I went on a trip with one of my boys to begin to explore what it means to be a man. In between the conversations, we had a lot of fun being together. Together, we tried to capture some of these fun moments on this video… here is a bit of what we experienced.
A carpenter and his apprentice were walking together through a large forest. And when they came across a tall, big, gnarled, old, beautiful oak tree, the carpenter asked his apprentice: “Do you know why this tree is so tall, so huge, so gnarled, so old and beautiful?’ The apprentice looked at his master and said:
“No… why?”
“Well,” the carpenter said, “because it is useless. If it had been useful it would have been cut long ago and made into tables and chairs, but because it is useless it could grow so tall and so beautiful that you can sit in its shade and relax.”
In solitude we can grow old freely without being preoccupied with our usefulness and we can offer service which we had not planned on.
(Out of Solitude – by Henri Nouwen)
helpful reminders about spiritual reading…
Lectio is not the same thing as reading the Bible through in one year. The One Year Bible has its place but lectio is not “reading by the pound.” It is as Terrence Kardong puts it, to “slow down and plow through the Bible on all fours.” It demands that the reader approach the Bible as a pray-er, rather than as a consumer.
Furthermore, lectio is reading the Bible not for information but for formation. Irene Nowell likens the study of scripture without prayer and practice to reading a cookbook without ever cooking or eating. In other words, lectio is meditating on spliritual readings in order to be changed. That is why it usually involves reading with the mouth, mind, and memory – to help transform the whole person.
The results of such meditative study is… to be changed by what is learned rather than to storm the gates of knowledge – to form tastes, desires, passions, attitudes, and dispositions. I the end, it is a practice that determines the way on envisions and responds to the world.
(Monk Habits for Everyday People – byDennis Okholm)
We will discover our true selves as we patiently simmer in communities and relationships to which God has called us. And we will find God there as well, because if we cannot find God where we are, we will not find him elsewhere. Except for those extreme or abusive cases, if you haven’t seen God in your marriage, in your present employment, in your neighborhood, or in your church fellowship, then chances are you won’t see God in your next marriage, job, neighborhood, or church.
(monk habits for everyday people. Dennis Okholm)
A good example of the freedom gained through obedience is found in family life. Children need attention, money has to be gotten, my wife must be listened to even when I feel my resources drained. Obedience to these limits within the discipline of family life brings with it a certain freedom which is found in love. Love as a father and as a husband is deeper than an I have ever known, and I know that this has been made possible through the countless acts of obedience to familial limits that i have made over the years: doing this or that because I know that I have to as a father and as a husband. Love without obedience to these limits and rules is a shallow love, unable to really give except when it feels good to do so…. I have found that through the limits of obedience I grow beyond the confines of the self with its desires and traps.
(Brain Taylor, Spirituality for Everyday Living)
Last night my youngest son broke his left leg. He was horsing around with his older brothers on the trampoline. I know that bones get broken all the time-especially active litle boys. But I must confess my sadness. I don’t like seeing him hurt. And it is a reminder of how fragile he is.
I am writing this entry on the iPhone. The new apps are really cool. Now my facebook, myspace, wordpress, can be posted on the phone. Sweetness.
I have some friends in Mexico right now. You can read their blog here.
A lot of Christian people are bound to blog on the “Shout To The Lord” song sang at the Idol Gives Back event last night on FOX tv. A lot of these people will comment on how Jesus’ name was replaced with Shepherd in the first line. All note worthy I suppose, but not all that surprising.
However, what got my attention was Ben Stiller doing his bit right after the song as the show ender. All the blipping out of his words in an attempt at humor. I am used to that from television, but it really stuck out to me after the “idols” were all dressed in white singing to the “Lord”. The juxtaposition was striking to me.
All I could think about was – well that’s a snapshot of the culture I live in: stands for everything and nothing all at the same time. Says everything and nothing in one broad stroke.
I tried to find Ben Stillers bit, but it isn’t posted yet.
(August 19 updated) I found the clip of Stiller…
This past Sunday we celebrated that Jesus is alive.
Easter.
For a follower of Jesus, this is the best day of all – even over Christmas.
In fact, the early Christians didn’t celebrate the birth of Jesus. They were to preoccupied with the death and resurrection of the Messiah. It wasn’t until hundreds of years later that the Church decided to emphasis Jesus’ birth and that was in concert with wanting to influence a culture that worshiped the sun not The Son.
Anyway…
Yesterday, I got to reflecting with a few friends about Easter and why it doesn’t seem to pack the same cultural “punch” as the Christmas festivities. I heard from my friends that it may be because it requires first a walk through sin, death, and helplessness before one can experience the celebration of Life.
One can see why that might be a downer. The really good parties don’t usually start out this way.
But that is exactly how it is with Easter. One cannot jump for joy on Easter until one sits in the ashes of Good Friday. Easter without Good Friday is like a fish without water – just fits of flopping around, slowing loosing life.
Maybe that is why followers of Jesus choose to gather on Sundays not the traditional Sabbath Saturdays.
To remember.
To remind each other that we are people of Easter – people of Life. Although we recognize sin and death is in and around us all the time, Sunday’s do not belong to these things because, by faith, we believe Jesus is alive and has conquered sin and death.
That makes all the difference!
Every Sunday should be a party for followers of Jesus! On Sundays we should let go of yesterday, push away the worries of tomorrow, and
celebrate,
sing,
laugh,
love,
learn,
rest,
enjoy,
breath.
Thank GOD we have 51 more parties to go.
(and then we get to start all over again)
Someone once said that, “whenever you write a book, you need someone to say yes to it.” Although not many of us aspire to write books, we are all telling a story. Living out life as a sort of book that unfolds little by little, chapter by chapter and we all need someone to say “yes” to it.
Recently, I came across a book that opened my eyes to the importance of having others in our life who say “yes”. The book is titled, The Company They Keep. It chronicles the life of a small community of authors who shared their literary world with one another. This group of authors called themselves The Inklings. Two active members of this group were J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Perhaps you have heard of them. The Company They Keep goes on to reveal how much of the work of these authors were developed in community – a group of friends that resonated with one another in order to produce books like The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, to name just two.
I learned from The Company They Keep that “the term ‘resonator’ refers to anyone who acts as a friendly, interested, supportive audience. Resonators fulfill many roles: they show interest, give feedback, express praise, offer encouragement, contribute practical help, and promote the work to others. The presence of resonators is believed to be one of the most important factors that differentiate the successful writer from the unsuccessful. Without resonators, writers are very likely to succumb to the ‘dampening influence of their environment”
Our life stories are only as good as we live in active resonating communities. Anything less will very likely cause us to succumb to the “dampening influence of our environment”.
Can you name the resonators in your life? Just as importantly, can you name the people you resonate?
I am intrigued and yet I can’t help but see a twisted version of the television series “LOST” emerging.
If this guy is right, I guess it’s time for me to sharpen my resume’ and go apply for a position at the local library (which by the way, doesn’t sound all that bad).
“Introverts Need Not Apply
(for church leadership)
Such leadership is extremely important, especially given the instantaneous forms of communications available to denominational and global religious communities. A leader who is an introvert will have a difficult time engaging with the challenges, conflicts, needs and demands of his or her constituencies. An extrovert can generate engagement and enthusiasm for a common goal or mission. A narcissist will provide lots of support and engagement with those who agree with him or her but will usually close the door on those they disagree with. As the “family systems” researcher Peter Steinke so often reminds us, narcissists are usually found in the professions of musicians, actors and clergy and at times a mixture of some or all.”
I think he is way off. He makes sweeping generalizations. He stereotypes to the point of nausea. He suggests that introverts are more narcissistic than extroverts- which is ridiculous. He underestimates the beauty of a Christ-centered community celebrating one another’s strengths while compensating for each others weaknesses. And overall, he puts too much emphasis on the person verses the Holy Spirit working through the person.
But who am I to say….
I am just a recovering narcissist who so happens to be an introverted musical “clergyman”.
What drives laziness? -a kind of ongoing lack of motivation. I read somewhere that laziness is the habit of quiting before you get tired. I don’t know about that, but it makes me wonder about the cause of laziness. I have asked some friends about it and most of them said it had to do with selfishness.
I have to say, from time to time I like the thought of being lazy. It has a weird sort of attraction.
I wonder if it isn’t so much laziness that I am attracted to but a deep desire for real rest.
I wonder if laziness grows from missing purpose.
I wonder if laziness grows from loosing hope.
I wonder…
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” M.L. King
I often wonder how I would respond as a man were I not shrouded in excessive comfort and convenience. I have it good… how would I be if I was trapped in the rubble of the twin towers, running for cover in a war torn region, struggling for food to give to my family, dying of aids or cancer, or parenting my children alone.
Am I using comfort and convenience to build a character that will feed me and others when challenge and controversy hit?
“Unless one learns how to relish the taste of Sabbath while still in this world, unless one is initiated in the appreciation of eternal life, one will be unable to enjoy the taste of eternity in the world to come. Sad is the lot of him who arrives inexperienced and when led to heaven has no power to perceive the beauty of the Sabbath” Heschel
Over the years, this thought has deeply affected me. The idea that we could taste eternity now by saturating ourselves in the rhythm of Sabbath living.
A regular gift from heaven rarely opened.
I started reading Ephesians. I read the introduction and was drawn to the scope of the whole letter. Paul’s overall goal for his readers is to help young churches grow up and know what they are to be about. That is good timing for me in light of my current frustrations. After reading the first chapter I was struck by the predestination theme. Oh no. But this time a different thought came to mind about that. Instead of the frozen chosen/elitist mentality, I thought about the commission the Father has given to those He calls. We are chosen not to run away from the world but are chosen to be agents of change to the world. Paul doesn’t seem to make this about some getting a “get out of hell card” while others don’t, but more of a commission to the Church to be men and women who are a part of the Father’s agenda to be bring the world back to Him.
That is an important distinction for me. Not chosen from but chosen for …The world should be better off because we are called, not worse. How is the current (American) Church doing with that? From what I read and see, not very well. Boy, we sure do like to hide up in our plush buildings, safe programs, and spend a lot of time trying to manufacture feel good “worship” services. I am afraid we may have it all a bit out of balance. Heaven forgive us. Teacher, teach us again what it means to be your disciples.
I would buy this car in a minute.
Shoot, for $2500 even I could afford this car.
I love you Nano.
Put me on the list
Someone searched for ‘RELUCTANT NARCISSIST DANIEL’ and got my blog. I had to smile at that for a couple of reasons. One, I’m vain enough to check my blog stats to find out who’s connecting to this blog. Second, that I’m actually tagged as Daniel the reluctant narcissist. All that is missing is the ‘Ivan’ part.
I have always been a bit unsure about the title of this blog, but it fits me.
I want to learn to shift the rotation of the universe away from me to where it belongs.
But it’s hard.
its easier for people to handout criticism than it is acceptance.
it’s easier to please God than it is to please man.
the prayers of a person right before God goes a long way.
Perfect!
A few years back I heard a dear friend teach on the physical location of where Jesus was born. He described how recent archaeological discoveries in Bethlehem have caused biblical scholars to rethink the part in Luke 2 that reads – “and there was no room for them in the inn”. I remember thinking at the time, “whoa, this is new and if true, requires me to adjust my thinking about that night in a major way”. Mainly, that Jesus was born in a home of Joseph’s extended family.
Well, a few years have gone by and I have thought about that every Christmas.
Yesterday, I came across someone else who is teaching the same thing…
Here is some of that teaching –
When it came time for Mary to deliver the baby, the Greek of Luke’s text says, “she wrapped him in cloth and laid him in a corn crib, as there was no room in the guest room.” Yes, you heard me right. Luke does not say there was no room in the inn. Luke has a different Greek word for inn (pandeion), which he trots out in the parable of the Good Samaritan. The word he uses here (kataluma) is the very word he uses to describe the room in which Jesus shared the Last Supper with his disciples — the guest room of a house.
Archeology shows that houses in Bethlehem and its vicinity often had caves as the back of the house where they kept their prized ox or beast of burden, lest it be stolen. The guest room was in the front of the house, the animal shelter in the back, and Joseph and Mary had come too late to get the guest room, so the relatives did the best they could by putting them in the back of the house.
to read the entire article, go here .
RECOVERING NARCISSIST 