NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION

beau and i spent a couple of days in our nation's capital this weekend. we visited with dean, laura, reyna, moe & peanut. we had a blast. although we were only there for two days, we were alble to see a lot - smithsonian style (i tried to take pictures with the dinosaurs but beau was too embarrassed) - and CHILL a lot at the hull/cheng household.

it was so surreal and beautiful to see my baby brother as a dad...he is a great one. i'm not suprised in the least and i am so proud of him. reyna violet is such a sweet and beautiful little girl. she is a beast - can already lift her head at 7 weeks and eats constantly. she loved her aunt beth and uncle beau which is a smart move on her part!

family is a gift and dean and laura are particular blessings to us. i pray that reyna gets a brother half as cool as dean...

NEW LIFE

last night i baptized a baby. i told those gathered that the ancient waters of baptism are a sign that we belong to God. i asked the parents who gave this little one to be baptized - and they said, "we do."

i took the hospital issued coffee cup that the nurse gave me and i put my hand in, poured the water three times over the little eyes that will never open. i baptized him in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. as the entire room wept i said the only thing i knew: that this little one has only and will only ever know pure love. from his mother's womb to the Father's arms.

i kept my tears at bay until i got home...and then let them mix with the rain that was falling. face to heaven - where that little one is...

THAT'S A LOT OF BLOOD

the kids in my church are hilarious. they are creative and kind and silly. i am so thankful to be their pastor and glad that they are not embarrassed to talk to me, give me drawings, and give me hugs.

on the last sunday of the month at our church the kids worship with the adults. we have a special children's sermon time and at the end of the service we all partake of communion together.

last week was the last sunday of the month and we had our multi-generational worship and sacrament day. when it came time to serve one of the kids who is particularly hilarious and hyper (folks at mvcn will know him as noah), beau and i bent over and i said, "the body of Christ broken for you, noah," and beau told him, "the blood of
Christ shed for you, noah." noah peered his sweet little four year old head over the chalice and said, "man, that is a LOT of blood."

it was so sweet. it is so true. it took a lot of blood to cover every one...even me. a lot of blood so there is plenty to go around - always enough. thanks be to God!

EARLY LENT

my series of text studies, sermons and reflections on the 2009 lenten lectionary texts came out this weekend in preacher's magazine. you may peruse if you wish...go to: http://www.nph.com/nphweb/html/pmol/welcome.htm and then click on the "sermons for the season of lent" link on the left.

it was a fun project - i was so blessed to be invited to participate. have a happy first week back into the swing of things all - peace!

2009

it is already 2009. life is moving so fast. it was yesterday in 2004 i graduated from duke. last night in 2006 i married my best friend. and early this morning in 2007 i took on the biggest challenge of my life (my church). i am floored by how quickly all these milestones have fled by...how could it possibly be 2009?

and yet, this sunday is the first sunday of the new year and i know God has amazing things in store...for our church...for my family...for little old me...and i know it will all pass like a vapor.

i cannot bring myself to have any "resolutions." my whole life is one resolution after another...falling, standing up, moving forward, being pushed back, taking a break along the way while sometimes seeing the cross cleary - other times...not so much...

my only prayer is that at the end of this year i will be closer to the One who formed me from the clay than i am today...

peace to your whole being - body, mind, and spirit. happy new year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

LET IT SNOW!

i never understood why adults were so LAME....why they didn't want it to snow because it messed with their plans. well, now i know. tonight was supposed to be the dress rehearsal for the kids christmas production (which i am directing) and it is a blizzard outside. the weather has officially screwed up my plans.
i'm making the best of it though...walking with my dogs, making soup, and trying to get work done from home. the dress rehearsal is rescheduled for saturday - please Lord, let it NOT snow on saturday and sunday. ;) i guess i will deal and take this weather imposed slow/snow day for much needed advent REST.
i pray that from wherever you read this you are warm and dry and o.k. with whatever change of plans has occured in your life lately.
PEACE!

WHO, ME?

just got back from a call to the hospital...i am on call chaplain this week for skagit. it was a suicide. young man. only child. so sad.
the mother just sat and cried and asked me how would she ever be able to fathom this and me...who, me? i dunno. i told her it was unfathomable. that there was so much mystery and pain in life...
she said, "your job sucks, doesn't it?" and i smiled at her bright blue eyes, red from the crying and said..."no....no, it doesn't suck. i get to be here as a witness to God's love for you and God's love for your son."
was that enough? probably not. but it's all i got.

WHY NOT FIRE?

these two morsels found me this evening and have me contemplating whether i have become content with cooling coals...

Abbot Lot came to Abbot Joseph and said: Father, according as I am able, I keep my little rule, and my little fast, my prayer, meditation and contemplative silence; and according as I am able I strive to cleanse my heart of thoughts: now what more should I do? The elder rose up in reply and stretched out his hands to heaven, and his fingers became like ten lamps of fire. He said: Why not be totally changed into fire? -The Wisdom of the Desert Fathers

Tame worship is easier to agree on than any other kind, and bringing fire requires a lot more energy than simply showing up. When life is pretty good and church is pleasant enough, who needs resurrection? -Barbara Brown Taylor, Leaving Church

i want to burn.

ISLANDS AND HOME

beau and i had a beautiful trip to orcas island. it is an amazing place with lots of natural beauty...plenty of hiking and kayaking to be done and a generally peaceful easy feeling.
we are back now and relaxing with the doggies and i am tending to my beauties (see above)...i have some cool stuff from an OLD nouwen book that i found in our church library...stay tuned...
oh yeah, did i mention i didn't have to preach today? i'm not going to know what day it is all week. ;)
peace!!!