A Prayer For the Twentieth Anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing

Today we gather to remember and reflect on an event that changed the way we see the skyline of downtown Oklahoma City; that changed for many a sense of security that since that day we can no longer have; that changed our understanding of the face of terrorism, and brought us horror when we realized the face looked like us.

Lord in your mercy…

We remember and pray for the people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Those who wandered into the building to visit friends, change their name on their social security card, and other innocuous reasons to go to a building targeted by those who would seek to do evil.  There was nothing to tell them to stay away or indicate that the day would be any different. 

Lord in your mercy…

We pray for those who died, and those changed forever.  We remember the fragility of human life and give thanks for the breaths we take.

Lord in your mercy…

We remember and pray for those who had offices in the building, who were holding meetings, talking on the phone, typing, having inane conversation around the coffee pot in the break room.  Unsuspecting that that cup, that conversation, that thought would be their last.

Lord in your mercy…

We remember and pray for the people who were near the building on the street or across the street who, although not in the building targeted for destruction, lost their lives in the devastation anyway.

Lord in your mercy…

We remember those who responded, the one who died, and all who suffered great trauma at the sight of wreckage and desolation.  Those who still see visions in their dreams that they wish they could erase.  Those who medicated and self-medicated the pain away.  Those who took their lives because they could never find peace.  And those who love them.

Lord in your mercy…

We remember and pray for the children who died that day.  Children in the day care center where parents dropped off their children with a sense of security believing they would be picking them up that evening safe.  We remember the children who died while with parents or grandparents at the social security office.  We remember our children everywhere who have been victims of violence whether by a truck bomb or a school shooting or a political regime that cares little for human life. 

Lord in your mercy…

We remember grieving parents, grandparents, siblings.  We remember the children who, although they lived, their lives were never the same again.  We remember our duty and obligation to all our children to protect them from violence and the fear violence brings.

Lord in your mercy…

We remember the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, wives, husbands, children, beloved friends and even close acquaintances of those who were killed.  Whose grief was tangible, and even the sky cried that day.  

Lord in your mercy…

We remember and pray for those who lost their lives, and those who survived although forever changed.

Lord in your mercy…

As Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies and those who persecute us, we pray and remember those who planned, plotted, schemed, and carried out this heinous act.  We pray that we may learn to trust again, in spite of our fear, because all of humanity is not responsible for the deeds of a few.  We pray for their families who were thrust into the spotlight, and were grieving as well.  We pray for them as best we can, Lord help us when we do not know how we should pray.

Lord in your mercy…

We pray for ourselves, that we might never forget to stand again injustice, oppression, violence and evil however it presents itself.  Lord give us strength and wisdom.  Lord grant us peace in the midst of a chaotic world.

Lord in your mercy…

Hear our prayers today and everyday, O God.  Amen.

I'll try to do better...

I'm not doing very well at my Lenten practice.  I forgot yesterday until very late, so I thought I would do two today.  I forgot again.  So, maybe I'll do one tomorrow since everything is snowed under here. 

I'll try to do better, of course I am reminded of the immortal words of Master Yoda, "Do or do not, there is no try..."  It's one of my favorite sayings that I tend to share with anyone who tells me they will "try."  Particularly, if I feel it seems to be an empty promise. 

My efforts to do better, come with all the best intentions though.  I just know my tendency to procrastinate.  What I can promise, however, is to keep making an effort.

For today though, I will leave you with this thought from St. Francis of Assissi

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.


Amen.
 

Keeping Vigil

If you have been driving--at least around Oklahoma--you will see at least one roadside memorial which has spontaneously sprung up in memory of someone who died in a vehicular accident at that point in the road.  Families and friends, bring flowers and memorabilia to the site to remember their loved one and to keep the memory alive.  Some families may even put up signs that say "drive carefully in memory of ____________" as a way of reminding others of the danger in that portion of the road.  It is a practice that has mixed responses and some feel these impromptu shrines should be removed. This, however, is not an uncommon practice in human history.  Many cultures have set up shrines and memorials of various varieties in memory of loved ones and as a way of keeping vigil.

Immediately following the bombing in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, a fence was erected to keep out those who might be curious to keep them from getting hurt, and to keep the crime scene from being tainted. Following the placement of this fence, people began flocking to Oklahoma City to see the destruction and leave flowers, mementos, and messages of hope at the fence.  Children came with parents and left teddy bears and toys.  Parents, who hugged their children a little tighter, left words of sympathy and prayers for peace for the parents who lost their children in the daycare.  For several months following the bombing people came from all over the world to bring a token (something to show their love and support) to the fence and left it there.  These items have been faithfully gathered up and preserved in the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum.

Today, the 19th anniversary of the bombing, falls on Holy Saturday-the time between the death and resurrection of Jesus.  I wonder what kind of things would have been left at such a memorial for Jesus.  Perhaps a cup and plate?  Maybe coins or possibly figs?  What kind of words would have been spoken?  Who would have come to keep vigil?

Yesterday, we remembered the death of Christ.  Tomorrow we celebrate the resurrection.  Today we wait.  I am aware of the waiting that is being done by the loved ones of the bombing victims and all who have lost someone they hold dear.  They have mourned the loss of loved ones.  Through the hope we have in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, we can celebrate with them again.  Right now we wait.  This is why we remember.  This is why we spend time in grief and holding on to memories.

I always spend some time between 9 am and 9:30 am on April 19th each year remembering the day that time seemed to stop.  The unthinkable had occurred just a few blocks from me.  A bomb in the heart of Oklahoma City--where it seemed so safe.  Days after the bombing I drove through Oklahoma City on a different route than I used to take.  Streets were blocked off, there were armored vehicles everywhere, a makeshift morgue was set up.  It reminded me that there were those in other places--in Bosnia and Kosovo, in Korea, in Europe, in Soviet states, in the West Bank, Gaza, and the Middle East, in Southeast Asia, in Palestine--those who had to live with a military presence because their lives were disrupted by explosions, war and violence.

For 19 years I have been remembering, because I was there that day.  No, I did not lose someone close to me, but because that was the day I truly realized how much suffering was in the world.  I realized violence before this, but that was when suffering was made known to me.  So for 19 years I remember not just those lost on April 19th in Oklahoma City, but all human suffering around the world.  People who were killed needlessly in violence, those who grieve for them, the anger and resentment that naturally comes from profound loss, and all who stand aside and watch from the outside looking in.  Just like in Palestine on that eventful day so long ago when those who followed a radical teacher watched the whole of human suffering in one moment on a cross.

May you remember this Easter Vigil human suffering in all times and in all places, and may it so profoundly shape you that you pray--not only for yourself, not just for those who were lost or who lost someone, but for everyone. Amen.


We remember those who were killed, those who survived, and those whose lives were changed forever.  Mission of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum

Dancing with God

 

Several years ago, my husband and I took ballroom dance lessons for about a year.   When we went initially to see how we would like it, it was very awkward—VERY awkward.  I didn't know how to follow, and he didn't know how to lead.  While some people may come by these roles naturally and are more comfortable with them, it was a completely new learning experience for us.  One that was beneficial to both of us.

It wasn't just a matter of learning which foot you step off on or which way you turn, it was more nuanced than that.  It started with verbal cues—talking to one another to accomplish the steps—and exaggerated movements.  Then we learned to give and receive the subtle cues to our partner.  On his part, the slight pressure of his fingertips on my waist or his guiding hand holding mine.  On my part, the cues were more of flexibility or an openness to move wherever he wanted to lead me--not my strong suit.  I tended to want to anticipate his moves or to start moving where I thought we were going, but it didn't work out so well, because that just isn't the way dancing works.

But as we began to regularly practice dancing together, we began to understand these subtle cues, and we began to know, really know, our partner.  After much practice, you realize it isn’t difficult anymore.  In fact, it almost seems like second nature—like you have been dancing together forever.  You may still have moments of misstep, but you can recover more quickly, and it is less frustrating.

When you get out of practice of dancing with your partner, you may find that it is awkward at first, but with a little practice it once again becomes the fluid movement that is the dance.

I think back with fondness on that year of dancing weekly.  We do not keep it up anymore, but it was a worthwhile experience to have even if for a short time.  I find that this time in our lives taught us about following and leading at times other than on the dance floor as well.  We both learned how to be sensitive to the less obvious clues your partner gives you and to quit being so obtuse.  It also translated into other areas of our lives, and in my case, my ministry.

In my ministry, people have told me that they do not know how to listen for God, or that they never know what God wants for them, they are frustrated.  They desire to be in a relationship with God, but feel that God is far away.  It seems that the relationship they describe is a lot of talk talk talk on their end, but not enough listening for the still small voice.  And when you don't listen, you think you are hearing silence--it feels lonely.  Some even have remarked that they feel that God has abandoned them.  When I ask the question (and I usually ask) "what is God telling you," I get blank expressions.  The look says, "Didn't I just say God is telling me nothing?"  However, it is important that I ask the question, which implies that I know God is telling them something, they just haven't figured out what it is yet.

It reminds me of our dance lessons.  We are in a dance with God--God leads and we follow.  But many of us have not learned how to follow.  We want to rush right into leading, or to anticipate God's direction, or to give God our instructions, but that never works out too well, because anticipating or running ahead is not following.  Dancing with God means you are intentional in deciding to follow.  It means you practice regularly and diligently until you are one with your partner.  It means you give up the struggle to lead and enjoy following.

Enjoy the dance with God.

Committed to Christ

Sermon Series which began on September 23, 2012.  We are looking at stepping up in the practices of discipleship as we become more fully committed Christians.

September 23, 2012 - Almost Persuaded on Acts 26:27-29 and Galatians 5:22-24.

September 30, 2012 - Growing in Prayer on Luke 6:12-19.

October 7, 2012 - World Communion Sunday.  Word Up!  on 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

Prayer.411 Why Pray Daily?

Wrapping up the sermon series on Prayer.  Sermon April 10, 2011 on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.  We wrap up with our need to stay connected to God. 


Upcoming sermon series beginning Easter:  Take the Next Step...

Prayer.411: What Gets in the Way?

Sermon April 3, 2011, on Isaiah 59:1-2, 12-13a.  This week we look at what gets in the way of our prayer life. 

Prayer.411: How Do We Pray?

Sermon March 27, 2011 on Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:1-4.  This week we look at how to pray as we observe how the Teacher taught his disciples to pray.

Prayer.411: Why Pray?

We begin a new sermon series for Lent on Prayer.  Sermon March 13, 2011, on the text Philippians 4:4-9.

There is a weekly study guide that accompanies the sermon series.  It is called Compass Points.

Audio Only

Secrets

Sermon from Ash Wednesday Service (March 9, 201), on the biblical text Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21.

We have improved the sound quality, but are still working on the video quality.  Bear with us as we make these adjustments.

Audio Only Version

Upcoming Lenten Sermon Series: Prayer.411

SERMON SERIES:  PRAYER.411

March 13—Why Pray?

March 20—Does God Listen?

March 27—How Do I Pray?

April 3—What Gets in the Way?

April 10—Why Pray Daily?

Recipients of our Faithfulness

Sermon May 16, 2010 on John 17:20-26.  It is the Sunday we recognize our graduating seniors. 

That They May Be One

Sermon for March 28, 2010, on the text John 17:1-26.  Today is Palm/Passion Sunday.  We start shouting Hosanna!  But we know at the end of that road, there was a cross.  Christ died that we might be one - one with God, through Christ and one with each other.  In this prayer of Jesus we have Jesus praying that his disciples might be one as he and God are one. 

Not What I Want, But What You Want

Sermon March 14, 2010 on Mark 14:32-36.  Continuing today in the Lenten Sermon Series on the Prayers of Jesus.  Today's focus is prayers of surrender.  Do we surrender our will to Jesus?  What does it really mean to surrender?

I Have Come to This Hour

Sermon on March 7, 2010 on the scripture text John 12:27-28.  We are ontinuing our sermon series on prayer this week.  We look at praying when we are troubled.  We all have troubles.  How do we handle our troubles in prayer?  Do we whine?  Do we want retribution?  Do we pray for God to work in us that we might become more like Jesus?

On Practicing What We Preach

Part of my Lenten examination convicts me to do things I tend to put off for "better reasons."  Like blogging.  I originally started this exercise to be a witness of what God shares with me; however, I have become a bit...well...lazy, even though I hate to admit it.  It is easier to simply link to my podcast sermons each week rather than think of something to write.  And I really like writing, but I tend to put it off, even in my personal journaling.  So, I am planning to have at least one written post a week on my blog.  I am allowing my myself to be held accountable by my readers.  If I do not have at least one written post per week, you can absolutely call me on it.  Now, on to the actual blog...

My sermon series this Lent is on Prayer.  I think God picked this out especially for me.  Oh, I pray, absolutely I pray.  I pray all the time, but I don't necessarily always have what my daughter calls 'God Time.'  God Time is when you are in conversation.  You are in a kairos type of time and space, set apart to speak and listen to what God wants to chat with you about. I have tended to make a bigger deal about this in my personal devotional life than probably needs to be done.  It shouldn't be a formal meeting but a casual conversation.  My daughter gets this perfectly.  She sits down at her computer each night before she goes to bed and types a dialogue.  She types her prayers and she types God's  answers.  I have no idea how many pages this must be by now, but she is faithful to this practice.  We could all learn from her.

I have been seeking this in my own life, but my conversations with God do not really flow the same way hers do.  I would be distracted by spelling, punctuation or grammar; something she doesn't worry about in the slightest. We cannot all be the same.  If this practice works for you (give it a try for a week and see how it goes), you may have discovered something helpful to not only hear God speaking to you, but to record it for future reference.  If not, I have learned of something new, which I am trying out and it tends to go more with my need to be more passive, with as little of me as possible.  Now, that doesn't mean that I am only sitting there waiting for God to speak, but something that I can be still (really, no writing, no typing, etc.) and know that God is there.  This is more of a submissive passiveness than a lazy passiveness. 

After my post on "Lord Teach Us to Pray" a friend responded with her own struggles in having that meaningful quiet time.  She shared with me a podcast that has been helpful for her.  It is on the Jesuit web site Pray-as-you-go...daily prayer for your MP3 player.  You can download the podcasts on a MP3 player, or you can listen to them online.  They have podcasts for devotionals Monday thru Friday, with music, scripture, guided meditation, all the stuff that resonates with me.  They even have podcasts for breathing and body exercises to help you prepare to be in prayer. 

My friend combines these devotionals with an order for morning prayer from the Upper Room Worshipbook.  Beginning with the order for morning prayer, she inserts the pray-as-you-go devotional in place of the scripture reading and message or meditation.  She keeps a notebook nearby to write down anything she feels a need to, things God is speaking to her, things brought to mind, people to pray for, etc.  I thank her for sharing this with me.

I am still working on getting this more a part of my life.  The questions now are: is it better in the morning?  Or the evening?  How does this work with or incorporate with the daily devotional I read from Upper Room Ministries?  I haven't necessarily settled on any answers on these questions, but I am, as always, a work in progress.  I'll let you know how it is going next week.

A Time of Self-Examination

St. Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish knight who, after being seriously injured in battle, underwent a spiritual conversion during recovery.  He was inspired to live a life of labor for God, and became a priest.  He began the Jesuit religious order in which education and self-examination were central to the followers.  The men of this order were to observe the Spiritual Exercises, a process originally designed to take place in a retreat setting over a four week period.  During this time, you were to focus on nothing other than the exercises as a way to understand living in relationship with God through four major themes:  Sin; the life of Jesus; the Passion of Jesus; and the Resurrection of Jesus.  There are still retreats that follow the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.  The Prayer of Ignatius of Loyola is said occasionally in worship, but it is a good prayer to make a daily prayer throughout the season of Lent:

Teach us, good Lord,
   to serve you as you deserve;
   to give and not to count the cost;
   to fight and not to heed the wounds;
   to toil and not to seek for rest;
   to labor and not to ask for any reward,
      except that of knowing that we do your will;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

Spiritual examination and accountability were instrumental to the beginning of the Methodist movement as well.  John and Charles Wesley’s mother, Susanna, would sit down weekly with her children and ask them a question; “how is it with your soul?”  For those of us ‘modern’ mothers who think that back in the 1700s there was more time to spend with your children in such exercises might keep in mind that Susanna didn’t have the convenience of time saving devises like dishwashers and clothes washers and dryers, and to top it all off, she had 19 children!  And yet she made time every week not only to teach her children that their faith and relationship with God are important to her and should be to them, but also held them accountable in their relationship with God.  

During this season of Lent I invite you to a Time of Self-Examination and reflection on your relationship with God.  This should take no more than 15 minutes and be done morning and evening.  First begin by thanking God for the blessings in your life.  Then you ask for the grace to recognize and rid yourself of your sins.  Next, reflect on your soul from the time of your last time of prayer.  Then you will ask for a pardon of your faults.  And finally, ask for God’s help to transform your life into what God would have it to be.  You then might pray the prayer of St. Ignatius. 

Let us practice self-examination together during this season of Lent.  Let us make time to reflect and to grow closer with God as we walk the footsteps of Jesus toward death and resurrection. 

Grace and peace,

Rev. Sonja

Lord Teach us to Pray

Well, as most of you know, I will post a recording of my sermon each Sunday.  However, today we had a technical glitch and the recording doesn't sound very good.  So, I am writing out a post today that has thoughts from my sermon this morning.

My sermon series through Lent is on prayer.  We began at the beginning, how do we pray.  The disciples also really didn't know how to pray.  In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches them about praying with the right heart and spirit.

Verses 9-14 tell us:
‘Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
   hallowed be your name.
  Your kingdom come.
   Your will be done,
     on earth as it is in heaven.
  Give us this day our daily bread.
  And forgive us our debts,
     as we also have forgiven our debtors.
   And do not bring us to the time of trial,
     but rescue us from the evil one.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

In Luke, the disciples ask Jesus to teach them.  Neither scripture reading presupposes that we just know how to communicate with God.  We are taught by those who have learned before us.


How did you learn to pray?  Were you taught by a parent or grandparent?  Were you taught by a Sunday school teacher?  Were you young or older?  Most of us learn to pray through rote prayers.  Many of us teach our children prayers for specific situations.  If you having them praying at mealtime, then they may pray, "God is great, God is good, let us thank him for our food.  Amen."  Perhaps praying before tucking them into bed, you might teach them "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.  God bless..." and then they list the family members, friends, and others they wish God to bless.  We do not simply know how to pray.  It is important that we are given an example.  Not only the example of witnessing those pray who guide us in our faith, but also in the example of a prayer we can memorize. 

We learn the Lord's prayer, but we do not stop to think about what we are really praying.  We say the words, but don't give much thought as to what we are really praying for.  Jesus' disciples were familiar with the rites and rituals of the synagogue, but still they wanted to learn how to pray.  Jesus not only taught them how to pray, but also taught them something about relationship.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Do we really praise God's name?  Do we really realize that our prayer brings us into the presence of God, and in that brings us a little closer to the holiness we are called to?

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  God's kingdom isn't a someday, faraway thing that is not relevant in our lives today.  We pray for God's kingdom to be in our midst and for God's will to be done in the world around us, just like in heaven.  But God's kingdom starts in the lives of God's people, and God's will is first carried out in the hearts of God's people.  Do we really try to bring the kingdom of God with us everywhere we go?  Do we really seek to have God's will control our lives and our decisions?

Give us this day our daily bread. This involves not worrying about tomorrow.  Not worrying about whether or not we have saved enough money or hoarded enough stuff.  This is trusting that God will provide what you need today...tomorrow...and always.  If we are living in the moment with God being our guide, we will not worry about tomorrow's bread today.  Do we trust God with our future?

Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.  Do we really forgive?  We say we do, but then we get to talking about someone else and pretty soon our speech betrays our true feelings.  If we live a life of forgiveness constantly, we do not need to worry about if we forgive people for the things they do which offend us, because we never hold these things against them in the first place.  Sometimes we have grievous crimes committed against us, but even then forgiveness brings healing and wholeness to the forgiver and opens the door for God to bring the offender to a place of repentance.  Is there someone you need to forgive, so that God can bring the full effect of God's forgiveness for you to your life?

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  We want God to rescue us from the messes we end up in. We think we can dance near the fire and not get burned.  If there is something in our lives that is a temptation for us, we need to remove ourselves from that temptation.  If we have friends who are a poor influence on us, and lead us away from God, then we need to rethink that friendship.  Often, we rationalize we hang around them so we can be an example of Christ for them, but we are not really staying away from temptation.  We aren't living the example of Christ in their midst.

If we are struggling with something, and God knows what you struggle with, then we need to make sure we do not place ourselves in situations that will bring us temptation.  And we shouldn't want to direct our own lives and ask God to bless it.  We need to be able to follow God as God leads us away from those things that interfere in our relationships with God and God's people.  Do you allow God to change you?

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen. This is not in the original prayer of Jesus, but was added later.  In this phrase we are turning over our control to God.  Whatever we have prayed before this, and however it will change us, we are placing ourselves in God's hands to be used for God's glory.  In this we are affirming that we are small by comparison  to God's greatness, and it is arrogance on our part to think we are in control.  Do you snatch control of your life from God?  Have you considered that it is arrogance to think we should decide what we want and ask God to bless it? 

If we pray and our hearts are in the right place, then prayer doesn't change God, or even the situations around us, but prayer changes us.  I want us all to be changed this Lenten season as we learn to pray.

Pray for something you want God to change in you this Lenten season.  Pray for someone who needs to be included in the community of faith, someone you might invite to church on Easter Sunday.

Idol Worship

I heard last year as the young new presidential hopeful took the stage to accept the Democratic National Convention's endorsement of him as their candidate that he was like a "rock star." This of course was immediately used by other candidates to imply that he was in some way evil, encouraging followers to worship him; or if not evil, then greatly misleading people who were too gullible to know better. It seems that if you are too popular, then that is in some way bad. We must all maintain a certain amount of decorum; this is after all politics we are talking about.

I thought that it was grossly unfair that simply being popular would be viewed in such a way. Of course, this young candidate carried a Blackberry, sent email to encourage support, had a facebook group that many people were "fans" of (simply because this is a facebook term), and spoke to a generation of people in ways previous candidates had not. I thought at that time, that it was "sour grapes" from a group of people who would never dream of twittering their thoughts, would never consider keeping up with friends on facebook, and only use email if they absolutely have to, in other words, people who are out of touch with the technology and advances that are so prevalent in the world today and do not listen to the voice of the generations who rarely use “snail mail” for personal correspondence, pays bills online, and social networking groups are common. I realize now this is unfair. There are those who are not tech-savvy that do not see Obama's support to be inherently idol worship, and those who are tech-savvy who do.

I again have read a concern that the exuberance of the crowds yesterday was in some way another demonstration of "worshipping" Obama. I am concerned that there are those who might actually feel something akin to worship for Obama, but I am more concerned by those who would convey that attitude where it may not be deserved. I am surprised by the thought that Obama is in some way worshipped...any more than any other president of the United States has ever been. I remember people staunchly defending President G. W. Bush for his decisions and claiming that he was all but sent by God (some actually have claimed this). I have seen the videos, news reports, etc., that depict a nation in deep grief, as deep as a family member, over the assassination of JFK. These are but two examples (one for each party) of deep patriotism and love for a President. Love, not worship.

I don't know if I would consider Obama to be worshipped. I don't think what we saw yesterday was necessarily worship; I saw it more as an exercise of hope. For some he is a symbol of the hopes and dreams of many that those of their race lived and died to fight for. I can't fault them for that one. For others he is a symbol of a new day dawning on America, and all the hope that goes with that; hope that the economy will get better; hope that no more children and parents, brothers and sisters, friends and relatives will have to be sent overseas to fight a war that many in this country never backed, and many more are beginning to question; and for still others he represents hope that we can become more of the middle than the right or the left. All of these hopes, and I am sure others, were represented on that mall yesterday. You can't blame these people for rejoicing in their hopes, and it would be falsely accusing them of idol worship to say they were worshipping Obama. I know for many, their hope is in the Lord and see this change in leadership as an answer to as fervent a prayer as many prayed in the other direction.

It seems to me that Obama has encouraged and challenged all of us to work together, and I believe “all” to include the right, the left, and the middle. I know I am willing to work to be in conversation with others. I hope more feel like me.

I also read that we need to pray. But of course we do! The election of a young, black, Democratic president should not be any greater prompting of this need than simply looking in our own mirrors. We should humble ourselves before God and our neighbor, beg forgiveness for our prejudices and seek to live in peace with one another. I hope you will pray for this with me.

All Prayers are Appreciated!

I will be meeting with the Board of Ordained Ministry on Monday, December 1, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. All prayers are appreciated as I continue on in this journey toward ordination.