Most popular gift this year for adults seems to be the GPS. My grandson says, "Get a Garmin." Which is probably a sales slogan. Anyway, we seem to think we want to know where we are. We don't want to get lost. We savor the security of the electronic wizard. We boaters know, "Always have the paper charts in case the electronics go down." Side note, the fancy boats have this autopilot that will take you back the way you came. It remembers the 'waypoints." No, I do not have that fancy stuff.
What about spiritual GPS? Where are you on your life journey? Do you know what the next few turns ahead are going to be? I know where I will be tonight - with Mary and Joseph at the stable of Bethlehem, "She kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." I will also be with family. That is always a joy. I have taken my Sabbath in the midweek the past 2 weeks to examine myself to see where I am and to think about the year to come. All I know for sure is that GPS for me will have to include - going into the Word of God daily, making and singing Christ- centered music, reading other books that push me to be a better pastor and person, getting together with some of the guys in my church, meeting with my accountability group and keeping up the Mission work in Uganda and East Africa.
I am always open to great suggestions of books that will be of help.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Alan
Monday, December 24, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
My old friend... the shovel
This is not really a blog with spiritual meaning. At least I don't think it is.
My old friend the shovel. I have been doing battle with the elements some of the day. As winter begins I put the faded red push shovel into my vehicle and it goes where I go. I believe that I have had this shovel longer than my bride. But that is another story. In any case it is an old friend. It is just right. You cannot buy push shovels like it anymore. It takes a lickin and keeps on tickin. Not too heavy and not too light. Comfortable and familiar, it has been with me through 2007 - the winter that wasn't, then WAS. It has cleared ice, snow and slush. It has done walks and driveways and even roofs. It was not with me in the blizzard of 1977, but it was my best friend in March of 1993 - about the last time I cancelled church. Last year the handle started to fall off. Fortunately I caught it in time - shovels are not much of any good without the handle. The current pushers have that metal edge - too much for some circumstances.
But, alas that plastic edge is starting to fail, not that beautiful smooth line it once gave. Maybe a year or two more. Without my old friend maybe I should give thought to not wintering in the snow belt anymore. I always say, "I love the snow and hate the cold." But the truth is that I am not taking the snow as well as I used to. Well, thank you God for the snow. And thank you for the old friend the faded red push shovel. After all, you created everything... and called it good. Right?
My old friend the shovel. I have been doing battle with the elements some of the day. As winter begins I put the faded red push shovel into my vehicle and it goes where I go. I believe that I have had this shovel longer than my bride. But that is another story. In any case it is an old friend. It is just right. You cannot buy push shovels like it anymore. It takes a lickin and keeps on tickin. Not too heavy and not too light. Comfortable and familiar, it has been with me through 2007 - the winter that wasn't, then WAS. It has cleared ice, snow and slush. It has done walks and driveways and even roofs. It was not with me in the blizzard of 1977, but it was my best friend in March of 1993 - about the last time I cancelled church. Last year the handle started to fall off. Fortunately I caught it in time - shovels are not much of any good without the handle. The current pushers have that metal edge - too much for some circumstances.
But, alas that plastic edge is starting to fail, not that beautiful smooth line it once gave. Maybe a year or two more. Without my old friend maybe I should give thought to not wintering in the snow belt anymore. I always say, "I love the snow and hate the cold." But the truth is that I am not taking the snow as well as I used to. Well, thank you God for the snow. And thank you for the old friend the faded red push shovel. After all, you created everything... and called it good. Right?
Monday, December 3, 2007
Lessons from the Drum Circle
Some of you know that I have a pretty good collection of African hand drums. These are not commercially made, but handmade in Uganda. My favorites are the long drum and the one that was a gift from a church in the mountains where I was the first ‘muzungu’ aka white who had preached in that church. This last time I brought back a djembe which is the common drum circle drum you see here.
On Saturday our church drummer Craig and I went to a big time drum circle with a pro teacher. This event was in Syracuse with about 55- 60 in attendance. I brought 4 of my own drums and had fun playing, explaining them and sharing them. They are nice conversation starters. We discovered that there is a weekly drum circle on Fancher road in the summer. The person who leads it gave a tentative promise to visit us at our Spirit Moves Café Service in the spring. Craig and I had a blast and I was given an opportunity to work on my rhythm. 3 and ½ hours worth- you can tell from my hands.
Jim Donavan was the teacher. He taught us a few relaxation exercises, a few things about our drums and lots about drumming. Here is what he observed. Playing with a group in a drum circle takes:
Cooperation- work together, no solos, no hot shots.
Competition - Not! It is a non – competition thing.
Clarity - this is about focus, letting other distractions go, getting a clear beat and hit on the proper place on the drum head. Be there and enjoy the pulse.
Calm – playing in group and alone can be relaxing. I happen to focus on getting it right instead of just enjoying and working together as we learn together.
What I learned was that I want to learn the pattern by seeing, but sometimes the pattern goes too fast and the eye cannot quite get it. So you have to hear the pattern. Alan learned to listen AND look. Truthfully, that has always been what I enjoy about Uganda and worship there- hearing it and feeling it. The pulse of the drums catches me up and gets my whole body and heart into the worship time. Yeah, I even dance there too, but that is another topic.
What are you doing to get your full being into what you are doing?
On Saturday our church drummer Craig and I went to a big time drum circle with a pro teacher. This event was in Syracuse with about 55- 60 in attendance. I brought 4 of my own drums and had fun playing, explaining them and sharing them. They are nice conversation starters. We discovered that there is a weekly drum circle on Fancher road in the summer. The person who leads it gave a tentative promise to visit us at our Spirit Moves Café Service in the spring. Craig and I had a blast and I was given an opportunity to work on my rhythm. 3 and ½ hours worth- you can tell from my hands.
Jim Donavan was the teacher. He taught us a few relaxation exercises, a few things about our drums and lots about drumming. Here is what he observed. Playing with a group in a drum circle takes:
Cooperation- work together, no solos, no hot shots.
Competition - Not! It is a non – competition thing.
Clarity - this is about focus, letting other distractions go, getting a clear beat and hit on the proper place on the drum head. Be there and enjoy the pulse.
Calm – playing in group and alone can be relaxing. I happen to focus on getting it right instead of just enjoying and working together as we learn together.
What I learned was that I want to learn the pattern by seeing, but sometimes the pattern goes too fast and the eye cannot quite get it. So you have to hear the pattern. Alan learned to listen AND look. Truthfully, that has always been what I enjoy about Uganda and worship there- hearing it and feeling it. The pulse of the drums catches me up and gets my whole body and heart into the worship time. Yeah, I even dance there too, but that is another topic.
What are you doing to get your full being into what you are doing?
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