In the chapters growing
wondering when it would happen
when his comeuppance
his response would come
Over and over questioning the creator
challenging God, not just asking
demanding an accounting
a justification from the one who made us
A mortal asking for a reason from the potter
stubborn clay, judging God
His answer in the whirlwind
the challenge of the maker
Where were you when I made all?
Who are you to question me;
and what right do you claim
calling me to task?
October 17, 2009
Job 38:1-7 (34-41)
&
Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35b
Job 38:1-7, 16-18, 34-38 & 40:3-5
and sermon, “Father Knows Best”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
October 18, 2009
&
Psalm 8:3-4
and writing challenge
“Monday Manna for October 19 - What is man?”
posted by Joanne Sher on her blog,
“An Open Book”, at:
http://joannesher.blogspot.com/2009/10/monday-manna-for-october-19-what-is-man.html
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Sentient Clay
The two parts, the two halves
the duality in the nature of man
sentient clay, the stuff of the earth
made in the image of God
the divine and the base
fighting within us
living out the days of our lives
giving over to the world or the savior
following a path of our own
or of God’s choosing
A struggle for our minds
our hearts torn within us
which way will follow
defining our lives
October 17, 2009
Job 38:1-7 (34-41)
&
Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35b
Job 38:1-7, 16-18, 34-38 & 40:3-5
and sermon, “Father Knows Best”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
October 18, 2009
&
Psalm 8:3-4
and writing challenge
“Monday Manna for October 19 - What is man?”
posted by Joanne Sher on her blog,
“An Open Book”, at:
http://joannesher.blogspot.com/2009/10/monday-manna-for-october-19-what-is-man.html
the duality in the nature of man
sentient clay, the stuff of the earth
made in the image of God
the divine and the base
fighting within us
living out the days of our lives
giving over to the world or the savior
following a path of our own
or of God’s choosing
A struggle for our minds
our hearts torn within us
which way will follow
defining our lives
October 17, 2009
Job 38:1-7 (34-41)
&
Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35b
Job 38:1-7, 16-18, 34-38 & 40:3-5
and sermon, “Father Knows Best”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
October 18, 2009
&
Psalm 8:3-4
and writing challenge
“Monday Manna for October 19 - What is man?”
posted by Joanne Sher on her blog,
“An Open Book”, at:
http://joannesher.blogspot.com/2009/10/monday-manna-for-october-19-what-is-man.html
Humble Clay
In the potter’s hand
our lives, our path
humble clay, waiting to be molded
finding will, purpose outside
Cracked and chipped
returning to the potter
made malleable once more
reshaped for greater work
a child of the potter
spreading his love
out into the world
our lives, our path
humble clay, waiting to be molded
finding will, purpose outside
Cracked and chipped
returning to the potter
made malleable once more
reshaped for greater work
a child of the potter
spreading his love
out into the world
edited
December 5, 2014
Humble
Clay – v4
(editing
original again)
edited
October 14, 2014
Humble
Clay – v3
(editing
original again)
edited
August 10, 2014
Humble
Clay – v2
October
17, 2009
Humble
Clay
Job
38:1-7 (34-41)
&
Psalm
104:1-9, 24, 35b
Job
38:1-7, 16-18, 34-38 & 40:3-5
and
sermon, “Father Knows Best”
by
Pastor Ruth L. Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Suncook
United Methodist Church
Suncook,
NH
October
18, 2009
&
Psalm
8:3-4
and
writing challenge
“Monday
Manna for October 19 - What is man?”
posted
by Joanne Sher on her blog,
“An
Open Book”, at:
All of my
poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. All rights reserved.
Contact me at Ray Foss
for usage. See all 34,380+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
Questioning God
After he had questioned God
attempted to cross-examine
to sit in judgment of God
The creator answered,
not as he had hoped for,
putting his humanity
in front of his face.
The dimension, the distance from the creator
how far below
he was starting to know
unable to answer
not even a little
the questions the creator
posed to him in that day
October 17, 2009
Job 38:1-7 (34-41)
&
Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35b
Job 38:1-7, 16-18, 34-38 & 40:3-5
and sermon, “Father Knows Best”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
October 18, 2009
&
Psalm 8:3-4
and writing challenge
“Monday Manna for October 19 - What is man?”
posted by Joanne Sher on her blog,
“An Open Book”, at:
http://joannesher.blogspot.com/2009/10/monday-manna-for-october-19-what-is-man.html
attempted to cross-examine
to sit in judgment of God
The creator answered,
not as he had hoped for,
putting his humanity
in front of his face.
The dimension, the distance from the creator
how far below
he was starting to know
unable to answer
not even a little
the questions the creator
posed to him in that day
October 17, 2009
Job 38:1-7 (34-41)
&
Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35b
Job 38:1-7, 16-18, 34-38 & 40:3-5
and sermon, “Father Knows Best”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
October 18, 2009
&
Psalm 8:3-4
and writing challenge
“Monday Manna for October 19 - What is man?”
posted by Joanne Sher on her blog,
“An Open Book”, at:
http://joannesher.blogspot.com/2009/10/monday-manna-for-october-19-what-is-man.html
The Nature of His Sin
In the moment,
when he forgot
the reverence of God
the awe we should know
when he challenged
when he demanded
his sin became clear
not merely questioning why
demanding an answer
and audience with God
Arrogance, unthinking
Oh how he was undone
when he forgot
the reverence of God
the awe we should know
when he challenged
when he demanded
his sin became clear
not merely questioning why
demanding an answer
and audience with God
Arrogance, unthinking
Oh how he was undone
edited
December 5, 2014
The
Nature of His Sin – v3
(editing
original again)
edited
October 21, 2014
The Nature of His Sin – v2
October
17, 2009
The
Nature of His Sin
Job
38:1-7 (34-41)
&
Psalm
104:1-9, 24, 35b
Job
38:1-7, 16-18, 34-38 & 40:3-5
and
sermon, “Father Knows Best”,
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon
blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Suncook
United Methodist Church
Suncook,
NH
October
18, 2009
&
Psalm
8:3-4
and
writing challenge
“Monday
Manna for October 19 - What is man?”
posted
by Joanne Sher on her blog,
“An
Open Book”, at:
All
of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. All rights reserved.
Contact me at Ray
Foss for usage. See all 34,380+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
Who is this Man
In the throne room of God
the murmur rising
the heavenly host wanting to know
who is this man?
brazen, so confident
questioning the king
and the justice of his ways
His mortal heart beating
fighting, wanting answers
not to prayers;
but to demands from his lips
October 17, 2009
Job 38:1-7 (34-41)
&
Psalm 8:3-4
and writing challenge
“Monday Manna for October 19 - What is man?”
posted by Joanne Sher on her blog,
“An Open Book”, at:
http://joannesher.blogspot.com/2009/10/monday-manna-for-october-19-what-is-man.html
the murmur rising
the heavenly host wanting to know
who is this man?
brazen, so confident
questioning the king
and the justice of his ways
His mortal heart beating
fighting, wanting answers
not to prayers;
but to demands from his lips
October 17, 2009
Job 38:1-7 (34-41)
&
Psalm 8:3-4
and writing challenge
“Monday Manna for October 19 - What is man?”
posted by Joanne Sher on her blog,
“An Open Book”, at:
http://joannesher.blogspot.com/2009/10/monday-manna-for-october-19-what-is-man.html
Important to You
Small, finite, little man
far less than the heavens
the earth, the mountains, the seas
Yet we are important to You
bearing your image
our hairs, our days numbered
long before we are born
known, each one
by the creator of the universe
mindful, aware of me
even me, special
important to you, oh Lord.
October 16, 2009
Psalm 8:3-4
and writing challenge
“Monday Manna for October 19 - What is man?”
posted by Joanne Sher on her blog,
“An Open Book”, at:
http://joannesher.blogspot.com/2009/10/monday-manna-for-october-19-what-is-man.html
far less than the heavens
the earth, the mountains, the seas
Yet we are important to You
bearing your image
our hairs, our days numbered
long before we are born
known, each one
by the creator of the universe
mindful, aware of me
even me, special
important to you, oh Lord.
October 16, 2009
Psalm 8:3-4
and writing challenge
“Monday Manna for October 19 - What is man?”
posted by Joanne Sher on her blog,
“An Open Book”, at:
http://joannesher.blogspot.com/2009/10/monday-manna-for-october-19-what-is-man.html
Friday, October 16, 2009
Not for God
The prayers we raise
needed by we here on earth
My joy, my love for you
in singing my songs of praise
words I need to hear
October 16, 2009, Twitter version
Psalm 92:1-4,
the Call to Worship
for the October 14, 2009 worship service
after Our Family’s Table
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
needed by we here on earth
My joy, my love for you
in singing my songs of praise
words I need to hear
October 16, 2009, Twitter version
Psalm 92:1-4,
the Call to Worship
for the October 14, 2009 worship service
after Our Family’s Table
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
Not for God
The prayers we raise
not for God so much,
needed by we here on earth
My joy, my love for you
in the singing of my songs of praise
words I need to hear
October 16, 2009
Psalm 92:1-4,
the Call to Worship
for the October 14, 2009 worship service
after Our Family’s Table
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
not for God so much,
needed by we here on earth
My joy, my love for you
in the singing of my songs of praise
words I need to hear
October 16, 2009
Psalm 92:1-4,
the Call to Worship
for the October 14, 2009 worship service
after Our Family’s Table
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
Our First Date - 10/16/04
Five years ago today, my life began anew when Ruth and I had our first date. My life has gotten better and better ever since. I love you Honey!
Before that day, I had written and posted 308 poems, in my 44 years on this earth. Since that day, I have written 4,390 poems. I am truly blessed!
Before that day, I had written and posted 308 poems, in my 44 years on this earth. Since that day, I have written 4,390 poems. I am truly blessed!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Thanks for Us
Lifting up, for our needs
For us, our thanks to the Lord
Reminding us
your grace, your gifts
your love expressed
within your creation,
living in the life of Christ
Sharing a bit of heaven,
We thank you, oh our God
words shouted, whispered
sung in the night
our joy remembered
in loving prayer to you
October 14, 2009 and October 15, 2009
Psalm 92:1-4,
the Call to Worship
for the October 14, 2009 worship service
after Our Family’s Table
http://www.suncookumc.org
For us, our thanks to the Lord
Reminding us
your grace, your gifts
your love expressed
within your creation,
living in the life of Christ
Sharing a bit of heaven,
We thank you, oh our God
words shouted, whispered
sung in the night
our joy remembered
in loving prayer to you
October 14, 2009 and October 15, 2009
Psalm 92:1-4,
the Call to Worship
for the October 14, 2009 worship service
after Our Family’s Table
http://www.suncookumc.org
To Know the Shepherd
To know the shepherd
claiming the psalmist’s words,
“The Lord is my shepherd”,
the creator, awesome God
my personal shepherd
guiding me on the path
through the trials, the valleys,
the shadows of life
Feeling his presence
walking with me
beside me,
my loving brother
bringing me to the father
at the end of my days
October 15, 2009
Psalm 23:1
Psalm 23
and Day 61, “The Good Shepherd”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
claiming the psalmist’s words,
“The Lord is my shepherd”,
the creator, awesome God
my personal shepherd
guiding me on the path
through the trials, the valleys,
the shadows of life
Feeling his presence
walking with me
beside me,
my loving brother
bringing me to the father
at the end of my days
October 15, 2009
Psalm 23:1
Psalm 23
and Day 61, “The Good Shepherd”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Common Saints
Their elderly voices, these matriarchs
rich with memory, with love
warm, living words
remembering the saints in their lives
dear loved ones, some long passed
those who showed them Christ
who loved God, and their neighbors
bringing them the truth of their faith
examples of those worthy
living the name Christian
shared in the words they offered
in worship, in your sanctuary
given to us, a community gathered
in your house, oh Lord,
to hear your word for us.
October 15, 2009
Luke 10:25-37
& October 14, 2009 worship service
after Our Family’s Table,
with reflections on the Good Samaritan
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
and the recollections of
Ursula, Murtha, and Eleanor
rich with memory, with love
warm, living words
remembering the saints in their lives
dear loved ones, some long passed
those who showed them Christ
who loved God, and their neighbors
bringing them the truth of their faith
examples of those worthy
living the name Christian
shared in the words they offered
in worship, in your sanctuary
given to us, a community gathered
in your house, oh Lord,
to hear your word for us.
October 15, 2009
Luke 10:25-37
& October 14, 2009 worship service
after Our Family’s Table,
with reflections on the Good Samaritan
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
and the recollections of
Ursula, Murtha, and Eleanor
Humble as a Child
Humble, dependent
presenting ourselves
as a small child
answering the savior’s call
My father’s steadying hand before me
His face will I seek
familiarity of my shepherd’s voice
calling me to the fold
into his loving arms.
October 15, 2009
Matthew 18:1-14
and Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-12-18/
“Learning to Walk” by Mark Anderson
for October 15, 2009
presenting ourselves
as a small child
answering the savior’s call
My father’s steadying hand before me
His face will I seek
familiarity of my shepherd’s voice
calling me to the fold
into his loving arms.
October 15, 2009
Matthew 18:1-14
and Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-12-18/
“Learning to Walk” by Mark Anderson
for October 15, 2009
Pray
Ask your prayers,
pray for others;
but when you pray
believe God can answer
your prayers may be fulfilled
for God is all powerful
able when we are not
in all things
So pray believing
without any doubt
October 15, 2009
Acts 12:1-19
and Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-12-18/
“God is Able” by Janine Kuty
for October 14, 2009
pray for others;
but when you pray
believe God can answer
your prayers may be fulfilled
for God is all powerful
able when we are not
in all things
So pray believing
without any doubt
October 15, 2009
Acts 12:1-19
and Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-12-18/
“God is Able” by Janine Kuty
for October 14, 2009
Walking to School
The temperature below freezing
car covered in frost
left in the driveway
their protests rising
walking to school
to lower our footprint
better for us as well
Simple steps
make a difference
if we each do our part
October 15, 2009
Blog Action Day
car covered in frost
left in the driveway
their protests rising
walking to school
to lower our footprint
better for us as well
Simple steps
make a difference
if we each do our part
October 15, 2009
Blog Action Day
Lapping at our feet
What will it take
to prove the science
before the ice caps melt
what will we need to show
to make us change our behavior
before the water is lapping at our feet?
October 15, 2009
Blog Action Day
#BAD09
to prove the science
before the ice caps melt
what will we need to show
to make us change our behavior
before the water is lapping at our feet?
October 15, 2009
Blog Action Day
#BAD09
Stewards of the Earth
We are to be
not merely consumers
stewards of the earth
so we are called
To walk lightly
in the world
so precious
to remember the earth
and all who will follow
Our time here fleeting
our record lost in time
The world needing
our loving care alone
October 15, 2009
Blog Action Day
not merely consumers
stewards of the earth
so we are called
To walk lightly
in the world
so precious
to remember the earth
and all who will follow
Our time here fleeting
our record lost in time
The world needing
our loving care alone
October 15, 2009
Blog Action Day
All
of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. All rights
reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 28,100+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
The World Waiting
The earth warming
the world waiting
impatiently
for America to lead
the carbon country
great consumers
needing to step up
and take the stage
October 15, 2009
Blog Action Day
#BAD09
the world waiting
impatiently
for America to lead
the carbon country
great consumers
needing to step up
and take the stage
October 15, 2009
Blog Action Day
#BAD09
In Our Shadow – Twitter version
The world, waiting for us to lead
to take ownership, responsibility
Wake up, lead America
October 15, 2009
Blog Action Day
to take ownership, responsibility
Wake up, lead America
October 15, 2009
Blog Action Day
In Our Shadow
The world, waiting for us to lead
to take ownership, responsibility
our consumption, our desires
hurting our planet
Our quest, for possessions
for more, leisure, independence
forgetting our stewardship
our duty in the world
loving our neighbors
treasuring our world
this good earth
warming by the minute
October 15, 2009
Blog Action Day
to take ownership, responsibility
our consumption, our desires
hurting our planet
Our quest, for possessions
for more, leisure, independence
forgetting our stewardship
our duty in the world
loving our neighbors
treasuring our world
this good earth
warming by the minute
October 15, 2009
Blog Action Day
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 21,910+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Look About Us
The glory of God
all around
Look about us, see his handiwork
the intricacy of the universe
the precision, the rhythms
balance of day, or night
the stars and the earth
messages pouring forth
unable to be contained
the creation singing praises
to the glory of the Lord
October 12, 2009
Psalm 19:1
Psalm 19:1-6
and Day 59, “The World Book of God”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
all around
Look about us, see his handiwork
the intricacy of the universe
the precision, the rhythms
balance of day, or night
the stars and the earth
messages pouring forth
unable to be contained
the creation singing praises
to the glory of the Lord
October 12, 2009
Psalm 19:1
Psalm 19:1-6
and Day 59, “The World Book of God”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
The Silken Sky
The fabric of the evening
the silken sky, stars as sequins
seams in the firmament
sparkling in wonder
the glory of God
sung in the glistening heavens
singing praises to the king
October 12, 2009
Psalm 19:1
Psalm 19:1-6
and Day 59, “The World Book of God”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
the silken sky, stars as sequins
seams in the firmament
sparkling in wonder
the glory of God
sung in the glistening heavens
singing praises to the king
October 12, 2009
Psalm 19:1
Psalm 19:1-6
and Day 59, “The World Book of God”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Creation Effervesces
A bubbling up, a burgeoning
creation effervesces
in the glory of the Lord
speaking, shouting
pouring forth the wonders
the majesty of the creator
in the work of his hands
the precision of the universe
the wonders of the earth
singing the praises
of the one who made us
October 12, 2009
Psalm 19:1
Psalm 19:1-6
and Day 59, “The World Book of God”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
creation effervesces
in the glory of the Lord
speaking, shouting
pouring forth the wonders
the majesty of the creator
in the work of his hands
the precision of the universe
the wonders of the earth
singing the praises
of the one who made us
October 12, 2009
Psalm 19:1
Psalm 19:1-6
and Day 59, “The World Book of God”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Perishing Wealth
Like spoiled grain in the garners, the silos
His possessions, perishing wealth
the rich man choosing the world
unable to follow the Lord
Too much in the world,
of the world even more
his power, his station, his possessions
loving them more than the Lord
His wealth, his things ephemeral,
nothing of lasting worth
His choice to stay, not to follow
would leave him a sinner on earth
October 12, 2009
1 John 2:15-17
Upper Room Daily Devotional
http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/default.asp?month=10&day=12&year=2009
for October 12, 2009,
“Fleeting or Eternal”,
by Pastor Toomas Pajusoo
&
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
His possessions, perishing wealth
the rich man choosing the world
unable to follow the Lord
Too much in the world,
of the world even more
his power, his station, his possessions
loving them more than the Lord
His wealth, his things ephemeral,
nothing of lasting worth
His choice to stay, not to follow
would leave him a sinner on earth
October 12, 2009
1 John 2:15-17
Upper Room Daily Devotional
http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/default.asp?month=10&day=12&year=2009
for October 12, 2009,
“Fleeting or Eternal”,
by Pastor Toomas Pajusoo
&
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
Loving the Things of this World
In his pride in his possessions
evident in his sorrowful response
loving the things of this world
Separated, blocking out
the love of the Father
Fleeting worth, passing away
holding onto the temporary
while the eternal passed him by
October 12, 2009
1 John 2:15-17
Upper Room Daily Devotional
http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/default.asp?month=10&day=12&year=2009
for October 12, 2009,
“Fleeting or Eternal”,
by Pastor Toomas Pajusoo
&
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
evident in his sorrowful response
loving the things of this world
Separated, blocking out
the love of the Father
Fleeting worth, passing away
holding onto the temporary
while the eternal passed him by
October 12, 2009
1 John 2:15-17
Upper Room Daily Devotional
http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/default.asp?month=10&day=12&year=2009
for October 12, 2009,
“Fleeting or Eternal”,
by Pastor Toomas Pajusoo
&
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Without Value
The things in his home
the possession that he had collected
his accumulated wealth
like spoiled grains in the silos
Without value, stored up
His feet hobbled by their weight
his soul crippled,
holding on to the world
The master before him
the one he had run to
offering him hope
salvation if he would follow
But the price too steep
the rich man answered
choosing his possessions
over the walk with the Lord
His head hung down,
turning sorrowfully,
knowing the choice he was making
at some level aware
but unable to change
October 11, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
the possession that he had collected
his accumulated wealth
like spoiled grains in the silos
Without value, stored up
His feet hobbled by their weight
his soul crippled,
holding on to the world
The master before him
the one he had run to
offering him hope
salvation if he would follow
But the price too steep
the rich man answered
choosing his possessions
over the walk with the Lord
His head hung down,
turning sorrowfully,
knowing the choice he was making
at some level aware
but unable to change
October 11, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
What Worth
What value, what worth
possession of the rich man
after he turned and walked away
Offered discipleship,
to become a sheep of the flock
the good shepherd before him
offering his hand
Turning, sorrowfully, sadly
grieving because he could not do
what the master asked
His things, his station,
his power and his comfort
too much to part with
to follow the Christ
What worth, what value
the things in his possession
when he came before God
accounting for his life
His choices, his service
what he could have offered
the judgment of God
because he walked away
October 11, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
possession of the rich man
after he turned and walked away
Offered discipleship,
to become a sheep of the flock
the good shepherd before him
offering his hand
Turning, sorrowfully, sadly
grieving because he could not do
what the master asked
His things, his station,
his power and his comfort
too much to part with
to follow the Christ
What worth, what value
the things in his possession
when he came before God
accounting for his life
His choices, his service
what he could have offered
the judgment of God
because he walked away
October 11, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
All of His Possessions
What would we do, if we were the rich man
standing before Christ
told to give away all of our wealth
all of his possessions to be sold
the proceeds given
only in poverty, to follow the Lord
What would we say, the master before us
challenging us to let go of the world
following him empty,
a worthy vessel waiting
praying to be filled
with the love of God
Nothing between us
no impediment to our service
following our Lord
our cross in our hands
October 11, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
standing before Christ
told to give away all of our wealth
all of his possessions to be sold
the proceeds given
only in poverty, to follow the Lord
What would we say, the master before us
challenging us to let go of the world
following him empty,
a worthy vessel waiting
praying to be filled
with the love of God
Nothing between us
no impediment to our service
following our Lord
our cross in our hands
October 11, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
A Challenge to Trust
So much to lose,
station, power, all that he was
wealth, possession
defining the rich man
A challenge to trust
to sell all his possessions
to give the wealth away
and follow in faith
Liberation theology,
in the words of the Christ
turning his world
upside down
To be saved, to enter the kingdom
righting the wrongs of the world
through the voluntary impoverishment
the humbling of the self
Radical words, of the master before him
sorrowfully he turned and walked away
For he could not give up his station, his power
he could not let go and walk away
How sad for the rich man
tied to the world’s values
his garners full, his silos bursting
He will rue that fateful day
October 11, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
station, power, all that he was
wealth, possession
defining the rich man
A challenge to trust
to sell all his possessions
to give the wealth away
and follow in faith
Liberation theology,
in the words of the Christ
turning his world
upside down
To be saved, to enter the kingdom
righting the wrongs of the world
through the voluntary impoverishment
the humbling of the self
Radical words, of the master before him
sorrowfully he turned and walked away
For he could not give up his station, his power
he could not let go and walk away
How sad for the rich man
tied to the world’s values
his garners full, his silos bursting
He will rue that fateful day
October 11, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
All of Our Treasure
All of our treasure
all our possessions
all of the things
that get in the way
Our savior’s message
to the rich man before us
something clear and urgent
to sell and give it all away
Our treasure of the kingdom
not of this earth below
we shouldn’t store up in our garners
we have work here and now
To give to our neighbors
those in need and hurting
to follow the master
wherever he should lead
All that holds us
that keeps us from the journey
anything that leads us
away from the cross
Hard words of the savior
the world right side up
our hearts the pearl, the treasure
which God seeks from us
Go and sell,
and give away our trinkets
they are dust of the earth
the treasure of man
October 11, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
all our possessions
all of the things
that get in the way
Our savior’s message
to the rich man before us
something clear and urgent
to sell and give it all away
Our treasure of the kingdom
not of this earth below
we shouldn’t store up in our garners
we have work here and now
To give to our neighbors
those in need and hurting
to follow the master
wherever he should lead
All that holds us
that keeps us from the journey
anything that leads us
away from the cross
Hard words of the savior
the world right side up
our hearts the pearl, the treasure
which God seeks from us
Go and sell,
and give away our trinkets
they are dust of the earth
the treasure of man
October 11, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
What Must We Do
At the bottom of the sermon,
the scripture laid bare
the fact of our treasure
our things of the world
What must we do
to answer the master
the rich man a part of us
our every day
The world all around us
those with far less than we
our comfort, our wealth
evident, in our land, this place
His command to the rich man before us
to go and sell and give it all away
Only then able, only then ready
to truly follow and walk with the Lord
Let go of our treasure
the things that bind us
all that gets in the way
between us and the king
Pick up our cross,
and follow the master
get rid of the world’s control
on our hearts this day
October 11, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org/
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
the scripture laid bare
the fact of our treasure
our things of the world
What must we do
to answer the master
the rich man a part of us
our every day
The world all around us
those with far less than we
our comfort, our wealth
evident, in our land, this place
His command to the rich man before us
to go and sell and give it all away
Only then able, only then ready
to truly follow and walk with the Lord
Let go of our treasure
the things that bind us
all that gets in the way
between us and the king
Pick up our cross,
and follow the master
get rid of the world’s control
on our hearts this day
October 11, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org/
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
Sorrowful
Wanting to follow
but the weight too heavy
too comfortable
to let it all go
Shocked, sorrowful
he went away grieving
unable to follow
his things he held too dear
October 11, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org/
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
but the weight too heavy
too comfortable
to let it all go
Shocked, sorrowful
he went away grieving
unable to follow
his things he held too dear
October 11, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org/
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
Holding onto our Treasure
So hard to give up,
the things that we acquire
holding onto our treasure on earth
when Jesus is calling,
“go, sell, give, and follow me”.
Our lives for the earth
the world around us
so long as the treasure
keeps us from God
Let go of our fortune
the grain in the silos
Cleave to the cross
and the one who died there
Our hope, our treasure
in the kingdom before us
our work, our service
here below
Sell all our treasure
our barriers to the Lord
Trust in the provision
of our daily bread
Spread the good news
the grace of the father
the sacrifice of the son
our only way home
October 11, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org/
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
the things that we acquire
holding onto our treasure on earth
when Jesus is calling,
“go, sell, give, and follow me”.
Our lives for the earth
the world around us
so long as the treasure
keeps us from God
Let go of our fortune
the grain in the silos
Cleave to the cross
and the one who died there
Our hope, our treasure
in the kingdom before us
our work, our service
here below
Sell all our treasure
our barriers to the Lord
Trust in the provision
of our daily bread
Spread the good news
the grace of the father
the sacrifice of the son
our only way home
October 11, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org/
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
Uncomfortable Words
Uncomfortable words,
words to challenge
a mirror before us
slowing my voice
looking at the congregation
sharing Christ’s words
Uncomfortable words
of the shackles of wealth
our focus on the things of this earth
needing instead,
to let go of our treasure
to follow Christ
seek after his example
and the treasures of heaven
October 11, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
words to challenge
a mirror before us
slowing my voice
looking at the congregation
sharing Christ’s words
Uncomfortable words
of the shackles of wealth
our focus on the things of this earth
needing instead,
to let go of our treasure
to follow Christ
seek after his example
and the treasures of heaven
October 11, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
A Shimmering Image
Pulling to up to the house
stopping, a shimmering image before me
the sugar maple behind, swaying
shimmering in the old barn glass
rippled, bending the image
fluid of the glass
movement of the branches
the fall colors, autumn’s breezes
the blue azure sky beyond
dancing images
rhythmic motion
shimmering in the pane of glass
October 11, 2009
Suncook, NH
stopping, a shimmering image before me
the sugar maple behind, swaying
shimmering in the old barn glass
rippled, bending the image
fluid of the glass
movement of the branches
the fall colors, autumn’s breezes
the blue azure sky beyond
dancing images
rhythmic motion
shimmering in the pane of glass
October 11, 2009
Suncook, NH
Sermon - “What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure, What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”, Suncook United Methodist Church, 10/11/09
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure, What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
Mark 10:17-31
Raymond A. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
Laity Sunday
October 11, 2009
Does this scripture make you uncomfortable, a little bit maybe? I know it does for me. And, if I shared John Wesley’s sermon on the same scripture, “On Riches”, with you, I think we would be even more uncomfortable.
What do we take from this passage? What can I as a person, what can we as a congregation and people of faith in a land of such abundance, learn from this lesson? What is Jesus actually telling us to do?
I have been thinking about this scripture, the story of the Rich Man and the teaching of how hard it is for a rich man to go to heaven, and about being called to follow Christ.
And Jesus often talks about what it means to follow him, what we must be prepared to give up. Those first disciples, as Peter ably relates in the scripture, gave up everything. They did drop the nets, left their families. They even left their father in the boat with the hired me. They did it. They stopped serving one master and chose to serve another. They took up their cross and followed Jesus.
I have often thought about these lessons, for both myself and for our country, this land of plenty, this blessed land. I am mindful too of what is going on in the world now, about hunger in the world (something I’m particularly mindful of this morning after walking over 6 miles yesterday), about the health care debate here at home, and about the global environmental threat of climate change and our role in that as individuals and as a country.
Have you determined yet what your carbon footprint is yet? I’m not sure I want to know how much I am contributing to global warming, especially after thinking about what Muffie shared about the amount of water we all use versus what others around the world have to use. When we drained the pool in our back yard for the year, I thought, “How many people around the world could have used that?”
More personally, I struggle with all of this as an attorney, as a father, and as someone who has been blessed with the particular, specific, gift of poetry from God. I believe in my heart that it is my “starfish”, as Pastor Huntley talked of back on July 26.
To refresh our memory, he told the story of the man standing on the beach throwing starfish back into the sea. Another man, maybe any one of us, prudently asked the man why he was throwing them back, that he couldn’t possibly save all of the starfish on the beach. The first man replied that it made a difference to each one he did save from the sun’s heat, out of the living waters.
But I have this nagging feeling, this questioning. I have felt a call to do more with my gift of Poetry. I’ve gone so far as to ask myself, “Should I give up my law practice and try to write poetry for a living? Am I not following Christ because I haven’t dropped this one life and picked up the cross and trusted that this was what Jesus wants me to do? Is that where my treasure is? “
I think the message of Christ; I think God is challenging us to trust in Him. that He will provide if we are faithful servants. That is in our work and in our sharing of our gifts.
In my work, I have a lot of clients who haven’t paid me as an attorney. I have a lot of clients who I have taken on pro bono or at a very reduced fee. I sort of grit my teeth thinking about how much is owed. But, you know, God has provided. We have had the money we needed for our daily bread. We have this wonderful church family. We have this wonderful church home.
And I have responded by writing more poems, posting them in more places, and I have been blessed by the responses from around the world.
In the forty-four years of my life before meeting Ruth, I had written a total of 300 poems. In the last 5 ears, since the beginning of October 2004 to now, I have written and posted a total of 4,350 poems, 450 in just the last 3 months. And, for me, I drop my nets regularly when God calls. You see, most of my poems come when God wants them to, not when I have stopped on my own to write.
Bottom line for me as an individual, I guess, is that I don’t want to come before God with a full silo, like one of the other rich men in scripture, in Luke 12:13-21. I would like to share two poems I wrote about that scripture, based on the sermon Pastor Huntley gave on November 23, 2008, Thanksgiving time last year. The first one is called:
Storing Up When We Should Give
A foolish man, so the lectionary calls the rich man
his new silos, full, bursting; but empty
his life for the work, for storing up, preparing only
for the rest of this life, his time on this mortal coil
When the master calls, he is empty, unprepared
for his appointment with destiny
Storing up, when he should give
calling on man when God is there
when God would provide
all he, all we need
November 23, 2008
Luke 12:13-21 and sermon,
“The Human Need to Give”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church
The second one is called:
Grain Spoiled
Like the manna, enough provided, all he would need
his daily bread, relying on the Lord
Grain spoiled, in the silos, the garners
useless grain, at the end of his days
Gathered in and unshared, more than his daily needs
Spoiled, lost, when he was called home
November 23, 2008
Luke 12:13-21 and sermon,
“The Human Need to Give”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church
As a church, I think we hear this calling from God, to give to our brothers and our sisters, to not store our grain, through Our Family’s Table, through our monthly dinners, through the bread ministry on Wednesday nights, through the Food Pantry, through things like the CROP walk and other ways that we as individuals serve those in need.
And, as a country, I think God is calling us to be more giving, to see our neighbors as Jesus would see them, as part of our family. I would like to close, with the challenge that Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society of the United Methodist Church posed in his weekly column in Faith in Action on September 28, 2008. He forcefully reminds all of us that we, the United Methodist Church, have approved a call to action to bring about universal health coverage in America, and a single-payer system for healthcare for all, in Paragraph #3201 of the 2008 Book of Resolutions, found on pages 346 to 356.
He said that we need to be preaching about the need for health care in our country, for all. It is what we believe and it is what we should be calling for from our leaders.
Pretty uncomfortable stuff, especially when it is humans who draft the legislation in Washington to make this happen. And we are all aware of human flaws and frailties.
As so often happens when I read scripture, when I read my devotionals, or something like this letter, I felt God’s uncomfortable nudge, his calling to me, to drop my nets and to write.
This is one of the two poems I wrote about this challenge from Jim (which I sent to President Obama too). It is called:
In this Land of Plenty
In this land of plenty
no one should know hunger or fear
none should be without
the care they dearly need
We are our brothers’, our sisters’ keepers
their neighbors on this earth
we share the same human birth
our trials just the same
Our ways are made more gentle
our paths made more straight
when we each stop and help our neighbor
a good Samaritan’s hand offered
when no one is watching at all
All of us the same
no one better or worse
all called to follow
the master’s message
his command
To love one another
as we would choose to be loved
to help each other
to offer comfort to our neighbors
as we would hope they would do
All should be covered
no insurance withheld
all of our brothers, our sisters
worthy of healthcare
whenever they are in need
September 30, 2009
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
I don’t know about you; but I think I’m actually glad I am uncomfortable about this scripture. I think we should be. We need to always be testing our lives against the example of Christ and his teachings, to the words of our own faith, and to Jesus’ challenges to the rich man, to all of us.
Before my final thought, I do need to include the final paragraph of John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”. Hear these words.
“O let your heart be whole with God! Seek your happiness in him and him alone. Beware that you cleave not to the dust! "This earth is not your place." See that you use this world as not abusing it; use the world, and enjoy God. Sit as loose to all things here below, as if you were a poor beggar. Be a good steward of the manifold gifts of God; that when you are called to give an account of your stewardship, he may say, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!"”
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
So, what will you do with this teaching; where is your treasure, what’s in your silo, and whom will you follow?
Amen
Mark 10:17-31
Raymond A. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
Laity Sunday
October 11, 2009
Does this scripture make you uncomfortable, a little bit maybe? I know it does for me. And, if I shared John Wesley’s sermon on the same scripture, “On Riches”, with you, I think we would be even more uncomfortable.
What do we take from this passage? What can I as a person, what can we as a congregation and people of faith in a land of such abundance, learn from this lesson? What is Jesus actually telling us to do?
I have been thinking about this scripture, the story of the Rich Man and the teaching of how hard it is for a rich man to go to heaven, and about being called to follow Christ.
And Jesus often talks about what it means to follow him, what we must be prepared to give up. Those first disciples, as Peter ably relates in the scripture, gave up everything. They did drop the nets, left their families. They even left their father in the boat with the hired me. They did it. They stopped serving one master and chose to serve another. They took up their cross and followed Jesus.
I have often thought about these lessons, for both myself and for our country, this land of plenty, this blessed land. I am mindful too of what is going on in the world now, about hunger in the world (something I’m particularly mindful of this morning after walking over 6 miles yesterday), about the health care debate here at home, and about the global environmental threat of climate change and our role in that as individuals and as a country.
Have you determined yet what your carbon footprint is yet? I’m not sure I want to know how much I am contributing to global warming, especially after thinking about what Muffie shared about the amount of water we all use versus what others around the world have to use. When we drained the pool in our back yard for the year, I thought, “How many people around the world could have used that?”
More personally, I struggle with all of this as an attorney, as a father, and as someone who has been blessed with the particular, specific, gift of poetry from God. I believe in my heart that it is my “starfish”, as Pastor Huntley talked of back on July 26.
To refresh our memory, he told the story of the man standing on the beach throwing starfish back into the sea. Another man, maybe any one of us, prudently asked the man why he was throwing them back, that he couldn’t possibly save all of the starfish on the beach. The first man replied that it made a difference to each one he did save from the sun’s heat, out of the living waters.
But I have this nagging feeling, this questioning. I have felt a call to do more with my gift of Poetry. I’ve gone so far as to ask myself, “Should I give up my law practice and try to write poetry for a living? Am I not following Christ because I haven’t dropped this one life and picked up the cross and trusted that this was what Jesus wants me to do? Is that where my treasure is? “
I think the message of Christ; I think God is challenging us to trust in Him. that He will provide if we are faithful servants. That is in our work and in our sharing of our gifts.
In my work, I have a lot of clients who haven’t paid me as an attorney. I have a lot of clients who I have taken on pro bono or at a very reduced fee. I sort of grit my teeth thinking about how much is owed. But, you know, God has provided. We have had the money we needed for our daily bread. We have this wonderful church family. We have this wonderful church home.
And I have responded by writing more poems, posting them in more places, and I have been blessed by the responses from around the world.
In the forty-four years of my life before meeting Ruth, I had written a total of 300 poems. In the last 5 ears, since the beginning of October 2004 to now, I have written and posted a total of 4,350 poems, 450 in just the last 3 months. And, for me, I drop my nets regularly when God calls. You see, most of my poems come when God wants them to, not when I have stopped on my own to write.
Bottom line for me as an individual, I guess, is that I don’t want to come before God with a full silo, like one of the other rich men in scripture, in Luke 12:13-21. I would like to share two poems I wrote about that scripture, based on the sermon Pastor Huntley gave on November 23, 2008, Thanksgiving time last year. The first one is called:
Storing Up When We Should Give
A foolish man, so the lectionary calls the rich man
his new silos, full, bursting; but empty
his life for the work, for storing up, preparing only
for the rest of this life, his time on this mortal coil
When the master calls, he is empty, unprepared
for his appointment with destiny
Storing up, when he should give
calling on man when God is there
when God would provide
all he, all we need
November 23, 2008
Luke 12:13-21 and sermon,
“The Human Need to Give”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church
The second one is called:
Grain Spoiled
Like the manna, enough provided, all he would need
his daily bread, relying on the Lord
Grain spoiled, in the silos, the garners
useless grain, at the end of his days
Gathered in and unshared, more than his daily needs
Spoiled, lost, when he was called home
November 23, 2008
Luke 12:13-21 and sermon,
“The Human Need to Give”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church
As a church, I think we hear this calling from God, to give to our brothers and our sisters, to not store our grain, through Our Family’s Table, through our monthly dinners, through the bread ministry on Wednesday nights, through the Food Pantry, through things like the CROP walk and other ways that we as individuals serve those in need.
And, as a country, I think God is calling us to be more giving, to see our neighbors as Jesus would see them, as part of our family. I would like to close, with the challenge that Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society of the United Methodist Church posed in his weekly column in Faith in Action on September 28, 2008. He forcefully reminds all of us that we, the United Methodist Church, have approved a call to action to bring about universal health coverage in America, and a single-payer system for healthcare for all, in Paragraph #3201 of the 2008 Book of Resolutions, found on pages 346 to 356.
He said that we need to be preaching about the need for health care in our country, for all. It is what we believe and it is what we should be calling for from our leaders.
Pretty uncomfortable stuff, especially when it is humans who draft the legislation in Washington to make this happen. And we are all aware of human flaws and frailties.
As so often happens when I read scripture, when I read my devotionals, or something like this letter, I felt God’s uncomfortable nudge, his calling to me, to drop my nets and to write.
This is one of the two poems I wrote about this challenge from Jim (which I sent to President Obama too). It is called:
In this Land of Plenty
In this land of plenty
no one should know hunger or fear
none should be without
the care they dearly need
We are our brothers’, our sisters’ keepers
their neighbors on this earth
we share the same human birth
our trials just the same
Our ways are made more gentle
our paths made more straight
when we each stop and help our neighbor
a good Samaritan’s hand offered
when no one is watching at all
All of us the same
no one better or worse
all called to follow
the master’s message
his command
To love one another
as we would choose to be loved
to help each other
to offer comfort to our neighbors
as we would hope they would do
All should be covered
no insurance withheld
all of our brothers, our sisters
worthy of healthcare
whenever they are in need
September 30, 2009
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
I don’t know about you; but I think I’m actually glad I am uncomfortable about this scripture. I think we should be. We need to always be testing our lives against the example of Christ and his teachings, to the words of our own faith, and to Jesus’ challenges to the rich man, to all of us.
Before my final thought, I do need to include the final paragraph of John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”. Hear these words.
“O let your heart be whole with God! Seek your happiness in him and him alone. Beware that you cleave not to the dust! "This earth is not your place." See that you use this world as not abusing it; use the world, and enjoy God. Sit as loose to all things here below, as if you were a poor beggar. Be a good steward of the manifold gifts of God; that when you are called to give an account of your stewardship, he may say, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!"”
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
So, what will you do with this teaching; where is your treasure, what’s in your silo, and whom will you follow?
Amen
All
of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. All rights
reserved. Contact me at Ray
Foss for usage. See all 29,160+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
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