So here I am, fiddling with words in the only language I know. I feel that there has to be some way to further refine what I want to say, and then write it. If each time I hit the delete button represented a crumbled up ball of paper, the wastebasket would be already overflowing.
If I write in a subtle but meaningful way more than likely I will be the only one who knows what I am saying, and certainly the only one who appreciates the great significance of choosing one word over another.
My struggle isn’t that I don’t like what I am writing about (in fact, I am in love with it), it isn’t that I don’t like writing (when I was a child I told everyone who would listen I wanted to be a writer), it isn’t that I don’t have a solid command of the English language (I write well, enjoy speaking even to scary large groups, and love to read), it is more about me splitting the same hair over and over, unsure that the nuances I am casting are able to express exactly what I mean.
This is frustrating for someone who enjoys words. How many times can I turn the same rock over, hoping to see something a little closer to my imagination underneath it each time.
This continual struggle with words has been amplified this week by looking into the life and lyrics of Bob Dylan. After 40 studio albums and over 600 songs, I’d like to think the man has filled up many a wastebasket in his lifetime. Indeed, in 2016 he was recognized with the highest honor a writer or poet can receive, the Nobel Prize in Literature.
But what does that all boil down to? A high place? A throne? Immortality? No. But know that there is no reward greater than being able arrange the words that capture your heart in gratitude to your Creator and Savior for pulling you out of the miry clay and setting your feet upon a rock. Dylan’s highest achievement is none other than his deeply felt gratitude to God for saving him, and because we are all in this together, the words are for us, too.
You have given all there is to give
What can I give to you?
You have given me life to live
How can I live for you?
I know all about poison, I know all about fiery darts
I don’t care how rough the road is, show me where it starts
Whatever pleases you, tell it to my heart
Well, I don’t deserve it but I sure did make it through
What can I do for you?
– Bob Dylan
John Fischer The Catch 
Dylan wrote sincere words of gratitude for God saving him and I know we can all learn from this. I read this message and thank you for the message. Cannot improve on this one it says it all.
Let me please ask you Pastor John: “What can I do for you?” Please, pretty please consider doing as you once did before record yourself reading the day’s Catch…
Ball’s in your court, John.
But it’s always been in your court.
Mark has persistently asked for this service that you once provided and, apparently, have chosen to disregard.
You and Mr. Dylan ask, “What can I do for You” (presumably meaning God, hence the uppercase Y in You).
Perhaps one thing that you (lowercase) can do for Him (uppercase) is doing for Mark what has been asked of you by him several times.
One-person tennis gets to be real old real fast when there’s no one to partner up with or to return the balls.
It’s especially dispiriting when there is a person on the other side of the net who refuses to play or, worse, doesn’t even acknowledge or care about others’ attempts at being part of the game.
Maybe it’s time to return some of those balls lobbed your way by Mark and others, John.
Otherwise, it can become both hazardous and negligent having all those unreturned balls laying around on one end of the court, especially as the stadium lights dim and turn off completely, leaving only a lit-up exit sign.
Simply loitering on the court or in any other arena is tantamount to being lukewarm.
As my Finnish grandmother said often, “Either fish or cut bait!”
‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, you did it to Me.’
~ Matthew 25:40
Shalom, Peace…
TY bobnearseattle, appreciate the support!
You’re welcome, Mark.
Not certain “what (more) can I do for you” in this specific instance but I guess we’ll both find out whether the prophet applies their message personally and literally or is merely honing their talent at prose.
Shalom, Peace my friend…
🙂
Well Pastor John continues to ignore other’s plea for help…
Yeah, Mark, sad to say but I really wasn’t expecting a response – helpful or otherwise – from John or other Catch executive either.
My “spidey senses” have been tingling for a while now and I suspect the Catch leadership has been gravitating toward the same temptation that has long enticed churches that were once Christ-centered, Spirit-led, and servant-minded… but eventually evolved into mega-ministries that spread themselves too thin to care about anything besides prestigious growth and raking in the bucks.
And the lead pastors mingling (let alone building deep friendships) with the poor, destitute, and wandering in their congregations???
Forget it! That’s what they preach for their congregants to do!
You and I, my friend, along with many others who were originals (who were optimistic and interacted with the Catch in its early years) are small potatoes now; and, judging by the current rate of interaction (as compared to the early years), we’re obsolete and ignorable to the Catch hierarchy.
Perhaps, this is God’s way of telling us to move on.
We did it before and that’s when we discovered the Catch as an alternative Church that we could support, count on, and get behind.
It may be time for us to do so again.
It now appears Team Catch is reaching for the shiniest apple at the top of the tree while being blind to the sweetest fruit higher up in the sky.
They have no time or desire to give attention to the small potatoes on the ground.
Hang in there, Mark, and don’t be afraid to rock the boat!
Shalom, Peace, my friend…
🙂
I missed this Catch but rereading the comments, I agree with Mark’s sentiments as well as your analysis of the Catch situation described, Bob My vibes created doubt in my mind a about the vibrancy that had come and gone.
First of all John’s response required “a pulling of teeth” before you actually got that answer. Leadership is about telling the people you serve what your plans are and what you are trying to do, perhaps also ask for input. So first of all communication transparency of where your goals are headed is important. If you do not do that you lose loyal and vibrant membership.
Just recently there was on an on zoom Bible study. Mark and I where the only ones that interacted. Then it was suddenly dropped no explanation. The vibe was of a group of solid christians who didn’t look outside their own circle and were trying to relive the past. In addition there was also little knowledge of other christian groups and authors in North America that are not in their senior years and past. Therefore not well known anymore. Staying current is also a good way to gain new membership. Being aware of other authors and evangelists give a better perspective of where God is going and see where he is working and follow him.
Chandler was rumored to also begin to write Catches, What happened to that.
I once joined a seniors bible study group in my church. After a few meetings I asked to be moved to a young people or young family group or at least a group that represented a cross section of society. This made me live for the future and use the past only as wisdom for the future not an attempt to relive it.
i have served in Children’s Ministry most of my life. Children are not the future church, but are the church of today as much as the senior in a wheelchair. The teaching of God’s Word to kids kept me young and look to the future. God has great plans for seniors but if you stop dreaming dreams then you waste away. Now that is a waste of the wisdom God has taken so many years to build into your character.
Anyway it is up to The Catch to keep its members in the loop. Right now I am sitting on the fence, for how long I do not know. The question is,” Will I go or will I stay.?” Like you said Bob “the ball is in your court John”.
To John’s reply “the proof is in the pudding”!
Mark and Bob,
Mark, thanks for turning me on to January 25 comments. I missed them until your message on the most recent Catch. I apologize to both of you for not paying closer attention. We are not trying for the shiny apple on the top of the tree or for a mega audience, although we are trying to enlarge our audience simply because we want to reach more people with the gospel of welcome, grace turned outward. We are especially trying to set up a specific ministry linking the over 65 crowd with Millennials and younger. This has been Marti’s vision for some time and we are finally making progress. You will see more on this later. Here is one attempt (in progress) at putting this in words. “Join our movement to bridge the generational gap, offering seniors the chance to share their wisdom, connect with the vibrant energy of Millennials, and together create a community where both generations thrive in newfound companionship and mutual understanding.” As for your request for audio version of the Catch, we will soon have that feature and much more. We are finally just a couple short weeks from a new website for which we received funding recently. I have been waiting for that to be set up because it will include a much more vigorous YouTube channel, more podcasts and more easily facilitate an audio/video version of the Catch. However, because of your persistent requests I will commit to getting something out this week regardless of the progress on the website. You guys are the heart of the Catch and I want you to know you matter and you have been heard. God bless you, and thank you for your faithfulness. – John
TY Pastor John 4 the response, appreciate it & you!