Thoughts on Prayer
I don't think I'd characterize myself as understanding prayer well - or being very dependable in my prayer life. I try to pray in the car, when I wake up, when I go to sleep, or when I'm alone. Being busy or active usually means I'm thinking about a lot of things other than prayer.
For Lent, Erin and I are being more intentional about praying, and also as we get into situations that are just too complicated, stressful, or painful - we are reminding each other to pray more.
This past Sunday we studied prayer as a part of the class that I'm leading at First Covenant Church - "Loving Your Global Family." The following quotes that I found were especially meaningful:
- Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire? - Corrie Ten Boom
- Of all the duties enjoined by Christianity none is more essential and yet more neglected than prayer. - François Fénelon
- There is a general kind of praying which fails for lack of precision. It is as if a regiment of soldiers should all fire off their guns anywhere. Possibly somebody would be killed, but the majority of the enemy would be missed. - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
- I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it. - John Wesley
- This is our Lord's will... that our prayer and our trust be, alike, large. - Julian of Norwich
- The lover of silence draws close to God. He talks to Him in secret and God enlightens him. - John Climacus
And some scriptures:
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing - Matthew 7:7-8
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened. - Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Valentines at the river
My idea of a romantic event often involves skinned knees, poison ivy, raging streams, and tea! On Valentines day we enjoyed a sunset on the Willamette river and enjoyed hot chocolate together.
It's interesting that through the struggles, the pain, and the doubts in life - that I find commitment, hope, and rebirth. It seems so backwards.
Erin and I have committed that through the obstacles in life - that we commit to choosing to become stronger together rather than letting stress pull us a part. There is a lot of security continually coming back to that idea.
Willett North.
Over the weekend we took a trip up to Seattle to see our siblings (Erin’s side) who live up there. This is Bethany’s last quarter at SPU, so we wanted to make sure we had some quality time with her before she becomes a college graduate. J.R. and Jen came over to her house with baby Micah to add to the fun.
The six of us spent time eating together, playing games, and taking turns holding the baby. On Saturday we talked everyone into going swimming at the Queen Anne pool. And we finished out the evening with a game of Carcassonne- a strategy game that has been a popular pastime at our house lately (similar to Settlers, for those who know).
More pictures on our Flickr page—see the sidebar.
LentenReflections
Erin and I bought a little Catholic devotion book to guide us on the journey through Lent this year. It's been great to stop in the morning and contemplate death, fasting, sorrow, and the hope of resurrection and new life...
We offer up our lives, God, in entirety. We bury ourselves as seeds - breathless that you will take the potential and raise up new life, new hope, and a new vision. We are broken, selfish, and surrounded by pain. But you in your goodness and love have taken out our hearts of stone and replaced them with hearts of flesh. Take these 40 days and guide us to your embrace.
Show the love.
In our February support letter, I wrote about my interactions with my homeless friends at Portland Rescue Mission. In the past it has been too easy for me to look past the homeless person on the corner. It is uncomfortable to face such great need when it feels impossible to help. Now I am daily reminded that while their humanity may be covered by dirt, smells or facial hair, the image of God is still beautifully present when I take the time to look.
I know that many people care, but it is difficult (and intimidating) to know how to respond when asked for money on a freeway off-ramp or street corner. As a first step, I recommend that you prepare ahead to engage with homeless people in your community. Here are a few things that are easy to plan:
- Always look them in the eye, smile and greet them. This acknowledges their worth as a fellow human created by God.
- Find out what makes them unique- where are they from? What are their hobbies and interests? Do they have a spouse or children? Share some of your story too.
- Be prepared to assist them by knowing about the resources for the homeless in your community. A short phone call to a shelter can give you information about where meals, clothing and beds are offered around the city. Make a handout of local resources to pass out to people who ask for assistance. Carry bottled water, rolls of toilet paper and energy bars to hand out from your car.
And to really rock your world, give your time to volunteer with organizations that care for the homeless. Seek out these hurting people. Giving yourself in relationship powerfully demonstrates the love of God to hurting people, and it might just change your life too.
Trip to the Oregon Coast
Erin and I enjoyed a nice little stay at the Oregon Coast this past weekend. It was so refreshing being away from the busyness of things. My abs are sore from building a walkway of rocks for Erin to cross a raging stream... notice our wet pantlegs.
Recommended Reading
I've enjoyed some great books recently, and thought I share some of the treasure...
The Post Evangelical - by Dave TomlinsonThis book is a fascinating look at the new directions of evangelicalism in the post-modern - or post-post-modern culture we live in. My friend CV lent the book to me and I'm nearly finished with it. The book is unique in that it has commentary and critiques from other voices in the emerging/emergent church movement. I love this quote from Tim Keel:
"One morning during the early days of our church planting experience, some of us gathered to share our faith journeys. We noticed that after the initial rush of our 'come to Jesus/Salvation prayer' moments, we missed ongoing connections to other who were invested in discipling us rather than merely converting us as part of evangelistic programs. These conversions are like births without parenting - as if once the uterus is empty, the relationship ends. I contend that some people become post-evangelical because evangelicalism values 'birthing' newborn souls above the care and feeding of them. Unfortunately, abandoned newborns die."I couldn't have written a better statement about my early experiences in the evangelical world growing up.
Revolution - by George BarnaBarna is more of an "insider Evangelical" who does polls about Western spirituality and Christianity. This book is a little on the optimistic side of the new directions this emerging generation is exploring. But it is helpful in understanding the trends of the evangelical church and the really fascinating piece is his predictions for the church in the next 20 years. He sees masses leaving the church and finding spiritual community in other scenes.
A couple othersI'm also enjoying "Blue Ocean Strategy" - which is about understanding that you don't have to compete with people to survive - the ocean is large and blue - it doesn't have to be red with the blood of competition.
Also "The New Faces of Christianity" by Philip Jenkins - which discusses the churches shift of momentum from the Global North to the Global south.
Enjoy!
