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Journal — August, 2006 |
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AN ONGOING
SPIRITUAL WEBLOG
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August 30, 2006
The CMA Award nominations were released today. This
is for the Country Music Association's annual best performers, songs
and so forth. Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the
Wheel" (see our
song reflection here) was nominated for single of the year and music
video of the year. The 40th Annual CMA Awards will take place November
6th and air on ABC Television.
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August 29, 2006
Today is the one-year anniversary of Hurricane
Katrina. This powerful storm devastated much of the Gulf
Coast. In New Orleans the levees broke and much of the city was
underwater. A year later there are still parts of the city without
electricity. It is a long rebuilding process ahead. Other
towns, like Biloxi, Mississippi, suffered, too.
However, I find myself drawn to the stories of the survivors. Truly there
is evidence that the human spirit is hardy, especially amidst tragedy
and when people find God's power and let it work through them. There
are some very powerful stories recorded for an oral history project for
Katrina survivors by Abe Louise Young, an Austin Poet (but native of
New Orleans) who felt compelled to give these people the dignity of being
heard. More on After
the Flood: Stories of Survival - go
here.
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August 23, 2006
The news can be pretty scary when it is filled with reports of war, terrorism
and natural disasters. I think we must remind ourselves that media is
more readily available these days than ever before. So, news of such
a disheartening nature is readily available. It doesn't mean things are
worse than ever before.
Despite that, we must keep doing what each of us can on a daily basis
to shine a light. Avoid the temptation to become cynical or to sink into
despair. There is much good in the world and good news doesn't get nearly
the amount of press as the bad.
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August 21, 2006
When we strive to really live a spiritual life by turning our hearts,
minds and will over to God we soon discover that it is a challenge. It
becomes easy to compromise and justify ourselves with all kinds of rationalizations.
But if we are true to the call of God on our hearts then we soon realize
we're just making excuses.
There is no doubt that prayer is a powerful way to stay on course and
to correct our course, when needed. As we become students of prayer we
come across lots of recommendations. Some of them are quite effective.
Some of them are techniques. As long as we don't put technique over substance
these prayer tips will be helpful. Remember Paul exhorted us to pray
always. How you do that is your business, but don't forget to let God "speak" to
you in your prayer time. I've been reading more in Debbie Williams Pray
with Purpose, Live with Passion book and she has some
good suggestions to improve your prayer life, including the importance
of yielding to God which requires waiting on God's message. God speaks
to us in many ways —through the Bible, through others filled with
the Holy Spirit, through books, music, art and in quiet contemplation.
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August 16, 006
Today is my daughter's 18th birthday. She is the firstborn and I remember
well that early morning when my wife, Annette, and I went to the hospital.
Kristen was born a beautiful little girl —and loud! She cried a
lot (healthy lungs) and she cried often during her first three months
(she had colic).
Today she is a beautfiul young woman with a great singing voice. Those
lungs obviously benefited from all that exercise. She starts her college
career next week and I'm very proud of her and grateful to God that she
was born. We teach each other many things about life.
Tom Gilbert
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August 11, 2006
I sent out the latest newsletter yesterday.
In the opening I referenced the new Oliver Stone film, World
Trade Center, a movie about two Port Authority officers in New
York City who survived the collapse of the towers on September 11, 2001.
It is being praised as a tale of courage, sacrifice and love.
Ironically yesterday the news came out of a foiled terrorist plan to
blow up several flights from Great Britain to America. The result is
heightened security in airports and new restrictions on carry-on items.
No longer any containers with liquids (other than medicines) because
the terrorist plan was to mix liquid chemicals on board the planes to
create explosives. Our world is still at risk from terrorism, but our
faith in God and God's ability to work through us to change our hearts
from fear and hate to love and compassion can and will get us through.
Once again I am reminded how important it is to carry that vision into
each and every day.
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August 7, 2006
There is no letup on either side in the ongoing war between Israel and
Hezbollah in Lebanon. This despite the calls for a cease fire and for
negotiations from various countries. It is sad and frightening. (Toronto
Star article here.)
There are civilians caught in the middle (BBC report)
and I reject the term "collateral damage". I know there are those who
say that is the "price" of war.
When we pray for peace, specifically for war-torn regions, we must remember
those in harm's way and pray that they will be comforted and protected.
Pray also for those involved in working for peace through diplomatic
channels. Pray that God will open their eyes, ears and hearts to solutions.
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August 4, 2006
Peaceful protest against injustice and the wrongs of the world takes
a certain amount of inner fortitude. To stand up for what is right without
resentment, bitterness or lashing out in violence (words as much as physical)
is fruitless unless we draw strength from God.
There is much to be disturbed about in today's world. The Middle East
war between Israel and Lebanon seems to be iintensifying. There is hate
and wrongful vengance being inflicted on both sides. What can we do?
Some people in Albuquerque, New Mexico are finding that Friday evenings
they can gather together in a public place hold a peaceful protest and
vigil for Palestine and Lebanon. More
here.
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August 2, 2006
The daily routine of going down the list of "to-dos", checking them off,
keeping appointments, running errands and so forth can become just that —a "routine".
Unless we stop and take time to be truly present.
There is always underneath our life situation the reality of life. That
is where you find the reality of God. Sometimes in my routine I can actually
be shaken out of my attitude of just one thing after another and realize
this reality. It does not have to be anything major. For instance, two
of the books I've been keeping in front of the computer where I do much
of the Living the Solution work are taking me there. One-Minute
Prayers For My Son and One-Minute
Prayers For My Daughter have great short
prayers based around themes like health, wisdom, future, integrity, patience,
purity and faith. When I take time to read a couple of these prayers
it brings to my consciousness the wonder and gift of children.
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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 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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