Wayside Waifs Spring Adoptathon April 9-11

Why, I'm just waiting for you to come on down to Wayside Waifs for the Spring Adoptathon, with half price adoption fees, expanded hours, and all kinds of wonderful animals to look at. What is keeping you? You're so slow, odds are my unique self is already begging at the table in my new home! However, if I'm already gone, I've left lots of buddies behind; dogs of all ages, and cats too. Even some rabbits, and other smaller animals are available. I understand there's this internet thing, where you can type letters and see pictures of us critters. I think if you click right here, you'll go to the place with the pictures and other stuff you might want to know. Oh, you want another cute picture? OK, here's a cat--she's kind of pretty, you know.

Actually, she looks like trouble! And now, some more info for you...

The Adoptathon is sponsored by the kind folks at 106.5 The Wolf--they play that pick up truck dog music stuff--and starts April 9th and ends April 11th. Wayside Waifs will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 12 noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Adoption fees will be half price during those times. Wayside Waifs is at 3901 Martha Truman Road in south KC. Phone: 816-761-8151. On that web thingy at www.waysidewaifs.org.

Teach Your Children Well

I was having lunch the other day and while I was enjoying my orange chicken, these two ladies and these two kids came in. The kids were just soooo adorable and cute that I just had to snap a sneaky pic of them. The little girl, prim and proper with her purse, her hair done up in braids and beads. The boy, in his basketball outfit, all at once time brave and shy. They were well behaved, patiently waiting, not screaming or acting out. I was enjoying them in the line, and it turned out they were fine dining companions too, with good manners at their table, seeming to enjoy themselves, paying attention, not goofing off.

When I see kids, I do pray. Do they have good role models in the household? Does the boy have a man in his life who treats him with firm respect, showing the little male what it is to be a man? Does the girl have a man in her life who treats her like the precious jewel she is, so she can understand what true love is when she reaches her teen years? Is there a woman in the family that is a powerful nurturing presence, with unconditional love, that demands the best of children? Has the family placed the teaching and loving of these children above any other goals or distractions? Do the adults in these kids' lives show ways of resolving conflict that do not involve violence or manipulative power plays that end up hurting people? Is there teaching of care for others and for society--the sort of teaching that demonstrates that the "me-first" ism so common today is an empty broken philosophy, destined to give immediate pleasure but empty the soul? Is there ambition in the family, to make themselves better then they are now? A work ethic and sense of personal responsibility? A denial of the current pleasure for future gain?

I think of these things because the failure of families has given rise to behavior and trends that are not positive. Now I know that each generation thinks the younger generation behind it is going to Hell in a hand basket, but the world has had significant societal change over the past 50 years. Much of it has been for the better, some of it has been for the worse. Divorce and family breakup to the extent that modern society has seen it over the past half decade is a new thing, and I think we have seen the effects on the current crop of young adults--Gen X and and younger. Families are doing less of the good teaching, and leaving more of it to society, to schools, employers, and elders in the community. We see people unable to resolve conflict without resorting to violence. We see rude and uncivil behavior on the increase. We see more of an entitlement mentality, wanting "what's mine" and wanting it now.

I sometimes think that dysfunctional communities are in denial about this aspect of their troubles. I would like to see leaders in the Kansas City East Side--our city's area with the most violent crime--openly and publicly confront the people about the high out-of-wedlock birth rate and the high number of unsupported single moms in their community. I would like to hear conversation about the high number of grandparents raising kids, because drugs have snared the moms and dads. I would like confronted the generational poverty and welfare mentality that has taken over some families.

It's hard, because much of this is stuff that cannot be fixed by anyone but the parties involved. There are some things the community-at-large can do and a few things individuals can do. As best you can, model the good. Resolve conflict without violence. Be considerate of others and call the inconsiderate to account (do not expect thanks for this, BTW; in fact expect exponentially increased rudeness). Do things out side of the government programs that help people see an alternative way--I know of churches that sponsor tutoring, mentoring and camping programs that expose kids to good values and opportunities--ways of thinking that are less selfish and entitled, more oriented to achievement and positive change.

Success and happiness is not the big house and two cars, although financial uplift often comes when positive values are followed. It means being able to look around and be fulfilled, to know you have given your best, and to know some small corner of the world is a little better for your passing through. I worry that, in chasing after what fulfills "me" right at this moment, that we have deprived and are depriving our kids of the teaching and knowing of true happiness.

Bloggy Thoughts

Since I started this blog, I have been just introspective enough to ask, "Why blog?" and "What is this blog supposed to do?" Sometimes, over the course of these eight or so months I have been very satisfied with the content of the blog, have had oodles of things in my head to write about, and just had a lot of fun. Other times, not so satisfied, and quite empty-headed. Sometimes, I felt like I wasn't diverse enough. Twice, actually. Once was with all the MAST stuff. The other was this past weekend. Although I enjoyed the Christian oriented holiday posts, I'm not sure my readers did.

I do want this to be a diverse blog, with lots of different stuff. Like in the blurb, this blog is like sitting around the kitchen table, hanging out in the garage, or watching the world go by on the porch. Whatever I am, I am that and I blog. I am a Christian and I blog; this is not a Christian blog. I did give some thought to splitting off a Christian blog, but that would exclude too much stuff from here, and my being a Christian is just part of me like my blue eyes and brunette (OK, salt and pepper) hair and I could sooner stop bringing my faith into my entries then I could stop being blue eyed. I have given thought to a non public journal type blog, but without home Internet access, I would not be able to enter regularly. Journaling will be its usual intermittent stuff the old fashioned way, with paper and pen, or on the word processor.

You may note that there's not a lot of snark on the blog. Anything I write I would put my name on, if it was truly safe. I am in general not a snarky person. If I'm making mean remarks it usually means I am in a bad place spiritually! I do use humor with words a lot and will play off a situation to lighten things up, but I rarely do it at anyone's expense, except maybe my own. And I do love puns, although they tend to end up in the comments sections of other blogs, rather than here. (My punny work can be found at Ann T.'s place [it seems to come out there] and occasionally at Tony's place.) I also avoid "troll" behavior--no ad hominum attacks and no flaming caps--on both my blogs and when I comment on others. Like I said, I write nothing I wouldn't sign, if it was safe to do so.

In the end, I mostly blog for my own enjoyment. But if you are here reading, I want you to enjoy your visit too, at least as much as I enjoy the writing and posting.

If you like sports, you can visit the sports blog You're Looking Live . I personally would love it if you would look in on this frustrated photojourno's photo blog F8 and Be There. Thank you for your time. To my regulars--thank you for your support. For the newbies--thanks for looking in.

A Parting Easter Shot

Easter Sunday

I should remember this prayer every Easter. It was written by a relative of a professor of mine, who is also a friend. My other friend, Indybikehiking John posted it on his blog and I now post it on mine:

RESURRECTION DAY

by Wilfred L. Winget

O Mighty, Holy Breath of God

On this glorious Day of Resurrection

Blow open all the shutters of our minds

bursting the barriers of

prejudice and pride

insensitivity and sloth

ignorance and fear

stretching wide our vision of

what you are doing

where you are working

in our fascinating

exasperating world.

Blow wide the doors of our hearts

impelling us outward to

the lonely and loveless

the angry and hopeless

the empty and faithless

as ready instruments

of your Grace.

Blow up our lungs to keep us shouting

Yes to Faith in the face of fear

Yes to Hope in defiance of despair

Yes to Love in spite of apathy

Yes to Life in the teeth of death

Through Christ, the Living One,

Our Lord.

Amen

My friend John is a darn good writer in his own right and he penned this in his email newsletter I received today. I read it in between services:

ATTITUDES OF EASTER

Is Easter taught or caught, celebrated stoically or raucously?

SOUL EXPRESSION. What should be our attitudes toward Easter Sunday and Resurrection? I wonder about this as I hear songs being rehearsed for the Easter Sunday worship services. One song is pompous and triumphant. Another is haunting and reflective. Still another soars high in its wondering amazement. Each seems appropriate. Yet not one song alone can capture the range of emotions or adequately express the soul that has greeted and embraced Easter from the heart.

CHICKEN OR EGG? It’s the chicken and the egg issue. Which comes first: comprehending the significance of Easter, or being seized by the incredible power and promise of this Resurrection Day? Is Easter taught or is it caught? Do we accept the table-turning, life-giving reality of the Resurrected Lord and the scope of its implications for our lives and the life of the world in calm, rational, creedal terms? Or, do we run blindly headlong into the most incredible surprise that has ever shocked the world and wonder (and wander!)--half-dazed--the rest of our lives in sheer amazement and gratitude?

DARE WE BELIEVE. Dare we believe that this “morning has broken like the first morning?” Dare we believe that God’s raising Jesus from the dead (not that he raised himself; this is a most important theological distinction) has, indeed, reversed the demising spin in which life had been headed? Dare we embrace Easter not just in theological terms, with a gut-level hunch and breath-taking leap that the event was pervasive—a cosmological eruption, an anthropological explosion with universal impacts which are just now beginning to be felt? Dare we believe that Jesus of Nazareth, who was dead, is alive and alive for evermore?

FAITH’S DAY. This is faith’s day. It belongs to the realm of trust. It does not belong to those who pander in refutable fables or epic-archetypal myth interpretation, speculative theology, or biblical and historical reductionism. Let every cynic and self-consumed philosophizer and obsessive-compulsive second-guesser be still for a moment, for an hour, for a day. Let those who have been surprised and interrupted by Resurrection pour out their hearts in wonder, in praise (stoic and still, exuberant and raucous), in gratitude. This is faith’s day. It belongs to the realm of trust. O, that every doubting mind, hurting heart, calloused soul might let its light shine in. He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

Please visit John at his blog Indy Bikehiker

Saturday--the In Between Day

I have often thought about what it was like in those hours and the day after the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ. The Bible is silent about this day. It was the Sabbath day, and Mark and Matthew simply say at the beginning of the resurrection narrative, "After the Sabbath..."(Mark 16, Matthew 28) Luke says, "But they rested on the Sabbath, in obedience to the commandment." (Luke 23:56b NIV).

The fact that it was the sabbath day tells us something about how the disciples and their allies spent the day. As observant Jews, they did not work. They didn't fish, farm or collect taxes. They didn't build or repair anything. They rested, as best they could after the events of the previous day. They had some food. They may have had a time of worship, some Scripture, sang the psalms. They may have been fearful, now that Jesus was dead, and uncertain about their future. They may have worried that they were next to die. They may not have spent the sabbath day at home due to that fear, in fact, the group was gathered together when those who went to Jesus' tomb returned with their reports of what they saw.

Even now, 2000 plus years later, I feel this "in between-ness". The pause in the action makes you think. Even though we know the "rest of the story", there still a sense of suspension--of waiting, anticipating and maybe a little anxiety. What do we do with ourselves today? Traditionally, in the modern world, this day is not a sabbath day. In the cafe I'm in people are visiting, studying, reading, watching stuff on the 'Net. Somehow these things seem right in step with the spirit of the day. In many ways, that sabbath day was just like any other, and today is just like any other Saturday. However, not everything fits in. I have found that some blog topics under consideration just don't seem appropriate to the day, and even though timeliness may suffer, they will wait until next week. Preparation seems appropriate however. In Jesus' time, the preparation was on Friday. We are preparing today. The final decorations and food. The rehearsing. Sermon and Bible teaching. Shopping for the new outfit, if one can. Plans for the celebration. Tomorrow is Easter--Jesus Christ has risen.

In about one hour, the first of eight, if I counted right, Easter services will start at the church I currently attend. I will be part of the choir, singing about His Resurrection. I will return to the church tomorrow morning to be part of the volunteers that will serve the needs of the people that gather there at that time. We will, like Christians have for over 2000 years, celebrate the fact that Jesus was not and is not in the tomb.

Happy Easter to everyone.

Drawing Towards the Cross

I have noticed the parallels between the Lenten season, and the preparatory season before Christmas, called Advent, before. The liturgical colors are both purples. Both call the Christian believer to preparation for the coming events--Christ's birth and Christ's resurrection. During Advent, each Sunday, a Candle is lit as in preparation for Christ's birth. You do this for four Sundays. On Christmas Sunday, the four candles lit previously are lighted. Then the Christ Candle, white instead of Advent purple, is lit. Five candles for the celebration of Christ's birth. Tonight, in a Maundy Thursday service, that was a Tennebrae (meaning "darkness") Service, that Christmas Sunday candle, the Christ candle was snuffed.

I wish I could take you there--mere words seem inadequate--but come, come into the church's sanctuary, the worship space. Up on the platform, near the front, was a cross, about 9 feet high. At its base, three purple candles. Three other purple candles were also set up on the platform, two across the front, and one over by the Baptismal Font. The Christ candle was on the communion table, right in the middle. All draping was black, song leader, choir, orchestra, ministers attired in black. All the candles were lit and the lights were on.

There is music. A minister approaches a candle, tells part of the story of Christ on the cross. We hear one of the seven sayings recorded by the gospel writers. The candle is snuffed. On a number of occasions a symbol of Christ's words is taken by the minister and placed on the communion table with the Christ candle, Bible and bread and wine that are already there.

"Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." A thorn of crowns is placed on the table. We sing together.

"Today, you will be with me in paradise." A robe is carried to the center table.

"Here is your mother." A whip. Sing together again, sacrifices of worship.

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" A meditation on how God understands darkness, and an instruction to realize His hope, as reflected in the remainder of Psalm 22, from which this phrase comes.

"I am thirsty." A hyssop branch with a sponge. Reflecting here on how Jesus, the source of living water, while suffering on the cross, experiences the very human sensation of thirst and dryness. Reflections also on the sacrament of baptism signifying the believers' death and rebirth in Christ. Thinking also of the work of the Holy Spirit. We worship in song again.

"Father into Your hands I commend my spirit."

There is only one candle left lit on the platform--six have been snuffed out. We pause, celebrate the Lord's Supper, communion together. The bread and blood of the new covenant. His blood, given for you, take and drink in remembrance of Me.

We settle back in our chairs after partaking of the elements. There is a song: "Behold the lamb." One by one, associate pastors come and remove objects from the communion table, carrying them solemnly out of the sanctuary. Everything is taken away, even the Bible and communion elements, until the only thing left is the big white Christ candle. The senior pastor comes behind the communion table, behind the glowing candle.

"It is finished." A cry not of despair, the senior minister reflects, but of victory, of completion of the task, of completion of the sacrifice that would allow sinful humanity and holy God to have a full relationship again. Then, the Christ candle is snuffed out, and covered with a black drape.

Spotlight, video screens, all lights--out. Darkness. We pause for a moment in the inky blackness, thinking about that day Jesus Christ was killed on a Roman cross.

House lights up. We leave the sanctuary in silence, but we know that the story is not over. The walk towards the Cross of Christ is not a death march.

Oh, the wonderful cross, the wonderful cross

Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live

Oh, the wonderful cross, the wonderful cross

All who gather here by grace draw near and bless your name.

--Chris Tomlin

Yup, It's April 1st

I want to look up something, some song lyrics, as I can't remember them exactly. I go to Google, to do the search, and I am greeted by this at the top of the page:

Yup, April 1st.

Topeka, for the geographically impaired, is the capitol city of the state of Kansas, about a 80 minute drive west on I-70 from Kansas City. This all started, when Topeka, competing with many cities across the fruited plain for Google services, told Google they would change the name of the town to Google. Thus was born this April 1 plan from Google. You can read more about it here.

It did make me giggle a little, even though I kind of knew it was coming. The visual took me by surprise.