Heaven... Dog Heaven, that is...

It seems there are lots of funny and touching pieces written about faith and dogs or life lessons we can learn from our pets. Often, we as humans need to try to wrap our minds around great lessons and to do so, we use the things we think we understand, like our dogs. Lassie, the great TV dog, was held up as an example of faithfulness. There's an email that occasionally goes around that talks about lessons we've learned from our dogs. Martin Luther, the owner of a Pomeranian, once quipped: "I wish that I could pray the way a dog looks at meat!" At another point he also said: "Be comforted, little dog, thou too in the Resurrection shall have a tail of gold." Billy Graham once said: "I think God will have prepared everything for our perfect happiness. If it takes my dog being there [in Heaven], I believe he'll be there." Now we don't know if there are dogs in heaven. We don't know much about the physical details of heaven. Many have tried to imagine what it will be like. Those who have had near death experiences have talked about what they have encountered. But still we wonder.
At the library this past week, we picked up a children's book called "Dog Heaven". It speaks in whimsical language about heaven where dogs run all day because that is what they love to do. It gives an image of God baking dog biscuits because that makes dogs happy. Here is one of my favorite passages: "God turns clouds inside out to make fluffy beds for the dogs in Dog Heaven, and when they are tired from running and barking and eating ham-sandwich biscuits, the dogs find a cloud bed for sleeping. God watches over each one of them. And there are no bad dreams." Thanks to the author, Cynthia Rylant, for her imaginative view of what heaven might be like.... At least, Dog Heaven.

Women of Faith

Yesterday, the church celebrated the lives of three women from the early church whose stories are written about in the book of Acts and Paul's letters. Each of them impacted the early church and the church we know, though through the years their names and stories were often silent.
You may be wondering, who were these women? Lydia, Phoebe, and Dorcas were all celebrated on January 27. Who are they? Lydia was Paul's first convert in the town of Philippi. She was a merchant of purple cloth, probably a woman of some wealth, most likely a widow. She and her entire household were baptized by Paul and she offered hospitality to Paul in his travels. Dorcas is a woman remembered for her charitable works, especially making clothing for needy widows. Pheobe was a deaconess in the early church who Paul praises in his letters for her service of Christ and the church.
This day, with three amazing women celebrated, gives us an opportunity to reflect on the many and various ways women have served Christ and the church throughout the years. As lay and ordained, wealthy and poor, young and old, faithful men and women have served the work of Christ faithfully and wonderfully. Lydia offered hospitality, Dorcas offered acts of kindness and service, Phoebe preached the Good news. They all made a contribution to those of us who have come after them and we thank God for their lives.

What brings you joy?

In the midst of this cold winter season, as the darkness comes early and it takes more and more layers to keep us all warm.... What warms your heart? What brings you joy?
As we catch ourselves grumbling about the cold and mumbling about more snow on the roads, as bad news abounds on TV and in our newspapers, what brings you comfort?
Winter is a time when many people struggle with depression and an overall sense of gloominess. We feel limited by the weather, housebound in the coldest months. We feel the effects of long dark nights. Christmas has come and gone and some in the months after Christmas feel a sense of loneliness and disappointment. How can we find the light in all this? How can we get in touch with God's goodness and grace? This week, think of something each day that brings you joy and do it. Savor a cup of hot chocolate. Read a good book. Call a good friend. Sing your favorite song. Whatever it is, do something to lighten your day and bring joy to yourself and others.

Frozen

It seems obvious to me that when it is 35 below outside, the world freezes. Things just seem to stop working. Pipes freeze up. Otherwise reliable cars do not want to start. People don't want to come out as much. Things just seem to become frozen. Sometimes our lives of faith are like that. They freeze up, get brittle, have a hard time starting on their own. That's why a community of faith is so important. Our churches, our friendships with other people of faith keep us from freezing up in our spiritual lives. When our hearts have frozen solid, when it seems that our compassion is getting brittle, other people of faith help thaw our hearts and warm us again. The prayers of others carry us when our faith seems to have gotten cold. In the midst of a frozen season, the words of a hymn can light a fire in our souls. At times when God might seem so ultimately far away, then others can help draw us closer to the fire of God's love and grace.

Mommy, I've got it all under control!

A few days ago, Sophia decided that she was going to be my helper and feed our dog, Cubby.
Cubby and she have an interesting mostly friendly, but sometimes competitive relationship. They like to race together, read books on my lap together, but when it comes to food and blankets, there is no such thing as sharing. So, Sophia declared when it was time to feed Cubby that she would do it. SHE would put one handful of food into his bowl, all on her own, with no help from me. When I asked her if she was sure that she didn't need any help, she firmly stopped in her tracks, looked at me, put her hands on her hips, cocked her head, and said quite seriously: "Mommy, I don't need any help. I've got it all under contol." I couldn't help but chuckle and then I wondered where she heard that phrase. She told me it came from one of her morning cartoons. It took me a bit by surprise.
But I wondered how often do all of us say something similar: Don't worry, I can do it all by myself. It's all under control. I'm perfectly self-reliant. I can handle it, I don't need help right now. Those phrases are pretty common for us to say. Even when we need help, we don't like to admit it.
But sometimes we do need to admit that we need help. We sometimes need doctors and medical care to help us feel better. We sometimes need friends to be a listening ear. We often need advice or another perspective on a complicated situation. We need to rely on others, more often than we like to admit.
I think sometimes God hears us saying the same thing Sophia said and shakes his head, waiting for us to need him, knowing that we can't possibly do it all on our own. God waits for us to realize that sometimes, frequently, we need him, because we don't have it all under control.

The View from Under the Pew

One of my favorite parts of being a pastor is being able to look at and read all sorts of books... I especially love looking at wide varieties of children's books and am ecstatic when I find a creative book about church or faith or God. In November, I picked up about 10 books like that. My favorite book from that group of wonderful books is called "The View from Under the Pew". It is a unique book indeed, written in a dog's perspective about church life. The book includes a pastor, Pastor Diane, and her seeing-eye-dog who goes with her through a week of church life. From meetings to visits to hospital calls to Sunday worship, this canine companion guides Pastor Diane and keeps her safe. It is a touching book, an out of the ordinary book, that shows us how big the church and God's kingdom can be.
In real life, I've now had 2 guide dogs in training be part of our churches. Once in Pennsylvania and also now occasionally at Cushing, these obedient, friendly, servant dogs come to worship with us. On Christmas, one sat right in the very front row. The book and these dogs raises our awareness of people who need helpful companions, people who need our care and concern in unique ways. How do we as a church reach out to all God's people with their challenges and talents, joys and hopes?

A New Year and a New Waffle Iron

Yesterday, a new year began... A time to make resolutions for the new days and weeks and months to come... A time for a new start.
I have always loved waffles.... My grandma made me waffles in sugar when I was growing up, my German host mother Brigitte gave me a recipe for sweet almost dessert type waffles when I stayed with them in High School. When I spent a year in Belgium, I ate my fill of waffles, since they made a great travel snack. When Chris and I spent a weekend in Northfield this past week, we found Sweet Lou's Waffle Bar, a place specializing in waffles with toppings including marshmallow fluff, bananas, chocolate chips, nutella, salmon, raspberries, etc, etc, etc. Well, my old waffle iron had become sticky and sickly, not letting go of any waffles it cooked.... Probably in the new year, I should have made a healthy resolution to not eat any waffles with nutella or marshmallow fluff on them. But the new year led to a different new resolution: a resolution to cook fun and special things, like waffles, more with Sophia. So, new year, new waffle iron, new possibilities and recipes here we come!