MOVE

Snippet

“We are born to act”, said Montaigne.  This is a truth of our experience that each one of us will recognize.  Every person is animated instinctively from youth by the drive to discover, to procreate, to transform the world.  Even when, later in life, we are constrained by weaknesses that reduce us to inactivity, we are still characterized by a desire that the world drive us to act if we could.  (To Act According to the Gospel Xavier Leon-Dufour Introduction)

Scripture

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28 NKJV

Song

Dare you to Move Switchfoot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOTcr9wKC-o

Welcome to the planet

Welcome to existence

Everyone's here

Everyone's here

Everybody's watching you now

Everybody waits for you now

What happens next

What happens next

[Chorus]

I dare you to move

I dare you to move

I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor

I dare you to move

I dare you to move

Like today never happened

Today never happened before

Welcome to the fallout

Welcome to resistance

The tension is here

Tension is here

Between who you are and who you could be

Between how it is and how it should be

[Chorus]

Maybe redemption has stories to tell

Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell

Where can you run to escape from yourself?

Where you gonna go?

Where you gonna go?

Salvation is here

I dare you to move

I dare you to move

I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor

I dare you to move

I dare you to move

Like today never happened

Today never happened

Today never happened

Today never happened before

Sentence Prayer

Help us to serve in our weakness, Lord:

And to see your power come down. Amen

(Common Prayer a Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals pg 387)

WAYFARING STRANGER

Snippet

Not all those who wander are lost.  
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Scripture

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.  But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.  Hebrews 11:13-16 NKJV

Song

Wayfaring Stranger Suzy Boggus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ejPcx9vbfI

I am a poor wayfaring stranger
A traveling through this land of woe
And there's no sickness, toil or danger
In that bright world to which I go
I'm going home to see my father
(Mother, sister, brother etc.)
I'm going there no more to roam
I'm just a-going over Jordan
I'm just a-going over home
I know dark clouds will gather 'round me
I know my way is steep and rough
But beauteous fields lie just beyond me
Where souls redeemed their vigil keep
I'm going there to meet my mother
She said she'd meet me when I come
I'm just a-going over Jordan
I'm just a-going over home
I want to wear a crown of glory
When I get home to that bright land
I want to shout Salvation's story
In concert with that blood washed band
I'm going there to meet my Savior
To sing His praises forevermore
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home

Sentence Prayer

God, we go into this night 
Confident that the dawn will
Break tomorrow
Grant that when we come to die
We may go gladly and in hope.
Confident in the resurrections
Amen

(NEW ZEALAND PRAYER BOOK PG137)

SILLINESS

Snippet

A day without laughter is a day wasted. Charlie Chaplin

Scripture

We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them. Psalms 126:2 NLT

Song

Sneaky Snake Tom T Hall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MchhtofbgJI

Boys and girls take warning, if you go near the lake

Keep your eyes wide open, and look for sneaky snake

Now maybe you won’t see him, maybe you won’t hear

But he’ll sneak up behind you, and drink all your root beer

And then sneaky snake goes dancin’, wigglin’ and a-hissin’

Sneaky snake goes dancin’, gigglin’ and a-kissin’

I don’t like old sneaky snake; he laughs too much you see

When he goes wigglin’ through the grass, it tickles his underneath

Well, sneaky snake drinks root beer, and he just makes me sick

When he is not dancin’, he looks just like a stick

Now, he doesn’t have any arms or legs, you cannot see his ears

And while we are not lookin’, he’s stealin’ all of our beer

And then sneaky snake goes dancin’, wigglin’ and a-hissin’

Sneaky snake goes dancin’, gigglin’ and a-kissin’

I don’t like old sneaky snake; he laughs too much you see

When he goes wigglin’ through the grass, it tickles his underneath

Sentence Prayer

Loving Father,

Lord of clowns and smiling saints,

we rejoice that You are a God of laughter and tears.

Blessed are You, for You have rooted within us

the gifts of humor, lightheartedness and mirth.

With jokes and comedy, You cause our hearts to sing

as laughter flows out of us.

We are grateful that Your Son, Jesus, the Master,

daily invites us to be Fools for Your sake,

to embrace the madness

of Your prophets, holy people and saints.

We delight in that Holy Madness

which becomes medicine to heal the chaos of the cosmos

since it calls each of us

from the hum-drumness of daily life

into joy, adventure,

and most of all, into freedom.

With circus bands and organ grinders,

with fools, clowns, court jesters and comedians,

with high spirited angels and saints,

we too join in the fun and foolishness of life,

so that Your holy laughter

may ring out to the edges of the universe.

Blessed are You, O Lord, our God,

Who invites us to be filled with holy laughter.

- Prayers for the Domestic Church, Ed Hays

FIT MEN

Snippet

“This here's a hard country. If a man ain't fit, he can't last - Kilkenny”

― Louis L'Amour

Scripture

to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Song

Night Riders Lament  Jerry Jeff Walker & Suzy Bogguss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmLQfy6AZ8E

Night Rider’s Lament

Lyrics and Music by Michael Burton

Last night as I was out a ridin’

graveyard shift, midnight ‘till dawn

the moon was as bright as a readin’ light

for a letter from an old friend back home

Chorus:

He asked me why do you ride for your money

Why do you rope for short pay

You ain’t getting’ nowhere

And you’re losin’ your share

Boy, you must have gone crazy out there

But he’s never seen the Northern Lights

Never seen a hawk on the wing

He’s never seen Spring hit the Great Divide

And never heard Ol’ Camp Cookie sing

He tells me last night I run onto Jenny

she’s married and has a good life

Ah, you sure missed the track

when you never come back

she’s a perfect professional’s wife

Chorus:

She asked him why does he ride for his money

Why does he rope for short pay

He ain’t getting’ nowhere and he’s losin’ his share

He must have gone crazy out there

But she’s never seen the Northern Lights

Never seen a hawk on the wing

Never seen Spring hit the Great Divide

And never heard Ol’ Camp Cookie sing

Well I read up the last of that letter

and tore off the stamp for Black Jim

When Billy rode up to relieve me

he just looked at the letter and grinned

Chorus:

He sang . . .Now. . .

Why do they ride for their money

Why do they rope for short pay

They ain’t getting nowhere

And they’re losing their share

Son, they all must be crazy out there

Sentence Prayer

God, guide me toward Your great purpose in my life. Use me to serve the needs                    

of other people in Your body and Your creation.  Let me not covet the success 

of other people because it causes me to want their gifts.  When I see the 

achievement of other people, I begin to question my own status in the world.  

Lead me to a deeper, more meaningful understanding of your plan, Lord.

When I am tempted to pursue at any cost a journey that is not meant to be 

mine, may I encounter.  The truth of Your word, the wisdom of Your truth, 

and the wonder of my own life.  I want to experience Your will, Lord, not the 

trappings of another person’s path.  Amen 

(One Minutes Prayers for Men Harvest House Pub pg11)

MILLION MILES FROM A MILLION DOLLARS

Snippet

My grandfather would live to see his children become doctors and ministers, accounts

and professors. Rand Paul

Scripture

Trouble pursues the sinner,

but the righteous are rewarded with good things.

A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,

but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:21-23

Song

Preacher One Republic

"Preacher" By One Republic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZEDz1Iz99s

When I was a kid

I used to buy and sell gravity

I knew how to fly

And I would teach you for a fee

Broke every window

In my hotel heart

When I was only 5 years old but 12 years scarred

And I'd hear the same voice

Echo in my mind

Said, "Son you got an angel,

To chase the devil at night."

Yeah

When I was a kid

My grandfather was a preacher

He'd talk about God

Yeah he was something like a teacher

He said, "God only helps those

Who learn to help themselves."

He was a million miles from a million dollars

But you could never spend his wealth

I took a little faith

And put it in a parking lot

I drove to a strange town

Full of "have" and "have nots"

And as I walked through that storybook life

I was looking for an angel to chase the devil at night

Oh! Oh! Oh!

When I was a kid

My grandfather was a preacher

He'd talk about love

Yeah he was something like a teacher

He said, "God only helps those

Who learn to help themselves."

He was a million miles from a million dollars

But you could never spend his wealth

Oh! Oh! Oh!

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!

Wave

Put your hands up and hands down

[3x]

When I was a kid

My grandfather was a preacher

He'd talk about life

Yeah he was something like a teacher

He said, "God only helps those

Who learn to help themselves."

He was a million miles from a million dollars

But you could never spend his wealth

He was a million miles from a million dollars

But you could never spend his wealth.

Sentence Prayer

Father

The words of my grandparents spoke in

anger and ignorance teach me to throw away

The words of my grandparents spoke in

Love and wisdom teach me to guard my inheritance

The godly actions my grandparents lived

May I learn to walk in them and to walk farther down the road

Amen

ACCEPTANCE

Snippet

But it is impossible to establish any correlation between a given misfortune and a given sin Xavier Leon DuFour To Act According to the Gospel pg 79

Scripture

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.  John 9:1-3

Song

"Let It Be" By the Beatles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0714IbwC3HA

When I find myself in times of trouble

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

And in my hour of darkness

She is standing right in front of me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

Let it be, let it be

Let it be, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

And when the broken hearted people

Living in the world agree

There will be an answer, let it be

For though they may be parted

There is still a chance that they will see

There will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be

Let it be, let it be

Yeah there will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be

Let it be, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Let it be, let it be

Ah let it be, yeah let it be

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

And when the night is cloudy

There is still a light that shines on me

Shine on until tomorrow, let it be

I wake up to the sound of music,

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

Yeah let it be, let it be

Let it be, yeah let it be

Oh there will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be

Let it be, yeah let it be

Oh there will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be

Ah let it be, yeah let it be

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Sentence Prayer

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference. Amen 

Reinhold Niebuhr

FORGIVENESS

Snippet

“The Only good thing about evil,” goes the Buddhist saying, “is it can be purified.”  In Buddhism, forgiveness does not mean absolution, but an opportunity for the inner transformation of both victim and perpetrator. “ Matthieu Ricard The Sunflower on the possibilities and limits of forgiveness Simon Wiesentrhal pg 235

Scripture

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 614,15 KJV

Song

Matthew West Forgiveness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMn0QNdiuGE

It’s the hardest thing to give away

And the last thing on your mind today

It always goes to those that don’t deserve

It’s the opposite of how you feel

When the pain they caused is just to real

It takes everything you have just to say the word…

Forgiveness

Forgiveness

It flies in the face of all your pride

It moves away the mad inside

It’s always anger’s own worst enemy

Even when the jury and the judge

Say you gotta right to hold a grudge

It’s the whisper in your ear saying ‘Set It Free’

Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Show me how to love the unlovable

Show me how to reach the unreachable

Help me now to do the impossible

Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Help me now to do the impossible

Forgiveness

It’ll clear the bitterness away

It can even set a prisoner free

There is no end to what it’s power can do

So, let it go and be amazed

By what you see through eyes of grace

The prisoner that it really frees is you

Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Show me how to love the unlovable

Show me how to reach the unreachable

Help me now to do the impossible

Forgiveness

I want to finally set it free

So show me how to see what Your mercy sees

Help me now to give what You gave to me

Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Sentence Prayer

Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to pay for all my sins once

and for all.  To wipe out my debts.  I don’t understand it all but I’m

grateful.  Because You’ve forgiven me I want to do the right thing. 

Today I’m choosing to let go of the pain and the hurt that I’ve

received from others.  I forgive …, and you fill in the blank there

and name the person. 

I forgive that person.  I’m letting go of my right to get even.  I’m

choosing to overcome evil with good and I commit to continue

forgiving them until I no longer feel the pain or the desire to get

even and seek  revenge.  Jesus Christ, please replace my hurt with

Your peace and please fill my life with Your love.  I accept my

responsibility now to share the good news of forgiveness, the

message of peace with others.  Amen.  

(Rick Warren Saddleback Church Jan 7,8 2006)