Written on 2/25/2009 08:26:00 PM by Miles
In case you were unaware, Lent has officially started. Christians will, for the next 40 days, follow Jesus through his suffering and ultimately his death. We do this in order to truly have something to rejoice in this Easter. Lent gives us the opportunity to do some things that we're normally extremely horrible at: grieving and remembering.
Henri Nouwen has this to say about it, and I think it's worth sharing.
A Prayer for Lent, by Henri Nouwen
How often have I lived through these weeks without paying much attention to penance, fasting, and prayer? How often have I missed the spiritual fruits of the season without even being aware of it? But how can I ever really celebrate Easter without observing Lent? How can I rejoice fully in your Resurrection when I have avoided participating in your death? Yes, Lord, I have to die - with you, through you, and in you - and thus become ready to recognize you when you appear to me in your Resurrection. There is so much in me that needs to die: false attachments, greed and anger, impatience and stinginess...I see clearly now how little I have died with you, really gone your way and been faithful to it. O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones. Let me find you again. Amen.
A Cry for Mercy: Prayers from the Genesee; Image Books, 2002
Posted in
death,
Gut Check,
lent
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Written on 2/22/2009 07:29:00 AM by Miles
I've neglected this blog as of late....not that it really matters to the four of you who read. But, I wanted to briefly write something to get y'all up to speed on the randomness that is my life.
First off, I'm still married...pushing six years(in Sept.). I can't start any other way than that. April's awesome, and as an added bonus, she's extremely nice to me.
Secondly, we're buying a house. We close and get keys on 3/18, so that is creeping upon us very rapidly. We've done a TON of shopping for furniture and the like. Six years without any of that stuff kind of forces your hand. I've nearly had a heart attack every time we've gotten to the check-out line and seen the total price of our purchase. But, I'm not complaining...I'm thankful we're able to get into a house. It's just the moving part that I struggle with.
Thirdly, our jobs are still in existence, which is always good. April's doing well with hers, and I am still thankful for mine. But, as we all know, that could change in a heartbeat, in which I would type another update. :)
peace.
Posted in
life
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Written on 2/10/2009 08:41:00 PM by Miles
I saw this the other day, but I've just not had time to post it. I loved it, though!
Bill Gates & Malaria
"Malaria is spread by mosquitoes," Bill Gates said while opening a jar of mosquitoes at a conference this past week. "I brought some. Here. I'll let them roam around. There is no reason only poor people should be infected." Now that's an ice breaker to start your conference! Gates waited a few minutes before assuring the audience the liberated bugs were malaria-free. He went on to say that "There is more money put into baldness drugs than into malaria. Now, baldness is a terrible thing and rich men are afflicted. That is why that priority has been set."
Way to go, Bill !! Sorry to say, however, that I'm not a PC guy and am blogging on my Macbook right now. :)
Posted in
bill gates,
malaria
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Written on 2/09/2009 09:13:00 PM by Miles
Parallel factors are destroying the church in our context. We have pressing needs and we don't know how they will be met. Where will I get my significance? What can I do to make myself feel that I count? Who cares about me and understands me? Where can I find intimacy? We are a well-fed prison camp. We have everything we need materially - housing, food, computers, cars, entertainment, travel - but inside we are isolated and empty.
Worship then becomes the way we try to deal with our emptiness and our isolation. The point about our worship is to make us feel better; the point about God is to make us feel good. So we abandon scripture reading, because that's boring . We abandon the gospel story, because that happened a long time ago and doesn't look very relevant. We can go through a whole worship service without hearing any reference to the fact that God created the world, delivered Israel, sent Jesus to live and die for us, and raised him from the dead. The Israelites forgot the gospel and gave up on God's written word because they were so concerned with their personal needs. The same thing has happened to us.
There is a tragic paradox here. We need to be brought outside ourselves by seeing our lives in the context of a bigger picture, a bigger story - the gospel story. But we are so overwhelmed by our emptiness, isolation, and insignificance that we don't pay attention to the bigger story. All we want to do is think about ourselves in need, so we turn God into someone whose focus is on meeting our needs. We make God a quick fix. But quick fixes don't work.
Posted in
authenticity,
church,
Gut Check
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