thursday is that all the while, in the wings, looms   the predicted and cowardly betrayal by a “Trojan Horse” like follower.   Jesus' actions at this Supper were an act of love, an example to us:  We are called to become more like Him, to pour out ourselves in service - doing so with kindness, respect and humility, as he demonstrated. During the Last Supper, Jesus did more than just celebrate the commemorative Jewish seder meal, He beckons us to become more conformed to himself, the Christ, the son of the most high God… Pkes    MinM

Political and social agendas. Spiritual immaturity. Selfish admirers.   Hypocritical hailers.   Allegiance pledged - faithfulness forgotten.  Cheers turned into jeers.   Worshiping the King, the Savior, one week and all but denying Him the next.   The palms were symbolic. A borrowed donkey, emblematic. The fickle public, predictable. Ruling religious elite, prophetically spoken of. Palm Sunday - a life lesson for each of us...Pkes

A Sunday Thought Beauty. Pain. Sorrow. Joy. How do we find the balance and clarity to meet the suffering of our world with tenderness, wisdom, and skillful action? How do we maintain our spiritual eyes, keeping them fixed upon the resurrected Christ, while navigating the challenges of life?   Maybe balance and clarity are best found in the quiet times — the times of being still. Consider this thought by Richard Rohr: “…God offers us quiet, contemplative eyes; God also calls us to prophetic and critical involvement in the pain and sufferings of our world—both {and} at the same time. This is so obvious in the life and ministry of Jesus that I wonder why it has not been taught as an essential part of Christianity…”   What say you?   Pkes    MinM