Fruits of the Spirit

This afternoon during the Tuesday noon bible study our group talked about gifts of the spirit, as listed in Galatians 5:22-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control.

We also discussed how we saw these gifts reflected in the life of our community here at Christ the King Lutheran Church.

We saw members display self-control during our annual meeting times, allowing everyone to speak their mind at an important community forum.

We saw members practice patience with folks who had more “challenging personalities” in our midst, covering them with God’s grace when it would have been so easy to write them off.

We saw members carry out acts of generosity in time, talent, and treasure for the sake of God’s mission in this place.

We also saw love, joy, and peace in the lives of our members genuinely touched by God’s life giving love.

Where do you see the gifts of the spirit reflected in the lives of those who call Christ the King their community of faith?

Advent ahead of time

We're still waiting. And I'm beginning to feel a little bit like it's Advent ahead of time - you know, the four weeks before the celebration of the Incarnation of Our Lord (aka Christmas) - when we are encouraged to wait and watch and be prepared.
And yet this waiting, for this baby, is different from the yearly round of waiting for Jesus to be born. After all, Christmas comes pre-printed on the calendar, and the 25th of December comes quite predictably, whether you're ready or not. And weirdly, at the same time, this waiting, for this baby, is the same as the yearly round of Advent reminders that Jesus really is coming back - I know the baby is coming, I just don't know when. I've done what I can to prepare, but now what? How to live in the meantime?
Do you remember that you're living in the meantime, most days? Does it even enter your mind that today could be the day when Jesus comes back and everything will be new all over again? If not, why not? Does it- or would it - make any difference in your life? Why (or not)? How?

PS - Grant and I are each working on a blog entry or two that will be posted while we're on parental leave (post-dating blog entries is one of the wonders of blogger). So, even when we're gone, you might check in for something new.

Waiting

I am not, by nature, a patient person. I tend to prefer to be in control of as much of my life as possible, even though I know that ultimately there's very little I have control over.
Answering the phone this morning to my sister's voice singing, "Happy due date to you, happy due date to you..." only reminded me how not in control I am of some pretty major things in my life. Like when this baby is going to be born.
I know I'm not the only one who's getting anxious about this impending arrival. Folks have started calling the church office asking if I'm here, and when our fabulous Office Manager Dawn says, "Yes, hold on," the caller says, "No, I don't want to talk to her, I was just wondering if she's still there." Don't worry - we'll let you know when the baby has come, if it's a boy or a girl, and what we decide the name should be.
A few lines from Evan Almighty keep coming back to me. Morgan Freeman, who plays God in the film, has a great conversation with Evan's wife, Joan. And he says, "Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, do you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If they pray for courage, does God give them courage, or does he give them opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for their family to be closer, you think God zaps them with warm, fuzzy feelings? Or does he give them opportunities to love each other?"
I am definitely being given the opportunity to be patient. Thanks for joining me on the journey.