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Journal — March, 2006 |
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AN ONGOING
SPIRITUAL WEBLOG
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March 31, 2006
When we give our burden (our troubles and struggles) to the Lord it is
an act of faith and an action that shows we accept we can't do things on
our own. However, we often give it with a bungee cord attached. We are
ready to yank it back when resutls don't come fast enough or in the way
we want.
Just think how you react when other people do that to you. If you are asked
for help and then the help is rejected as not good or quick enough it probably
creates a resentment. Letting go is hard, and it is a learning process.
But, let go we must.
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March 29, 2006
Like most who use the Internet on a regular basis to provide content through
a website we use a service to track visits to our site. I am able to see
what pages are visited the most, how people are finding us, etc. It's been
interesting that recently we've been getting quite a bit of traffic to
a review I wrote some time ago for the movie Joshua.
The movie was a mild success, but bigger than normal as Christian themed
movies go. It is based on Joseph Girzone's excellent novel and the basis
is that Jesus comes back in our modern day era as a wanderer and artisan
named Joshua. He interacts with a number of people in a small town and
it gives an interesting perspective on how things are today and how the
Lord might observe and comment on them.
Of course, Christ followers believe that Jesus is indeed active in our
lives on a daily basis. The "Body of Christ" is all of us loving
and carrying the Gospel message with the Holy Spirit alive in us and helping
us.
If you would like to see the review of Joshua visit
here. And if you haven't yet seen the movie, I certainly recommend
it.
Tom Gilbert
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March 27, 2006
How do we come to know God? We can't really "see" the Almighty,
Maker of the Universe, Creator of all.
As Christians we believe that God is revealed to us through Jesus Christ.
One of the things I love about this is that through Jesus we also get to
know what true humanity is, and can be.
To see God we must look through the eyes of our hearts - there is more
about this with today's Daily Thought.
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March 21, 2006
Spiritual practices, such as prayer, meditation and scripture reading,
are important for many reasons. One of the main reasons is that it disciplines
us. A regular habit of absorbing the message of God feeds our mind, heart
and soul.
Of course, we must first be wiling to give up our personal agenda. I find
it hardest when it seems like there is too much to do in one day. The odd
thing is that on those days I can spend so much useless energy worrying
about what needs to get done that I am far less productive than if I just
focused and concentrated on the next right thing. Therefore, it is especially
important to set aside time for prayer, reading and meditation on those
days when my "to do" list is large.
I like what The
Life has posted about this subject. And I've written about it a
few times, too, like in the article What's
the Hurry?
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March 17, 2006
Kidnapped by raiders as a youth and treated harshly — this experience
left a lasting impression on Patrick. Yet, it didn't keep him down. Read
about the real St.
Patrick.
Happy St. Patrick's Day.
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| March 16, 2006
 A
while back I was at a Men’s retreat in Ghost Ranch,
New Mexico. It is a very spiritual place. I was reviewing
some material from it and came across this picture as
well as a prayer we used by Teilhard de Chardin.
“Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We
are, quite naturally, impatient in everything to reach
the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stage. We are impatient of being
on the way to something unknown, something new; and yet it is the law
of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability
- and that it may take a very long time.
And so I think it is with you. Your ideas mature gradually - let them
grow, let them shape themselves, without undo haste.
Don't try to force them on, as though (that is to say, grace and circumstances
acting on your own good will) you will make your tomorrow.
Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you
will be. Give our Lord the benefit of believing that His hand is leading
you, and accept the anxiety of feeling your self in suspense and incomplete.
Amen.”
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March 15, 2006
Jesus told us to love our enemies? How many of us can truthfully say that
we do that? Even once?
Yet, God loves everyone, even those who don't love God. Even those who
despise and hate God and Christianity.
It is a tall order, but God is in the business of BIG. Jesus refused unto
death, even on the cross with his executors taunting and spitting on him,
to return the hate in kind. He loved.
The freedom that comes to our hearts when we can turn from getting even
("an eye for an eye") to loving and forgiving others makes our
hearts bigger. It is not the way of most in the world. But it is The Way.
I am so grateful that God does not give me what I deserve (punishment for
being a sinner), but rather rains down grace and mercy.
The great wisdom on Christ in the Gospels is that we are shown how to stop
the downward spiral of hate, fueled by fear, righteous indignation or whatever
rationalization we have. More hate does not stop hate. More love multiplies.
A good article that had me thinking about this today is at the Upper
Room (here).
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March 9, 2006
Are you a risk taker? Or are you just existing? Check
it out.
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March 7, 2006
There are lots of awards (and awards shows) for motion pictures. The most
prominent, the Academy Awards, was this past Sunday. The best picture Oscar
went to Crash, a movie that looks at bigotry
and prejudice in a multi-layered plot with a strong ensemble cast.
RELEVANT magazine (always an interesting
site) is now weighing in with their movie nods. Go here for
more.
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March 6, 2006
The Season of Lent is underway. It is one of Christianity's oldest observed
liturgical seasons and it is not just for Catholics and Anglicans. Some
other Christian denominations observe the season, but even if you have
traditionally not used this time of repentance and preparation for Easter
it could be worthwhile for you to investigate.
There are many places to find resources. The American
Catholic website has much to offer, but so does Christianity
Today. A new book by noted theologian Dr. Miroslav Volf, Free
of Charge, is about giving and forgiving and has been
chosen at the official 2006 Lent book by the Archbishop of Canterbury. More
here.
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March 5, 2006
How can the Internet best be used for evangelism? This is the focus of
the second annual Internet Evangelism Day is set for 7 May 2006.
The IE Day website has many resources and much information and now is the
time to start planning if you have a church or ministry that uses the Internet.
Go here for more.
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March 1, 2006
Steve Stockman is an interesting man.
He is a minister in Ireland, but also a great lover of
music (he hosts a radio show on the BBC) and looks to
how songs can minister to us by revealing love, peace,
justice and God. Often his revelations have come from
songs and artists you might not suspect. He is an accomplished
author and has written books about U-2 and I highly recommend
his The
Rock Cries Out.
The Rhythms
of Redemption site has writing from Stockman and can provide
some great insight into Christian arts.
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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
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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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