Assurance of Thanksgiving Dinner Count
As Thanksgiving approaches, I have heard many people saying that their children are coming. They are not sure if all of them will get here on time, but perhaps in the next day or two afterward if the are not busy.
I once read a unique way of being sure of the dinner count.
An elderly man in Phoenix calls his son in New York and says, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; 45 years of misery is enough."
"Pop, what are you talking about?" the son screams.
"We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the old man says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her." Then he hangs up.
Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "Like heck they're getting divorced," she shouts, "I'll take care of this." She calls Phoenix immediately, and screams at the old man, "You are NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?"
The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. "Okay," he says, "They're coming for Thanksgiving and paying their own fares."
I am glad that God does not offer such an invitation to His dinners aren't you. He said, "Come unto me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." It is truly in the promise of the heavenly banquet that the price is paid by God and the invitation sealed by the death of His Son. What a Thanksgiving celebration that is.
Father, as our families and friends gather this Thanksgiving Day, let us truly offer thanks for the saving grace that comes from knowing Your Son Jesus Christ. It is in the Scriptures that we feast and celebrate the love that offers happiness to all. Let us be sure that the first thanks that we give as our families gather is the one that is for Your Holy Salvation Love. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
This has been Rev. Jim Massey. May you truly be blessed this Thanksgiving and join me next week for another Mid-week Epistle.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
THE OPENED MOUTH - Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey
THE OPENED MOUTH
Do you have trouble opening your mouth at the wrong time? Have you ever been in a conversation and before you know it you have volunteered to do something or take on some responsibility after you had promised you wouldn’t?
Then listen to the fable of the frog who wanted to go South with geese.
One morning the geese were discussing the wonderful southern climate and the fall migration. A frog became obsessed with wanting to go after listening to the wonderful images that were presented. Now the geese liked him and wanted him to join them, but his abilities as a frog simply didn’t include flying. So, they put the burden on him by saying, “If you can figure out a way to go, we’d be delighted to have you go down there with us.”
The frog put on his thinking cap and eventually came up with a plan. He talked two of the large birds into holding a stick between them in their bills. He clamped his mouth on the middle of the stick and they took off. It worked!
They began flying south, and they were doing great; but several other geese flew by and one observed, “My, isn’t that a clever idea? I wonder whose idea it was?” And with that, the frog told them -- and landed in the ocean.
Does that remind you of the words of Job: “Though I am innocent, my own mouth would condemn me.” (Job 9:20).
This should also serve as words of warning to those who try to fly higher than they should, they could croak.
Eternal God, the words that come from our mouths at times may give us a false sense of security. Remind us of the words of another prayer: “Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.” Amen.
This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Next week we will see if we can find creative ways to be sure of our Thanksgiving company.
Do you have trouble opening your mouth at the wrong time? Have you ever been in a conversation and before you know it you have volunteered to do something or take on some responsibility after you had promised you wouldn’t?
Then listen to the fable of the frog who wanted to go South with geese.
One morning the geese were discussing the wonderful southern climate and the fall migration. A frog became obsessed with wanting to go after listening to the wonderful images that were presented. Now the geese liked him and wanted him to join them, but his abilities as a frog simply didn’t include flying. So, they put the burden on him by saying, “If you can figure out a way to go, we’d be delighted to have you go down there with us.”
The frog put on his thinking cap and eventually came up with a plan. He talked two of the large birds into holding a stick between them in their bills. He clamped his mouth on the middle of the stick and they took off. It worked!
They began flying south, and they were doing great; but several other geese flew by and one observed, “My, isn’t that a clever idea? I wonder whose idea it was?” And with that, the frog told them -- and landed in the ocean.
Does that remind you of the words of Job: “Though I am innocent, my own mouth would condemn me.” (Job 9:20).
This should also serve as words of warning to those who try to fly higher than they should, they could croak.
Eternal God, the words that come from our mouths at times may give us a false sense of security. Remind us of the words of another prayer: “Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.” Amen.
This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Next week we will see if we can find creative ways to be sure of our Thanksgiving company.
Mona Lisa Smile
Last night, I could not sleep and lay in bed watching this movie. A million thoughts were going through my head.
I did NOT go to Wellsley, But I did go to an all womens college...rooted deep in the history of the education of women. My choice school was a small all Women's college in Maryland. Our brother school was the United States Naval Academy. College was one of the happiest times of my life, but I look back now and see that it was not about just getting an education.
That movie showed traditions as though they were a bad thing. And yes, many of those traditions held women back. But they were what I sought comfort in while a student. I was not like many of my classmates. They were the daughters of privilage, and I was one of 4 students in the whole school with as much finacial need as I got. I earned that help and the right to go thier through academic and community achievements. But still, I knew I did not belong among the rest. And yet, the chance to partake in those traditions...It was a dream come true.
It was so hard, and yet, I still feel like I squandered away this gift I was given. I often refer to these types of schools as "pressure cooker's". Because there is drive to be perfect. To compete against the brightest and to always succeed. You will be a success if you can get through. Drop out and Fail out rates sky rocket. I have friends who failed out of this school and went on to have 4.0 at state universities. But with a class size norm of 10, every class is discussion. Every test is an essay. Every paper is read and reread. They are preparing leaders.
When I was young, one of my favorite quotes was "Lead, Follow or Get out of the Way." That was my life. I was destined for greatness, to overcome all that I had failed to have. I was the one who was going to have it better. I was going to buy my mom a house; so, she never had to work again. She had worked so hard her whole life to provide. And I wanted to give her that. What I wanted, and what she wanted for me were different things. But I never let on that they were so different. Maybe I should of told her. Maybe I should of told her that was not my dream. And yet, that is where I was suppose to be. Would I have gotten more out of it? Would it have been less of a pressure cooker?
When she died, Law School... it was a dream I had been fighting forever. She wanted me to make money...so first I chosen enviromental law....then..I switched majors from biochemistry to history with a sociology minor and wanted to choose family law. She worked 3 jobs, the idea of making money and being successful...I was suppose to save everyone. To bring it back to my community...to them. And I failed in that way, because it was not my dream.
I wanted to be a senator, and this school was the way to get to that dream. But I can hear her words too, "You are too honest to be a politician." I met such powerful people through getting that chance to go there. I remember the first field trip into Washington DC. You should of seen me. I was alive talking about it a month later at Thanksgiving. I sparkled. My mom's "bosses" and friends said, it made me alive. By the time I was a senior and sat in a Senators office and watched him sell out the people from his state by agreeing to vote against an issue he ran on that would be good for the state...I had lost my sparkle. The illusion of wealth and power had become a bit less shiney.
Maybe by then I had just realized, I did not belong. That I was still standing at the window looking in. I did what I was suppose to...only the men I picked... While they would one day be very successful, were like me. The ones looking in. Make no mistake, I dated too the ones who were on the inside, but I never found enough in commen with them to have a lasting relationship. Every Hood Girl Dates a middie, my longest relationship was with a son of migrant workers from Mexico.
And yet, I look back and wonder now what I could have done different. I had this one professor who influenced me so much. My senior year, he said, that I had lost that light. When I had him as a freshman, I remember the light. The day I laid into an african-american student who was going to sit there and tell me about growing up "poor" when her father made over a million dollars a year. My tution was more in a year, then my mother made working 3 jobs. By my senior year, I had lost that "light"...and the desire to go to law school...to do anything that would make me a success.
I love being a mom, I do. But part of me always remembers I was marked for greatness. I often wonder what it is that is missing. There is a shame associated with that failure to succeed. To be one of the few given a chance to overcome, and to be....well, Just a mom. I guess, I just feel like I let so many people down. Even that professor who time after time, had marked me for greatness as well.
Was it ever my dream? Did I fail to reach my dream, or Did I just fail to reach everyone elses for me?
I did NOT go to Wellsley, But I did go to an all womens college...rooted deep in the history of the education of women. My choice school was a small all Women's college in Maryland. Our brother school was the United States Naval Academy. College was one of the happiest times of my life, but I look back now and see that it was not about just getting an education.
That movie showed traditions as though they were a bad thing. And yes, many of those traditions held women back. But they were what I sought comfort in while a student. I was not like many of my classmates. They were the daughters of privilage, and I was one of 4 students in the whole school with as much finacial need as I got. I earned that help and the right to go thier through academic and community achievements. But still, I knew I did not belong among the rest. And yet, the chance to partake in those traditions...It was a dream come true.
It was so hard, and yet, I still feel like I squandered away this gift I was given. I often refer to these types of schools as "pressure cooker's". Because there is drive to be perfect. To compete against the brightest and to always succeed. You will be a success if you can get through. Drop out and Fail out rates sky rocket. I have friends who failed out of this school and went on to have 4.0 at state universities. But with a class size norm of 10, every class is discussion. Every test is an essay. Every paper is read and reread. They are preparing leaders.
When I was young, one of my favorite quotes was "Lead, Follow or Get out of the Way." That was my life. I was destined for greatness, to overcome all that I had failed to have. I was the one who was going to have it better. I was going to buy my mom a house; so, she never had to work again. She had worked so hard her whole life to provide. And I wanted to give her that. What I wanted, and what she wanted for me were different things. But I never let on that they were so different. Maybe I should of told her. Maybe I should of told her that was not my dream. And yet, that is where I was suppose to be. Would I have gotten more out of it? Would it have been less of a pressure cooker?
When she died, Law School... it was a dream I had been fighting forever. She wanted me to make money...so first I chosen enviromental law....then..I switched majors from biochemistry to history with a sociology minor and wanted to choose family law. She worked 3 jobs, the idea of making money and being successful...I was suppose to save everyone. To bring it back to my community...to them. And I failed in that way, because it was not my dream.
I wanted to be a senator, and this school was the way to get to that dream. But I can hear her words too, "You are too honest to be a politician." I met such powerful people through getting that chance to go there. I remember the first field trip into Washington DC. You should of seen me. I was alive talking about it a month later at Thanksgiving. I sparkled. My mom's "bosses" and friends said, it made me alive. By the time I was a senior and sat in a Senators office and watched him sell out the people from his state by agreeing to vote against an issue he ran on that would be good for the state...I had lost my sparkle. The illusion of wealth and power had become a bit less shiney.
Maybe by then I had just realized, I did not belong. That I was still standing at the window looking in. I did what I was suppose to...only the men I picked... While they would one day be very successful, were like me. The ones looking in. Make no mistake, I dated too the ones who were on the inside, but I never found enough in commen with them to have a lasting relationship. Every Hood Girl Dates a middie, my longest relationship was with a son of migrant workers from Mexico.
And yet, I look back and wonder now what I could have done different. I had this one professor who influenced me so much. My senior year, he said, that I had lost that light. When I had him as a freshman, I remember the light. The day I laid into an african-american student who was going to sit there and tell me about growing up "poor" when her father made over a million dollars a year. My tution was more in a year, then my mother made working 3 jobs. By my senior year, I had lost that "light"...and the desire to go to law school...to do anything that would make me a success.
I love being a mom, I do. But part of me always remembers I was marked for greatness. I often wonder what it is that is missing. There is a shame associated with that failure to succeed. To be one of the few given a chance to overcome, and to be....well, Just a mom. I guess, I just feel like I let so many people down. Even that professor who time after time, had marked me for greatness as well.
Was it ever my dream? Did I fail to reach my dream, or Did I just fail to reach everyone elses for me?
Monday, November 13, 2006
Life
This year has just been so long. A year ago, I had pretty much returned from My grandma's funeral. I am in this funk lately and cant seem to break out of it. Dorkboy is going out of town today for work. One more "wonderful" thing to add to life right now. blah blah blah and a bit more blah.
I really miss my family. I want to go home so bad. I am so tired. So tired. Brian's folks come back this weekend coming up. The "boy" has his championship football game this weekend. They lost last weekend..so they play the 2nd best team in the "toy bowl" from the other town. "the oldest girl" is all caught back up in school now...well almost. I just want a vacation from life...or at least for Brian to get a job back in my hometown so we can go home. I just want my family. I want to be surrounded by them, and drove crazy by them, and want them interfearing in my life...and me in thiers. I want to be able to see them with my own eyes, hold them in my arms and hug them and smother them with love until they beg for me to stop.
I want my children to have what I feel like they are missing out on...and mostly...i want to leave this town. Our life has been one nightmare after another since we got here. I just want Brian to come home saftely at the end of the week...everything else...we will go from there.
I really miss my family. I want to go home so bad. I am so tired. So tired. Brian's folks come back this weekend coming up. The "boy" has his championship football game this weekend. They lost last weekend..so they play the 2nd best team in the "toy bowl" from the other town. "the oldest girl" is all caught back up in school now...well almost. I just want a vacation from life...or at least for Brian to get a job back in my hometown so we can go home. I just want my family. I want to be surrounded by them, and drove crazy by them, and want them interfearing in my life...and me in thiers. I want to be able to see them with my own eyes, hold them in my arms and hug them and smother them with love until they beg for me to stop.
I want my children to have what I feel like they are missing out on...and mostly...i want to leave this town. Our life has been one nightmare after another since we got here. I just want Brian to come home saftely at the end of the week...everything else...we will go from there.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
What Child Is This?
The other day in Wally World I heard my favorite Christmas Hymn. I wondered, boy...it is awful early. But ...is ever too early to celebrate the expectation of the Light? That is what Christmas is about to me...expecting the Light.
I wish it could be Christmas everyday...and it can be. If you and I make it so. If everyday, we wait and expect the Light of Jesus Christ to come into our lives and prepare a space for Him in our hearts. A manager for the tiny baby, and an opening for the man who died on the cross on a hill to save us from ourselves.
Last year, we sang this song for choir...this song about is this the Child who would bear the nails for me? Is this the tiny Child who would carry away my sin? How can such a small Child bear all the weight of the world? Every day, I have to ask...What Child is this?
I wish it could be Christmas everyday...and it can be. If you and I make it so. If everyday, we wait and expect the Light of Jesus Christ to come into our lives and prepare a space for Him in our hearts. A manager for the tiny baby, and an opening for the man who died on the cross on a hill to save us from ourselves.
Last year, we sang this song for choir...this song about is this the Child who would bear the nails for me? Is this the tiny Child who would carry away my sin? How can such a small Child bear all the weight of the world? Every day, I have to ask...What Child is this?
What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
