Order Your Steps
=================
Don't ask God to order your steps if you are not willing to move your feet.
I’m getting ready to move my feet.
Are you ready to move yours?
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
"Finding a new 'pump handle'"
Over 150 years ago 500 people died of cholera in just ten days in one London neighborhood. Dr. John Snow, who already had suggested that this epidemic disease was spread by contaminated water, studied these cases and was convinced that the sole source of the contaminated water was a particular pump near Broad and Cambridge streets. At a emotional public meeting it was suggested that the pump handle be removed so that no more water could be drawn from that location.
Indeed the handle was removed, cholera abated and significant projects were launched for cleaner water and safer sanitation systems. In addition, there were improvements in sanitation and purification systems resulting in improved human life, increased life spans and lower infant mortality rates. All because of a pump handle.
Once in a while it is time to renew our "pump handle" or to find the "right" "pump handle."
Starbucks did just that for three hours back in 2008. They shut down all 7,100 Starbucks in North America -- maybe you were were an unsuspecting customer caught in that unexpected "crisis" (if you needed coffee it was a crisis! -- to clean up their "pump handle", to rediscover their "first love." Howard Schultz, CEO said that Starbucks shut down to rediscover and rededicate the company to the "love, passion and commitment" of the coffee experience. They had lost their original "pump handle" and the one they were using needed to be replaced.
This unprecedented event in company history wasn't about "training" but to reconnect the company to its soul and the love and compassion and commitment that it needed to have for the customer.
How's your pump handle these days? Is it rusty and corroded from dis-use or no use? Is it ignored because of busyness? We sometimes feel good about busyness, but does our busyness and running overwhelm our true identity? Have we lost our passion for our mission, for Jesus and for the Gospel? Does our soul really have soul anymore? Do we have a clear picture of why we are here? What we are about? Who we are?
Starbucks closed down for a few hours to reconnect with the "soul of its past".
Every now and again we need to take some time to "close down" for a few hours or a few days to reconnect with our soul. We need to take some time occasionally to rediscover a few things like: who we are as God's children; who we are as forgiven sinners; who we are as disciples; what God is calling us to be as part of his body; how our faith journey brought us to where we are and what it might be telling us about where we are going; or a myriad of other things about our love, compassion and commitment to who we are and our purpose in God's kingdom.
These little breaks are great times to make sure that the source of our "living spiritual water" is as pure as it needs to be.
I know we will all be blessed as we seek the power and promise of our living God and as we take time to reconnect with our soul and renew our commitment to our faith.
Indeed the handle was removed, cholera abated and significant projects were launched for cleaner water and safer sanitation systems. In addition, there were improvements in sanitation and purification systems resulting in improved human life, increased life spans and lower infant mortality rates. All because of a pump handle.
Once in a while it is time to renew our "pump handle" or to find the "right" "pump handle."
Starbucks did just that for three hours back in 2008. They shut down all 7,100 Starbucks in North America -- maybe you were were an unsuspecting customer caught in that unexpected "crisis" (if you needed coffee it was a crisis! -- to clean up their "pump handle", to rediscover their "first love." Howard Schultz, CEO said that Starbucks shut down to rediscover and rededicate the company to the "love, passion and commitment" of the coffee experience. They had lost their original "pump handle" and the one they were using needed to be replaced.
This unprecedented event in company history wasn't about "training" but to reconnect the company to its soul and the love and compassion and commitment that it needed to have for the customer.
How's your pump handle these days? Is it rusty and corroded from dis-use or no use? Is it ignored because of busyness? We sometimes feel good about busyness, but does our busyness and running overwhelm our true identity? Have we lost our passion for our mission, for Jesus and for the Gospel? Does our soul really have soul anymore? Do we have a clear picture of why we are here? What we are about? Who we are?
Starbucks closed down for a few hours to reconnect with the "soul of its past".
Every now and again we need to take some time to "close down" for a few hours or a few days to reconnect with our soul. We need to take some time occasionally to rediscover a few things like: who we are as God's children; who we are as forgiven sinners; who we are as disciples; what God is calling us to be as part of his body; how our faith journey brought us to where we are and what it might be telling us about where we are going; or a myriad of other things about our love, compassion and commitment to who we are and our purpose in God's kingdom.
These little breaks are great times to make sure that the source of our "living spiritual water" is as pure as it needs to be.
I know we will all be blessed as we seek the power and promise of our living God and as we take time to reconnect with our soul and renew our commitment to our faith.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Spring, Growth, New Life
Talking to a farmer the other day took me back in time. It took me back to my childhood on the farm.
You see, springtime on the farm was my favorite time of year. Turning the soil and releasing the earthy smells of spring, planting the seeds that would grow and mature into abundance for feeding the animals and people. The crisp warmth of the morning. The sun sparkling across the damp dew of the morning. Everything, it seemed, was full of fresh opportunity, new life, a new start growing out of winter's death and possibilities unimagined.
I guess it is no accident that Easter, our faith celebration of new and renewed life, comes in the spring. The themes of nature and faith coincide in that both promise new life, a new start growing out of death and full fresh opportunities.
But it is more. Every moment with God offers promise. The seed of a new idea has the potential to deepen our faith perspective or set us off in a new direction with a deeper sense of purpose. The growing faith nurtured by the spirit has the potential to reap a harvest of our own faithfulness, or of something sparked in another. An old habit can be "put to death" giving room for something new and life giving. Priorities can be adjusted to fit the new directions in our lives.
Lest we be deceived, opportunities like this aren't limited to spring. The possibilities for new life are there every day. As we open our day with a remembrance of our Baptism and God's gift of the Holy Spirit, every day become the gift of grace, fertile soil for new life, growth and faith full of the spirit of the living God.
Even in the city, images of the farm ring true, and become true.
You see, springtime on the farm was my favorite time of year. Turning the soil and releasing the earthy smells of spring, planting the seeds that would grow and mature into abundance for feeding the animals and people. The crisp warmth of the morning. The sun sparkling across the damp dew of the morning. Everything, it seemed, was full of fresh opportunity, new life, a new start growing out of winter's death and possibilities unimagined.
I guess it is no accident that Easter, our faith celebration of new and renewed life, comes in the spring. The themes of nature and faith coincide in that both promise new life, a new start growing out of death and full fresh opportunities.
But it is more. Every moment with God offers promise. The seed of a new idea has the potential to deepen our faith perspective or set us off in a new direction with a deeper sense of purpose. The growing faith nurtured by the spirit has the potential to reap a harvest of our own faithfulness, or of something sparked in another. An old habit can be "put to death" giving room for something new and life giving. Priorities can be adjusted to fit the new directions in our lives.
Lest we be deceived, opportunities like this aren't limited to spring. The possibilities for new life are there every day. As we open our day with a remembrance of our Baptism and God's gift of the Holy Spirit, every day become the gift of grace, fertile soil for new life, growth and faith full of the spirit of the living God.
Even in the city, images of the farm ring true, and become true.
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