When our By the Way group gathered for dinner a couple of weeks ago, something that was shared really struck me. I reminded our group that not only did our leaders pray for all of them, but that we also have many prayer partners who hold By The Way and the people we meet in prayer. Several folks shared how it had been a rough few months, and yet through it all they had a sense of peace and feeling that though things were not going well, it would all turn out alright in the end.
This sense of hope I often see missing from many people's lives. The conversations about how fewer people are coming in to some of the restaurants we visit, how people cannot afford to drive, or afford food, or need to make decisions about healthcare or groceries based on their gas budgets all suggests that things seem a bit difficult for far more of us than we think. Yet, there is a subtle difference when we approach the world as a place of limited resources instead of as a place of God's unlimited grace.
There are plenty of ways we can band together as a community to overcome some of the problems we may be feeling even in our own pocket books. When we gathered around a meal a couple of weeks ago I was reminded again of the bounty that is created when people come together. Most of us in the room would never have taken the time to make the great food we had as one meal, but with a little contribution here and there, suddenly a feast appeared!
Such is the way with God. When we spend more time trying to calculate our every penny, thinking we have little, we lose touch with those around us. When we begin to believe we do not have enough, it allows a little piece of our spirit to be drug down. God is here all around us in the people of By The Way, in the people we meet along the way, in the family and friends we are connected to each and every day. Is it any wonder then that we all feel the need to come together more regularly as we head into May? Whether it is coming together to hear God's word, share a meal, or give thanks for the blessings in our lives, we grow and connect as community. When we look for ways to share with one another, we discover the rich bounty at our fingertips. When things are at their worst, the writer of 1 Peter reminds us that God is stil there, often in the faces and places in front of us.
Has there been a time in your life when things seemed pretty tough? How did you discover God's presence during that time? Where did you witness a sign of this grace in the past week?
Just a few questions to ponder this week.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Dialogo: My most sacred space....
The past couple of weekends I've been sitting with a variety of people talking about how we listen to God and how we might all work to find time to do that. One of the most interesting questions that has been asked during this time, was "where is your most sacred place to really listen to God." The group is invited to share where that place was or where they last remember being in a space that allowed them the chance to hear God's voice.
For me, this question reminds me of the times I spent at Holden Village in Washington State. This retreat center is smack dab in the Cascade Mountain range and is miles from anything (it takes a 2-3 hour boat ride and a 30 minute bus ride up switchbacks just to get there). In the quiet of the day, just after breakfast, or later in the evening, I would go sit out on the deck of the dining hall area with a cup of coffee or tea, and just enjoy the simple beauty of the mountains. Sometimes deer would wander by adding to the peaceful natural way of the setting.
This sacred space is often more difficult to find in our often busy lives. More recently though, I have begun to find a new time and space to be with God, and it surprised me. Each day, I spend 30 minutes walking on our treadmill in the basement. It's a pretty uninspiring piece of paneling that I stare at, but there is something different about being in this space away from distractions that has begun to make it an almost holy time.
It made wonder, where are your sacred spaces? When did you last take time to enter in to a sacred place that was not necessarily one we would think of as sacred?
For me, this question reminds me of the times I spent at Holden Village in Washington State. This retreat center is smack dab in the Cascade Mountain range and is miles from anything (it takes a 2-3 hour boat ride and a 30 minute bus ride up switchbacks just to get there). In the quiet of the day, just after breakfast, or later in the evening, I would go sit out on the deck of the dining hall area with a cup of coffee or tea, and just enjoy the simple beauty of the mountains. Sometimes deer would wander by adding to the peaceful natural way of the setting.
This sacred space is often more difficult to find in our often busy lives. More recently though, I have begun to find a new time and space to be with God, and it surprised me. Each day, I spend 30 minutes walking on our treadmill in the basement. It's a pretty uninspiring piece of paneling that I stare at, but there is something different about being in this space away from distractions that has begun to make it an almost holy time.
It made wonder, where are your sacred spaces? When did you last take time to enter in to a sacred place that was not necessarily one we would think of as sacred?
Monday, April 21, 2008
A Friend Saves a Place for You
Today a friend sent me a link to an article about the Country Rock Church, a new worshiping community in Ohio that had its first worship gathering in a bar, and they had quite a turnout. With the promise of live bands, wings, pizza, rowdy fun, and a short message... the group that sponsored the service created a space for those who normally don't find their place in houses of worship.
Creating a space... a place to be... a spot to hang...
Can you relate to the experience of going into a classroom that looks pretty full, and you see across the room... a friend waving to you and pointing to the seat he or she has saved for you? Feels pretty good. Your place was saved. You belong. Friends do that for one another in a lot of ways.
I remember one Sunday evening during my third year of college, when I was hanging out in a dorm room with a bunch of friends, most of whom had just come from a late night candlelight worship service. We were enjoying the last few hours of our weekend, eating and laughing and being together. But I was soundlessly weeping inside, feeling as alone as I'd ever been. I had admitted to myself during that worship time, that I didn't believe a word that I had sung or said or heard. I believed nothing. And I was miserable. And ashamed. And I didn't want to shake anyone else's faith, didn't want to bring anyone else down to the pit with me. So I wrote a note to my friend across the room, my dear friend, David, whose faith I couldn't shake, because he was an atheist who said he had none. I folded up my loaded note and tossed it over the heads of our mutual friends. (Yes, once upon a time we had no texting and IMing...)
David read my note, gave me a knowing look, and wrote back. What I read surprised and warmed me. My friend encouraged me to keep searching, to not give up. He said even though he couldn't believe in God, he always found himself with friends who did... that we all had something special that was worth holding onto. David gave me a place to be. He saved a space for me until I came to the point where I could risk talking to others about my struggles... and could begin to find God again. I hold onto the hope that somehow I was able to do the same for him... by being God's caring presence for him in his times of trouble, even though he wouldn't recognize that caring space as God's own.
One of my favorite things about Jesus is that he provided a space for those who had none. He drew into his circle those that the rest of the world had put out with the trash. He did so even when it endangered his reputation, his comfort and safety, and even his life. And Jesus continues to do so, continues to save a place for each one of us: a place where we can hang with God... both in this life and in the life to come. And we act as Jesus' open arms and listening ears whenever we give a lost soul some place to belong.
Oh, and by the way, By the Way is coming closer to finding that space and time we might create... for being with God in worship and prayer. Please join the conversation about what you see as the need in our area, for people all along the spectrum of faith or unfaith to give one another a place to be.
~ Kari Henkelmann Keyl ~
Creating a space... a place to be... a spot to hang...
Can you relate to the experience of going into a classroom that looks pretty full, and you see across the room... a friend waving to you and pointing to the seat he or she has saved for you? Feels pretty good. Your place was saved. You belong. Friends do that for one another in a lot of ways.
I remember one Sunday evening during my third year of college, when I was hanging out in a dorm room with a bunch of friends, most of whom had just come from a late night candlelight worship service. We were enjoying the last few hours of our weekend, eating and laughing and being together. But I was soundlessly weeping inside, feeling as alone as I'd ever been. I had admitted to myself during that worship time, that I didn't believe a word that I had sung or said or heard. I believed nothing. And I was miserable. And ashamed. And I didn't want to shake anyone else's faith, didn't want to bring anyone else down to the pit with me. So I wrote a note to my friend across the room, my dear friend, David, whose faith I couldn't shake, because he was an atheist who said he had none. I folded up my loaded note and tossed it over the heads of our mutual friends. (Yes, once upon a time we had no texting and IMing...)
David read my note, gave me a knowing look, and wrote back. What I read surprised and warmed me. My friend encouraged me to keep searching, to not give up. He said even though he couldn't believe in God, he always found himself with friends who did... that we all had something special that was worth holding onto. David gave me a place to be. He saved a space for me until I came to the point where I could risk talking to others about my struggles... and could begin to find God again. I hold onto the hope that somehow I was able to do the same for him... by being God's caring presence for him in his times of trouble, even though he wouldn't recognize that caring space as God's own.
One of my favorite things about Jesus is that he provided a space for those who had none. He drew into his circle those that the rest of the world had put out with the trash. He did so even when it endangered his reputation, his comfort and safety, and even his life. And Jesus continues to do so, continues to save a place for each one of us: a place where we can hang with God... both in this life and in the life to come. And we act as Jesus' open arms and listening ears whenever we give a lost soul some place to belong.
Oh, and by the way, By the Way is coming closer to finding that space and time we might create... for being with God in worship and prayer. Please join the conversation about what you see as the need in our area, for people all along the spectrum of faith or unfaith to give one another a place to be.
~ Kari Henkelmann Keyl ~
Friday, April 18, 2008
Dialogo: Online Prayer... Can one really connect?
Is praying online, or with a virtual community spiritually fulfilling?
Prayer and the Internet: A portfolio of resources about prayer and the virtual world is a blog resource has been put together by several friends for a project in their Prayer and Resistance class. There are articles, resources, websites, blogs, and more to be found here. I encourage you to check it out… click on the title to this post to link or:
http://internetprayerproject.blogspot.com/2008/04/let-us-pray.html
+Bill Petersen
Monday, April 14, 2008
Steveo-s Devos: How Can we Know the Way?
Have you ever wondered where you might be headed? What direction your life is taking...where you may be going to next in your relationships...career...? These are all good questions that all of us at one point or another have asked ourselves. These questions often come at key moments in our lives. It might be as we graduated from High School, or perhaps it was the death of a parent or favorite relative or friend. Sometimes it comes at transitions between jobs that we thought we would do for ever.
When life throws us a curve ball, it often makes everything else a bit murky. Even here at BTW we are in the midst of an amazing transition as we begin to discern where we might locate in the city of Nashua. Do we choose a place downtown? Do we find a home to use? An abondoned storefront? It seems the possibilities are endless.
So, it was with a great deal of relief that today I turned to read from John 14 with Jesus' words: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me." It was a wonderful reminder that God is at work in our developing community preparing a place for us if we trust in God's direction.
I have to admit that like the disciples in the following verses of this pasage, I asked the same question that Thomas does, "Lord, we don't know where you're going. How can we know the way?" Thomas gets a bad rap in scripture because he always wants some kind of substantial proof that God is here in our midst. How is he supposed to know whether what he is experiencing is from God or not? He wants proof...and sometimes by extension, so do we if we are honest.
Even Phil, another disciple standing by Jesus, speaks out that if only Jesus would show them God, then they will all be saitsified. Phil's hinger is for proof as well. He needs tangible proof that God is there and will be there for him. His statement is subtly different from Thom's.
Thom is looking for clarification. He wants to make sure that he is doing the right thing, following the path that Jesus has laid out for them. Phil though is looking for a more conditional faith that expects God to do something spectacular to convince him that he has made the right choice.
Jesus' response is encouraging. He tells the disciples that they have seen the very things they are asking about as they followed Jesus around. He reminds us all that God is everywhere and that if we believe in him we can overcome this obstacle of needing proof and be unclear of the path we follow. It is about calling on Jesus for a bit of spiritual direction in our lives not only when things are a little difficult, but even when we feel that God is not around us. For the followers of Jesus, it is about being those physical reminders to others about God's grace here and now as we live out our own messy lives and spiritual path.
How will we know the way? I think we will discern this when we listen to what God is calling us to as a community here in Nashua, and as we live out our own discipleship with Jesus. As you think about your own life and where you are at today, perhaps it might be worth reflecting on times when you rediscovered your own way and how that happened. These stories are helpful in the midst of times when we feel confused or unsure of where to turn next. Know that God goes with you in those times, inviting you into a deeper relationship that will strengthen you and give you hope.
When life throws us a curve ball, it often makes everything else a bit murky. Even here at BTW we are in the midst of an amazing transition as we begin to discern where we might locate in the city of Nashua. Do we choose a place downtown? Do we find a home to use? An abondoned storefront? It seems the possibilities are endless.
So, it was with a great deal of relief that today I turned to read from John 14 with Jesus' words: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me." It was a wonderful reminder that God is at work in our developing community preparing a place for us if we trust in God's direction.
I have to admit that like the disciples in the following verses of this pasage, I asked the same question that Thomas does, "Lord, we don't know where you're going. How can we know the way?" Thomas gets a bad rap in scripture because he always wants some kind of substantial proof that God is here in our midst. How is he supposed to know whether what he is experiencing is from God or not? He wants proof...and sometimes by extension, so do we if we are honest.
Even Phil, another disciple standing by Jesus, speaks out that if only Jesus would show them God, then they will all be saitsified. Phil's hinger is for proof as well. He needs tangible proof that God is there and will be there for him. His statement is subtly different from Thom's.
Thom is looking for clarification. He wants to make sure that he is doing the right thing, following the path that Jesus has laid out for them. Phil though is looking for a more conditional faith that expects God to do something spectacular to convince him that he has made the right choice.
Jesus' response is encouraging. He tells the disciples that they have seen the very things they are asking about as they followed Jesus around. He reminds us all that God is everywhere and that if we believe in him we can overcome this obstacle of needing proof and be unclear of the path we follow. It is about calling on Jesus for a bit of spiritual direction in our lives not only when things are a little difficult, but even when we feel that God is not around us. For the followers of Jesus, it is about being those physical reminders to others about God's grace here and now as we live out our own messy lives and spiritual path.
How will we know the way? I think we will discern this when we listen to what God is calling us to as a community here in Nashua, and as we live out our own discipleship with Jesus. As you think about your own life and where you are at today, perhaps it might be worth reflecting on times when you rediscovered your own way and how that happened. These stories are helpful in the midst of times when we feel confused or unsure of where to turn next. Know that God goes with you in those times, inviting you into a deeper relationship that will strengthen you and give you hope.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Drop-in for Dinner
Sunday, April 13, 6:00pm
I'm having a bunch of people over to my house Sunday night, and I hope you can come too. Come by to eat some good food, see freinds, meet new ones. We'll also be doing some dreaming about what a location for By the Way might look like... where it might be... and how we can get there. If you can't come, and have some ideas, you can post them here or on the event wall on Facebook. Oh, and bring a friend or two if you'd like. For more details see: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=24802308752
Peace,
Kari
I'm having a bunch of people over to my house Sunday night, and I hope you can come too. Come by to eat some good food, see freinds, meet new ones. We'll also be doing some dreaming about what a location for By the Way might look like... where it might be... and how we can get there. If you can't come, and have some ideas, you can post them here or on the event wall on Facebook. Oh, and bring a friend or two if you'd like. For more details see: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=24802308752
Peace,
Kari
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Dialogo: How do you stop the "bleating"?
A couple of weeks ago when Bill and I were at Unos I shared with him about the kind of week it had been for me. Every area of my life it seemed like people were either running around in utter confusion or challenging my judgment, directions, and just about anything else that I did.
I recalled one of my favorite lines from Cheers when the ever amiable Norm enters the bar and is asked how his day had been. Norm says, "It's a dog eat dog world and I've got on milkbone underwear."
In the devo this week, there are some great points that focus on how we can sometimes get lost in the hustle and bleating noise around us leaving us a bit lost in the process.
As you reflect on this, how do you refocus your energy and direction? When you are feeling lost or alone, where do you turn for comfort?
I recalled one of my favorite lines from Cheers when the ever amiable Norm enters the bar and is asked how his day had been. Norm says, "It's a dog eat dog world and I've got on milkbone underwear."
In the devo this week, there are some great points that focus on how we can sometimes get lost in the hustle and bleating noise around us leaving us a bit lost in the process.
As you reflect on this, how do you refocus your energy and direction? When you are feeling lost or alone, where do you turn for comfort?
Monday, April 7, 2008
We're All Stinking Sheep!
John chapter 10, verses 1-10 is a story about Jesus as the good shepherd. Okay so we are the sheep and Jesus the shepherd, an image that may be a little too cute for most. From my perspective thinking of people as cuddly, peaceful and obedient sheep is far from reality. The only time I’ve seen sheep up close was at a fair and they were smelly, lazy and seemed pretty dumb… maybe I can relate to those characteristics.
Life is full of moments when one is or at least feels pretty lost…
· We are lonely and spend too much time following the allure of greener pastures online, through the latest games, and television.
· We live fenced in by piles of stinking problems and stupid things we do that are selfish and sometimes self-destructive.
· We experience the pain of strained or break-ups of relationships with significant others and in our families.
· We listen to a lot of ‘bleating’ from critical teachers, parents, bosses and sometimes our friends.
· We are more like sheep than we might want to admit.
Jesus claims to be a lot of things to get us to listen and live our lives knowing we are loved and cared for. As he relates in the Bible, Jesus says he’s the light of the world; then proves it by giving sight back to a guy born blind. Say’s he’ll liberate people, just after freeing someone from demon possession. But the most important thing Jesus says when we feel sheepish about life, is that he is a shepherd and a gate. Jesus claims he’s a “gate” for us, after opening people up to new ideas and a “sheep-welfare officer” who’d die to protect his flock… something he did on a cross a few weeks back.
Our world doesn’t value sheep. We value individuality and desperately want bold individuals to lead… and yet our world is full of sheepish people like you and me who often wish we weren’t such passive followers, and at times stupid sheep. But God never promises life that is cuddly, peaceful or perfect. God’s promises and love are all about Jesus, the good shepherd God sends to us. And in the midst of all the stinking messes of life, Jesus is a sheep too. In church language, Jesus is the “Lamb of God” who in dying and rising from death saves us from all our sheepish ways and shear sinful stupidity.
A great song by Marty Haugen has the refrain that I need to hear when my world gets muddy and I feel like a stinking sheep: Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life.
The verses which are based on Psalm 23 also bring me comfort: God is my shepherd, so nothing shall I want, I rest in the meadows of faithfulness and love, I walk by the quiet waters of peace. Gently you raise me and heal my weary soul, you lead me by pathways of righteousness and truth, my spirit shall sing the music of your Name. Though I should wander the valley of death, I fear no evil, for you are at my side, your rod and your staff, my comfort and my hope.
Jesus shepherds us in all we do everyday. We are loved, forgiven and renewed each day by the abundant love and forgiveness of a gracious God. And when our days are done, will be welcomed into to eternal embrace of the Good Shepherd.
+Bill Petersen
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