Thursday March 31

St. Theresa's Prayer May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exaclty where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifs that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let his presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.

wednesday march 30

Just had lunch with a guy named Paul. He lives by 5 Spiritual Practices. I can remember 4 of them. But they are good. 1. Be Attentive 2. 3. Appreciate your Connectedness 4. Love Beauty 5. Live Radiantly Pretty good I think. When I remember number 2, I'll post it.

Tuesday March 29

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'

Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!'

Jesus stopped and said, 'Call him.'

So they called to the blind man, 'Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you.' Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

'What do you want me to do for you?' Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, 'Rabbi, I want to see.'

'Go,' said Jesus, 'your faith has healed you.' Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

It's interesting that Jesus says Go instead of Come. He gave Bartimaeus the choice to do what he wanted with gift Jesus gave him. He could have chosen another path. Instead he chose to follow Jesus.

When Jesus does something in your life. The immediate and most appropriate response is to follow him. This would make sense. But I am guilty of not doing it. How about you?

(ps sorry about not posting today)

Friday March 25

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'

Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!'

Jesus stopped and said, 'Call him.'

So they called to the blind man, 'Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you.' Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

'What do you want me to do for you?' Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, 'Rabbi, I want to see.'

'Go,' said Jesus, 'your faith has healed you.' Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Mark 10:46-52

So there's this question: "What do you want me to do for you?"

What if Jesus stopped and asked you? What would you say?

Seriously, what do you really want Jesus to do for you?

Thursday March 24

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'

Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!'

Jesus stopped and said, 'Call him.'

So they called to the blind man, 'Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you.' Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

'What do you want me to do for you?' Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, 'Rabbi, I want to see.'

'Go,' said Jesus, 'your faith has healed you.' Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Mark 10:46-52

Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" I love that. The man is blind, but Jesus doesn't make the assumption that it is sight the guy wants.

Jesus doesn't think there is anything wrong with blindness, not physical blindness. He didn't need his eyes to be fixed to be whole, to be loved by God. Spiritual blindness is another matter. Jesus doesn't like that kind.

How is your sight?

Wednesday March 23

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'

Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!'

Jesus stopped and said, 'Call him.'

So they called to the blind man, 'Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you.' Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

'What do you want me to do for you?' Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, 'Rabbi, I want to see.'

'Go,' said Jesus, 'your faith has healed you.' Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Mark 10:46-52

Here's the question: What compelled Jesus to stop?

Was it because the man was a beggar?

Was it because he called Jesus, the Son of David? (in other words Messiah)

Was it because he shouted?

Was it because he refused to give up?

Was it because he asked for mercy?

I don't know. I don't think anything compelled Jesus to do anything. You can beg, cry, call, shout till your blue in the face. It isn't going to force Jesus into doing anything he isn't willing to do. Jesus stopped for Bartimaeus, I think, because he was Bartimaeus. If there was any compulsion, the compulsion was love.

Tuesday March 22

For the next four days we are going to look at the following passage. It's one of my favorites, as Ken Gire would say, an intimate moment with the savior.

Today, I'll leave you with the passage:

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'

Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!'

Jesus stopped and said, 'Call him.'

So they called to the blind man, 'Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you.' Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

'What do you want me to do for you?' Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, 'Rabbi, I want to see.'

'Go,' said Jesus, 'your faith has healed you.' Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Mark 10:46-52

Monday March 21

"There are thoughts which are prayers. There are moments when, whatever the posture of the body, the soul is on its knees"

Victor Hugo

Friday March 18

In honor of Mr. Patrick

St. Patrick’s Breastplate

I bind unto myself today

The strong name of the Trinity,

By invocation of the same,

The Three in One, and One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever,

By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation,

His Baptism in the Jordan River,

His death on the Cross for my salvation,

His bursting from the spiced tomb,

His riding up the heav’nly way,

His coming at the day of doom,

I bind unto myself this day.

I bind unto myself today,

The power of God to hold and lead,

His eye to watch, His might to stay,

His ear to hearken to my need,

The wisdom of my God to teach,

His hand to guide, His shield to ward,

The word of God to give me speech,

His heav’nly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,

Christ behind me, Christ before me,

Christ beside me, Christ to win me,

Christ to comfort and restore me.

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,

Christ in the hearts of all that love me,

Christ in the mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name,

The strong name of the Trinity,

By invocation of the same,

The Three in One, the One in Three.

Of whom all nature hath creation,

Eternal Father, Spirit, Word,

Praise to the Lord of my salvation,

Salvation is of Christ my Lord

Thursday March 17

I had the great privilege tonight to chat with a great guy and gal who are about to join our church. They both have recently come back to faith. the gal, Kristine, described it as her Phoenix moment. I really like that...

...from the ashes to live again...

This is how David, the psalmist put it.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock

and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth

a hymn of praise to our God.

psalm 40:2-3

Wednesday March 16

It's pretty late. I just got back from a great time with some bros over some gigananormous beers. So I apologize for misspellings. But tonight, really tomorrow morning what I want to remember to think about is this...

Conversion is something profound and beautiful, and it needs to be done on a daily basis. As Paul writes:

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind - Romans 12:2

Though outwardly we are wearing away, inwardly we are renewed day by day - 2 Corinthians 4:16

Renew your commitment with Jesus today. Make it personal. Make it real. Make it now.

Tuesday March 15

Scott Steele, one of the most important men in my life, and I were chatting tonight. He said, you know, that's a really good question:

Who are the most important men in your life?

For a guy like he and I who live very disconnected lives - to have relationships with others who know us deeply spiritually, but also know our families, what we are doing at work, what we are dreaming about, struggling with, fighting through - having those kind of friendships with men that can be like neurotransmitters for us makes all the difference in the world.

So what about you? Who are the most important men/women in your life? How well are you doing on letting them in?

Monday March 14

OK. I'm getting pumped for March Madness. I have my bracket right here. And as I am looking at it, I'm thinking about how upredictable it is. It reminds me of God in that way. He never ceases to surprise me. And his surprises, also like the bracket, are thrilling, disappointing at times, and also leading somewhere - namely, down to one thing. Jesus.

Maybe you, like the bracket have expanded to 68. You have so many things on your mind and in your heart. You're stressed. You're overwhelmed. You're juggling the necessities of life. Well, this is my prayer for you. That, as you go through the madness of your March, may Christ help you focus your attention down to that one thing that matters. Amen.

Good luck in the tourney!

Friday March 11

Dear Father, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this You will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadows of death. I will not fear, for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to dace my perils alone.

Thomas Merton

Thursday March 9

All the believers were together and had everything in common.

When I see the conflicts that are happening around the world, the conflicts we have here in this country, Christians fighting with Christians, the difficult relationships in my own life - I read something like this and my heart breaks. Seriously, I don't want to belittle it by saying this, but come on...why can't we just get along?

Let forgiveness begin in me. Let peace begin in me. Let judgement end here. Let love reign in its place. Amen.

WEDNESDAY March 9

This really convicts me...

They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

According to my great friend Paul Barclay, the devotion concept is an Old Testament one. When God would call the Israelites to devote a town, he meant to destroy it all together. Leave nothing alive. That is devotion. Everything you got.

What am I devoted to? I'm not even sure I have an answer, let alone a good one, let alone four like the folks above.

Pray for me to be devoted to Jesus. I'll do the same for you.

Tuesday March 8

My friend Mike Sears told me this morning at 3:30.

Once you're in Jesus' boat, you might slip and fall, but you can't fall out.

Monday March 7

This is your day, Lord. I want to be at your disposal. I have no idea what these next twenty-four hours will contain. But before I begin, before I sip my first cup of coffee, and even before I get dressed, I want you to know that, from this moment on throughout this day, I'm yours. Help me to be a branch that abides in the vine, to lean on you, to draw strength from you, and to have you fill my mind and my thoughts. Take control of my senses so that I am literally filled with your presence and power. I want to be your tool, your vessel today. I can't make it happen. Without you, I can accomplish nothing. And so I'm saying, Lord, fill me with your spirit today.

taken from unknown source.

Friday March 4

We're going to look at this passage again. But this time, I want to highlight a few words to remind you what God is actively doing in you today.

Praise the Lord, o my soul

and forget not all his benefits -

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

psalm 103:2-5

How about that for a to do list? And before you leave, go back and check the ALLs. all your sins - forgiven. all your

diseases - healed.

March 3 Thursday

Today, I want us to visit one of my favorite passages. Let this help you.

Praise the Lord, o my soul

and forget not all his benefits -

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

psalm 103:2-5

Wednesday March 2

From Gordan MacDonald's Devotion on Generosity

God is the first and most generous giver.

We are the most like God when we give.

When we give, the world takes notice.

I was stuck by the first on today. I was like yeah, God gives the most because he has the most to give. If I owned the universe how hard would it be to hook a brother up once in awhile. I get frustrated with God about this sometimes because I don't feel the love. Then, it hit me. God is the most generous not because he has the most but because he GAVE the most. He gave us his son. He gave up his life. That's how he is generous. All right, God, I'll stop complaining.