Give Thanks

I one way or another you are getting ready. Getting ready for the tradition of Thanksgiving. The thing that helped me get ready the most was our minister's sermon on Sunday. It should be posted by tomorrow on the church website and I recommend you read it. The link to our church website is right over there on the right.

The getting ready part can be a little hectic at times. If you're celebrating in your own home you are most likely preparing food, getting serving dishes ready and maybe even cleaning guest rooms for out of town guests. Or maybe you are traveling and must pack, fill up your gas tank and are maybe even taking Christmas gifts for those you don't plan to see at Christmas. There are many items on your list. Last year I started a new tradition for myself for Thanksgiving. I made an actual list of thanksgivings. It was the only way I could really concentrate on what I'm thankful for. Dr. Fiedler's sermon helped me kick start my list in emphasizing the things I could include. We are always thankful for the food we eat, the roof over our heads and the clothes on our backs. But I was convicted to think about personal growth goals I may have reached. To think about peace in adversity I may have been given. To think about strength and grace I've experienced even when things have been difficult. Acknowledging this type of gift and growth truly pushes us forward in our understanding of our relationship with Christ and with the humanity around us. This year, make a list. See if doesn't make the holiday more meaningful. Also, it's still okay to thank God for that pie. :)

Must...have...pie!!!!

Are you aware? Have you not yet come to the realization? It is time for Pie. Lots and lots of Pie. Pumpkin Pie, pecan Pie, mincemeat Pie (you probably hate that one)....slurp. There is no other time of the year when I simply must eat Pie. Is it because it's cooler outside and nutty spiced up Pie makes me all warm inside? Is it because someone who really knows their way around Pie made that Pie and you know you just can't miss out? This, of course, is not a healthy relationship with Pie...when the Pie has such control. So I pray. I pray for the strength to defeat Pie or at least be it's equal. I pray for peace when I decide that I will limit myself to only one piece of Pie. Of course I won't ask "What would Jesus eat" because, HE WOULD EAT THE PIE!

And, would I like coffee with that? "If you don't know me by now...you will never never never know me" Of course I want coffee. I want black coffee with Pie.

So as we all prepare our list of thanksgivings, our hearts for the coming of the Christ child, let's also prepare our minds for the temptations that come along with the joy of the season.

Where do I begin???

You and I both heard all about this Saturday night and yesterday morning. Here is the message posted and ready for preaching outside First Baptist Church,Dallas...our 'kitty corner' neighbor. But it's taken me all this time to be calm enough about it to just address it for what it is. As the Director of Evanglism of FUMC Dallas, I struggle to find the Christlike love, respect and inclusion into God's kingdom in this sermon title. I'm still just a little jolted by it. Just the judging message of 'I'm Okay, You're Not' sends an icky feeling up my spine and makes my heart sink. So far, the sermon transcript has not been posted on their website nor is it available on YouTube. I want to hear what the senior minister has to say before I fully crumple on the floor in response. In the meantime, I'm comforted by the Traditional, Relevant and Inclusive nature of the congregation of which I'm a member. I can invite any and everyone to my home church and know that they will experience the love of Christ. I don't have much to offer as an individual but as child of God, I can invite others to experience the embrace of a loving God.

here's a dime...call someone who cares

"...so did I tell you about my grandchildren and the science award my grandson won. Oh and did I tell you about my weekend? Let me tell you how great it was. I beat everyone at bingo and won a dollar except Dinah was upset because she thinks I cheat. "

My revelation for the day is that what's important to one person is important to me. I don't care how much it has nothing to do with me, I am interested because someone cared enough about me to share their joy with me. How many times do we find ourselves thinking, "Good Lord, why are you telling me about this? I seriously don't care." Shame on us. Make it your business to care. I think that sometimes we get so very caught up in our own very important lives that we don't consider the joys and concerns that others are experiencing. I believe our empathy of others is a huge leap of our own understanding of our personal spirituality and a perfect way to extend Christ's love to everyone around us. Wow! What a concept...Empathy as evangelism.