My Clay

Praying, in the quiet of my heart
my clay, giving myself
my heart, my all
becoming a vessel
worthy for God’s purposes
filled with God’s love
His living water
pure, refreshing
waters for the soul
Let me pour them out,
sharing them, my clay still wet
dripping with the waters of your love


September 19, 2009
Alive Now daily reflection for September 19, 2009,
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-14-20/
the poem, “A Vessel”, by Roberta Porter
and the prayer for the week
and suggested scripture,
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Psalm 1:1-6
Luke 9:57-62
Acts 9:1-9
and
Romans 5:1-12
Romans 5:1-5
Jeremiah 2:1-13
Jeremiah 2:13
Call to Worship
Unison Prayer
& sermon, “Human Limitations and Unlimited Grace”
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org/
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
9/13/09

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

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

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

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/

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 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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/