AUGUST 2017 AUGUST EPISTLE
I calls ‘em as I sees ‘em!”
Sunday eve (July 30) I sat on the deck watching the sun set, all the while, off in the distance, a skier glided across the glassy water of Long Lake. Even though the motor sound was not piercing, what was commanding my attention was actually making no sound whatsoever. The orange orb was clearly announcing the end of that day, the closing down of light and the beginning of a night of darkness. I wanted to stand up and shout a “Thank you!” to the sun for gracing the day with warmth, light and growth. Think about what our life would be without the sun!!! Apparently, August 21st will be a day to find out, at least for a short period of time (solar eclipse), what it would be like to live without the light from the sun!
We’re moving into the month of August, the eighth month of the year (the word August coming from the Latin word ‘augustus’
meaning ‘consecrated’ or ‘venerable’) with a sense of anticipation and wonder as the grain fields are turning golden, the corn has tassled out and the ‘dog days of summer’ are upon us. What’s happened to our ‘Summer Splash’ and to the re-invigorating gift of water? Has it all gone the way of ‘summer’s end’? We might even entertain that rather disturbing question sung by Peggy Lee, ‘Is that all there is?”
You might be wondering, ‘Where is all this headed? ‘ or ‘Why such a dark tone to these reflections?’
Listen to Jesus’ words as he makes this ‘no nonsense’ observation in Luke 12;
Then he turned to the crowd: “When you see clouds coming in from the west, you say, ‘Storm’s coming’--and you’re right. And when the wind comes out of the south, you say, ‘This’ll be a hot one’--and you’re right. Frauds! You know how to tell a change in the weather, so don’t tell me you can’t tell a change in the season, the God-season we’re in right now.”
The Message Bible
OUCH!!! That will leave a mark, won’t it?
Summer’s almost over, so what mark are you seeking these days?
As the deadline for trading comes today, July 31st, I think of that iconic story of baseball’s great NY Yankees and their manager at the time, Casey Stengel. It was a full count (3 balls and 2 strikes) with two out and the batter stood stunned as the umpire yelled “Strike 3”. Casey however, was anything but stunned. He charged the umpire and got in his face, screaming at the top of his lungs. The umpire responded with his broken Brooklyn accent; “I calls ‘em as I sees ‘em!” That’s exactly what he did, no matter who agreed with him.
“I calls ‘em as I sees ‘em!” could just as well be Jesus’ words.
We may not like his observations, or even his naming us ‘frauds’, but it could be that his words put us in a better position for us to hear a desperately needed word from the Cross; like, ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!’ or “ It is finished.’ or “Into your hands I commit my spirit.” Could it be the mark that is needed, is the mark of the Cross of Christ, not only upon us, but all of creation?
These words seem to come to me in a clearer way than ever. They are words of Thomas Chisholm that we sing often;
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hand has provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
No matter the season, we can depend upon Jesus to ‘calls ‘em
as he sees ‘em’; to call us by our names, ‘beloved’ and ‘friend’ as he seals that on the Cross!
A delightful August to us all!
Pastor Tom+
I calls ‘em as I sees ‘em!”
Sunday eve (July 30) I sat on the deck watching the sun set, all the while, off in the distance, a skier glided across the glassy water of Long Lake. Even though the motor sound was not piercing, what was commanding my attention was actually making no sound whatsoever. The orange orb was clearly announcing the end of that day, the closing down of light and the beginning of a night of darkness. I wanted to stand up and shout a “Thank you!” to the sun for gracing the day with warmth, light and growth. Think about what our life would be without the sun!!! Apparently, August 21st will be a day to find out, at least for a short period of time (solar eclipse), what it would be like to live without the light from the sun!
We’re moving into the month of August, the eighth month of the year (the word August coming from the Latin word ‘augustus’
meaning ‘consecrated’ or ‘venerable’) with a sense of anticipation and wonder as the grain fields are turning golden, the corn has tassled out and the ‘dog days of summer’ are upon us. What’s happened to our ‘Summer Splash’ and to the re-invigorating gift of water? Has it all gone the way of ‘summer’s end’? We might even entertain that rather disturbing question sung by Peggy Lee, ‘Is that all there is?”
You might be wondering, ‘Where is all this headed? ‘ or ‘Why such a dark tone to these reflections?’
Listen to Jesus’ words as he makes this ‘no nonsense’ observation in Luke 12;
Then he turned to the crowd: “When you see clouds coming in from the west, you say, ‘Storm’s coming’--and you’re right. And when the wind comes out of the south, you say, ‘This’ll be a hot one’--and you’re right. Frauds! You know how to tell a change in the weather, so don’t tell me you can’t tell a change in the season, the God-season we’re in right now.”
The Message Bible
OUCH!!! That will leave a mark, won’t it?
Summer’s almost over, so what mark are you seeking these days?
As the deadline for trading comes today, July 31st, I think of that iconic story of baseball’s great NY Yankees and their manager at the time, Casey Stengel. It was a full count (3 balls and 2 strikes) with two out and the batter stood stunned as the umpire yelled “Strike 3”. Casey however, was anything but stunned. He charged the umpire and got in his face, screaming at the top of his lungs. The umpire responded with his broken Brooklyn accent; “I calls ‘em as I sees ‘em!” That’s exactly what he did, no matter who agreed with him.
“I calls ‘em as I sees ‘em!” could just as well be Jesus’ words.
We may not like his observations, or even his naming us ‘frauds’, but it could be that his words put us in a better position for us to hear a desperately needed word from the Cross; like, ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!’ or “ It is finished.’ or “Into your hands I commit my spirit.” Could it be the mark that is needed, is the mark of the Cross of Christ, not only upon us, but all of creation?
These words seem to come to me in a clearer way than ever. They are words of Thomas Chisholm that we sing often;
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hand has provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
No matter the season, we can depend upon Jesus to ‘calls ‘em
as he sees ‘em’; to call us by our names, ‘beloved’ and ‘friend’ as he seals that on the Cross!
A delightful August to us all!
Pastor Tom+
