The Oilers

Wow! Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Championship did not disappoint me at all. I have to admit, I have not watched a lot of hockey -- this was game #2 for me (the first being the final game of the playoffs which was fantastic). Oh, I've seen bits and pieces of other games in the past, but nothing really captured my interest . . . until now.

I did not watch the first two periods -- some people have said that the Oilers did not play that well in those periods. I did, however, see the third and final period. I was mesmerized by the beauty -- the dance -- of the game. Both teams were INTENSELY focused. Their ability to "play" with the puck was awesome to see, as well as their ability to bluff with their bodies in an incredibly graceful manner. It seems as if these guys can change to the completely opposite direction in a split second.

I could not see much of a difference between the teams for the first few minutes of the period. Both seemed on top of their game. Soon, though, it appeared to me that Carolina had the edge. It seemed as if they knew in advance where the puck was going -- they were always there. They seemed fresh and fast. Our players are scrappers, though, and they dug deep and never once appeared down to me -- I loved that! They just kept going on. They had opportunities and as far as I could tell capitalized on them as best they could. One rebound by Pisani should have hit the mark for sure. He was there, it was his.

In the final two minutes, with the Oilers down 2-1, the Edmonton goalie came out, and we had 6 offensive players on the ice. We did not convert, and unfortunately, the Hurricanes captured a goal. Alot of people will probably question the wisdom of the decision to remove the goalie, but I don't. I think the Oilers did exactly the right things.

Sometimes, though, things just don't go the way you think they should -- this was one of those times. The game could have gone either way, but it could only go one way, and it went the other way.

Sometimes, things in my life don't seem to work out the way they should. Sometimes, I can do the right things and yet seemingly lose the game. Fortunately, God loves those who take a hit but get up and try again.

Finally !!

Well, I'm not quite sure how to feel about this piece of paper -- the cost has been tremendous. The experience has been great. But I'm not sure what the future holds, so I'm not exactly in a celebratory mood right now. In fact, I'm a little depressed, but still happy to have received this degree which validates education received over the course of about 27 years.

1 Kings 10 - 13

Well, I thought I had found something really interesting in the Bible. I thought it was really interesting in this scripture that it was the Queen of Sheba who came to test Solomon's wisdom. It wasn't the King of Sheba, but the Queen. I have to admit that everytime I see a woman in a leadership role in the bible, I get excited. There has either been so much emphasis, or so much misunderstanding from both insiders and outsiders, on the subservient role of women in the church. My father always said that Christian churches were not very good to the women in the churches -- meaning in regarding them as equals, or even allowing them to "speak". And I think he has a point.

I've been reading the bible for nearly 3 years now, and most of my time has been spent in the Old Testament. The laws were not kind to women in Old Testament times. But there were some women in leadership who are truly inspirational -- Deborah is a great example. One of Israel's judges. Chosen by God. Esther. Queen. Chosen by God. Even the Queen of Sheba. God rules all, so He appears to have allowed her or chosen her to test Solomon's wisdom. These women were leaders -- all with different styles it would appear.

I love what Jesus does for women. He just seemed to accept women. He freed them from bondage just like everyone else. He would have them be so much more than sideliners. And yet, my impression throughout the New Testament is that women are almost viewed with even less regard in the church. I believe it was Paul that provided guidelines for the "new church" that suggested that women should not speak in church. (Much less lead anything.) I've read a commentary that suggests that that should be contextualized as a way of establishing order in the emerging church at that time. I've liked adopting that.

Maybe you think I am male bashing -- far from it. There have been so many great male leaders -- I totally appreciate the front line leadership that men provide. I honestly don't know how they do it. I also think their job is hard -- they have to provide and yet are required now to play a pretty large role at home, too. I just get impatient with the assumption by so many, ingrained it seems, that women should play a certain role -- boxed in. I don't know quite why it gets my goat so much, but it does. I like to think in terms of teams with players all having roles, all roles having importance, interdependence, etc.

Prayer

God, I thank you for today.
I thank you for those who touched my life today.
I thank you for those who lives I may have touched today in a positive way. I ask your forgiveness, for the hurts I caused anyone today.

I praise you for creating this day for all who lived it,
For the opportunity to serve you just even one more day.
I praise you, God, for your love and care today.
I praise you, God, for your love and care of my church today.

Lord, I pray for my church today.

I pray for the pastors in our church, Lord.
I pray that you guide them in their pastoring of people to guide those people to you.
I pray that as your priests, they recognize and revere the privilege afforded them in
serving a God whose greatness exceeds all of our understanding.

I pray for the board of our church, Lord.
I pray that you fill them with the sense of responsibility that governance of
your church brings.
I pray that they embrace the change and adjustments you would make in
their lives and the lives affected by their governance.

I pray for the support in our church, Lord.
I pray that we get a sense of your Spirit and your presence even in the smallest
detail of the work we do.
I pray that we stay settled and unruffled even if there is unsettledness around us.

I pray for the sick in our church, Lord.
I pray that you touch the hearts of those who are sick and let them know you are in charge,
that they are closest to your heart.
I pray they sense your love through their infirmity.

I pray for the families in our church, Lord.
I pray that the ministry of our church directly and positively impacts relationships in the
families at our church.
I pray that your presence is evident in our families.

I pray for the single people in our church, Lord.
I pray that you let our single people know that they are not alone, that they have a family
given them by you to minister to them.
I pray that singles entering our doors feel accepted, loved, encouraged at our church.

I pray for the spirit of our church, Lord.
I pray that your Spirit is the spirit of our church; the spirit of servanthood, of genuine
relationships, of mercy, of kindness, of love.
I pray that we actively seek your Spirit through guidelines you have set out for us in your Word, that we exemplify what you would call Christianity.

Thank you, God, for loving us, guiding us, training us, blessing us.

Well, God?

What would you have me do?
I know what I heard you say, Lord.
Although my hearing doesn't always appear to work right.
People speak, I listen, I don't hear.
You speak, I listen, do I hear you?
Override my own voice, God, with your truth.
Lies surround me.