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Journal — September 2006 |
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AN ONGOING
SPIRITUAL WEBLOG
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September 28, 2006
Words can be very powerful. Certain
words can tear down others and inflict harm. Other words
can uplift and encourage.
It’s easy for us to dismiss the power of words. And how many of
us guard our tongue throughout the day. I find it is easy to make comments
that are negative, sarcastic or frivolous without giving much thought
at all. It reminds me of the saying, “engage brain before speaking”.
Sometimes we use words without even knowing what they really mean. I’ve
often been surprised after looking up in a dictionary a word that I thought
I always knew the meaning to.
God’s inspired word can be found in scripture. This is why ongoing
Bible study is important. Of course, humans wrote the Bible, so it is
important to look for the consistent message of love, grace, giving and
forgiving that is woven through the Bible and not get bogged down in
literal terms that are clearly cultural in context and not always consistent
with Jesus’ message to love God and others.
Try today to use some loving and encouraging words. Thanks for reading
these.
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September 25, 2006
The annual prayer gathering of students around flagpoles at their respective
schools, See
You At The Pole, is this Wednesday, September 27. Over the
years this quiet, but effective, witness to faith and call to prayer
has grown immensely. This year's theme verse is "Be Still and know
that I am God" from Psalm 46. It's great instruction, not just for
young people, but for all of us who continually get caught up in a world
of chaos, noise and clutter. We need to learn to pause and listen to
God. The listening is a very important component of prayer.
More on See You At The Pole here.
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September 21, 2006
One of the challenges of life is it is so daily! Fortunately, so is God.
I've had some stressful days this week and when I am in the midst of
the gut-wrenching deadlines and problem solving it is easy to lose sight
of God's constant help. A moment of prayer, asking for help and just "letting
go" of trying to do it all ourselves is helpful.
But sometimes we need more. Some practical tips on how to handle stress.
A new book by Mary Southerland addresses this. She reminds us we can't
completely avoid stress...but we don't have to get trapped in it. Stress
happens.
The book, Escaping
the Stress Trap, is now out from Harvest House and
available online here.
Discover what Mary Southerland has to say on the topic of stress management
as a spiritual discipline.
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September 14, 2006
Walking in the way of faith requires a conscious effort on our part.
It is so easy, especially when things are either going smoothly - or
going roughly - for us to fall back on self reliance.
There is nothing wrong with being responsible for our thoughts and actions.
But not apart from the wisdom and insight that God can give us. I believe
a daily conscious contact with God opens a channel. Now I can easily
close that channel, choking it with my selfish and worrisome concerns.
Then I'm stuck with the best results that I, alone, can come up with.
It is much more advisable to turn to God and ask for help. It requires
humility, open-mindedness and willingness. Answers do come. We don't
always like the answers to our prayers, but that is usually a red flag
that we are upset because we aren't getting our own way.
I've been thinking of late how important
it is to be grateful, passionate and enthusiastic
about life. If I can live that way and stay humble
and avoid ego bravado then I can be a good instrument
of God's will. I know this is not easy. The spiritual
path is indeed often narrow and challenging.
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September 11, 2006
 Today,
of course, is the 5th year anniversary of September 11,
2001. It was a defining day for many of us in the
United States, a new "Pearl Harbor" type of tragedy. Terrorism
that strikes a country's heartland and kills many innocent
people is an affront to humanity and to God.
We should remember not just what happened on this day, but also what
our call is. Not revenge. Not more hatred and violence. How
can we embrace the third way that Christ shows us? It is a way
of transforming our hearts from hardness to love. It requires sacrifice
and faith and action.
Today our world still has much that we worry about and fear. But
there are also opportunities to do something about it. Maybe you
will be called to step forward in action, like Ghandi 100 years ago today
in his first public act of civil disobedience (see this
article from SojoNet). You may also want to protest war or
the genocide still going on in Darfur, Sudan.
Or you may merely be called to speak out against injustice and to help
those less fortunate in your own community. I know this can be
challenging and intimidating. But if we can really do all things
with Christ to strengthen and help us then we should not shy away from
making a difference.
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September 8, 2006
If you believe that God is all powerful, the Creator and omniscient that
can prompt some interesting theological considerations. Christians believe
that Jesus is the Son of God who came to our world in human form, yet
still divine (fully human and fully divine). Futhermore, Jesus Christ
came as a redeemer.
Whether you accept that or not you can surely look at our world and history
and come to the conclusion that something is not right. Yes, there are
good and loving people. But there is also evil, hatred and harm done
- sometimes to radical degrees. And no one is without fault (nobody is
perfect), which means that all of us sin - however you want to define
sin.
So back to God who knows all. That means God knew there would be something
wrong with us even though a perfect and all-loving God created us. Are
we here in this life to be redeemed and to appreciate what that means?
Is the purpose of creation to demonstrate how God can bring about good
in all things for those who love him and are called to his purpose (Romans
8:28)? To me this gives a greater depth to life. My journey keeps taking
me to a greater awakening. Who Jesus is and what he calls us to and how
this can radically change, nay transform, us all is a wonder to behold.
And to be a part of.
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September 5, 2006
I hope you had a restful and enjoyable Labor Day weekend. Now, back to
the grind. Perhaps you have what feels like an overwhelming number of
things to do. I can relate.
The answer is to take it one thing at a time and ask God for guidance
and the ability to focus and do good work.
Coming up this weekend in Pasadena, California is the Politics
and Spirituality Conference. Jim Wallis, Richard Rohr and Anne
Lamont will engage participants in "the vital connection between our
inner spiritual lives and our outer public witness". More
here.
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September 1, 2006
The Labor Day weekend is almost here. Labor Day is a holiday that celebrates
our jobs, our careers, our work and our labor. As Christians we must
look at what we do to earn money as more than just a J-O-B. Our very
real work should be in labor for God's Kingdom. The fruits or our labor
are not always evident. But, if we go about our work with the attitude
that we are here for a greater purpose, one that models Christian love
and carries the message that God loves us all and wants us to have an
intimate relationship with the Divine, as well as a life of service to
others, then we are doing God's work.
I've mentioned the saying before, "Don't ask God to bless what you are
doing. Instead, look for where God is already doing something and join
in". It's a powerful perspective on life.
I wish all of you rest and relaxation when you are away from your job.
As I continue to stay involved with Living the Solution (not really my
main revenue job, but more a labor of love) I thank and bless all of
of you who come here seeking ways to grow spiritually and to find practical
and real life Christians solutions to our challenges.
Tom Gilbert
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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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