Try this litany during your quiet time with the Lord ... you are both the reader and the responder.  Read silently to yourself the request and then say the response out loud, but quietly.  Try it...-----For the peace from above, for the loving kindness of God, and for the salvation of my soul, I prayContinue reading "A morning reading and prayer"

*  "The distresses of choice are our chance to be blessed."  -- from For the Time Being by W.H. Auden*  "Trusting that He will make all things new if I surrender to his will..." -- from the Serenity Prayer*  "We must learn to obey him in everything, and so we must begin somewhere.  Let itContinue reading "The distress of choice"

So I heard the average yearly income of a Haitian family is maybe $1,000.  That was before the earthquake struck.  I further heard that in Port-au-Prince the unemployment rate prior to the earthquake was about 80 percent.  Eighty percent?  Unbelievable.  Every part of me wants that figure to be wrong.I watched the amazing scenes of the search-and-rescue teams fromContinue reading "The value of the human life"

At least twice yesterday I was angry -- once when I talked with one of my siblings and once at life when I was driving and telling God how I really felt.  Each time I got agitated and raised my voice.  This morning when I awaken I thought about what happened yesterday.  Here's what I think:*Continue reading "Angry … again"

When blind Bartimaeous heard that Jesus was nearby he began to shout, "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me." (Mark 10:46-52)One of the most common and most practiced ancient prayers in the Eastern Orthodox Church is "Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."Last week at the jail service I askedContinue reading "Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner"

Have you ever considered the spiritual disciplines that marked Jesus' life?1.  Obedience.  "Not my will be done."2.  Simplicity.  "Foxes have holes and bird of the air have nests, but the Son Man has no where to lay his head."3.  Humility.  "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am humble and gentleContinue reading "Spiritual disciplines — Jesus style"

Sitting in the Lord's presence this morning I have two prayers and one thought from Jesus...1.  From 16th century priest Francois Fenelon:  "Lord, I know not what I should ask of you.  You know what I need.  I simply present myself before you.  I open my heart to you.  Behold my needs which I knowContinue reading "Our posture before the Lord"