I must admit, I have never been much of a bar person. It's one of those things since I never really developed a taste for beer.
This is interesting, because much of my "good ministry" happens in a bar. There is a bar in the Tenderloin that has an established relationship with the Night Ministry that I stop into at least twice during my work week. To protect the anonymity of the patrons, I will call it the 7 Up Lounge.
It's interesting that I feel completely at ease at the 7 Up Lounge, and yet over the years I have not been at ease in bars. However, everything I have needed to know about being a good night minister, I have learned from hanging out at the 7 Up Lounge.
1. No matter how ineffectual it may feel, showing up on a consistent basis to a location does good; familiarity breeds comfort.
2. Lingering is your friend. It is good to show one's face in a spot on a regular basis, but one needs to linger as well. Over time, I have made it a point to learn the names and the frameworks of people's stories.
3. No matter how uncomfortable it may feel, conversations about politics can be good things. There is a guy at the 7 Up Lounge who has baited me into political discussions, but I have found out over time it was his way of learning if he could trust me. Since then, he has asked me for advice on some of life's questions.
4. Sip the orange juice slowly. Restrooms are closed at night.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Resurrection blows like a wind...
I sit waiting for resurrection amidst death.
However, as I reflect, I realize that the resurrection is not a passive event, but one in which God blew life back into Jesus and rolling away the stone.
Paul states in Romans 6 that through our baptism, we undergo a similar death, and thus resurrection like Jesus.
Yes, God is responsible for the winds of resurrection, but it is up to us to respond. We can either shut the window, or let the wind of God's change blow in us.
Earlier this week, I had a big peak at resurrection. Without going into too much detail, I had a really good, substantial conversation with my mother for well over an hour. This is very significant because I have not seen her in over 23 years. I have learned over the years that a prominent person in my life served as a buffer between my mother and I as I was growing up, intercepting telephone calls, destroying mail, etc. Though I have had touch and go conversations with my mother since 2005, I made a point to move past anger at other people and wrote a heart-felt letter to my mother. My mother said the letter made her cry, and that she had wanted to write a similar one. Resurrection happens.
However, as I reflect, I realize that the resurrection is not a passive event, but one in which God blew life back into Jesus and rolling away the stone.
Paul states in Romans 6 that through our baptism, we undergo a similar death, and thus resurrection like Jesus.
Yes, God is responsible for the winds of resurrection, but it is up to us to respond. We can either shut the window, or let the wind of God's change blow in us.
Earlier this week, I had a big peak at resurrection. Without going into too much detail, I had a really good, substantial conversation with my mother for well over an hour. This is very significant because I have not seen her in over 23 years. I have learned over the years that a prominent person in my life served as a buffer between my mother and I as I was growing up, intercepting telephone calls, destroying mail, etc. Though I have had touch and go conversations with my mother since 2005, I made a point to move past anger at other people and wrote a heart-felt letter to my mother. My mother said the letter made her cry, and that she had wanted to write a similar one. Resurrection happens.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Palm Sunday thoughts
I am finally sitting down. It sure feels good to do that.
I preached at our Open Cathedral today. It was fun; some people notices my hair matched my purplish-pink stole. I find preaching at the Night Ministry's Open Cathedral fun because it is a different venue, and it pushes my limits. For the most part over the years, I have preached from a manuscript, but in a intimate forum like Open Cathedral, I have shifted to preaching from just an outline. Yikes! I am still negotiating this shifting energy. I find that preaching at OC allows for a more dynamic, interactive sermon. Today, I had a more detailed outline than when I preached on the 22nd of March. Though I felt I preached a good sermon today, I felt I had more interaction with my sermon in March because I a) had a less detailed outline, which b) allowed for more audience participation.
I preached on Mark 11.1-11, and Philippians 2.5-11. I would post the sermon, but I find it hard trying to recreate what I said on the fly. I focused in on Philippians 2.5, "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus." I tried to explain how this verse applies to us as believers in light of what Paul said in Romans 6.5-8 and Romans 5.18. I tried to weave this into the Beatitudes, and how they begin to describe the mind of Christ.
Though I felt it was okay, some people said they really liked it. One said it was doctrinally sound, and asked if I was Lutheran. :o) After service, I had lunch then rested in front of city hall with some friends from the Faithful Fools on a week-long street retreat for Holy Week.
And now I rest before work...
I preached at our Open Cathedral today. It was fun; some people notices my hair matched my purplish-pink stole. I find preaching at the Night Ministry's Open Cathedral fun because it is a different venue, and it pushes my limits. For the most part over the years, I have preached from a manuscript, but in a intimate forum like Open Cathedral, I have shifted to preaching from just an outline. Yikes! I am still negotiating this shifting energy. I find that preaching at OC allows for a more dynamic, interactive sermon. Today, I had a more detailed outline than when I preached on the 22nd of March. Though I felt I preached a good sermon today, I felt I had more interaction with my sermon in March because I a) had a less detailed outline, which b) allowed for more audience participation.
I preached on Mark 11.1-11, and Philippians 2.5-11. I would post the sermon, but I find it hard trying to recreate what I said on the fly. I focused in on Philippians 2.5, "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus." I tried to explain how this verse applies to us as believers in light of what Paul said in Romans 6.5-8 and Romans 5.18. I tried to weave this into the Beatitudes, and how they begin to describe the mind of Christ.
Though I felt it was okay, some people said they really liked it. One said it was doctrinally sound, and asked if I was Lutheran. :o) After service, I had lunch then rested in front of city hall with some friends from the Faithful Fools on a week-long street retreat for Holy Week.
And now I rest before work...
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