tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33469575818603180292024-03-04T21:17:32.632-07:00Thin PlacesA thin place is where the veil that separates heaven and earth is lifted and one is able to receive a glimpse of the glory of God.Makeeshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08494813094595978277noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3346957581860318029.post-59205610903134098542008-04-03T12:00:00.004-06:002008-04-03T12:26:37.175-06:00Into Peace<p>Makeesha's teaching: March 30</p><p>Notes<br /><b>The best choice:<br />Into peace, following Jesus in exile</b><br /><br />Opening prayer<br /><br />PRAYER OF APPROACH (United Church of Canada)<br /><br />We have come together, O God, to be clothed with power from on<br />high. Meet us here with truth we can wear with confidence and with<br />joy we can share with sincerity. Awaken us, by the power of your<br />Holy Spirit, to life in all its fullness here and now and grant us<br />courage and strength and love as we praise you for all your<br />goodness. Be with us as we lift up our hands, our hearts, and our<br />voices, and prepare us for everlasting life with Christ Jesus --<br />in whose name we worship. Amen.<br /><br /><br />Psalm 16<br />Protect me, LORD God!<br />I run to you for safety, and I have said, "Only you are my Lord! Every good thing I have is a gift from you."<br />Your people are wonderful, and they make me happy, but worshipers of other gods will have much sorrow. I refuse to offer sacrifices of blood to those gods or worship in their name.<br />You, LORD, are all I want! You are my choice, and you keep me safe.<br />You make my life pleasant, and my future is bright.<br />I praise you, LORD,for being my guide. Even in the darkest night, your teachings fill my mind. I will always look to you, as you stand beside me and protect me from fear.<br />With all my heart, I will celebrate, and I can safely rest. I am your chosen one. You won't leave me in the grave or let my body decay. You have shown me the path to life, and you make me glad by being near to me. Sitting at your right side, I will always be joyful.<br /><br />John 20:19-31<br />1 Pe 1:3-9</p>Closing<br />be still and let Jesus speak these words to your heart:<br /><br />Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you,<br />not as the world gives do I give to you,<br />Do not let your heart be troubled, neither be afraid.<br />Believe in God, believe also in me.<br />(silent moment)<br />Father water these seeds in our heart, the words of Jesus, by Your Spirit,<br />Amen.Makeeshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08494813094595978277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3346957581860318029.post-10674675673579836902007-06-03T19:30:00.000-06:002007-06-03T19:31:06.063-06:00Communion PrayerCommunion Prayer:<br /><br />Jesus help us to remember<br />that your blood was shed for the least of these<br />Remind us today as we drink this wine that<br />you desire wholeness of all of your creation<br />and that you charge us with its care<br /><br />Search our hearts Holy Spirit, reveal to us areas of blindness<br />illuminate the dark corners where we see your blood in only one shade<br />for only one purpose<br />and for only the few who make it to your table<br />your blood flowed for humanity and where one is deprived of its healing, so do we all<br /><br />God reveal yourself as King of kings<br />and show us what it means to represent you on this earth<br />empower us to be the vehicle through which your will is done<br />on earth as it is in heaven<br />soften our hearts to be vessels of your love<br /><br />Jesus, through this bread, let us see your body<br />your muddy, calloused hands<br />your dusty, blistered feet<br />your face, touched with the lines of 30 years of the emotions of the ages<br />may this bread remind us of your body that was ravaged for all of your creation<br /><br />Search our hearts Holy Spirit, reveal to us areas of blindness<br />illuminate the dark corners where we see your body as small enough to fit in our pockets<br />for only our own individual purposes<br />and for only those who are clean enough to touch it<br />your body was broken for humanity and where one is deprived of its healing, so do we all<br /><br />God reveal yourself as King of kings<br />and show us what it means to represent you on this earth<br />empower us to be the vehicle through which your will is done<br />on earth as it is in heaven<br />soften our hearts to be vessels of your love<br /><br />~MakMakeeshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08494813094595978277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3346957581860318029.post-44739070351487555232007-05-23T15:57:00.000-06:002007-05-23T16:22:51.951-06:00Lost in my head<div class="posttitle"> <p class="post-info">by <a href="http://www.swingingfromthevine.com/author/admin/" title="Posts by Mak">Mak</a> </p> </div> <div class="entry"> <p>I'm lost inside my own head…and I can't find my way out.</p> <p><img alt="istock_000000744461xsmall.jpg" id="image255" src="http://www.swingingfromthevine.com/wp-content/istock_000000744461xsmall.jpg" /></p><p>I started off -a thinking one day</p> <p>ruminating, pondering</p> <p>meditating and pontificating</p> <p>I neglected to remember the thinking map</p> <p>to guide me on my way</p> <p>a few thoughts in, I looked around</p> <p>and nothing seemed just right</p> <p>it was indeed quite different than how it looked last night</p> <p>and where ARE those damn breadcrumbs I brought</p> <p>and scattered on the ground?</p> <p>and then appeared a little troll, picking up the pace</p> <p>short and green and covered in dirt</p> <p>wearing pants but clearly no shirt</p> <p>that beast! his mouth was full of crumbs</p> <p>and a guilty look upon his face</p> <p>So here I am, inside my head</p> <p>I walk in circles, doubling back</p> <p>my thoughts upon me like a heavy pack</p> <p>I might emerge tomorrow, with something smart to say</p> <p>but if I don't, it is because the thoughts indeed are dead. </p></div>Makeeshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08494813094595978277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3346957581860318029.post-73570272109016606782007-05-14T16:13:00.001-06:002007-05-14T16:13:56.912-06:00Do you know me?<span></span><p>Do you see me?<br />My skin is dark and rough with dirt<br />Do you see me?<br />My clothes are torn<br />Do you see me?<br />My skirt's too short, my neckline too low</p> <p>Do you smell me?<br />I reek of body odor<br />Do you smell me?<br />I tried to cover it up with cheap perfume<br />Do you smell me?<br />I tried to find lunch in the dumpster</p> <p>Do you hear me?<br />My voice is coarse<br />Do you hear me?<br />My language is foul<br />Do you hear me?<br />I lure my customers with perverted words</p> <p>I'm trying to hide from you<br />I don't want to get you dirty<br />You intimidate me<br />You sound pious<br />You look pure<br />You scare me</p> <p>Are you judging me?<br />Are you ignoring me?<br />Could you love me?<br />Could you help me?<br />Will you forget me?<br />Will you scorn me?</p> <p>Why am I here?<br />Why are you here?<br />Is your bubble comfortable?<br />Are your white linens white enough?<br />Is your world pure enough?<br />Why are you here?</p>Makeeshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08494813094595978277noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3346957581860318029.post-58128394455716652082007-05-10T13:02:00.000-06:002008-12-10T23:57:29.765-07:00When my computer looks like this...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2Lw0Opw1MxiwNdJIpeWznVK0nWuqfrnTbkoVfw6gDdMn6X_GuJOUDiafVUAA1KvURQrJM2CsggMhcrNRXDkEcSl5Qt8KT0Hr-wPGLEqmWUSIqkXt7UBH5M1q6bF8qLyW1GmuCS3xDyk/s1600-h/untitled1.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2Lw0Opw1MxiwNdJIpeWznVK0nWuqfrnTbkoVfw6gDdMn6X_GuJOUDiafVUAA1KvURQrJM2CsggMhcrNRXDkEcSl5Qt8KT0Hr-wPGLEqmWUSIqkXt7UBH5M1q6bF8qLyW1GmuCS3xDyk/s400/untitled1.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063009602836755074" /></a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670609970252209273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3346957581860318029.post-80679123082323344422007-05-10T13:01:00.000-06:002008-12-10T23:57:30.000-07:00...I look like this<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pCqIIwZ1d0uLZfmBpPQdl_40o-4h3vQN-y-gS2QGkaKrCZ2wkR-LKZuAI6Z4noTkluez5dzXYAh-AjIkIziaWzb3BwILhDiuy4bKSkWxXy_0fQog_S851MopaIY__1mGdbeT-U1Q4i8/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pCqIIwZ1d0uLZfmBpPQdl_40o-4h3vQN-y-gS2QGkaKrCZ2wkR-LKZuAI6Z4noTkluez5dzXYAh-AjIkIziaWzb3BwILhDiuy4bKSkWxXy_0fQog_S851MopaIY__1mGdbeT-U1Q4i8/s400/untitled.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063009469692768882" /></a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670609970252209273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3346957581860318029.post-15486620849426390992007-05-07T09:51:00.000-06:002008-12-10T23:57:30.176-07:00Beyond These Shores<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qEsagV3PwWeGQx-mB7wpHJ45Q7PR0sU5Ihppnd8kfJZX60VyiQBKY1vxgbVnzBnUM4ba0KOEOJBY7eB44Ht4oaLQ1v97RPQwg6g6oKwOWWm3v9y1Ptl7rrSFQntXyf3fqg60vfLLRfA/s1600-h/in_sai1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qEsagV3PwWeGQx-mB7wpHJ45Q7PR0sU5Ihppnd8kfJZX60VyiQBKY1vxgbVnzBnUM4ba0KOEOJBY7eB44Ht4oaLQ1v97RPQwg6g6oKwOWWm3v9y1Ptl7rrSFQntXyf3fqg60vfLLRfA/s400/in_sai1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061850936624411186" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />it was a room<br />banners of peace and welcome hung on the white-washed walls<br />the clock was two and a half hours behind<br />plastic tables and chairs cluttered the floor and stored against the wall<br />eclectic bulletin boards<br />soda, coffee, a rose<br />blue stained carpet<br />eight of us<br />two of them children<br />eight of us desiring to change the world<br />a ship of eight<br /><br />a ship of fools<br /><br />May the Holy Spirit blow our sails<br />May He determine our course<br />Though the water be rough<br />Though storms arise<br />May we not falter<br />May we not turn back<br />For what has been explored and dissected and understood is behind us<br /><br />But like Saint Brendan<br />You beckon us to the open sea<br />Dangers and dragons await<br />But you have been before<br />And you are present<br />You always will be<br />So we sail into the great expanse<br />Into the great unknownDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670609970252209273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3346957581860318029.post-9493549646283813312007-04-25T13:47:00.000-06:002008-12-10T23:57:30.615-07:00A Missional Poem<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gu0KhpPpphL5Uwdl_K7r8eG5l2jXjKuL8XhVPewSoYmboS_9zbuqTVIBlNT6hGsSWn36dKeDaFS9UTCWvKyrYwHfS2t4CrpiukVdv9bOsG1nWGh5esMStL4wuw1SF6jBdTFkugQUVoI/s1600-h/thema_luchtfoto.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gu0KhpPpphL5Uwdl_K7r8eG5l2jXjKuL8XhVPewSoYmboS_9zbuqTVIBlNT6hGsSWn36dKeDaFS9UTCWvKyrYwHfS2t4CrpiukVdv9bOsG1nWGh5esMStL4wuw1SF6jBdTFkugQUVoI/s400/thema_luchtfoto.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057455969604858338" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So I woke up one morning in the usual way<br />Meaning I was really not ready for the day.<br /><br />I stumbled to the kitchen to grab a beer<br />When the droning of the Television rambled in my ear.<br /><br />They had said something strange; that the rapture had come<br />And of all the people around, the human race was done.<br /><br />Well I couldn’t believe what I was to here<br />So I went to my neighbor who happened to be queer<br /><br />He said, “Oh don’t worry my hung over dear<br />You really have nothing, well, not much to fear.”<br /><br />Then he invited me in and said with a sneer,<br />“Those Christians will always just look at me and jeer.”<br /><br />“Now they are gone, in a faraway place,<br />And maybe I’ll never again have to see their face.”<br /><br />“But.” I said with a wondering eye,<br />“What’s gonna happen when the rest of us die?”<br /><br />“That’s a good question.” My neighbor replied,<br />Then he let out a long worried sigh.<br /><br />We sat there in silence for what seemed like an age,<br />Then I heard the reporter come back with a rage,<br /><br />He said, “Apparently it was all some elaborate hoax,<br />The Christians are hiding, those odd masses of folks!”<br /><br />Later we found out, it was a scheme by LeHay<br />To pretend all the Christians had suddenly gone away.<br /><br />He wanted the world to fear the tribulation,<br />Where masses would repent and join the jubilation.<br /><br />At that time I decided I’d really believe<br />That it was love that people wanted to receive<br /><br />So I decided to make my neighbor my friend,<br />And I would be there for him to the very end.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670609970252209273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3346957581860318029.post-34007488693177211852007-04-25T10:48:00.000-06:002007-04-25T10:50:46.985-06:00It's sad that my recent creative post is this...Like in the Matrix, this is my "Residual Self Image"<br /><br /><a href="http://www.meez.com/subversion" title="Check out this user's profile at Meez.com"><img src="http://images.meez.com/user01/08/08_10007429051.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14670609970252209273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3346957581860318029.post-76553647687319666622007-03-06T15:49:00.000-07:002007-03-06T15:53:23.979-07:00in memory: Clara SkjersethMy Grandmother passed away today and I wrote this to be read at her funeral as I will not be able to attend. I thought I would share it with you all.<br /><br />There is a story being told.<br />Do you hear it?<br />The rocks cry out<br />The trees rejoice<br />The universe declares it.<br /><br />It is a grand and glorious narrative<br />told every moment of every day.<br /><br />It is God's story.<br /><br />It is a story of creation and fall<br />redemption and justice<br />death and resurrection.<br /><br />It is a story that we all choose to enter in one way or another. Within this grand narrative, we have a chance to tell our story, to make our voice heard, to testify to God's presence in our lives.<br /><br />Grandma found her place and told her story. In little ways like silent prayers, hugs and kisses, smiles and letters. And in big ways like joining with others in the Church to partake of Christ's body and blood. Her life testified of her love for Christ and of her love for others, fulfilling the greatest commandments to the best of her ability.<br /><br />In life, she was a testimony of one beautifully flawed human being who had entered into God's Kingdom on earth, and in death, she continues that Kingdom journey in heaven. And in so doing, she leaves a legacy of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who have added their story to God's and will continue on their journey to someday be joined with her singing "Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come."<br /><br />At this time, I feel the loss that we all feel upon the death of a loved one, but I feel a greater sense of rejoicing that Grandma has entered a more beautiful home, her eternal home, where she is present with the Lord. Saint Paul said to the Corinthians, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord - and in that knowledge, I find great peace.<br /><br />I want to leave you with a quote from Pope John Paul II<br />"Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song."<br /><br />I think Grandma would agree.Makeeshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08494813094595978277noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3346957581860318029.post-65414141260338826522006-09-24T20:05:00.000-06:002006-12-15T09:01:59.729-07:00Lovesong<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">A screeching violin<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">An old man plays<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">So closed off to the world<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">His ears are deaf to his own vile sound<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">But in is mind, the music is clear and pure<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sound waves echoing off bare walls<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">He smiles a toothless grin.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">People stopped listening long ago<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">So he plays to himself<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">And to the few dying friends who have never heard anything different.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Can we be willing<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">To turn our screech into a symphony.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Melting the soul and awakening the spirit of all who hear.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">For it must tear down walls<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">And open the vast expanse of the universe.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Harmony and melody of pure beautiful perfection<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Played by flawed musicians.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">If I cannot be more than a screech<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Let me remain still<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Let me die within the walls of my tomb<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">And bury me in endless silence.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">But if I can play, and join in the music of heaven<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Let it resound to the ends of the earth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Let me be a song to those who have never heard music before.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">To the world, who has only heard fingers on a chalkboard,<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Let me be the music of God.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: left;">*<a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/16052166">David</a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Makeeshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08494813094595978277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3346957581860318029.post-35190732395262073592006-09-24T19:52:00.000-06:002006-09-24T19:54:34.526-06:00Love<span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:12;" >To draw people to God they must be shown the love of God through us.<span style=""> </span>This love cannot be taught, diagramed, lectured about, or be shown from a distance.<span style=""> </span>It can only be revealed when we ourselves before God, tear down all walls, all shame, and all facades.<span style=""> </span>It can only be shown through intimacy, passion, desire, and the willingness to stand spiritually naked before Him and let Him breathe on us, and led us in a dance in the inner chambers of His courts.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:12;" ><br />This love will compel us to move out, to stretch our arms wide, and invite others in.<span style=""> </span>How we do that is up to God.<span style=""> </span>Each person is unique and each circumstance is different.<span style=""> </span>But as we move in this radical genuine action of love, it will be love beyond anything otherwise known by the human race.<br />*<a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/16052166">David</a><br /></span>Makeeshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08494813094595978277noreply@blogger.com1