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Christianity that matters, part 2
Thinking over Ross Douthat’s column, I have been thinking over and over about the crisis of Christianity we need to have in our culture. We don’t want one. It’s here, but we don’t want to recognize it. It’s a lot like the economic crisis. We don’t want to deal with it. It’s like the environment. It’s like our crazy dependence…
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Christianity that matters
Ross Douthat has a marvelous column on the Christmas season and how Christianity is “doing.” Obviously, we are full of angst. That’s our main theme these days, it seems. The column is a good one and I am kind of setting this post as a “marker” to come back to when I have time. One thought from his column for…
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Fourth Sunday of Advent
A prayer: God of all hope and joy, open our hearts in welcome, so that your Son Jesus Christ at his coming may find in us a dwelling prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen. Lord, this Christmas season is upon us. Help us to walk in…
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The great cloud of witnesses
Having finished Robert Benson’s book In Constant Prayer for a book review, there are some powerful thoughts from his work I wanted to share. His admonition is to take up the duty of prayer. Specifically, take up the ancient practice of the “offices.” Pray the daily office. The office is just a collection of words. But words are powerful things.…
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Book Review — In Constant Prayer
I received In Constant Prayer from Thomas Nelson for a book review. I am under no obligation to write a positive review. In Constant Prayer by Robert Benson is an invitation to take up the ancient stream of the daily office. Growing up Pentecostal, it has only been in the last ten years I’ve more fully explored the liturgical stream…
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the love offering
The need for daily prayer is witnessed beautifully in the words of Charles de Foucauld: “I must say my office (prayer) with great care. it is my daily offering of fresh flowers and roses, symbolical of fresh love offered daily to the Beloved Spouse.” Deliver fresh flowers daily. For the Lover of your soul.
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The currency of our age
“‘How we spend our days is how we spend our lives,’ writes Annie Dillard. ‘What we are doing with this hour and with that one is what we are doing.’ “Time is the real currency of our age, and we have to manage our time in relation to our spiritual life as much as we do in relation to any…
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The purpose of the liturgy
I am currently working my way through In Constant Prayer for a book review. In Chapter 4 the author tells a story about a neighbor who wasn’t getting the hang of “liturgy.” Why not just sing a couple of songs, preach a good sermon, and go home? The pastor told the man, “The liturgy is not for you, Bill. It…
