Same Blog... New Blog Address...

I have moved this blog to a different address... same blog, just on a different site.  Basically I exported this blog to a wordpress site...  so all previous posts from this site will also be at the new site.

To get there, simply click on the following link:

                 faithtrekblog.wordpress.com

All future posts will be at the new site.  Hope to see you there!

Aurora... All We Can Do Now...

We don't always understand why the bad and senseless things happen in our world...   and we aren't always in a position to do anything about them when they do happen...  but we can always pray.

Today, we learned of a shooting rampage that occurred in Aurora, Colorado last night, as fans who were watching the new Batman movie, were attacked by a man armed with tear gas and several weapons.  At least 12 people died in the attack and many more were injured.  The various news stations on radio and tv can fill you in on other details.

At this point, the only thing most of us can do to help this situation is to pray...  for the people shot and injured, for those who were killed and for their families and friends.  I would suggest that we also pray for the gunman (who authorities believe they have in custody) and his family and friends who may be trying to make just as much sense out of this as the family and friends of those who were shot.

At times when our hearts ache, it is hard to know what to pray.  I saw this on Facebook and am using it in this post... if you are not sure what words to use as you pray, borrow these...   but also know that God's Holy Spirit is also praying to God for you with deep "groanings that cannot be expressed in words" (Romans 8:26 NLT).

This incident reminds us that life is fleeting...  don't wait to tell those you love, your friends and family, how you feel about them... and spend some extra time with them... and remember those whose lives have been changed forever because of this event, and countless others like it that never make it into the news.

Beginnings of True Discipleship...

"Read and pray daily.

It is for your life;

There is no other way:

Else you will be a trifler

All your days."

~John Wesley

True Love...

A friend of mine, Jeannie Harper, posted this on Facebook today...  It is such a good reminder of what true love is about, that I am re-posting it here.  Thank you Jeannie!! 
‎


"Is it possible for the rose to say, 'I will give my fragrance to the good people who smell me, but I will withhold it from the bad?' 

Or is it possible for the lamp to say, 'I will give my light to the good people in this room, but I will withhold it from the evil people?'

Or can a tree say, 'I'll give my shade to the good people who rest under me, but I will withhold it from the bad?'

These are images of what love is about."

~Anthony de Mello, Jesuit Priest (1931 - 1987)

On this Day of Worship...

A simple prayer for each of you:


                       Shabbat Shalom

Witnessing to God's Greatness...

For this, O LORD, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.                                                        ~2 Samuel 22:50

The 22nd chapter of 2nd Samuel is one of David's songs, a psalm if you will of praise to the LORD.  In the first 49 verses, David lists a multitude of things that the LORD has done for him, and then concludes by saying "for this", for all the things that you have done for me LORD, "I will praise you..."

As we read this song of David (2 Samuel 22:1-51) it is clear that he is praising God for specific things God has done for him...  Some of them include David's praising the LORD for saving him from real enemies who would have actually killed him in battle...  for giving him victory over enemies and making him king over Israel...  for giving him, as king, strength and power so that people of foreign nations submit to his rule...

As we read this song of David, we see how David is giving a testimony, a witness to the greatness of the LORD.

Like David, we can be a witness and give a testimony to the greatness of God.  We can remember things that God has done for us, and like David, say, "for this, O LORD, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name."

If you are willing to do this, you will find that God will provide opportunities for you to tell others what God has done for you... not to tell them what they have to think or to believe, but just to share how God has worked in wondrous ways in your life, and how you praise God for it.

Are you willing to be a witness of what God has done?

Renewal, Transformation and God's Will...

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will.   ~Romans 12:2


In what way do you go about "renewing" your mind?  How you renew your mind, and who or what you allow to be a part of that renewal, will most likely determine how you are "transformed"...  If you wish to know God's "good, pleasing and perfect will" for your life, then God's Holy Spirit must be the One in whom and through whom your renewal is accomplished.

Just something for you to reflect on as you go about your Saturday activities...

Prayer, Praise and Daily Devotions...

As you woke this morning and began your day, did it include a little time to say, "Praise you" and "Thank you" to the Lord?  Praising God simply for who he is and thanking him that you woke to see his newly created day?  The Psalmist reminds us:


"From the rising of the sun to it's setting the name of the LORD is to be praised."
                                                                                               ~PS 113:3 NASB


"The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands."                                                        ~Ps 19:1 NASB


"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting."
                                                                                               ~Ps 118:1 NASB


Did you give all of this day to the Lord?  Did you invite the Lord into your life, to guard your heart and guide your steps, as you live out the day? Or did you, as so many of us do, simply get started with the busy-ness or even the fun-ness of the day, thinking that there was so much to do, that you had no time now for a "devotional time" and you'd do it later?  


In his book, A Pocket Guide to Prayer, Dr. Steve Harper reminds us "God does not call us to have a devotional time but to live a devotional life."


There is much that can be said of what it means to live a devotional life, but in the context of this post, I believe it means prayer is to be ever present in every aspect and at all times of our daily lives.  


The Apostle Paul reminds us:
"Pray without ceasing;"  ~1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB


Prayer is not meant to be just another thing we do added onto the rest of the things we do in our daily lives... it is not meant to be another item to check off of our daily to-do list...  Rather, prayer is to be that which undergirds, infuses and invades all of the other aspects of our daily lives, in both obvious and subtle ways.  Prayer, as communication with God, is that which keeps us in contact with our source of strength and joy and wisdom and life, so that we might get through all of each days challenges - challenges that usually exceed our to-do list.  


Again Paul reminds us:
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  ~Philippians 4:6-7 NASB


The day is not yet over... we can still give thanks and praise to the Lord for this day... we can yet connect to our source of strength and joy and wisdom and life for the living of this day.


Once again, borrowing from Dr. Harper's A Pocket Guide to Prayer, I offer this simple prayer for you to use as you begin to live your "devotional life":


"Dear God, I rise from my bed of sleep, to adore your holy name, to live for you this day, to work with you in the building of your kingdom, and to find in you eternal life.  In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen."


Don't wait until tomorrow morning when you are getting out of bed to pray this beginning prayer.  Wake up from your "sleep" and do it now!

A new commandment I give you, that you love one another...  John 13:34

A Prayer...

I came across this today as I was taking some time for prayer and thought I would share it with you.

Set us afire, Lord,
Stir us, we pray!
While the world perishes
We go our way,
Purposeless, passionless,
Day after day.
Set us afire, Lord,
Stir us, we pray!
      ~Ralph S. Cushman


I pray the Lord will bless you, "stir you" and "set you afire" to do his will on this day and every day to come!

Glory to God...

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be! Amen!

Give thanks and praise to God as you worship on this day!

Christology...

By the very definition of the word, Christology is the study of Christ.  We seek to understand Christ and the work that he did by asking the questions: Who is Jesus?  What is the significance of his work?  And even as we begin to look for our answers, we find that these are questions that were being asked even while Jesus still walked on this earth, as all who marveled at his teachings and at his miracles and at his mighty deeds asked themselves and each other, “What kind of man is this?” (Matthew 8:27 NIV1984)  The inevitable question that would have followed, even if it was an unspoken one was, “What does this mean?” 

It was the same question John the Baptist wondered, as he sent his followers to ask Jesus if Jesus was the Messiah.  In answer, Jesus told them to report to John what they had seen and heard of Jesus, so that John could answer Jesus’ implied question: What does my work tell you about who I am?   In asking those questions posed by the study of Christology, I find myself, like John the Baptist, being asked by Christ, “What does my work tell you about who I am?”  And then the next question is asked, “What does who I AM mean for your life?”

HALLELUJAH!! CHRIST IS RISEN!!

CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!!

HALLELUJAH!!

... amazing love

The Lenten Journey... Nearing the End

We are nearing the end of our Lenten journey...  the journey we began weeks ago... the journey with our Lord as we opened our hearts... searched our souls... asked forgiveness for our wrongs... and humbly walked with our Lord as he neared the time when he would pay the price that brings us forgiveness and life...

During this time we have known tragedy and triumph, joy and sorrow... we have grown closer to our Lord and stronger in our faith...

Perhaps we have thought that our journey was ours, alone... but we must remember that countless others, sisters and brothers in the faith, have also made this journey with us... so this has been a time of both intimacy and community...

Today is Maundy Thursday - Holy Thursday, as some call it.  It is the day during which we commemorate the Passover feast that our Lord celebrated with his disciples... and it was at this feast that our Lord "...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.'"  (Luke 22:19-20)

At the time, the disciples did not truly understand what he meant...

And I wonder if today, we disciples truly understand...  that Jesus' body had to be broken and Jesus' blood had to be poured out for us because there was no other way to reconcile sinners with a Holy and Just God.

We have journeyed with our Lord during this time of Lent... and perhaps we have drawn so much closer in our relationship with the Lord... but, like every other human being in our world, we are still sinners... and always will be... as such, we are all equal in the eyes of God... no one better or worse than any other person...

Today, as we gather to worship and celebrate Holy Communion on this Maundy Thursday, let us be reminded that it is ONLY through the breaking of GOD's body and the pouring out of GOD's blood, done because our Holy and Just God loved us so much, it is only because of this act of GRACE that we have forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God...

The season of Lent is drawing to a close, and we will soon see our Lord and Savior pay the price for our sins...

Lent will soon be over... but our journey continues on...

Trayvon Martin... Tragedy in Sanford, FL

A tragedy has occurred in Sanford, FL.  It happened a month or so ago...  a young man lost his life when shot by another person.  By this point in time, probably most of you who are reading this post have heard some if not all of the news coverage surrounding this event.

As I have thought about this, I have come to the conclusion that this tragedy shows that we humans still have a ways to go in how we relate to other people and in how, at the core of things, we think of and view other people.

Jesus viewed all with whom he came into contact through the eyes of love.  He went out of his way to relate to the people in his day who were thought of as being on the margins of society - women and children, "tax collectors and other sinners", the sick, the lame, the blind, the deaf, those who were not Jews...  Jesus brought healing and reconciliation wherever he went... and his act of dying on a cross for us and for the sins of the whole world was the ultimate act of healing and reconciliation... 

In thinking of this, I wrote the following blog post and posted it on my Tumblr blog:
 dear world... postcards from life...  I offer it for your consideration.

Trayvon Martin and Hermeneutics for Life

I'm guessing that you may be wondering what the word "hermeneutics" means...  in theology, it is a fancy word for how people approach the reading, study and understanding of the Bible...  are we unbelieving or suspicious of Biblical scripture even before we read it ... or do we approach scripture with a mind-set of acceptance and belief before reading it?  You can think of these as ends of the "hermeneutics spectrum" with a whole lot of ways to approach scripture in-between...

Now you are wondering, "So what?"... 

I suspect we all have a hermeneutic for how we approach other people - our family, our friends, our acquaintances, the people we don't know... that this hermeneutic is different and shifting for the various people we encounter and the times we encounter them... that there are other complicating factors we are not even aware of that influence how we approach others... factors that have been ingrained in us through family and/or societal expectations from the time we were infants...

We rarely even think of any of this, as we see another person and evaluate, judge and approach them...

Again, "So what?"

I think we need to be honest with ourselves... to recognize and pay attention to the underlying factors that guide how we approach others...  our "hermeneutics for life", as it were... and I believe that we need to push back against the ones that would have us immediately be suspicious and perhaps fearful of the people we don't know, the people who are dressed differently, or who talk differently, or who (       ) differently (you can fill in the blank)... the people who we think of as "those other people"... 

Maybe Trayvon Martin might still be alive if George Zimmerman had done just that...  

Maybe all the Trayvon's of the world might still be alive...

Continuing the Lenten Journey...

How has your Lenten journey been going? Hit any snags or having any unexpected life experiences?

A good friend, Jeannie Waller Harper, posted something on her Facebook page that I would like to share...

Be still, and know that I am God
Be still, and know that I am
Be still, and know
Be still
Be

~Psalm 46:10

Today, no matter what comes your way... good or bad... may you know God's peace in your heart.

Day 17... The Lenten Journey Continues...

One of them, an expert in the Law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

     ~Matthew 22:35-40


Do all the good you can,
By all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.

     ~John Wesley


As you reflect back on how today has gone, how have you done in the categories of loving God and loving others?

Day 13... The Lenten Journey Continues... A Prayer of Self Denial...

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."
~Psalm 51:10 (KJV)

A prayer for this day in Lent:

Dear God, my number one problem is me.  I have embraced a false self that tries in every way to tell me that I am in control - and even more dangerously, tells me not to trust you but rather to trust my own alleged righteousness.  I am ashamed at how many times I have listened to the voice of the false self instead of your voice.

Today, I deny that false self and ask that you would renew a right spirit within me, a self that attends to you and lives accordingly.  Especially today, I ask that I might deny the false self in relation to (      ).  I am tired of going where it leads me.  Instead, lead me in paths of righteousness for your name's sake.  I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen

(Prayer taken from: "A Pocket Guide to Prayer" by Steve Harper)

Day 12... The Lenten Journey... What is God Doing in Your Life?

"Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf!"
         ~Psalm 66:5  (NIV1984)

In this verse, the psalmist invites the hearers and readers of his message to notice what God has done for humanity... and in the next verse he gives just one example, out of many that he could have chosen, of what God had done for God's people.

As you go through the day today, look around you... notice what is happening...  where are God's love, mercy and grace intersecting with your life?  See if you can notice something that God is doing in your life today... and give God thanks!

Through the Late Watches of the Night... Our Lenten Journey Continues...

Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
~Psalm 62:8 (NRSV)


As I was driving home from work this evening, I saw a message on a church sign.  It is a very simple message, but one that perhaps should be remembered at night and also during this time of the year, as we make our Lenten journey with the Lord.

The message is simply this:  "God forgives you - yes, even for that"

Maybe now you are wondering why I said this is a good message to remember at night and during this Lenten journey...

It is usually at night, as the sun sets and the shadows deepen around us that fears and doubts and worries begin to creep up on us and steal into our hearts.  Sometimes our fears and doubts and worries can even wear down our strength of spirit that might have seemed so strong to us just a few hours before, when the sun might have been shining brightly.

The strong assurance we felt during the day, the assurance of having God's grace and mercy and forgiveness for our sins, may have slowly weakened, even as the shadows of night lengthened, bringing with them the worry and doubt and fear that maybe, just maybe, there was sin in our lives for which we would not, could not be forgiven...

And now perhaps in the late watches of the night, because of our fears, we begin to lose hope... we begin to wonder how God could possibly love us enough to give us grace and mercy and forgiveness...

No...   not us...   not for that...

Anybody been there?  Anybody still there?

The message on the sign is there for you...   and me...  It is there to remind all of us that we will be forgiven...  and our scripture reminds us that we can pour out our hearts to God, who is our refuge, our protection...

As we travel this Lenten journey, remember this is a time to open our hearts and examine its deep recesses, and in humble trust, repent and ask forgiveness...

And yes...   you will be forgiven...   even for that...

Day Seven... The Lenten Journey Continues...

"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun."
~Psalm 37:3-6 (NIV1984)

We have traveled a week, seven days along our Lenten Journey. How is your journey going? Did you promise to give something up for Lent... or add something to your daily routine? Have you kept up with your Lenten promise (whatever it was), or have you been side tracked? Are you beginning to wonder about your promise... whether it really makes any difference whether or not you keep it?

If you are beginning to wonder about your promise, about whether it really makes a difference if you keep it, let me encourage you to examine your heart and your motives. Ask yourself why you made the promise to begin with. Did you make your promise so that you might look good in the eyes of other people, so that they might think you to be especially holy or religious or righteous? Did you make a Lenten promise out of pure habit, because you felt you were "supposed to" or that you "had to"? Or did you make your promise to bring glory to the LORD and to deepen your faith and relationship with the LORD?

The last reason is by far the best one for your having made a Lenten promise... But no matter which of the them was your reason, keeping your Lenten promise makes a difference to the LORD.

As our scripture encourages you to do, and as you think of your promise, "trust in the LORD"... "Delight yourself in the LORD" (in other words, do what pleases the LORD, not you)... and finally, "commit your way to the LORD"...

Your Lenten promise is not about you showing off to others how holy or religious you are, but about you showing your heart to the LORD... and about preparing your heart for the LORD... and about allowing the LORD of LORD's to change your heart so that it reflects his love to all others...

Your promise is important... look into your heart and reflect on what you find... begin again if you need to... ask the LORD to help you with this... that is of course what Lent is all about... journeying with the LORD...

Day 2... The Lenten Journey Continues...

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

     ~Matthew 16:21-24 (NIV1984)


No, Lord, never!!  You, the Son of the Living God, the Messiah, suffer??  Be killed??  No... that is not the way it should be... We should die for you... in glorious battle!!


And we disciples, who like Peter, might so willingly follow you into battle against an enemy, find instead that we must follow you on a much harder journey...  for instead of calling us to arms, you call us to suffering... to self-denial... you call us to the cross... and to death... 


But you also mention something about being raised to life?


Is it just possibly true that following your path... journeying with you through self-denial and suffering, following you to the cross and death... that all of this leads to... new life?


Yesterday's ashes are gone... but the journey continues...

Ash Wednesday...

“Even now,” declares the LORD, 
   “return to me with all your heart, 
   with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

Rend your heart
   and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
   for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
   and he relents from sending calamity.

         ~Joel 2:12-13 (NIV1984)

Today is Ash Wednesday.  It marks the beginning of Lent, a 40 day period of time set aside for introspection and reflection as we journey with the Lord to the cross.  It is a time to remember why the Lord had to die for us... to remember our sins and to repent.  Ashes are a symbol of our mortality as well as a symbol of repentance.  As the prophet Joel encourages, rend or tear open your hearts... pray and deeply mourn and grieve over the things that you have done that have grieved the heart of God... and repent.  For our God is indeed "gracious and compassionate... abounding in love..."  God will have mercy and forgive.

Happy Valentine's Day...

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
     ~John 3:16 (NIV1984)

Today is Valentine's Day...  a day in which people celebrate their love for each other.  It's origins are shrouded in mystery, but are most likely a combination of being a feast day to St. Valentine and as well as a celebration to "Christianize" the festival of Lupercalia, a pagan festival of fertility.  In any event, it has become a day to celebrate romance and love.

Our scripture reminds us that true love is sacrificial and unconditional, and that it is the greatest gift that God has given to us!  Let us follow our LORD's example as we celebrate the love we have for those special people in our lives.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Monday morning scripture....

This one speaks for itself.  I pray each of you has a day filled with God's blessing!!

"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait in expectation."

~Psalm 5:3  (NIV1984)

Sunday worship...

Praise the LORD!

Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

Let everything that breathes praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD!
~Psalm 150 (NKJV)

A Saturday Devotional...

"Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone."

    ~Colossians 4:2-6  (NLT)

Ahhhhh....  Saturday!!!   That wonderful first day of the weekend!!!   We spent all day yesterday rejoicing that it was Friday (TGIF - Thank God It's Friday) because that meant today was almost here...  and now it is.  It is Saturday... we can do whatever we want... don't have to go to or do any work!!

Well....   that is almost true...  we may not have to go to our place of employment (unless of course your work week includes Saturdays), but we still have work we have to do for the Lord!  Our scripture today lets us know that we, as Christians always have work to do for the Lord... there are never "weekend" days where we are off work... Our scripture reminds us that there are some things we are always to be doing... no matter what day of the week it is:

1.  We are to be devoted to prayer... praying with a thankful heart and an alert mind for not only our needs and the needs of others, but also for the mission that we as Christians are to be on - that of sharing the good news of God's redeeming love, mercy, grace and forgiveness, through which we can have new life!!  And not just praying that our church leaders and pastors will be able preach and speak about this, but that we will also have opportunities and be able to do the same.  Jesus called all his disciples to do this!!

2.  We are to live wisely within our world... we will spread God's message of love in more ways than just speaking about it... we will mostly spread it by the way we live!  St. Francis said, "Preach often, and when necessary, use words."  In other words we must live in such a way as to proclaim the Gospel with our very actions...  and there is more to doing that than just going to church every Sunday and living by the legalistic expectations of whatever church you might attend...  Jesus said, "...learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice'" (Matt 9:13).  We are to show our love and mercy to all people!!  Our words about the gospel message will be empty if our lives do not back them up!

3.  When we do speak with others about the faith, let's remember that God had grace and mercy on us, and we should be passing that grace on to others...  as the scripture says, our words should be gracious... attractive... open... inviting others to accept God's love and mercy... not judging or threatening or telling people they have to get right before God will love them... Scripture tells us that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom 5:8).  We don't do the cleaning up, we just do the catching... God's Holy Spirit, working within people's lives does the cleaning up!

So you see, my friends, there are no weekends off for Christians... we who call ourselves followers of Christ always have work to do!!  Let us do it joyfully!!

put this on your calendar!!

No matter what your daily schedule already looks like, adding these activities will bring you untold blessings and help you focus on what is truly important.  God bless you today!!  

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!   

~Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)

Schedule for today: 
Wake up:  Worship the Lord 
Mid-Morning: Snack on Scripture
Lunch: Listen to the Lord
Mid-Afternoon: Meditate on your blessings
Dinner: Discuss His Faithfulness
Bedtime: Thank Him as you retire in the evening.
~while the actual author of this schedule is known only to God, it was contributed by Nellie, my sister in Christ.

a meditation for today...

This meditation is taken from: 
Let Nothing Disturb You: A Journey to the Center of the Soul with Teresa of Avila,
edited by John Kirvan, Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, IN, 1996

"Our Lord asks but two things of us:  love for God and love for our neighbor.  These are the two virtues that we must strive to attain.  If we practice them perfectly we shall be doing the will of God, and so will find the union we seek.  The most certain sign that we keep these two commandments is that we have a genuine love for each other.  We may not know for certain whether we love God, but there can be no doubt whether or not we love our neighbor.

If we fail to love our neighbor, we are deceiving ourselves if we think we love God.
But if we possess a true love of neighbor, we will certainly attain union with our Lord.

Beg God grant you true love of others and you will be rewarded with more than you know how to desire.  God will insist that you surrender your self interests for those of your neighbors, taking upon yourself their burdens.  Do not believe that this will cost you nothing and that you will find it all done for you by God.  Never forget what the love God bore for all of us cost the Son of God.  To free others - his neighbors - from death he suffered the most painful death of all, the death of the cross."
   ~Teresa of Avila

as evening approaches...

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.

~The Book of Common Prayer

daily scripture

Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; 
   I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe. 
Lead me in the right path, O LORD, 
   or my enemies will conquer me. 
Make your way plain for me to follow.
~Psalm 5:7-8  (NLT)

scriptures for a good nights sleep...

"I will lie down and sleep in peace,

   for you alone, O LORD,

   make me dwell in safety."    
~Psalm 4:8  (NIV1984)

"I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me."    
~Psalm 3:5  (NIV1984)


Sleep well, knowing who holds you in His hands!!

something to think about...

"What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless."  

~James 2:14-17, 26  (NLT)

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."   ~Micah 6:8  (NIV1984)

Thoughts?  Reactions?

answered prayer

A big thank you to all who took time to pray for my friend Charlie Awad.  It seems as though Charlie has come through his surgery ok.  Please continue to lift Charlie up in prayer, that he would continue to recuperate and recover.  Again, thanks and please keep praying.  And if you know someone who is a colon cancer survivor with a story to tell, go to Charlie's site, www.cancersucks.tv, and add their story!  God bless!

prayer request

Today, I ask that all who read this post would lift up my friend, Charlie Awad, in prayer.  Later this morning, because of cancer, he will have surgery to remove a part of his lung.  Please pray for the surgeons and other medical professionals that will be involved in this procedure, as well as for Charlie's recovery and healing.  Also, please lift up his family in prayer, that God would give them strength and peace.

To learn more about Charlie and his battle with cancer, click on his name in the first sentence of this post... that should take you directly to his blog site.

Thank you all for your prayers.

Book Review: The Story of Evangelism: A History of the Witness to the Gospel by Robert G. Tuttle, Jr.

            Dr. Tuttle has written a complex book in which he weaves church history, world history and theology together in order to give us the history of evangelism, a history that begins before time itself.[1]  His use of first person narratives throughout the various historical periods help to bring this history to life, drawing the readers in and encouraging them to become a participant in the events described.  The book does not just give us the history of evangelism, but rather it guides us through that history pointing the way to the uncertainties of the future.  It challenges the readers to step “into the mainstream of God’s already intercession”[2] in order to join God’s work in the world.  To that end, as Dr. Tuttle moves from past history to possible future, he leaves the readers with insights and impressions of the cultures and religions that we as Christians will encounter as we share with others God’s message of hope. 

            Dr. Tuttle’s book is written in an easy to read style that flows in a natural progression through historical time periods.  Within each time period, there is also a pattern, as Dr. Tuttle gives the reader social, political and religious background information so that the context is understood and the reader gains a wider world perspective as a backdrop for the evangelical message and history.  In addition, Dr. Tuttle includes a section in each chapter that deals with the history’s relevance for today, or in the case of the last few chapters, the relevance for tomorrow.  This helps readers understand that the information presented in the book is not simply dry history, but rather a living history that can have an impact on evangelism today and tomorrow.

            Dr. Tuttle develops his history carefully and thoroughly, and the insights to be gained from reading this book would seem to suggest that it should be an evangelism resource for every Christian, lay or clergy.  However, in our fast paced world in which we all seem to want instant answers and even faster results, especially when it comes to effective evangelization within the church, those people interested in the subject would probably be looking for a book that gives principles of evangelism that can be quickly accessed and easily put to use.  This book, in spite of the richness and depth found within its pages, would probably be seen by many as one to be used only in a classroom setting.  

---

[1] Robert G. Tuttle, Jr, The Story of Evangelism: A History of the Witness to the Gospel (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2006), ix.

[2]  Tuttle, The Story of Evangelism, 420.

the knots prayer...

A friend posted this on facebook, and I thought I'd share it.  It is interesting that all the "nots" in our lives can sometimes tie us up in "knots"...  let the Lord untie your "knots" today, whatever they are.  God bless.

daily prayer...

I call upon God, the Father of all our fathers.  I spread out the palms of my hands in prayer.  You who created the earth and all living beings, listen to me.  You who send rain from the sky, have mercy on me.  I trust in you for all things.       ~Shilluk, Sudan


Today's prayer is taken from:  African Prayers: Praise, Thanksgiving, Hope and Trust by Robert Van de Weyer, Dimensions for Living, Nashville, TN.  2002

daily scripture...

May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put together - spirit, soul and body - and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.
~1 Thessalonians 5:23 (MSG)

daily scripture

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
~Micah 6:8 (NRSV)

doing good...

As a new work week began for many people today, remember these words from John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. I pray they will color your actions and interactions with others, helping you to show God's love to others.

"Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can."
~John Wesley

Meditate on this...

As I was looking through a book that I'd read a couple years ago (The Story of Evangelism by Robert G. Tuttle, Jr.) I found this on page 391 and thought I'd share:


The fruit of Silence is Prayer.
The fruit of Prayer is Faith.
The fruit of Faith is Love.
The fruit of Love is Service.
The fruit of Service is Peace.
    ~Mother Teresa

morning prayer

Praise the LORD.  Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.   Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore.  From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.    Psalm 113:1-3

O Lord...   it happened again today...  my pups woke me up before my alarm went off... I could have slept another hour...  but Lord, I thank you anyway!!  I thank you for the gift of this new day.  Help me to praise you this day in everything that I think, everything I say, everything I do and with all that I am.  May  I see all people today through your eyes, and share with them your love.   In Your Name.  Amen.  

The Invitation

I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.  I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.      
     Isaiah 45:2-3


As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”     Mark 1:16-17


From these two scriptures we can know three things:  
1.  God knows us... God calls us all by our name.    
2.  God has something for each of us to do... God equips and trains us and then sends us on our way.   
3.  But perhaps most important, God goes before us... God leads us and opens the way.  


Boldly going into an unknown future wherever our God, our Lord and Savior calls and sends and leads us is truly a "faith trek."  I invite you to undertake your journey, your faith trek "walking" side by side with me.