Quality Music and Books

March 16, 2008Today my husband Rick and I celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary, and I wonder where the time has gone.  Thirty-four years!  How can that be?  Like all couples we have had our ups and downs–but now as the years race on our time together grows sweeter almost every day.

We went to church this morning (March 16), and then went up to Hinckley, MN, for a fine dinner and the Travis Tritt concert at the casino run by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.  Since neither of us normally frequent casinos, we don’t know how to operate slot machines.  There was some extra time, though, and the casino gave us $10 each free.  I have a feeling that if anyone watched while we used our $20 they found it pretty funny.

I remember being asked by a pastor’s wife how we met.  She wanted to use us as an example for young couples.  Well, our first meeting didn’t measure up because we met on dime night, the eve of Thanksgiving 1973, at a place called Uncle Sam’s in downtown Minneapolis.

That night I went downtown with a girlfriend.  She said, “Mary, everytime I go out with one of my girlfriends she meets the man she is going to marry.” 

“Not me,” I replied.  That was the furthest thing from my mind–marriage!–can you imagine?  On that night Uncle Sam’s was packed.  We didn’t really go to bars to drink in those days, we went to dance and meet people.  Myra and I couldn’t get a drink anyhow.  We couldn’t even walk around there were so many people in that place.

Here came this tall young man asking me to dance.  At the ripe “mature” age of 21 years I judged him to be younger, but didn’t want to turn him down.  So, I told him that I wouldn’t dance with him until I got a drink.  He (Rick) left, and in not too long of a time he was back–with the drink!  His table with about six guys was ordering drinks by the tray.  (Perhaps that was why Myra and I had none?) 

Now I had to dance with him, and off we went.  On the dance floor we chit-chatted a little as the noise allowed.  Wouldn’t you know, he told me he was a Sunday School teacher!  I was impressed since that isn’t the usual conversation one would hear at Uncle Sam’s.

Soon Myra and I had enough of the “action” and decided to leave, and so did Rick and his buddies.  Now the tides turned for Rick, because after asking for my telephone number he kissed me goodbye.  One kiss. 

Yes, I know it was 1974 and the age of freedom just past flower power and all that, but it wasn’t that way for me.  I thought him rather forward, just having met and all.  The next day Rick called in the late afternoon. I had just returned from my aunt and uncle’s house in South Minneapolis.  As per usual even for today, I got lost on the way there.  My route from Columbia Heights to South Minneapolis included a jaunt past the Medina Ballroom, which just happens to be on the way to Buffalo.

Rick impressed me again.  He didn’t laugh at my very unusual route.  Well, we went out that Friday.  Before Christmas he had already asked me to marry him, and I said no.  One thing led to another and some errors in judgement were made.  On March 16, 1974, we were married at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in North Minneapolis.  You see, you can’t get married in the Orthodox Church (my church) during Lent.

Three children followed over the next six years during which Rick went to school and earned a business degree.  It was hard and money was very tight, but we were absolutely delighted with our beautiful children.  Following Rick’s completing his coursework I went back to school — and went back — and then back again.  I finished one degree, a Bachelor of Music, and have two other nearly-done diplomas.

Our family had a very hard ten years when I was in therapy for depression, but the Lord miraculously brought me through.  We are still healing from those years.  I put my faith in God that he will see us to the end and can finally put that time behind us. 

The three children turned into six with marriage, and now we are extremely blessed to have four exquisite grandchildren.  Rick continues to be very busy at his job, which I am very thankful he has with the United States’ unstable economy.  Together with Rick, for I could never do it without him, we will soon begin our second year as owners of a Christian music and bookstore in Osseo. 

He is my partner and my friend.  God knew what He was doing when He sent me Rick to be my husband.  I am full of emotion and ideas, he is logical and practical.  I perhaps talk a bit too much, he is quiet so he listens. 

I know it’s not this way for every person, couple, or marriage, and because it is for us I am humbly and extremely grateful for what is.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, for this wonderful Godly man.  Amen.

It may seem to you a strange subject – WORDS – but that is what I am thinking on this evening.  Words are our main form of communication, our spoken language.  Some languages sound harsh to us, and that is most likely subjective since it is judged by our ears in relation to what we are accustomed to hearing. 

French, Spanish and Italian are called the romance languages.  The words flow smoothly from one to another.  There are those that find German harsh, yet I have heard it spoken and sung beautifully and eloquently.

As close as anyone can count, there are 6,912 living languages in the world today (Ethnologue).  I don’t know if this accounts for all the variations within a language as determined by location.  Even so, almost 7,000 is quite a few.  I wonder how many there were at Babel when the “confusion of tongues” occurred. 

I am noticing how the number of languages are described – as living.  Of course, this is in relation to those in the category of dead or no longer spoken.  Why there are those that are no longer in use is not my point today, only the living ones.

Living languages—alive, in use, and active.  What makes a language living other than it is heard out loud or seen in gestures?  Words by themselves are inanimate and still can be so when heard.  What makes them active is seen by what is created in response to being heard—an emotion, a thought, or activity. 

Words can create responses even when not understood by the inflection carried in the moving pitch of the words or the lack there of, and the audible volume.  Have you had the opportunity to observe babies?  They don’t necessarily react to the actual words that are spoken but only the extensions (emotions) accompanying the words.  By how you speak there are smiles, frowns and wonder.

When understanding and extensions are put together words as inanimate things are changed into true active, living speech.  To carry this further, even deeper emotional activity occurs when the living speech follows a specific pattern, turning into music—for that is what sung music is.

There are running jokes in many churches that involve coffee and food.  You might know some of them – the meals that always have lime jello with carrots and celery, the coffee hours and the like.  The potlucks—might actually be more important than one might think. 

One church I worked at called their monthly potlucks Agape meals.  I believe this is meant to mean a time of true Christian fellowship among believers.  You may ask, “Wasn’t the church service the true Christian fellowship?”  That perhaps is true for some, but my defining of church services is that it’s a different form of fellowship, that of the worship and interaction of us both corporately and individually with God.  Our worship and praise go up, God comes down, the Word is spoken and interpreted, after which we go out to proclaim the Word to others … and to ourselves.

And so the story I tell now, even though there is no “Once upon a time” could be called “The Story that Will Never End.”  It began with the Passover, a shared meal–a time for fellowship– among God’s chosen people in remembrance of the liberation from Egyptian slavery when they were freed from their bondage to the Pharoah.  The actual title, Passover, refers to the blood of lambs put on the doorposts by the Israelites.  God passed over their homes when the terrible tenth and final plague was delivered upon Egypt. (Exodus 11:1-12:36)

Then, much later, Jesus came.  It was now the time, as prophesied in Deuteronomy 24:16, that a new covenant would be spoken by Jesus.  It took place at the Passover meal shared by Jesus and His disciples right before He died on the cross.  This meal is known by several names–the Last Supper, Maundy Thursday (the day of the meal), the Passover.

In the upper room of the unknown house, is where the meal takes place.  Words spoken—active, living, passionate, raw emotion words—about being a servant and foot washing, of the betrayal to come, of Jesus’ sorrow, of the disciples’ responses.   

Here we listen to the new covenant spoken by Jesus.  And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.  (NIV, © International Bible Society, Zondervan publ.)

Look at what we have here—the breaking of bread in remembrance of Jesus giving his life, and the drinking from the cup—the wine taken in remembrance of the life blood he shed from his own body on the cross given for our sins.

Do you see the connections?  Isn’t it miraculously marvelous how the whole Bible works together and goes in one direction??

There’s action!  There’s emotion!

The blood as represented by the wine/grape juice (or actually is  the blood depending upon what you believe about it) is to be done in remembrance of the crucifixion.  This blood, given for us, our sins no longer remembered – i.e. forgiven—in judgement we will be passed over because Jesus, God’s firstborn son, paid the price.  Jesus paid the price for our exemption, our exodus from the penalty of sin.  We do this as an act of remembrance.

Now, on Sunday, March 16, 2008, many Christians will be attending Palm Sunday church services.  However, Palm Sunday is much more than this—it is also the Sunday of the Passion, the beginning of Holy Week.  Perhaps your church doesn’t do too much different for this week.  In the Orthodox church, where I worshipped until I was 21 years old, and then in the Lutheran church we do.  (The Orthodox Church follows the Julian Calendar.  In 2008 Palm Sunday will be on April 20.)

There is a reason for the word passion in the title, for how can any Christian deny the powerful emotions that erupt (or should erupt) when reading the story of Jesus last week in human form?  No one alive now or ever could write a more gripping story than that of the last days of Jesus, the crucifixion and then the resurrection.

The words of the Passion are far from being inanimate objects with no feeling.  The words of this story are true.  They portray love, betrayal, humiliation, and death.

Ah!! …. But the ending …..

It is the happiest ending that will ever be written or told.   Someday, before we know it, we will be in heaven with Jesus.  Angels will be singing praises.  Our bodies will never again experience grief or be in pain.

We too will hear real angels singing and praising God– “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”  Our voices will be in the choir too!  Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:  ”To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!“ (NIV, Revelation 5

It’s all because our passover lamb of the New Covenant who shed his blood for us so that we wouldn’t have to do it. 

Here is the last very important part.  We are no longer a group with group consequences.  We are now—each and every one of us—accountable for ourselves as it says in Deuteronomy 24: “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.”  (© 2001 Crossway Bibles/Good News Publishers) 

My invitation to you.
I invite you to become a disciple, a follower of Jesus.  There is no time like right now to do it.  Please, ask Jesus to forgive your sins, your wrongdoings.  Ask the One who made the ultimate sacrifice for all who seek and ask.

He expects nothing of you in return, but, you will want to return to Him—what you were given and more.  You won’t be able to stop yourself.  Becoming a follower of Jesus may not make your life happy-la-dee-dah all the time.  Even so, I will be highly surprised if your life, described by living, active words isn’t much more rich and fulfilling.

May God bless your journey,
      … babamarusia (aka Mary)

Quality Music and Books in Osseo, Minnesota, my retail Christian store will have been in business for one year on April 9, 2008.  What a difficult blessed year it has been.  So many challenges have come along, each one an opportunity for spiritual growth.  I would like to share with you The QMB Cross.  It has been done as a quilted panel.  The QMB cross has its own story – for perhaps another time.  …. babamarusia

The QMB Cross
Designed by the Holy Spirit
Created by Mary Katherine May
 

• GOLD symbolizes the Risen Christ
  
• RED is the blood of the New Covenant, given and shed for our sins.
  
• POINTED BEAMS show that Jesus goes out to the whole world with the gift of salvation.  “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Mt. 18)
  
• SUNFLOWER CENTER:  The sunflower always turns its face to the light.  Jesus is the “Light of the World.” (John 8:12)  There are three flowers, symbolizing the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  
• WHITE BACKGROUND is how we are with Jesus forgiveness, “Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” (Ps. 51)
  
• QUILTING     STRIPES stand for the wounds that heal. “And with His stripes we are healed.” (Is. 53:5)
  

Keeping Track of God in 2008
by Mary Katherine May
of Quality Music and Books, Osseo MN

Our early 21^st century society as a whole has very different expectations than citizens had who began the 20^th century.  Having been born in 1952 I bridge the two centuries right in the middle, and even in the 1950s much of what we take for granted now didn’t exist.

Cassettes, CDs, and DVDs had not been invented.  We watched TV in black & white and listened to records, styled our hair with bobby pins and rollers, and wore stockings — one on each leg because there were no pantyhose.  Since no one had air conditioning windows were open in the summertime, we flew in airplanes with propellers, there were no laptop computers take along anywhere, and we didn’t “text.”

Our current world is fast-paced and full of action.  There are many more opportunities, and they have created higher expectations with how we want to be entertained.  The need for bigger thrills goes hand-in-hand with ever increasing sensational extremes.   It wasn’t necessarily so thrilling when I was young.

During my childhood years in the 1950s the polio vaccine was a miracle drug.  I remember our family going three times to Hayes Elementary School in Fridley, Minnesota, to receive oral vaccine.  It would have been about 1960 or 1961, because it was after mom married again.   A lot of people died or endured problems for a lifetime from this disease.  How could I know at that time that the mother of the man I would marry had polio, and that it would take away her ability to walk in her later years?

Nowadays a good many people are adults before they experience death for the first time.  One hundred years ago this wasn’t the norm.  At that time people of all ages died, and because of that imminency God was a lot closer than He is now.  As for me, by the time I graduated from high school I had experienced several deaths. There was my dad, at least one uncle, and one of my grandfathers.

When I was nineteen years old my beloved Dido, my special grandpa, passed away.  It was terrible to watch my grandmother, so beside herself with grief, crying out her pain over not being there for him when it happened.  At the hospital she pounded on the doctor’s chest, he was Dido’s relative—“Why didn’t anyone tell me to come?”  I haven’t seen anything like it since.  By the time the two of us claimed his few personal belongings I was numb.  That day was a life-changing day for me, because some of my childlike innocence was gone.

After all that and the preparation for his burial, though, a wonderful thing happened at his funeral.  In our Orthodox tradition, everyone has an opportunity to say goodbye to the deceased, and then the casket is closed.  Following the last farewell on that gloomy, rainy day in August, the sun streamed through one of the stained-glass windows and right onto my Dido.  To this day I believe that was God telling us that he had taken my grandfather home, and it gave me peace.

People as a whole “back then” knew that they had no control over life, and in many cases there was not a whole lot available to alleviate suffering.  I don’t think it too far-fetched to think that living so close to death should have resulted in anger against God, hatred of God, or denial of God—and it did—but not that often.  Instead, perhaps surprisingly, the opposite was true.   It brought people nearer to God. 

There was comfort in knowing that loved ones lived on and were better off — they were going to be happier.  It was the truth that keeping one’s affairs in order was important because “you never know when.”  From life experience people knew that they were helpless, and drew strength from a loving, powerful God.

Do you see what has happened?  Through the miracles of medicine, diseases that once killed people don’t anymore.  People who might have died from accidents can be brought back to life.  Is that wonderful?  Certainly!  But what about the need for God?  Has our need for Him disappeared with the diseases?  Have the miracle medicines replaced our desire to keep in close touch with Him?  Do you think that you truly have control over every circumstance including death?

In 2008 we now have cell phones, computer games, ipods, and fast cars that let us go and do all kinds of things all the time.  So I ask you a question.  How many in their busy-ness are racing to God?   We still work hard, but it’s not the dollar of pride in a job well done, it’s the dollar for the lake home, the winter vacation, and the sports equipment.

There is a great silence encompassing us and our country right now, perhaps the calm before the storm.  I don’t know.  For me, to live one day at a time is enough.  Many who profess Christian faith keep silent.  My friends, that is not Christian.  Archbishop Anthony Bloom in his book, Beginning to Pray, says this.

“Isn’t that what could, what should happen with regard to our riches when we turn to God?  Surely they should become pale and grey, just as a general background against which the only figure that matters would appear in intense relief?  We would like just one touch of heavenly blue in the general picture of our life, in which there are so many dark sides.  God is prepared to be outside it, He is prepared to take it up completely as a cross, but He is not prepared to be simply part of our life.” **

Here is the truth.  God is here.  It is still true that our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, died for our sins.  He is still the simple answer to the emptiness of life.  You will never find him in all of the hectic activities with which you occupy yourselves. 

You will find him in death, the death of Jesus that brought forgiveness, that leads to wholeness and then finally into eternity.

You can keep yourself busy every waking moment and still be lonely, still be empty, and still not feel complete.  You can be in a beautiful place—that will never be as beautiful as when you know Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord.  Promise.  I have had it both ways—the before and after.  There is a difference between beautiful and exquisite. 

I am inviting you to the exquisite.

We don’t need to go back to the days when death was a harsh reality of life experienced by children before they were old enough enough to understand.  What we need to do is bow down before God and ask forgiveness, truly say, “I am sorry for my sins,” and then start fresh with a new way—a way that will bring us closer and closer to the beauty of heaven every single day.

Have your fun things and fun times.  Enjoy the delights of invention.  However, please remember that when that final day comes it will all be left behind.  There is a very good reason for the priority list – first God, then family, and last everything else.

There will still be discouraging times and sadness.   In those lonely moments, though, God will be present, holding you close and bringing comfort.  You know those times when you feel like there isn’t a single person in the whole world who knows what it’s like to go through what you are going through?  Guess who will be there with you?  Yup.  It’s God. 

He’s waiting, always, with his arms open to bring you close and never let go.  Simply ask—Jesus, I am truly sorry for my sins, please come into my life to stay.  Amen.

May I share one of my very favorite hymns with you?  This was written by Sir Henry Williams Baker. 

The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.

Wanting for each of you the very best blessings from our Heavenly Father.

babamarusia (Mary Katherine May)

**(Beginning to Pray by Anthonly Bloom, p. 31, Paulist Press, 0-8091-1509-3.  Available through Quality Music and Books, 763-424-2425.)