Share a Cookie

Six years ago I shared a message of Cookies and Good News at my moms funeral. Today I remind everybody to not be greedy with their cookies.

Who will you share a cookie with today?

Will it be someone who shared a cookie with you before?

Will it be someone who liked the cookie you gave them last time?
Will it be a recipe you have never tried before?
Will it have flavors from other places?
Cookies are Good News
Go share your cookies with your world.

God is A Gardener

So much of the time we hear of God as a warrior, a protector, a guardian. But are there any other “job descriptions” that God has? I went looking for one, because I felt there had to be another way. I went looking for God not for war but for peace. I went looking for God not as one more voice for violence but for peace.

I found one, and it is an amazingly large one. God is a Gardener. 

God will till, plow, plant, water, weed, prune, harvest, feed the people, and give us a dream for what is yet to come.

It then falls to us to follow God’s lead. Planting, watering, pruning, harvesting, sharing, and dreaming. 

Let us grow not just plants but souls. Not just our own spirits but the spirits of those around us. Helping each other to grow deeper in God. Supporting each other in times of storm and drought. Stripping away the things that separate us from God’s love. Creating a harvest of joy and peace. Always remembering to continue to dream, not just our own dreams, but God’s dreams. 

Matthew 5.2-11

Blessed are those who know the garden isn’t theirs, but tend it anyway.

Blessed are those who’s sadness waters the garden, joy shall rise up around them.

Blessed are those who work without being pushy, everything will come up in its time.

Blessed are those who are focused on God’s harvest, knowing the grace that is coming.

Blessed are those who plant mercy around them, their crop will be huge.

Blessed are those who are looking for God, God will always be near them.

Blessed are those who grow peace, God has made them children of the Garden.

Blessed are those who are made fun of for working in God’s Garden, many before you were treated the same way and God cared for them, watched over them, and made them prosper.

Sermon Titles 

God Planted a Garden

God Planted the Human

A Land of Plenty

What is sown is reaped.

You Never Know what might Grow or where.

What Grows Dies First

How is it with your Soil

Fruit or Firewood

Transplants and Graftings

When in Drought

Wheat and Weeds

The Growing Belongs to God

Cut it Back to Make it Grow

Leave the Leftovers

Abundance comes from God

Bring God the Harvest

A Giving of Thanks

The Garden That is to Come (I have this one set as the Sunday before Advent)

Creed 2009

I believe in the ONE

  who was before all things

  and from whom all things come

I believe in Jesus Christ

  who is my Lord and my God

  who bore my sin and my shame

  who died and rose again

  who prepares a place for all those who choose to follow him

I believe in the Holy Spirit

  who is present with us and within us

  who gives us the power and courage to forgive

  who calls us together as the church

    for prayer

    for praise

    for teaching

    for reaching out

    for LIVING as the redeemed children of a Living and Loving GOD

AMEN

Of Course I See Color!

Of course I see color!

What is the point of a rainbow it's just the streak of red? 

What is the point of flowers if they are the same hue as the grass? 

What is the point of sky without sunset and sunrise that separates us from endless dark?

Of course I see color!

We are made of the earth. 

Black and red soils. 

White and grey and brown clays. 

Black and white and tan beaches and dunes. 

Even when we cannot see the ground we are still formed from it and by it.

Of course I see color! 

Following the brilliant tones of the wings around us. 

Following stripes and spots on hoof and paw. 

Following fierce manes and sleek furs. 

We decorate ourselves in cloth and color. 

We decorate our bodies and homes.

Of course I see color! 

Of course I see you. 

Of course you are important to me. 

In you I see the marvelous variety of the Image of God.

Hats Full of Feels

I have heard of people who wear their hearts on their sleeves. But most of my feelings are in my head. So I wear them on my head. Like a hat.

My happy hat fits just right, and works well with anything and everything.

My contented hat shades my eyes for a perfect nap.

My angry hat is so tight I often can't get it off my head.

My sadness hat is too floppy and it lets in ALL the rain.

I discovered I own two worry hats.
   One is too loose and threatens to blow off in the slightest breeze.
   The other isn't on my head, it's being twisted into new shapes in my hands.

My envy hat THINKS its a little faded and threadbare.

My fear hat sits like an eyeless ghost-sheet, potential walls at every turn.

My excited hat holds the trophy-pins for each adventure and story.

My frustration hat is usually on the floor having been thrown there and stomped on.

Screwing Around vs. SCIENCE

Remember kids, the only difference between screwing around and science is writing it down. --Adam Savage

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BSUMBBFjxrY&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DBSUMBBFjxrY

This quote is largely the base for why I always have a place to write things down some where in arms reach. I have weird thoughts. I think of a quote or a scripture and a connection or context and I have at hand the tools to capture create it.

Are u a success? Write it down.

  Leave behind a record of how you got there and let others follow your method.

Are u a failure?  Write it down.

  Leave behind a record of how u got into the mess and your signs will lead u back out again. And so others will not make the mistakes u did.

I have not failed 10,000 times. I just know 10,000 things that don't work. 

   --Edison

Are u confused?

Are u worried?

   Write it down. Double space.

   Then the worries and confusions are contained and can be studied. 

   Not just by the one who had the worry but by those who support u.

Write the answers in between.

Easter "Morning Has Broken"

Morning has broken like the first Easter

The tomb lays open what shall we do

Come to the garden see where they put him

Come with confusion on this new day

Come with your spices come with your wailing

Come with the first light of the new week

Angels will greet us give us strange tidings

Leave with the good news of Christ's return.

Go tell the nations Christ is alive

Death has no power where is its sting

We shall bring praises we shall bring our lives

Filled with your Spirit growing in love

--I wrote these lyrics for Easter 2015

--To the tune of Morning Has Broken