the journey

The Sea Parable

There's no doubt that I'll find a way to use this parable in an upcoming study or sermon.

No doubt about it.  Wow.

Tags: The Sea Parable

Killing Cockroaches

Just added this book to my Amazon wish list.

I apologize for not writing more often, but I'm mostly on Facebook and Twitter these days.  But don't despair, more posts are coming shortly.  :-)

Tags: Tony Morgan, Killing Cockroaches

Iconic depression-era photos

Destitute pea pickers in California.
Uploaded by The Library of Congress

[Click on photo for larger versions.]

I stumbled upon a wonderful collection of depression-era photos on Flickr. Thought you might enjoy them too.

This photograph, in particular, reminds me of one of my favorite books, The Grapes of Wrath.  I can just imagine the Joad family looking like this one.

Blessings!

Technorati Tags: Flickr,the depression,the great depression

Finding an unseen God

As an Ooze Viral Blogger I will be reviewing books for them from time to time.  I just agreed to read and review this new book by Alicia Britt Chole.

Here's Alicia's web site.

Tags: The Ooze Viral Bloggers

EDAR

Having served the homeless in LA, I am intrigued by this concept.  I hope it doesn't get stifling hot in there. 

Tags: EDAR, Los Angeles, homelessness, homeless

A day in the life of a tutor

He just wasn't getting it.

Girl, hurl, curl & twirl all sound alike, but are spelled differently.  It's amazing how difficult the English language is when you think about it.  Conceptually, he didn't have a clue.  He didn't know whether to use the letters "i" and "u," therefore we ended up with words like gurl and hirl.

Complicating matters, he was tempted to spell girl, grl or hurl, hrl, omitting vowels altogether.  Bless his heart.  I could tell he was getting frustrated.

About half way though our 30 minute session, he began sobbing uncontrollably, saying: "If I don't pass this test I won't be promoted to 2nd grade; they'll make me go to summer school."  He kept saying it over and over as long tears rolled down his little cheeks.

And he was right.  He's flunking everything--his teacher told me so.  But seeing him cry was breaking my heart.

Then the next spelling word came up: serve.

Though it was just another spelling word to him, it hit me like a message from God. It's time to serve, Mark.  Don't blow it.  You can either be a blessing or a curse. I'm depending on you.  Big tears welled up in my eyes.  I was overwhelmed with emotions & needed a minute to compose myself.

Pausing to think, I told this precious child how proud I was of him-- that he was doing better than last time (which is absolutely true!).  And that he needed to slow down, relax and sound things out.  He listened.  The tears stopped & he looked at me with beaming eyes.  We tried again, and he got them all right this time!  Go figure.

Yes, he's on the verge of flunking 1st grade, but I received a message from God today.  Though I had shown up for a simple tutoring session, I was being asked to be a blessing, not a curse; to give a word of hope when it was needed most.  Just thinking about this experience brings back the tears because it wasn't about me, it was about God.  Without question.

Spending time with him made my day.  I couldn't (and still can't) think of a better place to be.  And I hope, with God's help, that he passed his spelling test.  God bless you dear child.

Technorati Tags: tutor

Lessons from silence and solitude

This may not apply to everyone, but here are a few thoughts that struck me during three days of silence and solitude:

• When I'm silent, the inner voice is easier to distinguish
• When I'm still, the "inner tugging" is more noticeable
• When I'm reading good books, not mindless reading but really good books, God showers me with creative ideas
• When I'm rested and peaceful, I'm more aware that I'm not alone in this world

But that's just me.

Technorati Tags: silence,solitude,spiritual disciplines

The Furious Longing of God

1DMN3410
Originally uploaded by kaysenphoto

[Click on photo for larger versions.]

During my recent three-day silent retreat, I devoured Brennan Manning's book in one setting, underlined & highlighted numerous passages, and reread it to see if could glean anything else.

In a word, I'd describe it like this: Superb.

I highly recommend it for your summer reading. His writings exude grace and compassion, and reflect an intimate knowledge of God's undying love.

Rather than spoil anything for you, simply read it. I loved it.

Technorati Tags: Brennan Manning,Flickr

I am my Beloved's

While reading Brennan Manning's newest book (twice!) during a recent three-day silent retreat, I was captivated with these thoughts.

Have you ever stumbled upon this passage in the Song of Solomon?  Trying praying this verse every day for the next month & see what happens.  Why not your day with this realization?

I am my Beloved's,
and his desire is for me.
(7:10 NASB)

When you take those words, personally, I mean very personally, a number of beautiful things come to pass:

• The drumbeats of doom in your head will be replaced by song in your heart, which could lead to a twinkle in your eye. 
• You will not be dependent on the company of others to ease your loneliness, for He is Emmanuel-- God with us.
• The praise of others will not send your spirit soaring, nor will their criticism plunge you into the pit. Their rejection may make you sick, but it will not be a sickness unto death.
• In a significant interior development, you will move from I should pray to I must pray.
• You will live with an awareness that the Father not only loves you, but likes you.
• You will stop comparing yourself with others. In the same way, you will not trumpet your own importance, boast about your victories in the vineyard, or feel superior to anyone.
• You will read Zephaniah 3:17-18 and see God dancing for joy because of you (the Jerusalem Bible translation is accurate).
• Off and on throughout the day, you will just know that you are being sent by Jesus with a gaze of infinite tenderness

Wow.  That will take some digesting.

Source: The Furious Longing of God by Brennan Manning, pp. 21-23.

Technorati Tags: Brennan Manning

We like it neat and orderly

From one of my favorite people, the late Mike Yaconelli:

We’d like to have it all neat and orderly. We want to be able to measure it and control it, but the reality is that Jesus is a mystery. The Christian faith is a mystery. The disciples spent their entire time following him going, “Uhh, what the heck are you doing? We don’t understand what you’re doing and we don’t know why you’re doing it.” And when he would explain why he was doing it, they still didn’t get it.

Credit: Mike Yaconelli

Tags: Mike Yaconelli