Pastor's Letter or Enduring Scripture

John Pavlovitz, in an excellent though mostly unrelated post, referred to the writings of Paul as pastoral letters. I am, in general, not a fan of Paul. I think he tends to say things that are overzealous and mean sprited. However, in the context of pastoral letters, his writings take on a whole different meaning. They are written not as permanent instructions, but to fix problems and raise faith in the present time and place. He is at times a great & poetic writer & his writing is worth keeping & studying for the beauty and history. But it is not and was never meant as instructions for how to live our faith outside of that time and those congregations.

Rejoice (Easter Sunday)

Apparently I should have saved this photo for today as I have nothing better.

I had no involvement in the making of the following video, but the family is having so much fun that it goes well with the theme of "rejoice." It is also a very secular celebration of Easter. While a number of Christians have commented on YouTube and elsewhere that they find it offensive, I think that if Jesus were (is) running around today, he'd be all for candy and eggs and fun for everyone.

Happy Zombie Jesus Day Song (2013): http://youtu.be/s8x16883CuU

Transcend

Couldn't decide today.

Rainbow

Rain

Looking in the Water

Surrender

Maybe it's really resignation.

Silence

Sustenance

Faith

Doubt

Listen (again)

Found While Lost

Justice

Savor

Partial Kit from Isn't It Fobulous?

Stitching is better savored with friends.

Alone

Reflection in Train Window at Night

Life

Appropriately for today's topic, my new nephew was born today! I don't have any photos yet, but he shares a birthday with his maternal uncle, so here is a picture I took of said uncle and paternal grandfather at his parents wedding reception.

Help

Help is a really difficult concept for me right now. I am just on the edge of needing help to function and indepence. I feel bad taking help because I am unlikely to be able to return it in kind.

Bless

My little blessing

Max has added so much that is good to my life, even if it isn't all roses.

Awe

Awesome

Ally

Max Scardy Dog

Ally is such a hard concept. Often we think we are trying to be an ally to a group or person but in fact we are just making things worse.

Many things make Max nervous (including sometimes the camera lens). I am allying myself with him to be more comfortable and confident. I help him stay at a comfortable distance from scary things and I am helping him to learn that he doesn't have to get so stressed about them.

Community

RI Schedule - Making Community Possible

Passion

Dog Fetching With Joy And Passion

Duty

Doggie Clean Up

My mother tells her dogs "do your duty" when she wants her dogs to relieve themselves.
I believe poop cleanup, for our own and others' dogs, is a dog owner's duty.

Neighbor

Amazon Park Daisy Patch

Amazon Park is my across the street neighbor.

Faith

Bulbs Sprouting

These bulbs sprout every year with faith that they will get the conditions they need to bloom and thrive. Despite being cut down before they can do so for at least 2 years they keep their faith and keep popping up every spring.

Mercy

After being alone all afternoon, Max was tense and begging for mercy in the form of a massage to his sore back and tail. This is him being relaxed afterwards. I could empathize since after an afternoon of triking and swimming I felt the same way.

Share

Cheese Is For Sharing

Play

Max says "I played with my jerky strip 'til I got tired & took a nap. Now I am looking at the camera suspiciously."

Edit to add a later better picture of Max playing with his rawhide.

Max Playing With His Favorite Rawhide

Sacred

Sacred Bond of Trust

Max doesn't trust the camera, but he'll look at it because of our bond of trust.

Change

New Haircut & Old Hair

Creativity

Graffiti

Worship

Lectionary Readings

John from CLF does weekly lectionary studies for the Christan mailing list. I would have used an image of that except I didn't think it would be appropriate without permission.

Hunger

As a cat, I am always hungry.

A bit of a light take on this, but I wanted to focus on the vast range of meanings from trivial to life threatening behind the word hunger.

Joy

He brings joy to my life

See

Courage

Scardy Max & His Bone

Today is the first time Max chewed on his bone while home alone.

Wonder

Early Blooms

Connection

Zoey the Dog Next Door

Every time she finds a new way over the fence, Zoey comes to visit me. She is super sweet! She visited twice today.

Purpose

Getting well is my purpose.

Struggle

Kindness

The grocer clerk was very concerned about my ability to get all my groceries and my prescription into my tiny bag, when she could have just ignored me.

Also, my purchases were me being kind to myself.

Beauty

Embroidery with Applique Flowers

Listen

Sometimes listening means leaving space to talk.

Trust

Today, my scardy dog Max decided he trusted my mom and is letting her hold him. (And loving it.)

Home

Church in a tourist town

Home is where you make it, or others make it for you.

Friendship

Hospitality

Despite Max barking and growling at everyone and everything and the dog, we are still being welcomed at my mom's. She lives in this beautiful area.

Waiting

Max waiting for the bus.

Notice

Practice