Mark 15: 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,[c] he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
Jesus is crucified. Pilate saw through the plotting of the leafers, but he was weak in the face of the crowds. The people and the leaders mocked him as he suffered. Prophecy was fulfilled in many forms. In the end, Jesus died, but it's not the end after all. The competition's realization is the beginning of Christianity in some way.
I have read all my past posts from this date. Each time I have focused on one of the other players, never on Jesus. It's hard to think of all he endured for us. What was it that the centurion saw? Was it the signs of nature? Was it something in his face or voice? The certainty appeals to me. To never doubt, to know for sure....well, it's not how faith works these days.
Friday, March 8, 2019
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
March 6, 2019
Deuteronomy 3: 22 Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.
It's a banner day in the readings, as this account of the final days of the exodus gives us lasting advice from Moses, who knows he will die soon. God has forbidden him to enter the Promised Land, but he allows Moses to view it in the next set of passages. Then there's a great Psalm from David and Jesus's prophecies about the Temple, as the church leaders pick apart everything he says, looking for justification to kill him.
It all comes down to faith. The fig tree is back, this time it tells us, by its leaves, that summer is here. That's happening right outside my window. The lack of faith of his people handicaps Moses, making it impossible for him to finish the great task God gave him. The Psalm is divided between a warning to the wicked and singing God's praises. It ends with a plea for strength, like we see here. It's just a matter of faith. It's that simple, and it's that hard.
Prayer: Lord, I struggle to understand people of faith. I know some whose faith seems very strong, but they don't follow You on the ways that I do. It's tearing my own church apart, and I pray for some kind of reconciliation. Your people need Your guidance. Please, I pray, show us how to lift Your name up in this hostile climate.
Amen
It's a banner day in the readings, as this account of the final days of the exodus gives us lasting advice from Moses, who knows he will die soon. God has forbidden him to enter the Promised Land, but he allows Moses to view it in the next set of passages. Then there's a great Psalm from David and Jesus's prophecies about the Temple, as the church leaders pick apart everything he says, looking for justification to kill him.
It all comes down to faith. The fig tree is back, this time it tells us, by its leaves, that summer is here. That's happening right outside my window. The lack of faith of his people handicaps Moses, making it impossible for him to finish the great task God gave him. The Psalm is divided between a warning to the wicked and singing God's praises. It ends with a plea for strength, like we see here. It's just a matter of faith. It's that simple, and it's that hard.
Prayer: Lord, I struggle to understand people of faith. I know some whose faith seems very strong, but they don't follow You on the ways that I do. It's tearing my own church apart, and I pray for some kind of reconciliation. Your people need Your guidance. Please, I pray, show us how to lift Your name up in this hostile climate.
Amen
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Mark 12: 38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces,
Jesus is nearing the end of his ministry. He has many lessons yet to impart, but he focused a lot on this theme. The leaders enjoy their power and authority. They forget the greatest commands...to love God and their neighbors. They strut around in pride and entitlement.
Well, I never finished this post. I had my wisdom tooth removed, and I was out of it. I was just preparing to finish when Ron called. I listened to his conversation with Elaine, and I went to bed early.
I did mull over this passage all day. I wondered about the leaders of my church, the UMC. The recent passage of the Traditional Plan leaves many uneasy, and the clergy must be devastated to see what is happening to an institution they have dedicated their lives to literally. I have been saying extra prayers for thrm.
Jesus is nearing the end of his ministry. He has many lessons yet to impart, but he focused a lot on this theme. The leaders enjoy their power and authority. They forget the greatest commands...to love God and their neighbors. They strut around in pride and entitlement.
Well, I never finished this post. I had my wisdom tooth removed, and I was out of it. I was just preparing to finish when Ron called. I listened to his conversation with Elaine, and I went to bed early.
I did mull over this passage all day. I wondered about the leaders of my church, the UMC. The recent passage of the Traditional Plan leaves many uneasy, and the clergy must be devastated to see what is happening to an institution they have dedicated their lives to literally. I have been saying extra prayers for thrm.
Monday, March 4, 2019
March 4, 2019
Mark 10: 15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves
Jesus has come to the temple for the final time. He is not the meek and mild Jesus. He is a man with a mission. He says that the place of worship has become a place for robbers.
The authorities don't appreciate this one bit. Everything they have worked for is in jeopardy. They begin to plot to kill Jesus.
It's compelling to consider this Jesus in light of the UMC and our problems with sexuality. I know many Christians who say that homosexuality is a sin. They know that, because it's in the Bible. They find it outrageous that anyone would consider having a same sex marriage in the church, much less to ordain homosexuals. They picture Jesus outraged at these things, overturned tables would be a bare beginning of where they think he would take it. Others, like myself, see the potential outrage directed towards those who would exclude other believers from the full bounty of faith.
Prayer: Lord, we fail You every day. Help us to see how we can strengthen the bond between Your people. I pray for Your church and Your clergy in particular. Guide Your church to strengthen the faith of believers and to show Christian love to nonbelievers.
Amen
Jesus has come to the temple for the final time. He is not the meek and mild Jesus. He is a man with a mission. He says that the place of worship has become a place for robbers.
The authorities don't appreciate this one bit. Everything they have worked for is in jeopardy. They begin to plot to kill Jesus.
It's compelling to consider this Jesus in light of the UMC and our problems with sexuality. I know many Christians who say that homosexuality is a sin. They know that, because it's in the Bible. They find it outrageous that anyone would consider having a same sex marriage in the church, much less to ordain homosexuals. They picture Jesus outraged at these things, overturned tables would be a bare beginning of where they think he would take it. Others, like myself, see the potential outrage directed towards those who would exclude other believers from the full bounty of faith.
Prayer: Lord, we fail You every day. Help us to see how we can strengthen the bond between Your people. I pray for Your church and Your clergy in particular. Guide Your church to strengthen the faith of believers and to show Christian love to nonbelievers.
Amen
Sunday, March 3, 2019
March 3, 2019
Mark 10: 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is [b]for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!
Jesus and his disciples are headed for Jerusalem. His time in Earth is nearly over. They still don't get it. Along the way they meet a rich young ruler. He asks Jesus how to get into heaven. Jesus cites the ten commandments. He says he's good with those and always has been. (Not likely) Them Jesus asks him to sell his things and follow him. He's sad, and he leaves, because he can't do that. This quote is Jesus's summary of the situation for the disciples. He follows that with the camel going through the eye of the needle analogy.
It's been a rough week. My UMC is ripped apart over same sex marriage and ordination of gays. Ron has been held hostage through the end of hunting season with a multi-day migraine. Elaine is weakened by 10 chemo treatments and doesn't rebound from it like she used to. Dan and GG are up in the air with a major decision. And we got other devastating family news...a family member is an addict. These words being me back to the essence of my faith. If anything, ANY thing, is more important than my faith, it is wrong. Even if it's a good thing, a pleasure bringing thing, it can't be something that I would not drop in a second for Jesus if he asks.
Prayer: Lord, help me to see the things that separate me from You. Guide me to eliminate them from my life. Don't let me become the rich young ruler, so proud of my accomplishments, so distant from You.
Amen
Jesus and his disciples are headed for Jerusalem. His time in Earth is nearly over. They still don't get it. Along the way they meet a rich young ruler. He asks Jesus how to get into heaven. Jesus cites the ten commandments. He says he's good with those and always has been. (Not likely) Them Jesus asks him to sell his things and follow him. He's sad, and he leaves, because he can't do that. This quote is Jesus's summary of the situation for the disciples. He follows that with the camel going through the eye of the needle analogy.
It's been a rough week. My UMC is ripped apart over same sex marriage and ordination of gays. Ron has been held hostage through the end of hunting season with a multi-day migraine. Elaine is weakened by 10 chemo treatments and doesn't rebound from it like she used to. Dan and GG are up in the air with a major decision. And we got other devastating family news...a family member is an addict. These words being me back to the essence of my faith. If anything, ANY thing, is more important than my faith, it is wrong. Even if it's a good thing, a pleasure bringing thing, it can't be something that I would not drop in a second for Jesus if he asks.
Prayer: Lord, help me to see the things that separate me from You. Guide me to eliminate them from my life. Don't let me become the rich young ruler, so proud of my accomplishments, so distant from You.
Amen
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
The Long View from Cancerland: Time for Treatment
Chemotherapy began for my daughter, Elaine, on September 26, 2019. A month had passed since we heard that she probably had cancer. She had been admitted from the Emergency Room with severe anemia, and she had ridden to the hospital by ambulance. When I heard about that, I packed a backpack and caught the flight from Huntington to her in Florida. The last few weeks had been interminable. We wrestled with doctor's offices and hospitals, with her employer and their insurance company. We fielded calls and messages from interested friends and family, and we struggled to deal with all of this essentially by ourselves.
At this point, there are serious financial questions bothering all cancer patients. At our first chemotherapy session, I met a lady who had spoken to another patient as she left. The lady who was leaving looked very frail and weak, but she had recognized the other lady as a teacher in child care classes she had taken while working for Head Start. She had insurance through her job, but Head Start did not renew her contract for 2018-2019 after she was diagnosed, so she lost both her income and her insurance. She was forced to apply for a medical card and to find providers who will accept Medicaid. Not every doctor or facility will. This lady had enough troubles with the cancer, without the financial complications as well.
Elaine had used all her vacation and sick leave as she weakened, so the time after her hospital stay was a time to return to her work from home job. She tried to work, she really did, but a job like hers is very schedule driven. She had to log on and stay on until a problem was resolved. She worked a ten hour shift, which required more strength and endurance than she had left. She ultimately decided to ask for a leave for the period of her treatment.
I was floored. I had listened to her leave her office to throw up in the bathroom next to it, so you might have thought I would have expected this. She had been dealing with the difficult policies on intermittent leave. The limited number of hours available during a pay period made this unworkable due to doctor's appointments alone. And doctor's appointments were not going to be the only reason she wouldn't be able to work at her usual efficiency. In her company, your numbers are everything. Elaine normally appreciated this, as she knew she was working with others who were also committed to serving the customer fairly. But if she slid, because she was dealing with nausea or fatigue or neuropathy or.... Well, it wasn't going to be good for her career.
Elaine's company offered a very generous six month leave with 60% of her base pay. We are Elaine's landlords, so we could reduce her payment there. I would be staying here, buying all the food, and Elaine could continue to pay the utilities, car payment and reduced rent. It was going to be tight, but she wouldn't go into debt like so many in her position.
Every day nearing 5000 Americans find out that they have cancer. Each day about 1500 lives are lost to it. Those brave warriors fighting cancer need the support of every American to just get through the treatments which offer cure or extended quality of life. No life is too unimportant, every case is a son or daughter, a sister or brother, a mother or father. Their lives deserve better consideration. Health care and support services should be available to all of us, with a minimum of effort by the patients who are already coping with pain, nausea, and fatigue that the rest of us find difficult to imagine.
For me, leaving work was more than a financial decision though. It struck me that she was giving up so much more than money. Elaine worked from home. Her contacts with the outside world would be severed. It would be the two of us, alone, isolated by distance and circumstances from those who cared about us. Here, in Deltona,we know our immediate neighbors, and that's it. I don't even have a social media friend here. None. I have seen people I recognized in Wal Mart three times in the two and a half years I have lived here. They were all from the Food Pantry I worked in last winter while I was here.
We have visitors occasionally, but we also go many days without speaking to a human besides each other. We get calls from Ron, my husband, and video chats with my darling granddaughter, thanks to my daughter-in-law. I talk to other friends and family a couple of times a week. We do communicate on social media with friends all over the world.
Elaine's employer has provided her with a Life Coach who has worked with her for several weeks in weekly phone chats. It is valuable in letting her move through the process. Right now they are focusing on life after treatment.
We talked about creating Cancerland: The Board Game. We visualized it as a wander through the forest of diagnosis, before boarding the ship (Cancer) for a sail down a long and perilous river to the land of Cure. We began to isolate the events which would mark the way, the blessings and the pitfalls. before landing at Cure.
Today there is just one more treatment remaining for Elaine. There will be another PET scan in April. The nurse practitioner has advised us about the schedule of appointments through the next few years, letting us know that Elaine is likely to land at the goal of every cancer patient, Cure. That's a glorious thing!
At this point, there are serious financial questions bothering all cancer patients. At our first chemotherapy session, I met a lady who had spoken to another patient as she left. The lady who was leaving looked very frail and weak, but she had recognized the other lady as a teacher in child care classes she had taken while working for Head Start. She had insurance through her job, but Head Start did not renew her contract for 2018-2019 after she was diagnosed, so she lost both her income and her insurance. She was forced to apply for a medical card and to find providers who will accept Medicaid. Not every doctor or facility will. This lady had enough troubles with the cancer, without the financial complications as well.
Elaine had used all her vacation and sick leave as she weakened, so the time after her hospital stay was a time to return to her work from home job. She tried to work, she really did, but a job like hers is very schedule driven. She had to log on and stay on until a problem was resolved. She worked a ten hour shift, which required more strength and endurance than she had left. She ultimately decided to ask for a leave for the period of her treatment.
I was floored. I had listened to her leave her office to throw up in the bathroom next to it, so you might have thought I would have expected this. She had been dealing with the difficult policies on intermittent leave. The limited number of hours available during a pay period made this unworkable due to doctor's appointments alone. And doctor's appointments were not going to be the only reason she wouldn't be able to work at her usual efficiency. In her company, your numbers are everything. Elaine normally appreciated this, as she knew she was working with others who were also committed to serving the customer fairly. But if she slid, because she was dealing with nausea or fatigue or neuropathy or.... Well, it wasn't going to be good for her career.
Elaine's company offered a very generous six month leave with 60% of her base pay. We are Elaine's landlords, so we could reduce her payment there. I would be staying here, buying all the food, and Elaine could continue to pay the utilities, car payment and reduced rent. It was going to be tight, but she wouldn't go into debt like so many in her position.
Every day nearing 5000 Americans find out that they have cancer. Each day about 1500 lives are lost to it. Those brave warriors fighting cancer need the support of every American to just get through the treatments which offer cure or extended quality of life. No life is too unimportant, every case is a son or daughter, a sister or brother, a mother or father. Their lives deserve better consideration. Health care and support services should be available to all of us, with a minimum of effort by the patients who are already coping with pain, nausea, and fatigue that the rest of us find difficult to imagine.
For me, leaving work was more than a financial decision though. It struck me that she was giving up so much more than money. Elaine worked from home. Her contacts with the outside world would be severed. It would be the two of us, alone, isolated by distance and circumstances from those who cared about us. Here, in Deltona,we know our immediate neighbors, and that's it. I don't even have a social media friend here. None. I have seen people I recognized in Wal Mart three times in the two and a half years I have lived here. They were all from the Food Pantry I worked in last winter while I was here.
We have visitors occasionally, but we also go many days without speaking to a human besides each other. We get calls from Ron, my husband, and video chats with my darling granddaughter, thanks to my daughter-in-law. I talk to other friends and family a couple of times a week. We do communicate on social media with friends all over the world.
Elaine's employer has provided her with a Life Coach who has worked with her for several weeks in weekly phone chats. It is valuable in letting her move through the process. Right now they are focusing on life after treatment.
We talked about creating Cancerland: The Board Game. We visualized it as a wander through the forest of diagnosis, before boarding the ship (Cancer) for a sail down a long and perilous river to the land of Cure. We began to isolate the events which would mark the way, the blessings and the pitfalls. before landing at Cure.
Today there is just one more treatment remaining for Elaine. There will be another PET scan in April. The nurse practitioner has advised us about the schedule of appointments through the next few years, letting us know that Elaine is likely to land at the goal of every cancer patient, Cure. That's a glorious thing!
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Over the hump
January 24, 2019
I have not been writing. We stopped doing the words. Elaine was miserable last time after chemo. The root canal, done the day after Chemo #7 and the wonderful PET scan results, was very traumatic, and the recovery time was prolonged. It sucked the life right out of this place. Then Ron decided to come down suddenly, and nothing has been normal since.
Yesterday was chemo #8. Dr. Chew was obviously very pleased with Elaine's most recent results. There was a medical student, and he was glad for her to see the positive change. He asked whether recovery from the last cycle was less intense, but we explained that the root canal had clouded that.
Chemo was next, and it was fairly normal. Elaine's nurse was the quiet one, so it wasn't as much girl talk as sometimes occurs. I wasn't feeling well. I still don't, and I am flying to WV tomorrow afternoon.
At chemo, I noticed how thin Elaine's hair has gotten. She has been talking about getting it cut, so we went in the afternoon. The girl used the clippers on 3 and 4, like a guy's haircut. This uncovered Elaine's strange crowns and a few alopecia spots, but it looks kind of cute. And it feels much better to her. She sprayed it with purple dye to perk it up a bit. The girl at the salon was so nice, and the manager told her it was no charge. She took pictures to post on Facebook right away.
Now it's 4 PM, and she and Ron are out. He wants to go out every day. This is the second day I have begged off.I hope she doesn't overdo it while I am gone. I know how much she wants to please him. I am looking forward to seeing the baby and helping GG out. But I will worry.
I have not been writing. We stopped doing the words. Elaine was miserable last time after chemo. The root canal, done the day after Chemo #7 and the wonderful PET scan results, was very traumatic, and the recovery time was prolonged. It sucked the life right out of this place. Then Ron decided to come down suddenly, and nothing has been normal since.
Yesterday was chemo #8. Dr. Chew was obviously very pleased with Elaine's most recent results. There was a medical student, and he was glad for her to see the positive change. He asked whether recovery from the last cycle was less intense, but we explained that the root canal had clouded that.
Chemo was next, and it was fairly normal. Elaine's nurse was the quiet one, so it wasn't as much girl talk as sometimes occurs. I wasn't feeling well. I still don't, and I am flying to WV tomorrow afternoon.
At chemo, I noticed how thin Elaine's hair has gotten. She has been talking about getting it cut, so we went in the afternoon. The girl used the clippers on 3 and 4, like a guy's haircut. This uncovered Elaine's strange crowns and a few alopecia spots, but it looks kind of cute. And it feels much better to her. She sprayed it with purple dye to perk it up a bit. The girl at the salon was so nice, and the manager told her it was no charge. She took pictures to post on Facebook right away.
Now it's 4 PM, and she and Ron are out. He wants to go out every day. This is the second day I have begged off.I hope she doesn't overdo it while I am gone. I know how much she wants to please him. I am looking forward to seeing the baby and helping GG out. But I will worry.
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