Resurrection Group

givingthanks

2008-11-26T17:46:00.001-05:00

raised hands,
humbled hearts,
praise over-flows,
grace received.

homeless

2008-11-20T07:39:00.003-05:00

single mom,
living within walls,
history distorted,
turbulent past,
little roots,
emotionally homeless.
yet, there is one Faith,
one Lord,
one Baptism,
one God,
and Father of all,
who is above all,
in all,
through all.
homelessness slowly fades away.

come

2008-11-19T15:58:00.004-05:00

come, all you who are thirsty,

come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

come, buy and eat!

come, buy wine and milk

without money and without cost.

why spend money on what is not bread,

and your labor on what does not satisfy?

listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,

and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

isaiah 55:1-2

this is a gentle message, but a powerful one which we block out.
satisfaction and delight cannot be purchased, only received.
come Lord, Jesus.

fall

2008-09-30T07:56:00.001-04:00

let your laughter fall on my face
let your love fall on my eyes
let your joy fall in my lungs
let your hope fall to me

me, me, me

2008-09-30T07:51:00.002-04:00

serve me
serve me
serve me again

do not challenge
do not send
do not take my piece away

room of isolation

2008-09-30T07:44:00.003-04:00

divorce scars
unfaithfulness betrays

searching leads to nothing
looking builds the cell

day by day the blocks advance
tear by tear the bars raise

the lover is gone
the room is all that is left

laughter is veiled
isolation begs for union

seized minds

2008-09-30T07:29:00.003-04:00

one bound by blood
the other bound by pain
minds seized waiting for redemption
minds clotted waiting for grace

bring salvation to the mind
bring salvation to the body
bring salvation for the soul
seized minds await

icu

2008-09-25T06:50:00.002-04:00

brain blocked,
language lulled,
emotions equalized,
love lavishing.

prayeromotion

2008-09-09T12:43:00.001-04:00

Move'n through.
Move'n in.
Move'n over.
Move'n at last.

deliverence

2008-09-01T10:56:00.003-04:00

prayers of deliverance.
prayers of hope.

when O God will you answer?
when O Lord will you speak new life?

Christ, the High Priest,
we need your prayers again.

shells

2008-08-17T07:25:00.002-04:00

shells of life walking around.
shells of death never born.

shells of faith straining to pray.
shells need grace again today.

the battle of the mind

2008-07-14T08:25:00.003-04:00

josiah, where have you been?
elisha, your struggle is here.

is there still bread in your jar?
what will it take, our sons are starving.

taming

2008-07-10T07:43:00.004-04:00

tame the spirit, a facade of maturity.
tame the soul, it is not a sword.
kill the cat inside this dog.
tame us again our Lord.

turning over

2008-07-02T21:04:00.006-04:00

again and again i turn to the sky,
seeking to be faithful i struggle to look above.

it is a daily task that remains before me.
in the morning i face my Lord.
in the evening i am confronted with the inadequacy of my efforts.
in the evening i turn from best and my worst.
in the evening i turn over again.

turn me over Lord,
stir within my soul.

turn me over Christ,
i do not know the path.

turn me over Jesus,
i remain like moses, deaf and dumb before your voice.

turn me over Spirit,
carry me where i have no gifts.

turn me over Father,
hold me when i have no means.

turn me over Lord,
sculpt this lump of clay again.

mission

2008-07-01T07:48:00.003-04:00

mission cannot begin without prayer.
mission cannot be born without worship.

mission begins with the conversion of the self.
mission is born with the transformation of one's mind.

broken

2008-06-29T19:02:00.001-04:00

broken is the day that finds no faithfulness.
broken is the heart that finds no love.

broken is the one who walks out the door.
broken is the one who is left in an empty home.

prayer

2008-06-27T08:04:00.005-04:00

worship,

peace,

crying out,

forgiveness,

community.

"Wherever two or three are gathered in my name,

there I am all so."

-Jesus

Matthew 18:20

behind the bars

2008-06-24T21:45:00.000-04:00

choices define our home.
choices define our hearts.

choices leave us locked behind the bars.
in chains, we tie ourselves.
in chains, we bind our loved ones.

summer mornings

2008-06-21T08:27:00.003-04:00

joy on your face, sun shine in your hair.
will you grow in joy, will you grow in peace?

laughter in your heart, the gentle breeze is on your face.
will you rejoice always, will you worship--even in dispear?

summer mornings, the joy of the Lord.
summer mornings, praise unfolds.

the locus

2008-06-20T20:37:00.002-04:00

in the stillness, in the quiet, in the rest of the day,
sweet Spirit, fall on me, fall on us this hour.
in the peace, in the passive calm, in your breath.
sweet Jesus, shows us your face, reveal God Most High.

moments of truth

2008-06-19T20:40:00.003-04:00

moments of truth sparkle in the night, lighting the path beneath my hands.
moments of truth blaze again, showing the trail--pressed on my palms.

moments of truth--not my own--confront the pit of my mind.
moments of truth--ringing of you--tear down my walls.

the bushes cry out, "what is truth?"
the only reply i can utter, i rejoice again, "no, who is truth?"

empty phrases

2008-06-19T20:21:00.004-04:00

empty phrases i do not have to heap upon my prayers;
words are too short for didaction.

empty words held back by thy hallowed name.
empty cries restrained by thy kingdom, by thy will.

knowing my need, give to my need.
knowing my sin, let me forgive others.

rescue me from the time of darkness
rescue me from myself.

walk this earth

2008-06-19T20:13:00.005-04:00

o God, my God, my feet tarry,
forging on, laden with pain.

o God, my God, you walked this earth,
knowing my sorrow, my joy.

o God, my Lord, you walked this earth,
you know my flesh, my skin, my body.

o Christ, my Sovereign, you walked this earth,
redeem my feet which tarry on.

suggestive faith

2008-06-17T13:57:00.004-04:00

"The Great Commission and the Great Commandment were not called the Great Suggestions."
--anonymous

the choice

2008-06-11T20:35:00.002-04:00

the aged can choose joy,
the young can choose devastation.

the rich can choose poverty,
the poor can choose enduring wealth.

the desolate can choose Christ,
for Christ has chosen them.

the essence of me

2008-06-09T21:53:00.005-04:00

peter, it is time for Me to go.
can you swim to Me?

john, it is time for Me to leave.
can you eat with Me?

james, it is time for Me to return.
can you rest on the shore with Me?

andrew, it is time for Me to rise.
can you warm your self by My fire?

My loved ones, listen;
this is the essence of Me.

he smiles

2008-06-09T07:39:00.006-04:00

he smiles to you
he smiles

he smiles to me
he smiles

he smiles bright
he smiles

he smiles again
he smiles

no one knows what is inside
he smiles

no one hears his truth
he smiles

no one knows his sorrow
he smiles

he smiles again

we gather at the waters

2008-06-07T06:49:00.002-04:00

we gather at the waters,
the air is cold,
mist rises again.

we gather at the waters,
to watch you die,
a horrific moment without breath.

we gather at the waters,
your eyes meet mine,
my precious child, i love you.

we gather at the waters,
they pierce your mind,
filling your lungs.

we gather at the waters,
you are gasping for air-
a baptism of death.

we gather at the waters,
you are no longer mine,
you are gone from my hands.

we gather at the waters,
we are full of joy-
a baptism of life.

we gather at the waters,
to receive a new name,
given to the service of Christ.

final prayer

2008-06-04T21:53:00.004-04:00

there is a peace in the air,
stillness in the room,
you're free to be.

silently, you sleep.
silently, you wake.
softly, you plead.

"Lord, let me rest.
Lord, take my breath.
Lord, bring me home."

assurance,
repentance,
baptism fulfilled.

the waiter

2008-06-04T07:15:00.005-04:00

warm me up, please,
my cup is cold.
warm me up, please,
the rain brings a chill.

your welcome,
your joke,
your smile.

two jobs, a kid,
and night classes.
silently you speak.

"warm me up, please,
my cup is cold.
warm me up, please,
the rain brings a chill."

the calling

2008-06-04T07:00:00.005-04:00

like the wind which comes over the horizon,
there you where:
quiet, gentle, refreshing.

unannounced to my ears,
at first, not proclaimed to my heart,
you came into my life.

like peter, I refused you,
i am not worth your time,
not worth your presence.

but you calmed my fears,
you grabbed me by the scruff of my neck, saying
"it's time."

it is time,
you're of age,
you're grown, and maturing.

it is time,
follow me,
hear my call.

yours

2008-06-02T13:35:00.012-04:00

the mind reeling,
the heart in torment,
the conscience disturbed forevermore.

what is the cost of my humanness?
what is the price of my humanity?
what is the debt of my humiliation?

what can i give to remove this horror?
what can i offer to make it subside?
what can cleanse me from myself?

what can wash my conscience?
who can make right my soul?
who can transform my humanity into salvation?

o priest above melchizedek,
o mediator more righteous than salem's glory,
o intercessor more holy, take me as yours.

Micah 6: 7b

Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,

the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

Hebrews 10:19-22

Therefore, brothers and sisters,

since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place

by the blood of Jesus,

20by a new and living way

opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,

21and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

22let us draw near to God

with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith,

having our hearts sprinkled

to cleanse us from a guilty conscience

and having our bodies washed with pure water.

nothing

2008-05-29T21:06:00.005-04:00

nothing so selfless,
nothing so humble,
nothing so meek than to come into your presence.

nothing so clear,
nothing so profound,
nothing so defining than giving my heart to you.

nothing so merciful,
nothing so gracious,
nothing so peaceful than to receive your faithfulness.

you have been our home for generations.
you have been our refuge throughout the ages.
you have been our salvation from eternity past.

Father, we fall on our knees,
Jesus, our face is held to the ground,
Holy Spirit, our hands raised high, we surrender all.

the pew

2008-05-29T18:26:00.005-04:00

my friend, you have greeted me each and every time.
my comfort, you have supported me like a friend.

from beneath you hold me up.
i do not dare go beyond your reach.

i hear a voice calling me to a place unknown.
but when i am scared, you are sturdy.

i feel a spirit, tugging me to go.
but when i am remain, i feel your steady hand.

my pew, is their more than you?
you give me refuge and do not ask for more than my company.

my pew, hold me close when the hour comes.

will you protect me, will you shield me forevermore?

my pew, is their a god higher than your seat?
perhaps i will fit you for my grave.

the host

2008-05-29T18:18:00.006-04:00

you say, "come, come all!"
we say, "we will."

you say, "the meal is prepared."
we say, "not now."

you say, "bring in the poor and the lame."
your servant says, "there is still room!"

you say, "go invite those outside the family."
then, the stranger came and took our place.

the host threw the party in grace.
the host celebrated without us, when we turned away.

the host! who can question him?
the host! how wonderful is his name!

the kingdom

2008-05-28T08:17:00.002-04:00

the kingdom is close,
at hand,
within reach

the kingdom arrives with you,
at your birth,
in your life,
on your cross

the kingdom precedes us,
you come first,
only you

the kingdom is present,
hearts are healed,
lives transformed,
bodies raised

blindman

2008-05-23T04:36:00.004-04:00

blind man lays awake at night,
darkness runs through his veins.
blind man stares into the sky;
stars are blocked from his vision.

blind man sees the sun turn to smoke,
the Spirit of God falls to the earth.
blind man sees terror and joy;
the Lord moves ever more.

blind man blinded by the glory of God.
blind man blinded by the glory of God.
blind man blinded by the glory of God.
blind man blinded for the glory of God.

brother

2008-05-22T15:01:00.003-04:00

brother, you pray with me for strength. you point me always to Christ.

brother, while you laugh at my antics you call me to worship the Lord.

brother, don't go far from me. just come with me, lets bring others along.

consumation

2008-05-22T06:47:00.007-04:00

michael, blow your trumpet and let it be clear.
gabriel, sound your horn and let it be heard.
announce the coming of the prince of peace.
proclaim the arrival of the judge, our savior.

who is in the seat of power?
only the one who is grace.
who is in the place of adjudication?
only the one who gave himself for the sins of the world.

come!
expecting desire,
accepted reality;
come, O Christ, redeem creation.

waiting

2008-05-21T12:38:00.006-04:00

I waited to hear, but knew no company.

I waited to learn, but knew no comfort.
I waited for resolution, but sat in helplessness.

Wanting to overcome, I could not sit still.
Drawn to act, I stood my ground.
Forced to defend, I determined my days.

O Lord, you sat and prayed in darkness.
O Lord, you prayed and wrestled alone.
O Lord, you bled praying in silence.

Waiting, I cannot stand.
Waiting, I cannot endure.
Waiting for you is my home.

Wait for the Lord,

be strong and take heart,

and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14

in need

2008-05-20T07:33:00.003-04:00

i was in need when i came to your temple
i was empty before your throne
i offered gifts but still was alone

isolated as i approach the courts
separated when i entered your gates
what could i give to ameliorate

i asked for mercy, i asked for restoration
i asked for a blessing, i asked for your presence
i waited in torture, i waited in misery

the priest could not know, the scribe could not see
only the seer could hint, only the prophet could tell
there was a gift to come, there was a surprise to unfold

i asked for mercy, and you would send grace
i asked for pardon, and you would give yourself
i asked for clemency, but you, you

you would come in my darkest hour
you would arrive in my grave
you would surpass my need

silent tears

2008-05-19T10:24:00.011-04:00

silent tears fell to the ground--gethsemane's soil is watered.

silent tears fell alone--blood crawled to the surface.

silent tears trailed to the skull--to the place where he would die.

silent tears are more painful than a hundred of golgotha's days.

o body, body of Christ, you are not alone.

o members, o members of Christ, you are knit together.

he endured the loneliness of sin, so that you could be whole.

he gave life to give life, do not live in silence.

show time

2008-05-17T08:21:00.002-04:00

Gordon Atkinson, a Baptist pastor writes the following:

"It is on Sunday nights that my mind turns inward and I ask myself, 'What have I done with my life? Is this a good and worthy way to spend a life? Does preaching really do anything? Does it help people engage the scriptures, or is it just a little show on Sunday mornings so we can all pretend we still care about being connected to these ancient writings?'"

http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=4794

From the reformed tradition, there is much to comment on here: the centrality of Christ, pastor as preacher, vocation, etc. However, G.A. asks a basic question which all pastors must ask, "Am I a hired stage show?"

If I make them laugh, they will come.
If I entertain, they will stay.
If I preach what they want to hear, they will be content, and pay the bills.

Once I was in worship and I heard one of the best sermons that I have ever had the privilege to experience. While it challenged me, the majority were jubilantly crying "Amen!"

Perhaps "amen" (meaning "true," or "let it be so") is the correct verbage to respond to the Word of God. Perhaps "amen" is the only word that we can utter. Yet, it struck me that while I wanted to fall on my knees and cry, others were standing and rejoicing. While I should not set aside the joy of God, there was something strange about those moments.

Experience and scripture tell me that I should not ask the question, but yet my immature mind wonders, "Did they find joy in the presence of our Lord, or did they find joy in knowing that the preacher was railing against the negligence of others?"

This is the same profound question which Atkinson asks. Am I a hired stage hand who gives them what they want, or am I a servant of Christ, a slave to the Gospel?

Pastors, this is your question.

But Christians, this is your struggle as well!

When it comes time to be encountered by the Word of God, it is never show time. It is go time! Go to your knees and rejoice. Rejoice in the comforting presence of Christ. Rejoice that God calls us to a higher life. Rejoice in the encouragement. Rejoice in the rebuke. Rejoice that God is not dead, but is still very much present and alive. Rejoice that God is not silent. Rejoice because God still speaks.

hospital prayers

2008-05-16T08:15:00.000-04:00

heads bowed,
hands held,
word proclaimed,
prayers uttered,
tears shed,
joy found