What does it mean as a Christian to live in a world where more faith is placed in skepticism and the loudest volume given to sarcasm?I recently read a blog, Living Spirituality, where the phrase “post trust society” was used. Dr. Gregory J. Laughery writes, “One of the salient features of the twenty-first century is that we are living in a post-trust culture. As I have recently mentioned, this means that our ability to trust institutions, governments, politicians, economics, and churches is coming to an end.”We no longer trust. We blame, make fun, or spew angry accusations on our political and church relationships. Twitter makes it easy to launch rumors that build unease and how simple it is to forward that sarcastic email than to send it to the trash. The thought of a post trust society raises fear in my heart. Will this lead to more violence, anarchy, and threats to security? The whole situation makes me once again aware of how little I really do control in life.I am guilty of all … [Read more...]
Dancing with The Star
“Who do you think will win?“My wife is addicted to that show.”“My daughter is pulling for that guy who plays for the Bengals.”Snippets of conversation I overheard this weekend, all concerning the television show Dancing with the Stars.Then I read this quote: “God is the lead dancer and the soul is the partner completely attuned to the rhythm and patterns set by the partner. She does not lead, but neither does she hang limp like a sack of potatoes.” Thomas Merton, quoted in Listening to the Music of the Spirit: The Art of Discernment, by David Lonsdale.Now that is the Star I want to dance with every moment of my life. My deepest desire of my heart is for God to be my lead dancer.Reminded me of the story I bet many of you are familiar with:“When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and … [Read more...]
Winner: Present Perfect Book Giveaway
We have a winner! A number was drawn randomly from the commenters ( of course not my responses!)The winner is...... KAREN!!I have your address and will put a copy of your book in the mail this week. I hope it blesses your spiritual journey.Jeanie … [Read more...]
God – The Master Builder – Psalm 127:1 – Lectio Divina
The Carpenter by Nathan GreeneUnless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. Psalm 127: 1Lord, You are the Master Builder. I am a mere apprentice.You are in charge.You hand me the supplies I need for the day’s work.You give me the tools and teach me how to use them.You guide my hands in learning the craftsmanship of my trade.You hold the final blueprints - I just follow your daily assignment.You see the the whole picture - I only see the nail and board in front of me.Oswald Chambers wrote: “Jesus, the Master Builder, takes us over so that He may direct and control us completely for His enterprises and His building plans; and no one has any right to demand where he will be put to work.” Reporting for duty! Where to, Boss? … [Read more...]
Living within the Presence of God – Every Moment, Every Day
“Each moment is a revelation of God.” Jean-Pierre de Caussade"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus". - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18The phrase pray continually beckons my heart. Living each moment in the presence of God is a deep hunger within me. Surveying my shelves this week, I discovered quite a few books discussing this spiritual practice and realized once again just how God is inviting me to dwell with him in every moment – even the ordinary ones throughout my day. Wow – isn’t that just amazing? God – in all His glory, majesty, power, wisdom – desires to spend time with little ol’ me. With all of us! And not just an occasionally fleeting visit or an hour on Sunday, but every minute, second, and nanosecond. Gregory Boyd wrote a book I read this week: Present Perfect – Finding God in the Now – that relit this desire within my heart. (See review below and be sure to leave a comment because I will be giving … [Read more...]
PLAN B – Spiritual Lessons when Life is Not Fair
What can we learn from life’s Plan B’s? Plan B is a new direction we take or are forced to take when what we originally planned/hoped/dreamed for fell apart. Often we are not happy when we first enter this new place – we are angry, disappointed, and hurt. I recently read new book by Pete Wilson, called Plan B (see review below of the book that I received as part of Booksneeze book reviews). This book inspired me to think about the Plan B’s in my life and the lessons I learned.Every life overflows with Plan B’s (and probably C’s. D’s and XYZ’s too). The honest truth is that we are not really in control no matter what we chose to think.I planned to have my dad walk me down the aisle – he died when I was 16.I envisioned my mom holding my babies – she died ten months before I conceived.I thought I would earn my Masters degree before the age of 30 – I did achieve that dream, but not until my 40s.Bill and I thought we would live our entire lives in a midsize college town - yet God planted … [Read more...]
Loving Others as Jesus Love Us – Lectio Divina – 5/2/10
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34Love one anotherLove one another? Love the person that hurt me? Love the lady in church who thinks she is better than the rest of us? Love the person who created so much sadness in my life? Love that smelly, dirty person lying in the back alley? Love another whose values seem so foreign to me? Love others who strapped bombs to themselves and slaughter innocent people? Lord I am sure I can never love others as you have loved me.My heart is not large enough, not strong enough, not wise enough.My efforts fail to keep this command.I come to You with my weak and empty heart: only You can strengthen me and fill me with Your love. My love is inadequate. My love is weak. My love fails.Your love is plentiful. Your love is robust. Your love thrives.You are Love! … [Read more...]
CATHERINE OF SIENA – LESSONS TO REMEMBER
Each year on April 29, many churches remember or commemorate Catherine of Siena. Commemorate means recognizing and learning from the lives of exemplary Christians throughout church history. Until a few years ago I never heard of this fascinating lady, Catherine of Siena, and she has much to share with us today. Catherine of Siena lived during the chaos and violence of the fourteenth century, a time of the Black Death, famine, and numerous civil wars. Catherine was the 25th of the 26 children of a northern Italy wool dyer and was born in 1347 at Siena, Italy. Catherine claimed to have had her first vision of Christ when she was aged five or six. He smiled at her and blessed her. At age seven she vowed chastity, but that was not unusual among little girls at the time, and they were not supposed to keep the vow once they reached puberty. A girl was regarded as marriageable at twelve, which implied that she took an interest in wearing make-up and bleaching and curling her hair. Catherine … [Read more...]