Solution for a "Noisy Heart"

Often, when speaking to people about prayer time, a struggle common to many is staying focused on their prayer time and topics. Recently, I was reading from Richard J. Foster’s Sanctuary of the Soul, and he offers this advice.

“The first counsel I would give regarding a wandering mind is for us to be easy on ourselves. We did not develop a noisy heart overnight, and it will take time and patience for us to learn a single-hearted concentration. Dietrich Bonhoeffer offers wise counsel precisely on this point: “The first thing to remember is not to get impatient with yourself. Do not cramp yourself in despair at the wandering of your thoughts. Just sit down each day and wait patiently. If your thoughts keep running away, do not attempt to restrict them. It is no bother to let them run on to their destination; then, however, take up the place or the person to whom they have strayed into your prayers. In this way you will find yourself back at the text, and the minutes of such digressions will not be wasted and will not trouble you” (pg. 105).

Sounds like an effective practice. Pray for the distractions! If they are from God then you will have accomplished your goal. If they are from your own distracted mind, you will have refocused. If they are from satan, what better way to discourage him than to pray thru the demonic distractions? Regardless, you will better make use of the time God has given you in his presence…hope it helps someone.

Wrongful Worship

Have you heard the expression "if you don't laugh, you'll cry?" Well this video is one of those. It is so funny...and surely a bit too real for some in the church today. Oh well, enjoy...and I pray you'll use it to check your attitude every time you worship.

Angering People...In Jesus' Name!

After reading several chapters from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles today, God spoke to me. We have the notion that sharing the Gospel should be an easy task that readily yields fruit…and when we meet opposition or indifference from people, and there is no fruit, we get discouraged or think witnessing is not our gift. Well, first of all, witnessing is not a gift; it’s a command from Christ. But more importantly we must realize that the Gospel, when presented correctly, rubs against the grain of society. Always has—always will. For example, just look at Paul’s adventures in Thyatira (Acts 16) and Thessalonica and Berea (Acts 17)…along with several other places. His best efforts did not go particularly well. In many instances Paul ruffled feathers as he presented the Gospel and God impressed upon me that more often than not we ought to do the same. This is not to say my (our) intention should be to anger anyone, but rather, to so present the Gospel with truth and conviction, realizing that some will be offended, threatened, even angered by the Good News. Perhaps that would be a good measurement of our effectiveness…how many people have you offended with the Gospel lately? If there have not been many, perhaps you need to change your procedure for a more effective presentation of Jesus.

Are You "Religion-Intoxicated?"

I have found an intriguing series of booklets published by the Upper Room in the early 1950’s (that’s even older than me!) entitled “Living Selections from the Great Devotional Classics.” Recently, I’ve read from the journals of George Fox who was the founder of the Society of Friends (the Quakers) in 1624. In one he is described as a “religion-intoxicated” person and this got me thinking. First of all, what is a “religion-intoxicated” person? Fox, at the age of 19, was offended by some “professors of religion” (a term he used for persons who received pay for their preaching) who indulged in a drinking party and he (Fox) decided to act as a public critic of the established religion of his day. Did that make him “religion-intoxicated?” Sounds more like, under conviction, he chose to take a public stand opposing hypocrisy within the church…but is that why he earned the label? After more reading one might easily come to the conclusion he had totally surrendered his life to Jesus Christ, even at the age of nineteen…perhaps that is why others called him religion-intoxicated. Regardless, I must say while I do not fully subscribe to the beliefs/doctrines of the Society of Friends, I do see how this man’s life influenced generations of people who claimed to follow Jesus…and many more of us should work to be labeled as religion-intoxicated…especially those of us who are professors of religion!

Prayer About Getting Old

This could be me someday...at least I hope!

Romantically Challenged

Wanted to use this in my current sermon series on Making Love Last a Lifetime, but it was just too long...forgot about it until today so I thought I'd share it. Enjoy!

Clergy Appreciation Month

The following is a Facebook post I copied from my friend and brother in the faith Mike Rayson. I think it speaks well to the my awkwardness with Clergy Appreciation Month…thanks Mike for saying it so well!

“This Sunday is 'Clergy Appreciation Day'. I want to take this moment to say how much I appreciate me, and how awesome I know that I am. Thank you me. I appreciate everything about who I am and what I do. Now, to go and read Proverbs 30:32”

Now, it is wonderful and necessary for each of us to feel appreciated…and I want to thank each person who has expressed their appreciation to me in so many different ways…but it might be more effective and much less awkward for many clergy if instead of being expressed by many in the church all at once, we might get small doses throughout the year. I can tell you in spite of what you may think (or what I might lead you to believe!), the only thing I have ever done that is worthy of any accolades whatsoever is to surrender my life to Jesus Christ and strive daily to follow His will…as do many, many others in our church! Now, in case you haven’t yet looked up Proverbs 30:32, in the CEV it says, “If you are foolishly bragging or planning something evil, then stop it now!” Interesting that bragging and evil are likened isn’t it?

I'm Sooooo Busy!

I think one of the ways God keeps me out of more trouble than what I get into is keeping me busy. Last week I had meetings two days, one of them in Springfield. I am leaving shortly for Marion, IN, for a workshop on Tuesday. Still, in the busyness, God is sovereign and still sits on the throne! Saturday, I had a wonderful time with Anna & Bella as we pulled the church’s float in the parade at St. Francisville…btw, God is sovereign and on the throne when I am playing too! Having said that, I doubt if I post many days this week, though I expect to be inspired at the workshop I am attending tomorrow…still you should find much comfort that God is still sovereign and on the throne (whether I post or not!). And on that thought, how do people who do not know or believe that respond to our tumultuous world? Where is it they find comfort, hope, and security? Or perhaps they don’t? If that is the case it is up to you and me to reflect the love of Christ to them. It is there (and only there) they will find comfort, hope, and eternal security. Praise God we are never too busy to share Christ with someone…to plant that seed…to cause them to wonder why we act so secure in our beliefs. At least I pray you are not too busy to be about your work as a believer…to be Christ’s witnesses. If that’s the case, you are truly TOO busy!