I serve with the pastoral team at Newberg (OR) Friends Church. That’s different from serving on the pastoral team, since I’m not a pastor. The little word with carries important meaning in that regard. The agenda at our Tuesday team meetings often includes brainstorming—you know, “There are no bad ideas.” Lead pastor Gregg Koskela recently asked us for input on a sermon series he was considering on the Quaker queries. We batted around different approaches to the topic but didn’t find much energy around questions that ask for a yes or no response. “Do you…?”; “Are you…?” Then one pastor suggested we add the word How in front of each query. Suddenly everything changed. The discussion came to life because of one little word.

I’m sure you can think of examples of your own, when a few letters of the alphabet have brought clarity or change. I find deep meaning in the small words the apostle Paul speaks in Galatians 2:20. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Paul might not have been a Quaker, but he speaks my mind. My spiritual death has already occurred—without any pain, because he did all the suffering. Yet because of his resurrection, he lives in me, not simply in my heart, but in my whole self—mind, soul, and body. We find other significant small words in that verse, but the wonder of his gift of eternal life often catches me off guard, and I have to stop and say thank you.

PRAYER: Thank you, Jesus, for your work in me.
SONG: May the Mind of Christ, My Savior

._._._._.

My final assignment was to write a devotional using the Fruit of the Vine guidelines. And now the writing class is complete. World without end, amen.

- have a “you” attitude
- always let the other person save face
- don’t nit-pick about details
- tailor your speech to fit the situation
- use questions rather than dogmatic statements
- allow others the “inside look”
- give a reading of your responses
- allow others to “give their gift”

So do you have any to add…to finish out the list? One that comes to mind (not from the original list) is from long ago friend peterGibbons – never, never…never criticize.

I’ll keep working on it, or maybe try to find an archived copy of the original…and read with interest any of yours.

I would love to be wrong about everything else and will try to keep an open mind about what happens next.

There once was a woman who woke up one morning,
Looked in the mirror,
And noticed she had only three hairs on her head.
“Well,” she said, “I think I’ll braid my hair today.”
So she did, and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up,
Looked in the mirror
And saw that she had only two hairs on her head.
“H-m-m-m,” she said,
“I think I’ll part my hair down the middle today.”
So she did, and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up,
Looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.
“Well,” she said,
“today I’m going to wear my hair in a ponytail.”
So she did, and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up,
Looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn’t a single hair on her head.
“YEA!” she exclaimed,
“I don’t have to fix my hair today!”

Attitude is everything.

—–

How are you doing on your new year’s resolutions? A recent survey showed that of the 45 percent who make resolutions, only 8 percent actually keep them. That could represent a lessening desire for improvement or, worse, a resignation to inevitable failure. Have we lost faith in ourselves to keep promises we make—even those we make to ourselves?

On January 1 we sometimes resolve to remove excess, such as eating too much, from our daily lives. On January 2 we find a way to rationalize away that resolve. It took way too many of my 61 years to figure out that I am not entitled to everything I want. For something so simple as a dessert I had previously resolved not to eat I could unresolve in a moment because I felt entitled to it.

Broaden that simple example to other perceived entitlements, such as equality, happiness, freedom, justice. Nothing that depends on the actions and intentions of other humans can be considered a sure thing. Nothing. But Scripture abounds in entitlements, promises from God, and we can count on him to keep his word. Yet they aren’t always fulfilled on this side of eternity. Think about Jacob, whom God promised, “I will surely bring you back” from Egypt to Canaan, his homeland (Genesis 46:4). That promise was fulfilled only after Jacob’s death. You can probably list times you prayed for a promise to be fulfilled and felt God didn’t give you what you asked for. My husband, Mauri, and I each lost a spouse to cancer. Our experience taught us we were not entitled to lifelong marriages, even though we hoped for that.

These days I’d rather base my hope on God’s promises than on my own. I like what the writer of Romans said about Abraham. “He did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised” (4:20).

BethanyL brought her young daughters, Hannah and Meira, to the office for a few minutes today. When Hannah saw my cast she looked up at her mom and asked if she could pray for me. She was a little shy about it but with her mom’s encouragement Hannah came over close to me and prayed “in her heart” for my broken ankle. And as she walked toward her car, she called out to me that she would keep praying for me.

I know my grandkids pray, really pray, and I believe Hannah does too. I’m grateful for parents who know the value of prayer and pass that along to their children by example. When I say to someone, “I’ll pray for you,” I want to mean it and do it, just like Bailey, Marissa, Cassidy, and Hannah.

As I rode, the small “envelope of safety” inherent in my long-wheelbase recumbent became very apparent—sharply so on the bridge with biGrigs rumbling by…and amplified by our recent…you know.

So how to ride at all? Or drive on two-lane roads (always just a couple of feet from sudden death)? Or deal with the larger threats…like the possibility of a bird flu pandemic or terrorist nuclear attack…or who knows what? One common approach is to live in denial…just don’t think about it and hope for the best. Another is to consider the risk and take measured precaution. Maybe that’s what you do.

I recall watching a news conference…with either a real bigWig or bW wannabe, and the question was “Can you promise we’ll be safe?” For just a second I thought he might tell the truth—I pictured him laughing and saying the obvious…”what kind of dumb question is that?…but vote for me anyway.” Naw.

Probably most of us wish our envelope of safety was wider, and more stable, and regularly take steps…but I’m feeling a bump to consider not being quite so committed to it—not so much on the…you know, or two-lane roads, but in other areas…like watching/listening for God (and paying attention to others doing the same) and stepping out in obedience. To do what, you say? Not a dumb question at all, and I’m not sure…yet.

I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever living Head.

He lives to bless me with His love,
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed,
He lives to help in time of need.

He lives triumphant from the grave,
He lives eternally to save,
He lives all glorious in the sky,
He lives exalted there on high.

He lives to grant me rich supply,
He lives to guide me with His eye,
He lives to comfort me when faint,
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears,
He lives to wipe away my tears
He lives to calm my troubled heart,
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly Friend,
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death:
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His Name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same.
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,
I know that my Redeemer lives!

O Yes!