Ladies Retreat

I'll be talking about this some on the ministry site. I took 5 ladies from our church to Prescott Arizona for Ladies Retreat last week-end. It was fun! It was inspirational! Two of our ladies sort of "hid-out" since it was a bit too "churchy" for them. But how could anyone see the awesome beauty of the world God created, or stand in worship and not get at least a little touch of the spirit. Open their eyes LORD they need to see you Jesus! Reach down and touch them and say that you LOVE them. Open their ears LORD and help them to hear you, Call our their names LORD, they need to know Jesus!

Pictures

Monday Rambling

Reflections?
Writer’s Block…
Another season has ended - the Easter Season - the Passion Play season
There are only 6 weeks of school left and finally the month of the bitter wind seems to have blown itself out.

Leviticus 19:23-25 (New Living Translation)
“When you enter the land and plant fruit trees, leave the fruit unharvested for the first three years and consider it forbidden. Do not eat it. In the fourth year the entire crop must be consecrated to the Lord as a celebration of praise. Finally, in the fifth year you may eat the fruit. If you follow this pattern, your harvest will increase. I am the Lord your God.

We will soon be entering our third year of ministry at the Mission on the Bisti. I need to remember that is took 9 years for God to fulfill His promise to restore us to this ministry - I tend to be very impatient. My son Jeremiah, the one interested in horticulture, pointed out these verses from Leviticus. He indicated that we shouldn’t expect a great harvest until the 4th or 5th year.
I know I am learning as we go along. Last year’s Back to School event wasn’t very well attended. But that was ok because we had not gotten as many donations of school supplies as I had expected. The Christmas Vacation Bible School was a good idea, but we got snowed out. Which was probably a good thing - because I saw some flaws in the plan. Last week we had an Easter Egg Coloring Party - it was fun and messy but only the church kids came in spite of the advertising and personal invitations. We just aren’t growing. Our outreach efforts don’t seem to be producing fruit. And I get discouraged.

But I need to remember the theme of this blog of mine. “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven” And I need to remember my own sermon - don’t fret - wait patiently for the LORD, do good and trust the LORD. Ok, yeah…time for dinner. Maybe the piece I write for the ministry site will be of more significance than this rambling. But the pictures are good - our Church Kids at Passion Play, Pastor Art playing Peter, and the Easter Egg Coloring party.

March 22, 2009

I usually get to preach 3 times a year, for my birthday in February, on Mothers'day and during Men's retreat. This week, Pastor Art was sick, so I took the Mothers' day sermon I've sort of been working on, and delivered part of it today. We just finished working through the "Truth Project" so that we can use it as a follow up to Passion Play, so rather than the typical "mother's day" sermon, I thought I'd do something like this. There weren't too any in Church this week, and since Mother's day isn't for a couple of months, it won't hurt if I "preach it" twice...any way, to preserve it I am posting it here now. Your comments or suggestions would be appreciated. God bless you, God bless us everyone!

Truth

“…your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made Himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8

Why?
Why did Yashua, (Jesus - the second person of the Blessed Trinity) come to this world He, Himself, created (John 1:3) and humble Himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross?
Why?
To teach us what God is really like, and really expects? To glorify God? To die for our sins?
Why?
Why did the LORD of lords and Prince of Peace - the Living Son of the Living God - choose to become the sacrificial Lamb of God?
To save us? To redeem us? To take away the sins of the world?
Actually, Jesus Himself gives us the answer to that question.

“…In fact, for this reason I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:37) Jesus’ words to Pilot - just hours before His bloody death on a cross of shame. And Pilots response… “What is truth?”

What is truth? In our day and age many people declare that Truth is relative. Everyone has their own “truths.” Even in “Christian” circles it seems that truth varies - no real absolutes. It seems that everything from methods of baptism to the clothes we wear, from the music we worship with to the definition of sin is “relative.” And one can find some “church” somewhere that teaches what we want taught and makes us feel good. A “gospel” that gives our itching ears what they want to hear. It’s ok. Your ok. We’re ok.

But we’ve been warned:
“The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the TRUTH and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Jesus testified to the TRUTH by coming to earth as one of us and by dying on the cross.
And His Resurrection from the dead proved that what He taught was in fact TRUE. He’s Alive!”

If you were to look up how many times Jesus mentioned the Truth - or began a teaching with “Verily, Verily” which means Truly, Truly…you’d begin to realize just how important the Truth is to Him.
So what is truth? Is the Bible true? All of it?

2 Timothy 3:16 -17 “All scripture is God-Breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

A serious pastor, minister of the Gospel, takes to heart the message of 2 Timothy 4:2-4 “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the TRUTH…”

Truth is important. Vitally, eternally important! But the question “what is truth” can not be answered in one sermon, on one Sunday morning. Pastors are compelled to teach the Truth - you - we - the people also have our instructions: be like the Bereans in Act 17.

“Now the Bereans were of …noble character for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was TRUE.”

A long time ago, I came up with the little saying, “Truth is not a concept, it’s a person - Jesus Christ” That’s not scripture. But this is, “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Pilot asked, “what is truth?” And he was looking Him straight in the eyes.

In conclusion, I want to look at four more scriptures, with very little commentary on my part. Let the living Word of God speak to your hearts.

John 5:46
If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.

Matthew 5:18
18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Deuteronomy 30:10-15 (the Law of Moses)
10 … obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.

And finally, on how to be saved ?

Romans 10:8-10 (New International Version)
But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

And now back where we began:

Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11

Come, Now is the time to worship…
And once you have believed in your heart and declared with your lips that Jesus Christ is LORD - may you continue to grow in knowledge of the TRUTH.

Baby's First Laugh

In the book "Peter Pan" the little boy who would never grow up explained that when the first baby laughed for the first time, that laugh shattered into a million pieces and that's where fairies came from. The only Biblical allusion I could find was the story of Isaac - which means Laughter - his mother Sarah said, about her miracle son, "God has brought me laughter and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." Last Sunday we celebrated Tziporah's first laugh. It's a Navajo tradition. The person who makes the baby laugh for the first time has to throw a party. The laughter is a sign that the baby has "decided to join the human family." With the help of the person who hosts the party - in this case Stacy's best friend from third grade - the baby hands out treat bags - sweets and treats - to all who come. This is to ensure that the baby will grow up to be a generous human being. We had the party in our fellowship hall, and it was another chance for the two families to get together. Grandpa Art got to say the blessing over Tziporah, the families and the food (yum!).
Here are some pictures taken at the party. Tziporah, Daddy, the guests, the cake, and her little cousin/brother. The Navajo word for a boy cousin is the same as the word for brother. I'm working on an update of the ministry blog, so check it out. May your world be full of joy and laughter, and the peace that passes understanding.

Please Visit

Thank you for visiting my site...please visit our ministry site by clicking on "The Mission" on the right hand side of this page.

February 10, 2009

Isn't she a doll? Bless her heart!
Anyway, today was a snow day...and Art is in Phoenix at a pastor's meeting. A nice chance for me to catch up on my blogging (and do some chores, correct papers, we have our food and clothing distribution today - wait a minute, let me look at little Tziporah one more time - ahhh...ok Maryellen, back to work).
When we were part of Open Bible Standard Churches, the first Sunday in February was "Women's Sunday" and since my birthday was right around then, Art would honor me by letting me pick out the songs and deliver the message. The tradition continues, and last Sunday I preached in our little chapel. For those of you who couldn't make it (LOL) here's the transcript of my 2009 Sermon, entitled - Don't Fret!


I was planning to preach on the end times. “The End of the World - RU Ready?” In Children’s Church we’ve been working with a song based on Revelation Chapter 4, and Revelation is such an interesting book. It reads like a supernatural disaster movie, which is most likely why the “Left Behind” books and movies did so well. But I am not doing a series, like Pastor Art, I only have one morning, and I decided that was too big a bite to chew. If anyone is really interested, or maybe even worried about that topic, we could make it our Bible Study on Wednesday evenings. This morning I’m going to preach out of Psalm 37 and I’ve entitled this message, “Don’t Fret.”
The book of Psalms is like a treasure chest. So many of our songs come from the Psalms. In Ephesians 5:19, Paul tells us to speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, to sing and make music in our hearts to the LORD. It’s no surprise that the book of Psalms is in the very heart of the Bible. If you take your Bibles and open to the middle, you will be in the Psalms, depending on how many pages of introduction, or maps, glossary, etc the publisher has added; you will at least be very close. (Lets open to Psalm 37 - page 553 in the pew Bibles - which by the way were donated to us by the Kirtland AFB - God bless Derreck, Kyle, and all the other service men and women from our country, fighting for - working toward freedom and peace.)
The first words you see are, “Do not fret…” What does “fret” mean? (worry? fear? anxiety?). Don’t Worry - Don’t Worry - Be Happy? Wasn’t there a song like that a few years back. If I remember correctly, it wasn’t the kind of song you’d hear in Church. And of course, we shouldn’t take scripture out of context. So lets continue reading…Ah verse 4. Now that’s a great verse! A verse you’d see on a calendar, greeting card, little daily devotional. “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.” I think that is one of those dangerous verses. One of the reasons you hear some people say…”oh I was Christian once” or “I tried the Jesus way, but it just didn’t work for me”
Pastor Art is preaching a series from Matthew - Jesus’s sermon on the mount which you can read in Matthew 5, 6, and 7. In Matthew 7 verse 7 is another on those “dangerous” verses - “Ask and it will be given to you”. There are a lot of verses like those - promise verses - that if taken out of context sound like God is some kind of Genii in a lamp - rub the Bible real hard and make a wish. Those verses are dangerous if we don’t continue to read…back to Psalm 37. Commit, Trust, Wait Patiently, Do Not Fret…Jesus echoed that in His sermon (He is after all, the real author of the Psalms, the whole of the Word of God) Matthew 6:25 Do Not Worry, verse 28 And why do you worry? Verse 34, Therefore, Do Not Worry!”
So if we aren’t supposed to worry about stuff, how are we supposed to deal with all our problems - relationships, annoying co-workers, demanding bosses, bills, broken cars - don’t get mad, don’t worry, but rather trust, wait, do good, be just, delight in the word of the LORD. When I look at Psalm 37 I pull out promises, instructions, and warnings. That verse 4 is really nice. I can memorize that one. Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. Some versions of the Bible even say that He will give you all your heart desires (umm, 50 people in church every Sunday - new buildings, roses and tulips and trees - a nice new bus, recording equipment, salvation for all those names on my ’hit list’, a yellow mustang and a cruise to Alaska). But wait a minute…what does “Delight yourself in the LORD means?” Are you delighted to be a Christian? Does it delight you to read the Bible every day? And what about all those instructions? Trust - Do Good - Commit - Wait Patiently - Refrain from Anger - Be Righteous, and not wicked. (You can read for yourselves what it says about what’s going to happen to the wicked). But lets look at verse 16. Seems to be saying we shouldn’t expect to be rich…rather we should be content with what we have, 'cause the wicked rich are doomed. And then verse 39...He is their stonghold in time of trouble…trouble? Yes, we will have troubles. Jesus never promised us a life free of troubles. His promise was Peace in the times of trouble. When we feel weak and broken, He promises to be our strength. When we fail, He will not give up on us. When we wander away, He is there to welcome us home with open arms, He will pick us up clean us off and set us on the right path again and again and again. Do not fret. Do not worry…Trust, Wait Patiently, Do Good. Let’s finish by going to Matthew, listen to what Jesus has to say…Matthew 6:25ff (page 960 in pew Bible).
And now, let’s declare our faith before taking communion…and ask yourselves… Do You Believe, Can you Trust? Or would you rather go on fretting.

From Generation to Generation

To Everything A Time

I started reading the Psalms again January First - a Psalm a day - I am on Nine. So far so good. I am in the habit of writing little notes in my Bibles as I do my devotions and the last time I read through the book of Psalms in my "Message" version of the Holy Scriptures was in the fall of 2005. A very dark time of my life. Often my notes were cries of desperation and hopelessness. At this season in my life I feel blessed and praise God for His grace and mercy. I'm not quite as healthy as I would like to be and our little church is not growing as quickly as I think it should be - but all in all, life is good! I have a beautiful new grand daughter who promises to bring together two families from two different cultures and I pray that the Truth and Light will prevail. My other two grandchildren were allowed to attend our Christmas Vacation Bible School although their mother (as Elijah puts it) doesn't believe in Jesus anyomre. We had 51 people at our Pre-Thanksgiving Feast and 30 people at our Christmas Service. And I'm a year younger than I thought I was. I made the comment that I would be 58 on my next birthday and Ardy said, "no mom, you'll only be 57 - do the math" He was right. Today I played hookey from school. With a broken vehicle and a bad cough, I decided I needed an extra day of rest. I've been working on the mailing of newsletters and gathering email addresses. I'm gonna post another update on the mission blog and on Art's blog too. I keep checking the hit counters on the sites, but the numbers don't up very much. I know I need to actually set up a real Web Site for the ministry. It has been observed that the only people who "blog" are people who want to argue...from past posts on this site, one can see that that rings true. But doing ministry is more important than arguing theology. And much more fun too! Well, dear friends, sisters and brothers (only I doubt very many of my brothers check this site)beloved family with whom I communicate much too infrequently - May our LORD Jesus shine in your darkness, calm your storms, comfort you when you are in mourning - and at the times when Life is Good, don't forget Him from whom all good things come! God is good, even though we might not agree with His sense of timing...God is good! And whether you are listening to the words of King Solomon, or the Birds - To everything there is a time - Turn Turn Turn

Happy New Year!

One of the best things about being a teacher is Christmas Vacation. Two weeks of "freedom". It's hard to keep track of what day it is. Friday? Oh NO! I still have about 200 papers to grade. Not to panic...at least my first day back on the job - January 5, is not the student's first day back. I will be glad to get back to work. It is such a blessing to love one's job. And January also brings the start of the Passion Play rehersals. I'll be doing children's ministries for PP this year. I doubt I'd get another chance to play Mary. That was a once in a life-time blessing. I've actually directed the Children's Block 7 times in the past. This year, Art and I are helping plan the Navajo Presentation of Passion Play as well. I know it's a little soon to be thinking of Easter and at least it isn't as early this year as it was last year. But the older I get (I'll be 58 next month), the faster time flies, and although there is still snow on the ground, spring is right around the corner. I'm reading a Psalm a day, if I break 119 into 22 parts, it will take me until mid-june to get through the book. Psalm 1 reminds me of the Children's church lesson I've taught a few times, that when we say "God Bless You" we are saying "Be like a tree". Psalm 2 is rather political in nature. I am anxious to see just how things will unfold in this country and globally once Obamma becomes president. And I'm glad that the psalm ends with a promise of blessing on those who trust in the LORD. As a ministry, we are looking to build up our prayer partner and doner base. I have news letters and flyers to get ready for mailing. I just found out that Pastor Art will be gone most of next week. Helping a friend. This may give me more computer time. I'm working with Tziporah's other grandmother on a baby shower. Navajo tradition has the "shower" after the baby arrives. We're having it in the fellowship hall, and it will be a good chance to build relationships and encourage the "family" to come to church. Well enough rambling for now. Just wanted to post a New Year's greeting before I start grading mid-terms and Holiday Essays. "Do homage to the Son, lest He become anry and you perish...For His wrath may soon be kindled...but How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! Psalm 2:12

Tzipporah Dempsey Brokop

Born 4:07 am 12/19/08 I got to wittness her arrival! 6 lbs 10 oz. Glory!

10 Days 'til Christmas

Have I Mentioned that I love Christmas. I always have. From the lights to the silly, romantic, predictable Christmas movies. I love Christmas trees, Christmas villages, and especially Nativity Scenes (I have about 50). This is my third Christmas here on the Mission. The first was 10 years ago. I remember carolling on the Rez, and handing out treat bags - an orange, some nuts and some candy. Keshmish Hozoh! This is our second Christmas since the LORD called us back to ministry here. There are treat bags under the Christmas Tree in the fellowship hall. We decorated the tree in Children's Church last week, with a lesson on the Truth each ornament symbolizes. 20 of my 50 Nativities are hanging on that lovely tree - and a candy cane and crocheted cross for every member of our little congregation. The fellowship hall looks so beautiful. The hard work done by the team from Michigan makes such a difference. It's still a little chilly, but not fridgid or damp like last year. I have part of my Christmas village set up in there. And I have the rest of it set up in the restroom. We have lights up in the courtyard and so far, no one has bothered the large plastic nativity scene in the front.
So far this Christmas season 10 of us were in the Farmington Christmas Parade, handing out 1000 candy treats attatched to invitations to our Christmas Vacation Bible School, we've delivered two Christmas boxes to families on the Rez. through Angel Tree Ministries (and have 4 more ready to go next week). We sponsered a Christmas Luncheon for people with whom we partner with in Ministry - 7 plus the "family" were there. 16 voices singing "Joy to the World" in English and Navajo.
Yep, I love Christmas. But there is a saddness that seems to accompany this joyous season. In all this beauty and majesty, a heaviness. Did Mary know? Even though the LIGHT is shining in the darkness, and the PEACE that passes all understanding is in fact ours when we accept it, storms rage all around us. Christmas stories don't always have sappy sweet endings. I have a new grand-daughter that is due to arrive anyday now. But the daughter-in-law of one of our women just miscarried. One of the missionionaries our conference supports died in a car wreck in Africa, leaving behind a wife and three young daughters. There was an accident in Shiprock last week that left one of the students in my school critically injured and fatherless. How sad Christmas will be for them. Wars and rumors of war. Does anyone remember Simon and Garfunkle's version of Silent Night and the 7 o'clock news? Yes, Jesus came - silently and humbly to the world He created, to and for the people He loves. Yes, He is here, in our midst, where two or more gather together, with a promise to never leave or forsake us. And Yes, He is coming again in glory. Yes, I love Christmas - with the colored lights that remind me that God keeps His promises. With the smiles of wonder on the faces of the little ones who haven't figured out yet that this is a dark and depraved world. And how I pray for the little ones who have to face tragidy this year instead of joy. Lord have mercy. And Lord, help me to share Your Light and your Truth with the people who pass by, with the people I touch throughout the day, with the people you send our way. That there is Joy and everlasting love, Peace in every storm, there is God - Father,Son,Holy Spirit - And God is Good!

Thanks for Giving School Dance

TseBit'Ai Middle School - Shiprock New Mexico

Happy Thanksgiving

Thursday morning - freezing rain falling from the not so often grey New Mexican sky.
It's Thanksgiving, and I have so much to be thankful for. We've been here, at the "Mission" for 16 months and still I am amazed that the LORD has given us this place and this opportunity to serve Him. And then there is my job. It is such a blessing to have a job you love. It's not an easy job. Middle school students are challenges where ever they live. As they grow up, as they live through this crisis or that, as they fall in and out of love, learning about adjectives and adverbs is not a top priority. We just finished our unit on poetry though,and when free to express their ideas without having to worry about sentence structure or punctuation, what they come up with is incredible. My school is 97% Native American, 90% Navajo - but I think in many aspects they are just regular teenagers. At least it seemed that way at the Thanksgiving dance I chaperoned last week. It was called the "Thanks for Giving Dance" because it was tied in with a canned food drive. My "homeroom" won the pizza party for bringing in 157 food items that would be donated to the Shiprock home for battered women and other needy families on the Navajo Rez. And, as much as I love my job - I am thankful that we get a five day break for Thanksgiving. Today is a day to lay back. We had our feast on Wednesday - 52 people, mostly Indians - in our beautiful cozy fellowship hall. I always wanted a big family. Tomorrow I'll take down the autumn decorations and put up Christmas. This is my favorite time of year. And it is all to honor the King of Kings! Let's not forget that. He is the Source, the Reason, the Author of our lives. Those simple steps of obedience lead us through dark times and hard times, through frustrating times and exhausting times and always there is the Peace that Passes understanding and the Joy that carries through times when it is hard to be happy...Joy and Peace - what I am most thankful for and what I pray for those who I know and love and miss and care about. Not a happy thanksgiving - but a Joyful one.

God Bless Them All!

Matthew, Malachi, and Merilu
I have a lot of time to pray as I drive to and from work every morning. It’s a 30 mile commute across some awesome, if somewhat barren land. The rising sun behind me casts beautiful shadows on the rocks, mesas and distant mountains. I pray mostly for my students, past and present. And this week the LORD has brought to mind 3 particular individuals whose stories I love to tell.
Matthew – one of my first Navajo students, nearly 10 years ago. A beautiful child with a long, thick braid down his back. Not very many boys still wear their hair long. It’s usually a sign of just how traditional his family is, and Matthew was the eldest son of a very traditional family. One day Matthew came up to me and complained that his ear was hurting. I sent him to the nurse, who suspected an ear infection and told him to tell his mom to take him to the doctor. The next day, a Friday as I recall, he was back in school but I could tell the pain was much worse. I called him to my desk and asked if he had told his mom what the nurse had said. “Oh, yes Mrs. Brokop, but don’t worry, tomorrow she is taking me to a medicine man.” When I first told that story to some of my friends back east they asked if he didn’t have enough money for a “real” doctor. Actually – through the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) all registered Native Americans get free medical. And there is a very good hospital in Shiprock. Medicine men cost quite a bit. But to some – many, that is the first and preferred form of healing. Just over a year ago I saw Matthew again. He was working in a local restaurant , having just graduated from High School. He still had that lovely long hair, and enthusiastic smile. What a wonderful blessing when he told me that he was saving up money so he could go to Bible College and learn to teach his people about Jesus.
Malachi – from one of the many children’s ministries I’ve been involved in over the past several years. This is actually his mother’s story but I think it says a lot about the identity crisis that so many Native Americans have. It is one of the reasons our ministry strives to encourage individuals to find their identity in Christ without losing their self-worth as Navajo – Dine’. When Malachi was barely 4 his family lived in Albuquerque. He was attending a rather multi-cultural Head Start program. One evening he was watching an old-time western with his parents and commented that he wished he were an Indian. That statement took his parents – both full blooded Navajo – by surprise. And they proceeded to explain to their little son that he was in fact an Indian. A revelation that seemed to thrill him. The next day he ran excitedly up to his mother after a morning at Head Start, declaring that he had just found out that his best friend Billy was white. Wasn’t that amazing???? It is a good thing, that left on their own, without the influence of adult prejudice, most children are color blind. And Malachi’s realization did not affect the fact that Billy was his friend. His parents have since moved back to the Reservation, partially so that Malachi, and his little siblings will have a better chance of realizing the proud heritage from which they come.
Merilu – a very typical, somewhat melodramatic middle school student. A beautiful young woman, who runs into the rising sun each morning with her brother, uses corn pollen to bless her day, and listens to tunes on her iPod. A simple interaction with Merilu reminded me, yet again, what an unusual situation in which I find myself. Truly unique. One day she came to school extremely depressed and distracted. I asked what was wrong – and with tears in her eyes she told me that Grandma was going to butcher her sheep. Now, Merilu knew full well that that was the ultimate destiny of all the sheep in grandma’s flock. They would provide wool for rugs and blankets, and eventually end up roasted or stewed. But this was Merilu’s own favorite sheep. Sooooo Sad! The next day, in skips Merilu, all smiles and giggles, with her cell phone in hand. We don’t allow cell phones in class, and Merilu knew it. But she just had to show me the pictures of Grandma butchering the sheep. I bet not many other middle school teachers in the USA have had that particular experience.

On Top of the World

It was a beautiful day and a trecherous road up the mesa known as "Turning Rock". The absolute center of Dine'Tah, the high place where traditional Navajos believe first man and first woman emerged after a great flood. We were a mixed bunch of worshipers, the youngest being 6 months old, the elder over 60. Men and women, Navajo and Biliganna, hot coffee and the sound of drums. Pearlene read from Isaiah 51 "Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, who seek the LORD, Look to the Rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug..."
This was not "our" event and we were honored to be included. The sky was an incredible blue...Isaiah 51:6a "Lift up your eyes to the sky, then look to the Earth below." The view was incredible. Awesome. I wonder how many people, who have not been blessed to experience such a view, can actually comprehend the meaning of the word "Awesome". The Lord has put such a burden in our hearts for this land and its people, such a love in our hearts for our Navajo brothers and sisters. It was a beautiful day, a day of prayer and a day of blessings...Glory to God!
and so...I continue to ask for your prayers...check out the Mission Site and Pastor Art's current site, which you can link on from this site. Have a blessed week - pray protection and peace especially on Friday - Halloween - posted by Maryellen

TGIF

Yep, thank God it's Friday!
I've been experimenting - setting up two new blogs on this account. One focusing on the Ministry, one focusing on Pastor Art, some of his lyrics and sermon notes and articles. And this one. This pink page of mine started out years ago, as a sort of journal, a Bible study, responses to other blogs, other "theologies" - some personal ragings at a time when I was struggling with faith and truth and life in general.
The poem I just posted I wrote quite a while ago. At a time when I wasn't sure we'd have a chance to minister again. Last Saturday we had our first coffee house and besides the 15 regular church attenders and their guests, two of those "invisible" people stopped by and one of our regular wanderer's - Michael. We feed him and pray for him a few times a month. LORD, give us wisdom in ministry - protect those who are lost in the dark, be their Light and Hope and Salvation.

For Michael

I see you
You are not invisible to me.
I see you all
Walking with your head down,
Dragging you feet, wearing out your souls.
I see you
Vacant men walking past Vacant houses
Men of the Land, who don’t seem to care anymore
about the Land around them
Dry, like the Land you are born to
I see you
Making your way into town
For a drink, for a job, for a change
And making your way home again
To the old mother who still cares
To the old grandmother who still prays for you
To be greeted by a long sad sigh and an open door
I want to say, “hold your head up high”
I want to say, “be the brave you were born to be”
I want to say, “I am sorry.”
I want to cook for you, and sing you songs, and tell you stories
Great Stories, Living Stories
I want to give you a hot cup of coffee on a cold night,
With lots of sugar and a dash of hope.
I want to drive you home
To the son that needs you
To the woman that loves you
And I want to say…
Look past the stars, Look past the moon
Look past the tent meetings and revivals
Seek God!
He is there waiting
He sees you.
Learn to sing His songs
He is calling you.
Believe His stories
He has a plan for you!
All of you. Each of You.
Walking this Land for a Divine purpose.
He is not the White Man’s God
He is every man’s God
He is not the missionary’s God
He is the People’s God
He formed you, He knows you, He sees you.
You are not invisible to Him.

One little, Two Little, Three Little...

Three of our Children's Church Children...

Worship in Santa Fe

Pastor Art was part of a drum circle at a interdenominational, multi-cultural prayer and praise service in the Square in Sante Fe.