Tomorrow, March 1, is Ash Wednesday, a day of repentance and reflection. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the forty-days before Easter. In counting the days of Lent, Sunday’s are skipped. Accordingly, Lent ends on the Saturday before Easter, April 15.
Traditionally, Lent started as a time of dedication for those wishing to get baptized on Easter. These new disciples would focus on Christ’s teachings and doctrines of the church. Because these disciples would become members of the church, at baptism, the whole congregation took the season of Lent to affirm their praxis.
As a season for penitence, self-denial, study and preparation for Easter, I think Lent can be a great opportunity to focus on Jesus in a way that the normal ebb and flow of our lives do not normally allow. In this light you might want to “give up” or fast from something during Lent.
Lent can serve as a wonderful interruption to the rhythm of life. You might want to use the links provided (see the tool bar "Daily Office Links" on the right of the page) to worship through the Scriptures and prayers on a daily basis—maybe at the same time every day. Even if you come to this discussion late, please feel free to pray through joining in on the experience!
God Bless—Peace,
Dustin
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Ash Wednesday is March 1—the start of Lent on the Church calendar
Hello friends,
Lent is coming so I am going to post a modified version of the daily office on the blog. (I say modified in the attempt to no offend any high church friends who might stop by our discussion and because the form and material will change). In case you forgot or do not know the daily office is part of the liturgy, which is how most Christians (in the world and in history) have expressed worship of/to Jesus.
If you want the material will be available for your prayer or devotional time or just to simulate thought and discussion. In fact it would be great if we had a dialogue about what we like or did not like in the structure or verses or prayers. Feel free to be as “creative” as you want with this material…for example in preparation light a candle as a symbol of your prayer, or create something artistic as a result of the time with Jesus or let us know of how you are being creative and inspired.
Blessings,
Dustin
Lent is coming so I am going to post a modified version of the daily office on the blog. (I say modified in the attempt to no offend any high church friends who might stop by our discussion and because the form and material will change). In case you forgot or do not know the daily office is part of the liturgy, which is how most Christians (in the world and in history) have expressed worship of/to Jesus.
If you want the material will be available for your prayer or devotional time or just to simulate thought and discussion. In fact it would be great if we had a dialogue about what we like or did not like in the structure or verses or prayers. Feel free to be as “creative” as you want with this material…for example in preparation light a candle as a symbol of your prayer, or create something artistic as a result of the time with Jesus or let us know of how you are being creative and inspired.
Blessings,
Dustin
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Reminder to Myself
Jesus/Grace
Emergent/Missional
These are the foundation for our dialogue here…I just wanted to remind myself.
Regarding grace…
I have been thinking through the frailty of our souls. The context of this thought process is the Hebrew (and Greek for that matter) understanding of our Souls. Soul is our life source/breath as opposed to Spirit, which is that which related to God. In this Biblical paradigm only humans have Spirit; however, other animals have soul. No worries at our not being unique only humans received their non-material being from the very breath of God. Look it up Bible scholars if you take issue.
Our soul then is our humanness or human lifeness. (Oh well let me make up words.) Granted soul and Spirit are so intertwined we cannot divide them (see Hebrews I think). Still because Hebrew and Greek have two distinct words for each so I think it is a valuable observation.
So I have been thinking through the frailty of our souls especially as represented in the Psalms. For example in Psalm 103 our soul’s praising of YHWH is steeped in His grace for us even though we are sinful (vs. 3) and sick (vs. 3) and previously dwellers of the pit (vs. 4) i.e., frail. His response to us is no less then a paradox (from our human perspective—because we are frail in our understanding too). To our status in the pit He crowns us with love and compassion. What an unworthy coronation. He also satisfies our desires and renews our youth as the eagle’s.
It is a no brainer but WOW what grace, WOW what a reason for my inmost being to Praise the Lord! Again it is a simple thought that we all know but our all powerful and sovereign and Jesus loves me, a fail human with sin and sickness and…
Emergent/Missional
These are the foundation for our dialogue here…I just wanted to remind myself.
Regarding grace…
I have been thinking through the frailty of our souls. The context of this thought process is the Hebrew (and Greek for that matter) understanding of our Souls. Soul is our life source/breath as opposed to Spirit, which is that which related to God. In this Biblical paradigm only humans have Spirit; however, other animals have soul. No worries at our not being unique only humans received their non-material being from the very breath of God. Look it up Bible scholars if you take issue.
Our soul then is our humanness or human lifeness. (Oh well let me make up words.) Granted soul and Spirit are so intertwined we cannot divide them (see Hebrews I think). Still because Hebrew and Greek have two distinct words for each so I think it is a valuable observation.
So I have been thinking through the frailty of our souls especially as represented in the Psalms. For example in Psalm 103 our soul’s praising of YHWH is steeped in His grace for us even though we are sinful (vs. 3) and sick (vs. 3) and previously dwellers of the pit (vs. 4) i.e., frail. His response to us is no less then a paradox (from our human perspective—because we are frail in our understanding too). To our status in the pit He crowns us with love and compassion. What an unworthy coronation. He also satisfies our desires and renews our youth as the eagle’s.
It is a no brainer but WOW what grace, WOW what a reason for my inmost being to Praise the Lord! Again it is a simple thought that we all know but our all powerful and sovereign and Jesus loves me, a fail human with sin and sickness and…
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Significance
Hello fellow bloggers!
I'm a bit rusty at this, having not posted for awhile, so please forgive me.
I was in discussion with my mentor the other day, and we were discussing something I thought I'd bring to the table here. I recently completed my studies at seminary, and am going through SO many transitions in life right now it just isn't even funny. I asked her to be praying for me as I am feeling slightly as though I have lost some of my significance with my graduating - I'm still nannying, which has HUGE significance, and teaching music lessons, but that is all. I'm not working with youth groups any more, not in the realm of "ministry" at all, for the first time in YEARS. I don't feel insignificant, but feel a loss.
She challenged me that I need to find my significance not in my occupation or what I do, but rather in Christ. Actually, she said that I needed to stop trying to find my significance in things I do and find my significance, definition, and image in the person of Jesus Christ. So here's the thought for blogger discussion - what in the world does that mean and what does it look like? I've heard the whole "identity in Christ" thing, and studied it quite a bit, but significance struck a deeper chord in me than that ever has. Identity is one thing - to me, it's my name, my social security number, things of that nature. But significance - the thing which is bigger than me, longer lasting than me, and which in some odd way justifies my space on this planet and use of it's air. Maybe my definitions are off, maybe I just don't get it yet. Any ideas?
Blessings, Courtney
ps. I appreciate your prayers as I continue to walk the road of health struggles. I have entered the third month of treatment, which means only a little over three months until the surgery. Although we had some bumps in the road at first, we finally found a balance of medications which seem to be working, although we won't really know for sure until they get in me and see. I'm still experiencing some pain, but nothing close to what I was dealing with before we started treatment. Please continue to pray for me these next few months as I deal with the side effects of the medications and focus on strengthening my body and my immune system for surgery in April. Also please continue to pray for me as I struggle with frustration/anger/lack of understanding and faith with the Lord. And if you hear the song "Held" on the radio, think of me. :) Thanks!!
I'm a bit rusty at this, having not posted for awhile, so please forgive me.
I was in discussion with my mentor the other day, and we were discussing something I thought I'd bring to the table here. I recently completed my studies at seminary, and am going through SO many transitions in life right now it just isn't even funny. I asked her to be praying for me as I am feeling slightly as though I have lost some of my significance with my graduating - I'm still nannying, which has HUGE significance, and teaching music lessons, but that is all. I'm not working with youth groups any more, not in the realm of "ministry" at all, for the first time in YEARS. I don't feel insignificant, but feel a loss.
She challenged me that I need to find my significance not in my occupation or what I do, but rather in Christ. Actually, she said that I needed to stop trying to find my significance in things I do and find my significance, definition, and image in the person of Jesus Christ. So here's the thought for blogger discussion - what in the world does that mean and what does it look like? I've heard the whole "identity in Christ" thing, and studied it quite a bit, but significance struck a deeper chord in me than that ever has. Identity is one thing - to me, it's my name, my social security number, things of that nature. But significance - the thing which is bigger than me, longer lasting than me, and which in some odd way justifies my space on this planet and use of it's air. Maybe my definitions are off, maybe I just don't get it yet. Any ideas?
Blessings, Courtney
ps. I appreciate your prayers as I continue to walk the road of health struggles. I have entered the third month of treatment, which means only a little over three months until the surgery. Although we had some bumps in the road at first, we finally found a balance of medications which seem to be working, although we won't really know for sure until they get in me and see. I'm still experiencing some pain, but nothing close to what I was dealing with before we started treatment. Please continue to pray for me these next few months as I deal with the side effects of the medications and focus on strengthening my body and my immune system for surgery in April. Also please continue to pray for me as I struggle with frustration/anger/lack of understanding and faith with the Lord. And if you hear the song "Held" on the radio, think of me. :) Thanks!!
Monday, December 19, 2005
Adoring Jesus
Just a thought to spur discussion... I shared this Crowder song with the senior adult class I've been teaching (by the way they loved it). Oh and for the record the lessons have been various lessons on grace :) !
Only You
Words by David Crowder, Mike Dodson, Jason Solley and Mike Hogan
Music by David Crowder
Take my heart, I lay it down
At the feet of You who’s crowned
And take my life, I’m letting go
I lift it up, to you who’s throned
And I will worship You, Lord
Only You, Lord
And I will bow down before You
Only You, Lord
Take my fret, take my fear
All I have I’m Leaving here
Be all my hopes, be all my dreams
Be all my delights, be my everything
And it’s just You and me here now
Only You and me here now
Only You
Words by David Crowder, Mike Dodson, Jason Solley and Mike Hogan
Music by David Crowder
Take my heart, I lay it down
At the feet of You who’s crowned
And take my life, I’m letting go
I lift it up, to you who’s throned
And I will worship You, Lord
Only You, Lord
And I will bow down before You
Only You, Lord
Take my fret, take my fear
All I have I’m Leaving here
Be all my hopes, be all my dreams
Be all my delights, be my everything
And it’s just You and me here now
Only You and me here now
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