richardbott.com

where I'm not sure if I'm coming or going.

Saturday was a good day at the office. I got a couple of worship services put together, and made sure that the final touches on the first "Walking a Disciple's Path" book was done.

Sunday - that's today, of course - was all right. Finished up the slides for this morning's service, facilitated worship with St. Andrew's, headed to the Lougheed Corridor United Church picnic, then started working on another service.

Monday, well, it looks like Monday is going to be a people day. Meet with a colleague. Meet with another colleague. Meet with a couple. Meet with a member of the community. Head to Karate.

Tuesday... that's going to be family day this week! We're off to the PNE - until the evening, 'cause then I meet with the Christian Nurture Division of the congregation. Let's get chatting about the fall.

Wednesday - meet with a musician for a wedding, meet with the church's minister of music, meet with two members of the congregation, meet with my colleagues, make sure that the church sign is changed over and the service is finalized for Sunday... then... Karate!

Head into Thursday - when I get to do an oral examination en français, before I start my newest project - getting my French-language skills back. The rest of the day, Happy Child and I will get to wander around the great city of Vancouver. (I'm thinking, a camera for her, a camera for me - let's see what we can find!)

Friday, my brain settles down and...

Saturday we start anew!

Some churches, including the one with whom I serve, have decided to add an additional season to the church calendar - the Season of Creation.
The length of time is still kind of fluid, as are the readings and themes for it. So I decided to start this Sunday.

Call to Gather:
In the beginning,
before there was anything -
before there was beginning, itself -
God said -
"Let there be..."
And there was!
Light. Matter. Life.
Life of all kinds.
Plant life. Animal life.
Life in ways that we can't even imagine.
And God said, "This is great!"
It was great.
It is great!
In the beauty of the earth, the fire,
the water, the air;
with the music of the spheres filling our hearts;
with all creation living its joy!
We worship the One who said, "Let there be..."
Alleluia! (©Richard Bott - Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share-Alike 2.0)

Opening Prayer:
God of all creation,
you are wonderful!
Thank you for everything
that you have called into being.
As we listen to the rhythm of life -
inside us and around us -
help us to feel your presence,
in every moment.
Thank you, God!
Alleluia! Amen. (©Richard Bott - Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share-Alike 2.0)

Scripture: Luke 14.1,7-14
Reflection: Focused on the idea that we human beings have seen ourselves as the pinnacle of creation, rather than as part of the complexity of it. In doing so, as a species, we've decided to take the seat at the head of the table. Perhaps we need to reconsider our place in creation before the "host comes over and moves us down the table".

Hymns:
"There is Room for All" (Bruce Harding)
"All Things Bright and Beautiful" (Cecil Frances Alexander)
"Draw the Circle Wide" (Gordon Light)

Service Music:
Celebrating God's Gifts: "God, Whose Farm Is All Creation" (John Arlott)
Bringing the Word into our Midst: "Before the Earth Had Yet Begun" (Herbert O'Driscoll)
Closing Response: "Clap Your Hands" (Eleanor Daily)

That's probably because I just finished a session with my dentist.

Don't get me wrong - both he and the Assistant were great. But having my mouth wide open for just under an hour took its toll.

Made me think (as I listened to the various clicks, whirs, whines and grinds) about how much time I spend with my mouth open every day.

Flapping my jaw. Vibrating my vocal chords. Gracing the world with my erudite thoughts and words.

Or, perhaps, being a perfect example of "...a tale. Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

Perhaps I need to listen more. Speak less. Be.

When life isn't - quite - making sense?

You know. Those days when you feel like you're out-of-sync with everyone around you. The times when you wonder if you've stepped into an alternate plane of existence (or at least a 'universe-without-a-J'). The times when you just want to tell everyone and everything to go jump off the nearest cliff, because everything feels like nails down a chalkboard, or someone tuning the highest notes of the 2' flute stop on a pipe organ.

Do you tell people to leave you alone, until you can get your balance back?
Do you dive in to their presence, and re-balance by spending an inordinate amount of time with them?

What do you do?

Thus, I have reached my 'middle age'.

Thus, it is time for a middle-aged-male-crisis.

So. I think for my mid-age-crisis, I'll do something very guy-ish.

I'm going to do something completely outside of my skill set, relying on the wisdom of people who have gone before me (many of whom are in my congregation).

I'm going to restore an old car - anywhere from my birth year to 1980. And it's going to be a convertible.

Yep. Totally outside of my skill set (and I promise that I'll get someone who knows what they're doing to a) help me find the car; b) deal with the breaks and chassis.) I'll ask for help. I'll get my hands dirty. I'll scrape skin off my hands. I'll learn the difference between... ok... first I'll learn what I need to learn the difference between.

I wonder if I can be done by the time I'm 43?

it's just untidy.

My desk is covered in books and papers. I have an additional stack of books on the floor beside me.

The problem is, I'm not disorganized. I know where everything is. I can find it easily.

But no one else can.

my phone.

Actually. I'm blogging from my Android-OS Google developed Nexus 1.

I'm not really an 'early adopter'... although, when Rogers started selling an Android -based HTC, I get it the first day it was out!

Maybe it's just that I'm a Linux lover. I've played with Blackberries, and with iPhones... but I wouldn't give this one up!

Some of you who know me also know that I've been trying to work with the "six marks of discipleship" in a United Church of Canada context.

About four years ago, I worked the six marks into an acronym based on United:
Uplifted through daily prayer.
Nourished in weekly worship.
Informed through daily conversation with scripture.
Taking God's love to others through service.
Engaged in spiritual friendship
Donating back God's gifts of time, talent and treasure.

Well, I'm kind of excited, because, with the help of the Rev. Shannon Tennant and the Rev. Jan Bihl, I've been working on a practical programme to help UCCan folks explore and deepen their discipleship practices. When completed, "Walking a Disciple's Path" will be made up of 15 booklets: two starter booklets ("First Steps" and "Second Steps"), a booklet for every month of one year ("Journey Notes"), and a booklet designed to help someone who has walked through the process to make some decisions about what they find most helpful in their discipleship practices ("Waypoint"). Over the course of the year, participants will be introduced to various parts of scripture (as well as being introduced to five translations). They will have had the chance to experience fourteen different prayer practices, will have explored where living as a steward, offering service and worship fits in their lives. As well, they will have been guided into at least one intentional spiritual friendship... and have gathered with a "Path Group" for support and accountability at least twenty-eight times.

The first of the booklets is completed, with the second well on its way. As well, the content of the booklets will be offered in .MP3 format (18 to 20 minute segments), so that participants can take the practice with them "on the go".

It also looks like we're going to have the package translated into French... and we're working on other languages as well.

A huge project - but one that's really, really, really exciting!

Yep. Exercising. In an intentional way.

I'm walking most of the time, riding my bicycle when it's too far to walk, and only taking the car when I'm heading out of town. Add to that the 15km-a-day on the elliptical and the twice-a-week at karate, and I can honestly say that I'm exercising more than I ever have in my life.

The thing is - the habit seems to be sticking, this time. One full month and, until yesterday, I kept to my practice. Yesterday; however, I ran out of time.

And I missed it. My calves missed it. My head missed it. My sleep patterns missed it.

At least its a healthy addiction, right?