Worship Leader

credit: www.Katiestromwall.com

It’s Sunday morning, and the young worship leader on the platform looks like she just stepped off the cover of a magazine. Perfect hair.  perfect teeth. Prefect shoes. (A less gifted person wouldn’t be able to balance on those heels let a lone sing.)  Her voice is as smooth as her silk suit, and whenever she is particularly moved (which is every thirty seconds like clockwork), she raises her hand towards the ceiling in choreographed adoration.  As the music swells, the young woman on the platform soars on a note that only she can reach, and a whisper ripples through the pews, “Isn’t she anointed?”  Perhaps so, but she is not the real worship leader this morning.

The real worship leader is sitting in the mobile home next door.  It’s a stones throw from the church, but it may as well be a world away.  The woman inside has never heard the name Jesus Christ except as a punctuation to anger, and yet this morning, her heart turns outward, upward, to anyone who might be listening.  With her ragged nightgown clutched around her, she shuffles to the window and looks out past the church to the horizon beyond.  Her eyes are red and her hair is matted, but as she presses her palm to the glass, something remarkable happens in the room.  It fills with angels. “God…if you’re there… I need you,” she breathes against the glass.  She means it. Tears begin to fall, but they are not hers.  The angels are weeping.  They burst into worship as a broken woman leads them to the throne.

by Cheire

Where Do I Turn?

During a period of history in which many traditional structures and ways of living are breaking down and we are thrown back on our own personal resources and insights, the need for spiritual direction is increasingly apparent. … It is important that we start to think about a ministry in which we help one another to practice READ MORE

Three Monks On An Island

Three Russian monks lived on a faraway island.  Nobody ever went there, but one day their bishop decided to make a pastoral visit.  When he arrived, he discovered that the monks didn’t even know the Lord’s Prayer.  So he spent all his time and energy teaching them the “Our Father” and then left, satisfied with his pastoral work.  But when his ship had left the island and was back in the open sea, he READ MORE

O death, where is thy sting? O Hell, where is thy victory?

Let no one grieve his poverty,

for the universal Kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;

for forgiveness has risen from the grave.

let no one fear death, for Death of our Savior has set us free.

He destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hell when He descended into it.

He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His Flesh.

Isaiah foretold this when he said,

“You of Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below.” READ MORE

Be Still

Why is it that God is most silent in the harrowing times of my life?  Why does the still small voice come floating along after the fire and wind have pummeled my heart?  Perhaps it is the silence itself that is the fire that burns in me during these moments.  In this silence the pressure for an answer becomes a refining fire, melting away the dross of my heart – that which would cloud my vision and obscure the fact that He never leaves or forsakes me.  Perhaps my anxiousness needs to be burned up that I might, in its absence, settle into that stillness which contains such powerful truth – He is God, and He is with me.

Perhaps the fires of life are simply meditations that carry me deep into the heart of this: Be still and know that I am God.  All the times I have futilely struggled to be still; squirming and twisting in my discontent, and yet all the while God was at work, bringing about in me that which I can never achieve in my own strength.  Be still, and know.  Perhaps I’ll stop trying so hard and just settle into Him.  Perhaps I finally be still, rather than trying to be still.  Perhaps.

Sitting Curbs

Crossing the room, I put the magazine down on my desk. Put? More like “dropped”. Dropped? More like “threw”. But a pastor doesn’t throw things, does he? No, he doesn’t. I enthusiastically put the magazine down on my desk.
It wasn’t that I disliked the article I’d been reading. It was a great article. “The Mighty Power of Prayer.” There was nothing to disagree with. All of it was true. “Wesley spent two hours daily in prayer…John Fletcher sometimes prayed all night…Joseph Alleine arose at four am and prayed until eight…The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees…” I’d read the article eagerly, hoping for inspiration. But somehow, it just left me feeling depressed. Perhaps even angry. Wasn’t my list of spiritual inadequacies long enough already? READ MORE

Overcome

The body lay lifeless, his countenance placid and empty.  Ensconced in a sleek casket that looked very nice but blunted none of the emotional violence erupting in her heart, she wept over him, her husband of five decades.   How could it have happened this way?  She was supposed to go first.  She was always the sickly one.  In recent years her face had been so pallid that the school children had taken to calling her “the ghost”.  READ MORE

In the Light of Common Grace

As a couple who try our best to live and make everyday decisions according to a personal life rule to live simply and tread lightly upon the earth, my wife and I don’t often do a lot of shopping for things that aren’t necessities. When we do shop however, we prefer to avoid the hustle and bustle of big box stores and shopping malls, in favour of small mom and pop shops where we have the opportunity to linger a while, and get to know and chat with the proprietor and staff if possible. Once and a while though, there’s just nothing for it, and for the sake of frugality (also part of our personal life rule), a trip to a larger store is necessary. READ MORE

The Wife Paradox

Here is a fun anecdote: A man has 8 wives.  He meets Jesus one day and is converted, giving his life to God.  What should he do?  Should he keep his 8 wives, or divorce 7 or them?  And which 7 wives and their children should he put out in the cold? READ MORE

Encountering Love

(This is an excerpt from a collections of letters I have written to my sons as a gift)

It started like any other day in my life.   You guys were off to school and your mom had left for work.  I was in the habit of spending a few hours in prayer each morning that I used waiting on God, singing, meditating and reading Scripture.  The house was empty and I was feeling a bit slow so I wrapped myself in a blanket from the bed, grabbed a coffee and went to our living room where I began my prayer time.   After a while, I pressed play on the compact disc player  (it was not unusual for me to walk around while I prayed and sang).   I was enjoying the time as I walked from our living room into the kitchen and then turned and walked back towards the living room, all the while in full voice with praise.

READ MORE

Satellites

When I come to pray at night, my fears and frustrations and broken expectations orbit my mind like satellites, caught in the gravity of life’s uncontrollable nature.  When I supplicate for thorns to be removed from my flesh, and from my mind, I hear the silence enmesh, with your words echoing through the historic voice of Paul: My grace is enough. READ MORE

Fresh Start

What a crazy several months!  The good news as it has all been very exciting – a season of deep rich prayer, a household move (Mark), finishing of a Masters degree (Michael), a wedding (Mark) and honeymoon (yep… Mark as well), and emerging out the other side Mark and I have had time to get together to discuss the future of the Ecotone Project.

As we dedicated prayer time to the future of the Ecotone Project, we met yesterday and both felt a strong leading to continue posting and soliciting stories, poems, whatever – that illustrate the extravagant and unfailing love of God.  We understand for this idea to catch on with others – it will take some time – just like many other ventures – but we see it as another opportunity to share the passion and joy that fills our hearts and we think yours as well!

So again we ask not only for your stories but your prayer – prayer that together with all the saints we can grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3)

When I Let The Bucket Down

by Robert (Mac) MacKenzie, Diary of an Arts Farmer

When I let the bucket down
Far into my heart
To draw words of life
That could anoint your skin
An adorn your hair
With the sweet, exotic fragrance
And sun-kissed rivulets
Of love and praise
Befitting one so pure
In wonder and moral beauty READ MORE

Infinite Love – Julian of Norwich

Because of the great, infinite love which God has for all humankind, he makes no distinction in love between the blessed soul of Christ and the lowliest of the souls that are to be saved . . . . We should highly rejoice that God dwells in our soul and still more highly should we rejoice that our soul dwells in God. Our soul is made to be God’s dwelling place, and the dwelling place of our soul is God who was never made.

My Adventure With God – pt.2

This started my adventure to rediscover God. A good friend from work invited me to her church. She had tried to tell me of a loving God before but I still looked through the filters of a judgmental God. I went with her to church. I began to enjoy going to church. When I started feeling something was missing she invited me to another church on Sunday evening. I was introduced to the Holy Spirit. Wow I was now on fire for God. I am now chasing God. I went to revivals and meetings everywhere. I believed the faith teachings. I gave, gave and gave. That is a whole other story. READ MORE

My Adventure With God – pt.1

As a child I was raised to love God with all my heart. I went to Sunday school and was taught the Bible stories , I sang songs of God’s love. Jesus loves me this I know cause the bible tells me so. My God was a loving God. He was strong , powerful and tender. There is nothing better than loving God as an innocent child. My baby sitter Mary always encouraged us in the Lord. READ MORE

Will You Teach Me To Dance?

My mind is an early morning lake, It’s glassy surface, a mirror of serenity.

My soul has found the eye of the hurricane. And this simple cabin hums a little tune.

I draw in a sliver of breath and hold it there lightly, The wind gently caressing the Aspen leaves, READ MORE

Thirst

Another morning and I wake with thirst for the goodness I do not have. I walk out to the pond and all the way God has given us such beautiful lessons. Oh Lord, I was never a quick scholar but sulked and hunched over my books past the hour and the bell; grant me, in your mercy, a little more time. Love for the earth and love for you are having such a long conversation in my heart. Who knows what will finally happen or where I will be sent, yet already I have given a great many things away, expecting to be told to pack nothing, except the prayers which, with this thirst, I am slowly learning.

-Mary Oliver

We Awaken in Christ’s Body

Small Wire

A reflection on Luke 17:5-10
My faith
is a great weight
hung on a small wire,
as doth the spider
hang her baby on a thin web,
as doth the vine,
twiggy and wooden,
hold up grapes
like eyeballs,
as many angels
dance on the head of a pin. READ MORE

Thought on the Cloud

Just wanted to share this as it was meaningful to me.   “We hold our lives into the light of God’s presence by means of love and for the sake of love. Every action, every thought, every imperfection is held up into the light of God’s love. We are surrounded by love and baptized in love. In this way we experience forgiveness and acceptance and affirmation.” - G. Beebe on The Cloud Unknowing.

The love of God is so profoundly life changing and yet some think this love is anti-intellectual, sacrifices truth or somehow in conflict with Justice.  I suggest this is not the case, for knowledge can inform our love and true justice is not in tension with love but rather part and parcel with love itself.  To separate love from truth, knowledge or justice is to suggest a dichotomy within God which doesn’t exist.

Such A Gift

“Jesus,” she whispers.  It’s not the beginning of a prayer.  It’s the whole thing.  She whispers again, “Jesus.”

The room is cold.  The matt she is lying on is thin.  She pulls the threadbare blanket up under her chin, hugs her knees to her chest, and smiles.   Oh, she is rich!

“How can someone so small be given such a gift?” she wonders.   Think of it!  Queens have only pretty rags.  Princes have only tasty crumbs.  But she – a little liebling whom no one will ever notice – owns the world with one word.

“Jesus.”

Cherie D

Jack & Diane: A Parable of Grace and New Life

Once upon a time Jack and Diane went down separate paths. One walked a narrow path and one took a wide path. As life would have it they found folks to love, children to raise and shared life. Through the storms of life and the wounds and brokenness, their marriages were well on to death before they ended. Broken dreams and vows that as a matter of life blew away in the wind of time like the dust in a hot prairie wind. READ MORE

Encouragement From A Friend

I received this email the other day, from someone very close to me.  She works in the medical field, and after 41 years working with sick people, and all the  many problems that go with that, it’s really starting to get to her. The following  is the  very short, and distressing email, followed by  my response.

” I am tired of having to Smile and be Strong, and that is that. ”

I hear you, and I am sorry that you have to endure it. God must have a really good reason for it in your life. Ask Him to share it with you. You’d be amazed how it feels to have the God of the Universe kneel down beside one of His children and share stuff with them. You just want to jump and sing and shout. This because you have heard something important from Him, not because your still frustrated.

Rick

The Hair Cut

Every month, one time I visit the beauty salon in my living area to get my hair cut.  At that time when I visited the hair shop was August, so it was very hot weather in Korea.  When I visited there, nobody stayed except a woman cutter.  When she cutted my hair almost half of my hair, she rapidly READ MORE