wonders and reflections in God's presence

My presbymergent friends offered a challenge earlier today: can you write what you believe, a statement of faith, using 140 characters or less?  In the Presbyterian Church, those seeking ordination and even some preparing for confirmation, need to write a statement of faith.  It’s part of the examination process … and it’s also used every time a pastor seeks a new call.  Usually the statements need to be kept to a single sheet of paper.  But what if you were limited to the size of a twitter?

And so, “Twitter of Faith” was born today. This was the initial twitter challenge:

Twitter of Faith: What do you believe? You have 140 characters – give us your statement of faith in 140 characters. #TOF

If you’re on twitter, please consider joining the challenge.  We ask that you add the tag #TOF to your twitter so that it can be tabulated with the other responses.  And then you can keep up with the results here.  If you’re not on Twitter … post it on your blog or on Facebook.  There is a Twitter of Faith group on Facebook now, too … so check it out.

My TOF is

It’s love enough to give up oneself. As I accept Christ’s love, and learn to trust, I find so much more life and possibility. Awesome! #TOF

Challenge your friends and let’s see how this grows …

I got this from Anne by email .. but I thought I’d answer here … and anyone can play.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? both … I like boxes and paper to make things pretty, but bags are more convenient and recyclable.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Oh … I love a real tree, but, nonetheless, we usually go with the artificial because of a lot of not so romantic reasons … allergies, cheaper, less of a fire hazard, no watering, no needles, and no chopping down trees.
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the first week of December.
4. When do you take the tree down? Usually after the first … I try to make it to epiphany (12 days of Christmas and all) but I get antsy and have to take it down before going back to work.
5. Do you like eggnog? Not really … I’m into chocolate.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? The arts and crafts box Santa always left for us to open on Christmas eve afternoon.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Grandparents.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Katie … I just love buying her stuff.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? about 12 creches plus a couple Hanukkah menorahs.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I mail them.  Something tangible and I’m a Christmas traditionalist.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I really don’t remember … But, I always get lots of stuff I don’t use.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Does Charlie Brown Christmas count?  I enjoy It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street and Christmas Story, too.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?  We often pick names at Thanksgiving … so it’s unlikely for me to get anything before that … though I’ve already picked up some stocking stuffers.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Uh huh.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cookies!  Peanut blossoms and those nutty rolled cookies Dwayne’s mom taught me to bake.
16. Lights on the tree? Oh yes!  But not the blinking kind … tacky.
17. Favorite Christmas song?  O Come O Come Emmanuel
18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? Depends on the year, we’ve done both.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? I have to sing it… “You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen … but do you recall … the most famous reindeer of all? …. “
20. Angel on the treetop or a star? Star.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? I actually like opening on Christmas Eve … but we change each year depending on where we are, who’s there, and what’s going on.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Ads and the focus on consumerism … ugh.
23. What theme or color are you using? theme?  you’ve got to be kidding, we don’t do themes … the theme is Christmas, of course, duh.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? I enjoyed the Roast Beef we had last year … it’s also been tradition for us to have ginger-lime Cornish Hens for Christmas Eve.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I want the whole family to be together.

Sorry Anne, had to stop at 25 … because Christmas is December 25, after all.

It’s been ages since I wrote anything in this blog.  I find the longer it goes, the harder it gets to find something that’s worth breaking the silence. 

I’m not sure if I’ve been quiet because I have nothing to write about or because I have so much to write about I don’t know where to start.  There is so much to write about, with the election tomorrow and so many societal issues so visible, I do have a lot to say.  On the other hand, I don’t think my opinions are anything new … I have many ideas, but nothing original … sorry.

I am saddened, however, about the death of Madelyn Dunham, Barack Obama’s grandmother, who I came to love in reading Obama’s first book.  I believe they called her “toots”.  I think it is especially sad to think that she died only a couple of days before such a big event.  My prayers are with the Obama family.  May God grant you peace in these days filled with grief and with promise.

Jan, I don’t mind a good meme …

The Rules of Presbymeme II
•In about 25 words each, answer the five questions below.
•Tag five Presbyterian bloggers and send them a note to let them know they were tagged.
•Be sure to link to this original post.

1) What is your favorite faith-based hymn, song or chorus?

There are so many possibilities. “Here I Am Lord” always makes me cry. My own personal devotion time has many including “Oh Lord You’re Beautiful”. But, for this answer I have to say, “Lift High the Cross”. There was a day when I was an associate pastor in Michigan … it was as the large cross was replaced in the sanctuary after some rennovation … as the cross was raised in place, the many of us cleaning up in the sanctuary spontaneously started singing, “Lift High the Cross” … it was glorious.

2) What was the context, content and/or topic of the last sermon that
truly touched, convicted, inspired, challenged, comforted and/or
otherwise moved you?

I have been moved by the words of the Rev. Jin Kim, most recently at our Presbytery meeting last Saturday. Also by his words at General Assembly.

3) If you could have all Presbyterians read just one of your previous posts, what would it be and why?

Hmmm … I don’t re-read my posts often … but, well, how about this one about New Church Development.

4) What are three PC(USA) flavored blogs you read on a regular basis?

Presbymergent, of course … A Church for Starving Artists … and Quotidian Grace.

5) If the PC(USA) were a movie, what would it be and why?

I’m thinking Titanic … but, let me think beyond the cliche … I thought of the church a great deal when I watched The Queen … I saw the end of an era and a regime that was wedded to a time that has passed. But I also saw a wisdom and an integrity that was able to give stability and identity and strong values to an emerging society.

I TAG:
Phillip Lotspeich; Quotidian Grace; Shawn Coons; Dwayne Bailey; Pat Clark

After waiting and jumping through insurance company hoops for a year, I actually had my lap band placed last Wednesday, July 30, 2008.

I was sore for a few days, but back to regular routine by Saturday. I preached on Sunday morning and went to the office yesterday. I would be there today, too, if it weren’t for the arrival of Eduard this morning.

I’ve actually lost about 8 pounds since the day of surgery. I’m eating a soft food diet now … and not very much … my biggest challenge is that I need to remember to drink more. I get busy and forget to keep that water with me.

I’ve been a part of the RevGalBlogPals blogroll for awhile now … usually I’m just a lurker, but today I’m playing the Friday Five.

So lets have a bit of fun:

1. Barbeque’s or picnics ( or are they essentially the same thing?)

My idea of picnics are eating outside in a pretty place like a park or alongside Laura Ingall’s Plum Creek. It doesn’t involve cooking … just eating and enjoying nature or a special place.

Barbeque’s are about cooking outside. In New York it was hamburgers and hot dogs, in Texas it’s “barbecue”. The best Fourth of July barbecue for me was when I was a kid and got to eat lobster for the first time.

2. The park/ the lake/ the beach or staying at home simply being?

I’ve done it all …. and, well, I like just staying home the best these days. My favorite Fourth of July celebration was a Sunday (free day) at Chautauqua Institution. We hear one of the great military bands in the afternon and watched the fireworks over the lake totally lined with luminaires. Even made me feel somewhat patriotic.

3. Fireworks- love ‘em or hate ‘em?

Love ‘em. Love to watch … lots of color.

4. Parades- have you ever taken part- share a memory…

I remember missing the parade when I was 6. I had the chicken pox and had to listen to the parade on the radio from my grandparent’s backyard. It was supposed to be the first parade I would march in … what a disappointment for a six year old.

5. Time for a musical interlude- if you could sum up holidays in a piece of music what would it be?

Anything John Phillip Sousa