Connections Luke 1: 26 - 45

39 Mary got up and hurried to a city in the Judean highlands.[1]  Eugene Peterson paraphrases it in his The Message, 39 Mary didn't waste a minute.[2]  

            I made the drill team, I got a part in the school musical, I aced my Chemistry exam, I’ve been accepted to graduate school, I got the job —all good news—significant news that we want to share.    We’re getting married, we’re having a baby, they accepted our offer on the house, we’re going to be grandparents—more good news, perhaps life-changing news that we want to share  . . .  Have you ever had news—life-changing, significant news—that you couldn’t wait to share . . .  And you knew exactly who you would tell first.  Maybe it was your parents, your best friend, your mentor—it was your go-to person.  You were excited, and you knew they would share in that excitement.

            I’ve been suspended from school, my job is part of the down-sizing at work, we’re getting a divorce, my children don’t think I can live independently any more . . .  Have you ever had news—life-changing, significant news that you didn’t want to share but you needed to share? Sometimes we need to share our news because we need clarity, we need affirmation, we need support.  News—life-changing, significant news— A joy shared is doubled; a grief shared is cut in half. 

            The Gospel According to Luke begins with life-changing, significant events for 2 cousins—Mary and Elizabeth.  Long-married to Zechariah, the middle-aged Elizabeth has all but given up on the dream of having a baby.  And yet, wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles, she becomes pregnant.  A few months later, her much younger, engaged but not yet married cousin, Mary, learns that she too is pregnant.  In 1^st century Palestine, under Jewish law, news of a pregnancy was not necessarily good news to a betrothed young woman.  If the unborn child she carried was not her fiancée’s, she could be executed for her (well what else could it be?) infidelity.  So the news the angel Gabriel brings to Mary, while life-changing and significant, is not necessarily good news.  It is fearful, maybe condemning, possibly life-ending news.  Mary needs someone to share her news with, someone who will receive it without judging her.  Mary needs someone who can help her make sense of this news, someone who can perhaps reframe it as wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles.  Mary needs someone who understands God’s hand in her particular situation.  Mary needs a go-to person.  So she travels to her elder cousin’s home, and there Elizabeth responds with just what Mary needs—acceptance, affirmation, and support.  God has blessed you and [God] has blessed the child you carry.[3]

            I believe Mary hurried to share this unexpected, significant, life-changing news with Elizabeth because she realized Elizabeth could be her go-to person.  But that conclusion would come only if she and Elizabeth had been previously connected with one another in some significant way.  Reflecting on this scripture, reflecting on Elizabeth and Mary—older, wiser woman and adolescent girl—I started thinking about inter-generational connections.  Many of us have fond memories of time spent with our grandparents or with special aunts or uncles.  Some of us have special memories of trusted teachers, coaches, mentors.  Perhaps, among them, were our go-to persons.  Inter-generational connections . . .

            Each Sunday of late, I’ve noticed GW sitting with P and P .  As they greet her, she shows off her new shoes or her new hairstyle.  She tells them about activities at school.  And they listen attentively, affirming her.  They applaud her accomplishments and encourage her conversation.  They guide her worship.  Now G is already surrounded by a large and loving multi-generational, blended, extended family.  But I can’t help from wondering how God might use this budding relationship with these “extra” grandparents in the future as G grows from childhood into adolescence—adolescence, a time when we need multiple strong, loving connections. 

            Speaking of adolescence—I think about the connections I see forming here between adults and our youth.  D & J Mc, JM and SB are weaving a beautiful tapestry of relationships with our middle schoolers.  Studying the Bible, asking questions and pondering possible answers, sharing concerns and praying together—in Sunday School, we’re making connections.  One month a hayrack ride and hot dog cookout, the next month an evening of caroling and chili, and in January, an ice-skating adventure in the city—through fun and fellowship, we are making connections.   We are forming relationships and maybe finding or becoming go-to persons.

            Connections—our need for connections does not depend on age or gender.  Our opportunities to connect are not limited to worship, study, and fellowship.  I am reminded of this when I visit the Thrift Shop on Tuesday mornings or hear about the goings on there on Thursday mornings.  A group of anywhere from 4 – 6 women, gather every Tuesday and Thursday to sort through items and set up the Thrift Shop for the upcoming Saturday sale.  Some women come every Tuesday and Thursday; some every Tuesday or Thursday; some once a month; some when called; some show up because they had an intuition (I’m going to call it the Holy Spirit speaking) that they were needed.  As they work, they share—they share joys and concerns.  They laugh and cry together.  They are community.  They are connecting through this Thrift Shop mission. 

            Our need for connections does not depend on age or gender.  Our opportunities to connect are not limited to worship, study, fellowship and mission.  Once a month, a group of men who worship at different churches in Paola come together.  They share conversation and breakfast.  Then they pray together—through the power of the Holy Spirit, these individuals are connecting with one another, their families are being connected, and the connections between our churches are strengthening.

            Connections—Elizabeth was Mary’s go-to person.  She trusted Elizabeth to welcome her as she was, not as society or her culture might expect her to be. Through Elizabeth Mary received the affirmation she needed—the angel’s pronouncement is good news.  All will be well.  Through their devoted connection, Elizabeth was able to perceive and then prophetically proclaim to Mary— God is working in your life to keep God’s promises, to extend hope for the future, and to bring light into a dark world.

            Connections—they are like a web that binds us together in love.

            Connections—how might we form relationships in which we accept each other as we are, and not as we are expected to be?  Connections—what good news comes from the connections we are forming?  Connections—what darknesses will our relationships bring light to?  Connections—to whom do we offer hope by extending our hand in friendship, our ear in listening, our time in conversation, our hands and feet in service? 

            Connections—may our connections help us share the good news not only in this Christmas season, but in all seasons, at all times, wherever we may find ourselves.  Joy to the world.  Christ is born.  Let earth receive our loving, gracious, ruler—Christ the child, Christ the king, God incarnate.  Hallelujah!  Amen. 

---

[1] Luke 1: 39 Common English Bible

[2] Luke 1: 39 The Message, a papraphrase of the Bible by Eugene Peterson

[3] Luke 1: 42 Common English Bible

Waiting--Philippians 4: 4 - 7 & Isaiah 12: 2 - 6

           Advent is the church season when we watch and wait, preparing for the comings of Christ.  During Advent we look for signs of Christ—signs of God’s ever-abiding presence.  And, we engage in being signs that Christ’s work continues here and now.  We proclaim good news to the poor, release to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed.  During Advent we prepare the way for the Lord—the way into our personal lives and into our community.  We engage in prayerful reflection and we serve others—guiding their faith development and meeting their physical, spiritual, and emotional needs.  Advent is the church season when we wait expectantly—we wait for the comings of Christ.

            Waiting—I’m a product of the early Walt Disney fairy tale mentality.  “Someday my prince will come.”  My senior year in college, I was waiting for my “prince”—my special someone to marry and share my life with—and I was getting impatient.  None of my relationships seemed to carry the promise of life-long, loving commitment.  By the time I graduated from UT Austin, I had become despondent in my waiting.  I had begun to think that perhaps I would be the 1^st person in my extended family who did not get married. I wonder if any of you know something about that kind of waiting.  Looking back—with what my Daddy always called 20/20 hindsight—I can see that I did not have to wait very long before I met and married my soul-mate.  But at the time—in the waiting—it seemed like forever.

            Waiting—In April of 1983 my mother told our Big Mama, “Guess what . . . I’m going to be a grandma!”  Big Mama said, “Oh, Mari Lyn & Kevin are going to have a baby.  I’m so excited!”  And my mom said,  “No, Kevin is still in graduate school.  It’s not Mari Lyn & Kevin who are having a baby.”  And my Big Mama said, “Well, don’t tell me it’s C and A.  I’ve given up on waiting for them.”  Well, it was my brother and sister-in-law, C and A. After 6 years of marriage—what apparently felt like forever for Big Mama—they were getting ready to welcome another generation into our family. I wonder if any of you know something about that kind of waiting. 

            Waiting—sometimes we choose to wait—like C and A with lil C, and sometimes we are forced to wait, like me with “my prince.” 

            Waiting—In the Philippians text R read, the apostle Paul is waiting.  Writing his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul is waiting for a verdict. Accused of fomenting rebellion against the Roman empire—proclaiming Jesus is Lord (instead of Caesar is Lord), Paul awaits a verdict—an outcome of life or death.  Under house arrest in Rome, Paul waited over 2 years before his case was heard.  And in the midst of his waiting, in the uncertainty of his sentence, Paul writes about being joyful, hopeful, and trusting.

            “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!”. . . 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” [1]  Now how could Paul—waiting to hear whether he would live or die, whether he would be set free or be imprisoned—how could Paul be joyful, content, thankful, and hopeful in his waiting?  I have such a hard time waiting in regular, everyday situations.  Without a book to read to distract my thoughts, I get anxious waiting for my doctor, dentist and even hair appointments! In what could have been the darkness of despair, the silence of isolation, the paralysis of fear, Paul waited in the promise of God’s presence, in the hopeful expectation of God’s providence, and in the present joy of the Lord.  Turning everything over to God—naming his fears, shouting his frustrations, acknowledging his anger, stating his needs, revealing his wants—turning everything over to God, Paul let go in his waiting.  Paul’s relationship with God defined his waiting.

            In today’s Old Testament text, Isaiah’s words were offered as hope to the Jewish people when the Assyrian army overran the northern kingdom of Israel. “2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and will not be afraid.”[2] As part of the oral tradition of prophets, these words offered hope for the people of Jerusalem under siege by Nebuchadnezzar 100 years later. “the LORD, is my strength and my shield; he has become my salvation.”[3] And after Jerusalem fell, for the Jews in exile in Babylon for the next 70 years, Isaiah’s words continued to offer hope. “3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;”[4] The Jews in exile looked forward in hope to the time when God would lead them back home to Jerusalem.  And for those people, a couple of generations later who did return, Isaiah’s words affirmed the hope that had lit the dark exile. “Sing to the LORD, who has done glorious things; proclaim this throughout all the earth." 6 Shout and sing for joy, city of Zion, because the holy one of Israel is great among you.”[5]

            Waiting—all of these people were waiting as they held fast to the promises in today’s text—promises offered, for most of them, years before their particular circumstance of waiting. And for the people in Mary and Joseph’s day, Isaiah’s words still offered hope.  The Jewish people had been waiting for 500 years—waiting for their kingdom to be restored, waiting for God’s promised deliverer, waiting for the Messiah.  They continued waiting hopefully because of the promises of their faithful God, promises like the one in today’s text.  “Surely it is God who saves me.  I will trust in him and not be afraid.  For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense. And he will be my savior.” [6]

            In our waiting—waiting for school to recess and holidays to begin; for Christmas to come, so we can sing more carols and open our presents; in our waiting—waiting for family relationships to return to a peaceful, happy balance, or for reconciliation with a friend, neighbor, or co-worker; in our waiting—waiting to hear from our college of choice or to hear how the job interview went; in our waiting—waiting for grief to wane, or for healing to begin; in our waiting—waiting for a soul-mate, or waiting for a child, or grandchild or great grandchild; in our waiting—waiting for God’s presence to be made known amidst community and national tragedy; in our waiting, we can hold fast to Isaiah’s promise and Paul’s encouragement. God is our strength. God can be trusted.  God is with us, and God is for us.  In our waiting, we may feel afraid, but we can respond with faith—looking for signs of God’s presence and expecting to find him in people and places surrounding us.  In our waiting, we may feel afraid, but we can respond with faith—laying it all on the line for God to hear—naming our fears, our worries, our frustrations—and then letting God take them, letting God take care of them.  Letting go and moving forward, may we find ourselves at God’s overflowing well of healing and wholeness.  May we experience waters of joy refreshing us and springs of hope flowing through our lives.  May we dip our toes in the pools of God’s presence, providence, and provision and be thoroughly renewed and reclaimed by God’s love.

            In this season of Advent, may our waiting be joyful and hopeful.  Amen.

            Surely it is God who saves me.  I will trust in him and not be afraid.  For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense.  And he will be my savior.

---

[1] Philippians 4: 4, 6 – 7 (New Revised Standard Version)

[2] Isaiah 12: 2 (Revised Standard Version)

[3] Isaiah 12: 2 (Common English Bible)

[4] Isaiah 12:3 – 4  (New Revised Standard Version)

[5] Isaiah 12: 5 – 6 (Common English Bible)

[6] This is a song I remember first singing in youth group or perhaps as a young adult.  I think it may be “The First Song of Isaiah” by Jack Noble White, edited by Bob Dingley.

Preparing the Way Luke 3: 1 – 6

As Kevin and I were hiking the trail to Emerald Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, I thought about all the preparation that was involved in making it possible for us and others to see the lake and peaks. 

From the early explorers who first saw these beautiful mountains and mapped routes to them to the people who saw a purpose in setting aside land as national parks for all of us to enjoy

to the surveyors who charted the particular courses the hiking trails would take

to the park rangers and the volunteers who cleared the paths and continue to maintain them—many people over many years have prepared the way for us to enjoy the beauty that is in Rocky Mountain National Park.

            In today’s scripture, John the Baptist—responding to the words of the prophet Isaiah—prepares the way for the Lord.  Oh, he doesn’t literally carve out a path through mountains;

nor does he literally hew stair steps on an uphill climb to make travel easier—smoother.  But he does prepare the paths his listeners’ hearts will tread to draw closer to God. John the Baptist invites his listeners to repent—to change their hearts and lives. As a visible sign of their repenting—reorienting their lives towards God’s desire for us, John’s listeners are baptized—hence his title, John the Baptist.

            As I read today’s text, I asked myself, in my journey of faith, who prepared the way for me?   Just like that (finger snap) I started naming names—Ella Mae W, Sara M, Vivian S, Carol K, Ralph & Waldene S and Janet & Don B.  Names, faces, voices, activities, places—memories flooded my mind as I thought about my Sunday School teachers, my Acteen leaders, and youth fellowship sponsors.  They helped me orient my life—guiding me on a journey of study of and experience with God.  They smoothed my path to God. 

            Because of memories you have shared with me, I know some of you would answer “Who prepared the way for me?” similarly.  Only you would name different names—Miss Pearl, Mrs. Bereniece B W, Bill Funk, Genia W, and Bob N.  You’ve shared that your Sunday School teachers encouraged you to visualize what the Bible stories meant—and those images, those pictures became the stained glass windows in the old chapel.  You shared the pledge that still guides your life: 

 I pledge myself to do for others such work as Jesus would do if he were here in person.  Anything, however simple, that brightens even an hour of another’s life, that relieves pain or poverty, sickness or distress, that makes the world a happier place to live in, that teaches others to know more and especially to love more.  That is my pledge. (from Miss Bereniece BW)

Preparing the way for you did not stop at adolescence, for you have told me how meaningful the adult Sunday School classes Bill F and later Bob N taught were in your journey of faith.  You’ve talked about the weekday Bible study Genia W led—inviting women from all denominations to learn together.  You and I have a shared history of orienting our lives of faith through study. 

           Who prepared the way for me?  Answering this question, my daughters would probably emphasize the 5 summers built cinder block houses for families in Mexico.  Making a difference 1 family at a time.  While we were members there—for 1 week each summer—adults and youth from Grace Presbyterian Church drove to the Rio Grande Valley. 

            

There they hand mixed and poured concrete foundations, mixed mud and laid bricks, and twisted re-bar for column supports during the day.

They ate meals

and worshiped with the Mexican families at noon,

They swam and rested in the evening, and at night, they prayed and had a devotional.

Those experiences prepared the way for Sarah and Mary to enter serving professions.

            I know some of you would also emphasize the role of mission in preparing the way for your faith journey.  When I first met her, Sarah T reminisced about Mission Sundays.  She told me that when she was a youth here, each Sunday evening in February, this congregation would come together for a meal and hear from or about a different mission this church was supporting. Surely our Thrift Shop—a relatively new endeavor at that time—was spotlighted during those Mission Sundays.   So your family and my family has a shared history of orienting our lives of faith through mission. 

            Prepare the way for the Lord.  Advent is a time when we prepare the way for the Lord in our personal lives—perhaps engaging in daily devotionals and looking for signs of God’s presence. Like John the Baptist, we are called to prepare the way for the Lord, not only for ourselves, but also for others. Might we prepare the way for the Lord relationally? Ella Mae W—my 1^st Sunday School teacher, Vivian S—Acteens leader, Ralph & Waldene S—youth group sponsors—I remember them vividly.  Not only because of the content of our studies—Jesus’ life, God’s love, the Holy Spirit’s power, but also because of the places we went and the activities we shared—eating meals with Ella Mae’s family, skiing at the Shuman’s bayou home, sleepovers at the Satchells’.  I remember them vividly because the relationships we formed guided my faith journey. 

            Nancy, Andrew, Audrey, Addie, Ty, Mark, Sarah, Mary, Molly, Katie, Bryan, Kevin, Kenny . . . working, worshiping, playing, praying—together. 

I suspect you recall the names—Miss Pearl, Mrs. Bereniece, Bill, Genia, Bob—so quickly because the relationships you formed.<pause> If we have a shared history of orienting our lives of faith through study and through mission, might we prepare the way of the Lord for others through leading study and engaging in mission while emphasizing relationships?

            Prepare the way for the Lord.  We can prepare the way for the Lord for children in this community.  June 17 – 21 we will host a Heartland Traveling Day Camp for children rising from kindergarten – 6^th grade.  In “family” or “cabin” groups of 6 – 8, we’ll move through each day together.  Singing, listening, studying, playing, crafting, chilling out, and eating together, we’ll learn how Jesus called his disciples and how Jesus calls us today to be his disciples. We—you and I along with children in this community—children fluent in the stories of our faith and children who may never have heard of Jesus, children who attended Heartland camp in Parkville last summer and children who may otherwise never have any kind of camp experience, children we already know and children we have yet to meet.  We—you and I along with children—can orient our lives towards God’s desire for us. We—you and I along with children can begin and continue a journey of faith together.

            Prepare the way for the Lord.  It took over a hundred years of preparation before Kevin and I could experience our Rocky Mountain National Park journey.  Preparing the way for the Lord through Traveling Day Camp will also involve long-term, multi-participant preparation: praying for this new mission, funding it, nurturing our relationships, planning our June 17 – 21 schedules so that we can spend time with children, learning the crafts, practicing Gaga ball (I don’t know what it is, but according to Holly it’s fun—so we’ll get to do something new and fun) studying the New Testament call stories.

            In the tradition of Isaiah the prophet and like the National Park Service, we can clear a path for an experience with God, our loving creator.  In the tradition of John the Baptist and our shared histories emphasizing study and mission, we can help re-orient others’ lives toward Jesus.  Let us begin preparing the way for the Lord.   

Signs, Signs Jeremiah 33: 14 – 16; Luke 21: 25 – 31

Signs signs, everywhere signs[1] . . .

How do you know if the weather will be calm or stormy when you’re at sea?

My Navy veteran Daddy taught me this sign:  “Red sky in the morning, sailor take warning, red sky at night, sailor’s delight.”

 http://viette.poweredbyindigo.com/images/Sunset.jpg

How do you know if that pretty-colored snake is poisonous?

A friend at my 1st job taught me this sign:  “Red on yellow kills a fella.  Red on black, venom lack.”

 http://content.artofmanliness.com/uploads/2008/07/coral-snake.jpg

So above is the poisonous coral snake, but below is the non-poisonous King snake.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkb2OCvJ4GGXkuOc7weRUsHAkzqfX6vqWfcY33DAN2HfOFCbeV2zIlzcDRMsWquMIB3Iy3_pi7K9w2i1XALr6SS8utETEZKDF2L_zvotRYIqSEzdQDN47Py_Bs3mWGU3H6mLD5JZx9RWw/s1600/3075709444_cd72e1c2b8.jpg

How do you know if we’ve experienced our last freeze? When we were living in central Texas, Kevin taught me this sign:  When the pecan trees begin to bud, there will be no more freezes.

            Signs, signs, everywhere signs. . . Today’s gospel reading takes place amidst a discussion between Jesus and the group gathered around him.  Traveling from Galilee, he’s finally arrived in Jerusalem and like all pious Jews, he has made his way to the temple.  Walking among the columns in the inner courtyard, Jesus says, “These columns will someday be torn down.”  What?  The temple, the sign of God’s presence among the Jews, will be destroyed . . . again?  Using apocalyptic language, Jesus connects the temple destruction with the coming of the Son of Man—God’s anointed.  For the Jews in Jesus’ day, the temple symbolized the abiding presence of the Holy One of Israel.  But in his life, Jesus demonstrated God’s abiding presence in his ministry of healing, feeding, teaching, and welcoming.  The old symbol of God’s presence—the temple building—will be torn down.  The new symbol of God’s presence will continue in the ministry of Jesus’ disciples and later in the ministry of the church birthed by the Holy Spirit. The new temples of God will be humans filled with the love of Christ empowered by the Holy spirit.  Dots of light in the darkness, shining beacons of hope, Christ’s followers, Christ’s church will be evidence of God’s presence.  Christ’s followers, Christ’s church will be agents of God’s reign breaking in to the here and now.

            Jesus tells his followers that when the Son of Man comes in all his glory, God’s presence will be fully realized.  The Son of Man, this righteous branch, will establish, over all the earth, God’s justice—not Caesar’s justice—a system of oppression.  The Son of Man will come in all his glory and usher in a rule of God’s righteousness—not Caesar’s rule,  a rule of domination.  How will we know? The disciples ask.  And Jesus replies—look for the signs. 

            In the season of Advent, we look for signs.  We watch and wait for the comings of Christ—Christ the newborn, Christ the human one, Christ the one whose life is a blueprint for being God’s agent of love and reconciliation.  In the season of Advent, we watch and wait for the comings of Christ—Christ the King who will rule over all of God’s creation with justice and righteousness for everyone.

            In the season of Advent, watching and waiting for the comings of Christ, we look for signs of God’s reign.  While we anticipate the future—God’s once and for all victory over any forces of evil, over all systems of oppression, and over anything that destroys, we focus on the here and now.  We look for signs of God’s love and grace overcoming sickness, separation, and sorrow in the present.  We look for signs of Emmanuel—God with us. 

            Perhaps we can prepare ourselves to see these signs if we spend some time each day reading, reflecting, praying together—focusing on God’s love made real to us through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.  Perhaps our families with children could use the All Paths Lead to Bethlehem[2] 

book I shared with you last year, re-reading it with your children—a page a day. 

Perhaps adults, couples, families without children at home, might use another Advent devotional to guide our anticipation of the comings of Christ.  I have several of these[3] to share.

            I have already seen signs of Emmanuel—God with us.  Late afternoon—the Friday after Thanksgiving, I was greeted at the east door of Walmart by LuAnne and her 3 grandchildren.  With big smiles, warm voices, and eager ringing, they were participating in God’s reign of justice breaking in to the here and now.  They were inviting all of us coming into and going out of Walmart to give to the Salvation Army—to help shelter people who are homeless.  I couldn’t help but think of the others from this congregation who already had and who will be ringing that same bell. 

            I have already seen signs of Emmanuel—God with us. Look at our mitten tree—decorated with hats and scarves, gloves and mittens and socks.  You are participating in God’s reign of righteousness breaking in to the here and now—warming those who are cold.

            I have already seen signs of Emmanuel—God with us.  Our elementary Sunday School class has adopted 2 angels from Cops for Tots.  They are planning to be part of God’s reign of love breaking in to the here and now as they provide Christmas gifts to 2 children and youth. 

            In this season of Advent, may we watch and wait, prayerfully preparing ourselves for the comings of Christ.  In this season of Advent, may we not only look for signs of Emmanuel—God with us—but may we also be signs of God’s reign breaking in to the here and now. May we provide food, clothing, & shelter; may we offer healing; may we ask for and extend forgiveness; may we work for peace and justice. May we be signs of God’s promise fulfilled.  May we remember that as temples of God, wherever we go, God’s presence goes with us.

           

---

[1] “Signs” by Five Man Electric Band, 1970.

[2] All Paths Lead to Bethelem by Pat McKissack and Fredrick McKissack, illustrated by Kathryn E. Shoemaker.  Augsburg Publishing House, 1987.

[3] Adam Hamilton.  The Journey:  A Season of Reflections. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2011.