Lord, Light My Way - h2o devos loc 121212

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 Oh Lord Light my way, 


Love light my way


Together now we pray
, 

Oh Lord Light my way

Rest will follow labors,  

hope will answer fear


The harvest of our laughter, 

for the seeds we sow in tears


We work, we worry, strive for faith,  

Lord light my way


And all the while we’re in the 

arms of love we can’t escape

Beside us to stay


Surprised us with grace


Recognized us for who we are 

and whose we are by name

Lord, Light My Way by Peter Mayer

Peter’s song is a benediction. In other words, it’s a “good word.”  Every once in a while we need a good “spiritual kick in the pants.” What I mean by that is sometimes due to our own self-imposed need to hyper-function, we act and maybe even believe that it is up to us.

But, in reality, not in some make-believe state we are gently reminded often through our own shortcomings, foibles, peccadillos, brokenness and even sins, that we can’t do it by ourselves. It is as Peter sings, “we work, we worry, strive for faith.”

So, then our prayer comes, “Lord, Light my way.”  Often that prayer is offered in darkness. For whatever reason, we can’t seem to find our way.

I’ve been thinking a lot this year about an exhibit at the Denver Art Museum. It is entitled Becoming Van Gogh.  I like it so much that I’ve gone to it five times!

The show is all about the process of Van Gogh becoming the artist that he became.  As I think about process, growth and development it becomes apparent to me how important it is to focus on the basics.

So, here goes. Jesus is Light. The Light no darkness can overcome.

Lord, Light my way

rtg

The Light of Messengers - h2o devos loc 121112

In my work I grow weary

Lost on this road of desires

Where is the path that leads homeward?

To bring me back to your fire.

Lift these eyes of sadness into gladness at Your peace

I am lost and weary, come shepherd me.

Ever Walk With Me Lord by Peter Mayer

Advent 2c
December 9, 2012
Pastor Ronald T. Glusenkamp 

Sermon:  “Messengers” 

“Thunder in the desert! Prepare God’s arrival! Make the road smooth and straight! Every ditch will be filled in. Every bump smoothed out. The detours straightened out. All the ruts paved over. Everyone will be there to see the parade of God’s salvation.” Luke 3 -­‐ THE MESSAGE 

Blessed be the holy Trinity,
+ one God,
the Lord of Israel who comes to set us free,
the mighty Savior who comes to show mercy,
the Dawn from on high who guides us into peace. Amen.

John the Baptist makes his entrance into our Advent consciousness. It’s as if he is “photo bombing” -­‐ the practice of sneaking into the picture right before it is taken. So, we gather here this morning and in our picture we have Peyton Manning and lots of people wearing orange and blue. We have some brightly lit Christmas Trees. There are also busy shoppers hoping for great sales and discounts, while resort owners, skiers and snowboarders pray for SNOW! There are Salvation Army bell ringers and Metro CareRing 12.12.12 volunteers calling attention to hungry families. Choir members and carolers singing their songs of hope and joy.

Perhaps due to sadness, life events or personality there is a Grinch or two as well. Little children are in the front of the scene standing with their lists with their wondrous hope and innocent eyes of belief and joy. Eggnog, candy canes, Christmas cookies and the ubiquitous fruitcake are basic staples, which have been placed on the table filled with candles reflecting the light and love from above. Grandparents recall the past while hoping and praying for the wellbeing of their families. Teenagers and techno-­‐savvy adults text friends and stay connected that way. College students at school are winding up finals. Those who have lost a loved one in this past year shed a single solitary tear for their departed one. Politicians, money managers and news junkies wonder and worry if or when we tumble over the fiscal cliff. That is the scene we find ourselves in and watching this day.

The words from Luke 3, this time from the King James Version,

“Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” 

Last week, we focused our attention on the BRANCH, the root of Jesse, Jesus Christ our Lord. This week we are confronted by a MESSENGER, John the Baptist who makes us stop and think for just a moment or two. By his curious dress, diet and demeanor we are impelled and compelled to survey our own spiritual landscape and the contextual landscape of our lives. This call for analysis and repentance has us asking,

• “What valley needs to be filled?” Are those the spaces and places of vulnerability and woundedness?
• “What mountain shall be moved and reduced to an ant hill?” Is that pride, arrogance and anger?
• “What crooked-­‐zig-­‐zaggy parts and pieces of us can be ironed out by the heat and light of God’s laser beam of commandments and law?” How many treatments will that take?
• “What is rough, so edgy and torn?” that it needs a treatment or two from a heavenly Black and Decker power sander to make it SMOOTH?
• “And when shall we see the salvation of God?”

John the Baptist is the advance man for Jesus Christ. He comes into our lives with all sorts of harvest time and end time language. He has wild eyes and is scary. I don’t think I’d let him visit the kids in the nursery. Or, for that matter, let him be a guest preacher on Christmas Eve! But, as the rest of the story will tell us, he is a messenger but not THE MESSAGE. He points to the ONE who is on the way. In fact, the ONE who called himself the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE.

You and I are called to be messengers, too. We might not have the same role as John the Baptist, but we are called to be involved in the construction business of restoration, hope and peace. For this Jesus is coming once again. He was and is and will be the HOPE for the world. Here is the spiritual blueprint for what’s going to happen:

Once again from THE MESSAGE-­‐

“Thunder in the desert! Prepare God’s arrival! Make the road smooth and straight! Every ditch will be filled in. Every bump smoothed out. The detours straightened out. All the ruts paved over. Everyone will be there to see the parade of God’s salvation.” Luke 3 -­‐ THE MESSAGE

Amen 

rtg

Enlighten - h2o devos loc 121012

Only You can break down the walls that hide me away


Only You can turn the night into day


Only You can stop the darkness from over taking me


Created the land the sky and sea

I know it in my heart to be true


The answer to me is only You

Only You can stand beside me through all my thoughts and deeds


You raised the mighty Redwood from the seed


Only You formed the mountains that stretch to the sky


Cover them with moonlight tonight

Only You by Peter Mayer and Jim Mayer

 Picture taken at Natural History Museum- London

If you haven’t seen the Lincoln movie, I encourage you to do so. It’s a powerful experience. What you may not know is that Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin were born on the same day, in the same year, February 12, 1809. In 2009, I was in London as the bicentennial observances were starting to be held (more info HERE).

As we enter our second week of Advent, I find it to be a remarkable spiritual gift to be able to hold or balance seemingly tension filled realities at the same time. And yet, I know that all of you, all of us do this on a daily basis.

When I visited England in 2009 I saw that Darwin was on the Ten Pound Note.  I wondered how that would play if Darwin was on one of our paper bills. It just doesn’t seem to be a possibility given the strong feelings that I’ve seen and heard exhibited over the years.

I was raised in a conservative household where I was taught that the world was created in six days which consisted of 24 hours each. There was no discussion about any other world view except what I would call creationism. Obviously, my world views have expanded since that time.

However, every Sunday, I confess “I believe in God the Father, creator of heaven and earth.”  Every day I am in awe of the wonders of creation and the miracles of science.  I also teach lots of Bible classes where we read the Book of Genesis. I always say the purpose of Genesis is to talk not so much about the “how” but rather the “WHO". I attempt to read books about science, economics and history, as well as theology.

Peter’s song, “Only You” connects to me deep down in my soul.

No matter what, I know God is the answer before I even ask a question.

At the same time, I see and hear quite often statements by people who confess to be Christian who seem caught in some kind of “science versus faith” dichotomy.  I understand it, but I simply don’t get it.

In this season where the Hannukah lights of our friends, neighbors and relatives begin to shine, as Christians gather around the Advent wreath may you experience enlightenment.

 I see a cross in the heavens. What do you see?

Peace,

rtg

Spotlight - h2o devos loc 120912

From a raindrop to a river


From one word into a song


Source of all gifts, Friend and Forgiver


Bring us together, to pass it on.

Pass It On by Peter Mayer + Patricia O’Reilly

Peter puts a spotlight on the seemingly insignificant and humble beginnings of a river or a song. They each begin with a raindrop or just a word. But, soon growth takes place and there are new beginnings.

Six and one half years ago, we were visiting our middle son, Noah who was doing his semester abroad in Amman, Jordan. We took a trip to Wadi Rum where the movie Lawrence of Arabia was filmed. The name of this area is also called, “The Valley of the Moon.” There is an extraterrestrial feeling about this place. It also has some amazing Sandstone carvings.

John the Baptist seemed to come from another world. He also wore an outfit made out of camel’s hair.  He was a cousin to Jesus. Last January,  I saw a painting by Giovanni di Paolo who lived in the 15th century (view HERE).  The painting is of the Baptism of Christ.

I wrote in my journal after seeing the painting  “I like this one because it seems to have the Jordan River some place up in heaven. It makes it a cosmic event as opposed to some washing in the muddy river. There is a dreamlike or even nightmarish- out of time –outer space –high above in the heavens experience to it all.”

John the Baptist put the spotlight on Jesus. He was the messenger, but not The Message in the way that Jesus was, is and shall be.

Peter sings, 

From a raindrop to a river


From one word into a song


Source of all gifts, Friend and Forgiver


Bring us together, to pass it on

On this holy day of Advent, I’m putting the spotlight on hunger. Our church is doing a 12.12.12 Hunger Relief campaign. What that means is we are asking people to give $12, 12 lbs of food, and tell 12 people about it.  The main blog can be viewed HERE or a quick video HERE.  We’ve been promoting it in the Denver Community.   

Some folks think the world is going to end on 12.12.12 or 12.21.12. But, we believe that we can and will end hunger ONE day. If you live in the Denver area, I encourage you to support 12.12.12. If you live away from Denver, you can still support Metro CareRing by doing a Virtual Food Drive (connect HERE) or find a local food pantry or organization that works with food and hunger issues.

From a raindrop to a river


From one word into a song


Source of all gifts, Friend and Forgiver


Bring us together, to pass it on.

Peace,

rtg

The Light of Patience - h2o devos loc 120812

And I’m Still in One Peace


Still in One Peace


We are blessed we are broken


Every day a chance to be


One together again

Still…
We are scattered in pieces


Still…
We hope strength will release us


Still…
Your Love is perfect in weakness…


Gathers us in


And again and again and again and again

Still in One Peace…

Still in One Peace…

Still in One Peace by Peter Mayer

I was in the Twin Cities for Thanksgiving weekend. We were blessed to be able to spend time with our adult kids as well as dear friends. On the day after Thanksgiving, maybe it was what is called “Black Friday” I was walking around Lake Harriet when I saw the little sign among some shrubs who looked pretty tired. The sign basically called for “patience.”

Any one who knows me wouldn’t describe me as a “patient” person. Even when I have been a “patient” I haven’t been patient. And so, it is an area where I need to grow. I also don’t know much about the “speed of light” in the way that a physicist, or engineer, or pilot or scientist knows about it. So, I thought I’d try to turn the phrase around just a bit and to talk about “The Light of Patience.”  As is often the case, after we have looked everywhere else for something, it is good to stop and take a look at the Bible,

Hebrews 6:12

“so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those 

who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

Galatians 5:22  

“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 

patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,”

Colossians 3:12  

“As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with 

compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”

Ephesians 4:2 

“ 
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, 

bearing with one another in love,”

Okay. Get the point! Patience is a gift. And maybe, just maybe in recognizing that gift in others and in oneself there might be some kind of light, a lifting up or off of self-imposed burdens, but also a radiance of sorts that welcome, embraces, warms and encourages.

Last weekend, due to mis-communication and obviously some kind of mis-understanding a mistake happened. So, here was the message on our church sign:

Yes, that’s right it is a blank sign with zero words and nothing to say. I suppose people thought that we had laryngitis. However, one of my dear friends said to me, “well, you know, Advent is about waiting.”

Yes, it is!

To paraphrase the guy who does the Dos Equis commercials (as seen here),

 “I don’t always have patience, but when I do, I try to have it in Advent.

Stay patient my friends."

Peace,

rtg

Stars and Promises-Light UP! - h2o devos loc 120712

+Ambrose, 397+ Bishop of Milan

“Friends and dear ones from our yesterdays,


Coming home to that familiar place


A sigh catches your breath

then a smile for


The season of Stars and Promises”

Stars and Promises by Peter Mayer

I often think of memories and thoughts as being like mp3 files. We “record” these experiences and compress all the emotions, thoughts, smells, worries and joys into data files which we then store on the “hard drives” of our minds, hearts and souls. Every once in a while we stop to play them or listen to them. Sometimes, it is too much to process. At other times it is just the right thing for the right time.

So, I know that this day, December 7th has a particular and poignant meaning for people who were alive at the time of the Attack on Pearl Harbor. I am grateful for those who served and continue to serve our country in the Armed Forces.

Today is a day in the church year that we celebrate Ambrose. His “rise” to church leadership is truly remarkable. He was baptized, ordained and made a bishop all within a week’s time. Talk about the “fast track” or accelerated candidacy process. Ambrose was a fabulous writer and exemplary leader. One of the hymns he wrote (and there are three of the in the ELW- Evangelical Lutheran Worship) begins like this

O Splendor of God's glory bright,

O living Spring of light from light:

come, very Sun of truth and love;

            come with your radiance from above. (ELW 559)

Peter’s notion that this is the “season of stars and promises” reflects such a heightened awareness of God’s presence, God’s light and God’s love.

I recently recorded a video (with the help of Tim Frakes) about baking communion bread according to the Luther Seminary Communion Bread Recipe (watch HERE).  I think it is fun, informational and inspiring.

A friend of mine said after viewing it, “you just light up in the kitchen.” And her words made me think about what it means to “light up” to be in harmony with the “season of Stars and Promises.”  

The reason why Ambrose was selected for leadership in his day and time was because he “lit up” the situations in which he lived.

As I watch Peter Mayer on stage connecting with the congregation/audience he “lights up” the event with his words of hope.

I think of school teachers and nurses who “light up” the lives of their students and patients. I’m mindful of “sandwiched generation” women and men who “light up” their parent’s lives and also their children and grand-children’s lives.

Just imagine what God is going to do with you this day during this season of “Stars and Promises.”

“Light up”

rtg

Nick@Light - h2o devos loc 120612

+Nicholas, 343+

 

These days of winter have come to bury you


No sign of spring and no promise to carry you


No flowers blooming in your window sill


And the beat of your heart is too still…


And the beat of your heart is too still… Oh sing

Chorus
:

Joy joy joy in the morning


Joy joy in the afternoon


Joy joy joy for the child is born


This night the promise is given to you

Sing Joy by Peter Mayer

The Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, Pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church, Bethlehem, Palestine preached at our church last night. It was a holy moment. If you click HERE for the 75 second YouTube video (recorded last year), you’ll get a sense of what he shared with us. 

“Hope is what we do” Just think about that, “Hope is what we do!”

On this wonderful day commemorating St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (more info HERE), we take time to reflect on Peter’s brilliant song, Sing Joy.

I like to think of this song as an invitation to get in touch with ourselves. The song begins in a rough and tough place. And that place doesn’t seem like "it’s beginning to feel like Christmas.” In fact, as opposed to being real presence and incarnational-the Word becoming flesh, it feels like real absence and no bodily reality. So, this isn’t some kind of Mary Poppins, Easter Bunny, Santa Claus stuff, this is reality theology, people who are hurting, souls that have been bruised and faith which is just about worn out.

And yet, in all of that, there is the call by the singer to Sing Joy.

So, sisters and brothers, I encourage you to take a JOYBREAK today.  Set aside two minutes and let the following passage speak to you soul,

“Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;

break forth, O mountains, into singing!

For the LORD has comforted his people,

and will have compassion on his suffering ones.” Isaiah 49:13

And you just gotta laugh when you think about St. Nick on rollerblades. I think it’s Nick@Light, a time to give thanks for the reflection of love and grace that he radiated during his outreach to people at the margins.

In the words of Pastor Mitri Raheb, “Hope is what we do.”

Sing JOY!

rtg

Moonlight - h2o devos loc 120512

(Photo by NASA)

Does the moonlight shine on Paris

after the sun goes down

If the London Bridge is falling

would anybody hear a sound

If you follow the sunset will it ever end

Does the moonlight shine on Paris

How can you just walk away

is it something that I said

I see only black and white you see green and red

You believe in the miracles, water into wine

I’ll believe when it makes the New York Times

Moonlight Over Paris by Roger Guth, Peter Mayer, Jim Mayer

Photo by Sue Ann Glusenkamp

Moonlight! It’s simply captivating. But, Peter asks some really good questions about “moonlight.” As I think about Advent  and moonlight it seems to me that they are all about faith and relationships.

I really like what the author of Hebrews has written about faith:

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.”  Hebrews 11: 1-3

 

In terms of relationships, hey this is the season to reflect on those, isn’t it? I mean we have a God who loved us so much that he sent his Son. We have connections with each that transcend our own brokenness, woundedness and fearfulness. Our community is blessed when the moon brightly shines over us. And yet, we really don’t know or understand totally how any of this stuff actually works.  (Photo by NASA)

Anyone who has lived a little bit of life knows that relationships need to be nurtured by faith and in faith. In fact, maybe the sweet wine of relationships comes from the “sweat equity”  - which is the water that gets transformed over time. People like to say, “the proof is in the pudding.”

I recently checked out this saying (in my free time) and learned that the original saying probably went like “the proof in the pudding is in the eating.” And it makes even more sense when one realizes that to “proof” means to “test.” So when I bake and “proof” the yeast, what that means is that I let it be so it can be active.  The “test” of the pudding is in the act of eating the pudding. So, the test of the relationship, the “proof” of the relationship is in the very act of relating to another. And to do that, my friends, takes faith, not evidence or proof.

Maybe you are in a place right now where you are asking all kinds of questions. Maybe you are in a place right now where you are being asked all kind of questions. No matter what situation you are in, I say, “God bless you.”  Here’s the good news that I know and not just in some brainiac, creedal, dogmatic sort of way, but in a way that is experiential and liberating. I know  that when Jesus blesses ordinary, routine, basic things, (water, bread, wine, fish-to name just a few) that these ordinary realities become extra-ordinary portals and access points into the holy presence of God.

Just imagine what happens when moonlight shines on Paris when you are standing next to your beloved!

Cheers,

rtg

Highlight - h2o devos loc 120412

+John of Damascus, 749+

“Through the shadows of our longing


Comes the Son of truth to save”

The Light of Christmas Day by Peter Mayer

Damascus, it’s in the news these days. We pray for all the people afflicted by the conflicts in Syria. On this date the church give thanks for the witness of John of Damascus. At a time in the church when religious images/icons were outlawed, John of Damascus articulated a policy of veneration. You can read more about his life and work HERE.

One of the Highlights of my sabbatical was going to art museums in London and Paris. My flat in London was right behind the National Gallery. http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/

Some days I would “pop-in” for just 30 minutes or so, just because I could. You can take the “Nativities Trail” by linking HERE.

I was guided in my wanderings and wonderings by a fabulous book written by Rev’d Bishop Nicholas Holtam, who is now the Bishop of Salisbury. Bishop Holtam previously served as Vicar of St. Martin - in -the -Fields (which is where I got to meet him and know him). His book, The Art of Worship co-published by the National Gallery and Yale University Press is also the basis and focus of our Lenten Retreat at church in February, 2013.

The subtitle of this lovely book is, Paintings, Prayers and Readings for Meditation. Had not the work of John of Damascus “turned the tide” back in the 8th Century, this book would never has seen the “light of day.”

Many days when I was “hungry” I would go to the National Gallery. While I could have consumed more fish and chips what I was truly hungry for was an encounter with the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ. In addition to my daily participation in Morning Prayer at St. Martin’s, I was “fed” by the wonderful paintings in the National Gallery.

Peter is so “spot on” (as the British like to say) when he sings,

“Through the shadows of our longing


Comes the Son of truth to save”

I was able to experience the “Son of truth” by wondering around the National Gallery.

Today, I encourage you to “highlight” an artwork in your life that has meant something significant to you. Acknowledge the “shadows” and bask in the Light. The Son of truth is on his way!

Peace,

rtg

Flashlight - h2o devos loc 120312

 

“Quiet night the darkness gathers


Shepherds and their flocks behold


O’er a world so torn and tattered


Shines the star of grace foretold”

The Light of Christmas Day by Peter Mayer

 + Francis Xavier,1552+

Advent is a time for counting down the days until Christmas. So, just three weeks from today is Christmas Eve. As we spend some time on December 3 (which is the saint’s day of Francis Xavier, co-founder of the Jesuits) I also want to remind you that 18 days from today is National Flashlight Day. While, I have never observed this day in the past I do believe that this year I’m going to illuminate it as much as I can.

I’m taken with the image of the flashlight today because one of the key values of the Jesuits is “FINDING GOD IN ALL THINGS”.

This may be the one phrase that sums up Ignatian Spirituality. It invites a person to search for and find God in every circumstance of life; God is present everywhere and can be found in all of creation.” Source- Regis University Website.

It is a Peter sings being able to recognize and see that

“O’er a world so torn and tattered

Shines the star of grace foretold”.

Now, I need to make a disclaimer here, for many years the Jesuits and the Lutherans did not get along with each other. Check out the “Tumult of Thorn” HERE. 

Yet, I also want to point out that for me during the past two decades of my life I have benefited from Spiritual Direction by Jesuits. My wife, Sue Ann has received two degrees from the Jesuits, a BSN at St. Louis University and a MS from Regis University in Denver. So, I should probably get a bumper sticker that reads “I heart Jesuits.”

What I like about the Jesuits is their ability to see Light in the world. They have the awareness to see God in all things. Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Even though it’s a few weeks until National Flashlight Day (Dec. 21) I encourage you to be a “flashlight” today. “Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”

Shine on,

rtg

Morning Light - h2o devos loc 120212

“Out of night the dawn is breaking”

The Light of Christmas Day by Peter Mayer

Happy Advent. It’s good to be with you again. The theme for our devos this year is “THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS.” It also happens to be the theme of Peter Mayer’s Stars and Promises Tour (which you can keep track of by going to www.petermayer.com).  Amazing how it’s all in alignment with each other.

In fact that is also how I see the season of Advent, as a time to be in alignment with the Light of Christ. Advent in my humble opinion is the most counter-cultural season of the church year. While advertisers and stores proclaim the “need” to have more, Advent calls us to “give” more. As we are induced to “shop until we drop” Advent reminds us to “slow down” so that we might experience life to its fullest. As TV and newspapers report on events, which seem to be “signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. ²⁶People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken,”  (Luke 21) we are called to have hope, be hope and do hope.

I like to think of the picture at the top of the page as my experience of the “burning bush.” I was on a meditation walk at Plum Village in France in January, 2012. It was quite dark and foggy when the walk began. As I concentrated on my breathing and walking I happened to look up and see the sun. It was as Peter sings,

“Out of night the dawn is breaking”

The message I received that day is one I try to hold onto and also let it hold onto me:

“Be still and know that I am God”  (Psalm 46:10).

I know that some of you might be feeling the “night” in your soul. I am hoping and praying that we can make this journey to Bethlehem with each other being led by the LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS.

“Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”  

 (Psalm 30:5)

Celebrate Morning Light

rtg

Welcome from Peter Mayer

Peter Mayer welcomes us to the 2012 season of Advent Devotionals!

Welcome to "The Light of Christmas"!