What will you do with this?

Today in my worldviews class, we talked about a Biblical definition for poverty and the implications that definition has for how we should go about doing mercy ministries. After laying out what I think are clear, biblical principles, I challenged my students. I asked them, "Now you have a deeper understanding of God's marching orders. But what will you do with this information? How will it change your heart? How will it cause you to become the hands and feet and heart of Jesus to a broken world?"

And this afternoon in talking to a friend about the class, I realized that I have to ask myself the very same question. How will I become more consistent with God's word, more willing to leave the bubble of my Christian community, more willing to step outside of my comfort zone to be obedient to Christ's call on my life? I don't know what the answer is to these questions, but I know the adventure is out there, and I know the God who calls me to it is big and strong and able.

Wednesday without words...

An Easter excursion (excluding eggs)

On Sunday afternoon, we met up to do some geocaching with our friends, Holly4. The first cache of the day was a puzzle: we had to walk a fit trail, finding clues on each fitness station. While we were at it, we did the exercises. Here I am, strengthening my arms in a beautiful setting.

Here is Momma H. doing a little T'ai Chi.

And here are the Holly guys, ciphering out our first cache site with the clues we gathered.

All-in-all, we found 6 caches, and went to some beautiful scenery in far-eastern Los Alamos county. Look at the view from the spot where Dave and Momma H. are finding a cache below!

We also hiked out along the old Main Hill Road, which overlooks the new road and the valley. it is a lovely spot!

I never grow tired of living in this amazing place. The scenery is simply spectacular. What a wonderful Resurrection Day afternoon, enjoying friends and God's beautiful creation together!

Death, be not proud...

Holy Sonnet X
John Donne

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so;

For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow

Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,

Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,

And soonest our best men with thee do go,

Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.

Thou'art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,

And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,

And poppy'or charms can make us sleep as well

And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?

One short sleep past, we wake eternally,

And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

A great hymn for Passion Week, or any other

Last evening, we attended The Good Friday Tenebrae service at our church. Each year this simple, ancient service, moves me. Even last night, on a very sparsely attended night (this year, school spring break coincides with Easter and the town has emptied...) I was moved by the recitation of scripture, retelling the story of Passion Week, and then responding to the Scripture with great hymns of the faith. After each reading, the sanctuary lights are dimmed, and we are left in near-darkness, awaiting Resurrection morning. The order of worship is at the bottom of this post. Its power is the power of God's Word.

The most beautiful hymn of the night for me was "Ah, Holy Jesus". It has all the things a great hymn needs; Biblical truth written in beautiful and fitting words, matched well to a timeless melody with beautiful harmonization, singable for a congregation. If you don't know this hymn, Gentle Reader, learn it. It will bless your soul.

Ah, Holy Jesus Words by Johann Heerman, 1630; music by Johann Cruger, 1640

Ah, holy Jesus, how hast Thou offended,
That man to judge Thee hath in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by Thine own rejected,
O most afflicted.

Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon Thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone Thee.
’Twas I, Lord, Jesus, I it was denied Thee!
I crucified Thee.

Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
The slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered;
For man’s atonement, while he nothing heedeth,
God intercedeth.

For me, kind Jesus, was Thy incarnation,
Thy mortal sorrow, and Thy life’s oblation;
Thy death of anguish and Thy bitter passion,
For my salvation.

Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay Thee,
I do adore Thee, and will ever pray Thee,
Think on Thy pity and Thy love unswerving,
Not my deserving.

Tenebrae Service:
Call to worship from Isaiah 53
"Lift High the Cross"
Confession of faith from 1 Timothy 1;15, 2 Cor 9:15, Rom 5:8, 1 Tim 1:17
The Shadow of Betrayal: Matthew 26:20-25
"Man of Sorrows"
The Shadow of Desertion: Matthew 26:31-35
"Ah, Holy Jesus"
The Shadow of Agony of the Spirit: Luke 22:39-46
"'Tis Midnight and on Olive's Brow"
The Shadow of Accusation: Matthew 27:11-26
"Stricken, Smitten and Afflicted"
The Shadow of the Crucifixion: John 19:28-37
"O Sacred Head Now Wounded"
"The Shadow of Death: John 19:28-37
"Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed"
The Shadow of Burial: John 19:38-42
"When I Survey the Wonderous Cross"
Prayer of hope and dismissal; Exiting in silence.

Good Friday reflections

A BETTER RESURRECTION

by: Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

I have no wit, no words, no tears;
My heart within me like a stone
Is numb'd too much for hopes or fears;
Look right, look left, I dwell alone;
I lift mine eyes, but dimm'd with grief
No everlasting hills I see;
My life is in the falling leaf:
O Jesus, quicken me.

My life is like a faded leaf,
My harvest dwindled to a husk:
Truly my life is void and brief
And tedious in the barren dusk;
My life is like a frozen thing,
No bud nor greenness can I see:
Yet rise it shall--the sap of Spring;
O Jesus, rise in me.

My life is like a broken bowl,
A broken bowl that cannot hold
One drop of water for my soul
Or cordial in the searching cold;
Cast in the fire the perish'd thing;
Melt and remould it, till it be
A royal cup for Him, my King:
O Jesus, drink of me.

"A Better Resurrection" is reprinted from Goblin Market and other Poems. Christina Rossetti. Cambridge: Macmillan, 1862.

Friends

One of the best things about a wedding is meeting up with old friends and making new ones. This last wedding was rich in both!