Heart to Heart h2odevoscbl022210

Changed By Love (by Peter Mayer)



Sent In Peace

To share the Gift we're given

Sent In Peace

To change our way of living

In our heart in every place

Lift our voice oh God of grace

We will never be the same

We are sent in Peace
St. Paul wrote, "12For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love." (1 Cor. 13)

The picture in today's devo is from Sherrie and John's wedding. Originally, we were supposed to be outside for the ceremony, but the weather quickly changed as it often does in Denver. Weddings like marriages often experience dramatic changes in climate which call for quick, realistic and meaningful adjustments by all the participants. I have come to learn over the years that what matters most at weddings is not so much where people stand, or what they are wearing, or what kind of music is played or isn't played, but what constitutes the event is the condition of the hearts involved.

Peter sings,

In our heart in every place

Lift our voice oh God of grace

We will never be the same

We are sent in Peace

Even though I stand for the entire wedding service, I like to say that I have the "best seat" in the house. In other words, the vantage point that I have is so up, close and personal that it is really a blessing. And if "eyes" can talk, then you all should/could see the sermons that are being preached when two people who have been brought together by love, changed by love and now are sent in peace stand together in front of their family and friends to pledge love, fidelity and support for each other.

The miracle which unfolds at the wedding and subsequently in the marriage is that two people promise to love unconditionally. I always say "that is what makes this so holy and wonderful. That is what makes this so challenging and difficult at times." For we live in a world of "conditions." And yet, at this particular point in time and space, in front of all these wonderful people, a couple like Sherrie and John promise to love, PERIOD. No strings attached. And into those unconditional words and promises there begins the formation of a bond, a blessed bond that ties and connects one to another. It is in the spoken word that this bond is woven again and again.

13And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love."

Be "sent in peace" today to love unconditionally,

rtg

Sent in Peace h2odevoscbls 022110 First Sunday in Lent

First Sunday in Lent
February 21, 2010

Changed By Love (by Peter Mayer)

Sent In Peace

To share the Gift we're given
Sent In Peace
To change our way of living
In our heart in every place
Lift our voice oh God of grace
We will never be the same
We are sent in Peace

Oscar Wilde is reported to have said, "The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it. I can resist everything but temptation." Today is the First Sunday of Lent. The Gospel lesson appointed for this day is from Luke 4:1:11.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%204:1-11&version=MSG;KJV;BDS;HOF;RVR1995

It is the account of Jesus being tempted and, most important of all, resisting temptation. The devil prefaces each temptation with the conditional word "if." I find it comforting to know that because of Jesus we don't need to fall for such "come-on" lines. Because of him we've moved from "if" to the unconditional "since." Since we are children of God, we have a place and space in God's love.

I just love the following passage, too: "15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)

Peter reminds us that we are "sent in peace." In other words, "peace" is how and why we are sent. The purpose of our being sent (the Bible would call us "apostles") is to share the gifts we've been given.

One of the gifts I've been given is my sense of humor. Now, in all seriousness, I also know that like most gifts, it needs to be utilized with wisdom and good stewardship. Early on in my school career, my sense of humor got me ousted to the hallway (which was also the site of my grade school's Gifted and Talented program. The boiler room was where the "advanced placement" sessions took place.) I also learned along the way that sometimes my humor was used by me to keep people at a distance from me. At other times it was more like a weapon than it was a tool to enlighten, entertain and evangelize.

Today, I feel pretty balanced around the use of humor. I am grateful that we have a God who enjoys having the "last laugh."


One "temptation" I believe that we often fall prey to is to take ourselves, our lives and our faith so seriously. And so, I hope you enjoy my picture of "Lutheran Oats."

If you want to check out today's sermon, you can listen to it or read it by going to:

http://www.bethany-denver2.org/church-life/sermons/

My prayer and hope for you today is -
"2May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance." (Jude 1:2)
peace,

rtg

"God of Grace" h2odevoscbl 022010

Changed By Love (by Peter Mayer)



Changed by Love

And sent to share it

When you're changed by Love

You shine the Light and wear it

In your heart in every place

Lift our hands oh God of grace

We will never be the same

We are changed by Love


A few weeks ago Sue Ann and I were in London. We were able to attend a new exhibit which was titled "The Real Van Gogh: The Artist and His Letters" at the Royal Academy of Arts. You can learn more about this amazing exhibit by checking out

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/vangogh/exhibition/



A day prior to viewing the exhibit our son Noah and I were able to hear the curator explain how the show was envisioned and ultimately assembled. Both events where profound, moving and wonderful experiences.



There is a painting of Van Gogh's by the title, "Open Bible." The following article provides an introduction to that particular painting. Subconsciously, I believe the painting was in my head/heart when I took the picture of the pretzel, the coffee and the Bible (you might not be able to see that it is open to the Book of Psalms.)

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/great-works/great-works-still-life-with-open-bible-1885-vincent-van-gogh-1854567.html



Van Gogh was able to see the holy in the ordinary. Consequently, we the viewers are drawn to what is extra-ordinary. An article from about 20 years ago

http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=752 summarizes Van Gogh's work and was the basis for a book by Kathleen Powers Erickson, At Eternity's Gate:

The Spiritual Vision of Vincent Van Gogh.



Peter's music, his lyrics and tunes help me see the holy in the ordinary as well. I suppose another way of saying it is that Peter's music, lyrics and tunes help me experience grace-filled moments in the awkward moments and events of life.



Right now the Winter Olympics are on television. Gracefulness is readily apparent on the slopes, the rinks and halfpipes. Just the other morning I was leaving a meeting at a community building when my phone rang. As I was walking down the steps and only had three more steps to go, I answered my phone. Just a few moments later, I was on the floor. The only thing which really got hurt was my pride. I was pretty hard on myself for the rest of the morning because I was attempting to deal simultaneously with my Blackberry addiction as well as multi-tasking. Then I read the following passage,



4For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:4



Peter sings about a "God of Grace." Sometimes words get overused in our lives. Unfortunately, "Grace" is one of those words. My hope and prayer for you, for me today is to bask in the extraordinary ordinary-ness of God's grace.



Let me know how it goes for you. Drop me a note at h2o.devos@earthlink.net

Peace,

rtg

The Gospel According to Croutons 021910

Changed By Love (by Peter Mayer)



Changed by Love

And sent to share it

When you're changed by Love

You shine the Light and wear it

In your heart in every place

Lift our hands oh God of grace

We will never be the same

We are changed by Love


Father Dominic Garramone, OSB has written in his great little book, Bake and be Blessed: Bread Baking as a metaphor for Spiritual Growth:

"All of us have days when we feel we have been broken and shared until there's nothing left of us but crumbs... If our reward is with the Lord, then when we feel useless and 'crummy' we have to listen for Him to speak to us, to make us glorious in His sight, rather than worrying about outward signs of success. To do that, we have to take our exhaustion and frustration to prayer, and let Him be the source of our strength, rather than relying entirely on our own abilities. God has formed us from the moment of our conception, knows us through and through, with all our faults and weaknesses and failures, and still finds us precious, valued, even glorious. Although our busy schedules sometimes leave us only the crusts of the day to offer to God, they are acceptable, to be gathered up and not wasted." (page 94)

Father Dom's books and cookbooks are available on http://www.amazon.com/Bake-Be-Blessed-Metaphor-Spiritual/dp/0967465230
Peter is in harmony with Father Dom. He sings, "Lift our hands oh God of grace."

There are those times in life (even on just the third day of our Lenten journey) when one feels "crummy." One of the pictures in today's devo is that of a Bread shop. I wish that maybe outside the doors of all of our faith communities' buildings that we'd just post a simple five-letter sign that reads "Bread." For bread is so basic and central to our existence. It is my fervent hope and prayer that as we are "changed by love" that we know we can get bread and be bread for one another. And perhaps most important of all, we need to have places and spaces to go when we feel "crummy."

For those of us attempting to follow Jesus who called himself "the Bread of Life" aka " Pita vitae" what grace there is to know that crusts and croutons (if that is all we have left) are acceptable to God.

I invite you to offer up the "leftovers" you have to God. I encourage you to be open and honest with God (who knows what's going on, anyway). May you be "changed by love" today.

Peace,

Rtg

Bread

This Day 021810 h2odevoscbl

This Day
February 19, 2010
+Martin Luther 1483-1546+



H2odevoscbl 021810 2nd This Day

+Martin Luther 1483-1546+



Changed By Love (by Peter Mayer)

Changed by Love

And sent to share it

When you're changed by Love

You shine the Light and wear it

In your heart in every place

Lift our hands oh God of grace

We will never be the same

We are changed by Love

It must have been 15 years ago or so when I heard Nancy Bond emphasize the phrase, “give us ‘this day’ our daily bread.” I was officiating at the table at Gethsemane Lutheran in St. Louis. Nancy was the assisting minister. We were leading the congregation in the Lord’s Prayer and she said it ever so lovely, sweetly and intentionally, “give us this day our daily bread.”

At that precise moment of hearing those words I looked down at the silver chalice which had been lovingly polished by members of the altar guild. As I stood there I saw my reflection and Nancy’s reflection upside down. It was an appropriate sign to receive for when we truly get into the “this-ness” of daily bread it turns everything upside down.

I must confess that at times I am about “next week’s bread” or even “next year’s bread.” Or what about the bread when I retire? But, Nancy’s confession and profession comes back to me whenever I pray those words, “give us this day our daily bread.”

Nancy turned things upside down, too. She now lives and works in Ghana. One really shouldn’t be surprised. For as Peter sings,

“When you're changed by Love

You shine the Light and wear it

In your heart in every place.”

To find out more about what Nancy is up to check out the link

http://www.rafiki-foundation.org/ghana/ghana.html

Martin Luther who died on this date in 1546 defined “daily bread” as

“Everything included in the necessities and nourishment for our bodies, such as food,

Drink, clothing, shoes, house, farm, fields, livestock, money property, an upright spouse, upright children, upright members of the household, upright and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, decency, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors and the like.”

WOW, that’s a lot for “this day.”



Some “daily bread” made by Chef Kurt Harvey, Camp Arcadia, Arcadia Michigan.

Have a blessed day, “this day”

Peace,

rtg

On Your Mark, Get Sent, Grow! (H2odevoscbl 021710 Ash Wednesday)

H2odevoscbl 021710 Ash Wednesday On Your Mark, Get Sent, Grow!



Changed By Love (by Peter Mayer)

Changed by Love

And sent to share it

When you're changed by Love

You shine the Light and wear it

In your heart in every place

Lift our hands oh God of grace

We will never be the same

We are changed by Love

A good way to begin this forty day journey that we call “Lent” is to hear the words, “on your mark, get sent, grow!” The “mark” or beginning point for us on this holy day is the cross. In many churches people will gather to have a cross, a “mark” put on their forehead. This cross, this “mark” reminds us, individuals and communities that “we are dust and to dust we shall return.” In other words we are reminded in a stark, honest and sometimes mind-numbing manner that we will ultimately die one day. Our culture struggles with accepting this fact. The so-called “reality” tv shows will never show us that our quest for a “fountain of youth” will leave us high and dry. Ultimately, it is a mirage.

During our six weeks together we focus our attention as Peter sings that we are “changed by love.” I’ve been praying about those words because there is at times a tendency to believe that fear or law can be more effective in bringing about change. There is no denying that we can be “changed” by fear or “changed” by law. But, in the long run (and that’s what this Christian lifestyle is all about) it seems to me that to really see and experience the kingdom or reign of God is to be shaped, formed and re-designed by LOVE. We just celebrate Valentines Day. If you need a quick primer on love, check out

I Corinthians 13

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=i%20corinthians%2013&version=MSG;KJV;CEV

Lent is about being “sent.” Peter sings, “we are changed by love and sent to share it.” So there is direction and movement implied in this process. We haven’t been changed by love in order to “stand still.” But, rather, “changed by love and sent to share it.”

And in that intentional movement there will be growth. It might be the kind of growth we are expecting and desire. But, it might be growth of a nature and kind that is surprising and potential disarming for us. No matter, “we will never be the same.”

“Changed by love”

On your mark, get sent, grow!

rtg

All You Need is Love (cbl021410)

Happy Valentine's Day and a Blessed Transfiguration Sunday, too!
During Lent (which begins on this coming Wednesday, February 17th) we will focus our attention on being "changed by love." Peter Mayer has written a marvelous song about this. It will serve as our "spiritual mapquest" for the 40 days of journeying from ashes to alleluias.


Changed By Love (by Peter Mayer)

Changed by Love
And sent to share it
When you're changed by Love
You shine the Light and wear it
In your heart in every place
Lift our hands oh God of grace
We will never be the same
We are changed by Love

Sent In Peace
To share the Gift we're given
Sent In Peace
To change our way of living
In our heart in every place
Lift our voice oh God of grace
We will never be the same
We are sent in Peace

Come Holy Spirit
Lift us higher
Breath of the Spirit
Come and start the fire
In our heart in every place
Christ the Light through all our days
We will never be the same
Holy Spirit Come
We will never be the same
We are changed by Love
heart

God's blessings to you on this lovely day.
peace,
rtg