Willy Wonka Clips

Groundhog Day plus 1

• I haven't been very consistent in writing here, but most of you know why. These days the big story in my life has to do with a journey that I prefer to write about in a slightly more private venue. And I have invited those who would like to travel that journey with me to write and ask to be added to my emailed prayer update list. How encouraged am I to now have over 120 names on that list - probably representing over 240 people praying for this journey? The answer is: VERY encouraged. 
Yes, there will come a time - in the near future, I hope - and the nearer, the better - when I will "go public" with my journey and believe me, when that happens I will be shouting it from the rooftop - and here on the blog - but in the meantime this feels right. Until then, you are invited to write to me and ask to be added to the list.

• Here is a great little piece by my friend whom I have always called "Stevie Baby". (I don't think anyone else does. Don't ask me why, I just have.). He is a terrific guy, a great man and a great blogger, and this is worth reading.

• Miles is preparing a display. The assignment is supposed to simply tell about himself, and here are some awesome pictures he chose to tell his story:

Good Reading

A good week for freedom

The fall of the house of Kennedy

Now the hard work begins

The emergency rescue efforts in Haiti will be wrapping up in the next day or two. This week the efforts will start to shift more toward creating longer term relief systems to care for the earthquake survivors. In the months which follow community development projects will emerge to help people not only rebuild but also to improve on what they had.

I am priveleged to be a part of Covenant World Relief, an extremely efficient compassion and mercy network which works through all phases of such crises. Before most of us were aware of the magnitude of the Haiti earthquake there were already CWR operatives en route. Within hours, through our partners, we were busy rescuing men, women, and children. Now we're providing water, food, and shelter to thousands. In the coming months and years CWR will be there to assist in rebuilding -- just as we were after the hurricanes along the Gulf Coast, the tsunami in Asia, the turmoil in Sudan, and the list goes on.

Covenant World Relief is a grassroots Christian relief agency. Because we work with churches and through in-country partners we don't have a lot of the overhead expenses incurred by many organizations. Because we operate through the natural bonds and connections within the Evangelical Covenant churches we don't have to spend a lot of money or energy in marketing. This means that donations go quickly, quietly (without a lot of hype and fanfare), and directly to areas of need.

If you would like to share in this ministry you can:

1. Make an online donation to the CWR Haiti relief effort. (Do it now - even if it's only 5 bucks)

2. Read more about CWR at their website.

3. Follow their blog.

4. Pray
(via) - Thanks Brad for expressing this so well!

What a good article

Thanks, Beth B and Brad B (no relation) for linking to this wonderful article and for getting my attention with this quote:

" Jesus doesn't call us to make a difference in the world, let alone to transform the world. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:13-16), he does tell us that we will be "salt"—that is, we will preserve the world from complete self-destruction. ...Salt and light—that's about the extent of our ...effectiveness. Nothing about transforming the world through our efforts. Make no mistake: Jesus does indeed call us into the world to do stuff: preach, baptize, teach, and heal. But he does not promise results. Faithful diligence in such tasks will sometimes change lives and change communities. Whenever this happens, we can rejoice that God has permitted us to see him at work! But a lot of times when the church has obeyed faithfully, we've only received hardship—violence that seems to make things worse for victim and perpetrator alike."

Thanks, John Michael Talbot, for a wonderful evening of music last night. (John is in Houston for all of January, and will be doing small concerts like last night many more times; also doing THursday night teaching which ElenaClaire and I hope to attend at least once.

Word of the year: Global

"The dangerous idea that the democratic accountability of national governments should simply be dispensed with in favour of "global agreements" reached after closed negotiations between world leaders never, so far as I recall, entered into the arena of public discussion. Except in the United States, where it became a very contentious talking point, the US still holding firmly to the 18th-century idea that power should lie with the will of the people." Read more

An "18th century idea". My, aren't we backward here.

Help us serve a family in need

When we met her 11 years ago she was a single mom who had escaped an abusive ex-husband. She's lived a hard life but was finding strength to rise above the circumstances of her past. Life is still challenging but she in walking in faith. Yesterday her house and all its contents burned to the ground. She and her teenaged kids lost everything including 2 pets.

Help us redeem this tragedy. Make a paypal donation to rlindholtz@yahoo.com or write to us at that address if you can help in other ways. Details are still coming in. The kids are a boy, 18-19, and a daughter, 15-16. Donations can also be made to Christ the King Lutheran Church designated for the "Christensen Fire". Donations made in that way are fully tax deductible.

Changes are in the air

...for the Lindholtz family. You may have heard, or not. It's not something I want to write about in such a public forum as a blog or facebook. But if you'd like to recieve email updates from me on the changes as they come, ask to be added to my update list.

Some good Reading this morning...

• On the Nobel Prize, from the WSJ
• On Global Warming, from the BBC

If you need a passport...

In advance of my trip to Canada I sought to get a passport.

Online I learned that there is a Passport BOOK and a CARD. I phoned to learn the difference and I was told, nearly verbatim, “The passport card is being phased in and is currently only good for Canada and Mexico”.

The person I spoke with left out one important detail: that it is useless for air travel. That would have helped me make a better choice.

Foolishly I decided based on their input to get the card. Of course, when I got to the airport on Sunday I learned I could not get on the flight nor make it to my meetings that day.
I had to get an expedited passport the next day. I also had airline fees related to my changed flight plans. My out of pocket expense due to this inconvenience is almost $300 in total.

Yes, after the fact, I discovered that there is one page on the State Department website that alrets you to this issue. It ought to be clearly stated on any page that references the passport card.

I am only posting this to caution potential future travellers. If you need a passport, get the passport BOOK unless a) you live near the border and will be driving across, or b) you will be on a cruise.

Re-Visioning

I have the privilege of attending the Re-Visioning Retreat, September 20-25 in Cochrane, AB.

Sponsored by my ordaining body, The Evangelical Covenant Church, and underwritten by a grant from the Lilly Endowment, the retreat is designed for those in ministry who are seeking to renew their friendship with God, reignite their pastoral imagination and explore their call in a deeper way. Each retreat is limited to 10 applicants, so I feel very blessed to have this opportunity.

EC hospitalized

To my blog-reading and facebook-reading friends,

Please pray for our family and especially for EC who is hospitalized again. Pray that the delicate balancing of medications can be accomplished; pray that other therapies can have their intended results; pray that God's own hand reaches and touches her heart and mind in a real and healing way. We do not know at this time how long this in-patient experience may last.

Pray also for Alicia and me, and pray for Miles, who worries about his sister whom he loves so much.

A Creed - the God who reigns

I wrote this affirmation of faith for this weekend's services. It was written around the theme of "reign" and will follow Lincoln Brewster's song "God, you Reign".


I believe in God,
the God,
the only God,
who created everything
and reigns as King
over earth, sky, and water,
Sovereign and Holy,
and yet revealing Himself
in the intimacy of the name
“Father”.
He reigns over the nations; He is seated on his holy throne.
Psalm 47:8

And I believe in Jesus Christ,
the Son,
the only-begotten Son
whose reign began
in the weakness of a manger-bed,
conceived by the Spirit
and born of a virgin,
who reigned
even while nailed to a cross of wood;
who died and rose again, ascended and will come again.
He will reign forever; and his kingdom will never end.
Luke 1:33

And I believe in the Spirit,
the Holy Spirit,
the Spirit of God
who as God Himself
brings the presence of God
and extends the reign of God
in every believer and throughout the world,
who ever directs hearts
to our Lord and Savior,
so that grace might reign … to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:21

© 2009 Rick Lindholtz

A Thousand Questions

Lancelot Andrewes 1555 - 1626

I am a few pages into a project of paraphrasing The Private Devotions of Bishop Lancelot Andrewes, who was a contemporary of William Shakespeare and who headed one of the translation teams for the King James Version.

Remember that I am called by Your name,
and look on me with your eyes of compassion,
eyes that looked on Mary Magdalene at the feast,
on Peter in the hall of denial,
on the thief upon the wood.
With the thief , let me cry out to you in humility,
“Remember me, Lord, in Your Kingdom”.
With Peter, let me weep bitterly and say
“O the my eyes were a fountain of tears,
That I might weep day and night”.
With Mary, let me hear You say
“Your sins are forgiven”,
and with her, may I love you deeply,
because many sins have been forgiven me.

paraphrase ©2009 Rick Lindholtz

July 27

• What a weekend. Astros baseball with ElenaClaire; Gilbert and Sullivan Sunday afternoon with Alicia. I was in "Pirates" over 36 years ago with a lot of friends of whom I was thinking as I heard and remembered anew all those great songs.

• Several people have remarked privately or on Facebook their appreciation for the video from the service. I'm glad. Some have said that it reminded them of how important it is to use your own influence, just as Mom used hers. Some who knew her were reminded of her influence in their own lives. Some who did not felt challenged and affirmed in their own service to Jesus. Mom would be pleased to know - is pleased to know that even after her earthly race is finished, she continues to mentor and bless others.

• I was thinking about the way music is such a powerful tool. I thought of the 3 songs that were selected for congregational singing at her service ("Day by Day and with each Passing Moment"; "Children of the Heavenly Father"; "Great is Thy Faithfulness") and how those songs (which are probably the same three that were sung at her own mother's service in 1984) will never be mere songs to me. They will convey all the blessings her life channeled to me. Then I recalled the song that I sang to her on May 23, the next to last day I saw her:

"I have a friend who loveth me,
He gave His life on Calvary.
Upon the cross my sins He bore,
and I am saved forevermore."

and to my great and never to be forgotten delight, Mom joined me on the chorus:

"Oh Hallelujah, He's my friend!
He guides me to the journey's end.
He walks beside me all the way,
and will bestow a crown some day."

Then I remembered the end of yesterday's service, when we sang Chris Tomlin's setting of "All the Way My Savior Leads me". Mom never sang that melody, but she certainly sang those verse and would declare their truth even today.

Our Mom's Legacy - a Conversation

This is an excerpt from Mom's Memorial Service, held at University Covenant Church on July 18. A lot of people have commented on how meaningful they found it. Tom, Karin and I are glad to share it with you here.

Barbara's Legacy - a Conversation from Rick Lindholtz on Vimeo.

Playing for Change: "Stand by Me"

The musical concept: singers and players from all over the world, making music together. I like it. The idea that world peace can be obtained through people singing - OK, that's a little naive at best. But the music is great. Watch and listen to the original track, "Stand by Me".

NASA and Paul - two flashes back to the 60s

Nasa admits that it erased and recorded over the original footage of the first footsteps on the moon. But copies are being digitally remastered - samples are online. Pretty impressive!

While I was flying to California, Paul was performing on top of the Ed Sullivan Theatre marquee. What a sailor's life. Wish I could work it out to catch the Dallas show.

Friday, July 17

We arrived in Davis late Wednesday night. Yesterday was day of seeing Dad and the gathering family at Tom's home in Elk Grove. While we did all that, Miles bonded with Michael, 11 year old son of Joe. We are staying at Joe's childhood home, with Joe, his son, Mom, sister and brother in law. Their home is next door to my childhood home, and this family is like a second family to me. The only one missing from their family is Ben, my buddy for all those growing up years.

Today is the day of Mom's service of committal - the graveside service committing her body to its final resting place - in sure and certain hope of resurrection to life eternal, as the service says. It is a brief service - no more than about 9 minutes - attended, in this case, only by family. We'll spend much of the remainder of the day at Tom and Lorie's home. Lorie, incidentally, seems to be recovering well from her eye surgery.

Tomorrow is the Memorial Service at University Covenant Church, the ministry founded by my parents and 4 other couples in the early 1960s.

Have you heard of neurotheology? A fascinating piece about experiencing God, from the pages of USA Today. I was particularly impressed with the analogy of the brain as a CD player or a Radio.

Dad's email last night - July 7

The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

I went over after dinner this evening, planning on staying until 8:00 and taking care of her needs before coming home. When I went into the room at abouut 6:15, Mom's respiration was real fast--about 45/min vs the normal 24. She was totally unresponsive, so I thought the end was very near.

Her respiration continued to be rapid, so I just stayed and held her hand. For the first time, I was able to pray that the Lord would take her home. Unrealistically, I had kept hoping that somehow she'd come back, I guess, but it wasn't to be. Things went on like that until just before 8, and I started to care for her personal needs. Just as I was finishing up, I became aware that the respiration had ceased, so I hunted up a nurse to verify it. Actually, two nurses came and both agreed.

I kissed her good night, and told her that I'd see her in the morning. And I felt good that in her last moments, I was serving her in an act of love. I'll always love her, and I'll miss her terribly, but I know I'll see her again.

Love you all,
Dad

My letter to the Kingwood Tea Party Committee

Hello,

Let me set out my credentials first. I am a registered Republican all of my adult life. I have voted Republican in every Presidential election since 1976 and in every Senatorial, House, and state office election. I believe Ronald Reagan was the greatest President of my lifetime, I proudly introduced to 12 year old son to George HW Bush this past spring as they shook hands, and like you I have serious concerns about the direction the nation is headed.

Having said that, I found it troubling to see the tone of your presence at the Independance Day parade in Kingwood, and in particular the yellow sign one of your members was holding that encouraged "Revolt".

It seems to me that Independance Day ought to be one day in the year that we set aside our political differences and celebrate America's founding and common values, rather than making it a divisive day that separates American from American on the basis of political perspectives, as your member's sign did.

My political and economic leanings are with yours; but it disturbs me to see the way America is becoming increasingly a nation of sore losers and whiners. That sign bothered me every bit as much as signs urging "revolt" against the policies of George Bush have bothered me at any time in the previous 8 years of Independance parades.

I am not challenging your right to freedom of speech. I am simply expressing my own to say that I thought it was in poor taste. I had the impression that your people were feeling some negative feedback from the crowd, because less than a half mile from the parade's start, they were already sounding defensive in their remarks to the crowd.

But I took the opportunity to educate my children about the call upon every American to support their government when they can, and to respectfully and responsibly work for change when they cannot support it.

I hope you will evaluate how to present your message in a positive rather than a negative light, so that your message of limited government (with which I agree) will not be lost in the angry and petulant tone of your presentation.