I went to Spring Training with my dad and brother this week to watch a little baseball in the warm Arizona sunshine. At one of the games I sat next to a Dodger fan (I've been a life-long Willie Mays/Giants fan...not exactly the coziest of seatmates). Well, he turned out to be an interesting guy. He played college ball and then made it all the way to the Triple A level. He had a real respect for the men playing the game that day because, as a former minor leaguer himself, he said that there are days that you just don't feel like playing the game. These guys, he said, paid the price and made it. They persevered.
Is there any "field" in life where perseverance isn't important? It sure is for anyone following Jesus Christ. I've been surprised at how many times I felt like packing it in and then, maybe a day or week later, something great happened because I kept the faith. I kept going. Nothing fancy or very inspiritional...just one foot in front of the other. Like Paul said, "suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope." I like character and hope a lot. But they don't come without persevering through hard times. Keep going, friend.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
the language of prayer
Hello,
I read recently that learning how to pray should be like learning a new language--you immerse yourself in the language of prayer until it becomes of a part of you. And the place to immerse yourself in the language of prayer is in the book of Psalms. Psalms has been believers' prayer/worship book for millenia.
That's been true for me. In college I had a religion professor who said we ought to read the Old Testament as well as the New Testament, and that a good place to start was in the Psalms. So I started reading Psalms. A funny thing happened: I started praising God more (because it happens all the time in Psalms), and my vision of God got bigger (because God is really big in Psalms). And it's wasn't like I sat under some theologian who analyzed the structure of Psalms for me or explained they're meaning. No, I just absorbed these truths into the warp and woof of my being like a child learning the word for "ball" or "dog" from mom and dad after months of immersion in their home.
Why not try it? A Psalm a day, year after year, until you pick up the language of prayer/worship? No sterile classroom environment or boring lecture, but a steady diet of the language of prayer in the comfort of your own home (or office or commuter van,etc.). Blessings.
Pastor Rick
I read recently that learning how to pray should be like learning a new language--you immerse yourself in the language of prayer until it becomes of a part of you. And the place to immerse yourself in the language of prayer is in the book of Psalms. Psalms has been believers' prayer/worship book for millenia.
That's been true for me. In college I had a religion professor who said we ought to read the Old Testament as well as the New Testament, and that a good place to start was in the Psalms. So I started reading Psalms. A funny thing happened: I started praising God more (because it happens all the time in Psalms), and my vision of God got bigger (because God is really big in Psalms). And it's wasn't like I sat under some theologian who analyzed the structure of Psalms for me or explained they're meaning. No, I just absorbed these truths into the warp and woof of my being like a child learning the word for "ball" or "dog" from mom and dad after months of immersion in their home.
Why not try it? A Psalm a day, year after year, until you pick up the language of prayer/worship? No sterile classroom environment or boring lecture, but a steady diet of the language of prayer in the comfort of your own home (or office or commuter van,etc.). Blessings.
Pastor Rick
Friday, February 18, 2011
Aging
Good Morning,
I've been thinking about "aging"recently. Since we all do it (unless we die first), it's probably something we think about. In the 4th century a.d. a bishop named Athanasius theorized that the aging process could be slowed by fasting (not eating for a period of time). He believed that fasting helped to put the soul in control of the body, which in turn helped to prevent harmful pracitices to the body. His case study was Saint Anthony who fasted regularly and then lived to be 105. Now even science is beginning to think the same thing. So, besides the spiritual benefits of fasting, it may have some longevity benefits.
I think another good way to age well is to find wonder in the world all around us. One of my favorite "aging examples" is John Adams, 2nd President of the U.S. John Adams and his wife Abigail had a wonderful marriage. When Abigail died some thought John would join her soon in the grave. But he didn't. He lived many years beyond Abigail's death and developed a keen sense of wonder in the simplest things. He wrote this about something as ordinary as grammar:
"I never delighted much in contemplating commas and colons, or in spelling or measuring syllables; but now...if I attempt to look at these little objects, I find my imagination, in spite of all my exertions, roaming in the Milky Way, among the nebulae, those mighty orbs, and stupendous orbits of suns, planets, satellites, and comets, which compose the incomprehensible universe; and if I do not sink into nothing in my own estimation, I feel an irresistible impulse to fall on my knees, in adoration of the power that moves, the wisom that directs, and the benevolence that sanctifies this wonderful whole." (John Adams, by David McCullough, p. 630).
All that from a sentence! Here's a thought: How about, instead of merely expanding our porfolio of experiences in the big, wide world, how about lifting the lid on the wonder that's in the world in the spaces we currently occupy? That's doable, and we don't need a hefty retirement package to fund it. Just a thought.
I've been thinking about "aging"recently. Since we all do it (unless we die first), it's probably something we think about. In the 4th century a.d. a bishop named Athanasius theorized that the aging process could be slowed by fasting (not eating for a period of time). He believed that fasting helped to put the soul in control of the body, which in turn helped to prevent harmful pracitices to the body. His case study was Saint Anthony who fasted regularly and then lived to be 105. Now even science is beginning to think the same thing. So, besides the spiritual benefits of fasting, it may have some longevity benefits.
I think another good way to age well is to find wonder in the world all around us. One of my favorite "aging examples" is John Adams, 2nd President of the U.S. John Adams and his wife Abigail had a wonderful marriage. When Abigail died some thought John would join her soon in the grave. But he didn't. He lived many years beyond Abigail's death and developed a keen sense of wonder in the simplest things. He wrote this about something as ordinary as grammar:
"I never delighted much in contemplating commas and colons, or in spelling or measuring syllables; but now...if I attempt to look at these little objects, I find my imagination, in spite of all my exertions, roaming in the Milky Way, among the nebulae, those mighty orbs, and stupendous orbits of suns, planets, satellites, and comets, which compose the incomprehensible universe; and if I do not sink into nothing in my own estimation, I feel an irresistible impulse to fall on my knees, in adoration of the power that moves, the wisom that directs, and the benevolence that sanctifies this wonderful whole." (John Adams, by David McCullough, p. 630).
All that from a sentence! Here's a thought: How about, instead of merely expanding our porfolio of experiences in the big, wide world, how about lifting the lid on the wonder that's in the world in the spaces we currently occupy? That's doable, and we don't need a hefty retirement package to fund it. Just a thought.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Bible reading
Hi virtual reader,
I recently read through the Bible in a short period of time ( a little more than a book a day). It struck me, esp. in Genesis, how it read like the story of family. It's a story, an interesting one, and it's written in plain, direct, understated language. It's not like reading about mythological gods who are more like humans with super-sized apetites. Reading it in large chunks helped me appreciate the drama, with God and this one particular family at the center of the action.
I recently read through the Bible in a short period of time ( a little more than a book a day). It struck me, esp. in Genesis, how it read like the story of family. It's a story, an interesting one, and it's written in plain, direct, understated language. It's not like reading about mythological gods who are more like humans with super-sized apetites. Reading it in large chunks helped me appreciate the drama, with God and this one particular family at the center of the action.
Welcome To My Blog Church!!!
Hey Church,
I wanted to start a blog for you to see my thoughts and communicate to you things coming up. Encourage you to follow me so you get all the updates!
Pastor Rick
I wanted to start a blog for you to see my thoughts and communicate to you things coming up. Encourage you to follow me so you get all the updates!
Pastor Rick
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