We have been reading about Quakers throughout history and I have discovered something interesting about their understanding of holiness. That is that suffering is kind of a good think. With suffering, comes joy. That is when we are led by the Spirit in the suffering. Suffering for sufferings sake is terrible, but suffering for the Gospel can potentially bring joy.
How this happens is a mystery to me. It is definitely a gift that has to come from God. A lot of it I believe begins with my motivation. Why do I persevere? What am I fighting for. If it is for Jesus, the joy will come.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
F2F Journal Exercise: Prayer of Examen
Were you cooperating with God most fully, or were you resisting?
I think worse the resisting God is to be complacent or apathetic in your relationship with God. At least if you are resisting God their is a sense of relationship happening. But when your mind gets so distracted by other events that you forget about God altogether... that is a terrible place to be.
Beginning today, how will you live your life differently?
Lord, help me to release the things that I want. My desires. I want to be emerged in your presence, fully aware of you with me. The Life with God life. Help me to be attentive to your Spirit so that when you speak, I respond.
Speak Lord... Your servant is listening...
I think worse the resisting God is to be complacent or apathetic in your relationship with God. At least if you are resisting God their is a sense of relationship happening. But when your mind gets so distracted by other events that you forget about God altogether... that is a terrible place to be.
Beginning today, how will you live your life differently?
Lord, help me to release the things that I want. My desires. I want to be emerged in your presence, fully aware of you with me. The Life with God life. Help me to be attentive to your Spirit so that when you speak, I respond.
Speak Lord... Your servant is listening...
Friday, March 2, 2012
Not Today; the movie.
This is a movie being made about human trafficking.
View the trailer:
http://vimeo.com/25848364
Visit the movie's website:
http://www.nottodaythemovie.com/Home/tabid/113/Default.aspx
View the trailer:
http://vimeo.com/25848364
Visit the movie's website:
http://www.nottodaythemovie.com/Home/tabid/113/Default.aspx
F2F Journal Exercise: Social Justice
Luke 11:28; James 1:22
As the dust settles, what rises to the surface of your soul regarding social justice?
My first thought when it comes to social justice is to do my best not to be deterred by political agenda's or the face that "social justice" seems to be the current fad in our young adult society. The second thought is to remember that I am not called to be the social justice champion for all social justice causes. However, I do have a part to play. What does that look like? What am I being called to do?
How is God speaking to you, and what is He calling you to do about it?
Right now I believe God is calling me to be intentional to wait upon Him. I have to be patient and attentive to the Spirit of God to direct me in what my part is to play. As I mentioned I cannot do everything or organize a group to solve every injustice in the world. But, I do believe I have a part to play. What is that part?
Heavenly Father,
There is plenty of people in the world that would be called "the least of these." I understand that I cannot reach every one of them, but you can. Please, help me to understand my part. What are you calling me to do? What can I do today? Is there a bigger part you would like me play?
I pray Lord, that you would raise up your people to stand for those who cannot stand for themselves. I pray that you would pour out your grace on those who are being mistreated and abused. I pray that you would bring people into their lives to deliver them not only from the circumstances they are in, but to lead them into the salvation that comes through your son Jesus Christ.
Please Lord, bring to my attention injustice that I can help with. Open my eyes to see where I can serve the "least of these." My you pour out your love and compassion for these people through your servant. Speak Lord, I am listening. I long to be obedient to you.
Amen.
As the dust settles, what rises to the surface of your soul regarding social justice?
My first thought when it comes to social justice is to do my best not to be deterred by political agenda's or the face that "social justice" seems to be the current fad in our young adult society. The second thought is to remember that I am not called to be the social justice champion for all social justice causes. However, I do have a part to play. What does that look like? What am I being called to do?
How is God speaking to you, and what is He calling you to do about it?
Right now I believe God is calling me to be intentional to wait upon Him. I have to be patient and attentive to the Spirit of God to direct me in what my part is to play. As I mentioned I cannot do everything or organize a group to solve every injustice in the world. But, I do believe I have a part to play. What is that part?
Heavenly Father,
There is plenty of people in the world that would be called "the least of these." I understand that I cannot reach every one of them, but you can. Please, help me to understand my part. What are you calling me to do? What can I do today? Is there a bigger part you would like me play?
I pray Lord, that you would raise up your people to stand for those who cannot stand for themselves. I pray that you would pour out your grace on those who are being mistreated and abused. I pray that you would bring people into their lives to deliver them not only from the circumstances they are in, but to lead them into the salvation that comes through your son Jesus Christ.
Please Lord, bring to my attention injustice that I can help with. Open my eyes to see where I can serve the "least of these." My you pour out your love and compassion for these people through your servant. Speak Lord, I am listening. I long to be obedient to you.
Amen.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Going Deeper
This week we have been discussing going deep within ourselves and discovering more about why we are the way we are and why we act the way we act. Many of us put on a fake self for most of our common encounter. My wife and I were talking about this. I am a different person even when I am with her family. Not really different I guess, just not fully myself. The more comfortable I get with an individual the more willing I am to open up I guess.
Should we be completely open with everyone we meet? Is that the goal? I don't know. I do not think it is necessary to be completely vulnerable with every other human being on the face of this planet. It's good to be able to be yourself, but how far should we take it?
Should we be completely open with everyone we meet? Is that the goal? I don't know. I do not think it is necessary to be completely vulnerable with every other human being on the face of this planet. It's good to be able to be yourself, but how far should we take it?
Monday, February 13, 2012
New Job
I have started my new job working as a bell hop at a hotel. New baby. New job. Less involvement at the church. It feels like I am living a completely different life than I was two months ago. It is such a surreal feeling.
Life at the hotel is interesting. I am definitely in a job with worldly people, and that is an adjustment. I have to get re acclimated to swearing and dirty jokes. However, I do not really want to be acclimated as much as I want to be able to.... I guess I don't really know what I want accept to be a light in the darkness. This job gives many plenty of opportunity to serve others and show Christ to others through my life. I pray God can use me their to share the Gospel with others.
I am very thankful God has provided me with a job to care for my family. I am very thankful that I have a family who loves me. I am very thankful I have a warm home and bed to sleep in at night.
There is plenty of things in my life I know I take for granted. And although I am still adjusting to this new life I am living, I thank God for all He is and all He does for me (not just in this physical world!).
Life at the hotel is interesting. I am definitely in a job with worldly people, and that is an adjustment. I have to get re acclimated to swearing and dirty jokes. However, I do not really want to be acclimated as much as I want to be able to.... I guess I don't really know what I want accept to be a light in the darkness. This job gives many plenty of opportunity to serve others and show Christ to others through my life. I pray God can use me their to share the Gospel with others.
I am very thankful God has provided me with a job to care for my family. I am very thankful that I have a family who loves me. I am very thankful I have a warm home and bed to sleep in at night.
There is plenty of things in my life I know I take for granted. And although I am still adjusting to this new life I am living, I thank God for all He is and all He does for me (not just in this physical world!).
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Calling vs. Vocation
I am glad today to report that my calling has nothing to do with my vocation. Well, they do work together; however, my calling is not dependent on my vocation. Perhaps this is a better way to articulate it.
You see, recently my life has been turned upside down. I am not near as involved in the local church as an organization as I was two months ago. I have now started a new full time job at the Westin Hotel. At first, it could seem that God has taken me out of ministry. But I disagree.
I believe God is helping to keep me rooted in reality. It becomes very easy to get caught up in "church" business and loose sense of what we are really trying to do. Suddenly the goal becomes how to get more people into the building, and less about how do we go to those outside the building. I love that my gifts get to be utilized in the "real" world. I love that I have the opportunity to share Christ with those who don't yet know Him. I love the fact that this is my reality, and not the reality of having to deal with trivial church jargon.
Thank you God for keeping me rooted in reality. Thank you too that my ministry and call are not dependent on my vocation.
You see, recently my life has been turned upside down. I am not near as involved in the local church as an organization as I was two months ago. I have now started a new full time job at the Westin Hotel. At first, it could seem that God has taken me out of ministry. But I disagree.
I believe God is helping to keep me rooted in reality. It becomes very easy to get caught up in "church" business and loose sense of what we are really trying to do. Suddenly the goal becomes how to get more people into the building, and less about how do we go to those outside the building. I love that my gifts get to be utilized in the "real" world. I love that I have the opportunity to share Christ with those who don't yet know Him. I love the fact that this is my reality, and not the reality of having to deal with trivial church jargon.
Thank you God for keeping me rooted in reality. Thank you too that my ministry and call are not dependent on my vocation.
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