Prayer & Praise
We begin the new week toward you,
from whom no secret can be hid.
We have had a night,
a weekend,
and a lifetime of secrets.
We have stored the usual list of secrets,
of acres of guilt unforgiven,
of desires too rich to utter.
Beyond that, we have a secret list of hurts,
from ancient days with parents and siblings,
from assorted bullies at playschool
and in adult life;
some of us overly sensitive,
all of us grown protective
and capable of self-pity
Beyond that, we have a secret list of hopes,
some selfish and some noble,
hopes of new freedom and new reconciliation,
of new security and new recognition,
of doing well and being well.
We have so much to keep hidden.
And you know –
you know because you made us and have watched us from the beginning;
you know because you see us in our waking and our sleeping;
you know because you love us right through, beyond all our covert capacity.
And we yearn to be known – fully, without reserve by you;
So we ask on this day,
courage to match your love,
honesty to match your generosity,
self-awareness to speak into our awareness of us.
That by the time the sun sets,
we will have rent the curtain of our lives,
and let you into the center of it all,
there to abide in holy forgiveness.
We pray through your spirit of all truth
that our truth opened to your mercy may make us free.
Walter Brueggemann
Amen
He knows………Amen.
MIchael, what is the name of Brueggeman’s book of these prayers?
This one is from “Awed to Heaven and Earth”.
1. Ok, I need to quit smoking. This will be a trial, because I have very little desire to do so.
2. MLD has finally been used of God to change my mind about something big. We have requested that our Anglican Priest walk us through “water boarding” our son.
3. I have realized that I have about zero “finer point” theological commonality with my old tradition anymore. I have taught things over the years that in all frankness, have now driven me to a point of sorrow. Too many years of “spiritualizing” scripture, and looking back at doctrine I taught as gospel, makes me regret in ways I cannot describe.
Reuben, may i say that you shouldn’t regret too much – Truth endures in spite of us and as you’re moving deeper in the Faith so will those sheep of your past efforts prove their intent allowing God to work in their lives, too
Ruby, what Em said!
We had quite a few friends over yesterday for the big birthday party. Two of them were kids who came up through our HS youth group. I heard one of them talking about their education in Calvary Chapel. He went to CCBC. I heard mentality that I taught for years, and I grew afraid.
These are kids that walked around with Parallel Bibles, simply because I had one that I used for years. They trusted me. I taught them things about what the Bible says that the Bible does not say.
This particular kid is going to become a pastor. I know he will. His understanding of what a pastor is, is horrifically disfigured. His idea of how to teach is entirely experiential, spiritualizing, no historical context, extracting things from the Holy Scriptures that simply are not there. He has learned to “feel” his way through the Bible, getting from it what applies to him, and writing off what does not, with no regard for the content and intent of the passages. He has no formal hermeneutic. His theology is what he learned from others. He has none of his own.
For 12 years, I taught the same things, to countless kids.
How many years will it take him to grow out of that? I am 38, and my ideas about everything have only begun to be challenged. What of the other kids?
It makes my head spin.
I would spend weeks talking through John 1, and now, I believe almost nothing of what I taught in John 1. Almost nothing. A vast majority of it was contrived, based on assumptions that were not there, based on hermeneutic that has no foundation, based on zero knowledge of what it meant to the people reading it in those days, based on Raul Ries and Chuck Smith, but no study of my own. The party lines trumped everything. I spoke as the Holy Spirit, claiming to speak for the Holy Spirit.
It is a travesty.
It is not a travesty. It’s maturity.
They will grow from where they are now and God will get them to where He wants them to be. Just like Hes doing with you and with me and with everybody else.
Do not beat yourself up for doing the best you could do at the time.
Em, amen! Reuben, I hope you are encouraged .
Reuben, what Em, London and Nonnie said!
Good morning dear ones….. another blessed week of life…. we’re alive enough to blog… As I age and crumble, I become more and more aware of the myriad of blessings and gifts that daily life includes: waking up…having a bed and room to wake up in….eye sight, hearing, the ability to get out of bed and be mobile and breath…. food, water, coffee, warmth or A/C… all, all, all are tremendous mercies of God….and the very fact that I know God enough to praise and thank Him as my Source of life now and Life after this realm closes for me.
God is great….. Have a contemplative (oh!) day. God has truly blessed us!
Amen, Paige!
another amen to Paige’s observations today – “the very fact that I know God enough to praise and thank Him as my Source of life now and Life after this realm closes for me” that in itself is a miracle of grace and mercy – enough to bring me to my knees in thankfulness to Him as i read
It has been one of those days. The word on FaceBook tonight is that the boys’ orthodontist was killed in a plane crash this afternoon. This was such a great man…incredibly kind hearted and just generous in spirit to the kids. Treated them so incredibly well…they all love him.
Praying tonight it is not him…selfishly…and praying as well for whatever family is affected by this. Waiting till morning to see what the news is and preparing to tell the boys. Just much sadness around us these days.
Oh my, Sarah, how tragic! I will be praying for you, your boys, and all involved.
Paige, wow, Wow, WOW!!! I hope everyone reads your #11. What a great encouragement and example of faith. Thank you for sharing that.
praying with Sarah.
praising with Paige.
praying with all here to a God who is there; trusting Him
Paige, yes, what a wonderful post and I needed to read it again this morning.
The couple killed in the plane crash was our orthodontist.
Sarah, my prayers go out to you, your family, and your community. It’s obvious that this man was beloved.
I’m going back to work today.
To be honest, it’s too soon, but my crew needs me back and I need the money.
Prayers appreciated that I’ll have the endurance to get through.
Also, if you would pray for Trey, who is having some struggles of his own.
Thanks in advance for remembering us…
praying
Michael…praying for you today.
Dr. Cohen was so beloved…thought I would a share a blog piece that is being shared about him. Inspired to be more generous and kind as I think of the impact his man’s life had:
http://pottersprincess.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/when-acts-of-kindness-arent-random/
so much to pray for here today – praying with
help us Lord, we are specks on a dot in the universe; we can’t begin to grasp what is happening when our prayers reach the Throne Room of the God of that universe – i understand and expect to see Your will being done in the future at Your Day, forgive me for praying “Your will be done” now with the expectation of a dribble of possible – like a faucet with a failed seal – do i dare pray YOUR WILL BE DONE with faith and understanding? help my distracted belief, Lord
God keep all close
We’re having real behavior issues with Trey…prayers appreciated.
poor little Trey – God help him to process the demands that don’t compute in his literal mind and give those who love him wisdom – i know of such a fellow who grew up to be a pediatric heart surgeon – praying that he find his way and his place in a world that seems out of whack to me, too
praying the week’s thread tonight
praying for Trey.