You may not think so, but there are times when I have blogger's block. No inspiration to be found from the lextionary, Bible, Book of Common Prayer, or personal experience. Today just happens to be one of those days. Often times when I find myself in this slump, I normally think about the course of the day and what has happened or possibly not happened.
While thumbing and skimming through student papers in desperate need of my attention, I began to hum "Soon Ah will be done." This is a beautiful spiritual which was arranged by William L.. Dawson. Many people probably remember the scence of "Imitation of Life" when Mahalia Jackson is singing this song at Annie's funeral. This song has some sentiments of death and earthly departure. However this song is one of many of the plantation songs which our ancestors sang to get them through the trials that they were going through. In reality it summarizes the ultimate hope of every believer. In everything that you go through, remember that you are a transitory being and just a pilgrim passing through, and soon you will be done. In all things, remember that only what you do for Christ will last.
Soon I will be done, with the troubles of the world,
The troubles of the world.
I'm going home to live with God.
I want to meet my mother, I'm going home to live with God.
No more weeping and wailing, I'm going home to live with God.
I want to meet my Jesus, I'm going home to live with God.
Soon I will be done with the troubles of the world.
Peace,
Karsten
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
In the midst of your mess, God produces his best!
Today's blog is the continuation from a blog entry last week, in which we are encouraged to turn our mess into a message. We are all a HOT MESS! I get it, but now we need to turn our mess into a message. Part of that process is realizing that in the midst of your mess, God produces his best! If you're like me, you don't like to be messy for extended periods of time. You don't like to be in messy situations and you certainly don't like dealing with messy people. The key thing to remember is that regardless of our strugs and the messes we find ourselves in; in those moments, God is producing his best in and through you.
Let's look at two examples from the Old Testament. First let's look at Joseph. Joseph's story can be found in Genesis 37-50. Long story short, Joseph was the beloved son of his father and hated by his brothers, so much that they sold him into slavery. Joseph ended up in Egypt, where he was sent to prison for making a pass at Potiphar's wife; when in actuality she made the pass at him and he rejected her. While Joseph was in prison, he would interpret dreams and one day Pharaoh had a dream that only Joseph could interpret. This dream prepared Egypt for a devastating famine to come. To express his appreciation to Joseph, Pharaoh made him second in command in the land. Eventually Joseph's brothers had to come back to the very one that they sold into slavery so many years prior.
If that's not enough for you, look at Job. Job's story is an interesting one. Job lived in the land of Ur and was very wealthy and prosperous. He had a wife and lots of sons and daughters. One day, Job lost EVERYTHING, the children, property and on top of that he was plagued with an illness. His doom and gloom friends came over and offered no consolation. His wife told him to curse God and die. However, Job did something that still blows my mind. He said "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him." Job prayed for his friends and everything was restored unto him double. For your trouble, you shall have double!! Yes, he even had more children. His latter end was far greater than his former end. Look at GOD!!
In the Episcopal and Roman Catholic Church, yesterday's gospel reading came from St. Matthew chapter 5. During chapel on Friday, my Chaplain reminded us of this scripture. It was again reemphasized yesterday as I sat in mass. "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." In the midst of our messy situations, we often lose sight of the fact that we are salt, zest and zeal of the earth. We've got the flavor that it takes to change the hearts of men and serve in love and charity, while simultaneously shining our light into the dark places of hurting people, and a broken and unjust society. Go get your salt box and your lamp stand. In the midst of your mess, God produces his BEST!
The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
Karsten
Let's look at two examples from the Old Testament. First let's look at Joseph. Joseph's story can be found in Genesis 37-50. Long story short, Joseph was the beloved son of his father and hated by his brothers, so much that they sold him into slavery. Joseph ended up in Egypt, where he was sent to prison for making a pass at Potiphar's wife; when in actuality she made the pass at him and he rejected her. While Joseph was in prison, he would interpret dreams and one day Pharaoh had a dream that only Joseph could interpret. This dream prepared Egypt for a devastating famine to come. To express his appreciation to Joseph, Pharaoh made him second in command in the land. Eventually Joseph's brothers had to come back to the very one that they sold into slavery so many years prior.
If that's not enough for you, look at Job. Job's story is an interesting one. Job lived in the land of Ur and was very wealthy and prosperous. He had a wife and lots of sons and daughters. One day, Job lost EVERYTHING, the children, property and on top of that he was plagued with an illness. His doom and gloom friends came over and offered no consolation. His wife told him to curse God and die. However, Job did something that still blows my mind. He said "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him." Job prayed for his friends and everything was restored unto him double. For your trouble, you shall have double!! Yes, he even had more children. His latter end was far greater than his former end. Look at GOD!!
In the Episcopal and Roman Catholic Church, yesterday's gospel reading came from St. Matthew chapter 5. During chapel on Friday, my Chaplain reminded us of this scripture. It was again reemphasized yesterday as I sat in mass. "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." In the midst of our messy situations, we often lose sight of the fact that we are salt, zest and zeal of the earth. We've got the flavor that it takes to change the hearts of men and serve in love and charity, while simultaneously shining our light into the dark places of hurting people, and a broken and unjust society. Go get your salt box and your lamp stand. In the midst of your mess, God produces his BEST!
The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
Karsten
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Turning your mess into a message
I love talking to my friends, especially friends that go to different churches or even those that follow different faiths. I was recently in a conversation with a friend and he told me that he had gone to church that day and how much the service blessed him. I asked him what the sermon was about. He told me that the title was "Turning your mess into a message!" Without hearing any type of scriptural reference, my spirit just leaped within and the title of this sermon blessed me, and I thought that I would share some thoughts and reflections with you, my blogosphere buddies.
If we think about it, we are all a HOT MESS! Yeah, we cover it up well. We perfume the stench of our lives away. And Lord, come Sunday morning and time to go to work, we certainly can dress it up well. I am preaching to myself as well. Some of us are so bad, that our issues have issues and our drama is plagued with drama. Regardless of your mess -- The failed marriage, poor financial decisions, low self esteem, job layoff, not finishing that which you've started, the broken relationships with friends and family, your inner struggles to find peace and ridding yourself of resentment. Need I continue? We all have mess in our lives. Brothers and sisters, it is high time that we take our mess and turn it into a message.
Take this moment to boldly declare that you will not let your past and current situations define who you are and your potential as a child of God. It may not seem like it, but the messes that we're in now will prove to be the best testimonies of how we got over. I've said this before; you cannot have a TESTimony, without a test. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the words of our testimony. In fact you're such a hot mess, when you get delivered from it, people will look at how you've come through the fire not even singed and in your right mind. At that moment, they will know that it was God working in and through you. Remember that your latter end will be greater than your former end. Take charge now and turn your mess into a message!
Peace,
Karsten
If we think about it, we are all a HOT MESS! Yeah, we cover it up well. We perfume the stench of our lives away. And Lord, come Sunday morning and time to go to work, we certainly can dress it up well. I am preaching to myself as well. Some of us are so bad, that our issues have issues and our drama is plagued with drama. Regardless of your mess -- The failed marriage, poor financial decisions, low self esteem, job layoff, not finishing that which you've started, the broken relationships with friends and family, your inner struggles to find peace and ridding yourself of resentment. Need I continue? We all have mess in our lives. Brothers and sisters, it is high time that we take our mess and turn it into a message.
Take this moment to boldly declare that you will not let your past and current situations define who you are and your potential as a child of God. It may not seem like it, but the messes that we're in now will prove to be the best testimonies of how we got over. I've said this before; you cannot have a TESTimony, without a test. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the words of our testimony. In fact you're such a hot mess, when you get delivered from it, people will look at how you've come through the fire not even singed and in your right mind. At that moment, they will know that it was God working in and through you. Remember that your latter end will be greater than your former end. Take charge now and turn your mess into a message!
Peace,
Karsten
Thursday, January 27, 2011
What is HE doing through you?
Sorry I've been out ot the BLOGosphere for a while. You know how it goes. I've been overly consumed by the cares of life, work, home, family, friends, my issues and the list goes on. One may conjecture that busyness is both a blessing and a curse. But beloved, that does not mean that you have not been in my thoughts and prayers.
Over the course of the last week or so, I've really been ministered to on the subject of "light". When I had a crash and burn moment at work, one of my colleagues reminded me to let my light shine. How appropriate, after all this is the season of epiphany. Even during advent I blogged about letting your light shine. I just love how God will send someone to you to preach the same word to you that you've poured into someone else, in order to build you up.
Many of us are going through faith trying seasons, but as I was reminded this past Sunday while streaming live into worship at Greater Allen Cathedral, that Isaiah reminds us to rise and shine because our light has come. Even now more than ever, I encourage you to let your light shine in calamity and chaos. But Sunday as I was sitting in church, my priest posed a simple question that just blessed me. What is "HE" doing through you? The he is Jesus, our saviour. I really thought about that. It is my hope that he is teaching Spanish through me, spreading love, joy, peace and laughter through me. I left church wanting Jesus to do even more things through me, so that people won't see Karsten, but the Spirit of God. I heard a minister once say, "Hide me behind the cross of calvary, and from thee I will not stray." I am still thinking on what Jesus is doing and possibly could be doing in and through me. So today, I ask you the same question. What is "HE" doing through you?
Peace,
Karsten
Over the course of the last week or so, I've really been ministered to on the subject of "light". When I had a crash and burn moment at work, one of my colleagues reminded me to let my light shine. How appropriate, after all this is the season of epiphany. Even during advent I blogged about letting your light shine. I just love how God will send someone to you to preach the same word to you that you've poured into someone else, in order to build you up.
Many of us are going through faith trying seasons, but as I was reminded this past Sunday while streaming live into worship at Greater Allen Cathedral, that Isaiah reminds us to rise and shine because our light has come. Even now more than ever, I encourage you to let your light shine in calamity and chaos. But Sunday as I was sitting in church, my priest posed a simple question that just blessed me. What is "HE" doing through you? The he is Jesus, our saviour. I really thought about that. It is my hope that he is teaching Spanish through me, spreading love, joy, peace and laughter through me. I left church wanting Jesus to do even more things through me, so that people won't see Karsten, but the Spirit of God. I heard a minister once say, "Hide me behind the cross of calvary, and from thee I will not stray." I am still thinking on what Jesus is doing and possibly could be doing in and through me. So today, I ask you the same question. What is "HE" doing through you?
Peace,
Karsten
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Fingerprints
Today's BLOG entry comes from a set of borrowed words from a book I'm reading, "Don't sweat the small stuff," by Richard Carlson. Enjoy!
#48 Remember that Everything has God's Fingerprints on it
Rabbi Harold Kushner reminds us that everything that God has created is potentially holy. Our task as humans is to find that holiness in what appears to be unholy situations. He suggests that when we can learn to do this, we will have learned to nurture our souls. It's easy to see God's beauty in a beautiful sunset, a snow-capped mountain, the smile of a healthy child, or in ocean waves crashing on a sandy beach. But can we can learn to find the holiness in seemingly ugly circumstances -- difficult life lessons, a family tragedy, or a struggle for life?
When our life is filled with the desire to see holiness in everyday things, something magical begins to happen. A feeling of peace emerges. We begin to see nurturing aspects of daily living that were previously hidden to us. When we remember that everything has God's fingerprints on it, that alone makes it special. If we remember this spiritual fact while we are dealing with a difficult person or struggling to pay our bills, it broadens our perspective. It helps us to remember that God also created the person you are dealing with or that, despite your struggle to pay your bills, you are truly blessed to have all that you do.
Somewhere, in the back of your mind, try to remember that everything has God's fingerprints on it. The fact that we can't see the beauty in something doesn't suggest that it's not there. Rather, it suggests that we are not looking carefully enough or with a broad enough perspective to see it. (Carlson 121-122)
Peace,
Karsten
#48 Remember that Everything has God's Fingerprints on it
Rabbi Harold Kushner reminds us that everything that God has created is potentially holy. Our task as humans is to find that holiness in what appears to be unholy situations. He suggests that when we can learn to do this, we will have learned to nurture our souls. It's easy to see God's beauty in a beautiful sunset, a snow-capped mountain, the smile of a healthy child, or in ocean waves crashing on a sandy beach. But can we can learn to find the holiness in seemingly ugly circumstances -- difficult life lessons, a family tragedy, or a struggle for life?
When our life is filled with the desire to see holiness in everyday things, something magical begins to happen. A feeling of peace emerges. We begin to see nurturing aspects of daily living that were previously hidden to us. When we remember that everything has God's fingerprints on it, that alone makes it special. If we remember this spiritual fact while we are dealing with a difficult person or struggling to pay our bills, it broadens our perspective. It helps us to remember that God also created the person you are dealing with or that, despite your struggle to pay your bills, you are truly blessed to have all that you do.
Somewhere, in the back of your mind, try to remember that everything has God's fingerprints on it. The fact that we can't see the beauty in something doesn't suggest that it's not there. Rather, it suggests that we are not looking carefully enough or with a broad enough perspective to see it. (Carlson 121-122)
Peace,
Karsten
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Peace at the 8-5
For those of us who are fortunate enough to be gainfully employed in times like these, we truly have a lot to be thankful for. I have friends who have been unemployed for 18 months or more, but are still perservering in their quest to find employment. However, sometimes at work, our thankfulness may become jaded with underappretiation, increased work, office drama and politics and relationships with our colleagues, managers and other constituents that are related to our work.
Whether you have an 8-5, 7-3 or an 11-7; In the midst of the adversity that you face at work, remember that you have been called there to work for such a time as this. God will give you the grace to perform your job dutifully and diligently to his glory and honor. Remember, no one else can do your job like you. Sure, there are people who are certainly better or worse than you are at your profession. But you are the chosen vessel to carry out the work for this season. Above all else, think about the people at your job that you minister to, be it through a smile, a kind word or an exhortation. That alone should change how we approach our job.
Jobs can be heavy testing grounds of our patience, joy and faith. In the words of Tony Danza from the 80's sitcom "Who's the Boss?," in a conversation with his daughter Samantha, "Before you take a test take a deep breath count to ten, and jump in. " One of my favorite scriptures from the New Testament is John 14. Jesus begins speaking by saying "Let not your hearts be troubled." Later on in that same chapter, Jesus issues his bequest of peace to us. In verse 27 he says "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." At the conclusion of the chapter Jesus simply says, "Arise, let us go hence." Simply put, Get up -- Go to work with the peace of God in your hearts, knowing that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.
Arise, let us go hence.
Karsten
Whether you have an 8-5, 7-3 or an 11-7; In the midst of the adversity that you face at work, remember that you have been called there to work for such a time as this. God will give you the grace to perform your job dutifully and diligently to his glory and honor. Remember, no one else can do your job like you. Sure, there are people who are certainly better or worse than you are at your profession. But you are the chosen vessel to carry out the work for this season. Above all else, think about the people at your job that you minister to, be it through a smile, a kind word or an exhortation. That alone should change how we approach our job.
Jobs can be heavy testing grounds of our patience, joy and faith. In the words of Tony Danza from the 80's sitcom "Who's the Boss?," in a conversation with his daughter Samantha, "Before you take a test take a deep breath count to ten, and jump in. " One of my favorite scriptures from the New Testament is John 14. Jesus begins speaking by saying "Let not your hearts be troubled." Later on in that same chapter, Jesus issues his bequest of peace to us. In verse 27 he says "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." At the conclusion of the chapter Jesus simply says, "Arise, let us go hence." Simply put, Get up -- Go to work with the peace of God in your hearts, knowing that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.
Arise, let us go hence.
Karsten
Monday, January 17, 2011
365 Day Dream
As you probably imagined, today's BLOG entry is dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Twenty-five years ago, Martin Luther King Day (third Monday in January) became a federal holiday. I am a believer in Dr. King's dream for a better America in which one is not judged by the color of their skin, but rather the content of their character. I feel that MLK Day is the only time that people collectively sit still and reflect on the dream. Many people have done some type of community service project today, and that is a good thing.
But what happens on the Tuesday and subsequent days after MLK Day? Recently, I've discovered yet another layer of my ministerial calling, social justice. Dr. King dreamed of an America in which everyone regardless of color, religion, gender, creed or sexual orientation would possess the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as promised to us in the Declaration of Independence. In the words of Dr. King, "It is obvious that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked insufficient funds." I know that in 2011, when jobs are scarce, money is funny and a gallon of gas is over the $3 benchmark in most states, some of us may feel as if our basic rights have been encroached upon.
If we earnestly examine the essence of Dr. King's dream and question the marches, protests, sit-ins, his stance on war and even his non-violent demonstrations, we can trace it to one word; LOVE. The love of people (both the lovable and unlovable) was the catalyst that propelled the civil rights movement. Love is the reason that we are all here at this moment and this very time. If you want to keep social justice alive and vibrant, spread a little love. Maya Angelou periodically quotes her mother by saying "When you get something, give. When you learn something, teach." I wish you and yours well on what's left of this King holiday, but what will we do to carry out the dream for the remaining 364 days and beyond?
Peace,
Karsten
But what happens on the Tuesday and subsequent days after MLK Day? Recently, I've discovered yet another layer of my ministerial calling, social justice. Dr. King dreamed of an America in which everyone regardless of color, religion, gender, creed or sexual orientation would possess the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as promised to us in the Declaration of Independence. In the words of Dr. King, "It is obvious that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked insufficient funds." I know that in 2011, when jobs are scarce, money is funny and a gallon of gas is over the $3 benchmark in most states, some of us may feel as if our basic rights have been encroached upon.
If we earnestly examine the essence of Dr. King's dream and question the marches, protests, sit-ins, his stance on war and even his non-violent demonstrations, we can trace it to one word; LOVE. The love of people (both the lovable and unlovable) was the catalyst that propelled the civil rights movement. Love is the reason that we are all here at this moment and this very time. If you want to keep social justice alive and vibrant, spread a little love. Maya Angelou periodically quotes her mother by saying "When you get something, give. When you learn something, teach." I wish you and yours well on what's left of this King holiday, but what will we do to carry out the dream for the remaining 364 days and beyond?
Peace,
Karsten
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