One of the hardest things for most people to do is to establish a daily time for prayer and meditation. Throughout my ministry, this has been a struggle for me as a pastor. I tend to go through times of feast--and times of famine.
If you are reading this blog, that indicates that you are more than likely computer literate. You probably spend more than a few minutes at your computer each day. I would like to suggest that you check out a site called SacredSpace.org. This site is run the the Jesuits in Ireland. Lest you get confused, I am United Methodist. However, when it comes to spirituality and prayer, you can't beat the Jesuits, so I heartily recommend this site.
Sitting in front of your computer, you can, in about 10-15 minutes, work through a time of prayer that will help you examine your thoughts and actions and encourage you to ponder a passage of Scripture to see what God is saying to you.
More than likely, some of those reading this have an i-pod or mp3 player. If you are an on the go type of person, the Irish Jesuits have just started a daily prayer guide in audio format that you can listen to anywhere you might have your i-pod or mp3 player. The site is called Pray-As-You-Go.org at this site you can download and listen to these audio prayer guides. Five new guides are published each week. Best of all, it is FREE! You can support the site with a donation if you so desire, but it's not required.
Check out these prayer aids. I believe your prayer life will get stronger.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
A Fulfilled Life
Matthew 5:17-19
Jesus said to the crowds, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
One of the things that people look for in life is fulfillment. That is an interesting word that has at its root the word fulfill. According to Dictonary.net, fulfill means--. To fill up; to make full or complete. As humans, we want completeness. We want wholeness. We want to know that we have accomplished something with our lives that will make a difference in the long term. We want to be fulfilled and to experience fulfillment.
In the passage from Matthew, Jesus talks about the fact that he has come “…not to abolish, but to fulfil. (the Law)” The Law given to Moses in the Ten Commandments and further expanded by God through Moses, was the basis for the Jewish relationship with God. The Covenant was the deal that God struck with the people that said, basically, “If you obey my laws, I will be your God and bless and protect you.”
The only problem with this scenario is that the people were a stiff necked people that continually broke the Law. They were unable to follow it and so God had to resort to plan B. He had to send his Son, Jesus, the Christ, into the world. His job was not to do away with the Law. Rather, he came to fulfill—to make complete the Law. The Law provided a good basis for relationship with God, the only problem was our ability to keep the Law.
Jesus gave us a completion of the Law. He was able to keep it. He was able to make it complete and full in his life. Through his fulfillment of it, we were offered a new covenant. Through his death, he made the ultimate sacrifice that fulfilled the Law and ushered in a new relationship, not based upon the keeping of commandments, but centered, instead, on the grace of a God that so loved the world, that he was willing and able to give his own son to the world as a sacrifice for the sins of the entire world. This was the fulfillment. God made everything right between us—through Jesus Christ.
If you are not a Christian, I am sure the following paragraphs have many words, terms, and phrases that make no sense to you. If you want to respond to this blog with your questions, I will be more than glad to try and answer them.
Jesus said to the crowds, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
One of the things that people look for in life is fulfillment. That is an interesting word that has at its root the word fulfill. According to Dictonary.net, fulfill means--. To fill up; to make full or complete. As humans, we want completeness. We want wholeness. We want to know that we have accomplished something with our lives that will make a difference in the long term. We want to be fulfilled and to experience fulfillment.
In the passage from Matthew, Jesus talks about the fact that he has come “…not to abolish, but to fulfil. (the Law)” The Law given to Moses in the Ten Commandments and further expanded by God through Moses, was the basis for the Jewish relationship with God. The Covenant was the deal that God struck with the people that said, basically, “If you obey my laws, I will be your God and bless and protect you.”
The only problem with this scenario is that the people were a stiff necked people that continually broke the Law. They were unable to follow it and so God had to resort to plan B. He had to send his Son, Jesus, the Christ, into the world. His job was not to do away with the Law. Rather, he came to fulfill—to make complete the Law. The Law provided a good basis for relationship with God, the only problem was our ability to keep the Law.
Jesus gave us a completion of the Law. He was able to keep it. He was able to make it complete and full in his life. Through his fulfillment of it, we were offered a new covenant. Through his death, he made the ultimate sacrifice that fulfilled the Law and ushered in a new relationship, not based upon the keeping of commandments, but centered, instead, on the grace of a God that so loved the world, that he was willing and able to give his own son to the world as a sacrifice for the sins of the entire world. This was the fulfillment. God made everything right between us—through Jesus Christ.
If you are not a Christian, I am sure the following paragraphs have many words, terms, and phrases that make no sense to you. If you want to respond to this blog with your questions, I will be more than glad to try and answer them.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Deaths in the Church-A Time for Ministry
The last few weeks have been a difficult time for our church family. We have experienced the death of four of our elderly members. Two were aged 97, one aged 92, and the other, I believe was 86. Our church family will miss: Wilda Witt, Evelyn Canterbury, Lotus Reed, and Mary Helen Puckett. At one time each of these women left their mark upon the life of the church. All left their mark upon their families.
Their deaths, however, have shown me the strength and compassion of the church. Three of the deaths were within a week of each other and two of the deceased were buried on the same day. The women of the church, however, made sure that the families were fed a hearty meal. Preparing food on one day for a combined 70 or so people--they showed their love and comapssion by ministering to the families at the time of their loss. That is what a church is about--ministering at the time of need.
I thank the Lord for women's groups that take on such a ministry and for the comfort they provide for the deceased families.
Their deaths, however, have shown me the strength and compassion of the church. Three of the deaths were within a week of each other and two of the deceased were buried on the same day. The women of the church, however, made sure that the families were fed a hearty meal. Preparing food on one day for a combined 70 or so people--they showed their love and comapssion by ministering to the families at the time of their loss. That is what a church is about--ministering at the time of need.
I thank the Lord for women's groups that take on such a ministry and for the comfort they provide for the deceased families.
Dealing with Sickness in the Family
As you can see, it has been a while since my last blog. Several factors have contributed to the delay in my blogging activity. Among them has been the, now past, Lenten/Easter season. This is a busy time for a pastor. Also, personally, this has been a dreadful winter and spring for my family. Our over all health has been awful. As I write this I am being treated for strep throat. If my calculations are correct, this is the 13th episode within my family since January. My son Jacob had so many infections he eventually had to have his tonsils removed. Please keep my family in your prayers. We are surviving, but this continued on slaught of sickness gets to be tiring after a while.
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