I forget too easily…

I am often randomly and powerfully reminded of God’s majesty, and just how silly our greatest attempts at just about anything fall short in comparison to Him…for out of His fingers, breath, and His very being come the ferocity and fulcrum of all True power. This was one of those simple yet powerful reminders.

Bedtime…

So, at the beginning of the semester I had determined to undertake this process of making my days start and end with prayer to God. It was a glorious idea perfectly framing in my opinion my days borrowed from God. The Omega part of those days has worked itself out somewhat well…although there is still something to be desired in terms of it being all 7 days, but I’m working on that with Him. The Alpha aspect to that venture…hmm…well, it’s been interesting to say the least. I had a stretch where I was getting up every morning except for Saturday mornings at 5:00AM on the dot, in prayer and soon after that hour on my way to the gym to listen to sermons and music via I-Pod…but something about that before-the-world-seems-to-wake-vantage seems, at least to me, to almost have mystical properties.

When reading about the Desert Fathers and Mothers of the faith, I’ve found that they often called the early hours of the morning their own…praying for themselves, and for all the world that still had yet to even wake. Jesus did the morning prayers…but then again his 3-time-a-day-plus regimen would befuddle us where we stood if we tried to overnight own such a prayer life. But, in that same breath…

Alaskan theology

Isn’t being saved enough?

more Washer…

This was not what these kids were expecting…Wesleyan undertones with heartfelt brimstone preaching. Pray these kids, all of us, you and I, examine ourselves to truly know the ultimate question and answer…not do we know Jesus…but does Jesus know us.

when fairytales died

As I was getting a ride back home a few nights ago from my mentor I asked him the question…

“Shouldn’t falling in Love be simple and easy?” 

This idea has been something I’ve happily poured over for the last decade… I was the guy who was writing letters to his wife at age ten, drifting off in the back of Mrs. Rogers 1st grade class. Haha, I still remember when I was asked to stay seated one day while everyone else made their way out to recess. Mrs. Rogers strolled her tall modest figure all the way ‘cross the classroom and sat right down right next to me…and then gently said…”What were you thinking about when you obviously were not listening to the lesson?” I looked right at her, paused for what might have been thought dramatic effect, but was surely just my little boy confidence…and said to her light blue eyes…”I was thinking about the person I might get to Love one day.” 

Needless to say, I was never again asked to stay after everyone else was excused, eventhough I clearly repeated my academic offense countless times after.

Russian storytelling

Three hermits lived on an island together. Their prayer of intimacy and Love was simple like they were simple. “We are three; you are three; have mercy on us. Amen.” Miracles sometimes happened when they prayed this way.

The bishop, however, hearing about the hermits, decided they needed proper guidance in prayer, and so he went to their small island. After instructing the monks, the bishop set sail for the mainland, pleased to have enlightened the souls of such simple men.

Suddenly, off the stern of the ship he saw a huge ball of light skimming across the ocean. It got closer and closer until he could see that it was the three hermits running on top of the water. Once on board they said to the bishop, “We are sorry, but we have forgotten some of your teaching. Would you please instruct us again?” The bishop shook his head and replied meekly, “Forget everything I have taught you and continue to pray in your old way.”    

Leo Tolstoy