The Examen

This ancient spiritual discipline helps us reflect on God’s movement and presence in our lives.  It is a daily process of examining our behavior and God’s actions in our life. 

• Review your day with gratitude.  Examen the day, hour by hour, thanking God for each task He gave you and each person He allowed you to encounter.
• Ask God to help you see His presence in the confusion of your day.  Ask Him, “what were you trying to teach me?”
• Review the feelings that surface as you replay your day.  Allow both positive and negative thoughts and feelings to guide your prayer. 
• Finally, as look toward tomorrow, what feelings do you have about the new day?  What is God calling you to be or do tomorrow?
• Whatever you discover, again, use it as a guide for prayer. 

Continue to ask yourself, ‘When did I notice God during this time?  When did I feel God’s presence or God’s absence?’

A Prayer For Those In Ministry

One of my favorite prayers is by Archbishop Oscar Romero.

It helps, now and then, to step back,

and take the long view.

The Kingdom of Heaven is not only beyond our efforts,

it is even beyond our vision. 

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction

of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.

Nothing we do is complete,

which is another way of saying

That the Kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said.

No prayer fully expresses our faith.

No confession brings perfection.

No pastoral visit brings wholeness.

No program accomplishes the Church’s mission.

No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.

We will plant the seeds that one day will grow,

We water seeds already planted.

knowing that they hold future promise.

We lay foundations

that will need further development.

We provide yeast that produces effects

far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything,

and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.

This enables us to do something,

and to do it very well.

It may be incomplete,

but everything is a beginning,

a step along the way,

an opportunity for the Lord’s grace

to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results,

But that is the difference between the master builder

and the worker.

We are the workers, not master builders,

ministers, not messiahs.

We are prophets of a future of our own.

May that future be filled with

grace, peace, and hope.

Amen.

Silence

“Without the practice of silence….spiritual disciplines will become objects we employ in an attempt to produce our own transformation or in an attempt to manipulate God to bring about the changes we have decided are needed, or in an attempt to impress (and thereby control) others with our spirituality.  The practice of silence is the radical reversal of our cultural tendencies.  Silence is bringing ourselves to a point of relinquishing to God our control of our relationship with God.  Silence is a reversal of the whole possessing, controlling, grasping dynamic of trying to maintain control of our own existence.  Silence is the inner act of” letting it go.” 

Through prayer “God will gradually awaken us to the multiple layers of controlling, grasping ‘noise’ in our lives: the defensive postures by which we justify our control of people and circumstances; the attack dynamics by which we extend and maintain our possession and control of others and our world; the indulgent habits by which we grasp things and others for ourselves; the manipulative practices by which we inflict our will on the world; and especially the ways in which we attempt to use God to support and justify these structures.”

(Robert Mulholland, “Invitation To A Journey,”  InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois, 1993, pp. 136-137)

God's Imperfect Disciples

Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossiper, Martha was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old, and Lazarus was dead.... Now, what's YOUR excuse? Can God use you or not? - ~~~ God doesn't call the qualified.  He qualifies the CALLED.  I know --- I am one of them.

Forgiveness & Reconciliation

Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa wrote in his book, "There Is No Future Without Forgivene," that as the citizens of South Africa dealt with the atrocities of apartheid and sought to rebuild trust, they decided to avoid two things:  1) A “Nuremberg Trial approach” which seeks to establish the guilty party.  That works when there is an outside victor.  But in a civil war there is no outside victor and few are without guilt.  2)  "Community Amnesia" which says, "Well it's all over now." or "Now that they are gone the problem is over." as if nothing ever happened and the problem is swept under the rug.  Tutu says that unless issues are faced and reconciliation takes place, there is no hope, because the future will always be muddied by the pain of the past. 

I so often see this kind of corporate pain at work in congregations.  A conflict arises, which may trigger a lot of emotion.  There is already wounding and conflict present under the surface in the congregation, which goes back many years.  Like the Hatfields and McCoys, the primary players are long gone and no one remembers the core issue or who was involved.  Then a current crisis triggers a lot of anger and anxiety because the conflict was not dealt with then, and it continues to fester now.  If it is not faced in the present, it will continue consume the energy and spirit of the congregation.  Conflict avoidance is only a temporary fix and will never bring the peace a congregation desires.

Tutu says that a hopeful future belongs to those who can take the following steps:

+  Listen to hear each other's pain.

+  Speak the issues that divide.

+  Confess and forgive

+  Build trust through a plan of action

None of these things can happen under our own power, but Christ, our Lord, promises that “where two or three are gathered in His name, He is in the midst of them” to give them the power to care, to love, and to forgive.  Concerted prayer, honesty, and a willingness to make amends, by the power of the Holy spirit, can the set the congregation on the road to recovery. 

Remembering Stones

When the Israelites passed through the waters of the Jordan on dry ground, God instructed one man from each of the 12 tribes to pick up a stone from the river bottom.  Whenever they set up camp in the Promised Land, they were told to construct an altar with those stones, which would serve as “….a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”  (Joshua 4:7).   Joshua explained to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’  Tell the….. The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what He had done to the Red Sea when He dried it up before us until we had crossed over.  He did this so that all the people of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”  (Joshua4:21-24) 

God knew they would quickly forget what He had done for them and that they would need a tangible reminder of how He set them free from Egypt, cared for them in the desert, and gave them a land of their own.  Those 12 stones would serve as a constant reminder for generations to come.

Like Israel we need reminders of God’s miracles in our lives.  On our kitchen counter we have a wooden bowl that I turned on my lathe.  It is filled with stones from many places.  Each one has a story that is important to me – one is from Masada, another from Wittenberg, yet another from a mine at Holden Village, and at least a dozen more.  For me stones of remembering more importantly include the reading of Scripture, a time of worship, a faith sharing moment, the cross that hangs in every room of our house, my participation in the Lord’s Supper, and so many others .  How do you remember God’s goodness and grace in your life?  How do you pass on the faith and help others remember?  What are your remembering stones? 

The Blessing

When my sons were young, a friend of mine encouraged me to “bless” them.  I really did not understand what he was talking about, so he referred me to “The Blessing” by John Trent and Gary Smalley.  In it they explain how the biblical gift of "the blessing" is the key to a healthy self-worth and emotional well-being.  All of us need to be blessed with unconditional love and approval that comes from a healthy relationship with our parents.

“The Blessing” outlines that in Biblical times a father’s blessing included five ingredients: meaningful touch, a spoken message, attaching high value, picturing a special future, and an active commitment.  I made a commitment to bless my sons.  What I discovered is that the blessing was powerful and need not be a one-time event.  I continued to “bless” my sons with intentional, regular, positive “affirmations” of who they are, not only what they did.  This idea of a blessing soon extended to others.  My intention became to bless or affirm those in my life at least once each day.  Then on special occasions, like birthdays or anniversaries, everyone at the table would bless the one we were honoring, each telling them three things we appreciate about them.  The blessing also became a regular part of our staff meetings at church, as each of us affirmed the other members of the team. 

God promised Abraham that He would bless him so that he might be a blessing.  I have learned that God’s blessings are intended to flow through me to others and that giving a blessing blesses both the giver and receiver.

Wind of the Spirit

John DeVries, founder of Mission India, provides a wonderful analogy of why the church in America is struggling in his book, “Why Pray?”  “The western church (that’s us) may be compared to a little boy trying to fly a kite on a windless day.  He runs furiously up and down the sidewalk, pulling his little kite behind him, and as long as he runs, the kite flies.  The moment the little fellow stops, the kite plunges to the ground.  His problem?  The wind isn’t blowing.  The Western church, with its members burned out from endless programs, seminars, classes, committee meetings, planning sessions, and organizational flow chars, is much like that boy.  We are too often trying to carry the church and its programs by our own efforts.  The wind of the Spirit is not blowing.  What the church desperately needs is a new wind of the Spirit; but when the Spirit comes, we must not stop working or consider our work less important.  The Spirit fills our works and lifts it up, far beyond the world of human expectations and limitations.” 

(“Why Pray?” available from Mission India: books@missionindia.com, 877/644-6342, Mission India, PO Box 141312, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.) 

Spiritual Formation

“Spiritual formation is a process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others.” (Robert Mulholland)

We are created by God as spiritual beings, able to connect to Him, others, and our world.  Thus spirituality is not an  ‘add on, ‘ but the very essence of our being. Mulholland’s definition of spiritual formation helps us to understand four things about who we are and our journey with Jesus.

1) The Christian life is a journey or “process” of spiritual shaping.  It is lived out one day at a time and goes against the grain of our instant gratification culture.  Spiritual growth is a continuous and sometimes very difficult process.  It is an intentional commitment to a lifelong process of growth toward wholeness in Jesus.
2) We are not in control of our spiritual journey, but we are “being conformed.”  Our primal need to “be like God” causes us to seek the right technique or quick fix to find wholeness.  Yet, there is nothing we can do to transform ourselves into people who love and serve as Jesus did except to make ourselves available to God so that He can transform our lives.  Thus, we are invited to yield ourselves to God and discover where He will take us.
3) it is the “image of Christ” that heals, transforms, and brings us to the wholeness God intended for us and His world.  By His Spirit we are “changed into the likeness of Christ.” (2 Cor. 3:18)  As beloved sons and daughters of God we die to self and are made “fully human” and a reflection of Jesus in our world.
4) we are “conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others.”  Jesus was a man for others.  He came to “serve and not be served.”  He reminded us that the “love for neighbor” is the very essence of the Christian life.  On our own we are incapable of being all that God wants us to be.  But when the Spirit fills us we can become Jesus to those who are lost and hunger to be loved by Him.

How are you allowing God to conform your life to the image of Christ? How are you letting others see Jesus in you?

“Grow up in every way into Jesus….to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”  (Ephesians 4:13 & 15) (adapted from Robert Mulholland, “Invitation To A Journey”)

Spiritual Direction

Many of God's people are rediscovering the usefulness of meeting monthly with a "Spiritual Director," companion, or guide.  Spiritual Directors help us discern the activity of God in our lives.  They ask us, 'How is God present in your life and what is God saying to you?'  It can be both challenging and exciting to enter into such a relationship.  This is an opportunity to explore our inner life, deal with our "issues," be held accountable for our spiritual journey, and learn to be more honest with ourselves, others, and God.  

Spiritual direction is not psychotherapy, nor is it pastoral counseling, although at times it may feel like a counseling.  The ultimate goal of spiritual direction is to relate more consciously and respond more fully to God, who is always calling us into His presence and to renewed living.    

How do you find such a companion?  Begin by praying that God would lead you to the person He has in mind for you.  While Spiritual Directors are found in many Christian denominations, including the Lutheran church, the tradition and training has been most carefully preserved in the Roman Catholic (e.g. Jesuit, Benedictine, Franciscan Orders) and the Episcopalian Churches.  Therefore, the search for a spiritual director may begin at a diocese office or retreat center.  A partial listing can be found at www.sdiworld.org (Spiritual Directors International). 

Questions you may want to ask as you search for your Spiritual Director include:

  

•  Do I prefer a Catholic, Protestant, or Lutheran?

• Would a male or female director be best at this point in my spiritual journey? 
• Do I prefer an ordained or a layperson?
• What training and experience do those that I am considering have?
• Am I willing to commit to this spiritual discipline?

Then interview those you are considering, asking them about their own prayer lives.  Are they in spiritual direction themselves?  People cannot give to others what they are not doing for themselves.  It is important to find someone you can trust and respect, who will keep confidentiality, who will encourage and affirm you and yet be able to ask the hard questions.  In short, take your time to find a "good match."  Make your search prayerfully.

Once you feel comfortable that God has led you to your Spiritual Director, then covenant with him or her:

• How often will you meet?  Normally this involves one hour month.
• Is there a fee?  Typically, this is in the form of a contribution to their ministry ($30-50 per session) or retreat center.

• How long will the relationships continue?  It is useful to begin with a commitment of two or three months to "test the relationship" and then to make a longer-term commitment.  Remember that we aren't coming to solve our problems and then leave.  Discerning God's call and paying attention to our spiritual journey is a life-long process.  In other words, the relationship will continue as long as both people desire it.  It is helpful to reevaluate the relationship on an annual basis.

Spiritual direction is a “covenantal” relationship.  The director commits to be fully "present" for the other person during their sessions, to pray regularly for them, and to be faithful to their own spiritual journey.  The one seeking direction commits to a faithful prayer life, to an awareness of God's presence in their lives and the issues that need to be brought to the sessions, and to trust that God is at work in the process of direction.   Direction is best begun in a time of peace and stability, rather than when our lives are falling apart.

Through the gift of spiritual direction a person can become more centered in God, energized for service, and more attentive to God's working in and through their lives.

Change Yourself First

The following words were written on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop (1100 A.D.) in the Crypts of Westminster Abbey:

"When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world.  As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.  But it, too , seemed immovable.  As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.  And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realized: If I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family.  From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world."

Your task....to build a better world,"

God said,  I answered, "How....?"

This world is such a large vast place,

So complicated now.

And I so small and useless am,

There's nothing I can do.

But God in all His wisdom said,

"Just build a better YOU!"

(Dorothy R. Jones)

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, 

 that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."  

(Romans 12:2, ESV)

Lord's Prayer Meditation

(Luke 11:1-13 & Matthew 6:5-13 with explanations from Luther’s Catechism and reflective questions)

INTRODUCTION -- Our FATHER who art in heaven.

With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.

What does it mean to us that we can address God as “Father” (Abba-papa)?

1 -  Hallowed be Thy NAME.  (The Father’s Character)

God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes the name of God among us. Protect us from this, heavenly Father!

At Jesus’ time, a name was more than a label, but was descriptive of a person’s character.  What is your favorite name for God and why?  How do you “dishonor” His name … “glorify” His name?

2  -- Thy KINGDOM come.  (The Father’s activity)
God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.  (John 18:36; 3:3; Luke 10:1-12; 17:20-21; Mark 12:28-34)

What does the “Kingdom of God” mean to you and to your ministry?  How does God want to use you?

3 -- THY WILL be done on earth as it is in heaven.

God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will.

How do we know (discern) God’s will for us?   Are you willing to let go of “your will” and live in God’s will?

4 -- Give us this day our daily BREAD. (The Father’s provision)

Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.  (Matthew 6:24-34)

How does God take care of you?  Do you live in gratitude each day?   In what areas of your life do you find a hard time trusting and depending on  God?

5 -- And FORGIVE us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.   (The Father’s Forgiveness)

We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them. We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.

Our primary need in our spiritual journey is forgiveness.  Do you agree?  Who in your life has forgiven you?  Is their anyone you refuse to forgive?  What does resentment do to you?

6 -- And lead us not into TEMPTATION.  (The Father’s Protection)         

(“Do not bring us to the time of trial” NRSV)

God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.

What in your life tempts you?  What do you need deliverance from?

7 -- But DELIVER us from evil. (some say “the evil one”)

We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.

Doxology  (I Chronicles 29:11-13) -- For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

This means that I should be certain that these petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven, and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us. Amen, amen means “yes, yes, it shall be so.”

Why do we add this doxology to our Lord’s words?  How might this help us in our prayer?

Life Is A Journey

The Christian Life is a journey with Jesus.  We are reminded of the journeys from Eden, Ur, Egypt, Babylon, and the tomb.  The journey is about being blessed so that we might be a blessing, being loved so that we might love.  There are people who touch our lives along the way, even as we influence the lives of others.  We are called to be “followers of The Way”, as the early Christians were called.  Each day as we “go about our way,” we are called to “be disciples, who make disciples.”  The following two quotes have encouraged me along my way with Jesus.

THIS LIFE, therefore

is not righteousness

but growth in righteousness,

not health but healing,

not being but becoming

not rest but exercise.

We are not yet what we shall be

but we are growing toward it.

The process is not yet finished

but is going on,

this is not the end

but it is the road.

All does not yet gleam in glory

but all is being purified.  (Martin Luther)

THE END OF THE ROAD IS BUT A BEND IN THE ROAD

When we feel we have nothing left to give and we are sure that the "song has ended"

When our day seems over and the shadows fall and the darkness of night has descended

Where do we go to find the strength to keep on trying?

Where can we find the hand that will dry the tears that the heart is crying?

There's but one place to go -- and that is to God and, dropping all pretense and pride

We can pour out our problems without restraint and gain strength with Him at our side

And together we stand at life's crossroads and view what we think is the end

But God has a much bigger vision and He tells us it's ONLY A BEND

For the road goes on and is smoother, and the "pause in the song" is a "rest"

And the part that's unsung and unfinished is the sweetest and richest and best

So rest and relax and grow stronger, LET GO  and LET GOD share your load

Your work is not finished ended, you've just come to a "BEND IN THE ROAD."    

Author unknown.