The conversation continues

Barack Obama has invited Rick Warren to give the invocation at the presidential inaugaration.

Let that sink in .....

I am amazed, happy, elated, and thankful that such a thing is happening. Not because I think Warren will somehow lean to the left (or with Obama, vice versa) because of this, but because two people of spirit are sitting down and saying, "You know, we're at the same table here for pretty much the same reasons. Yes, we can disagree about some things, but we can agree about other things, too. Let's talk about those things where we can work together for the kingdom of God."

Here is a good opinion article about this from Beliefnet.

Rich and Rick: A Post-Partisan Parable

I see hope. I see change. I see a country that is in the midst of turmoil and trouble, looking for answers, and realizing that we alone do not have all the answers, but we together have a better chance of finding answers.

In The Midst Of

In the midst of my pastor's mother struggling/dying...
Christ is born.
In the midst of some of our family gathering together and some having to be "distant"...
Christ is born.
In the midst of economic fears and other forms of chaos...
Christ is born.
In those precious few, beautiful, quiet moments...
Christ is born.
In the inner sanctuaries of our churches as well as our hearts...
Christ is born.

Christ is born.
In the midst of it all...
Christ is born indeed.
And I am a life...that has been changed.

Sensing...His Birth

Sunday night.
Joy is decorating for Christmas, and I'm putting the stuff downstairs that's to be stored until spring...some pretty cool stuff of meaningful memories like a picture of Rachel sitting on the wall of a Wales castle and Joy and I sitting at a Paris cafe....but nonetheless stuff that someday our children won't be sure what to do with just the way we're not sure what to do with all my parents stuff now!
Todd Rundgren is playing in the background...playing his excellent music mostly about God things in his own rock n roll, hippi way.
Obama was interviewed for 45 minutes tonight on Meet The Press. Wow. One smart dude.
Next to me sits one of the Christmas decorations which I'm sure one of our kids made when they were young. It's a beautiful, colorful, stain glass-like, marker drawing of the Madonna and Child. In fact, if I really open my eyes I see that I'm surrounded by all sorts of decorations the children made many years ago. I'm glad Joy makes this part of our annual tradition.
Hmm, opening my eyes to see. I wonder what else I'm missing. I pray that this season you and I will have the senses to experience...his birth.

We're Not Alone

My dad keeps saying that he wishes he could pastor a church again. I asked him the other day that if he was pastoring again, what would he preach about. He paused and pondered, and then my 86 year old papa said, "I'd tell them that we need each other and that we are not alone."

***Our friend Jonnie is staying out at the Peacefield farm with Kev and Jen. She's not alone...and neither are they.

***I had to make a very tough decision over the last two days and to do that I discussed the matter with Joy, my brother Steve, and my friends Frank and Barb...and of course, the Lord. I am not alone.

***Thanksgiving was at our house and there was a good and deep connection with family. We are not alone!

***I attended a funeral today in an African American Church for a man named Richard who was a nationally known musician and composer as well as a locally honored teacher, but died at age 58. The church was full of people who prayed, praised, and proclaimed with power to each other and especially to his family that we are not alone!

So preach it papa. Preach it with power. And praise be to God that we have one another, and that we are not alone.

P.S. The picture is my mommy and doggie re-united at Thanksgiving.