Have a cup of tea

I love tea. For many years I have enjoyed a cup most every day. In the south, iced tea is served “sweetened” with just the right amount of sugar to keep a person sipping for hours. Some places add a slice of lemon to add to the flavors and refreshment. Other places serve tea with crumpets or scones to offer an afternoon tea-break.

When looking in the grocery store for tea to replenish the shelf, I noted the varieties available. One can get just “tea” – you know, that orange pekoe blend that is what I first think about with tea. In today’s world, that “orange pekoe” can now be decaffeinated to or go with the “Cold Brew” option available both as a single cup or family size. If you want a flavored tea, the options continue to grow. How about honey vanilla chamomile, earl grey, darjeeling or a variety of herb teas like raspberry, orange and spice, or perfect peach? Then we can go to various colors: green tea, white tea, or black tea.

After the “tea” is selected, one can then decide for cream and / or sugar, or one of the many options in the dairy case for an extra within the cream – like French vanilla, amaretto, or hazelnut.I’m not a connoisseur of tea. Believe me, if I were taste-testing I wouldn’t be able to tell which flavor or type of tea is in my cup. But I have learned something about myself related to tea. The preference for tea with milk and sugar is definitely higher than just plain tea. On a cold day I prefer hot day, and on a hot day I prefer cold tea (with sugar like found in the south.) Then it came to preference for cream rather than milk and of course adding sugar was great too. Then I preferred French vanilla over cream and definitely over milk. Then I had to have 2 cups, not just 1.

And then it hit me.

This simple cup of tea could become a cup of sin for me. How- you ask? By letting my thoughts and desires escalate to what I want. For me, that simple cup of tea was not just simple – like turning on the tap for cool water. I found myself thinking of which flavor or addition or hot / cold or which cup to serve myself that silly cup of tea. It wasn’t just a simple cup of tea anymore, but a progression of wanting something more than what I had been having before. How could I make that cup of tea better? Doing things better is fine. I am an educator with goal of helping others learn so that they have something more than they had before. But… that “more” can become an obsession that does not allow satisfaction in the simple.

As I was driving home from Omaha after a wonderful vacation in Denver with family, I heard a message by Jack Graham on the local radio station. He started his message with “We all worship something. Who or what is your God?”

And you know what came to mind for me? That silly cup of tea… For each of us serving Christ, the god that directs us away from worshipping the Most High alone might be something small that just gets bigger and bigger within our thoughts and desires. Of course, I don’t fall down and worship tea – it does not sit on a table and I bow before it. But the thoughts and desires can turn to fleshly desires such that we cross the line of OK to sinful.

Jack Graham points out that idolatry is a serious sin with serious consequences – so if we practice idolatry in any form with our hearts, hands and mind there are severe repercussions. Rather than turning away from anything that takes too much of our attentions, we often change our view of God. He said, “We want a God that will tolerate our excesses and our lifestyles as we choose.” [True Worship, Sunday June 14, 2009 found at http://www.lightsource.com/ministry/powerpoint_with_jack_graham/20090614/ ]

Excesses…. That word hit me…. How often am I not a content person with what I DO have? I want something more… something better… or simply something different. Again, I do think progress moves us on from one place to another. But what about the exclusivity of Christ and Biblical standards that are given?

Christ calls us to a life not of personal fulfillment, but a life of self-denial, a life of service to Him. Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. “ (Matthew 16:24)Jesus tells his disciples in relation to seeking treasures, “For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. For life is more than food, and the body than clothing…. And do not seek what you shall eat, and what you shall drink, and do not keep worrying… But seek His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you… For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:22-34 selections)

Dr. Graham said, “We ultimately become what we worship. If we are dedicated to food, we will become gluttons. If we are dedicated to drink we will become drunkards… If we are dedicated to self and personal fulfillment we will neglect the compassion and love for Christ...” We ought to have a life of service, commitment, and devotion and worship and love and sacrifice…

Who is God? He is the Lord above. All are directed to “have no other gods before me….” (Exodus 20:3)

Keep watch within your own life to what starts as OK, but then becomes bigger and bigger such that the fine line is crossed. The “self-desire’ becomes too big and our “serving Him” becomes smaller.

Praise be to Him!

Mark 16:1-20

The Resurrection
1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him.
2Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
3They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?"
4Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large.
5Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed.
6And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.
7"But go, tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.'"
8They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
9[Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons.
10She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping.
11When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.
12After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country.
13They went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either.
The Disciples Commissioned
14Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.
15And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
16"He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
17"These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;
18they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
19So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
20And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.
____________________

Praise be to Him, the Father - Son and Holy Spirit -- now and forever! Amen!

Menu Plan Monday

Trying something new with thinking ahead -- also wanted to record some delicious looking recipes.
Main ideas:
1. Avocado Shrimp Salad -- Dad might enjoy this dish since it has avocado and shrimp...
2. Thai Shrimp and Noodles -- I think Sarah has this dish or something very similar. Certainly looks good to me today...
3. Greek Seafood Salad -- Something about this one caught my eye. Maybe it is just all the veges with shrimp
4. Chicken Biscuit Potpie -- I know it is spring, so I shouldn't be turning on the over. However, since we don't have an actual over (or stove) at the new house, can I cheat?
5. Blackberry Cheese Pie -- yep... I stole this one off Sarah's site.
6. Peanut Butter Pie -- okay... I'm ready to get down to cooking and eatin'
7. Baked Sweet Potato Chips - these chips are low in salt -- and certainly look interesting...

Wonder which one(s) we'll try tonight?

Where have I been?

Wow! Time flies by -- I have thought of many things to post and did not realize that I had not taken action -- for a long time.

Where have I been? Am I traveling the world seeing new sights and wonders? Have I gone south with cold blustering here in Iowa? Have I gone over seas -- visiting in countries that I would communicate in other languages or manners?

I have been right here with my activities within the church, work, and daily life. Nothing major to report. No changes to announce. Nothing new in which to inform others.

So what will I present here? How about a message that where ever I have been, I know that God is with me? Or should I pick some story from the Bible and draw out the mercies, love, and compassion of our Maker and Redeemer? Or should I pick some story from the Bible and draw out that our God is a Righteous God and desires obedience and faithfulness to Him? And then relate back my own action or inaction in response?

Maybe I should simply share something that struck me this morning during worship. Sometimes when I get so busy with what I need to do, I forget that I need to put my joys and concerns at the feet of Jesus -- allowing Him to participate in my adventure. Rather than getting on the horse and plowing along with blinders to what is happening around me, maybe I should stop and see where the path is headed. We closed the service with the hymn, "What a friend we have in Jesus" and I realized that I have not taken my cares to the Lord and put them at His feet. The other day I did enter the church, knelt at the steps in the sanctuary, and said a short prayer. But it was uncomfortable to be still, so I got in mid sentence. The prayer continued, but I walked on through to the steps going out the other side and kept going. This morning it dawned on me, that in my efforts to be effective showing His Light, I have stopped looking closely at what He would have. I have stopped looking at the Light of the World for my own light. I have not quietly sat at His feet and waiting for Him to speak.

So what is my plan? Let's see if this works, but I want to actively give thanks -- is Thankful Thursday calling to me? I want to praise Him regularly - is Sunday Psalm a good place to linger on Sunday morning / afternoon? Or maybe just sitting and sharing the struggle of following faithfully would be a step.

Or I could stop to read His Word, reflecting what the message to His people might be. And it is with that that I come this morning. A short note from the following which caught my eye of where the power of all that I might attempt comes from. My strength comes from the Lord Jesus -- as I give thanks through Him to our Heavenly Father.

"And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one bond; and be thankful.
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Colossians 3:12-17

And that is my final answer... for the moment.

A Franciscan Christmas Blessing for Justice and Peace

A Franciscan Christmas Blessing for Justice and PeaceDecember 20, 2005

May God bless you with discomfort...
at easy answers, hard hearts,
half-truths ,and superficial relationships.
May God bless you so that you may live
from deep within your heart
where God’s Spirit dwells.

May God bless you with anger...
at injustice, oppression,
and exploitation of people.
May God bless you so that you may
work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears...
to shed for those who suffer from pain,
rejection, starvation and war.
May God bless you so that
you may reach out your hand
to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with
enough foolishness
to believe that you can make a difference
in this world, in your neighborhood,
so that you will courageously try
what you don't think you can do, but,
in Jesus Christ you'll have all the strength necessary.

May God bless you to fearlessly
speak out about injustice,
unjust laws, corrupt politicians,
unjust and cruel treatment of prisoners,
and senseless wars,
genocides, starvations, and poverty that is so pervasive.

May God bless you that you remember
we are all called
to continue God’s redemptive work
of love and healing
in God’s place, in and through God’s name,
in God’s Spirit, continually creating
and breathing new life and grace
into everything and everyone we touch.

Source: "Troubadour: A Missionary Magazine," published by the Franciscan Missionary Society, Liverpool, UK: Spring 2005.

Summer vacation

This week finishes a semester at school. All seem thankful to set behind assignments, certain people, deadlines, not having enough time, etc. The drudgery of it all is about to come to a close. Yipee! Summer vacation!

Many have asked what will I do this summer -- am I teaching any courses? Will I do traveling, they ask.

After reading someone's blog today, I did get to thinking -- just what will I do this summer? Sure, I have plans to study for an accounting exam that I will be taking. And yes, I plan to travel to see family and friends. But what is the most important item to include this summer? Will it be cleaning the house? Or finishing scrapbooks and sorting pictures into albums? Taking lots of walks or going for bike rides?

The most important thing is for me to remember what is most important. What do I hope to do each day? Although I like to think that I daily read God's Word, I noticed that I am still working on the book of Jeremiah. If I read a chapter a day, those 52 chapters would have been finished last August -- yeah, August of 2006. So where do I put my priorities? Why do I make excuses? Why do I get distracted by reading the paper or a magazine rather than focusing on life to my Spiritual Soul?

What will summer bring? May the activities be things like:
1) Finishing the book of Jeremiah
2) Volunteering my hands, feet and voice to sharing Christ's love
3) Devoting myself to prayer
4) Reading God's Word daily
5) Praising Him

Even in the midst of cleaning or sorting pictures...

Welcome!

This blog is new for me... New in many ways. Typically I focus on God, family and job. My goal is for this blog to help me connect with others in service to Him....

Needless to say... More to come....