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Journal Archive — June,
2004 |
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AN ONGOING
SPIRITUAL WEBLOG
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June 30, 2004
Friends, I have found that the Internet has become a wonderful source of
spiritual growth. Certainly there are dangers online and plenty of negative
content. But it is also a way to connect with people worldwide and for Living
the Solution an opportunity to reach out with a message of hope
for many who are struggling and seeking answers and solutions.
I hope that you are taking the steps to have some basic security while
you surf the web. Everyday there are more and more viruses and malware
(nasty little spyware/scumware types of software that can cause everything
from annoying popup ads to compromising financial information).
This is not a tech-site, so I won’t spend a lot of time on these
issues. But, you might want to read
more yourself. The US government through US-CERT just
issued a report warning against using Internet Explorer because of some
of these security problems. More news on this here.
You have multiple web browser choices. I’m now using Firefox from
Mozilla and I’m pretty happy with it (you can read more about the
browser here.
It does not get the attacks affecting IE. A lot of web users also recommend
Opera (more here).
We also provide as a public service information about virus/computer protection
on our site here.
Tom Gilbert
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June 28, 2004
Official transfer of power to the interim government of Iraq took place
today. That’s two days ahead of schedule and was done secretly to
avoid disruption and terrorism by the various opponents – foreign
Islamist fighters, loyalists to Saddam Hussein and Iraqi nationalists.
It remains to be seen what effect this will have on the people of this
war-torn country. We can hope and pray for peace and stability.
The spiritual analogy: how real is our transfer of power from self-centeredness,
self-seeking and selfishness to God-centered and directed living? It’s
not sufficient to only make that critical decision. We must, of course,
act on it. Fortunately, God is patient, merciful and forgiving. And God
is encouraging. That doesn’t mean things are going to be easy. On
the contrary, this path is narrow and challenging. Like a group of mountain
climbers tethered to each other we need to keep extend helping hands.
Christ is our guide. He shows the Way. Like everyone else, you will have
periods when “rebel insurgents” will spring up inside you and
you will battle between the things of the flesh and the spirit. The solution
is always to choose denying self-interests in favor of God’s interests.
Tom Gilbert
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June 24, 2004
Today is the feast day of the birth of John the Baptist. The last of the
Old Testament prophets created quite a stir in his day. He had lots of
followers despite the sometimes harsh message he delivered. This wild man
clothed in animal skins and living on a diet of locusts and honey was pretty
upfront about calling for repentance of sins and getting ready. Many people
thought he was the prophesied Messiah, but he was quick to dispel this
notion.
In response to questions of who he was and what authority he had to preach
he clearly stated it was to point to someone else ().
How would we respond to John the Baptist if we’d been around him
at that time? Curiosity or skepticism? Would we think he’s just a
kook?
Are we listening to those among us who point to the truth – even
if they rub us the wrong way or come across a bit crazy?
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June 22, 2004
Life is a journey and the road will sometimes be smooth and straight. At
other times there are steep curves, uphill climbs, bumps and rough pavement.
And wonderful scenery.
We can choose to travel with purpose and with a good navigator. God’s
directions may not always seem the easier and softer way, but He knows
where we need to go. I must remember that my fellow travelers are part
of the journey, too. Today I may meet some old friends along the way and
new ones, too. Let’s trudge this road of happy destiny together.
Tom Gilbert
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June 21, 2004
It’s a Monday morning and I’m feeling grateful? I know, a little
out of character for me. It’s not that I’m the grumpy type,
but usually coming off a weekend and plugging back into the “work” mode
can be a challenge. Admit it; some of you feel the same way.
But, yesterday was Father’s Day and the wife and kids brought me
breakfast in bed and then we all snuggled a bit. After church it was a
pleasant afternoon relaxing and phone calls to my dad and from my father-in-law.
It’s good to be a dad.
I imagine my brother feels the same way today. He and his wife have a son
who celebrates his second birthday today. Wow, is Joshua really two already?
Happy birthday, godson! And happy birthday to one of my other godsons,
Shea, who celebrated his 20th birthday yesterday!
Tom Gilbert
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June 18, 2004
Dallas Willard is another of the controversial
figures in Christian circles. Often getting that label
is a good thing, in my opinion, because it is usually
the “controversial” ones who are getting
people to think and participate more in their faith.
Willard is speaking about some of the same things I’ve
been reflecting on of late (see an excellent interview
at RELEVANTmagazine.com).
The challenge is to make your faith an integral and living part of every
day. It means getting very honest – being as real as you possibly
can. There is no such thing as religion and life. There is only life! Good
religion is good living. It is really living.
We keep seeing the packaging of religion – our struggle to make sense
of God and our relationship with the Divine – in various ways. Inevitably,
we end up with the focus more on the means than the end. Some people like
worship that is very ritual and mystical. Others like good teaching they
understand and can relate to. Somehow we must combine both. We need a great
reverence for the mystery of God and the practical and involved application
of the mystery lived out in our lives. We’ve heard it a million times,
but faith in action is the process. In everything!
We can’t solve our problems by endless studying of them anymore than
running from them. Yes, we must see the problems and understand
that they are problems. Then we must have the bold faith
to do something about them. God is only waiting for us to get involved
and there’s plenty of grace to go around.
Tom Gilbert
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June 16, 2004
Father’s Day is Sunday, June 20. The Living the Solution newsletter
has the “father” theme weaved throughout the new issue (online
here). It’s my belief that God has taught us a great deal about
fatherhood through His relationship with His son, Jesus. See the new article, Fathering
Through the Son for more.
Tom Gilbert
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June 14, 2004
Have you ever taken a spot-check inventory? I find this a helpful spiritual
tool. Today as I was driving during my lunch hour in my unconditioned car
I was hot and, frankly, a bit irritable. Then I looked around…a couple
walking down the street hand in hand, another man rolling along in a wheelchair,
yet another on a bicycle. Reality check!
A spot-check inventory can be done at any time. Pause and take stock or
your situation. No matter what else is happening realize that you can make
contact with God and be grateful for life and the love that God continually
pours out on us. It will come to you, often in disguise.
We can either be now here, or nowhere.
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June 11, 2004
The funeral for former President Ronald Reagan is taking place today in
Washington D.C. (he died last Saturday at the age of 93). All this week
there have been tributes. He was a popular man.
Another prominent passing yesterday: music icon Ray Charles died at the
age of 73. If you were familiar with his music — a very wide range
of blues, Gospel, jazz, country, swing and R&B — you know he
could take just about any song and put his signature vocal style to it.
A local radio station this morning played his version of America the
Beautiful – it was awesome.
I’m reminded that all of us here in America have a responsibility
to be both grateful for our many blessings and to protect our freedoms
by living in a way that demonstrates our true patriotism. That means standing
up for the oppressed and helping the less fortunate, participating in our
democratic process and living the values so honored by our forefathers – values
firmly embedded in Biblical principles. That’s true whether we are
a private citizen or serve in the highest office in the land.
Tom Gilbert
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June 10, 2004
With the warm summer months many of you are probably puttering around in
a garden helping things grow. It’s a miracle really, the way plants
grow. We can participate in this creation process, nurturing flowers, fruits
and vegetables.
I don’t have the green thumb, but I do appreciate gardens. I’ve
discovered that there are people utilizing good organic gardening in relatively
small spaces that can help ease the hunger situation. The Cellugro
Abundant Harvest Garden System is illustrated at Hunger
Grow Away, a non-profit organization. Similarly, the Center
for Action and Contemplation has a wonderful organic garden
and helps others learn this abundant harvest gardening method.
Tom Gilbert
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June 9, 2004
"Our idea of God tells us more about ourselves than it does about Him."
— Thomas Merton from New
Seeds of Contemplation
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June 8, 2004
Be loved.
Be love.
Beloved.
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June 7, 2004
Surrender > ask for help > accept the help > pray > believe > action.
Keep it simple, but do these steps with God’s help.
Tom Gilbert
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June 4, 2004
Another weekend is upon us. You may, like me, be faced with the shift from
your work mode to one of leisure.
The temptation to separate our ways of living into compartments – work,
pleasure, family obligations, moral and religious – is dangerous
because it encourages a lack of integrity. We might develop split personalities,
one for each neat compartment of life.
I’m not saying it’s wrong to have these different pursuits.
Rather, I’m hoping we can honestly look at and develop a consciousness
that brings God into all our activities and each day. This wholeness surely
must have some holiness in it.
Tom Gilbert
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June 3, 2004
It can be a bit distressing to realize that the main character defects
you have continue to be the root of most of your problems. At least I feel
that way. It’s not that I am not making progress – I know I
am! Still at the heart of it my selfishness and self-centeredness too often
dictate how I feel and what I do (or don’t do).
What is the first step in dealing with problems? Isn’t it awareness?
Sometimes it takes something severe to create that awareness, especially
if our denial is strong.
Most of us are probably aware that hunger is a challenge for many, many
people. Typically we think of those starving in countries without the wealth
and resources of the industrialized nations. We certainly should be aware
of the severity of the hunger problem in such global areas. Nevertheless,
the stark reality of the hunger problem in the United States is something
many of us turn a blind eye to. Or maybe we just aren’t “aware”.
Denial can take many shapes.
Today, June 3, is National Hunger Awareness Day and the
hope of the organizers/sponsors is that it will serve as a platform for
domestic hunger-relief organizations to raise the level of awareness about
the issue of hunger in America. Your community food bank probably has more
information (such as Roadrunner
Food Bank here in Albuquerque).
Visit the official
web site for more info.
Tom Gilbert
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June 1, 2004
What is your biggest character defect? What stumbling block do you have?
God keeps inviting us to bring it to him and surrender it. Sometimes it
is hard to ask for help; it can be even harder to accept it.
Whatever your personal challenges you have there is a solution in letting
go and letting God in.
Tom Gilbert
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| Read past Journal entries here. |
Scripture taken from the
Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973,
1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved
throughout the world. Used by permission of International
Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of
International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for the offering of
goods or services requires the prior written consent of International Bible
Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living
Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA. All rights reserved.
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PSALM 118:24
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"This
is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad
in it."
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(NIV)
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