Not merely reflecting, as the moon is to the sun,
projecting light, ourselves being the light,
the indwelling, the spirit, the light of Christ
becoming part of us, shining outward, beacons
into the night, cutting through the darkness of the world
so we pray we will be, your light, messengers, heralds
bringing your love, your salvation
to all who will hear, all those in need
January 24, 2009
Based on the Unison Prayer,
“Almighty Creator and Sustainer God, we have come into
your house to worship you this morning. Help us to lay our
cares and woes on your altar as we quietly sit at your feet
and listen to your word. May we hear the message you have
for us. Strengthen us so that we may be your light, your
ambassadors to the world. And it is in Christ Jesus’ name
we pray. Amen.”
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
for January 25, 2009,
“Third Sunday after the Epiphany”
Saturday, January 24, 2009
With One Voice
With heads raised, not bowed in prayer
speaking with one voice, raising a single prayer,
calling you into our midst, acknowledging your presence
your spirit filling this place, ready, eager
to feed us, to teach us, reproof and guide us
with a message for us, collectively, individually
knowing, each of us, listening, hoping to still ourselves
to share in the message you have for you, for me,
for our congregation, sharing one voice, one prayer
offering up our cares, our joins, our centering this morning,
each time we gather, in the beginning of worship,
turning from our days, to your presence,
here in your sanctuary, your church,
raising a common prayer
to your praise and glory
January 24, 2009
Based on the Unison Prayer,
“Almighty Creator and Sustainer God, we have come into
your house to worship you this morning. Help us to lay our
cares and woes on your altar as we quietly sit at your feet
and listen to your word. May we hear the message you have
for us. Strengthen us so that we may be your light, your
ambassadors to the world. And it is in Christ Jesus’ name
we pray. Amen.”
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
for January 25, 2009,
“Third Sunday after the Epiphany”
speaking with one voice, raising a single prayer,
calling you into our midst, acknowledging your presence
your spirit filling this place, ready, eager
to feed us, to teach us, reproof and guide us
with a message for us, collectively, individually
knowing, each of us, listening, hoping to still ourselves
to share in the message you have for you, for me,
for our congregation, sharing one voice, one prayer
offering up our cares, our joins, our centering this morning,
each time we gather, in the beginning of worship,
turning from our days, to your presence,
here in your sanctuary, your church,
raising a common prayer
to your praise and glory
January 24, 2009
Based on the Unison Prayer,
“Almighty Creator and Sustainer God, we have come into
your house to worship you this morning. Help us to lay our
cares and woes on your altar as we quietly sit at your feet
and listen to your word. May we hear the message you have
for us. Strengthen us so that we may be your light, your
ambassadors to the world. And it is in Christ Jesus’ name
we pray. Amen.”
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
for January 25, 2009,
“Third Sunday after the Epiphany”
Friday, January 23, 2009
Under the Gaze of Angels
Something different, set apart, special
this single room in the house, a sanctuary, a refuge
a place where the spirit, palpable, real, living
where this presence is felt, alive
Under the gaze of angels, a collections of guardians
symbols, metaphoric, talismans, a row of saints
connecting her to her heritage, shaman,
things of the earth too, sage, scents
a warmth to the space, calm, serene
angels watching over her nascent ministry
finding her way, hearing the angels’ voices
listening to their call, as if in a dream
January 23, 2009
this single room in the house, a sanctuary, a refuge
a place where the spirit, palpable, real, living
where this presence is felt, alive
Under the gaze of angels, a collections of guardians
symbols, metaphoric, talismans, a row of saints
connecting her to her heritage, shaman,
things of the earth too, sage, scents
a warmth to the space, calm, serene
angels watching over her nascent ministry
finding her way, hearing the angels’ voices
listening to their call, as if in a dream
January 23, 2009
Sentinels
Sentries, a triad, stock-still,
standing at attention, ramrod straight
watching over the yard, guarding our back
watching me, as I check their presence
out the window, air seeping in
If I look carefully, I can see them
locking their heels, rising straighter still
watching over the yard, the house, the birds,
squirrels under their canopy,
the days passing by
guardians of the fenced-in,
enclosed space
behind the house.
January 23, 2009
All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,940+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
standing at attention, ramrod straight
watching over the yard, guarding our back
watching me, as I check their presence
out the window, air seeping in
If I look carefully, I can see them
locking their heels, rising straighter still
watching over the yard, the house, the birds,
squirrels under their canopy,
the days passing by
guardians of the fenced-in,
enclosed space
behind the house.
January 23, 2009
All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,940+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
Under their branches
Three elegant spruces,
the soft, safe place below
under their branches, covered in white
their arms linked together
their hands joined
a winter chapel, in the cold air
three sides to the sanctuary
no walls; open to God
a place of refuge,
a bit of the garden
a frozen sanctuary
quiet there,
holy ground, still
in the middle of the yard
January 23, 2009
the soft, safe place below
under their branches, covered in white
their arms linked together
their hands joined
a winter chapel, in the cold air
three sides to the sanctuary
no walls; open to God
a place of refuge,
a bit of the garden
a frozen sanctuary
quiet there,
holy ground, still
in the middle of the yard
January 23, 2009
Unison Prayer
That first time, the first moment, sharing a single prayer,
invoking a spirit of worship, a quieting of our minds
letting go of the outside world, the cares we carry,
that which we carried into the sanctuary,
lifted, at least for this time together,
unburdened hearts, rising as one
calling on the creator, the savior,
the everlasting lord, crying out to God
to speak to us, individual, as a community of faith
being, together, a Mary, as one of the twelve
sitting as if in the upper room
waiting on your coming, waiting for your spirit
to fill us for our work, in your service
January 23, 2009
Based on the Unison Prayer,
“Almighty Creator and Sustainer God, we have come into
your house to worship you this morning. Help us to lay our
cares and woes on your altar as we quietly sit at your feet
and listen to your word. May we hear the message you have
for us. Strengthen us so that we may be your light, your
ambassadors to the world. And it is in Christ Jesus’ name
we pray. Amen.”
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
for January 25, 2009,
“Third Sunday after the Epiphany”
invoking a spirit of worship, a quieting of our minds
letting go of the outside world, the cares we carry,
that which we carried into the sanctuary,
lifted, at least for this time together,
unburdened hearts, rising as one
calling on the creator, the savior,
the everlasting lord, crying out to God
to speak to us, individual, as a community of faith
being, together, a Mary, as one of the twelve
sitting as if in the upper room
waiting on your coming, waiting for your spirit
to fill us for our work, in your service
January 23, 2009
Based on the Unison Prayer,
“Almighty Creator and Sustainer God, we have come into
your house to worship you this morning. Help us to lay our
cares and woes on your altar as we quietly sit at your feet
and listen to your word. May we hear the message you have
for us. Strengthen us so that we may be your light, your
ambassadors to the world. And it is in Christ Jesus’ name
we pray. Amen.”
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
for January 25, 2009,
“Third Sunday after the Epiphany”
(a lower case) Happy Anniversary
Not one of the big ones, the golden, the silver, not even tin
But one of the special days, we remember,
a date on the calendar
A lower case happy anniversary
Reminding us, of the day in your church,
Now three years and nine months ago
When we repeated our vows,
those cried out on that December morn’
Under a snowy sky
Sharing words of our love, covenantal, deep, abiding
Before our family, our God, our church
Saying happy anniversary this morning,
Sitting, stilled, for a moment,
Sharing some toast at the table
Amid the bustle of our day
A smile on your face in reply
Stealing a bit of time
Sharing time together
On one of our lower case anniversary days
January 23, 2009
But one of the special days, we remember,
a date on the calendar
A lower case happy anniversary
Reminding us, of the day in your church,
Now three years and nine months ago
When we repeated our vows,
those cried out on that December morn’
Under a snowy sky
Sharing words of our love, covenantal, deep, abiding
Before our family, our God, our church
Saying happy anniversary this morning,
Sitting, stilled, for a moment,
Sharing some toast at the table
Amid the bustle of our day
A smile on your face in reply
Stealing a bit of time
Sharing time together
On one of our lower case anniversary days
January 23, 2009
Sentinels
All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,940+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
Barefoot
Oh to be sitting, barefoot at your feet
listening to you, for the first time,
drinking in your living water, your message of love,
of hope, of redemption, feeling your presence
the power of your holiness, humble servant,
Lord, God living with us, sitting at your feet,
my master, my brother, my savior,
feeling the power of creation, the touch of your hands
washing my feet clean, the stroke of the towel, drying,
your teachings, watching your healings,
taking the bread, the cup, in my turn,
walking with you, sharing your days,
feeling the pain of your cross,
watching you suffer and die
knowing the cost you paid,
the joy of your resurrection,
the wonder of Pentecost
sharing your message,
listening still for your word
sitting barefoot at your feet again
in your sanctuary, your church
joining with the others, the saints
waiting for your return, in victory
January 23, 2009
Based on the Unison Prayer,
“Almighty Creator and Sustainer God, we have come into
your house to worship you this morning. Help us to lay our
cares and woes on your altar as we quietly sit at your feet
and listen to your word. May we hear the message you have
for us. Strengthen us so that we may be your light, your
ambassadors to the world. And it is in Christ Jesus’ name
we pray. Amen.”
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
for January 25, 2009,
“Third Sunday after the Epiphany”
listening to you, for the first time,
drinking in your living water, your message of love,
of hope, of redemption, feeling your presence
the power of your holiness, humble servant,
Lord, God living with us, sitting at your feet,
my master, my brother, my savior,
feeling the power of creation, the touch of your hands
washing my feet clean, the stroke of the towel, drying,
your teachings, watching your healings,
taking the bread, the cup, in my turn,
walking with you, sharing your days,
feeling the pain of your cross,
watching you suffer and die
knowing the cost you paid,
the joy of your resurrection,
the wonder of Pentecost
sharing your message,
listening still for your word
sitting barefoot at your feet again
in your sanctuary, your church
joining with the others, the saints
waiting for your return, in victory
January 23, 2009
Based on the Unison Prayer,
“Almighty Creator and Sustainer God, we have come into
your house to worship you this morning. Help us to lay our
cares and woes on your altar as we quietly sit at your feet
and listen to your word. May we hear the message you have
for us. Strengthen us so that we may be your light, your
ambassadors to the world. And it is in Christ Jesus’ name
we pray. Amen.”
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
for January 25, 2009,
“Third Sunday after the Epiphany”
Strange Gifts
Our cares, our woes, strange gifts
laid on your altar, setting down own burdens
before your throne, for you alone
freeing us, unencumbered, preparing us,
allowing us, each one, to breathe deeply
clearing us, our minds, that which weighs us down
free to listen, to hear your message, your voice
no stumbling block, no veil, no curtain between us
into the holy of holies, sitting at your feet
taught by the master, hearing your voice
once we have left our strange gifts
on your holy altar
January 23, 2009
Based on the Unison Prayer,
“Almighty Creator and Sustainer God, we have come into
your house to worship you this morning. Help us to lay our
cares and woes on your altar as we quietly sit at your feet
and listen to your word. May we hear the message you have
for us. Strengthen us so that we may be your light, your
ambassadors to the world. And it is in Christ Jesus’ name
we pray. Amen.”
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
for January 25, 2009,
“Third Sunday after the Epiphany”
laid on your altar, setting down own burdens
before your throne, for you alone
freeing us, unencumbered, preparing us,
allowing us, each one, to breathe deeply
clearing us, our minds, that which weighs us down
free to listen, to hear your message, your voice
no stumbling block, no veil, no curtain between us
into the holy of holies, sitting at your feet
taught by the master, hearing your voice
once we have left our strange gifts
on your holy altar
January 23, 2009
Based on the Unison Prayer,
“Almighty Creator and Sustainer God, we have come into
your house to worship you this morning. Help us to lay our
cares and woes on your altar as we quietly sit at your feet
and listen to your word. May we hear the message you have
for us. Strengthen us so that we may be your light, your
ambassadors to the world. And it is in Christ Jesus’ name
we pray. Amen.”
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
for January 25, 2009,
“Third Sunday after the Epiphany”
Email 1/22/09 from the National Religious Campaign Against Torture
Dear Friends:
We hope you've heard the good news that today President Obama signed the executive order we have been seeking -- an executive order that ends the CIA abuse of detainees, closes U.S. secret prisons, and provides the International Committee of the Red Cross with access to U.S.-held detainees. We have stopped our "count-up" clock -- the clock marking the hours that had passed until an executive order halting U.S.-sponsored torture was signed.
This is a moment for celebration and thanksgiving. We have all prayed and labored faithfully for this significant step toward ending U.S.-sponsored torture.
Thank you for all your efforts to help reach this goal.
Is there more to do? Yes!
Along with these sweeping changes in policy, the executive order created a Special Task Force charged with reviewing the Army Field Manual's interrogation guidelines to determine whether "different or additional guidance" is necessary for the CIA. The Task Force has 180 days to report. We need to make sure that any new interrogation technique that the Special Task Force recommends abides by the "Golden Rule" (in other words, each new technique must be both legal and moral if used upon a captured American).
Please email the White House to thank President Obama for his action today and to urge him to ensure that any additional interrogation techniques recommended by the Special Task Force comply with the principle of the "Golden Rule" -- that we will use only those interrogation techniques that would be considered moral and legal if used upon a captured American.
In the coming months we will focus on a legislative agenda to make permanent the elements of this executive order by codifying them into law. We will also continue working to secure a nonpartisan investigation that will provide the critical information necessary to create effective safeguards against the future use of torture and allow the nation to decide whether to pursue criminal prosecutions of those involved in authorizing or implementing policies that led to the use of torture.
Together, we can build on today's victory and ensure that our grandchildren will be able to say, "Our nation once engaged in torture, but we don't do that anymore." May it be so.
Sincerely,
Linda Gustitus, President
Rev. Richard Killmer, Executive Director
We hope you've heard the good news that today President Obama signed the executive order we have been seeking -- an executive order that ends the CIA abuse of detainees, closes U.S. secret prisons, and provides the International Committee of the Red Cross with access to U.S.-held detainees. We have stopped our "count-up" clock -- the clock marking the hours that had passed until an executive order halting U.S.-sponsored torture was signed.
This is a moment for celebration and thanksgiving. We have all prayed and labored faithfully for this significant step toward ending U.S.-sponsored torture.
Thank you for all your efforts to help reach this goal.
Is there more to do? Yes!
Along with these sweeping changes in policy, the executive order created a Special Task Force charged with reviewing the Army Field Manual's interrogation guidelines to determine whether "different or additional guidance" is necessary for the CIA. The Task Force has 180 days to report. We need to make sure that any new interrogation technique that the Special Task Force recommends abides by the "Golden Rule" (in other words, each new technique must be both legal and moral if used upon a captured American).
Please email the White House to thank President Obama for his action today and to urge him to ensure that any additional interrogation techniques recommended by the Special Task Force comply with the principle of the "Golden Rule" -- that we will use only those interrogation techniques that would be considered moral and legal if used upon a captured American.
In the coming months we will focus on a legislative agenda to make permanent the elements of this executive order by codifying them into law. We will also continue working to secure a nonpartisan investigation that will provide the critical information necessary to create effective safeguards against the future use of torture and allow the nation to decide whether to pursue criminal prosecutions of those involved in authorizing or implementing policies that led to the use of torture.
Together, we can build on today's victory and ensure that our grandchildren will be able to say, "Our nation once engaged in torture, but we don't do that anymore." May it be so.
Sincerely,
Linda Gustitus, President
Rev. Richard Killmer, Executive Director
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
A Reality
A dawning, a changing of the old
unraveling threads of time,
happening before the witnessing eye
A nation turning, transforming,
like a butterfly out of a cocoon,
a nation rising from a long night
slumber giving way to light
dawning, rising, renewing
a transition of power
moving forward, a nation
together, hopeful, prayerful
longing for the truth of our creed
the highest ideals, the better angels
our nature wrapped in the words
the oath, the prayers, and his speech
January 20, 2009
Inauguration Day
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH
unraveling threads of time,
happening before the witnessing eye
A nation turning, transforming,
like a butterfly out of a cocoon,
a nation rising from a long night
slumber giving way to light
dawning, rising, renewing
a transition of power
moving forward, a nation
together, hopeful, prayerful
longing for the truth of our creed
the highest ideals, the better angels
our nature wrapped in the words
the oath, the prayers, and his speech
January 20, 2009
Inauguration Day
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH
Not Just a Dream, A Reality
January 20, 2009
Inauguration Day
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as 44th President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH
Out of their Traditions
They each spoke, crying to our creator,
to our savior, to our shared creed, our shared beliefs
speaking, praying, invoking the province
the protection, the care, of our God
Each in their own traditions, speaking
genuinely, clearly, a sharing, a joining
an inauguration, and more, a community,
a people, a collective day of worship,
a people of faith, no matter the faith
in many ways, together, yearning
These men, these men of the cloth,
these men of faith, the beginning and the end
of our shared worship, remembering
we are a nation of believers,
or so we have always been
and I pray we will always be
January 20, 2009
Inauguration of Barack Obama
the 44th President of the United States of America;
and the Invocation by Reverend Rick Warren
and the Benediction by Reverend Joseph Lowery
to our savior, to our shared creed, our shared beliefs
speaking, praying, invoking the province
the protection, the care, of our God
Each in their own traditions, speaking
genuinely, clearly, a sharing, a joining
an inauguration, and more, a community,
a people, a collective day of worship,
a people of faith, no matter the faith
in many ways, together, yearning
These men, these men of the cloth,
these men of faith, the beginning and the end
of our shared worship, remembering
we are a nation of believers,
or so we have always been
and I pray we will always be
January 20, 2009
Inauguration of Barack Obama
the 44th President of the United States of America;
and the Invocation by Reverend Rick Warren
and the Benediction by Reverend Joseph Lowery
Holy Guacamole
Maybe the best way to describe the inauguration
the scene of that sea of people, our nation’s Mall
covered with people of every race and age
a sea of smiling members, this community,
this country, standing in the January cold,
flags clutched, waving, being present
so many, like us, watching, expectantly
on our televisions, in our homes,
on the computer screens, flickering lights
“Holy Guacamole”, or so said our seven year old
home sick from school, laying on the futon
drinking in the enormity of all of the spectacle
Watching her President sworn in, her President now,
the man she selected long before the primary
before that cold day here in New Hampshire,
the man I voted for, in part because of her urging
Tears welling up, present in my eyes, in her mother’s eyes
as this step, this urgent threshold was crossed,
this moment in time, this now, so pressing, so right
seeing our nation united, if for this moment
marching into freedom’s call,
under the very watchful eye of our creator
shining light into these dark times
a time for hope and for change
January 20, 2009
Inauguration of Barack Obama
the 44th President of the United States of America;
May God protect him and this nation.
the scene of that sea of people, our nation’s Mall
covered with people of every race and age
a sea of smiling members, this community,
this country, standing in the January cold,
flags clutched, waving, being present
so many, like us, watching, expectantly
on our televisions, in our homes,
on the computer screens, flickering lights
“Holy Guacamole”, or so said our seven year old
home sick from school, laying on the futon
drinking in the enormity of all of the spectacle
Watching her President sworn in, her President now,
the man she selected long before the primary
before that cold day here in New Hampshire,
the man I voted for, in part because of her urging
Tears welling up, present in my eyes, in her mother’s eyes
as this step, this urgent threshold was crossed,
this moment in time, this now, so pressing, so right
seeing our nation united, if for this moment
marching into freedom’s call,
under the very watchful eye of our creator
shining light into these dark times
a time for hope and for change
January 20, 2009
Inauguration of Barack Obama
the 44th President of the United States of America;
May God protect him and this nation.
The Image of a Journey
So many of the stories,
the deep lessons of scripture
so much a part of the human condition
an image of a journey
walking, carrying our cares, a load
wandering uncharted, or boldly, with a purpose
life a journey, not an end, a sacred journey
righteousness, perfection, a process
an ever unfinished journey
traveling through the travails, the valleys,
the mountainsides, the triumphs of our days
Yes, we traverse afar
hopefully following our savior’s start
following the call of our creator
journeying through life
January 20, 2009
the deep lessons of scripture
so much a part of the human condition
an image of a journey
walking, carrying our cares, a load
wandering uncharted, or boldly, with a purpose
life a journey, not an end, a sacred journey
righteousness, perfection, a process
an ever unfinished journey
traveling through the travails, the valleys,
the mountainsides, the triumphs of our days
Yes, we traverse afar
hopefully following our savior’s start
following the call of our creator
journeying through life
January 20, 2009
President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address, January 20, 2009
My fellow citizens:
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often, the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land -- a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the fainthearted -- for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path toward prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again, these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act -- not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions -- who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them -- that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works -- whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account -- to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day -- because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control -- and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart -- not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort -- even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West: Know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment -- a moment that will define a generation -- it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed -- why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
taken from: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/20/obama.politics/index.html
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often, the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land -- a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the fainthearted -- for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path toward prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again, these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act -- not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions -- who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them -- that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works -- whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account -- to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day -- because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control -- and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart -- not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort -- even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West: Know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment -- a moment that will define a generation -- it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed -- why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
taken from: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/20/obama.politics/index.html
Quietly, at Your Feet
Lord, in the stillness of your house,
in the troubled places in our hearts
let us sit quietly, at your feet,
centering our hearts, focusing,
on your message for us this day
Let us remember the essential thing,
that you are the way, the light,
the word of God made flesh,
that your example, your life
a model for our own
Help us this day to listen,
to hear, to act, to serve
as you so humbly gave
even your life, in fulfillment
in sacrifice, in atonement
for sins you did not commit
Let us walk with you, carrying our cross,
bearing your yoke, with you
every step of the way
May this day be one
governed by the words
you speak to us
as we sit quietly, at your feet
January 20, 2009
based on the unison prayer,
written by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church
for the service, 1/25/09
and see Luke 10:38-42,
for the story of Mary and Martha
in the troubled places in our hearts
let us sit quietly, at your feet,
centering our hearts, focusing,
on your message for us this day
Let us remember the essential thing,
that you are the way, the light,
the word of God made flesh,
that your example, your life
a model for our own
Help us this day to listen,
to hear, to act, to serve
as you so humbly gave
even your life, in fulfillment
in sacrifice, in atonement
for sins you did not commit
Let us walk with you, carrying our cross,
bearing your yoke, with you
every step of the way
May this day be one
governed by the words
you speak to us
as we sit quietly, at your feet
January 20, 2009
based on the unison prayer,
written by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church
for the service, 1/25/09
and see Luke 10:38-42,
for the story of Mary and Martha
Monday, January 19, 2009
His Daughters
Listening to the power of his speech,
to the prayers he had for his children
Reading the words of his son,
his namesake, written today
Thinking about his daughters,
in the world they live in today
all of the changes, all of the progress
since that day, so long ago
Praying for his daughters, and my girls
that the world in which they raise their children
would be the fulfillment of his dream
a world of equality and peace
January 19, 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
watching his “I have a dream” speech with my family;
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church;
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH
to the prayers he had for his children
Reading the words of his son,
his namesake, written today
Thinking about his daughters,
in the world they live in today
all of the changes, all of the progress
since that day, so long ago
Praying for his daughters, and my girls
that the world in which they raise their children
would be the fulfillment of his dream
a world of equality and peace
January 19, 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
watching his “I have a dream” speech with my family;
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church;
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH
Standing to Speak
Sharing in this moment in history
the confluence of the birthday of Dr. King
the inauguration of Barack Obama
searching for standing, to be part of these days
to understand enough of their struggle
to have something meaningful to say
Seeing the eyes of my daughters,
like those of his girls,
knowing the change in the offing
if he is able to answer this call
hoping, praying for their future
and the bright day that is yet to come
when his oath is but a footnote
and equality is part of our everyday world
January 19, 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
watching his “I have a dream” speech with my family;
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church;
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
the confluence of the birthday of Dr. King
the inauguration of Barack Obama
searching for standing, to be part of these days
to understand enough of their struggle
to have something meaningful to say
Seeing the eyes of my daughters,
like those of his girls,
knowing the change in the offing
if he is able to answer this call
hoping, praying for their future
and the bright day that is yet to come
when his oath is but a footnote
and equality is part of our everyday world
January 19, 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
watching his “I have a dream” speech with my family;
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church;
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
Witnessing Like John
Witnessing to the light, to the love of God
the coming of the Christ, the coming of the new day
witnessing to that which we know, to what we see
sharing our faith, our love, our testimony,
grounded in that which we experience
in the life we have lived, in that which we have shared
This day, thinking, praying, hoping for that day
the day that he preached of, dreamed of,
knowing, at least in part, some of what yet must be done
of the minds, the hearts, the laws, the beliefs
that must be changed, to stand up and witness, to testify
to go into the breach, when need be, to stand for justice
to follow the example of our brother
to follow the lead of our savior, showing love
even to those, while he was yet on the cross
to show mercy, compassion, forgiveness
to call to God for his grace
even to those who nailed him to a cross
to stand for him that only saw the mountaintop
to pray for the ones leading the people
into the promised land, to walk with our brothers,
our sisters, our neighbors, to lighten their days
January 19, 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
watching his “I have a dream” speech with my family;
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church;
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
the coming of the Christ, the coming of the new day
witnessing to that which we know, to what we see
sharing our faith, our love, our testimony,
grounded in that which we experience
in the life we have lived, in that which we have shared
This day, thinking, praying, hoping for that day
the day that he preached of, dreamed of,
knowing, at least in part, some of what yet must be done
of the minds, the hearts, the laws, the beliefs
that must be changed, to stand up and witness, to testify
to go into the breach, when need be, to stand for justice
to follow the example of our brother
to follow the lead of our savior, showing love
even to those, while he was yet on the cross
to show mercy, compassion, forgiveness
to call to God for his grace
even to those who nailed him to a cross
to stand for him that only saw the mountaintop
to pray for the ones leading the people
into the promised land, to walk with our brothers,
our sisters, our neighbors, to lighten their days
January 19, 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
watching his “I have a dream” speech with my family;
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church;
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
The Consequence of Witness
From our vantage, our perspective,
our faith in God, our belief in the lessons of Christ
his teachings to love, not to hate,
to believe even in struggle
to live as if we believed,
even when we doubt
to strive for heaven on earth
to be like John, crying in the wilderness
to not claim to be the light,
but to witness to the light
to hold it high and let its light shine
deep, cutting through, into the darkness
On this day, I share this note, this prayer
shining a bit of light, into the remaining darkness
hoping, each beam, each shaft,
loosening a bit of the grip of life
the legacy of division,
the remaining parts of his dream
this day, especially, mindful
of the fact, we may be the only Christ
some people see, so we are called to be Christ
in all we do, to be John, to be Martin
to follow the master,
and all who have claimed his holy name
January 19, 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
and the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
our faith in God, our belief in the lessons of Christ
his teachings to love, not to hate,
to believe even in struggle
to live as if we believed,
even when we doubt
to strive for heaven on earth
to be like John, crying in the wilderness
to not claim to be the light,
but to witness to the light
to hold it high and let its light shine
deep, cutting through, into the darkness
On this day, I share this note, this prayer
shining a bit of light, into the remaining darkness
hoping, each beam, each shaft,
loosening a bit of the grip of life
the legacy of division,
the remaining parts of his dream
this day, especially, mindful
of the fact, we may be the only Christ
some people see, so we are called to be Christ
in all we do, to be John, to be Martin
to follow the master,
and all who have claimed his holy name
January 19, 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
and the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
The Power of Witness
I posted the following poem on 11/3/08, the day before the Presidential Election, after talking with some people struggling how to vote. I got the following response from a lady in Nevada (I'm in NH)...
--------------------------------------
Out of Our Fears, Out of Our Hopes
Tomorrow, Election Day
we are given anew, a chance to decide
to choose our leaders, an opportunity to give voice
to our aspirations, our dreams, our wishes for our land
We can choose, to vote out of our fears, or
to vote out of our hopes.
I choose hope, over my fears
my dreams, over my doubts
my love, over my hate
my similarities, not my differences
my longing for a better world,
not walls around my home
I am voting for Barack Obama
November 3, 2008
-----------------------
Hello,
I am a 61 yr. old Grand Mother who has taken my vote very seriously for many years.
I am a Republican. I voted for Obama yesterday.
One of the reasons was the poem you shared on the 3rd.
I was searching the net for help with my decision when I came upon
your poem.It beautifully summed up my feelings.
It said what I also felt.
Thank you for your sharing.
--------------------------------------
Out of Our Fears, Out of Our Hopes
Tomorrow, Election Day
we are given anew, a chance to decide
to choose our leaders, an opportunity to give voice
to our aspirations, our dreams, our wishes for our land
We can choose, to vote out of our fears, or
to vote out of our hopes.
I choose hope, over my fears
my dreams, over my doubts
my love, over my hate
my similarities, not my differences
my longing for a better world,
not walls around my home
I am voting for Barack Obama
November 3, 2008
-----------------------
Hello,
I am a 61 yr. old Grand Mother who has taken my vote very seriously for many years.
I am a Republican. I voted for Obama yesterday.
One of the reasons was the poem you shared on the 3rd.
I was searching the net for help with my decision when I came upon
your poem.It beautifully summed up my feelings.
It said what I also felt.
Thank you for your sharing.
Black and White
Sitting in the den, comfortable,
my wife, my children, my mother-in-law
all African-American, watching his speech
sharing his words, his dream, remembering his work
Our littlest, seven, asking why the picture was in black and white
explaining, hard as it was for her to believe, that there was only
black and white television at that time
incredible, incredulous, watching the preacher on the mall
How much has changed, how much transpired, since those days
before the assassinations, before the internet, before Watergate
before cell phones, before voting rights, before Vietnam
so long ago, so far from today
We gathered today, we will gather tomorrow,
black and white, young and old
to watch the flickering screen, now in full color
to see another chink, another link of the chain loosened
We will watch as another son, another man
stands to take the oath, to swear allegiance to our law
to take another step, on the road that Martin walked
to change our nation, in living color
January 19, 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
watching his “I have a dream” speech with my family;
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church;
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
my wife, my children, my mother-in-law
all African-American, watching his speech
sharing his words, his dream, remembering his work
Our littlest, seven, asking why the picture was in black and white
explaining, hard as it was for her to believe, that there was only
black and white television at that time
incredible, incredulous, watching the preacher on the mall
How much has changed, how much transpired, since those days
before the assassinations, before the internet, before Watergate
before cell phones, before voting rights, before Vietnam
so long ago, so far from today
We gathered today, we will gather tomorrow,
black and white, young and old
to watch the flickering screen, now in full color
to see another chink, another link of the chain loosened
We will watch as another son, another man
stands to take the oath, to swear allegiance to our law
to take another step, on the road that Martin walked
to change our nation, in living color
January 19, 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
watching his “I have a dream” speech with my family;
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church;
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
The status of His Dream
As we celebrate Martin Luther King. Jr. Day today and the inauguration tomorrow of Barack Obama, I am mindful of the words of Martin Luther King, III, as printed in today's Washington Post,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/18/AR2009011801437.html.
In that poignant article, he stated that "Barack Obama's election does not render my father's dream realized".
While I cannot claim to understand the black experience in America, this language made me mindful of the story I shared at the Men's Walk to Emmaus on April 6, 2008, regarding something I witnessed in January a year ago next week.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A couple of days after the Martin Luther King Day holiday, I took my daughters to elementary school.
I observed a troubling scene. I was just an on-looker. I do not know what was in the hearts of the children. Any conclusion is merely my own, based on how it appeared.
Two young boys, one tow-head white and one ebony-black, likely a refugee child from Africa who may not yet speak English, were waiting in line to go into school. The black boy was ahead of the white boy in line. The white boy was just a few inches taller, heavier. He was facing the other boy. His head was hooded. He had his right hand held on the front of the other boy’s throat. It looked to me like the way a pit-bull, or other similar dog or a big-cat grasps its prey, immobilizing it. The other boy, facing me, did not move. I was struck by the scene. It may have been about 10 seconds, at most, before I stepped in to stop it. The staff moved in at the same moment, moved the attacker, and kept him separated. The teacher was alerted to what happened.
The school did the right thing, as far as I could tell, responding quickly.
But what of the two boys? What lessons have they been taught that led to this assault? What lessons did they learn on the playground this day? How far have we come as a people, to achieve Dr. King’s dream? How color blind are we?
How should we as Christians respond to injustice, even at the local level? How should we respond to injustice around the world?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/18/AR2009011801437.html.
In that poignant article, he stated that "Barack Obama's election does not render my father's dream realized".
While I cannot claim to understand the black experience in America, this language made me mindful of the story I shared at the Men's Walk to Emmaus on April 6, 2008, regarding something I witnessed in January a year ago next week.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A couple of days after the Martin Luther King Day holiday, I took my daughters to elementary school.
I observed a troubling scene. I was just an on-looker. I do not know what was in the hearts of the children. Any conclusion is merely my own, based on how it appeared.
Two young boys, one tow-head white and one ebony-black, likely a refugee child from Africa who may not yet speak English, were waiting in line to go into school. The black boy was ahead of the white boy in line. The white boy was just a few inches taller, heavier. He was facing the other boy. His head was hooded. He had his right hand held on the front of the other boy’s throat. It looked to me like the way a pit-bull, or other similar dog or a big-cat grasps its prey, immobilizing it. The other boy, facing me, did not move. I was struck by the scene. It may have been about 10 seconds, at most, before I stepped in to stop it. The staff moved in at the same moment, moved the attacker, and kept him separated. The teacher was alerted to what happened.
The school did the right thing, as far as I could tell, responding quickly.
But what of the two boys? What lessons have they been taught that led to this assault? What lessons did they learn on the playground this day? How far have we come as a people, to achieve Dr. King’s dream? How color blind are we?
How should we as Christians respond to injustice, even at the local level? How should we respond to injustice around the world?
In Tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; by Jack Levine, posted with his permission
In Tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jack Levine, Founder
4Generations Institute
jack@4Gen.org
850/567-5252
It was late August, 1963. I was 12. I remember my father calling me into his room. The radio was on, and I heard cheering. It was not a baseball game kind of cheer.....it seemed louder and longer.
My dad, aged 72 and blind, pointed in the direction of the radio with one hand, and put his other index finger to his lips....he was telling me to be quite....and to listen.
Next I heard the voice. A combination of speech and singing. The cadence was like none I ever heard. The word music rose and fell, the power was like a wave....swelling and then resting, soon to rise again.
My father's blind eyes were shining in the window light. He was tearful, his lips pursed, his head gently nodding in agreement. Seeing him so moved gave me the sense that history was being made. There in that sun-bathed room, the sound of that voice, the power of persuasion. I never saw my father so attentive. All of his energy focused on listening to the words. He slowly nodded to their cadence.
"I have a dream that one day my four little children will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech commanded the attention of not only the half-million who gathered in the shadow of Abraham Lincoln's statue, but touched the hearts and minds of a nation to pay attention and take action.
That speech on that sweltering August day ignited a charge of energy that would not be stopped.....not by by gushing fire hoses, biting dogs, enraged threats, bombs or sniper's bullets. At the tender age of 35, that eloquent preacher from Atlanta set in motion a set of individual and collective actions which would change how people viewed not only our neighbors, but ourselves. The impact of that leader's courage was felt not only in that tumultuous decade of the 1960's, but for generations to come.
The ideals of Dr. King's mission were rooted in his Christian faith; his operating principles and techniques were borrowed from Gandhi. But no matter what our faith, race, ethnicity, gender or age, the vision of Dr. King is a beacon for us all.
In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over three million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice to be protested, and action to be taken. Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. His life was cut short at age 39 by an assassin's bullet in April, 1968.
Has all that Dr. King envisioned come to pass? Not yet. Has his legacy brought forth a tremendous surge of change in attitude, law, and economic opportunity? Yes. But there's so much still to be accomplished. Justice is not static...it's active, and must be actively asserted and strictly guarded every day.
In my 35-plus year professional life I've learned that progress is not achieved by intention alone. Strategic advocacy is the only way wrongs can be righted and ideas can be transformed into action. All of our voices and votes are needed.
In memory and in tribute to those who marched, fought and sacrificed for the rights we hold dear, being responsible citizens is one of our highest callings.
Jack Levine, Founder
4Generations Institute
Tallahassee
Jack Levine, Founder
4Generations Institute
jack@4Gen.org
850/567-5252
It was late August, 1963. I was 12. I remember my father calling me into his room. The radio was on, and I heard cheering. It was not a baseball game kind of cheer.....it seemed louder and longer.
My dad, aged 72 and blind, pointed in the direction of the radio with one hand, and put his other index finger to his lips....he was telling me to be quite....and to listen.
Next I heard the voice. A combination of speech and singing. The cadence was like none I ever heard. The word music rose and fell, the power was like a wave....swelling and then resting, soon to rise again.
My father's blind eyes were shining in the window light. He was tearful, his lips pursed, his head gently nodding in agreement. Seeing him so moved gave me the sense that history was being made. There in that sun-bathed room, the sound of that voice, the power of persuasion. I never saw my father so attentive. All of his energy focused on listening to the words. He slowly nodded to their cadence.
"I have a dream that one day my four little children will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech commanded the attention of not only the half-million who gathered in the shadow of Abraham Lincoln's statue, but touched the hearts and minds of a nation to pay attention and take action.
That speech on that sweltering August day ignited a charge of energy that would not be stopped.....not by by gushing fire hoses, biting dogs, enraged threats, bombs or sniper's bullets. At the tender age of 35, that eloquent preacher from Atlanta set in motion a set of individual and collective actions which would change how people viewed not only our neighbors, but ourselves. The impact of that leader's courage was felt not only in that tumultuous decade of the 1960's, but for generations to come.
The ideals of Dr. King's mission were rooted in his Christian faith; his operating principles and techniques were borrowed from Gandhi. But no matter what our faith, race, ethnicity, gender or age, the vision of Dr. King is a beacon for us all.
In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over three million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice to be protested, and action to be taken. Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. His life was cut short at age 39 by an assassin's bullet in April, 1968.
Has all that Dr. King envisioned come to pass? Not yet. Has his legacy brought forth a tremendous surge of change in attitude, law, and economic opportunity? Yes. But there's so much still to be accomplished. Justice is not static...it's active, and must be actively asserted and strictly guarded every day.
In my 35-plus year professional life I've learned that progress is not achieved by intention alone. Strategic advocacy is the only way wrongs can be righted and ideas can be transformed into action. All of our voices and votes are needed.
In memory and in tribute to those who marched, fought and sacrificed for the rights we hold dear, being responsible citizens is one of our highest callings.
Jack Levine, Founder
4Generations Institute
Tallahassee
Talk, Changing Our World, given at the Men's Walk to Emmaus, April 2008
Changing Our World
Raymond A. Foss
Crossroads Emmaus, Walk to Emmaus #41
April 6, 2008
A couple of days after the Martin Luther King Day holiday, I took my daughters to elementary school.
I observed a troubling scene. I was just an on-looker. I do not know what was in the hearts of the children. Any conclusion is merely my own, based on how it appeared.
Two young boys, one tow-head white and one ebony-black, likely a refugee child from Africa who may not yet speak English, were waiting in line to go into school. The black boy was ahead of the white boy in line. The white boy was just a few inches taller, heavier. He was facing the other boy. His head was hooded. He had his right hand held on the front of the other boy’s throat. It looked to me like the way a pit-bull, or other similar dog or a big-cat grasps its prey, immobilizing it. The other boy, facing me, did not move. I was struck by the scene. It may have been about 10 seconds, at most, before I stepped in to stop it. The staff moved in at the same moment, moved the attacker, and kept him separated. The teacher was alerted to what happened.
The school did the right thing, as far as I could tell, responding quickly.
But what of the two boys? What lessons have they been taught that led to this assault? What lessons did they learn on the playground this day? How far have we come as a people, to achieve Dr. King’s dream? How color blind are we?
How should we as Christians respond to injustice, even at the local level? How should we respond to injustice around the world?
Changing our world involves four fields of ministry:
1) Self
2) Others
3) Your community
4) The World
Micah 6:8 provides a helpful framework for understanding what is required of us and how we will bring about change in these fields of Ministry.
Micah 6:8 reads
“What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice (community), love mercy (others), and walk humbly with your God (self)?”
This talk is about making a plan for changing our world: making the world a more Christ-centered, just, and loving community. You have heard about piety, study, action and about the world’s desperate need for Christ and Christian leadership. But how can you go about responding to the challenge?
G. K. Chesterton early in the last century once said: “The only thing wrong with Christianity is that nobody has ever tried it.”
For the next few minutes, I want to talk to you about not only trying it, but making a plan to successfully live it and help Christ make a difference in the world as well.
First Field of Ministry: Yourself
• Make a plan for anchoring ourselves spiritually
• Become firmly rooted in a relationship with God and Christian community
• Jesus is our Model
• A changed world begins with a changed self
- In this first field of ministry, we are called to walk humbly with our God. Before we set out to change the world, we must make a plan for anchoring ourselves spiritually. If you are going to bring change to the world, then you must begin by changing yourself.
There is an old Jewish story about a man who set out to change the world. In making his plan, he said to himself:
Basing myself on the Talmudic principle that if all men repented, the Messiah would come, I decided to do something about it. I was convinced I would be successful. But where was I to start? The world is so vast. I shall start with the country I know best, my own. But my country is so very large. I had better start with my town. But my town , too, is large. I had best start with my street. No: my home. No: my family. Never mind, I shall start with myself. (taken from Souls on Fire, by Elie Wiesel)
- Walk Humbly – like a servant, the washing of the feet – John 13:3-5, "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him."
- See the world differently, through Jesus’ eyes – The Good Samaritan – Luke 10:25-37, "Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
My plan –
1. Study the Word daily – Upper Room, Alive Now
2. Fellowship with Ruth – Couples Devotional
3. Prayer (still need to do better)
4. Worship
5. Sunday School
6. Neighborhood groups
7. Poetry
8. Email – Partners in Ministry, other list servers from the church
9. Speak out
Like Dan said in the Life of Piety talk near the beginning of this Walk to Emmaus, we must be grounded in these disciplines.
When we try to change the world without being firmly rooted in a relationship with God and Christian community, we can fall into traps.
Four Traps
1) The “Pharisee” – just the law
+ Because the Pharisee is not motivated by God’s grace, he or she is driven by rigid perfectionism and guided by legalism. The mission is perverted into forcing everyone into one’s own mold.
2) The “do-gooder” – needing to be needed
3) The “savior complex” – we can’t save the world alone
4) “Burned out” – not grounded, too many hats, too many meetings, etc.
Second Field of Ministry: Others
• We are called to love mercy
• Attitudes toward others will either open or close relationships as channels of grace
• Prayers for others are acts of love for others
• Friendship with others is the means by which you can share your life and offer Christ
• When hearts are won, support the change
- We are to show mercy – Like Jesus healing on the Sabbath – Luke 6:6-10, "On another sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” He got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?” After looking around at all of them, he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored."
- Or, judge not lest you be judged by the same measure – Matthew 7:1-5 "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye.”
- And – Who needs your witness?
- Do you affirm people?
- Live by our Social Principles (of the United Methodist Church), by our common creed
I came back to Christ in part because of the way my church lived out that Field of Ministry. In the fall of 2003, one of the ladies living in my apartment building was struggling with the impending death of her husband. I would sometimes drive her to his bedside. She didn’t know where to have the funeral. I asked her what denomination and she said United Methodist. I told her about our church, right next door to the apartment complex. She asked me to contact the church, which I did.
The service was wonderful (thank you Pastor Joel Guillemette); but, even more so, was the way the Hospitality Committee, the unsung ladies of the church, showed the love of Christ to this stranger, who turned out not to have been a Methodist at all. We laugh about how United Methodists are always eating. Well, I saw Christ in that ministry.
In the same way, I remember well my paternal grandmother, Jessie Aiken Watson Foss. She grew African violets and she baked cookies (seems to be a theme this weekend). She would deliver them all around the Springfield, MA area for years, delivering them to shut-ins. They even ran an article in the Springfield Union about the “Cookie Lady”.
My grandfather, whose name I carry as my middle name, Arthur, got a bit of mention too; you see he drove my grandmother for all those years. But he stayed in the car. His ministry was in being a servant to the servant.
Do you see the images on the right of the powerpoint screen there? They are there to remind me of some simple lessons.
1. Shopping cart – The shopping cart is there because a couple of weeks ago, I was a little bit convicted. I was rushing around, as usual, trying to get to the bank and the grocery store before getting home to get the girls from their schools. I started to leave my cart in the lot, right next to where I was parked. I almost was into the car, when I thought how easy it would be for me to go the 3 or 4 spaces to put it in the cart corral. Many of the workers who have to collect the carts have disabilities, it is just part of the reality. I claim to be a Christian, and an attorney who tries to advocate for the rights of the disabled in school. I had to put the cart into the corral.
2. The tie – This time is one of my favorites, out of the about 150 ties that I own. I often where it to court, to remind myself I am a Christian first. This is part of my 1st Field of Ministry (Myself), and how I use that grounding in my 2nd Field of Ministry (Others), reminding me of what I must do, and what I must not do.
I had to cross-examine a child once, who had accused my client of sexual abuse. That was no fun; but I had that tie on and the Holy Spirit with me that day. There were some questions I couldn’t ask. Prayer helped me through it.
Simple visible reminders, that I need, connected to that same verse from the prophet Micah.
Third Field of Ministry: Your Community
• We are called to do justice
• Our world does not consist of one-on-one relationships alone
• We influence our community in how we do or do not participate as a Christian
• Our mission is to help Christ alter our communities by being effective Christian influences in it
• Christ’s spirit should be evident in what we do and how we do it
- Like Jesus with the woman accused of adultery and about to be stoned; drawing a line in the sand and asking who is without sin, so they could cast the first stone
– John 8:2-11, "Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”
- Like stepping in or not when the bully was acting on the school ground.
- Like taking reduced fee cases or not
- Like sharing our faith
- Or like Solomon – who asked for Wisdom, not for riches from God
See those scales of justice? That too is a reminder to me, based on my work, to strive for justice.
Remember too there is a lot of scripture in the old testament about unfair scales. And Jesus had something to say about scales in the temple.
Mission to East Machias, ME
These images on this slide represent the work our church did on the Mission trip to downeast Maine last summer.
We didn’t have a plan, but Pastor Betty Palmer sure did. We were the hands and feet of God.
- We scraped, and scraped, and primed, and painted a house
- We roofed a house
- We sorted donations at the thrift store
- We built a ramp
But, and this is the most important part, we always came together, at the beginning of our day and at the end of the day, in fellowship, around the circle, around the cross of Christ
Fourth Field of Ministry: The World
I have included images of:
1. New Orleans after Katrina
2. A Mission team from Minnesota
3. A picture of starving children in Africa, off UMC pages
4. A graphic of the UMCOR, and
5. An image of the Nothing But Nets campaign, trying to get Malaria nets for all of the at risk populations in Africa
All of these are ways both financially and with our hands, we can minister to the whole world
And these are just a small set of options.
- our community is as big as the world
- Together we can make a difference
- Hope comes from trying
Something we need to remember - The validity of our witness is not in immediate results.
“Some will plant,
some will water,
and some will harvest”
1 Corinthians 3:8
Micah 6:15
You shall sow, but not reap; you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil; you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.
1 Cor. 3:5-9 – "What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building."
Look at the faith of Abraham.
It was centuries before it was fulfilled; but it was faith that mattered, not the works themselves
– Genesis 12:1-4a, "Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.”
and Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, "What then are we to say was gained by* Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.. . . For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
Conclusion
• What will be your plan?
• What can you do now that will make a difference?
The image of a map, a plan, reminds us to be conscious that we need to follow the urging of the prophet Micah, as Christ’s hands, his feet, his voice in the world.
De Colores!
Raymond A. Foss
Crossroads Emmaus, Walk to Emmaus #41
April 6, 2008
A couple of days after the Martin Luther King Day holiday, I took my daughters to elementary school.
I observed a troubling scene. I was just an on-looker. I do not know what was in the hearts of the children. Any conclusion is merely my own, based on how it appeared.
Two young boys, one tow-head white and one ebony-black, likely a refugee child from Africa who may not yet speak English, were waiting in line to go into school. The black boy was ahead of the white boy in line. The white boy was just a few inches taller, heavier. He was facing the other boy. His head was hooded. He had his right hand held on the front of the other boy’s throat. It looked to me like the way a pit-bull, or other similar dog or a big-cat grasps its prey, immobilizing it. The other boy, facing me, did not move. I was struck by the scene. It may have been about 10 seconds, at most, before I stepped in to stop it. The staff moved in at the same moment, moved the attacker, and kept him separated. The teacher was alerted to what happened.
The school did the right thing, as far as I could tell, responding quickly.
But what of the two boys? What lessons have they been taught that led to this assault? What lessons did they learn on the playground this day? How far have we come as a people, to achieve Dr. King’s dream? How color blind are we?
How should we as Christians respond to injustice, even at the local level? How should we respond to injustice around the world?
Changing our world involves four fields of ministry:
1) Self
2) Others
3) Your community
4) The World
Micah 6:8 provides a helpful framework for understanding what is required of us and how we will bring about change in these fields of Ministry.
Micah 6:8 reads
“What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice (community), love mercy (others), and walk humbly with your God (self)?”
This talk is about making a plan for changing our world: making the world a more Christ-centered, just, and loving community. You have heard about piety, study, action and about the world’s desperate need for Christ and Christian leadership. But how can you go about responding to the challenge?
G. K. Chesterton early in the last century once said: “The only thing wrong with Christianity is that nobody has ever tried it.”
For the next few minutes, I want to talk to you about not only trying it, but making a plan to successfully live it and help Christ make a difference in the world as well.
First Field of Ministry: Yourself
• Make a plan for anchoring ourselves spiritually
• Become firmly rooted in a relationship with God and Christian community
• Jesus is our Model
• A changed world begins with a changed self
- In this first field of ministry, we are called to walk humbly with our God. Before we set out to change the world, we must make a plan for anchoring ourselves spiritually. If you are going to bring change to the world, then you must begin by changing yourself.
There is an old Jewish story about a man who set out to change the world. In making his plan, he said to himself:
Basing myself on the Talmudic principle that if all men repented, the Messiah would come, I decided to do something about it. I was convinced I would be successful. But where was I to start? The world is so vast. I shall start with the country I know best, my own. But my country is so very large. I had better start with my town. But my town , too, is large. I had best start with my street. No: my home. No: my family. Never mind, I shall start with myself. (taken from Souls on Fire, by Elie Wiesel)
- Walk Humbly – like a servant, the washing of the feet – John 13:3-5, "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him."
- See the world differently, through Jesus’ eyes – The Good Samaritan – Luke 10:25-37, "Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
My plan –
1. Study the Word daily – Upper Room, Alive Now
2. Fellowship with Ruth – Couples Devotional
3. Prayer (still need to do better)
4. Worship
5. Sunday School
6. Neighborhood groups
7. Poetry
8. Email – Partners in Ministry, other list servers from the church
9. Speak out
Like Dan said in the Life of Piety talk near the beginning of this Walk to Emmaus, we must be grounded in these disciplines.
When we try to change the world without being firmly rooted in a relationship with God and Christian community, we can fall into traps.
Four Traps
1) The “Pharisee” – just the law
+ Because the Pharisee is not motivated by God’s grace, he or she is driven by rigid perfectionism and guided by legalism. The mission is perverted into forcing everyone into one’s own mold.
2) The “do-gooder” – needing to be needed
3) The “savior complex” – we can’t save the world alone
4) “Burned out” – not grounded, too many hats, too many meetings, etc.
Second Field of Ministry: Others
• We are called to love mercy
• Attitudes toward others will either open or close relationships as channels of grace
• Prayers for others are acts of love for others
• Friendship with others is the means by which you can share your life and offer Christ
• When hearts are won, support the change
- We are to show mercy – Like Jesus healing on the Sabbath – Luke 6:6-10, "On another sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” He got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?” After looking around at all of them, he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored."
- Or, judge not lest you be judged by the same measure – Matthew 7:1-5 "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye.”
- And – Who needs your witness?
- Do you affirm people?
- Live by our Social Principles (of the United Methodist Church), by our common creed
I came back to Christ in part because of the way my church lived out that Field of Ministry. In the fall of 2003, one of the ladies living in my apartment building was struggling with the impending death of her husband. I would sometimes drive her to his bedside. She didn’t know where to have the funeral. I asked her what denomination and she said United Methodist. I told her about our church, right next door to the apartment complex. She asked me to contact the church, which I did.
The service was wonderful (thank you Pastor Joel Guillemette); but, even more so, was the way the Hospitality Committee, the unsung ladies of the church, showed the love of Christ to this stranger, who turned out not to have been a Methodist at all. We laugh about how United Methodists are always eating. Well, I saw Christ in that ministry.
In the same way, I remember well my paternal grandmother, Jessie Aiken Watson Foss. She grew African violets and she baked cookies (seems to be a theme this weekend). She would deliver them all around the Springfield, MA area for years, delivering them to shut-ins. They even ran an article in the Springfield Union about the “Cookie Lady”.
My grandfather, whose name I carry as my middle name, Arthur, got a bit of mention too; you see he drove my grandmother for all those years. But he stayed in the car. His ministry was in being a servant to the servant.
Do you see the images on the right of the powerpoint screen there? They are there to remind me of some simple lessons.
1. Shopping cart – The shopping cart is there because a couple of weeks ago, I was a little bit convicted. I was rushing around, as usual, trying to get to the bank and the grocery store before getting home to get the girls from their schools. I started to leave my cart in the lot, right next to where I was parked. I almost was into the car, when I thought how easy it would be for me to go the 3 or 4 spaces to put it in the cart corral. Many of the workers who have to collect the carts have disabilities, it is just part of the reality. I claim to be a Christian, and an attorney who tries to advocate for the rights of the disabled in school. I had to put the cart into the corral.
2. The tie – This time is one of my favorites, out of the about 150 ties that I own. I often where it to court, to remind myself I am a Christian first. This is part of my 1st Field of Ministry (Myself), and how I use that grounding in my 2nd Field of Ministry (Others), reminding me of what I must do, and what I must not do.
I had to cross-examine a child once, who had accused my client of sexual abuse. That was no fun; but I had that tie on and the Holy Spirit with me that day. There were some questions I couldn’t ask. Prayer helped me through it.
Simple visible reminders, that I need, connected to that same verse from the prophet Micah.
Third Field of Ministry: Your Community
• We are called to do justice
• Our world does not consist of one-on-one relationships alone
• We influence our community in how we do or do not participate as a Christian
• Our mission is to help Christ alter our communities by being effective Christian influences in it
• Christ’s spirit should be evident in what we do and how we do it
- Like Jesus with the woman accused of adultery and about to be stoned; drawing a line in the sand and asking who is without sin, so they could cast the first stone
– John 8:2-11, "Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”
- Like stepping in or not when the bully was acting on the school ground.
- Like taking reduced fee cases or not
- Like sharing our faith
- Or like Solomon – who asked for Wisdom, not for riches from God
See those scales of justice? That too is a reminder to me, based on my work, to strive for justice.
Remember too there is a lot of scripture in the old testament about unfair scales. And Jesus had something to say about scales in the temple.
Mission to East Machias, ME
These images on this slide represent the work our church did on the Mission trip to downeast Maine last summer.
We didn’t have a plan, but Pastor Betty Palmer sure did. We were the hands and feet of God.
- We scraped, and scraped, and primed, and painted a house
- We roofed a house
- We sorted donations at the thrift store
- We built a ramp
But, and this is the most important part, we always came together, at the beginning of our day and at the end of the day, in fellowship, around the circle, around the cross of Christ
Fourth Field of Ministry: The World
I have included images of:
1. New Orleans after Katrina
2. A Mission team from Minnesota
3. A picture of starving children in Africa, off UMC pages
4. A graphic of the UMCOR, and
5. An image of the Nothing But Nets campaign, trying to get Malaria nets for all of the at risk populations in Africa
All of these are ways both financially and with our hands, we can minister to the whole world
And these are just a small set of options.
- our community is as big as the world
- Together we can make a difference
- Hope comes from trying
Something we need to remember - The validity of our witness is not in immediate results.
“Some will plant,
some will water,
and some will harvest”
1 Corinthians 3:8
Micah 6:15
You shall sow, but not reap; you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil; you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.
1 Cor. 3:5-9 – "What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building."
Look at the faith of Abraham.
It was centuries before it was fulfilled; but it was faith that mattered, not the works themselves
– Genesis 12:1-4a, "Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.”
and Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, "What then are we to say was gained by* Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.. . . For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
Conclusion
• What will be your plan?
• What can you do now that will make a difference?
The image of a map, a plan, reminds us to be conscious that we need to follow the urging of the prophet Micah, as Christ’s hands, his feet, his voice in the world.
De Colores!
All of my
poems and photographs are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002,
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015,
2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for
usage. See all 40,750+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Changing the World
For only in these words
of the one who would go to the cross
are we able to change the world
replacing hatred and war,
with love, forgiveness, and peace
Something so simple, so hard to do
all within us; able only,
with the help of the spirit
living inside each one of us
Act in the world,
as the world is seen by God
all of us sinners, all of us worthy
of his love, of his saving, of his grace
Like Christ, if we are to follow his example
we must let go of our hate and our anger
and love of neighbors,
all of us children of God
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
of the one who would go to the cross
are we able to change the world
replacing hatred and war,
with love, forgiveness, and peace
Something so simple, so hard to do
all within us; able only,
with the help of the spirit
living inside each one of us
Act in the world,
as the world is seen by God
all of us sinners, all of us worthy
of his love, of his saving, of his grace
Like Christ, if we are to follow his example
we must let go of our hate and our anger
and love of neighbors,
all of us children of God
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
The Teachings of Jesus
In these words of scripture
this training he gave on the earth
we get a glimpse of the father
and his love of each one of us
The teachings of Jesus
the law of God, not of man
treating one another with justice
to love each as our neighbor
We are to forgive and to pray
even those who would do us harm
for those who hate us, remembering God,
he is the judge, we merely his messengers
The teachings of Christ, on the Zion hilltop
we, his brother and sisters, his children
the sheep of his flock, we are to listen
with ears that will hear
The world, so different, unlike the will of God
we are to love, first and foremost
to be loyal, faithful to our creator
and to love all of mankind
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
this training he gave on the earth
we get a glimpse of the father
and his love of each one of us
The teachings of Jesus
the law of God, not of man
treating one another with justice
to love each as our neighbor
We are to forgive and to pray
even those who would do us harm
for those who hate us, remembering God,
he is the judge, we merely his messengers
The teachings of Christ, on the Zion hilltop
we, his brother and sisters, his children
the sheep of his flock, we are to listen
with ears that will hear
The world, so different, unlike the will of God
we are to love, first and foremost
to be loyal, faithful to our creator
and to love all of mankind
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
Love Liberates
Within the words of the scripture
the sermon on the mount
words of power, that love liberates
loosing the bonds of hate
of the cost of the cycle on the soul
freeing the oppressed
from the power over them
letting them love unconditionally
Drawing nearer to the master
hearing his call
uncluttered, unburdened
without trouble at all
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
the sermon on the mount
words of power, that love liberates
loosing the bonds of hate
of the cost of the cycle on the soul
freeing the oppressed
from the power over them
letting them love unconditionally
Drawing nearer to the master
hearing his call
uncluttered, unburdened
without trouble at all
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
Fighting Evil
Fighting evil, with love,
fighting aggression, with forgiveness
fighting injustice, with resolve
fighting with love, not rage
Changing our hearts, to model Christ
changing to walk more humbly
changing our definitions, loving our enemies
changing our roles, a servant of God
Living lives of humility and caring
living more and more, a child of God
living in the world, but not of this earth
living today for our life in heaven
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
fighting aggression, with forgiveness
fighting injustice, with resolve
fighting with love, not rage
Changing our hearts, to model Christ
changing to walk more humbly
changing our definitions, loving our enemies
changing our roles, a servant of God
Living lives of humility and caring
living more and more, a child of God
living in the world, but not of this earth
living today for our life in heaven
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
Power in His Words
There was power in his words
revolutionary power, lived out
in the rest of his life,
in the lives of those who would follow,
who would follow his call
Words changing the vision of life,
of how to live in the world
power to live with oppression,
the imbalance of justice in life
to respond to hate and injustice
to strip them of their sting
to show a noble example
to walk humbly before our God
and show his love to the nations
by showing love to each of his children
each one as one of our neighbors,
our brothers, our sisters on earth
Walking with our brother, our savior
showing a better way
to care for one another
and call them to his loving arms
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
revolutionary power, lived out
in the rest of his life,
in the lives of those who would follow,
who would follow his call
Words changing the vision of life,
of how to live in the world
power to live with oppression,
the imbalance of justice in life
to respond to hate and injustice
to strip them of their sting
to show a noble example
to walk humbly before our God
and show his love to the nations
by showing love to each of his children
each one as one of our neighbors,
our brothers, our sisters on earth
Walking with our brother, our savior
showing a better way
to care for one another
and call them to his loving arms
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
Living Christ’s Words
Transforming words, living Christ’s words
explaining much, holy, about why we are here,
in this sanctuary, in this fellowship,
remembering the preacher, the teacher
his birthday weekend, his ministry, his movement,
transformed by the words of the Christ,
knowing the sacrifice, the pain,
each would endure
knowing the love each one bore
the call of the master,
to serve, not to be served
to care, not to be cared for,
to give not to receive
to love rather than to hate
to stare persecution in the face
to offer themselves for that which is right
to leave a legacy of love, of hope
for this time and for all time
living Christ’s words
so we are called to do
if we are to claim his name
if we are to serve the master
in all of our days
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
explaining much, holy, about why we are here,
in this sanctuary, in this fellowship,
remembering the preacher, the teacher
his birthday weekend, his ministry, his movement,
transformed by the words of the Christ,
knowing the sacrifice, the pain,
each would endure
knowing the love each one bore
the call of the master,
to serve, not to be served
to care, not to be cared for,
to give not to receive
to love rather than to hate
to stare persecution in the face
to offer themselves for that which is right
to leave a legacy of love, of hope
for this time and for all time
living Christ’s words
so we are called to do
if we are to claim his name
if we are to serve the master
in all of our days
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
The Power of His Words
The power of his words
echoing down through the ages
words transforming power, the order of things
giving when others take, forgiving,
where there is hate,
loving our enemies,
modeled on his example
his unblemished life,
teacher, healer, and servant,
sacrificial lamb, son of God
Words with power, because he lived them
showing us a way of life
unlike that which the world would laud
demonstrating the father’s love
in the choice of ministry,
in the choice of sacrifice,
in the choice of the cross
Loving those who would persecute him
even in the moment of death
echoing still, in this moment in time
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
echoing down through the ages
words transforming power, the order of things
giving when others take, forgiving,
where there is hate,
loving our enemies,
modeled on his example
his unblemished life,
teacher, healer, and servant,
sacrificial lamb, son of God
Words with power, because he lived them
showing us a way of life
unlike that which the world would laud
demonstrating the father’s love
in the choice of ministry,
in the choice of sacrifice,
in the choice of the cross
Loving those who would persecute him
even in the moment of death
echoing still, in this moment in time
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
Not Words of Weakness
The words of the Rabbi, the teacher
the one who walked on the earth
turning the tables on the powerful,
changing the definitions, the rules to live by
turning the other cheek, lending freely,
giving the second coat, the shirt,
going the second mile, not just the first,
repaying hatred with love
words not of weakness but of power,
changing the world, from one of human values
to one governed by the love of God
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
the one who walked on the earth
turning the tables on the powerful,
changing the definitions, the rules to live by
turning the other cheek, lending freely,
giving the second coat, the shirt,
going the second mile, not just the first,
repaying hatred with love
words not of weakness but of power,
changing the world, from one of human values
to one governed by the love of God
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
Understanding this moment
A hope of a nation, a people, a cause
a movement coming to fruition
a people wondering and waiting
a chasm about to be crossed
We stand at the edge of the canyon
and wonder if this is the one
to lead us out of the wilderness
and into the land of peace and love
We watch to the history behind us
to the men who carried the torch
and remember all who died
to reach this moment in time
But for all the wondrous moments
the hope and wonder and cost
all is based on the one
who offered himself, up on the rugged cross
For only in his teachings
that love must triumph over hate
that we are all one people
all worthy of God’s great love
For our enemies are our neighbors
our lot intertwined with theirs
and we are to love our God and our neighbors
as we would wish to be loved by them
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
a movement coming to fruition
a people wondering and waiting
a chasm about to be crossed
We stand at the edge of the canyon
and wonder if this is the one
to lead us out of the wilderness
and into the land of peace and love
We watch to the history behind us
to the men who carried the torch
and remember all who died
to reach this moment in time
But for all the wondrous moments
the hope and wonder and cost
all is based on the one
who offered himself, up on the rugged cross
For only in his teachings
that love must triumph over hate
that we are all one people
all worthy of God’s great love
For our enemies are our neighbors
our lot intertwined with theirs
and we are to love our God and our neighbors
as we would wish to be loved by them
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
Radical Words
Radical words, more than all the rest,
that sermon on the hill, the mount,
sharing with us, even to this moment,
words to transform human hearts,
to slip loose the bonds of hatred,
of division, of strife,
To answer persecution
with love, with forgiveness,
with compassion for each other
To walk as our brother walked
to humbly submit to oppression
not as an act of submission
but to show the love of our creator
one world, one people, one hope
A faith strong enough to move mountains
a certainty of the works, the grace of our father
to heal all that is broken
to bring us peace, to make us whole
A love for one another,
a prayer for love to take hold
in each heart and hamlet
across this troubled globe
to see our lives in each other
to see our hope in peace as one
To walk with our sister, our brother
to lift up, to help, to share the love of God
We walk into this future, this time of change and joy
and pray that this is the moment for all to live as one
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
that sermon on the hill, the mount,
sharing with us, even to this moment,
words to transform human hearts,
to slip loose the bonds of hatred,
of division, of strife,
To answer persecution
with love, with forgiveness,
with compassion for each other
To walk as our brother walked
to humbly submit to oppression
not as an act of submission
but to show the love of our creator
one world, one people, one hope
A faith strong enough to move mountains
a certainty of the works, the grace of our father
to heal all that is broken
to bring us peace, to make us whole
A love for one another,
a prayer for love to take hold
in each heart and hamlet
across this troubled globe
to see our lives in each other
to see our hope in peace as one
To walk with our sister, our brother
to lift up, to help, to share the love of God
We walk into this future, this time of change and joy
and pray that this is the moment for all to live as one
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
Hatred
Christ preached, from the mountain,
the hills of Zion, words to change the world
to loose the grip of hatred
seeing that hatred kills those who hate,
not just the hated;
changing the perspective
the focus of lives,
to love even our enemies
to break free of bonds,
pulling us, an eye for an eye
Giving hope in the desert places
where the pain is almost too much to bear
living the words he gave us
even to the cross to bear
His spirit within us
his choices we can make
to love not to hate our oppressors
to see Christ in every new face
to love no matter the situation
to forgive in every instance
to walk nearer to thee
To carry the yoke of our savior
to answer the call of our master
and be Christ to our neighbors
whoever they may be
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
the hills of Zion, words to change the world
to loose the grip of hatred
seeing that hatred kills those who hate,
not just the hated;
changing the perspective
the focus of lives,
to love even our enemies
to break free of bonds,
pulling us, an eye for an eye
Giving hope in the desert places
where the pain is almost too much to bear
living the words he gave us
even to the cross to bear
His spirit within us
his choices we can make
to love not to hate our oppressors
to see Christ in every new face
to love no matter the situation
to forgive in every instance
to walk nearer to thee
To carry the yoke of our savior
to answer the call of our master
and be Christ to our neighbors
whoever they may be
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
Choosing the Cross
In the words of the sermon,
the words of love on the mountainside
the seeds of the words, his actions,
his choosing the cross
the savior loving his enemies,
those who would persecute,
knowing the weight of his sacrifice
the healing he could make
Choosing the pain, the shame
the nails on the cross
bringing reconciliation, life eternal
hope for all of mankind
Choosing to love
even those who would spit in his face
an example for the ages
to all who claim his name
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
the words of love on the mountainside
the seeds of the words, his actions,
his choosing the cross
the savior loving his enemies,
those who would persecute,
knowing the weight of his sacrifice
the healing he could make
Choosing the pain, the shame
the nails on the cross
bringing reconciliation, life eternal
hope for all of mankind
Choosing to love
even those who would spit in his face
an example for the ages
to all who claim his name
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
Seeing Joshua
For so many, across the nation,
believers beyond our shores,
seeing Joshua, more than a new generation,
seeing Joshua in he who is about to lead
seeing the mantle passed to a new leader
for this time, this moment, this people
A change in the direction,
coming out of the wilderness days
coming into the light of tomorrow
coming on the day after Martin was born
a change for this time, this nation, this hope
Seeing the one who could save
the one called to take on the charge
to lead us to that new country
to bind up the scars of the past
If he leads by the words of the savior
and the life of his servant before him
we may yet see that bright star shining
and the joy of peace on earth
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
believers beyond our shores,
seeing Joshua, more than a new generation,
seeing Joshua in he who is about to lead
seeing the mantle passed to a new leader
for this time, this moment, this people
A change in the direction,
coming out of the wilderness days
coming into the light of tomorrow
coming on the day after Martin was born
a change for this time, this nation, this hope
Seeing the one who could save
the one called to take on the charge
to lead us to that new country
to bind up the scars of the past
If he leads by the words of the savior
and the life of his servant before him
we may yet see that bright star shining
and the joy of peace on earth
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
Forty Years
Forty years in the desert,
forty years since he saw the mountaintop
forty years wandering, wondering,
where is the promised land
A new leader rising, a new day dawning
changing the color of the nation
a chance for change,
for a new time of freedom
from a transformation of our spirits
Our day is coming, our time in the wilderness ending
a new moment for love, for unity, for peace
may we not take advantage
of this singular time, may we not sleep
while there is work yet to be done
May the words of the master,
and the life of his servant Martin
live out in the life of this nation
until all are truly free
and all may see the promised land
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
forty years since he saw the mountaintop
forty years wandering, wondering,
where is the promised land
A new leader rising, a new day dawning
changing the color of the nation
a chance for change,
for a new time of freedom
from a transformation of our spirits
Our day is coming, our time in the wilderness ending
a new moment for love, for unity, for peace
may we not take advantage
of this singular time, may we not sleep
while there is work yet to be done
May the words of the master,
and the life of his servant Martin
live out in the life of this nation
until all are truly free
and all may see the promised land
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
Echoes of the Desert
In these days, these times of transition
this time of transforming, hope in the air
echoes of the years, the trials, the anguish
the years in the desert, wandering, struggling,
a people adrift, lost in the between times
between their slavery and the promised lands
The days of Moses, the days in the desert,
wondering now if they are ending, for another people
another people lost, wandering, out of slavery,
into a long desert, wondering when
the promised land would come
when they would find peace, a land for them
May these be the days, long prayed for
when the people can cross over
when the past can be cast off
and they may drink of milk and honey
when they may walk into a new day
a feel a new life of freedom
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
this time of transforming, hope in the air
echoes of the years, the trials, the anguish
the years in the desert, wandering, struggling,
a people adrift, lost in the between times
between their slavery and the promised lands
The days of Moses, the days in the desert,
wondering now if they are ending, for another people
another people lost, wandering, out of slavery,
into a long desert, wondering when
the promised land would come
when they would find peace, a land for them
May these be the days, long prayed for
when the people can cross over
when the past can be cast off
and they may drink of milk and honey
when they may walk into a new day
a feel a new life of freedom
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
Before Martin
Our pastor, setting the stage, the precedent,
these days, these events, our times
into their context, framing our thoughts
back to the source, the beginning
the radical words, changing our world
Explaining our hopes
in the radical words
the transforming power
the profound truths
in the teachings of Christ
On that mountainside,
in the words he shared,
setting the world right side up,
changing the rules, the order,
the human-made way of things
Seeing the world, humankind,
all of the world
as God sees the world,
all equal, all worthy
all loved by the creator, all
Loving our enemies,
seeing the good in them,
their humanity, just as our own
treating our enemies, our neighbors
as we would wish to be
Finding ourselves
in those who would hate us
finding God, within each beating heart
finding forgiveness,
as only Christ could forgive
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
these days, these events, our times
into their context, framing our thoughts
back to the source, the beginning
the radical words, changing our world
Explaining our hopes
in the radical words
the transforming power
the profound truths
in the teachings of Christ
On that mountainside,
in the words he shared,
setting the world right side up,
changing the rules, the order,
the human-made way of things
Seeing the world, humankind,
all of the world
as God sees the world,
all equal, all worthy
all loved by the creator, all
Loving our enemies,
seeing the good in them,
their humanity, just as our own
treating our enemies, our neighbors
as we would wish to be
Finding ourselves
in those who would hate us
finding God, within each beating heart
finding forgiveness,
as only Christ could forgive
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
In His Ministry
In his ministry, echoes,
reflections, mirroring the savior’s words
the path that the Christ walked,
living out the words proclaimed on the mountainside
the words of love, even for our enemies
even those actively tormenting, persecuting us
those who would harm us, for being who we are
These words, guiding his steps, his ministry,
his non-violent response, to the violence,
to the oppression, that right would triumph
that the just God would watch over
all of God’s people, that we as a nation
would overcome the legacy of hate
that Christ’s love, preached on the mountainside
would transform the world
enemies no more, living together
together walking across that divide
into a promised land of peace
Struggling when there was darkness
continuing in the work of our brother
bringing hope into the dark world
never giving up, always trusting in God
ever honoring the master’s call
changing hate to love
even love for our enemies
water chiseling rock
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
reflections, mirroring the savior’s words
the path that the Christ walked,
living out the words proclaimed on the mountainside
the words of love, even for our enemies
even those actively tormenting, persecuting us
those who would harm us, for being who we are
These words, guiding his steps, his ministry,
his non-violent response, to the violence,
to the oppression, that right would triumph
that the just God would watch over
all of God’s people, that we as a nation
would overcome the legacy of hate
that Christ’s love, preached on the mountainside
would transform the world
enemies no more, living together
together walking across that divide
into a promised land of peace
Struggling when there was darkness
continuing in the work of our brother
bringing hope into the dark world
never giving up, always trusting in God
ever honoring the master’s call
changing hate to love
even love for our enemies
water chiseling rock
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
Lofty Words
Words of the savior, from God
words on the mountain,
given to the people, words changing
transforming words, the rules,
the law, the meaning, the balance
seeing the world with different eyes
our enemies our neighbors,
loving our enemies,
those who would do us harm
treating them as we would wish
they would treat us
All equal, in the sight of God,
all must be treated fairly, justly,
words lofty, hard to live;
but for the help of God
we too can live out these words
the words that guided our savior
even to the cross, even while hanging there
forgiveness, reconciliation
in these words of love
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
words on the mountain,
given to the people, words changing
transforming words, the rules,
the law, the meaning, the balance
seeing the world with different eyes
our enemies our neighbors,
loving our enemies,
those who would do us harm
treating them as we would wish
they would treat us
All equal, in the sight of God,
all must be treated fairly, justly,
words lofty, hard to live;
but for the help of God
we too can live out these words
the words that guided our savior
even to the cross, even while hanging there
forgiveness, reconciliation
in these words of love
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
Always Torture
Finally, the words, unambiguous, clear
torture, waterboarding was torture,
a position for the new administration
words with power, with consequences
Our country, bound by our creed, by our beliefs
must not be party, must not use, cannot condone
always torture, a statement of fact
words under oath, with power, with consequence
may we ever be mindful, of the words he shared
echoes of the words of our savior, a foundation
a rock on which we all should stand
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
torture, waterboarding was torture,
a position for the new administration
words with power, with consequences
Our country, bound by our creed, by our beliefs
must not be party, must not use, cannot condone
always torture, a statement of fact
words under oath, with power, with consequence
may we ever be mindful, of the words he shared
echoes of the words of our savior, a foundation
a rock on which we all should stand
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
The Question
Trying to change the discussion, to force him to agree
to admit that torture, any torture, was justified
that the ends justify the means, any means
That sometimes our enemies lost their humanity
that our laws could be broken, for any reason
to save lives, that a just law could be ignored
Happily, he did not take the bait
did not agree that torture was ever just
Our enemies, ourselves ever changed
when hate calls us, and we answer in kind
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
to admit that torture, any torture, was justified
that the ends justify the means, any means
That sometimes our enemies lost their humanity
that our laws could be broken, for any reason
to save lives, that a just law could be ignored
Happily, he did not take the bait
did not agree that torture was ever just
Our enemies, ourselves ever changed
when hate calls us, and we answer in kind
January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
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