-
"
Against the flesh, the traitor within, a warrior uses discipline. We have a two-dimensional version of this now, which we call a “quiet time.” But most men have a hard time sustaining any sort of devotional life because it has no vital connection to recovering and protecting their strength; it feels about as important as flossing. But if you saw your life as a great battle and you knew you needed time with God for your very survival, you would do it. Maybe not perfectly-nobody ever does and that’s not the point anyway-but you would have a reason to seek him. We give a halfhearted attempt at the spiritual disciplines when the only reason we have is that we “ought” to. But we’ll find a way to make it work when we are convinced we’re history if we don’t.
Time with God each day is not about academic study or getting through a certain amount of Scripture or any of that. It’s about connecting with God. We’ve got to keep those lines of communication open, so use whatever helps. Sometimes I’ll listen to music; other times I’ll read Scripture or a passage from a book; often I will journal; maybe I’ll go for a run; then there are days when all I need is silence and solitude and the rising sun. The point is simply to do whatever brings me back to my heart and the heart of God.
The discipline, by the way, is never the point. The whole point of a “devotional life” is connecting with God. This is our primary antidote to the counterfeits the world holds out to us.
"–John Eldredge “Wild at Heart” -
"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die. “He that will lose his life, the same shall save it” is not a piece of mysticism for saints and heroes. It is a piece of everyday advice for sailors or mountaineers. It might be printed in an Alpine guide or a drill book. The paradox is the whole principle of courage; even of quite earthly or quite brutal courage. A man cut off by the sea may save his life if he will risk it on the precipice. He can only get away from death by continually stepping within an inch of it. A soldier surrounded by enemies, if he is to cut his way out, needs to combine a strong desire for living with a strange carelessness about dying. He must not merely cling to life, for then he will be a coward, and will not escape. He must not merely wait for death, for then he will be a suicide, and will not escape. He must seek his life in a spirit of furious indifference to it; he must desire life like water and yet drink death like wine."
–G.K. Chesterton -
"All that we call human history—money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—[is] the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy."
– C.S. Lewis, from Mere Christianity -
My experential journey through Lent
First, a little about this upcoming season:
Lent is a forty-day period before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday. We skip Sundays when we count the forty days, because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection. Lent begins on 9 March 2011 and ends on 23 April 2011, which is the day before Easter.
But why this Forty Day period? Certainly the number forty has long had a symbolic importance in religion. Moses and Elijah spent forty days in the wilderness; the Jews wandered forty years searching for the Promised Land; Jonah gave the city of Nineveh forty days’ grace in which to repent. And Jesus retreated into the wilderness and fasted for forty days to prepare for his ministry. It was for Him a time of contemplation, reflection, and preparation. So by observing Lent, most Christians join Jesus on His retreat.
…
Fasting has been a part of Methodism from its early beginnings. John Wesley considered fasting an important part of a Christian’s life and he personally fasted weekly. To Wesley, fasting was an important way to express sorrow for sin and penitence for overindulgence in eating and drinking. He believed it benefited prayer life by allowing more time for prayer. He also felt fasting was more meaningful if combined with giving to the poor. Wesley did advise caution against extreme fasting and against fasting for those in fragile health.
Lent is a very personal time for individuals, so the United Methodist Church does not have official guidelines on how individuals should observe Lent. For example, the church does not say everyone has to fast. We may choose other ways of observing acts of penance, but we are not to neglect it, either – the value of self-denial can be learned early in a person’s life. Lent provides an excellent opportunity to teach children the necessity of self-denial in our permissive society. A spirit of fasting can include restriction of luxuries such as television watching, shopping and going out with friends. We can give away clothing or possessions to those in need or we can give time to the Lord by volunteering our services or special prayers and devotions. Whenever possible we can pray more often alone or with family members.
So, think about something in your life you think you can’t live with-out and try going 40 days with-out it, or maybe add a little spice to this season…Click on this link to see my experential journey this year: http://marshill.org/teaching/files/2012/02/LentCal2012.pdf
Kris -
Feb 4th
Comic genius!
“Look, you have to do what Mommy says.”
“Why?”
“‘Cause I do.”
- Ray and Ally in Father Knows Least
-
Jan 30thSome of my favorite peeps in the world!
-
The Key to Longevity (Josh) | YouthMinistry.com
Yesteday Kurt offered up some solid insight into longevity in youth ministry. Here’s a little of what I’ve learned now 15 years (and 1 week) into this journey:
-
Dec 11thIf you are going on the HS ski trip in January, we are having a little get together to get sizings for your skis this Wed night at 6. Meeting in the youth room (deposits are due!)…see you then!
- What really happens when we laugh..
-
"The Church needs revival. Christianity unlike other religions tends to go to seed especially when it goes to bed with power. Why does Christianity unlike all other religions evolve so that its demographic center moves so that it is not where it used to be? I mean Hinduism is still basically Indian, Buddhism is still basically Asian; Islam is still basically Middle Eastern. Christianity was originally Jewish, then it was Greek, then it was European, then North American. Now it’s becoming African, Latin American, Asian. The average evangelical Christian today is not American and white. And someone said “Why is that?” and I believe it is because Christianity’s essential message is that it works best away from power, it works best at the margins. And when Christianity gets in bed with power the message of the cross gets obscured and it goes to seed."
–Tim Keller - Wishing your contemporary church would go old school during Christmas. | Stuff Christians Like – Jon Acuff
-
Heading to the Orange Conference in April!
Everything can change in a moment—
because of a revelation
because of an experience
because of a relationshipWhen these happen, they can—
reshape who you are
redefine what you do
rethink how you liveIt’s happened before.
A European mathematician theorized that the earth revolved around the sun.
A Mississippi musician mixed rhythm and blues with country.
Harvard students created a website to help everyone on campus connect socially.It is interesting how—
a significant event in time can become a catalyst to change the future
a revolutionary idea can influence the mindset of an entire generation
an innovative team can make a radical impact in cultureThey are called game changers.
A game changer is an event that requires you to
radically alter how you play.If you learn to recognize a game changer when it happens
you can make the adjustment you need to be an effective leader.The game is changing.
How we adapt is our choice.The Orange Conference 2012 will be a gathering of leaders called to understand the changes influencing this new generation.
a new generation of parents striving
to nurture an authentic and everyday faith in their children.a new generation of churches that desire to impact culture
with a timeless message of redemptiona new generation of children and students passionate
about discovering a better story for their spiritual and personal lives.Join thousands of leaders endeavoring
to understand the game changers
that redefine how to play.Are you ready to change
how you play the game? - Warmth in Winter 2012 Registration Forms
-
High School Ski Trip
Our HS ski trip is something we look forward to every year! Listed below is some info for you:
Dates: January 13-16
Cost: $300 per person
Spots available: 4
You can sign up on the youth bulletin board in the main building…More info to come soon!
-
My beautiful girls! Coming home from camping trip in Charleston, SC
Kris' blog on family life and ministry
