Prayers of Trust

DAY 17: From Romans 15

2007-09-16T06:22:00.000-07:00

My soul finds rest in You alone; my salvation comes from You. Today and each day, I place my trust in You.

God of hope, fill me with all joy and peace as I continue to trust in You.

Fill me Lord so that I may overflow with hope by the power of Your Holy Spirit.
(Pause)

Today and each day, fill me to overflowing with your Spirit.

You are my source of hope. You are my refuge. I trust in You alone!

Our souls find rest in You alone; our salvation comes from You. Today and each day, we place our trust in You.

(End with a period of Silence. Trusting that God is present)

DAY 16: From John 14

2007-09-15T08:08:00.000-07:00

My soul finds rest in You alone; my salvation comes from You. Today and each day, I place my trust in You.
I will not let my heart be troubled. I will trust in You, my God; Jesus, I trust in You.

Father, you promise that in Your house are many rooms; we trust what You have taught us through your Son, Jesus.

Jesus, I long for the room You have prepared for me. I am astonished that You serve in heaven as you served here on earth. Such a servant-King is worthy of my trust!

I know You are coming back to take me to be with You.

I know that You are the way to the place where I am going.

I will cling to the promise of an eternity with You, and I will not let my heart be troubled.

I will trust in You, my God; Jesus, I trust in You.

Our souls find rest in You alone; our salvation comes from You. Today and each day, we place our trust in You.
(End with a period of Silence. Trusting that God is present)

DAY 15: From Isaiah 42

2007-09-14T06:20:00.000-07:00

My soul finds rest in You alone; my salvation comes from You. Today and each day, I place my trust in You.

I praise You, LORD. You are praised to the ends of the earth, to the depth of the sea, by every creature that is in the sea, to the most remote islands, and by all who live on them. In the desert and in the cities voices raise to praise you.

Today as I say, “I trust you.” I acknowledge that my voice joins the voices of countless people around the world who place their trust in You.

Let our voices honor you and make you smile. You, the LORD, are being proclaimed across the Earth.

LORD, you march out like a mighty man, like a warrior You stir up zeal; with a shout You raise the battle cry and triumph over evil.

I will not keep silent. Even now I cry out for your justice.

Like a blind man trusts a guide, I trust You when You lead me in ways I have not known. Though I walk along unfamiliar paths, I trust You to guide me;  You turn the darkness into light before me and make the rough places smooth. You will not forsake me. You alone are good!

I will not trust in idols – I will not make fleeting things my gods - that would be my shame. I place my trust in You alone!

Our souls find rest in You alone; our salvation comes from You. Today and each day, we place our trust in You.

(End with a period of Silence. Trusting that God is present)

DAY 14: From Isaiah 25

2007-09-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

My soul finds rest in You alone; my salvation comes from You. Today and each day, I place my trust in You.

I trust you. The future rests in your hands. Your outcome is certain. You will reign forever!

You, the LORD Almighty, will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines.

You will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; You will swallow up death forever.  

Sovereign LORD, You will wipe away the tears from all faces; You will remove the disgrace of your people from all the earth. For you, the LORD, have spoken this promise. And you, the Lord, can be trusted.

On that day we will say, “This is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us.  This is our LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."

God, I trust You because You will rule forever. Beyond all time and all space, You are!

Our souls find rest in You alone; our salvation comes from You. Today and each day, we place our trust in You.
(End with a period of Silence. Trusting that God is present)

DAY 13: From Isaiah 25

2007-09-12T06:19:00.000-07:00

My soul finds rest in You alone; my salvation comes from You. Today and each day, I place my trust in You.

LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.

I trust the plans you have for me, even when I don’t understand.

We trust the plans you have for us.

Cities rise and fall at your command. You make heaps of rubble out of fortified towns. Break the strongholds in our city; May they never be rebuilt. You alone hold everything in your hands.

(Pause)

You are a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. The trust of the desperate will not be misplaced in your name!

You silence the uproar of my enemies; as heat is reduced by the shadow of a cloud, so the boasting of the ruthless is stilled.

I will trust You forever because You are good!

Our souls find rest in You alone; our salvation comes from You. Today and each day, we place our trust in You.

(End with a period of Silence. Trusting that God is present)

DAY 12: From Isaiah 12

2007-09-11T06:19:00.000-07:00

My soul finds rest in You alone; my salvation comes from You. Today and each day, I place my trust in You.

I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me.

Surely You are my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.

You, the LORD, are my strength and my song; You have become my salvation."

With joy I draw water from the wells of salvation.

(Pause)

Thank you, God. I call on your name. I will make known among the nations what You have done, and proclaim Your name in the streets.

I will sing to You, for You have done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.

We will shout aloud and sing for joy, for great is the Holy One of Israel among us.

You are great. You are trustworthy. You alone are God!

Our souls find rest in You alone; our salvation comes from You. Today and each day, we place our trust in You.

(End with a period of Silence. Trusting that God is present)

DAY 11: From Psalm 91

2007-09-10T06:18:00.000-07:00

My soul finds rest in You alone; my salvation comes from You. Today and each day, I place my trust in You.

I will make You, the Most High, my dwelling; my refuge, then no harm will make me fall, no disaster will prevail.

For You will command your angels concerning me to guard me always. They will lift me up in their hands, so that I will not stumble.

Because I love You, LORD, You will rescue me; You will protect me, for You know my name.
(Pause)

I call upon You, and You will answer me; You will be with me in trouble and deliver me.

My life is in your hands. My salvation comes from you!

Our souls find rest in You alone; our salvation comes from You. Today and each day, we place our trust in You.

(End with a period of Silence. Trusting that God is present)

DAY 10: From Psalm 91

2007-09-09T06:18:00.000-07:00

My soul finds rest in You alone; my salvation comes from You. Today and each day, I place my trust in You.

I want to dwell in the shelter of You, the Most High, and rest in the shadow of You, the Almighty.

I will say out loud, “You are my refuge and my fortress! It is You, my God, in whom I trust."
(Pause)

You will save me from myself and the evil one.

You will cover me, and under your wings I will find refuge; Your faithfulness will be my shield.

I will not fear the terror of night, nor the attacks that come by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at my side, ten thousand at my right hand, but it will not come near me.

Our souls find rest in You alone; our salvation comes from You. Today and each day, we place our trust in You.

(End with a period of Silence. Trusting that God is present)

DAY 9: From Psalm 62

2007-09-08T06:17:00.000-07:00

My soul finds rest in You alone; my salvation comes from You. Today and each day, I place my trust in You.

Keep me from selfishness. Keep me from evil. Replace the lies I have held onto with the truth of You and Your love.
Transform my heart – for you alone are able to do so – and may the good stored up in my heart overflow into the words I speak this day.

(Pause)

My salvation and my honor depend on You;
You are my mighty rock, my refuge.

I will trust in You at all times, for You are my refuge.

(Pause)

God keep me from trusting in the false gods of status, money, possessions, comfort, and position – and the other falsities I am prone to trust in. Keep me from setting my heart on these things. Help me to trust in You alone!

One thing You have spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving.
I will trust in your strength. I will trust in your love!

Our souls find rest in You alone; our salvation comes from You. Today and each day, we place our trust in You.

(End with a period of Silence. Trusting that God is present)

DAY 8: From Psalm 52

2007-09-07T06:17:00.000-07:00

My soul finds rest in You alone; my salvation comes from You. Today and each day, I place my trust in You.

Help me not admire evil, or trust in my own might. For then I would be a disgrace in your eyes, O God.

Keep my words from plotting destruction; and keep me from the practice of deceit. Remind me of the power of my words.

Empower me to love good rather than evil.  
Empower me to speak truth rather than falsehood.  

May my words be helpful instead of harmful. May I be an encouragement and bring your Living Water to those whom I encounter this day.  

(Pause)

God, be my stronghold. I will not trust in wealth. I will not trust in my own abilities. I will not trust in my own strength or the strength of others.
Help me as I trust in You alone.  
For then, I will flourish, as I trust in your unfailing love forever and ever.

I will praise you forever for what you have done;
in your name I will hope, for your name is good.  

I will praise you in the presence of others.

Our souls find rest in You alone; our salvation comes from You. Today and each day, we place our trust in You.

(End with a period of Silence. Trusting that God is present)

DAY 7: From Psalm 40

2007-09-06T06:16:00.000-07:00

My soul finds rest in You alone; my salvation comes from You. Today and each day, I place my trust in You.

Do not withhold your mercy from us, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect us.

When many troubles surround me, do not let my sins overtake me. Help me see You clearly. Come quickly to help me and save me from myself.

God, when we seek You, let us rejoice and be glad in You; may we love your salvation and always say, "The LORD be exalted!"

Though, I am poor and needy; think of me. You are my help. You are my deliverer. O my God, do not delay.

Our souls find rest in You alone; our salvation comes from You. Today and each day, we place our trust in You.

(End with a period of Silence. Trusting that God is present)

DAY 6: From Psalm 40

2007-09-05T06:16:00.000-07:00

My soul finds rest in You alone; my salvation comes from You. Today and each day, I place my trust in You.

I wait patiently for you, God. (Pause)

Turn and hear my prayer. You lift me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; out of my own selfish desires and plans.

Set my feet on the rock and give me a firm place to stand.

Put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to You.

Many will see and hear and put their trust in You.

I want to make you my trust! Free me from looking elsewhere for security and comfort. Free me from looking to my false gods.
(Pause)

Many are the wonders you have done. The things you have planned for us are too vast for us to know or to speak.

Here I am, I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.

Help me speak of your faithfulness and salvation. Help me not conceal your love and your truth from the people you have placed in my life.

Our souls find rest in You alone; our salvation comes from You. Today and each day, we place our trust in You.

(End with a period of Silence. Trusting that God is present)

DAY 5: From Psalm 25

2007-09-04T06:15:00.000-07:00

My soul finds rest in You alone; my salvation comes from You. Today and each day, I place my trust in You.

For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive our iniquity, though it is great.

Help us have a holy fear of you, Lord. Instruct us in the way you have chosen for us.

God, confide in those who fear you; make your promises known to us.

Keep our eyes fixed forever on You, for only You can free us! For only you can save us! Turn to us and be gracious when we are lonely and afflicted.

When the troubles of my heart are many; free me from my anguish. Look upon me when I am in distress and take away all my sins.

The obstacles we see are not obstacles for you, Lord. We trust in you! Guard our lives and rescue us; let us not be put to shame, for we take refuge in you!

(Pause)

My hope is in you. Save me Lord, for I trust in you!

Our souls find rest in You alone; our salvation comes from You. Today and each day, we place our trust in You.
(End with a period of Silence. Trusting that God is present)

DAY 4: From Psalm 25

2007-09-03T06:14:00.000-07:00

My soul finds rest in You alone; my salvation comes from You. Today and each day, I place my trust in You.

To You, I lift up my soul; In you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.

No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame.

(Pause)

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

(Pause)

God, remind me of your great mercy and love, for they are everlasting. Remember not my sins and my rebellious ways; Thank you for Jesus who cast those away.

(Pause)

According to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD. Good and just are you LORD; therefore instruct me, a sinner, in your ways.

Guide me in what is right and teach me your way as I humble myself before you.
God, your ways are loving and faithful!

Our souls find rest in You alone; our salvation comes from You. Today and each day, we place our trust in You.

(End with a period of Silence. Trusting that God is present)

DAY 3: From Psalm 20

2007-09-02T06:14:00.000-07:00

My soul finds rest in You alone; my salvation comes from You. Today and each day, I place my trust in You.

LORD answer me when I am in distress;
May Your name protect me.

Send help from Your sanctuary and support from Zion.
Remember my sacrifices and my humble offerings.

(Pause)

Give me the desire of my heart – may that desire ultimately be You. Make my plans succeed.

(Pause)

We will shout for joy when You are victorious. We will lift our voices for the name of our God. LORD grant our requests.

You save your anointed; You answer from heaven with the saving power of your right hand.

Some trust in wealth and some in themselves, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

(Pause)

Our souls find rest in You alone; Our salvation comes from You. Today and each day, We place our trust in You.

(End with a period of Silence. Trusting that God is present)

DAY 2: From Deuteronomy 1:31-33

2007-09-01T06:13:00.000-07:00

My soul finds rest in You alone; my salvation comes from You. Today and each day, I place my trust in You.
When I was in the desert; I said “where is my God?” But looking back, I see how You, the Lord, carried me. As a father carries his child, you went all the way with me until we reached this place.
Remind me, O Lord - though sometimes I don’t see you, though sometimes I am confused, though sometimes I want to go ahead of you on this journey, though sometimes I make my own way – Remind me that you are there in fire by night and in cloud by day, to lead me and to show me the way I should go.

(Pause)

Our souls find rest in You alone; our salvation comes from You. Today and each day, we place our trust in You.
(End with a period of Silence. Trusting that God is present)

Day 1: From Psalm 62

2007-08-31T05:33:00.000-07:00

My soul finds rest in You alone; my salvation comes from You.
Today and each day, I place my trust in You.

You alone are my rock and my salvation; You are my fortress, I will never be shaken.

(Pause)

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from You.

You alone are my rock and my salvation; You are my fortress, I will not be shaken.

My salvation and my honor depend on You;
You are my mighty rock, my refuge.

We will trust in you at all times; We will pour out our hearts to you, for You are our refuge.

(Pause)

I will not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods; though my riches increase, I will not set my heart on them.

One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving.

Surely you will reward me according to what I have done.

Our souls find rest in You alone; our salvation comes from You.
Today and each day, we place our trust in You.

(End with a period of Silence. Trusting that God is present)

DAY 16: From John 14

2007-08-30T06:21:00.001-07:00

Words

2006-02-03T05:45:00.000-08:00

My son will be 2 years old in April. He walks, runs, laughs, screams, and all kinds of other fun things. But the thing I find most amazing is that he talks. He learns a new word or two everyday. Now to the untrained ear a lot of his words sound like jibberish. "Ba La Da Kuk gog barf Moo bsss..." Some are much clearer like "Daddy" and "Hot" and "Cup." It's incredible. He's at the point where he's trying to string words together to communicate what he wants, needs, is unhappy about, etc... He knows a little sign language too, which helps tremendously in the translation. He tries really really hard and sometimes gets pretty frustrated when he's saying something, signing and using all kinds of body language to get us to understand.

Early this morning I was praying. I had just read something from the Bible that I didn't fully understand. So I was laying there unsure of what to say, but sure that God was present and listening. After a few minutes of this I heard a familiar sound through the baby monitor: "Da da, up boooo bssss la la la laughing ha ha ha. Da Da. Oooo Cup." It went on and on for like 5 minutes. I just listened. My son was in his room laying in his bed talking to the ceiling. And though no one else who subscribes to the english language could have interpreted more than a few of the obvious words, I knew exactly what he was trying to say, what he was doing while he was saying it, what he looked like, what he wanted, what he needed - I just knew what he was trying to say.

It gave me a little hope for my prayers. When I lie there staring at the ceiling trying to communicate with the limited language I possess, somehow, someway, My Father hears and understands.

Presence

2006-01-27T09:19:00.000-08:00

"What can I say about the emptiness and freedom into whose door I entered for that half-minute, which was enough for a lifetime, because it was a new life altogether?" - Merton (see last post)

I'm reading Revolution by George Barna. I highly recommend it, even though I'm only halfway through. If you don't know who he is he is well known for his research especially in the arena of the church and Christians. Findings of his work studying the 77 million American adults who are "churched, born-again Christians" published in Revolution show this:

* The biweekly attendance at worship services is, by the believers' own admission, generally the only time they worship God.
* Eight out of ten believers do not feel they have entered into the presence of god, or experienced a connection with Him, during the worship service.
*Half of all believers say they do not feel they have entered into the presence of God or experienced a genuine connection with Him during the past year.

WOW! How sad is that? I can't imagine. If we're honest we'll admit that our experience of the presence of God waxes and wanes. But a year? Actually I can imagine, because I have been there. I've spent years of my Christian life outside of God's plan and outside of his church, but I found myself there in part because I wasn't finding God in church. A couple of posts ago I wrote about spiritually significant events which altered the course of my life and noted the Vineyard as one of my top 5. I believe the success of the Vineyard movement as a whole has been largely due to their commitment to helping people enter God's presence and experience intimacy with him. "Come Holy Spirit." I've heard countless stories of people saying "It just felt different when I came here."

We can't lose this. We can't! We have to be committed to helping people enter God's presence and understand how to do that not only for an hour on the weekend, but in their day to day. If Barna's findings are true, the church isn't doing too well at this, and the majority of Christians might not even know what this means.

But I come back to Merton's quote. "What can I say about the emptiness and freedom into whose door I entered for that half-minute, which was enough for a lifetime, because it was a new life altogether?" 30 seconds! 30 seconds in the presence of God changed him. I've recently been "reminded" that experiencing God's presence is a non-negotiable for me. I'm dead without it. My leadership and His use of me in his work is absolutely nothing without it.

Come Holy Spirit. Invade our lives. Don't let us lose our awareness that you are always present. Help us help others enter your presence and be changed.

More Monk

2006-01-26T08:18:00.000-08:00

"What can I say about the emptiness and freedom into whose door I entered for that half-minute, which was enough for a lifetime, because it was a new life altogether? There is nothing with which to compare it. I could call it nothingness, but it is an infinitely fruitful freedom, to lack all things and to lack my self in the fresh air of that happiness that seems to be above all modes of being. Don't let me build any more walls around it, or I will shut myself out."

Another prayer from one of Thomas Merton's journals. There is so much in this one that I could spend months digesting. But a few things spoke to where I am and what I'm thinking about. I'll address one here and come back to another in my next post.

"I could call it nothingness, but it is an infinitely fruitful freedom..." This guy gets meditation from a Christian perspective like no one else I've ever found. Recently a friend of mine was wrestling with the "did God create other religions?" question. Her thoughts and the thoughts of others posted on her blog www.kallagreen.blogspot.com reminded me of my college-aged interest in Taoism, Zen and all things Eastern. It infuriates me when Christians dismiss the possibility of learning anything from people with a different worldview - like there's something heretical about learning, asking questions, and seeking to understand other's views. My home church taught on Christian meditation once, and it was one of the few moments I have been embarassed by the teaching coming from the stage. It was ridiculous, ignorant, and arrogant. The person speaking obviously had no first-hand knowledge of the subject and lumped everything together in a cheesy video that made fun of people who do Yoga. Ridiculous! but I digress... One of the goals of most Eastern meditation is "nothingness." Nirvana. The complete absence of attachment, want, need, etc... But Merton finds something else in it. He finds "infinitely fruitful freedom." He finds Jesus.

This may sound simplistic, but it's true. At the end of all our searching and engaging in everything religion has to offer, if we're honest we won't know what to do with Jesus. He is so bizarre. His offer is so beyond our comprehension. It's foolishness. But if we're honest with Him, He's the only place we really find infinitely fruitful freedom.

Question #1

2006-01-20T05:51:00.000-08:00

I have a series of questions swimming around in my head. Some of them I've been asking for years and some have appeared more recently. I've decided to put a few up here on my blog as a way to hopefully get some different perspectives and a variety of answers.

Question #1 is something I started asking friends and others about 2 or 3 years ago when I was wrestling with the idea of how people really grew in their relationship with Jesus and in their commitment to Him. Yesterday I was reading George Barna's new book, "Revolution," (I highly recommend it) and he explores this question with a much broader base of people - which lends a lot more statistical credibility to his answers than my anecdotal answers from friends, but the anecdotal puts skin on the numbers, so chyme in.

Barna writes "Transformation, as I am using it, is a significant spiritual breakthrough in which you seize a new perspective or practice...consequently, you are never the same again. The transformation redefines who you are at a fundamental spiritual level, and your lifestyle is realigned according to that part of your being that was finally awakened to the things of God."

So let's go High Fidelity on this one. What are your Top Five, All Time, Desert Island Spiritually Significant Events? By SSE's I mean moments, activities, disciplines, experiences, etc... that changed how you see and experience God.

Here are mine (in random order):

1) Adopting my boys. I learned more about loving someone the way God loves them through this than anything else. Before we got Mac, this desperate love grew in me for him - a child I had never seen (not even a picture or a description on a piece of paper) was breaking my heart. I wanted nothing more than for that child to come to my home and be part of my family. God also did incredible things through the whole 2 year process that proved to me if He was in something things may not always go smoothly, but I could trust Him to come through and provide.

2) The Vineyard Community Church. www.cincyvineyard.com. Okay, so maybe this should be more than one, but this church really changed how I saw God, ministry, and life. Two big components were Servant Evangelism - I'd never seen a church actually do something so selfless with their faith like this place. And it was fun! This is also the first church where I really started to understand worship. I had been a Christian for 8 years before I stepped into VCC, and I'd been in a ton of different churches, but I'd never found anything that felt "right" or made sense the way VCC did. I grew infinetly more there than in all my previous churches combined. I think it's because my faith expanded from it's residence in my head to inhabit my heart, my actions and my life.

3) Brooke. Being married is one of the hardest things I've ever done. It's also one of the best things I've ever done. Over our 10+ years in the midst of all the great times, we've also had some significant struggles and challenges. Nothing has made me confront my selfishness (before kids) like being married. I've definitely learn to die to myself at times, love (the active 1 Corinthians type) with no expectations, and forgive. Brooke is also proof that God loves me - she's the only person I know who knows all my crap and loves me anyway. That's a gift.

4) Mexico. Almost four years ago I went on this 10 day mission trip to the dumps of Mexico City with Operation Serve. I experienced things there that blew my mind. I came back with a whole new understanding of faith, prayer, the Holy Spirit, serving, and money. It was CRAZY, but the good kind.

5) Retreats. I find anytime I set aside a chunk of time to focus on God whether with others or alone, He honors it big time. Nothing is more refreshing and renewing for me than getting away for a few days. I've done a variety of types and lengths of retreats, but my favorite and most significant was a 5 day silent retreat to Gethsemani Abbey in Trappist Kentucky. I highly recommend it. Check out www.monks.org.

What are yours?

Rediscovering our past

2006-01-14T16:59:00.000-08:00

I went to the Over The Rhine Christmas show last month. It was incredible, as always. At the end they brought the two opening acts back out and sang this hymn. It was a blast from my past. For me it was the highlight of the evening. I have not been able to get this song out of my head today. And since one of my resolutions is to sing more, I've even found myself singing it out loud a couple of times. The language is outdated (Fuller - no comments about the use of the word "molested" , please :-) and I'm not a big fan of hymns, but there's so much hope and faith conveyed in this one. It reminds me that I don't focus enough on the future hope a relationship with Jesus promises. Maybe it will speak to you like it speaks to me:

Tempted and tried, we're oft made to wonder
Why it should be thus all the day long,
While there are others living among us,
Never molested, though in the wrong.

Farther along we'll know all about it,
Farther along we'll understand why;
Cheer up my brother, live in the sunshine,
We'll understand it all by and by.

When death has come and taken our loved ones,
It leaves our home so lonely and drear,
Then do we wonder why others prosper
Living so wicked year after year.

Farther along we'll know all about it,
Farther along we'll understand why;
Cheer up my brother, live in the sunshine,
We'll understand it all by and by.

Faithful til death, said our loving Master
A few more days to labor and wait,
Toils of the road will then seem as nothing
As we sweet through the beautiful gate.

Farther along we'll know all about it,
Farther along we'll understand why;
Cheer up my brother, live in the sunshine,
We'll understand it all by and by.

When we see Jesus, coming in glory,
When He comes from His home in the sky,
Then we shall meet Him in that bright mansion,
We'll understand it all by and by.

Farther along we'll know all about it,
Farther along we'll understand why;
Cheer up my brother, live in the sunshine,
We'll understand it all by and by.

The Monk and Me

2005-12-06T17:35:00.000-08:00

So I'm a little bit obsessed with Thomas Merton. I have a quote from him at the bottom of my email, I've read several of his books, I even spent a week last year on a silent retreat in the monastery he called home. For those of you who don't know him, he was a trappist monk who spent 30 some years living in the silence of the Abbey of Gethsemani in Trappist, Kentucky. You can learn more at www.monks.org.

Anyway, I'm currently reading a compilation of his prayers, journal entries, and sketches called "Dialogues with Silence." I don't want to be a monk, or live in a monastery, or where a robe (although I do enjoy pajama day.), I think maybe I'm just jealous because my life currently is the complete absence of silence. I also think these "contemplatives" can offer the rest of us a lot of wisdom. Daily I find myself sharing one of these prayers or entries with someone in a conversation. I've whipped this book out of my backpack at least 3 times in conversations with Steve in the past week. So I thought I'd post one here that I keep coming back to. The honesty and trust in this prayer have challenged me over and over again. Maybe it will speak to you...

"My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that, if I do this, You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust You always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for You are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Dads

2005-08-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

I’ve been thinking about dads a lot lately. Maybe it’s because I’ve just become one for the second time. Yes, I am now responsible for molding and shaping two innocent, beautiful, impressionable little boys into men. That task is more than a little intimidating. Being a dad is probably the most significant thing I will ever do with my life. I’m a husband, a son, a friend, a leader, a follower, and a pastor, but the role that seems to have the least room for error is the role of a dad.

I have a great dad. He’s SO different from me, but he’s incredible in his own way. His birthday was last month and he’s impossible to buy a gift for. He doesn’t wear ties. He owns every tool known to man. He never wants anything. If he does want something he buys it for himself. Usually I take him to dinner and try to come up with some not-too-lame gift. He is so selfless (in a good way) that he normally won’t even choose a restaurant because he wants us to go some place we like. So when I asked him where he wanted to go for dinner he said “I dunno. Wendy’s?” My dad is a simple man and pretty easy to please. I took him to dinner (not at Wendy’s) and for his gift, I wrote him a 3 page letter telling him all the things I appreciated about him. Now if I thought long enough I could probably fill 3000 pages of reasons he’s great, but I knew he’d appreciate my attempt at simplicity, so I kept it to three.

Writing the letter probably impacted me as much as reading it impacted my dad. I think it’s healthy to intentionally focus on the positive aspects of other people.

I want to share with you one small part of that letter that I keep thinking about:

…Our picture of God as our father is always to some extent shaped by our experience of our earthly father. As I meet with people who struggle with that because their dads weren’t around or were jerks, I am so thankful that I have you as a dad. You have demonstrated sacrificial love throughout my life. It’s so easy for me to see God as a loving and giving father because I have seen you…

As I think of my boys and my job as their dad, I think that’s the challenge I’m most concerned about. How will they see their heavenly father in light of their experience with me as their earthly father? The more I think about all the relationships we have in life the more I see how the way we interact and treat other people, especially as followers, impacts their ability to interact with God. Sometimes positively sometimes negatively.

I can’t “put a bow” on these thoughts and say they’re done, because they’re not. I have a lot more thinking to do on the “dad” topic. But I think there are two things I’d like to challenge you to do.

1) Think about your dad (or other significant people in your life) and make a list of things you’re thankful of him for. Even the biggest jerk in the world has to have some kind of positive attribute. As I’ve said, my dad is great, but even he and I haven’t always agreed on everything and no one is perfect, including him. As you’re doing it, keep in mind that sometimes the things people don’t do are more significant and more positive than the things they do.

2) Think about how your perception of God has been shaped by the influential people in your life – dad and others.

I’m pretty selfish a lot of the time. Even my selfless acts are often fueled by some less-than-altruistic drive deep within me. Here’s praying my boys see beyond that, see beyond me, and are able to see the real Father - the one they can always count on to love them unconditionally, point them in the right direction, enjoy who they are, and do it in the absence of selfish motives.