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I am a Lutheran Pastor offering reflections on what it means to be faithful in a changing world.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Ecumenism= Evangelism AND Mission

I have been reading a book titled "The New Church Debate: Issues Facing American Lutheranism".  This book, written in 1983 contains a series of essays that spoke to ecclesial, theological, structural and sociological issues that impacted the formation of a united Lutheran church body in the United States.  This united church body is now the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

I came across an essay in this book that was written by the late William H. Lazareth entitled, "Evangelical Catholicity:  Lutheran Identity in an Ecumenical Age."  As American Lutherans were taking bold steps towards unity with one another in the United States, voices like Lazareth were speaking of a Lutheran identity that was Ecumenical.

Lazareth first writes about Christian identity and the significance of unity in an Escahtological Age.

"For Some of the most ardent Christians of our day, any concern for the visible unity of the church appears archaic.  They believe that there are far more urgent tasks to which the churches are called to be involved in.  Ironically, this impatience can arise from two quite different - and often incompatible - kinds of convictions" (p.16)

Lazareth then describes the differences between the conservative right and the liberal left and their ambivalence towards the visible unity of the Church.   For the conservative right, sharing the gospel is the first and foremost priority.  This group seeks to avoid as many stumbling blocks as possible when it comes to effective evangelism in the world.  As a result, they become suspicious of large institutions and structures believing that "organizational church unity...may actually be a hindrance" to their missionary goals.

As for the liberal left, the primary concern is  social justice.  Lazareth describes them as a group that could take or leave visible Church unity.  The liberal left strives and works for true equality, and justice in a broken world.  They seek to break down the dividing walls of race, class and poverty.  "If church unity makes for more effective social action, it is to be welcomed...what really matters, according to this second view, is our effective involvement in the burning societal issues of humankind" (p.16).

Fast forward to 2010 and we still find these struggles throughout the church today.  Perhaps the divide of Christians being "Evangelical" or "Social Justice oriented" is wider today, due to a polarized political landscape.  The reality in the United States is that we are living in a post-modern culture, and this country is once again a mission field.  Unfortunately many Christians identify themselves as either being with the conservative right or the liberal left.  Lazareth locates Lutheran identity and the ecumenical future as neither "conservative" OR "liberal". 

Lazareth points to the World Council of Churches Central Committee document from 1982 entitled, "Mission and Evangelism - an Ecumenical Affirmation."  Twenty Eight years ago both Lazareth and the World Council of Churches affirm that Evangelism and Mission come with being disciples of Jesus Christ.  It is Evangelism AND Mission, not Evangelism OR Mission.  One excerpt Lazareth shares from the WCC document states:

"...A proclamation that does not hold forth the promises of the justice of the kingdom to the poor of the earth is a caricature of the Gospel; but Christian participation in the struggles for justice which does not point towards the promises of the kingdom also makes a caricature of a Christian understanding of justice" (p.22)

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to be Evangelical, pointing to the kingdom of God that is here and is to come.  If we embody both Evangelism and Mission, it is only natural then to be Ecumenical, the mission of the church is stronger when Christians receive the unity Christ has given his Church.

Lazareth writes about the 450th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession in 1980.  This world celebration caused Lutherans throughout the world to think about this confession of faith in an ecumenical context.  Lazareth points out that, at this time, Lutherans are in serious theological dialogues with other Christians communities.  Lazareth writes, "...Lutheran Christians, despite their ecclesiastical identification as Protestants, nevertheless define their ecclesiological identity as 'evangelical catholics'; that is, as a confessing and confessional communion within the church catholic" (p.26).

These are just snippets of a fantastic and insightful essay about Lutheran identity in an ecumenical age.  I wonder if Lazareth could have predicted the progress and milestones of the ecumenical movement when this essay was written in 1983?  In 2010, the ELCA is over 20 years old and is now in full communion with six mainline denominations.  Lazareth would probably argue that this has been possible because of our Evangelical Catholic identity.  Lutheran Christians do not believe that the "Lutheran Church" is the one true church but part of the one holy catholic church.  Understanding ourselves to be both Evangelical and Catholic, when we share the good news we point to God's kingdom of justice, and when engaged in social outreach we bear witness to Jesus Christ the bread of life.  We do not have to choose between evangelism, mission and ecumenism because each supports the other in pointing to the Cross of Christ in a broken world.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Reflections on the General Assembly

           
            It was an honor and privilege to serve as a Young Adult Steward at the recent general assembly of the National Council of Churches in New Orleans, Louisiana.  To be present at the table of dialogue, representing not just myself but also the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and how my thoughts and convictions about Christianity, Justice and Ecumenism were shared in light of the tradition of which I belong.  If I could sum up my experience at the General Assembly in one word, it would be “relationships”.  Relationships are the key to embodying the unity God has already given to God’s Church.  At the General Assembly, I was able to form relationships with my fellow Young Adult Stewards and many others who see our unity and diversity as gifts from God, as opposed to stumbling blocks towards unity.

          The time I spent at the General Assembly was a reminder that my own personal faith journey has been an Ecumenical one. My faith has increased and deepened over the years because of the Holy Spirit working through members of the body of Christ; people who gave witness to the gospel through the lens of their faith tradition.  This assembly brought opportunities for fruitful dialogue, by having formal conversations through the Cafe’ and informal conversations between sessions.  I encountered participants who were individuals that took seriously Christ’s command for “all to be one” and the gifts their traditions had to offer to the entire Church.

          The study paper that I choose to engage in during the Assembly was Christian Understanding of Unity in an Age of Radical Diversity.  One of my favorite statements from the paper was this, “The goal of the ecumenical movement is not to unite those who are diverse – that is the goal of political parties and governments.  The goal is to celebrate the wondrous diversity of our God-given oneness as God’s people, Christ’s body, the Spirit’s temple.”  I could see this truth embodied through our holy conversations, when breaking bread together and worshiping as one at the assembly.

          This experience gave me the opportunity to meet new friends, who I have always been in connection with as sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus.  The group of Young Adult Stewards that attended this General Assembly this year came from a variety of Christian traditions.  To be able to form relationships with them that have lasted long after the end of the assembly is priceless.  It is because of the gift of relationship that we have with each other and our Lord that I rejoice and give thanks.  Bonding with my fellow Young Adult Stewards gave me hope, not just for the future of the Church and ecumenism, but for the mission of the Church that we are engaged in right now.

          The paper of Unity in an Age of Diversity also stated that, “the church must turn again to scripture and tradition in order to hear what the Spirit is saying to us.”  I can affirm that across, denominations and generations, this is being lived out.  As a member of the body of Christ, I pray that the experiences and relationships formed at gatherings such as the General Assembly of the National Council of Churches may be more common in local communities.  I know that Ecumenism is alive and well across the country; those of us that gathered together for this Assembly have now been scattered back out into the world. Commissioned to proclaim and witness, with all Christians, God’s gift of unity and diversity that shines a beacon of hope in a broken world.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Joint Thanksgiving Services: Demonstrate Unity or Tolerance?

As Americans gear up for the Thanksgiving holiday many ecumenical, and in some contexts, interfaith celebrations are  organized to demonstrate that there is some common ground among faiths.  Gathering in one voice seems to state that, we can all agree that as people of faith we all give thanks to a higher power.  It seems that if there is a day or time of the year in which people of different faiths would gather together in prayer it would be for Thanksgiving.

This is a National holiday and secular holiday.  Is there a concern that the time in which we are most likely to gather together it would be on a secular holiday?

Is there a danger that by gathering  this time of year promotes "civil religion" or "patriotism" over the diversity that exist in the unity God has given to us?

Our worship does have ethical implications.  If in any given community, the only time and reason various Christian traditions and other faiths gather together is for a single prayer service only to retreat to our separate quarters when it is over says more about our division than our unity.

Maybe what these celebrations are trying to emulate is what happens in many homes throughout the country on Thanksgiving Day. If this holiday, is a day in which we gather and eat with family and friends we normally can not stand, and this feast serves as a day in which we demonstrate tolerance towards those who normally annoy us.  Judging by how many faith communities fail to engage each other as sisters and brothers or even as neighbors, the common prayer service around Thanksgiving then becomes more about tolerance than a celebration of unity.

As Christians, we are called to be peacemakers and are entrusted to be ambassadors of the ministry of reconciliation.  As we reflect on all that we have to be thankful for may it motivate us to create tables of dialogue, common service and witness in the community throughout the year.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Young Adults shouldn't fight to be at the kids table!

Reflecting on my experience at the General Assembly, I walk away energized and committed to how Christians can engage in ecumenism in the 21st century.  I have always been passionate about ecumenism, and am blessed to have engaged Christians from other traditions over the years that have had a tremendous impact on my personal faith journey.  This gathering, however,  has me excited about the "future" of the church and ecumenism in a post-modern world.

In my last post, I spoke about the potential of the young adult ecumenical group known as New Fire.  They have yet to decide who and what they will be, and what the actual impact they will have on this movement will be interesting to see.  Young Adult Stewards like myself that were asked to attend the New Fire gathering, and spent a day and a half seeking to define who and what New Fire can be.  There did not seem to be a consensus within the New Fire task force in answering the straightforward question "What is New Fire?" It seems that if anything New Fire is anti or "trans" denominational, with members of this group having little or no accountability to the faith community they represent.  They are seeking to include Christian traditions who are not members of the National Council of Churches, while potentially overlooking the traditions that have been a part of this movement for the past 100 years.

When it came to speaking with people who were a part of the General Assembly I did hear a concern about the "future".  As the professional ecumenist, in the churches age, who will step up to take their place?  What will happen to the relationships that have been developed on behalf of member communions? There was a lamenting of a lack of young faces at the General Assembly.  This was not a proclamation to have  young adults at THE table but for someone to fill their seat when their time is up.

New Fire seeks to do something new, almost reinventing the wheel.  Rather than working with, in and through the NCC it seemed like some in the group preferred to be on their own as an "emerging" movement of young adult ecumenism with no identity.  New Fire in my opinion seems to want their own table at the gathering that is ecumenism and church affairs.  If we disregard the wisdom of the saints that have gone before and continue to pave the road for us today, then how we as the people of God can receive the given unity our Lord has bestowed upon the Church?  Some in the NCC seem to be worried about not having enough Young Adults present as a matter of institutional survival, rather than seeking to receive our unity in Christ which is not just among various denominations but also generations.

A fellow Young Adult Steward at the end of the General Assembly said that both New Fire and the NCC got it wrong when it came to Young Adults.  We do not need a separate table or replacement model of Young Adult incorporation into this movement.  What we need is to be all at THE SAME TABLE!

How profound and true, not only when it comes to matters of ecumenism but in ministries throughout the church.

Reverend Lois Wilson, reminded us at the General Assembly that, "What is the future of the ecumenical movement is a question of survival, the question should be what is the mission of the ecumenical movement?"  The question as disciples of Jesus Christ should always be what is our mission in all that we do.  Receiving the unity God has given God's church is a matter of mission in our broken world.  It is so we can best live out the Great Commission and make disciples of all nations. I do not want to be at a kids table or part of a young adult cult that rather drinking kool aid in the end I turn 31 an am exiled from that group and "graduate" to the grown ups table.  As Christians, we know that the Lord has one table in which all are welcome to gather around and are fed, nourished and sustained.  If ecumenism seeks to discover the best in what our denominations have to offer, then it should also consider the best our various generations have to offer as we gather around the same table.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Do we need "New Fire" for Ecumenism to work among Young Adults?

Today and tomorrow I am taking part in the New Fire Young Adult Gathering in New Orleans, Louisiana as part of being a Young Adult Steward for the National Council of Churches, USA Centennial Gathering.

New Fire is a "network" that is trying to define who they are and the role they can play in Ecumenical Young Adult Ministry.  Personally I think New Fire has much potential in being a network that helps to facilitate and support ecumenism on a grass roots level by providing awareness, outreach and seed grants for local ecumenical projects.

After spending a day with New Fire, I hope that they can refine their message and spread it!  Then congregations and organizations would be aware of a network that can support cooperative ecumenical ministry to young adults at the local level.

A concern that I had was the fear that in order to be effective ecumenical and not risk offending anyone at the table we need to "water down" who we are.  I firmly believe that in order for ecumenism to be effective and for true unity in the church to be realized we need, to then, be open and honest with one another.  There is the potential that New Fire and organizations like it could intentionally or unintentionally be anti-denominational.  This would be a result of a "watering down" process for the sake of "unity" which I believe would be disastrous and create a false unity with little or no direction.

We need to be who we are so that we can appreciate the unity and diversity that is present throughout the body of Christ.  New Fire should not also have to feel that it needs to reinvent the wheel in regards to fostering ecumenical relationships.  Many Christian denominations are either in full communion or are in partnership with one another.  New Fire can serve as an agent that makes local congregations aware of the visible unity that already exists among them. They can take advantage of the agreements made by their denominations on the national level that are intended to strengthen ministry at the local level.

I see much value in New Fire and the potential it has to contribute to Ecumenical Adult Ministry in the 21st century.  My hope and prayer is that they truly want Christians to be who they are, offering and sharing their tradition as a lens and witness to the gospel.  In spite of differences, when we engage and do ministry together, I believe young adults would then respect both our authenticity and our traditions.  They would be open to learning and exploring more, walking with Christians who are both genuine and welcoming.

For more information about New Fire got to  http://www.faithconnectsus.org/

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Daily Devotion: Reflection on Psalm 16

Psalm 16

Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."

As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.

Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows, their drink offerings of blood will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodley heritage.

I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.

I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 

Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure. 

 For yo do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful ones see the Pit.

 You show me the path of life.  In your presence there is fullness of joy; In your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 

Observation:  We are to trust God above all things.  Verse 4 "Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows, their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips."  There are the obvious idols of the world that we turn into false gods that rule our lives as individuals and as a society.  Various addictions to drugs and alcohol for instance would and does indeed multiply ones sorrow.  The false god of greed and consumerism also creates sorrow in our hearts because it is unlike any other addiction.  We can't get enough of it and as a result are never satisfied leaving us very empty in the end.  

          As a nation we can often look to our government as a god that will always protect us and keep always keep us safe.  This often distracts us from the reality that God is the only one in whom we can put our trust and security in.  There is an illusion of security that governments and politicians try to sell to us.  Sure they are called to keep us safe and work for the common good but promises of total security does not in the end help us to rest peacefully because even if we bought the bit we know deep down that it is an impossible promise to keep or make. 

       Ironically many Christians can turn the Bible into a god.  This too can create a great deal of sorrow!  As a Lutheran Christian the bible is the inspired written word of God and it points always to the word of God which is Jesus Christ crucified and risen!  I worship Jesus Christ, God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit NOT the bible.  The written word of God allows us to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ and that we are free in Christ to love and serve.  Through the inspiration and revelation of the Holy Spirit I can see and hear that God is my ultimate security!

 Application:  Now that I have made the observation how the heck do I apply it.  While God is indeed my rock and my salvation in whom I ultimately put my trust, I am a sinner that falls short of the glory of God just like everyone else.  My heart is troubled from time to time and I often look everywhere else but God to put my trust and find security in.  It takes a daily dying and rising in Christ Jesus, wrapping myself in the story of the Cross the mark in which I am sealed with at baptism in order to live a life that internally and externally trusts in God as faithfully as the psalmist does.  It is always being fed and nourished with both word and sacrament and the community of believers that witness to me God's faithfulness in times that I struggle and doubt.  Thanks be to God that in the end even death does not prevail and God who is our ultimate blanket of love and security wraps us in His arms giving to us life eternal.  "Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.  For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit." vs 9-10.

Prayer:  O God, our security in whom we put our trust.  Grant that we may see your Holy Cross as a sign of your faithfulness.  Send forth the consoling presence of your Holy Spirit.  May we resist the temptation of seeking out another god for solace that will only lead to sorrow.  May we know that even during trials and tribulations that you are always present in our midst.  We know that nothing can separate us from your love O God, and that even death does not have the last say for your do not let your faithful see the pit of death.  May our hearts and souls rejoice and our bodies rest securely because you O God are our protector and refuge.  Amen

Friday, March 12, 2010

Whose Faith is it Anyway?

“and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Whose Faith is it anyway?

When I was growing up it didn’t bother me to hear the word “evangelical” nor did it bother me when I was instructed to evangelize as part of what it meant to be a Christian. As I grew older, I became more uncomfortable with the word. Even speaking of Jesus seemed awkward around friends of mine who were not practicing Christians or practicing any religion for that matter.
When I was in high school a friend of mine and a teammate on the varsity football team was a born again Christian. I remember his passion for the Lord and he was not shy about sharing his faith in Jesus. It was around this time that I became uncomfortable with even speaking about Jesus or using the word “evangelical” or feeling called to evangelize others. He would pass out pamphlets with some scripture verses on them. I remember the front of my pamphlet sounded like Good News! It was telling me what God had done for me through Jesus Christ, but on the back of the pamphlet had a picture of a skull and cross bones describing what would happen to me if I made the wrong choice. That didn’t seem like Good News, it didn’t seem like that God I had known my whole life. I then became uncomfortable in sharing and proclaiming this Good News.

As I struggled and questioned my faith I began to understand God’s grace, and the salvation God gives in a new light. I went from serious doubt to a relative attitude towards my faith (a very watered down version of Christianity) to reclaiming what it meant to share the salvation Jesus Christ has won for us. I can call myself evangelical with pride and make no apologies for evangelizing!
Martin Luther states in his commentary on Galatians 2:17 “Either we are not justified by Christ, or we are not justified by the Law. The fact is, we are justified by Christ. Hence, we are not justified by the Law. If we observe the Law in order to be justified, or after having been justified by Christ, we think we must further be justified by the Law, we convert Christ into a legislator and a minister of sin.”
What I saw by other Christians as evangelizing was actually as Luther points out “…turning Law into grace, and grace into Law.” Luther’s commentary on verse 20 shares with me something that truly is Good News! Luther writes, “What awful presumption to imagine any work good enough to pacify God, when to pacify God required the invaluable price of the death and blood of His one and only Son?”
The NET Bible (New English Translation) and some other biblical translations translate Galatians 2:20 slightly differently. That slight difference makes all the difference in how I understand God’s grace and the Good News of Jesus Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Faith begins then when God is faithful!? Even to the cross!? When this was revealed to me, I had no shame in sharing it because Jesus did not come across to me as a legislator of sin, but my Redeemer from it!
If this is what we share with others as a church then no one should be ashamed of sharing what Jesus Christ has done for us. Words like “evangelical” and what it means to be evangelized shouldn’t be given new catch phrases so as not to offend others but they should be reclaimed and reformed (We are still a reforming church, right?) from the abuses they have gone through over the years.
This Good News of Jesus Christ has freed me. There are many out there who are burdened in this dark and broken world, struggling to find meaning, anxious about the perishable promises, feeling unloved and unwelcomed, not knowing whether there is a God or, if there is, whether that God loves them and has saved them.
We walk through this Lenten wilderness as a reminder of the captivity we would be bound to if salvation were up to us, and if God lacked grace and mercy. We know the story of salvation; as a Christian people we are as my former bishop, Stephen Bouman of the Metro NY Synod said “an Easter people living in a Good Friday world!” Let us share the Good News that frees us all!


Let us pray,
Good and gracious God, in our faithfulness may we always be reminded that it is your faithfulness that has saved us. May all that we do in word and deed demonstrate to others the freedom you give to your people through the cross that has turned death into life. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

An Irony of Paul

Today at Salem we had our first ritual that introduced candidates that are preparing for either Holy Baptism or Affirmation of Holy Baptism. 

The first and second lessons that were appointed in the lectionary today dealt with community.  I preached today and will spare you the sermon but wrestling with Paul gave me some wonderful insights in being a part of a community. 

In St. Paul's letter to the Romans he is trying to reconcile the tension between Jewish and Greek Christians.  Romans 10:8-13 is a passage in which Paul is really trying to be all inclusive though we often interpret it to have exclusive meaning. 

Paul writes:  Brothers and sisters:  What does Scripture say?  The word is near you,/ in your mouth and in your heart - that is, the word of faith that we preach -, for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.  For the Scripture says, No one who believes in him will be put to shame.  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him, For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'  

Many Christians see that text and think, "oh, that is all I need to do in order to be saved."  "To believe and to confess".  The irony is that Paul is trying to demonstrate some common ground with the Roman community, that there differences do not matter it is their common faith in Christ that calls them to be together in community.  I think many today may use this text as a way to see no need to belong to a community....they can individualize salvation and put the monkey on their back so to speak thinking that all they have to do is believe and confess forgetting that the faith with have is through Christ!

Paul is trying to keep a community together, he is saying that salvation is inclusive! NOT exclusive!  This Jesus and the salvation that has been won through the cross sees no distinction between Jew or Gentile......These groups of different background and culture can come together for they are now a family by belonging to Christ Jesus.

That was one of the readings read on this Sunday as Salem Lutheran Church welcomed Candidates who are beginning a process to say yes! to the invitation of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.  When understanding Paul's context as he writes his letter to the Roman community, I was pleased to see one of the Sponsor and one of the Candidates.  The sponsor a Vietnam War Veteran, the Candidate a conscientious objector to the war, a rebel in his day.  To see that relationship blossom and flourish not just among them but within this church community gets me choked up.  Between those two gentleman though the world sees differences and distinction, Christ sees none and is Lord and Savior of both of them. 

There are times when I am frustrated and discouraged.  I look at the church and feel at times that we get it wrong more often than we get it right. 

Seeing this today was a instance in which I proclaimed gratitude to my God, these two men are examples of when the church gets it right, hears the gospel and lives it out.  Both inside and outside the faith community!

Thanks be to God!  Amen!

Monday, January 18, 2010

Daily Bread

From Luther's Small Catechism:

The Fourth Petition

Give us today our daily bread. 

What is this?  or What does this mean?

In fact, God gives daily bread without our prayer, even to all evil people, but we ask in this prayer that God cause us to recognize what our daily bred is and to recieve it with thanksgiving. 

I have said the Lord's prayer many many many times and still lack a full of appreciation for what it means for God provides bread for me daily.

In large part it is due to the fact that I have been blessed with an abundance throughout my life.  Even with taking the "unofficial" vow of poverty by becoming a Lutheran Seminarian I have still been given more than the daily bread that God has promised me each day. 

Salem is in inner city Toledo and there are many that are poor.  Yet many give thanks for what they have and they put me to shame in just how much they can give with what little they have. 

After Worship one day a gentleman had come up to me for conversation.  He said that just the other day he had no food for either him or his daughter and he called his sister up and cried with her on the phone about his dilema.  They ended the phone conversation by praying the Lord's Prayer.  Soon after he recieved a bag of apples and orange juice.  He openly admitted that he would have preferred a bottle of pop and a bag of chips but he acknowledged and gave thanks that God had given him what he needed. 

A few days later I was doing a hospital visit.  As I was about to annoint the patient with oil a nurse walked in and asked what I was doing.  When I explained she asked if she could be blessed next.  I gladly said yes and did.  Then she said that she blesses herself every morning before she goes to work but didn't have time today and felt that God had said that it would be okay, he would send someone to bless her. 

I am always in awe that I could be an instrument of God in anyway but in being that instrument whether it be lending an ear to listen to a persons thanksgiving for literal food or being able to provide a piece of someone's daily bread by offering a blessing and prayer, God has spoken to me through that, and reminds me of all that I have and can give. 

I continue to fall short from time to time but I pray and give with thanksgivng for all that God has given me.  The tempation I have is for God to bless me for what I am giving (that heretical prosperity gospel). 

The poor have humbled me, they have shared with me the Good News that God has given me much even without my asking and will continue to do so.