Gratitude

Grattitude
Originally uploaded by kretyen

Today is our anniversary. 37 years. I have a new iPhone and this little app, Gratitude, makes it very easy to record the things I'm thankful for each day. It really helps lift my spirits.

Most of all I'm thankful for Jenni's love and devotion for all these years.

Pastors as Poets -- a Wonderful Analogy

Complaining is usually a veiled lament about deeper issues of the soul. Since people are unaccustomed to exploring the mystery of their own souls, they will often work out their spiritual anxieties by attempting to rearrange something external, like a church's music program. But it doesn't matter how many changes they make to the environment around them. They will never succeed in finding peace for the angst of the soul until they attend directly to it. This is why people have pastors.To be of service to the Holy Spirit, who is at work in human lives, the pastor can never reduce ministry to servicing parishioners' complaints about the church.

The Christian Century February 10, 2009
"Poet in Residence" by M. Craig Barnes

I read this article in at lunch today and was deeply moved. I've seen this happen often, even in my own life. My dissatisfaction ("Why did they let him teach that Sunday School lesson?" "Can you believe the choir sang that song?" "I hate the color carpet the committee chose." "Someone always steals my seat in the back pew.") usually was not the real issue. My complaints were often the result of a deeper spiritual problem that I was not addressing.

I have long been suspicious of pastors who have series of sermons like "How to be a better Christian," or "How to have a happy family," or "Six steps to increasing your financial well being." Here is what Dr. Barnes wrote that also resonated with me:

. . . the pastor-poet does his or her best work not with presenting issues, which are seldom the real issue. This is the fallacy of those who try to define the pastor as a manager, an entrepreneur, or a service provider who is only in need of more skills to be a success in handling the many issues that have presented themselves. Most presenting issues are merely symptomatic of underlying theological issues. Even those who treat the pastor as a spiritual leader often reduce his or her work to treating symptoms. Seldom does a day go by without another advertisement appearing in my mail that offers a new product "guaranteed" to make our congregation better at giving, Bible study and prayer. But if people are not praying, it's the pastor-poet's job to discern why they are hesitant to enter God's presence. And if they are praying, then the question is: Do they really understand what is happening in such sacred communion?

The Christian Century

He said, "God is always present, but not always apparent." Helping people become aware of God's presence is the role I want in my pastor.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Flock

I've just installed a browser on my computer called "Flock." It integrates social networking sites into one: FaceBook, Flickr, Blogger. I'm discovering that I'm waaaayyyyy behind the curve when it comes to internet connectivity.

Supposedly, I can enter blog information right from the Flock browser, including text and photos. That will take some learning.



Well, what do you know. This was a drag and drop operation from my Flickr account. Way cool.

I can also drag and drop websites and create links.
For example, this is one of my favorite websites for theological reflection.
Desiring God Blog

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Imagination can take you a long way

Imagination can take you a long way
Originally uploaded by kretyen

One of my all-time favorite photos. I captures Aidan playing on an old rail car in Tombstone, Arizona, during his visit with us last week. He loves trains, and I love watching him get excited by trains.

He has so much energy. Yet he also enjoyed curling up on our laps in the evening before bed for a bedtime story. "Read one more!" became a favorite saying.

He absolutely loves being out of doors. Nani says that he will be a fellow hiker with her some day.

Tucson Rodeo

Today Christi, Aidan and I went to the Tucson Rodeo. All events today were pre-qualifying for the big pro rodeo next weekend. We watched team steer roping. Aidan was more interested in climbing the bleachers than watching the competition. He did cooperate long enough for me to get a nice cowboy and hourse shot. Temperatures were in the mid-80s--just perfect for me.

Christi and Aidan return to Michigan tomorrow, so this was a good day of Arizona sunshine.

Things I Like

Here are 76 things that give me pleasure. There are many more, but these will give you a sense of the things that interest me. All photos taken by me.

1. Jenni, my wife


2. Monsoon Thunderstorms in the Desert


3. Sleeping Bear Dunes


4. Crystal Lake


5. Desert Mountain Hikes


6. Sitting on the Porch Swing with My Wife, Watching the Mountains Change Color in the Evening


7. Morning Coffee or Morning Tea


8. Corporate Christian Worship


9. My Pets Awaiting My Return Home


10. Point Betsie Lighthouse


11. Tilly Hats


12. Yellow Roses


13. Sunsets with Astounding Colors


14. Arizona Sunrises over the Mountain


15. Baby Saguaro Cacti Hiding under a Nurse Tree


16. Barbequed Anything


17. Playing with My Grandson


18. Butterflies


19. Chiricahua Mountains


20. Colors of the Caribbean


21. Meals with Friends


22. Hamburgers


23. Hummingbirds


24. Music Live in the Park


25. Rainbows


26. Sunsets and Canoes on Crystal Lake


27. Tropical Sunrises


28. My dog, Mica, especially when she lays in the sun.


29. Cactus Blossoms


30. The Color of Prickly Pear Fruit


31. Cloud Formations


32. Silhouettes


33. Frangi Pani Blossoms


34. Ironwood Trees in Full Bloom


35. Lemons on My Tree


36. Lichen Growing on Rocks


37. Panda


38. Phases of the Moon


39. Pools That Stretch To the Horizon


40. Queen Victoria Agave


41. Saguaro Cactus Blossoms


42. Seeing Young Children Develop Dreams That Stretch Beyond the Horizon


43. S'Mores Freshly Cooked on a Beach Campfire


44. Surprising Shadows


45. Sitting Tenderly with My Wife, with Her Head on My Shoulder


46. Tropical Beaches


47. Tumacacori Mission


48. Wild Ginger Flowers in the Hawaiian Mist


49. Smiling Children


50. Reflections


51. Shadows and Light Making Patterns


52. Playground Equipment and Children Playing


53. Alone in a Pool of Blue


54. Babies Sleeping


55. Baby Owls


56. Corn on the Cob


57. Blowing Bubbles


58. More Cactus Flowers


59. Colors of Childhood


60. Cows in a Michigan Pasture


61. Cholla Cactus Reflecting the Afternoon Sun


62. Guyacan Tree Blossoms


63. Hot Dogs and Coke


64. Inquisitive Children


65. Late Afternoon Fire in the Chimenea


66. Looking for Pretty Rocks in Lake Michigan


67. Luminaria on Christmas Eve


68. Mushrooms on the Desert Floor


69. Mescal Bean Tree Blossoms


70. Patriotic Parades


71. People Working at What They Love


72. Playing Hide and Seek


73. Sago Palm Symmetry


74. Watching People Enjoying Themselves Outdoors


75. Hibiscus Flowers


76. Freshly Painted Red Fireplugs