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Category Archives: Miscellaneous

God Wins

23 Apr

Dear God, the other day I was writing down what I was thankful for to a friend and I found myself saying, “God wins!” It’s been a hard week of loss. It’s been a sad week. It’s been an absolutely tragic week for one family I know. So what did I mean by, “God wins!”

I think it starts with the idea that our human view often sees winning as a zero sum game. If I win, that means someone else has to lose. If I get elevated then someone else gets put under me. Yes, there are win/win situations, but in life the world sees winning as power, control, and, ultimately, happiness. “If I’m not winning then I’m not happy.”

Almost three years ago, in August 2020, Andy Stanley gave a sermon that really struck a chord with me. It was called “Not In It To Win It.”

It was about the political environment and how the electorate had become intent on winning at the other side’s expense, and how Christians were getting caught up in this worldly view of winning. He went on to describe what you mean by winning. He talked about Jesus heading to Jerusalem for what would be his beating, crucifixion and resurrection. To the world–especially before the Sunday resurrection–this looked like losing. To the disciples it looked like losing too. But in your calculus, everything happened the way it should happen so I could win.

My wife and I have a great sorrow in our own lives. It’s a situation we don’t understand. Frankly, it feels like losing. It feels like we have lost huge. But we were talking about it recently and wondering what kinds of people we would be right now without this “loss.” Who would we be? Would we be more judgmental of others? Would we be proud and haughty? Would we be as dependent upon you? Are you using this “losing” in not only our lives, but in the lives of those who are part of our sorrow as well? My hope is in the idea that you didn’t cause this pain, but you are certainly using it to form us all into who you long for us to be in you and for your purposes.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I pray that you will not let the pain and sorrow of this week be wasted. For everyone who has touched this story, heal them. Love them. Draw them into yourself. Comfort them. Grow them. Protect them. Protect marriages, siblings, friends, and extended family of those involved. Use this for your good in our community. Show me my role. Please, don’t let this be wasted.

I pray all of this in your holy name,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 23, 2023 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

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The Christmas Story as Seen by Bono

15 Apr

“The Christmas story has a crazy good plot with an even crazier premise – the idea goes, if there is a force of love and logic behind the universe, then how amazing would it be if that incomprehensible power chose to express itself as a child born in shit and straw poverty.” Bono

Dear God, it really isn’t the plan I’d have come up with at all. In fact, I just don’t understand how you could have come up with it except that it must have been the only way. No, I’d have done it differently. I’m not sure how, but it would have been less loving, less sacrificial, and less vulnerable. I’d have put limits on how much I was willing to suffer for humankind. For someone like me.

The people then just wanted you to do what they needed in the moment–overthrow Rome. That would have been too short-sighted and limiting for what you needed to accomplish. Your plan was so rich and all-encompassing. It not only provided a path for all humanity to commune with you and worship you, but it also used Jesus’s example and teaching to show us how to live. And yes, he grew up poor too. That’s pretty interesting.

Father, I confess to you that my love has limits. My love for you, my wife, and my children has limits. I’m only capable of so much. I’m continuously amazed, however, at just how big my love for you, my wife, and my children is. It’s more than I could ever have imagined it could be. But seeing how richly you love, how willingly you sacrifice, and how vulnerably you entered the world makes me want to worship you all the more. I have nothing without you. Thank you.

I pray to you through the opportunity you grant me through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 15, 2023 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

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The Next Generation

14 Apr

Dear God, I was reading Fred Smith’s blog post from yesterday and many thoughts came to mind. I would commend it to anyone. In it, he was describing how the Baby Boomer generation has responded to life through the decades and what kind of legacy it is currently leaving. Of course, things like this are always brushed with a broad stroke, and Fred would be the first to say that. In fact, he took time to talk about the “Boomers” who do not fit the stereotype, but the stereotype is there nonetheless.

One of my first thoughts is that the “Greatest Generation” is all but gone. Those that are still around are certainly weakened and their influence diminished. In my mind, the thing that defined the Greatest Generation the most was their struggle to survive. They survived the Great Depression. They survived World War II. They were forged by fire They were tempered. I’m not saying they were perfect. I’m not saying I idealize or idolize them. But I do think they had a strength as a group that grew through trial.

I also wondered if the disaster of the Vietnam War and its execution combined with the civil unrest with racism in the 60s didn’t create a new culture of protesting that has stuck with them and filtered down to the other generations today. I don’t know how many protests there were before the 1960s. I mean, I know there were protests before that. But did those that are in their 60s and 70s now embrace them in a new way as they expressed their anger and outrage? Did they see this as their best way to affect change? Their only way? Has this pattern of displaying anger to get your way somehow become baked into our political and other disagreements even today?

Incidentally, and speaking of Vietnam and the war there, I learned something interesting yesterday. There was a remarkable three-month period in 1973 that is fascinating. Richard Nixon was inaugurated for his second term on January 20. Lyndon Johnson, his predecessor and a president who expanded the war in Vietnam died on January 22. The U.S. signed a treaty to withdraw from South Vietnam on January 27. The U.S. removed the last of its troops on March 27. Finally, after the withdrawal, the South Vietnam president visited the US in April to seek assurances of financial and military aid from Nixon and pay respects at the LBJ’s grave.

But back on topic. This spirit of deciding that yelling is the best way to get your voice heard seems to have now won the day in our society. The idea that if I tell you how angry you’ve made me will get you to change course has drowned out constructive dialogue, and it seems to have seeped into Generation X (my generation) as well. I’m not saying the protests were wrong. I’m not saying the anger at the time was wrong. But the hammer of yelling, protesting, etc. seems to be the preferred tool for those who are trying to influence society or even their own communities or families now. I’ll admit that I’ve done it and used it too often. I’m sorry for that.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, help me to see that most things are not a nail, and my hammer is rarely the tool I need to address the issue in front of me. Help me to see that most issues are actually born of brokenness and broken people, and the tool I need to use more frequently is compassion and love. I need to listen better and talk less. I need to listen to you first. I need to hear your Holy Spirit in real time so that I can be who you need me to be. I need to worship you and till the soil of my heart. I need to be at peace knowing that there is actually very little that bothers me that I can affect, but there are all kinds of things I can do every day to allow your presence to enter the world through me. So forgive me for my belligerence, and let your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven through my life.

I pray all of this as I worship you, the God of the universe,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 14, 2023 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

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Mary

02 Apr

Dear God, someone called yesterday and asked that I teach a Sunday school lesson for their class at the Methodist church. It’s an interesting thing to be just a layman, non-Catholic attending Catholic church with my wife and asked to teach a Sunday school class at a Methodist church. I’m honored to be asked. But I definitely need to spend some time in prayer about this. As I’ve thought about this over the last 24 hours, I kind of came to the idea that I might want to focus on Mary’s (mother of Jesus) Easter nearly 2,000 years ago. Her journey as we know it from the New Testament started with her visit from an angel and ended with her being with the apostles after Jesus’s ascension. There are other stories about Mary, but I’m going to just stick with what we know through the New Testament.

The thing that comes to mind when I think of Mary is what I think of when I think of any parent in the Bible–really any parent in general: We have no idea how things will work out for our child(ren) or how you will be involved in their lives. In fact, as I write this my wife is watching Everything, Everywhere, all at Once with a friend in our living room. That movie is about a woman not understanding why her own life turned out the way it did and struggling with her relationships in all directions–father, husband, and daughter.

It makes me think about my own life. I can remember so vividly holding my children when they were born. Not knowing how their lives would turn out. Not having any idea how or if they would have a relationship with you. Not understanding, really, how to be what they needed. Nearly 27 years later, and I still feel that way. I have no idea what you’re up to in their lives or in mine.

Father, be with me as I spend the next week with Mary. Help me to hear your voice. Prepare my words for this group of people who might need to hear something a little different in the Easter story. Something that will bring them peace. Bring me healing through this process as well.

I pray this in gratitude for everything you do for me,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 2, 2023 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories, Uncategorized

 

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Spiritual Discipline

01 Apr

Dear God, I was reading a marriage daily devotion this morning, and it had a line in it that caught my eye: “That’s what makes forgiveness an essential spiritual discipline.” (Gary Thomas, Simply Sacred, April 1) I appreciate the idea that forgiveness, especially in marriage, is important. I agree. And forgiveness can be really hard. It is especially hard when it has to be offered without being sought by the offender. I’m still trying to figure out how to work through that sometimes. What it means and what it doesn’t.

But what are other spiritual disciplines to which I should pay attention? Let me see what kind of a list I can come up with here (not in any specific order):

  • Contemplative Prayer
  • Scripture Study
  • Individual worship
  • Corporate worship
  • Community (one-on-one Christian relationships as well as group work)
  • Forgiveness
  • Outreach to neighbors (evangelism?)
  • Repentance
  • Striving for holiness
  • Loving neighbors
  • Giving (time and money)

Funny. This list reminds me of the checklist on the offertory envelopes in my Baptist church when I was a kid. It had things like:

  • Present
  • Bible brought
  • Bible daily read
  • Lesson studied
  • Giving
  • Worship attendance

I think this list was supposed to give me a framework for developing spiritual discipline. And the envelopes I had gave a number value for each item that was supposed to add up to 100. I don’t remember which ones were worth more points, but I know they weren’t equal. It was an interesting thing for me as an 8-year-old to see and think about.

Father, I have a Saturday before me. I have opportunities to do a lot of different things. I’m about to do a big bike ride. How will I use that time on the bike? I’ll have time later in the day to spend with my wife, contact friends, and then just some down time. How will I use that time as well? I can’t answer all of that now, but please help me to be mindful of some of these things as I think about disciplining myself to be transformed into the new creation you have for me to be.

I pray this under your authority,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 1, 2023 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

“To Be Known” by Fred Smith

16 Mar

Dear God, I read Fred Smith’s blog post this morning called “To Be Known.” It is the story of a wealthy man, David Gundlach, who never seemed to find an identity during his life that brought him peace and joy.

Playing off of my prayer from yesterday, Fred described Mr. Gundlach as wanting to be known, but I think I see it as wanting to have meaning. Who am I? Why am I here? The answer can take any number of forms, but the “pursuit of happiness” baked into our U.S. Constitution might actually be part of the problem. It’s in our American DNA to think that “happiness” is something to be pursued, but I can’t think of any Bible stories that affirm that perspective. Jesus doesn’t call us to pursue happiness. Peter didn’t. Paul didn’t. John didn’t. The prophets in the Old Testament didn’t. You get my point. No, my life is all about loving you with everything I’ve got and then loving my neighbor as myself. When I do those two things then the the fruits of your Spirit start to grow in and out of me: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, kindness, self control, etc. If Mr. Gundlach had followed those two great commandments instead of pursuing happiness, then his life would have been completely different. Maybe he wouldn’t have made all of that money after all, but he might have found the joy he was seeking.

Father, whether it’s “meaning” or “happiness,” it’s always important for me to remember that neither can be found without you. In fact, I’m reminded of what Gary Thomas said at the Sacred Marriage seminar I attended in January (paraphrasing): “People pursue happiness through any number of efforts to make themselves feel good in the moment, but the only way to real happiness is to pursue holiness.” My your holiness be my goal today.

I pray this in the name of my Triune God,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 16, 2023 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

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“On Call” by Gary Thomas

09 Mar
Excerpt from Simply Sacred, a collection of devotions by Gary Thomas

This was an interesting story from Gary Thomas about being impacted by an injustice but not 1.) knowing how to respond and 2.) not hearing a leading from you on how he himself should respond. There are times I feel the same way, such as the war in Ukraine. What am I personally supposed to do about that? If I’ve ever felt your nudge to move, I’ve tried to respond, but I really have nothing to offer except asking you to move.

Then there are the things that are potentially in the realm of me being able to address it, but I cannot do it all. You aren’t calling me to do it all. You didn’t call everyone to head up rebuilding Jerusalem–just Nehemiah. You’ve put me in a position of being able to do some things behind the scenes, and I’ve been able to even just jump right in and be part of getting something done. When I’ve done all of these things, I’ve tried to do them under your call and leadership, but sometimes I fail. Sometimes I act impetuously when you haven’t called me to act. And sometimes I miss the opportunity when you’ve prompted me to do something.

Father, help me to be intentional about everything I do and I don’t do. Help me to bring more and more to you in prayer. Help me to have serenity when there is something going on that bothers me that I cannot change. Don’t let me make that thing my idol. Help me to keep my eyes on you and trust you. When it’s time to act, give me courage to do it as unto you and not as unto man. And please give me wisdom and discernment as I listen for your voice.

I pray all of this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 9, 2023 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

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Do you feel loved?

05 Mar

Dear God, I was listening to a podcast this morning, and they were talking about the revival at Asbury over the last month. Reportedly, it started with the person up front asking, “Is there anyone out there who doesn’t feel loved by someone?” Eighteen people apparently came forward and stayed to worship and pray after the others left, and then the others came back when they heard that the worship and prayer were still going on.

Hearing this story immediately made me think about my children. If they were in a similar gathering, would they count themselves as people who feel unloved or would they have been in the group that left and then maybe returned later? I know I hope they feel loved by my wife and me, but, frankly, I really don’t know. I know we’ve done everything we can to show them love, but have they experienced that, or have seeds of doubt been planted in their minds over the years that have grown into them feeling unloved by us?

I will say this about our son. Leading up to the first time we met his girlfriend, she asked him what he thought we would think of her. He told us he told her, “All my parents are going to care about is that I’m happy and that you are good for me.” I told my wife later that that was the greatest compliment he might have ever given us. He knew we didn’t care about how anything looked on the surface. All we cared about was what we saw as best for him.

Of course, I have to go next level on this. Even if both of my children do feel loved by my wife and me, our love is obviously imperfect. How can it not be? But your love is perfect. It is everything. It’s amazing, in fact, that you bother to love us at all!

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I want to pray for my children today. Help them to know in the depths of their hearts that their parents love them because we really do. We root and cheer for them. We hurt with them when they hurt. We are willing to sacrifice what we want for their best. But also help them to really understand our limits as humans. That we fail. That we make mistakes. That we are imperfect. And that you are there, above all. They happen to have parents who really love them, but they also have a God who isn’t interested in punishing them or coming down hard on them. You too want the best for them. You root for them and cheer for them. You hurt with them when they hurt. You were willing to sacrifice for their best. Do something in their lives this very day, raise up someone or something in their lives today, that will be your voice and help them to know that you are there and you love them so much.

I pray all of this for your glory in this world through my children,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 5, 2023 in Miscellaneous

 

“Shine Jesus Shine” by Graham Kendrick

26 Feb

“Shine Jesus Shine” by Graham Kendrick

Lord, the light of your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness, shining
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us
Set us free by the truth you now bring us
Shine on me, shine on me

Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father’s glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light

Lord, I come to your awesome presence
From the shadows into your radiance
By the blood I may enter your brightness
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness
Shine on me, shine on me

Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father’s glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light

As we gaze on your kingly brightness
So our faces display your likeness
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here may our lives tell your story
Shine on me, shine on me

Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father’s glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be

Send forth your
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there
Send forth your word
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Graham A. Kendrick

Dear God, ever since seeing the Jesus Revolution movie yesterday, I’ve been thinking a lot about it. As I said last night in my prayer, I’ve had a lot of disparate thoughts.

What’s been on my heart a lot today is not only the youth in our community, but also the difference in the way some Christians see to help them. There is a very passionate group that wants to focus on every single thing the school is doing that might influence children. From curriculum, to counseling, to policies, etc. They (and I say “they” because I am not one of them) think this will protect our children. But I’ve thought a lot about this today. I cannot think of a single revival in our country that started with a movement of the government or other authorities. Never has it been legislated from the top down. Even thinking back into the Bible stories, it’s always suffering that brings us into repentance. It’s always suffering that brings us to you. The only example I can think of off of the top of my head that might be an exception is the preaching Jonah did in Nineveh. I don’t know what exactly the Ninevites were experiencing to make their hearts so ripe for your message through Jonah, but they were radical in their response.

Now, I look at our children and I keep thinking back to the movie yesterday when they talked about the hippies looking for you, but they were looking in all of the wrong places. From drugs, to promiscuity, to any other type of experimentation, they were looking for something to fill their “God hole.” The same is true for today. I think of what revival would look like if it were to work its way through our school, and it would put any agenda for controlling the library books, the counseling program, etc. to shame. Even students are smart enough to know when to reject something after they have found the truth. In fact, they are probably better at that than adults are.

That leads me to this song. It was the closing song in the church I attended this morning. The lead into the chorus that Graham Kendrick wrote starts with “Shine on me.” It starts with us as individuals. Then, to borrow Kurt Kaiser’s words from “Pass it On,” “It only takes a spark to get a fire going.” So, Father, this is my prayer today: “Shine, Jesus, Shine. Fill this land with the Father’s glory. Blaze, Spirit, Blaze. Set our hearts on fire. Flow, river, flow. Flood the nations with grace and mercy. Send forth your Word, Lord, and let there be light.” Let it start in my home. Let it be in my community. Let it be in my state. Let it be in my country. Let it be in my world. Let is start with what you’re doing in Asbury. Let this movie be your fuel. And let this be the start of something amazing. Let this pain of the pandemic over the last three years, the toxicity of social media, and the idolatry the church has adopted for government and power count. Let it bring us, bring me, to repentance. And then teach us discipleship so that your church might bring your will into the world from the bottom up.

I pray all of this through the name of Jesus, the author and perfector of my faith,

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 26, 2023 in Hymns and Songs, Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

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The Jesus Revolution

25 Feb

Dear God, my wife and I just saw The Jesus Revolution in the movie theater this afternoon. I thought it was excellent. She did too. It was based on a Time Magazine story from June 1971. There were several disparate things that were good about it.

First, and at a most basic level, most Christian movies are not well-produced, but this one was. The production–acting, directing, cinematography, sound, etc.–was excellent. It didn’t feel like I was watching a Christian movie. It was just a movie.

Second, the basic message of people who are pursuing happiness in the world through carnal things are really just looking for you was very powerful for me. They are looking for that transcendental peace that you put in our nature to long for because only you can fill it, but they are looking for it in all of the wrong places. It really made me think about my own concern about the youth in our community. A lot of people are concerned, but they are putting their focus, I believe, in the wrong things like what the schools are doing. The problem is so much deeper and more foundational than that. What will we do to offer you to our world?

Third, the timing of this movie’s release is interesting given the revival happening at Asbury College. What are you up to? Is it something we should be sensitive to here? The rest of our country? Are you ready to short-circuit the toxicity of our evolved society and bring us to you?

Fourth, the battle against the ego. It happens to all of us. Sometimes, we start to believe our own press. Sometimes we exalt ourselves and enjoy the exultation of others and forget to decrease so you can increase through us. It has certainly happened to me. It was portrayed well in the movie too. It’s something I feel like I fight all of the time now. Every day. Success is so much fun to not only celebrate but also to use to lift me up and help me displace you with me. There were a couple of times in the movie when the main characters said “I” when they were referring to who had done something. My wife and I squeezed each other’s hands each time because we heard the same thing. They were taking glory for themselves–even in their private argument.

Finally, I got to thinking about basically what amounts to the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13), although I didn’t think of it until now. Regarding the young people (and some older) in the movie who were coming to know you, how much were they really developing their soil and giving the Holy Spirit room to grow fruit? Their hearts were not the path, where the seed was snatched away by birds. It stuck more than that. But was it the rocks that allowed the seed to spring up quickly but then die with no root? I would bet a lot fit into this category because this was me back in middle school and high school. Every time I would “accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior,” I really meant it, but I did nothing to till my soil and give you space to develop roots. The seed died over and over again. In the movie, were others like the soil with thorns? Did the cares of this world choke out the seed? I think that is where a lot of our current Christian church in America is. Power. Influence. Dogma. These are all choking out the Spirit in our churches. No, I would like to have seen just a couple of scenes of people learning to walk deeper with you in their private lives as well as their communal lives. The movie showed people moving into the same spaces to live together or going to church almost every night to sustain the fire. But what about when living together and daily church isn’t possible? We need the personal time to connect with you. I described it to my wife as “transparent time with God.” We all need to be spending quality transparent time with you.

Father, use this movie. Use Asbury. Don’t let it be wasted. Show me what to do. Show me, Lord, what to do. Move in the leaders in our community. Move in our country. Move in our world. I was thinking this morning about praying for the influencers of our children. Bring the influencers to you. Bring our children to you. Bring me to you. Bring my wife to you. And do it all for your glory and not ours.

I pray all of this under the glory of your name and because the grace of Jesus enables me to be here before you, my Triune God,

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 25, 2023 in Miscellaneous

 

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