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Narnia Kings and Queens

Once you are baptized or ordained as elder, deacon or pastor, there are no takebacks: “Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a king or queen of Narnia.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown”

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/heavenly-crowns.html#ixzz2d89N1oQs

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Fairy Tales

Fairy Tales

“Fairy tales do not give the child his first idea of the monster. What fairy tales give the child is his first clear idea of the possible defeat of the monster. The baby has known the dragon intimately ever since he had an imagination. What the fairy tale provides for him is a St. George to kill the dragon. Exactly what the fairy tale does is this: it accustoms him for a series of clear pictures to the idea that these limitless terrors had a limit, that these shapeless enemies have enemies in the knights of God, that there is something in the universe more mystical than darkness, and stronger than strong fear. When I was a child I have stared at the darkness until the whole black bulk of it turned into one black giant taller than heaven. If there was one star in the sky it only made him a Cyclops. But fairy tales restored my mental health, for next day I read an authentic account of how a black giant with one eye, of quite equal dimensions, had been baffled by a little boy like myself (of similar inexperience and even lower social status) by means of a sword, some bad riddles, and a brave heart.” Chesterton

 

For more awesomeness see Neil Gaiman on the subject!  In an article that agrees with the general principle of my blog http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2013/08/13/3824385.html 

Loving God, we …

Loving God, we confess that we have forgotten who made us. We have forgotten who loved us. In the midst of trying to remember everything else, in the midst of holding everything together, we have forgotten you. Forgive us, God. Help us to know that you never forget us, and are always taking care of us, guarding and protecting us in the midst of our worries and concerns.

Prayer

Based loosely on Matthew 6:28-34 

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Batman and Baptism

My most viewed blog post ever!

katyandtheword's avatarkatyandtheword

Baptism Message: You are beautiful and loved and perfect as a newborn naked baby, the more “Naked” you can be with God, the more you can share in the glory of Christ’s love (both reviewed in Skinny Dipping and Embodied Spirituality and Nakedness)…
Reality…Always be yourself, unless you can be Batman, then always be batman. This morning a batman costume helped to relieve any nerves during baptism….yep today I baptized batman..

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The Health of the Minister (A follow up to my talk to the General Assembly)

And more thoughts on the whole minister and health thing…

Matthew Ruttan's avatarMatthew Ruttan

Picture Matthew speakingThe health and well-being of leaders is hugely important to the vitality of congregations but it is very rarely talked about.

(Pause)

A few months ago I was invited to speak to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. (It’s kind of like a national AGM).

In light of some of the good things happening at Westminster Church in Barrie, I was asked to share remarks as a part of something called Good News in the Church: Vibrant Connections.

(You can watch my 12 minute presentation by clicking here and scrolling down — I start talking about 6 minutes into the video.)

In this blog, I just want to share a bit on one of the things I talked about. It’s close to my heart and also something that I’ve received a lot of feedback about—from other pastors and congregants and friends and strangers on the web.

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With all this h…

With all this hubbub about the new PCUSA hymnal (people care more about their hymns than almost anything) I would like to state, for the record, that my current favorite hymn is Blessed Assurance…

favorite lyrics are “o what aforetaste of glory divine” communion (and baptism)! “echoes of mercy, whispers of love” (again, what we experience here are a foretaste of full mercy and love) “Perfect submission, all is at rest I in my Savior am happy and blest” Submission, not losing myself but finding myself, perfect and restful, in Jesus.

And of course “this is my story, this is my song, praising my savior all the day long” I live to praise! And my best, favorite forms of praise are in stories and song (esp. that story part for me)

YAY
Note: Former favorite hymns were “Holy, Holy, Holy” “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God” “Somebody’s knocking at my door” “Here I am Lord”

Hymns YAY