I'm trying to get ready for Tampa.
It's really good timing, frankly.
I'm tired of my job, I'm weary of church duties, I'm tired of the cold, I'm weary from this bug that I'm finally pretty much over, I'm weary of the doctor bills.

This time of year reminds me of when I was a kid, and insisted to my mom that I was solar powered. I never climbed the stairs like an upright human. It was usually some form of using my four limbs.....and I'd frequently pause to nap where the sun shone through the front door onto the stairs to make a spotlight of sorts. My mom was probably trying to get me upstairs to clean, my room or myself, and I'd insist that I had to stop at each sunny stair to recharge.

This time of year I need a sunny recharge, whether it's figurative or literal. Go ahead FL, gimmie some rays. (hmm weather.com isn't promising....in the 60's only....rain/clouds...boo) Okay.....well...get read to EXTRAVAGANZA then!

Am I Dreaming?

I had a day today.....that really kinda played out like one of my unresolved issue dreams.

First of all, I'd been pretty nervous all week because we were having our annual meeting today..which is never fun. Mostly nervous because I would have to give a Call Committee report...that was not as simple as “we're interviewing a candiate”....more like....”we interviewed one a while ago, bad match...and yup....here we are a year into vacancy and they won't have another candidate for us for....well possibly another year.....but they've offered us an interim (well..transitional...interim is a BAD WORD).

So I was nervous about sharing this less than spectacular news. I came in tired....I SO could have slept in today. I walk into the sanctuary to go have a seat with the choir....and who do I see? My old pastor! As in my old LCMS...baptized and confirmed me....old pastor! That's the first weird dream type thing. It was kinda the last place I expected to run into him. I half expected him to say when sharing the peace “Does your Grandmother know you're here? (in the ELCA). But he was really nice. I forget that I really do like him. Not all of the LCMS are the same...it's true.

Then....let me explain our architecture a little bit. There are windows that go around the sanctuary-sides and back- starting above the 8ft walls. You can see the upper part of trees, birds flying, etc. Well I looked up and saw some giant flying thing swoop down....looked like a pterodactyl with this HUGE wing span. I didn't see what it was till it sidled up to the side window. It was a turkey buzzard! It was looking reeeeally hard inside. Then during a prayer....it decided that it would try and knock the window in (no way it could though) and kept thumping the window with both its GIGANTIC feet and talons. It was hillarious...and just...well..surreal.

The meeting went well....as far as those sorts of things are concerned. Some day we'll not have to discuss the word “deficit”. After my report.....(many people said 'good job') one fellow...who I've decided is just amusing....said to me “good job. It's a good thing you're not a minister, you're long winded!” muhahahaha little does he know my plans...........

Oh! It's taken me a little while...but I think I'm finally hitting a stride with my sunday school class. The age group is tough. One girl who started coming three weeks ago is starting to warm up to me. She tries to act too cool for things....but not completely....and today she made a point of saying goodbye to me before her family left (you know how we all linger). She will be baptized and make her first communion this spring.

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY

RAIN! It's supposed to rain the whole time we're in Tampa at Extravaganza.

Don't get me wrong, I've no doubt that it'll still be a fantastic time! I could just use an hour or two of bright sunshine....who knows.

Hey....what do people wear to these things? I suppose I'm asking you Mark...and since you're a guy that might be a wasted question ;) I'm just thinking particularly for the big worship service and regional receptions.

Friday Five, Self-Care Edition

Okay I played.....

This week's RevGalBlogPal question is, what are our four favorite self-care activities, and what is a fifth one that we don't do, or do much, that we would maybe like to do, or do more? I'm assuming this is mental and physical....

1. Watch Mary Poppins (or any Julie Andrews flick)-
It just calms my nerves man. Makes me nice and mellow. Been a fan since childhood. It's like comfort food.

2. Drink Hard Cider-
Tart cider. Preferably consumed while watching Mary Poppins for the ultimate calming effect!
(no more than two per movie thanks)

3. Make any sort of variety of tea-
I heart tea. All kinds of tea. Tea. Tea. Tea.

4.You should expect this one.......PRAY-
I have found that intentional prayer, meditative prayer...done with Tai Chi (yup)...nice nice music (taize) and candles....is THE most calming and reassuring thing I can do.

5. Bubble Baths-
Ideally I would scrub the tub first....and I'm just too lazy to do that and find the drain plug (when the idea comes to mind that is......when i'm stressed or something)

I might find a nice balance of mood for #5 tonight. I think I'm finally at the end of my month long virus.....and it's FREEZING outside....so hmm I might just do it.

ELCA A/V

I'm having a YouTube afternoon. Didn't realize there were all of these official ELCA videos on there. I'm currently watching this one. Lowell Almen.....not the most dynamic tv host..........

Delirious

ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza......is amost here!!!!

I'd better eeefin' well feel a LOT better by then....stupid viruses......


WEEE SUN! WWEEEE FLORIDA!!!
WEE YOUTH MINISTRY!!...and LOST AND FOUND :)

Emeritus

Hey question for you ELCA types....

What specifically is the "Pastor Emeritus" designation?
Is it an honor bestowed simply by the congregation.....or is it an official status that has to go through/meet Synod approval?

Hitting the Spiritual Gym

RuthRE trys another exercise in sermon writing:

Well. Look. We have come to the start of another New Year. It's really fascinating in our culture how we greet each New Year. It's a time of new beginnings. Just a week ago the ad circulars were showing deals on slippers and ipods and leather gloves....all of those “great gift ideas”. Over night the features in the ads turn to sales on sneakers, gym equipment, healthy food...

I'm not generally one to make new year's resolutions so to speak, however I do find myself (yearly) falling into a desire to make some changes. For some reason I always have a strange desire to invest in some new, smelly, luxurious soap products. Wash away the filth of 2006? The other instinct is to try and bring more organization to my life. This is something I've always struggled with and perhaps always will. It is my dream to be completely organized....with household chores, paperwork, everything. I don't think I quite realized til this year how it's become an annual event that myself and my friend A put our heads together to work out things like weekly schedules, regular social events, etc. “We did this last year didn't we?” “Yup.” “I suppose our plan this year is just last year's plan repackaged” “Yup, it works for a little while though.” This had me discouraged for a couple moments.
But then I thought “Nothing wrong with trying again and again I suppose” “Yup, eventually we'll get it right”. Which, I highly doubt that I'll ever achieve perfect organization. That knowledge does not mean that I should not try. I can either achieve an easier flow in my life in the attempt of organization, or give up completely and become a “Crazy Cat Lady”.

The changing of a year, the flipping of a new calendar on the wall gives us permission to let go of the burdens of 2006. Things that went wrong, things that worried us are in the past. It was last year. Not now.

Our spiritual life tends to follow the same trends. And generally during the same days. Advent is a nice time to come to church. There's greens, there's extra candles, pretty colored paraments. We start to sing some of those songs that we look forward to (Oh Come Emmauel). With the rest of the world lighting lights....with nativity sets coming out.....it's hard not to get deep into our relationship with God. We are in church on Sunday morning. We might even hit the Advent vespers and soup. We put up our crèche. We sing the songs. We pray more. We share our blessings and gifts with others in song, donations, time. Christmas Eve and day come and we are just swelling with joy and peace in our Savior's birth. Attendance at church is pretty good in advent, great on Christmas....and even still pretty good the next week or so. But not too soon after we open presents at the tree.....we drop off....like attendance in the pews. We tend to tuck away our life and relationship with God neatly in a corner with the ornaments. Oh it's still there but we get more caught up in everything else.

Perhaps January is an excellent time for us to rededicate ourselves to God. Perhaps beyond the weight loss and bad habits we should reexamine our life with Christ and ask ourselves if we are indeed living out our days as God would have us. Are we there for each other? Are we standing up for the oppressed? Are we participating in a whole, loving, engaging relationship with our loving God?

When I was in college I had become a seasonal churchgoer. I managed to make it in during Lent and Advent. Every year these seasons would call me back to church. It was during these times that I would seek to understand my relationship with God. These were significant times. It was in college that I asked the big questions, had doubts, dropped off for a little while. These spiritual high points would bring me back into the fold.

So just like our weight loss plans and resolutions require constant renewal....so too does our life of the Spirit. Just like the turning of a calendar year forgives the old year, so too does God forgive us as we are welcomed back into the everlasting arms. Just as I will never achieve perfect organization, neither will we ever in our life on earth be perfect and without sin. But so too, as my effort to organize truly matters......so does our effort to live the Godly life matter.

God grants us a new beginning every day. Let us rejoice in it. Joy to the world. The Saviour reigns. Thanks be to God.