Happy Thanksiving!

That's all I really wanted to say... Hope you all have a wonderful holiday and remember all the good things we have to give thanks for.

Peace-
C

Something Witty This Way Comes...

Hi all-
So, it seems that I have been less than diligent on this whole update business... So sorry...

After church and a wonderful feast at Cheyarha I decided to drive down to Austin, TX to take care of some business and catch up with some friends. (note: It takes just under 7 hours and is approximately 430 miles away- if anyone is interested)... I got in just before 10pm and then caught up with Melissa and a few others and then she and I headed to Trudys, which was tasty as always. On Monday, I caught up with several more folks, got my car inspected and oil changed, got the reading list for Jan term class, made sure I was registered for my spring term and did some other school business. That night I went and had dinner with Sarah, Melissa and Jamie and then we went and saw "The Secret Life of Bees." That was a very good movie. Much better than "Role Models" which I saw the week before.... I did also see Bond on opening night here in Seminole at the little two screen theater- that was good too, for me, not as good as Casino Royale, and it certainly didn't help that there were five teenagers in the movie theater who didn't come to watch the movie, but I think, were using the place to just hang out.
But I digress,... on Tuesday I did a few more errands, hung out with some cool people, and stuck around for Company of New Pastors and the PIF workshop. After that, KoKo and I (yep I brought the cat- I was curious how she would be traveling) headed back to Oklahoma. I drove half way back and then got a hotel room somewhere north of Fort Worth and drove the remaining way Wednesday morning. Headed into Wewoka to do my office hours and meet with a member about Advent/ Christmas Eve worship planning and life back to normal.

That's my story and I am sticking to it. Last night was the last weekly Bible study. We have been studying prayer over the course of the last two and a half months and has been quite interesting. But I am glad that it is over. The next one is a three week family night study on Advent. That should be lots of fun!

Take care all! And please, continue to pray for my grandmother....

really, not a lot has happened here...

hello all-
Just got back from seeing the new Bond movie, it was good I guess, although I enjoyed Casino Royal more I think....
Not a lot else to report about life in Seminole. Session meeting, read some books, church, putting together a directory for Wewoka and getting daily updates on my grandmother.

However, I have also been pondering something recently. I have been wondering what causes people to abandon the ordinary day to day of his/her routine and step out on a limb to stand up, publicly, intentionally, with full regard to the consequences of said action and do it anyways. I think about those who have come and gone who fought the good fight, who put his/her life second to his/her cause or world injustice, and wonder, what was the trigger point that pulled them to the position that he/she had to act, had to speak out, had to do something that says enough is enough or no longer can I sit quietly.

I wonder about this as there are so many things tugging at my attention, at my heart that I haven't yet found a voice to, or at least, one that is powerful enough for me to rock the boat, or at the very least, get out of it...

there's a lot I could write about...

but for now, I have a second blog- that I will add as a link to this one, that is for my sermons, if there are any of you out there who are looking for something to read...

http://finchsermons.blogspot.com

Enjoy and feel free to comment, offer critique or whatever...

And please, continue to pray for my grandmother and my family as she, my grandmother, is not doing well at all...

Thanks and blessings.
C

Hooray for our country!

Greetings all! I have spent a lot of time reflecting on what this presidential win means for this country. Putting aside the political implications- electing a minority is a HUGE step forward for the betterment of our country. Think of it this way. How many children were just given a role model they can look up to with last night's win? Consider that many of these children are children and grandchildren of a people who experienced racism and segregation and who would have never believed this day to come. Breaking away from the white man in office (and no disrespect to McCain had he won) gives hope not just to African American boys but hope to Latinos and girls alike. It gives hope to all minorities- or at least in the power infrastructure minorities. I just pray that those whose hearts are still filled with bigotry and hate will be quelled and not try to respond in their disappointment with violence.

I listened to both McCain and Obama's speeches last night, and while it could be political rhetoric, they both spoke of working together. I hope that is true. They both offer good things for our country- and a chance to move beyond political parties... They both have some pretty good speech writers anyways... I thought there was a very Kennedy like appeal in Obama's speech when he called on us to all pitch in and help make this country better. Because no matter which side of the political line you stand on, we can always find room for improvement...

I spent today excited. I didn't expect that. In the movie "We are Marshall" there is a scene between Matthew Fox and Matthew McCaugnehey (or however you spell it) about their football program not honoring the team that died a few months before in a plane crash. Fox says something like- we are getting our butts handed to us out on that field. We are not winning and the coach (that died) said that winning is what matters- and we are not honoring them. We are just the sad team that gets the sympathy of the fans from all the schools we play. We are outmatched and outperformed here. The other Matthew responds with something like- you know you are right- we are not likely to win a game this season, maybe not even next season. Winning isn't everything. We step out on that field because one day we won't be the sad team that everyone pities- we will just be a football team like everyone else. We step out on that field because one day we will win and on that day we will honor those who have gone on before us.

I think of that scene today as I think about the election. And I remember all those who have gone on before us, who have given their lives to make this a country where you can be who you want to be no matter your race or gender. And I believe one day, maybe not in my lifetime, but one day, this country will not first debate the merits of someone based on their skin color. This is a huge step. We still have a long way to go. But today- I have hope.

C

PS- My grandmother was admitted to the hospital today and is not doing so well. Please pray for her. Thanks.

Hurricanes, the Arch, Hayrides and the winning name...

Hi all-

Well, since I last posted, I had myself a little adventure- I decided to drive the 490 miles to St. Louis on Thursday to see the Hurricanes play (and beat) the Blues in some good old fashioned NHL hockey. I know it seems a bit extreme to go all that way for a game, but I justified the trip with the following reasons: a) I had never been to Missouri, so it was a chance to see the state; b) I love the Hurricanes and this was a great way to make it a destination with at least something familiar/something I enjoy doing c) Unlike my other seminarian friends, I didn't get a fall break (in fact, my "semester" is actually 4 weeks longer), d) I had planned to use this trip as a reward/consolation for Ordination results- which I got earlier in the week- and e) I always like a little adventure-

Therefore, off I went to St. Louis- and I am glad I did, I had a lot of fun. The Hurricanes won, and the last period of hockey was a whole lot of fun and pretty intense. (If you were to watch the highlights of the game at NHL.com- there weren't many of them with the final score 1-0, if you watch the crowd behind the players when the Hurricanes score- you might see a person wearing a red jersey jump up to celebrate- well that's me, or at least most of me- sans my head... but still- there I am celebrating- the only Canes fan in the lower bowl.) The next morning I went over the Jefferson Memorial Arch and rode that crazy little tram space capsule thing to the top of the Arch and took in the view of the city and river. I also enjoyed walking through the park with all the leaves changing colors. And then I headed back to Seminole.

Yesterday night, the Cheyarha church had a hayride and hot dog dinner party that turned out to be a lot of fun too. it was perhaps the longest hay ride I had been on- about an hour long and kids from both Cheyarha and Wewoka showed up.

Today was a good day here too. The weather was quite beautiful and in the midday the town of Wewoka dedicated the municipal courthouse to the memory of John Lively and had a nice reception following in the town's library.

So- I thought I would also formally introduce you all to KoKo-Zilly, my cat. Thanks everyone for your suggestions, (Toby, Molly, Ebony Proudfoot, Okie, McKenzie, Licorice, Lively to name a few) but her name is a combo of one suggested by my mother who said KoKo was native American for night and Zilly- (suggested by McKenzie) because I thought that was too cute. So there you have it. KoKo-Zilly. Yep.

Anyways- hope you are all well, C