Sunday, August 24, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Saturday, May 31, 2008
A SONG FOR CLIFF
Fly like a dove and leave your fears behind (2x)
Soar 'round the world with open eyes and wings
To realize what you share
To realize what you hope
To realize what you fight,
To realize what you love
Open your wings and feel the rush of air (2x)
Reach out and follow your dreams so free
To live life anew
To live life for laughs
To live life for dreams
To live life for love
You can't keep looking at the past
Look toward the rising sun
Tomorrow brings a new day,
Take it and fly away.
~Caitlin Moss and Nancy Hartman
Soar 'round the world with open eyes and wings
To realize what you share
To realize what you hope
To realize what you fight,
To realize what you love
Open your wings and feel the rush of air (2x)
Reach out and follow your dreams so free
To live life anew
To live life for laughs
To live life for dreams
To live life for love
You can't keep looking at the past
Look toward the rising sun
Tomorrow brings a new day,
Take it and fly away.
~Caitlin Moss and Nancy Hartman
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
YOUR HIGH CLIFF: A Prayer for the Passing of Pastor Cliff Nunn
This morning I awoke to the saddest of news by email. Leroy Harbauer, the construction site manager for First Presbyterian Church in New Orleans, emailed to tell of the untimely passing of Pastor Cliff Nunn this past weekend.
Cliff has served as pastor of First Presbyterian Church New Orleans for the past twelve years. I could think of no better pastor than he to serve through the hell of Katrina and yet find the footing to be a pastor, an advocate, a visionary and organizer.
I’ve known Cliff since I was three or four and my father was the Associate Pastor at University Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge. During that time, Cliff experienced a call to ministry mid-life and from that point on used his fullest gifts as a conduit to places of need in South Louisiana.
This past summer, I became reacquainted with Cliff and his lovely wife Nieta during a mission trip to help rebuild local homes in the Broadmoor area. While there, our theme for the week was “What a Wonderful World”. We drew on the words from Psalm 31:21 of the The Message translation:
21Blessed GOD!
God's love is the wonder of the world.
As we unpacked the whole of the Psalm through the course of the week, I found myself thinking of Cliff from the opening words of the Psalm (excerpts from verses 1 through 5)
I run to you, GOD; I run for dear life.
Don't let me down!
Your granite cave is a hiding place,
Your high cliff aerie a place of safety.
You're my cave to hide in,
my cliff to climb.
Be my safe leader, be my true mountain guide.
free me from hidden traps; I want to hide in you.
I've put my life in your hands.
There is no worse way to exegete scripture than to cling to particular words. But in this situation, I smiled at the providence of reading ‘Cliff’ into this Psalm, “your high cliff is a place of safety.” Truly Cliff and Nieta and their ministry in the Broadmoor neighborhood and greater New Orleans has provided a place of safety and sanctuary for countless people. His visionary style can feel like a scary precipice for those faced with day to day details. But for those who need hope, encouragement, perseverance and peace in the midst of life’s worst storms, Cliff was a safe leader, a mountain guide. I can think of no other pastor who modeled what it meant to ‘put my life in your hands’ than Cliff did.
When budget came up short for rebuilding, Cliff prayed. When tools disappeared from the shed, Cliff prayed (and called a local reporter for front page coverage). When the church struggled with the constant change and transition post-Katrina, Cliff prayed. Always, these prayers were answered with funds, with faith, and with good fun humor. After the newspaper ran the tool need, the next day it was ‘raining tools’ as local citizens brought all they had to the tool shed to gain their maximum possible use.
When I first spoke to Cliff after Katrina, I asked him how his pastoral duties had changed. He said, “Now I am a community organizer, a construction site manager, a volunteer coordinator, and an advocate for the voiceless. I realize now that should have been my job description as a pastor all along.”
As a pastor myself, I will remember his redirection in pastoral leadership as a challenge and a charge.
The Psalm ends with wonderful words of encouragement:
23Love GOD, all you saints;
GOD takes care of all who stay close to him,
But he pays back in fullthose arrogant enough to go it alone.
24Be brave. Be strong. Don't give up.
Expect GOD to get here soon.
Cliff was never arrogant enough to go it alone; his call was to organize the community into something greater than their own woes or needs. In New Orleans, home of the Saints football team, Cliff Nunn stayed close to God and in so doing was a saint for the city. My prayer for those who grieve his loss as a pastor, friend, family member, place of safe sanctuary will be those words from verse 24: “Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up. Expect God to get here soon.”
Cliff has served as pastor of First Presbyterian Church New Orleans for the past twelve years. I could think of no better pastor than he to serve through the hell of Katrina and yet find the footing to be a pastor, an advocate, a visionary and organizer.
I’ve known Cliff since I was three or four and my father was the Associate Pastor at University Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge. During that time, Cliff experienced a call to ministry mid-life and from that point on used his fullest gifts as a conduit to places of need in South Louisiana.
This past summer, I became reacquainted with Cliff and his lovely wife Nieta during a mission trip to help rebuild local homes in the Broadmoor area. While there, our theme for the week was “What a Wonderful World”. We drew on the words from Psalm 31:21 of the The Message translation:
21Blessed GOD!
God's love is the wonder of the world.
As we unpacked the whole of the Psalm through the course of the week, I found myself thinking of Cliff from the opening words of the Psalm (excerpts from verses 1 through 5)
I run to you, GOD; I run for dear life.
Don't let me down!
Your granite cave is a hiding place,
Your high cliff aerie a place of safety.
You're my cave to hide in,
my cliff to climb.
Be my safe leader, be my true mountain guide.
free me from hidden traps; I want to hide in you.
I've put my life in your hands.
There is no worse way to exegete scripture than to cling to particular words. But in this situation, I smiled at the providence of reading ‘Cliff’ into this Psalm, “your high cliff is a place of safety.” Truly Cliff and Nieta and their ministry in the Broadmoor neighborhood and greater New Orleans has provided a place of safety and sanctuary for countless people. His visionary style can feel like a scary precipice for those faced with day to day details. But for those who need hope, encouragement, perseverance and peace in the midst of life’s worst storms, Cliff was a safe leader, a mountain guide. I can think of no other pastor who modeled what it meant to ‘put my life in your hands’ than Cliff did.
When budget came up short for rebuilding, Cliff prayed. When tools disappeared from the shed, Cliff prayed (and called a local reporter for front page coverage). When the church struggled with the constant change and transition post-Katrina, Cliff prayed. Always, these prayers were answered with funds, with faith, and with good fun humor. After the newspaper ran the tool need, the next day it was ‘raining tools’ as local citizens brought all they had to the tool shed to gain their maximum possible use.
When I first spoke to Cliff after Katrina, I asked him how his pastoral duties had changed. He said, “Now I am a community organizer, a construction site manager, a volunteer coordinator, and an advocate for the voiceless. I realize now that should have been my job description as a pastor all along.”
As a pastor myself, I will remember his redirection in pastoral leadership as a challenge and a charge.
The Psalm ends with wonderful words of encouragement:
23Love GOD, all you saints;
GOD takes care of all who stay close to him,
But he pays back in fullthose arrogant enough to go it alone.
24Be brave. Be strong. Don't give up.
Expect GOD to get here soon.
Cliff was never arrogant enough to go it alone; his call was to organize the community into something greater than their own woes or needs. In New Orleans, home of the Saints football team, Cliff Nunn stayed close to God and in so doing was a saint for the city. My prayer for those who grieve his loss as a pastor, friend, family member, place of safe sanctuary will be those words from verse 24: “Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up. Expect God to get here soon.”
Thursday, May 8, 2008
DON'T GIVE UP: Writing of Fourth and Fifth Grade Youth from a New Orleans Charter School
The Cajun Potato Dance is a two-step held together by a potato. A couple joins hands and then seeks to hold up a potato between their foreheads while dancing. The phrase that accompanies this dance, "Lache pas la potate", literally means "Don't let the potato drop." But in Cajun slang, the words intone "Don't give up."
During our writing workshop we had fourth and fifth graders share moments they had to not give up. These were shared with fourth graders in the Wilmington Area Elementary School and pen pals developed between two classrooms where students continued to encourage each other, "Don't give up." Below are a few excerpts from their writing:
RIDING MY BIKE: By Troyale
It was really hard to learn to ride a bike. I tried to learn how to ride a bike a long time ago. It was a small pink and white bike with training wheels. It said ‘Glamour Doll’ and it had my name on it.
I almost got it. I was falling. I also got a new bike that’s bigger. I was riding but then I fell. I am almost there. My mom is a great supporter. Now I have both training wheels off. Oh no!
I got it. I am riding! I can’t believe it. No training wheels. I’m so scared but I am doing it. “Yes,” I said to myself. I am proud.
MULTIPLICATION: By Le'Jon
In second grade, I was learning my multiplication facts. I didn’t really catch on too fast. It was very hard for me to remember them. The easiest ones for me to remember were the ones and two families. The hardest ones to remember were the seven and eight families.
I improved with help from my teacher and parents. My teacher helped me by giving me flash cards to study. I asked my mommy and my daddy to drill me every day. Every day my teacher gave us a multiplication drill. I got better and better.
I am in fifth grade now and they don’t intimidate me anymore. I can do them in less than three minutes. My teacher uses drills all the time. I can do it easily. Multiplication will never scare me again.
THE LEAP TEST: By Tariona
I worked hard to get to fifth grade. I was studying hard to pass the LEAP test because if I did not pass my mom would be mad at me. I would not be able to go to the skating rink, the movies, the blue bayou, or Six Flags. I passed and I am happy.
My teacher gave me LEAP samples to practice with. It was hard at first, but now I get it. I get it because my mom told me to study day and night. I was almost up until 1:00 a.m., but then my mom got up and told me to go to sleep.
At first I failed it. Then I studied harder to pass the test, so I achieved my goal. It was hard to get to the fifth grade, but I kept trying and now I am there. I think I did a great job!
During our writing workshop we had fourth and fifth graders share moments they had to not give up. These were shared with fourth graders in the Wilmington Area Elementary School and pen pals developed between two classrooms where students continued to encourage each other, "Don't give up." Below are a few excerpts from their writing:
RIDING MY BIKE: By Troyale
It was really hard to learn to ride a bike. I tried to learn how to ride a bike a long time ago. It was a small pink and white bike with training wheels. It said ‘Glamour Doll’ and it had my name on it.
I almost got it. I was falling. I also got a new bike that’s bigger. I was riding but then I fell. I am almost there. My mom is a great supporter. Now I have both training wheels off. Oh no!
I got it. I am riding! I can’t believe it. No training wheels. I’m so scared but I am doing it. “Yes,” I said to myself. I am proud.
MULTIPLICATION: By Le'Jon
In second grade, I was learning my multiplication facts. I didn’t really catch on too fast. It was very hard for me to remember them. The easiest ones for me to remember were the ones and two families. The hardest ones to remember were the seven and eight families.
I improved with help from my teacher and parents. My teacher helped me by giving me flash cards to study. I asked my mommy and my daddy to drill me every day. Every day my teacher gave us a multiplication drill. I got better and better.
I am in fifth grade now and they don’t intimidate me anymore. I can do them in less than three minutes. My teacher uses drills all the time. I can do it easily. Multiplication will never scare me again.
THE LEAP TEST: By Tariona
I worked hard to get to fifth grade. I was studying hard to pass the LEAP test because if I did not pass my mom would be mad at me. I would not be able to go to the skating rink, the movies, the blue bayou, or Six Flags. I passed and I am happy.
My teacher gave me LEAP samples to practice with. It was hard at first, but now I get it. I get it because my mom told me to study day and night. I was almost up until 1:00 a.m., but then my mom got up and told me to go to sleep.
At first I failed it. Then I studied harder to pass the test, so I achieved my goal. It was hard to get to the fifth grade, but I kept trying and now I am there. I think I did a great job!
MOVIES AND MONEY: By Lauren Meyer
If Katrina had been a movie, everyone would have paid to see. And let’s face it, today, movies aren’t cheap. First is the cost of actually making the movie: the set, the props, the special effects, and the list goes on. Then you have the cost of the cast and crew. From start to finish, millions of dollars are spent on just the production of a movie, making it ready for the big debut. Once the movie is out in theaters, the box office can bring in millions to billions of dollars.
Think about going on a date to the movies. You have the cost of tickets, popcorn, drinks, and maybe the extra treat for your sweetie. This one evening can deprive your wallet of $20 very easily. Finally, you have the people who wait for the movie to come out on video. Whether you purchase or rent the movie, you are still putting money into the already overflowing “movie piggy bank.” How many people are so carelessly willing to give $10 for two hours of entertainment? A lot.
But how many people are willing to give $10, or even $5, to support a good cause? Not as many. Can you even imagine what could be done if we, as an entire society, could be able and willing to spend our money on something that could make a difference? Don’t get me wrong, I love movies. Movies are great. But our priorities seem just a little “out of whack.” Many people would spend their money to see a movie about Katrina, but most are not willing to spend their money to help these victims who they observe.
After Hurricane Katrina, the city of New Orleans was devastated, emotionally and physically. A lot of people reached out to help, but a lot of people continued about their lives, having fun, and watching movies.
Think about going on a date to the movies. You have the cost of tickets, popcorn, drinks, and maybe the extra treat for your sweetie. This one evening can deprive your wallet of $20 very easily. Finally, you have the people who wait for the movie to come out on video. Whether you purchase or rent the movie, you are still putting money into the already overflowing “movie piggy bank.” How many people are so carelessly willing to give $10 for two hours of entertainment? A lot.
But how many people are willing to give $10, or even $5, to support a good cause? Not as many. Can you even imagine what could be done if we, as an entire society, could be able and willing to spend our money on something that could make a difference? Don’t get me wrong, I love movies. Movies are great. But our priorities seem just a little “out of whack.” Many people would spend their money to see a movie about Katrina, but most are not willing to spend their money to help these victims who they observe.
After Hurricane Katrina, the city of New Orleans was devastated, emotionally and physically. A lot of people reached out to help, but a lot of people continued about their lives, having fun, and watching movies.
WAKE-UP CALL: By Nicole Crumbacher
I am an active participant in my church’s youth group. Every summer the youth group is given a remarkable opportunity to go on a mission trip. I have gone on every mission trip possible throughout my high school career. I believe that just by participating in these rewarding adventures, everyone’s outlook on life involved in the mission will be changed for the better. It was on last summer’s mission trip to New Orleans that really changed my life forever.
My mission trip group would agree that waking up at six o’clock in the morning to prepare for the Sunday morning service after a whole day of traveling to New Orleans was just a little bit stressful. Let me tell you, sixty people waiting in line for four showers, and twenty-five girls in one bathroom wasn’t a very pretty sight. Even though the morning was filled with fighting for showers, getting ready, preparing music, and thinking of last minute things we needed for the service, it all turned out absolutely perfect. I didn’t know that by walking through those stain-glassed sanctuary doors my life would be changed forever!
The church in which we preached used to have approximately two hundred members, but since Katrina, only thirty-five members returned. During the service, as we were singing “Day’s of Elijah”, I looked out into the thirty-five member crowd to find them all with big, bright smiles. However, one person stood out to me. This tiny lady with a smile that lit up the room was looking at all of us as if we were the delight of her day. Later, I learned that she went through a great deal of hardship in the past two years because of Katrina. What stuck out to me even more than her inviting smile was her story. You would never know by looking at her, but this sweet eighty- year old lady along with thousands of other people went through more devastation in four days because of Katrina than most people do in a lifetime. These people literally lost all of their possessions and still have faith in God. That in itself is a miracle.
The lady’s story is as follows: As her house was filling up with water from the flood and all of her belongings were being destroyed, she climbed upstairs into her attic. Miraculously, she then broke through her roof from her attic! Little did she know, this would be just the beginning of her struggles. For two days, this eighty-year old lady sat on her roof awaiting rescue. It’s truly a miracle that she broke through her attic ceiling by herself, let alone staying on her roof for two whole days!
I truly see God shining through this lady. Her courage and strength were so strong that she could live to tell her story. I went down to New Orleans in order to help people but this lady along with other Katrina victims ended up helping me even more. They showed me that courage, determination, and faith in God, along with a bright smile can conquer any challenge in life.
My mission trip group would agree that waking up at six o’clock in the morning to prepare for the Sunday morning service after a whole day of traveling to New Orleans was just a little bit stressful. Let me tell you, sixty people waiting in line for four showers, and twenty-five girls in one bathroom wasn’t a very pretty sight. Even though the morning was filled with fighting for showers, getting ready, preparing music, and thinking of last minute things we needed for the service, it all turned out absolutely perfect. I didn’t know that by walking through those stain-glassed sanctuary doors my life would be changed forever!
The church in which we preached used to have approximately two hundred members, but since Katrina, only thirty-five members returned. During the service, as we were singing “Day’s of Elijah”, I looked out into the thirty-five member crowd to find them all with big, bright smiles. However, one person stood out to me. This tiny lady with a smile that lit up the room was looking at all of us as if we were the delight of her day. Later, I learned that she went through a great deal of hardship in the past two years because of Katrina. What stuck out to me even more than her inviting smile was her story. You would never know by looking at her, but this sweet eighty- year old lady along with thousands of other people went through more devastation in four days because of Katrina than most people do in a lifetime. These people literally lost all of their possessions and still have faith in God. That in itself is a miracle.
The lady’s story is as follows: As her house was filling up with water from the flood and all of her belongings were being destroyed, she climbed upstairs into her attic. Miraculously, she then broke through her roof from her attic! Little did she know, this would be just the beginning of her struggles. For two days, this eighty-year old lady sat on her roof awaiting rescue. It’s truly a miracle that she broke through her attic ceiling by herself, let alone staying on her roof for two whole days!
I truly see God shining through this lady. Her courage and strength were so strong that she could live to tell her story. I went down to New Orleans in order to help people but this lady along with other Katrina victims ended up helping me even more. They showed me that courage, determination, and faith in God, along with a bright smile can conquer any challenge in life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
