SUNDAY SERVICES:

Time and time again I failed horribly at giving up chocolate for Lent.  It was worse than any New Year’s resolution I might have made.  So, long ago, I decided to take up, not give up, things for Lent.  What to take up?

Once again, long ago, 45 years, I was introduced afresh to the spiritual disciplines through Richard Foster’s book THE CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE.  I started to try out, and take on, spiritual disciplines for Lent.  After all, a lot of what the Book of Common Prayer says about this season has to do with the disciplines. 

More recently then, a few Sundays ago, I heard Canon Christopher talk about being salt and light anywhere and everywhere.  Seeing and being salt and light is a spiritual discipline.  Here is a brief photo album of some flashes and splashes of salt and light I have noticed recently.  

Salt and Light at the Amway

A few months ago…Chuck and Deb Hazama invited Barb and me to join them for dinner and a concert with Chris Tomlin and Hillsong United at the Amway Center.  At the close, Chuck hails a wheelchair, like grabbing a cab in New York.  Off we roll to the car. 

But on the way, Chuck begins to engage his wheelchair ‘pusher’ in conversation about how things were going for him. When we get to the car, I give the wheelchair pusher an outrageous tip, and Chuck, Deb, and Barb pray for the specific needs he shared along the way - finances, job…and so on, a scary mess, so it took some moments.

On Saturday, 2/4, I got a text from Chuck, sharing that he and Deb had gone to the Crowder concert at Amway, and guess who they crossed paths with?  Yes, the wheelchair pusher, Jacques, who we had prayed with some months before.  Chuck said the guy hugged him for at least two minutes, a bit unusual, and Jacques remembered the prayers, the extravagant tip, and what’s best he had received a few raises and a promotion.   

Alleluia!  Salt & Light at Amway

Anointing Valentines with Salt and Light

On February 9, Barb, Nancy Watkinson, and I are sitting around an outdoor table at the Orange County Academy in Bithlo with six pre- or early-adolescent boys and girls making valentines and eating snacks.  One of the mentees walks over to show me the valentine's card she made for her mother. We have met her mom, and she is strikingly pretty and is a prostitute and drug addict.  The card reads, “I love you mom, I really do!  You are really a great mom, and I love you so much!  Don’t listen to others who say you are not a good mom. You are the best, and I love you.”  

In my head I pray, Transformation through affirmation.

Lord, bless my tears, anoint this valentine with your salt and light, please Abba.

Salt and Light at the Grammies

One of my favorite songs of late is Talking To Jesus by Elevation Worship and Maverick City featuring Brandon Lake.  Listen to it - it’s powerful. Well, Maverick City’s song Fear is Not My Future won the ‘Best Contemporary Christian Music’ award at the Grammies. 

Brandon Lake, in his acceptance words shared how thankful and blown away he was by the award and that the song came out of a prophetic worship flow, adding ‘never underestimate what the Lord can do with a seed, and how we are all dealing with fear,’ and then added that ‘perfect love casts out fear and that perfect love is Jesus Christ.’

Try it, it’s powerful. 

Salt and Light in Anglican Mission 

I recently sent my bishop’s scarf, a tippet if that helps, or a black stole may be more descriptive, with two emblems - one for the Diocese of Boga, and the other for the Anglican Communion - to Bishop Page Brooks in New Orleans as a symbol of releasing my ministry to him. 

He will be sharing the chair of AMI along with Canon Christopher.  It seemed that some salt & light seeds came from this transfer.  On February 8, Bishop Page was talking to a pastor who is going to bring his whole church into AMI, and the next day to a chaplain who also wants to align with AMI.

Shine Jesus Shine!

Salt and Light at a 1976 Graduation

My wife is smart, I mean really smart.  I mean, look at who she chose to marry!  Aside from that, she is really smart, and I tell this story from way back when to illustrate what an impact this salt & light had on me, i.e. I remember it, and well! 

She attended several colleges after we married, graduating second in her class from Indiana & Purdue University in Indianapolis where I was working at Christ Church Cathedral.  At the commencement ceremony the young man who was first in the class, after thanking the professors etc. said most of all he gave thanks to Jesus for giving him eternal life. 

It’s memorable when we share. 

Salt and Light Questions

Where might you see salt & light this week?

How might you be salt & light this week?

For example, (in the photo below) Emmett, our grandson playing chess recently with my mentee Erik in Bithlo. 

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