Showing posts with label Personal. Show all posts

Time Magazine's PERSON OF THE YEAR is "The Protester."  I guess I can understand why "The Protester" was chosen and not Steve Jobs...although I have more of an affinity towards Steve Jobs.  I assume that their "person of the year" is the person who has the most influence on the year, was most newsworthy, and will have the most lasting influence.  And, while Steve Jobs did some great stuff in 2011 and his passing was definitely newsworthy, one can argue that much of his work and influence covers the last decade, not so much the year.  The protesters, in contrast, were quite a phenomenon for 2011.  It is clear that their influence on "The Arab Spring" will be felt for years to come as the dust settles throughout the Middle East.  On the home front, it has been the Occupy Wall Street protestors, from coast to coast, trying to confront the social and economic inequity that affects our nation greatly. 

So, yes, "The Protester" makes sense.  Impact on the calendar year.  Lasting impact around the globe.  Newsworthiness.  How they will impact history.

That, and we'll put Steve Jobs in second place.

Well, what about my PERSON OF THE YEAR.  I decided I'd go with some of the same qualities that I think Time Magazine uses.  This person would be newsworthy to me...the focus of much of my time and attention.  This person would need to have made an impact on the year...there were changes or movements that this person was intimately connected with.  This person would be someone whose actions or choices would have a lasting impact on myself, my family, or my job.

This narrows things down dramatically and there are some runners up who didn't come out on top:

Gail Grossman (my mentor) -- Gail is a layperson I met with 10 times over the course of the first half of the year.  All of our meetings were by phone.  While her help was enlisted to address some of the financial difficulties at Girdwood Chapel, what she ended up doing with me is helping us figure out a long-term ministry plan and get the ball rolling.  It's because of her that our small group ministry is taking root.  She was also influential in the start of our "Friday Night Live" youth nights and our Tween Group.  I can't thank her enough.

Mark Scandrette (author/Christ-follower) -- I read his book this year...and it changed the way I think about discipleship.  It's not that any of what he said, as far as the individual pieces are concerned, was new to me.  However, the way he put it all together was exceptionally helpful.  I just want to jump in and put it all into practice and once and need to take a breath as I realize that it's a marathon and not a sprint.  I think this book is something I'm going to have to take out again and again and again.

Jon Stewart (TV Personality) -- OK, so Jon was probably not really in the running for PERSON OF THE YEAR for me.  But I want to take a moment and recognize that, The Daily Show is one show that I catch 3-4 times a week...and it's only on 4 times a week. This year, perhaps more than any other, I have gotten totally frustrated with the world of politics. I know many accuse Jon of firing his shots from the left, but I seriously believe he's frustrated any time politics is put ahead of people and he tries to shine a light on it.  He recognizes the lies that this world tells us through the media.  Some of it is painful to watch.  Much of it is uproariously funny.  But his show has made me want to live into the notion that all politics is local.  It's about people.  It's about the people I know and meet and eat with and love.  This year, more than any other, I've been shaped by this.

Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple) -- I am an Apple fan boy.  I type this on a MacBook Pro.  This year I got an iPad and and iPhone.  Much of my time is spent on a device that this guy thought up and brought to production.  He has had a lasting effect on how I communicate and the ways in which I use technology for my job...for pastoring people.  This year I mourned his death.

But with those three finalists out of the way, it's time to introduce my PERSON OF THE YEAR.

Drumroll, please.........


MY PERSON OF THE YEAR IS JULIE DOEPKEN, MY LOVELY WIFE.

Here's how it is. 

This year we celebrated our 20th anniversary.  She's been instrumental in what I do and think and who I've come to be over those 20 years.  Moreover, this year was a big year for her.  Not only did she complete her hours of education for her teaching certificate but she performed her student teaching and jumped through hoop after hoop of administrative requirements.  This was a Fall fraught with turmoil and conflict as we navigated the rough waters of her job...much of it related to a killer schedule.   Together we struggled and made decisions about what was best for us as a family. 

Over the last four months in particular, Julie has been "newsworthy."  Her work and her education, the struggles and the great joys, were what we spent time talking about.  She got up early to get to work.  She worked after everyone else had gone to bed.  She was a focus of our family and the rest of us rallied to enable her to complete the job before her.

All the while she managed to mother our five kids and be a wife to me and be an active member of our church community and the Girdwood Community as a whole.  This was no small task.

And it will have a lasting effect on all of us.  She exhibited both strength and humility...a fine example for me and our kids.  Her choices in her job will have a positive effect on our economic situation...especially important as I move from full time to 3/4 time employment in the church.  Almost always, she was an example of grace under pressure...and Lord knows we had enough pressure.

I thank God for her.

So, with that in mind, I declare that JULIE DOEPKEN IS THE PERSON OF THE YEAR...at least "my" year.

(And she should be pleased as can be that she, too, beat out Steve Jobs.)

I thank God for these 20 years and look forward to many more.

On Monday I had a conversation with a person I know pretty well.  I don't see them that often, but we have run in similar circles once upon a time.

This person has been through a divorce which has been a long process for everyone involved, particularly the kids.  It came time to change her name back to her maiden name...a name she hadn't been called in many years.  So, she went to her lawyer and asked about the proper procedure for doing so.  It's all a matter of paperwork, as one might guess.

Well, as she was meeting with her lawyer, her lawyer told her, "You know, you can change your first name, too...if you want to."

That thought had never occurred to her before.  She'd had one name for 40+ years.  It was strange thinking she could change that.

But she did.

She talked with her family and tried to find something that meant something for who she is today and what her family history is.

And, while it's a little odd to just change your names like that, I also think it's kind of cool.  I know that, as Christians, we take on the name, "Christian" when we are baptized.  Or, as a representation of this new life, many children take on a Christian name or a Saint's name when they are baptized.   So, name-changing isn't completely off the wall for us.

But what about changing your name not as a response to a faith awakening but just because you can?

What would you change your name to?

I've said in the past that I'd change mine to "Spike."  (There's a "Spike" in the community and this has nothing to do with him.

My sense is that, as someone who has played by the rules (mostly) throughout life, who has been a "nerd" and a "geek" and now is fully settled into a role of "Father" for five kids, "Spike" is kind of an alter ego.  I think I'd have fun being a "Spike."

Or, at times, I think it would be cool to be named after a great prophet.  "Jeremiah Doepken."  "Elijah Doepken."  "Isaiah Doepken."

It's not that there's anything wrong with "Jim."  I love the fact that I'm named after my grandfather.

It's just kind of fun to dream a little bit.

The day started with a late night.  The presentation aspect of the worship service kept me up past 1 AM as I was taking the PowerPoint, perhaps, a little more seriously than I needed.  But it was done and I was off to bed.

Morning worship was wonderful.  I had arrived early enough to set up the Advent Wreath and get out our the animals from our new Nativity set for the children's time.  And we worshipped.  We sang "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."  We sang one of my recent favorites, "Toda La Tierra."  We sang The Great Thanksgiving for Holy Communion and we had "new & special" bread from The Bake Shop.

So far, so good.

After worship we had several folks stay around to work on an Advent Calendar craft.  There were families working together.  There was Christmas music.  We had a few cookies.  And, for something that we've never tried before, it seemed to be well received.  It might have taken a bit longer than expected but it was a blast.

So far, so good.

We had a couple of down hours before heading back to church for Discipleship Group.  I knew there were just going to be three of us last night, but we had a wonderful conversation about Christian community and how we long for relationships.

So far, so good.

One kid back from homework at a friend's house.  One kid back from babysitting.  The "Short Louds" (our young twins) ready for bed.  Our son off to bed.  Our older girls upstairs, reading.  My wife and I getting ready to sit together and watch the episode of "Glee" from a week and a half ago.

So far, so good.

It was then I realized we didn't do our Advent devotions.  Day 1 and we're already behind!  Things were going so well up until this point.

It was the perfect start to Advent...almost.

This is a great video from People of the Second Chance. 



What a beautiful account of grace...of mercy...of forgiveness, plain and simple.

As I reflect on this video and the concept behind the movement, I can't help but remember Anne Taylor's Saint Maybe, which a book I had to read at Duke Divinity School under the guidance of Stanley Hauerwas.  In that book, "The Church of the Second Chance" features prominently, as a place of radical forgiveness.

I found an except of the book over at a commentary on Matthew 18 on the cost of forgiveness by Carl Gregg:

As the story goes, one day a plate glass window attracts Ian’s attention as he walks down the street. The window reads, “The Church of the Second Chance.” He can hear a hymn being sung by inside. He almost keeps walking, but instead quietly enters the church, and slips into a back pew, hoping not to draw too much attention to himself. After the service is over, Pastor Emmett introduces himself to Ian. As they talk, all the emotions Ian has been holding inside the past few weeks flood to the surface. He begins confessing to Pastor Emmett.

Pastor Emmett: What’s wrong, Ian?

Ian: I don’t even know where to start. So much has happened so quickly. It started when I told my brother…I told my brother that his wife was cheating on him. And then later that night…he drove into a wall.  Then a few days later his wife overdosed on sleeping pills. So I guess you could say I helped cause that too…more or less… He’d had too much to drink that night. I guess I shouldn’t have told him. But I was really mad. I’d been babysitting for him and his wife. And she should have been home hours ago. She made me miss a really important date with my girlfriend — or at least it seemed important at the time…. Now I’m not even sure she was cheating on him…. I mean I’m pretty sure she did in the past…. I know I wasn’t totally wrong….  So it looks as if my parents are going to have to raise the children. My sister’s busy with her own kids and I’m away at college most of the time…. Everything’s been dumped on my mom and I don’t think she’s up to it — her or my dad, either one. I don’t think they’ll ever be the same after this…. So anyhow, I prayed to God for forgiveness.  And I honestly believe it might have worked….  Oh, it’s not like I got an answer in plain English, of course.  But…don’t you think? Don’t you think I’m forgiven? I mean, I thought God forgives everything. But I just don’t feel forgiven.

Pastor Emmett: Ian, you can’t just say, “I’m sorry, God.” Why anyone could do that much! You have to offer reparation — concrete, practical reparation, according to the rules of the church. Jesus helps us do what we can’t undo. But only after we’ve tried to undo it. You, for instance, could begin by raising the children.

Ian: Raising the children? But I’m only a freshman? I’m away at college most of the time.

Pastor Emmett: “Then maybe you should drop out.”

Ian: Drop out? Drop out of college? …This is some kind of test, isn’t it?

Pastor Emmett: Ian, it’s not that simple. But God does want to know how far you’ll go to undo the harm you’ve done…. How else would God know?

Ian: Wait. You’re saying God would want me to change all my plans and give up my education?”  …That’s crazy! I’d have to be crazy! I can’t take on a bunch of kids!  Who do you think I am?  I’m nineteen years old! What kind of religion is this?

Pastor Emmett: It’s the religion of atonement and complete forgiveness…. It’s the religion of the Second Chance.

There's a rub here.

With video and The People of the Second Chance, it seems like the forgiveness, the second chance is completely free, nothing required, pure grace.  Could it be "too cheap?"

With Pastor Emmett and "The Church of the Second Chance," it seems like forgiveness has strings attached, is costly.  Could it not be "free enough?"

I struggle with this. 

I want to live in the forgiveness and grace of God but I'm not sure how much that forgiveness should cost me so that there is a purging of my sins, so that I can more readily be able to receive the gift that is given.  This has always been a struggle for me.  I've always struggled with forgiveness. I think going back to my childhood it's been a struggle for me.  I've always been more comfortable showing grace than receiving it.

So, how can I receive the free...but not cheap...grace of our God?

Or, the question I prefer to ask, how can I offer it to others?

(This was written last night, near the beginning of a 4.5 hour power outage.)

It's quiet when the lights goes out at night.  It's not just lights, of course, it's everything electric.

It's very quiet.

There's not a hum.

There's not a buzz.

I close my eyes and try to make out the various sounds I do hear.  There's the "tick" of the one clock whose time won't have to be reset.  There's the "click" of the gas fireplace going on and off.  There's the cough of one of our girls upstairs.  The dog shakes and I hear the tags rattle on his collar.

Beyond that, it's quiet.

While everyone else has gone to bed, I've opted to stay up, at least for a little bit.  In the quiet I've been able to get some work done.  The worship bulletin is ready to copy.  The first sermon draft is complete.  And I'm working on this blog post.

May as well be productive in the dark.

I've stayed up in the hope that this is a short outage.  Then I'll be able to make sure the lights are off when the power goes back on and, perhaps, make sure that alarms are set for tomorrow morning.  As of now, everything hinges upon one cell phone alarm.  With seven people to get up at various times and move on out of the house, that doesn't seem like enough alarm clock power. 

And so I wait.

We lose power pretty often in our neck of the woods.  I wish it happened a whole lot less frequently than it does.  I get tired of setting clock after clock after clock when power is restored.  I remember, shortly after moving here 12 years ago, back when the outages were more frequent, how one church member who only came down on weekends said that he took expected to set every clock in their place every Friday.

I'm sure that this latest outage has to do with the snowfall we've had today.  It's probably pulling down some power line somewhere.  But it's dark up and down the road.  The lights are out.

One of the interesting things about losing power is finding all of the various things you've left on when the power comes back. We live in a very connected age and we have so many things plugged in at all times that having the VCR, the Microwave, the Stove, the Computer, the Chargers, the Stereo all click on at the same time is kind of a sensory overload.  Add to this the blinding light of of the overhead lights and it's amazing we're able to function at all with no power.

Perhaps the power outage can serve as a sort of wake up call, reminding us of our "plugged-in" lives and the importance of "unplugging" and remembering the One who gives us real power.

Then again, I'm looking forward to getting plugged in as soon as I can.

Oh, to be four years old again. 

This was a conversation I had with Bethany this morning as I was attempting to get her and her twin sister out of the house.  At the time, Abigail, as usual, was tormenting Bethany.

Bethany:  Daddy, Abigail called me a BOOGERPANTS!

Me:  Are you a boogerpants?

Bethany: No!

Me:  Do you, right now, have any boogers on your pants?

Bethany:  No!

Me:  Then, you're not a boogerpants.  Now please go brush your teeth.

Isn't interesting that, from a very early age, we're inclined to define ourselves by how others see us. "Boogerpants" might be a somewhat extreme example.

How many overweight kids see themselves primarily as "the fat kid" because that's what others call them?

How many girls live into the role of being "easy" because they get called names like "slut" or "whore?"

How many boys become the class bully because they're trying to live up to some ideal of "tough" or "manly" that's been set by others?

How many kids can't quite seem to shake the "nerd" or "geek" label that's been thrust upon them?

How many adults try to be "Supermom" or "Superdad" and spend all their time and energy trying to fake being a "Super Family" when everything's falling apart?

All along, we're only seeing ourselves as others see us, somehow forgetting to see ourselves as God sees us, as beloved children of God...

"BOOGERPANTS!" no more.

Hebrews 12:1,2:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Yesterday was All Saints Day and, because I was frankly just too busy, I didn't have time for a post on one of my favorite saints.  St. John.

But, no, it's not the one in the Bible.

This is the one from Frankfort, Indiana.  At least he was in Frankfort, Indiana when I was there back in 1994.

His name is John Dicken, Rev. John Dicken.

John was a retired pastor, living in Frankfort when we moved there in 1994.  He attended the other, bigger, United Methodist Church.  But, on Tuesday mornings I met with him and a bunch of other retirees at a Bible Study at Jim Dandy restaurant.  John was a cartoonist and I had heard tales of his sermon notes with cartoons and doodles scribbled all over them.  It was how he told his stories.  And, all though that study, each Tuesday, John would draw on the back side of his placemat and would then share his drawing at the close of the study.  It was a sermon in cartoon form.

John waved at everybody in town from the car.

Once, I traveled with John out to a continuing education event at a monastery nearby.  He drove.  We talked.  He never went above 55 miles per hour.  At one point a car passed us, clearly going faster than the speed limit.  John honked his horn as the person passed by on the left.  He was nonchalant about it.  But then he looked at me and said, "Someone should tell him he's doing something wrong."  John was the one to do it...and to do it in a nice way.

One of the things I learned from John as I struggled with some issues about outreach to Hispanics is how to reach out to the least, the last, and the lost.  I was a young pastor way back then.  He showed me how to love the unlovable in the world.  That's no small feat.

It was John we called to fill in on the Sunday morning my son, Samuel, was born 16 years ago.  He was more than happy to do so.  He shared my joy.

I remember John's funeral as if it were yesterday.  It was at Frankfort's St. Matthew UMC.  There were tons of clergy there.  Lots of male voices.  I, along with many others, shared some words.  But the thing I remember most was singing, "It is Well With My Soul."  Oh, those clergy could sing!  It was a brilliant, wonderful rendition.  And I'll never forget, through my own tears, how it was well with my soul that day just as it was well with John's.

Phyllis, John's wife, offered me John's preaching robe after his death.  It would have been an honor to receive it and wear it in the pulpit.  However, John was about 100 pounds less than I was.  The robe didn't come close to fitting.  Instead, I was given one of his bibles.  It's one I still have to this day.

When I think about the saint in my life, I think about Vi Altic, and Byron Kaiser, and Dick Day, and Betty Underwood, and James McIntyre, and my wife (yes, honey, even you!).

But, today, I wanted to share about a saint who taught me a lot about being a pastor.

Perhaps, in his example, there's someone I can teach as well.

Thank you John.

I know there are many reasons to hate Halloween.

I should hate it because it's candy-filled, contributing to obesity, general bad health, and child labor for the chocolate industry.

I should hate it because of it's association with the occult (witches, warlock, magic) and violence (costumes with blood and gore, slasher flicks).

I should hate it because women feel a need to dress in skimpy outfits as they become the "sexy nurse" or "sexy devil" or "sexy viking"  (maybe that last one was a stretch, but I did see a sexy viking costume this weekend).

I should hate it because it brings children into a fantasy world with unhealthy expectations (the princess who is bound to find her "prince charming."

I should hate it because, for adults, it's a huge excuse to consume large quantities of alcohol.

I should hate it because there's a connection to criminal behavior and vandalism (see Detroit's "Devil's Night.")

And, let's face it, those are all good reasons to hate Halloween.  Good for you if you can't stand the holiday.

But I don't hate it.

I don't hate it because I like dressing up in costume, trying to come up with something witty or "punny."  While my costumes are never as ornate as many others, I'm a sucker for a costume that has a lot of creativity to it.

I don't hate it because I think it's a great opportunity to pull people together in a community.

And, finally, I don't hate it because I think my children are adorable and I love going around door to do with them to get some candy, watching how they interact with the folks who are at home, and how they enjoy pretending, if just for a little while.

May you enjoy your Halloween, wherever you are, and whatever you'll do.

(And, before you even think it... no, they were not clapping because they wanted it the sermon to be over.)

As I had posted earlier this week, the sermon on Sunday was relatively dramatic, closing with the smashing of a golden calf (spray painted ceramic cow bank) on the altar.  Earlier in the worship, I had replaced the cross on the altar with that cow.  The point of the sermon was that, after crossing over to the promised land, the Hebrews forgot about the providence of God.  They forgot all that God had done for them.  They forgot to be thankful. And, when they forgot God, they looked for something more tangible, understandable that they could put their faith in.  So they built a statue of gold they could touch, and feel, and see, and put their trust in.  I argued that, if this was possible for the Hebrews, how much more possible is it for us who have far less dramatic and tangible experiences of God.  So, when we offer God our thanks, when we remember his care, for all things in life, we keep the sacred cows from taking he place reserved for God.

At that, I smashed the cow and put the cross back on the altar.  

And there was loud applause from the congregation.

And I wasn't sure what to do.

I was pretty vulnerable during this sermon.  This was a sermon where I truly felt carried along by God.  I was passionate.  I felt inspired.  It was a God-thing.  I know it doesn't happen near as often as I wish it would.  But, as I smashed that small statue, I felt pretty prophetic.  I hope that's not pride that has me writing it down here -- sometimes it can be hard to tell.  But, suffice it to say, I was emotionally spent as I got to the close of the sermon and wielded that hammer.

And, at that time, I truly did not know how to react to the applause.

See, for me, applause usually means that "I" have done a good job.  We applaud after a good performance in a play or a rousing song where we appreciate the singer.  We applaud after the game-winning hit or the great speech.  And, while I know that sometimes people clap after a particularly good music number in worship, I didn't know what to do when people clapped after my sermon.

For a little bit there--hammer in my hand, pieces of cow everywhere, people clapping--I was embarrassed. 

Let me be clear that his was not a standing ovation that went on for a while.   There were no shouts of "Encore!  Encore!"  The congregation did not ask for a curtain call. I went home to the same 6 groupies as I always do.

This was a short burst of hearty applause.  But it was enough to make me feel like the attention was all on ME when it had felt like--and was intended to be--all about God and what God has done for us. 

Over the years I've had many folks tell me that they thought a sermon was particularly good or that it spoke to them or things like that.  But I'd never had folks clap at the close of one.

And I was embarrassed.

Now, fortunately, I have a discipleship group that I'm meeting with for Sunday School.  And, in that safe environment I was able to share my embarrassment.  What those folks told me I probably already knew, but I needed to hear it.  The people in church weren't applauding for me.  They were applauding that God was given back his rightful spot…that the cross was going back on the altar.

It wasn't about me

I'm pretty sure I already knew that.

But I needed to hear it.

Found this on my computer as I was cleaning out some files.

I was cute back then.

This is a picture near where I grew up.

In Alaska, we don't get the colors like this....and our Fall is so short.

I found the words below over at Ann Voskamp's beautiful site.

Those who frequent this site know that Tuesdays are "Daddy Days" at our home.  When our little twins started daycare my wife only worked in the school library in the mornings.  Afternoons were free.  So, we put our little ones in daycare on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  I stayed home with them on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  When my wife went to full-time, I found it difficult to spend two days in the middle of the week as the primary child-care provider.  I kept getting to Fridays, realizing that I had far too much left to do as the weekend rolled around.  I was stressed.

So, we went to Tuesdays being our day together.  They are "Daddy Days."

As I spend my Tuesday with my little ones, helping them master the technology of the iPad, sharing coffee shop experiences, having picnics on the floor, going on adventures, I hope I'm helping them grow to be the persons God intends for them to be.

The family is for growing.

Family is a field to grow in. Where children grow up and parents grow patient.

Where mothers grow in maturity and fathers grow in forgiveness, where sons grow in self-control and daughters in discernment and this is what He means — For us to stretch and dig down and reach out and for family to grow us full in the faith....

There’s only a harvest in the kingdom when someone attends to the the smallness of a seed.

How can I attend to the smallness in my midst, looking for the harvest down the road?

OK...  I'm troubled here.  That should come as no surprise.

Here's the story again....My lovely wife has been wronged.  An anonymous, and seemingly baseless, complaint was made about the schedule she's been trying to keep at the school.  Lots of dialogue with the School District and the Union.  The end result is that she was forced to resign from her School Librarian position which she loves.  And all of this appears to have happened over a minor issue that could have been resolved if the person who had the complaint had talked with my wife.  But, the person didn't.

This has made me angry.  We'll say, VERY angry.

I know that vengeance, anger, grudges, etc. are unhealthy, unholy, unneeded and will just tear a person up.  I know that.

And I know that forgiveness is the way to not only heal a broken relationship but heal the person who has been wronged, freeing them from the past.  I know that.

There's lots of awesome stuff in the bible about forgiveness.  It reads like a "greatest hits" album:

Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. (NIV)

Luke 6:37
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (NIV)

Matthew 6:14-16
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (NIV)

Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. (NIV)

So, yeah, I should be moving on my way towards forgiveness.

I think it Corrie Ten Boom who said, "Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free and realize that the prisoner was you." I want to be free.  I know it's still early in the process, but freedom sounds a lot better than what my feelings were last week.

But...

Here's here's where I run into some problems:

What do you do when the wrong that has been committed against you (or, in this case, against someone I love) is anonymous...it has not been officially revealed who the person is?

What do you do when you still have to show up to work with the person you believe wronged you and, perhaps, still have your kids learning from him/her?

I know you can and should forgive regardless of the desire of the other to be forgiven (see the Corrie Ten Boom quote above). But, what do you do when the person who has wronged you denies their involvement...not giving you anything to really forgive?

Do you sense my quandary?

I'm in a "better place" with this issue THIS WEEK than I was LAST WEEK.

But there's a long way to go.

Once a week. That's all this happens.  But it's great to sit next to my wife and enjoy 40 minutes of musical goodness.

Sometimes after two services in the AM....  Sunday School afterwards....  I'm just tired.  A little nap is awesome.

I do like to go and sit for a while with a latte in hand, looking over the news on my iPad or my computer.

It's about that time.  I do love to crush the ice off of the new puddles.