Tuesday, March 31, 2009
defending God
I'm becoming very comfortable with a passage from Zechariah I preached on last week - 2:5: "For I will be a wall of fire all around it, says the Lord, and I will be the glory within it." While God is talking about the possible rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem after the return of the exiles, I thought it had a lot to say about how much time we spend (dare we say erroneously) defending God (his holiness, the truth, et. al.), when God says he's fully capable of doing that himself. What we're freed to do, then, is to invite and share Jesus Christ. That's what we've been authorized to do; yet, we spend so much of our time doing the things God is capable of, and has assigned to, himself.
-- Rev. Andrew Prin, Cross of Glory Lutheran Church , Mounds View, MN
Monday, March 30, 2009
friends
I was reminded again today to treasure our friends while we are with them. Take a moment & reflect on who you appreciate; then give them a call -- or better yet -- write a short note of thanks for their friendship. Notes are something we can touch -- something we can hold.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Are you mad?
Abba Anthony said,
"A time is coming when men will go mad,
and when they see someone who is not mad,
they will attack him saying,
'You are mad, you are not like us.'"
Saturday, March 28, 2009
our freedom
Is this – as some would claim – a failure to trust God, who has promised faithfulness to what he has made? I think that to suggest that God might intervene to protect us from the corporate folly of our practices is as unchristian and unbiblical as to suggest that he protects us from the results of our individual folly or sin. This is not a creation in which there are no real risks; our faith has always held that the inexhaustible love of God cannot compel justice or virtue; we are capable of doing immeasurable damage to ourselves as individuals, and it seems clear that we have the same terrible freedom as a human race.
-- Archbishop Rowan Williams, talking about global warming and environmentalism.
-- Archbishop Rowan Williams, talking about global warming and environmentalism.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Snow Geese
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Coyote on the Nebraska prairie at dawn
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
spiritually directed . . .
Since you are reading this blog, I assume you are interested in other similar approaches to spirituality. Today I was referred to spiritually directed . . . , a blog by Roberta, a spiritual director following the Episcopal tradition. Take a look at it! I think you will appreciate its message.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Bald Eagle flying over the Platte River at sunset
Sunday, March 22, 2009
spring
Saturday, March 21, 2009
work
Work comes into harmony when it flows from the inner divine source of energy. When done mindfully, animated by desire for good and an awareness of God's working in us, work tends to take its proper proportion in our life, and we are able to work with more peace, perseverance, and joy. A life of prayer nurtures every good work, whether spiritual or material.
-- Katherine Howard Praying with Benedict
-- Katherine Howard Praying with Benedict
Friday, March 20, 2009
wait for God
God, you are my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
You are the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
I believe that I shall see the goodness of Yahweh
in the land of the living!
Wait for Yahweh;
be strong, and let your heart take courage.
Yes, wait for God!
-- Psalm 27:1, 13-14
Thursday, March 19, 2009
"Pray for me!"
A brother said to Abba Anthony, "Pray for me." The old man said to him, "I will have no mercy upon you, nor will God have any, if you yourself do not make an effort and if you do not pray to God."
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
prayer
A spirituality without a prayer life is no spirituality at all, and it will not last beyond the first defeats. Prayer is an opening of the self so that the Word of God can break in and make us new. Prayer unmasks. Prayer converts. Prayer impels. Prayer sustains us on the way. Pray for the grace it will take to continue what you would like to quit.
-- Sr. Joan Chittister, O.S.B. In a High Spiritual Season
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
cranes & geese in Kearney
During the next few days I will be in Kearney, Nebraska, photographing cranes, snow geese & other wildlife. You can follow me on Twitter by clicking here . If you join Twitter, and choose to "follow" me, you will get my posts each time you log on to your account. The pictures will be from my iPhone camera & texts will be short since I'll by typing with my thumbs.
For more about the cranes, click here.
where to pray
Our prayer should be made either in the concealment of our secret chamber (Mt 6: 6) where without noise and without telling anyone we can pray with a more perfect and pure heart... Or, if not in one's chamber, in the solitary wilderness, and at the best and most quiet time of night, as he did. (Lk. 6:12)
-- Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591), Carmelite, Doctor of the Church
-- Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591), Carmelite, Doctor of the Church
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
humility
Abba Anthony said, "I saw the snares that the enemy spreads out over the world and I said groaning, "What can get through from such snares?" Then I heard a voice saying to me, "Humility."
Sunday, March 08, 2009
no room for the soul
We expect too much, we consume too much, and we contribute too little.
We give ourselves over to ourselves.
We become engorged with ourselves and, as a result,
there is no room left for the stripped down, stark, and simple furniture of the soul.
-- Sr. Joan Chittister, O.S.B. The Rule of Benedict: Insights for the Ages
Friday, March 06, 2009
prayer for a word from God
Omniscient, omnipotent God, continue to watch over us and guide us.
Protect us from that which would draw us away from you,
especially the weakness that is present within us.
Thank you.
Amen.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
gift from Alex
My grandson recently picked up this neat, old book at an antique store for me.
Can you believe a 9 year old being interested in antiques (well, he apparently likes me) and books?
I'm sure I'll posting some quotes from it soon.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
new life
We cannot escape the passages of our life and indeed our bodies insist that we take seriously the pattern of change. . . . There is no choice in the whole process of ageing; loss is frightening, particularly when it means the loss of much that has been most valued and enjoyed, as memory grows faulty, or sight begins to fail or hearing becomes diminished.
Change may be a long drawn out and agonizing process, a marriage falling apart or a breakdown which threatens the integrity of the person. Bereavement itself brings a sense of loss which may at times seem almost unendurable.
Yet even here, though this may at the time be almost impossible to believe, new life can come again. . . . The past has brought me to this moment and if I begin today anew I can also begin tomorrow anew and the day after that, and so I shall be truly open to change.
-- Esther de Waal Seeking God: The Way of St. Benedict
Change may be a long drawn out and agonizing process, a marriage falling apart or a breakdown which threatens the integrity of the person. Bereavement itself brings a sense of loss which may at times seem almost unendurable.
Yet even here, though this may at the time be almost impossible to believe, new life can come again. . . . The past has brought me to this moment and if I begin today anew I can also begin tomorrow anew and the day after that, and so I shall be truly open to change.
-- Esther de Waal Seeking God: The Way of St. Benedict
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Cross of Glory Lutheran Church, Mounds View, MN
