ExtraChristy

The Ties That Bind My in-laws received a quilt in honor of their 60th Wedding Anniversary. (In the photo, my mother-in-law, Katheryn Speegle holds the quilt framing Karen Hadsel, the quilter.) My adult daughter has a quilt of all her camp, church, school, and sports t-shirts. Those memories and relationships warm her inside and out. My wife has a framed quilt hanging in our living room. Both of her grandmothers worked on it. (It's a Catherdal Window quilt) Their creation colors our lives every day.

(c) by Christy Ramsey some rights reserved

In the fall, a quilt covers our bed made by some church members and signed by church members, family, and visitors. Some are gone now, but their personal touch weaves a warm layer of protection over us as we sleep.

Quilting is the intentional tying together of many separate pieces into a warmth giving whole. Sounds like a good description of a family, tribe, church or community.

Hope a quilt of love covers you and you are a piece of quilts that cover others.

Knitted Together

But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love. - Ephesians 4:15-16

The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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From flickr by Matt McGee Some Rights Reserved[/center]

[i]Genesis 1:1-5 and John 1:1-5 (NRSV)

[center]“Ask Her Out” from Gulliver's Travels

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The difference between One Day in the future and Day one: starting right now is illustrated in this clip. How can you make One Day Today?

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Genesis 1:1-5

Is today just one day like all the others, or is it Day One of something great?

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Faster Than Light The church I serve observes Epiphany tomorrow. An Epiphany is a sudden revealing of some deep mystery. In a cartoon, it is a light bulb above the head. In science, it is Archimedes in his bathtub shouting Eureka when he solved a riddle. In Christianity, it is linked with the revelation of Jesus as the Christ at his baptism, the adoration of the baby Jesus by the magi, and even Saul's sudden recognition of Christ in the blinding light on the road to Damascus that turned him into the Christian apostle, Paul. What invites an Epiphany? Today, some use the term "lateral thinking" to describe the process of seeking and having Epiphanies by indirect and unconventional means. Daydreaming, letting the mind wander, even boredom can lead to Epiphanies.

(c) by Mike Lietz some rights reserved

What is the chance of off-line Epiphanies if we are always on-line? With phones delivering entertainment and constant connection with others, video screens in every public space, our homes flooded with entertainment barely damned by our DVRs, even billboards changing every few seconds, who has time to reflect, to be bored…who takes time out for Epiphanies?

My father-in-law always pointed out that “stoplights” are “traffic signals” that are “green as much as they are red”. Balance We don't need to go all the time avoiding the stops of the day and life. For when we stop, we might notice new light.

Hope you take time often to have an Bright Epiphany.

Surprised by Joy

When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. - Matthew 2:10-11

The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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My in-laws, Bruce & Kathryn Speegle, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary New Year's Day. (They were married on New Year's Eve because the rent was paid starting January 1st.)

Here's the prayer I offered:

God of Generations
Giver of Love,
Guarantor of Relationship
Thank you for the love of Kathryn and Bruce
that brought them together sixty years ago
and brings us together tonight.

May the love they share be a blessing to us
and those we love; tonight, and throughout our lives.
as your love holds us safely through eternity.
Amen

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