Monthly Archives: December 2008

December 14, 2008 · 3:50 pm

These days

This preaching gig (if one can call it a gig) has its rewards.  It seems that if I speak my family lets me off from noon meal responsibilities.  And lets me nap in the afternoon.  Not bad.  They don’t let me take a long nap or cook my meals after doing a good wisdom tooth extraction at the office.

Today we had a most delicious stew prepared by Rachelle.  Venison, vegies and potatoes in a tomato based sauce.  Very very good. 

And a good nap is – well, always good.  And after partying with my staff last night doubly good.

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Yesterday we went on a sleigh ride with real horses in the absolutely freezing cold.  We were all bundled up to an almost unrecognizable state.  I am sorry I have no pictures of that! 

I loved the smell of horse and the out of doors.  It brought back memories of my dad.  It was just the sort of thing he would have done and enjoyed.  Funny how memories are triggered by smells and places. 

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Filed under Christmas, church, Day to Day, Dental, Photos

December 12, 2008 · 8:05 am

Morning Prayer

These days where there is so much to ponder and reflect on, there seems so little time to do that.  Each weekend has its full quota of parties added on to my already busy schedule.  I am becoming quite tired and there is still much to do to get this house and home ready for Christmas.  Tree decorating will be done, tourtiere made and maybe some baking this weekend. 

I am the kind of person who needs quiet and lots of time to reflect on events.  Most of the people around me don’t really understand that I don’t think.  They have their own ways to prepare for the holiday and so we clash too often.

I need God’s gifts of love, patience and compassion if I am to reflect him at all.  So, this is my morning prayer, God make me more like you today.  Give me the gifts I need to make it through this day with grace.

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December 10, 2008 · 4:29 pm

Advent as necessary waiting

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In the seasons of Advent and Lent I find myself feeling a bit at odds with the frivolity of the season. (Not that Lent is exactly filled with mirth but it is hardly about getting stocked up on chocolate for the Easter bunny to deliver either.) As a culture we seem to jump from one event to the next without savoring any part of it – like draining a bottle of wine without holding it long enough in the mouth to appreciate its flavor, becoming drunk on the quantity we consume with no enjoyment of its richness. So, immediately one holiday is done the stores quickly remove all signs that it happened and gear up for the next selling opportunity.

Maybe if these seasons were only about Santa Claus and the Easter bunny it wouldn’t matter what big business did to stimulate us to buy candy and trinkets. But because these seasons hold such significant religious meaning for me I find myself wanting to withdraw from the glittery trappings of our consumerist world into an inward space sparsely adorned with things that have become symbols of where my heart is in these waiting days of Advent. A candle glows in the light of early morning as a symbol of God’s presence with me as I invite his Spirit to fill my day. The Advent ring of candles remind me weekly of expressions of hope, peace, joy and love that we ponder during the four weeks leading up to Christmas day. Some of the mournful tunes of Advent remind me of the longing of a heart for the arrival of a loved one long waited for, of my hopes waiting to be fulfilled and of the melancholy of a waiting heart.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not sad or depressed. The period of waiting gives me time for the preparation I need to do on the inside. I need the reminders of why we wait, why Christians devote this time to preparation and waiting and why it is good for my soul to stop and reflect before I jump into the celebration and joy of Christmas.

The celebration will come. My house will be full of children and grandchildren and their voices, of smells of baking and roasting turkey, the scent of the real tree, the delight of wrapping and unwrapping gifts, and the sounds of joyful Christmas music. But if my heart is not prepared for the coming of the King, a turkey and some mistletoe will not be able to fill my days with real joy.

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Filed under Christmas, Photos, Worship events

December 10, 2008 · 8:33 am

Home

These guys came home last night.  It is good.  Ronin is a toddler not a baby any more.

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December 9, 2008 · 10:00 am

Overheard in my office

A patient brought it to our attention that maybe his upper denture needed relining.  The reason – He stated that he was a “preacher of the Gospel”  and that if he was preaching for about 45 minutes he sometimes would cough and they would come loose. 

In the back of my mind I am thinking – ahhh – God has his ways of getting a preacher to shut up.  Should I interfere with that?

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Filed under Day to Day, Dental

December 9, 2008 · 6:22 am

Psalm 5

 

1 O Lord, hear me as I pray;
      pay attention to my groaning.
2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God,
      for I pray to no one but you.
3 Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
      Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

4 O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness;
      you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked.
5 Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence,
      for you hate all who do evil.
6 You will destroy those who tell lies.
      The Lord detests murderers and deceivers.

7 Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house;
      I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe.
8 Lead me in the right path, O Lord,
      or my enemies will conquer me.
   Make your way plain for me to follow.

9 My enemies cannot speak a truthful word.
      Their deepest desire is to destroy others.
   Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
      Their tongues are filled with flattery.
10 O God, declare them guilty.
      Let them be caught in their own traps.
   Drive them away because of their many sins,
      for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
      let them sing joyful praises forever.
   Spread your protection over them,
      that all who love your name may be filled with joy.
12 For you bless the godly, O Lord;
      you surround them with your shield of love.

New Living Translation (NLT)

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Filed under Devotional Reading

December 8, 2008 · 5:02 pm

Today

Slipping in some work on this weeks sermon in between cases today.  This week has come so quickly and I have been so busy the last few weeks that it seems as if time has simply vanished.

Today has been good though.  I was really tired yesterday.  I do have a quiz due in Greek but I think I can do it either tonight or tomorrow.  Then I will take a bit of a break from that subject over the holidays – just will need to review the vocabulary from time to time so it doesn’t disappear from my memory.

Today has also been cold and has felt really cold and wintery all day.  I just heard the radio folks say it is -21 with the windchill.  I think this is about as cold as it has gotten so far this winter.

Tonight, Rachelle and Ronin should arrive in Saskatoon.  They will visit a friend there tonight and then come up her tomorrow evening.  I can hardly wait to see Ronin – it has been almost 4 months since they moved to Toronto.

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Filed under Day to Day, grandchildren, Travels

December 6, 2008 · 8:04 pm

A good party

You can tell I am a real party animal when the best one of Leo’s work Christmas party ever occurred last night – it was the best because I spent most of the evening in some good conversation. (Speaking in loud voices over the band and listening as best I could with my ears strained open)

I was introduced to a guy a bit younger than me who is in the Diaconate program of study at Luther Seminary in Saskatoon.  He is contemplating continuing on for an MDiv degree too and for many of the same reasons that I want to do this.  He finds that in his ministry of caring for people and in developing relationships with them that there are many times when he wants to be able to minister to them with the sacraments but can’t – has to suddenly find an ordained minister who can assist, who pops in to give communion but has no relationship developed with the person.  He feels strongly that giving communion to another is so wrapped up in the relationship between people that this is something he needs to be able to do without having to call another – a stranger – in.

So we talked about this, about what led us to this step, about our children and where they are in the journey towards faith and about things we have learned on our own pathways in the past few years. 

Good conversation makes for a good party.  I think. 

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Filed under Christmas, Day to Day, Studying

December 5, 2008 · 11:19 am

Oh No – Oh Yes!

The chocolates have started to arrive at the office.  Three boxes yesterday. 

Chocolate is one of my Big weaknesses.  Good chocolate just melts in one’s mouth – and slides right down to the hips.

I predict some heavy duty dieting once the holiday season is over.  I have very little faith in self control.  I fall victim to me impulses most every time I pass the boxes sitting there on top of the file cabinet.

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Filed under Christmas, Day to Day

December 2, 2008 · 9:40 am

Steps in a process

Last night I sat with a committee of friends from my church talking of my gifts and calling to ministry.  Its part of the required references needed to apply to seminary.  To North Park at least.  North Park seems a very thorough way to check out people who apply.  I suppose it helps the committee at the other end to know who will make good candidates for the program of studies and for the end result of developing pastors. 

It is hard to sit and make a list of gifts I have for ministry.  Maybe it is just my nature but I am more likely to be aware of my failings, my areas of non-giftedness, than my gifts.  It seems weird to be saying,”I am good at…, I am gifted at…”  And then add into the equation that these are not just my personal gifts but the gifts that I believe are going to help me to minister to people in a semi-official sort of way on behalf of a church or organization. 

So, that is what I was doing last night.  Then I left it in their hands to discuss what they see in me, to recommend me – or not.  They already know me pretty well so I don’t suppose I threw them too many surprises.

The experience of sharing what I have learned about myself over the past years and throughout my life was good.  It is fairly intense and exhilarating to share my personal story.  I don’t get to sit and talk about these things – about how God has moved in my life to get me to where I am now – with very many people.  Most would just think I am weirdly “religious” and not grasp or understand the deep relationship with God that has developed over my life time.  The friends I sat and talked last night, know God too, even though each of us has a uniqueness in our own relationships with him.

So here we go.  One more step in the process of applying to seminary checked off.  My forms are ready to send off.  I’d better get down to more study on the Greek.  There is the plain old hard work of studying to face.

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