To those who have gone before me ....

Today and yesterday are opporutnities for the church to specifically remember those who have gone on to their eternal reward, both as martyrs and examples for us to follow.

Thank you, Lord, for those who have sacrificed themselves for the faith, whose blood has made for fertile ground for the growth of the worldwide church.

Book Review

Flirting With Monasticism, by Karen E. Sloan. It is just your typical "Girl meets boy. Boy joins monastic order" story -- Sloan recounts her friendship (stronger feelings on her part) with a man taking orders as a Dominican friar. A protestant, she recounts her introduction to the order, to monks, to Catholocism, etc ... very interesting read. I learned a ton.

The Problem with Protestants

This is a post I made on a thread over at ChristianWriters.Com -- thought it might make a good post here, all by itself.
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That's the problem with Protestantism -- we've been conditioned to believe that the believer who doesn't believe like us is "wrong." Maybe gravely wrong. Every denomination (and non-denominational church) was founded because no other denomination or church was doing it totally "right" (in doctrine or practice or worship style or ... ) -- otherwise our denomination (or non-denominational church) would not have been necessary.

I think that this "everybody else is wrong" mentality cripples our fellowship -- we can't seem to get it in our head that it's OK for other believers to not be like us, and not "get" what we're about, and for us to not "get" them.

If we Christians want to make a mark on this world, we need to give our brothers and sisters who don't believe and practice and express like us the grace to not believe and practice and express like us. Maybe we could even bless them in their different belief and practice and expression. Now that would be a radical expression of love.

From Thomas a Kempis

I don't beleive that life on this plane is promised to be "all good," as the modern slang goes. God's perspective is so much different that ours.
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Jesus has many lovers of His heavenly kingdom, but few bearers of His cross.
He has many seekers of consolation, but few of tribulation.
He finds many companions at His feasting, but few at His fasting.
All desire to rejoice in Him; few are willing to endure anything for Him.
Many follow Jesus as far as the breaking of His bread, but few to the drinking of the cup of His passion.
Many reverence His miracles, but few will follow the shame of His cross.
Many love Jesus as long as no adversaries befall them.
Many praise and bless Him so long as they receive some consolation from Him.
But if Jesus hides Himself and leaves them but for a brief time, they begin to complain or become overly despondent in mind.

A trinitarian prayer

The American evangelical movement is so new, we forget about the controversies of the early church. We take the doctrine of the Trinity for granted, but it was extremely controversial for a large chunk of our history. I remember this whenever I run across an ancient prayer that is specifically trintarian -- these are theological statements as they are petitions. This lovely one comes from our brothers and sisters, the Syrian Orthodox:
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Glory to the Father, who has woven garments of glory for the resurrection.
Worship to the Son, who was clothed in them at his rising.
Thanksgiving to the Spirit, who keeps them for all the Saints.
One nature in three, to him be praise.

From Jean-Pierre de Caussade

This is an interesting take on God's sovereignty. I am not sure that I could say these words myself, but I am intruged by them.

"All that happens to me becomes bread to nourish me, soap to cleanse me, fire to purify me, a chisel to carve heavenly features on me. Everything is a channel of grace for my needs. The very thing I sought everywhere else seeks me incessantly, and given itself to me by means of all created things."

"within your wounds hide me"

From Brother Roger of Taize:

Soul of Christ, sanctify me,
Body of Christ, save me,
Blood of Christ, refresh me,
Water from the side of Christ, wash me,
Passion of Christ, strengthen me,
O good Jesus, hear me,
Within your wounds, hide me,
Let me never be separated from you,
From the powers of darkness defend me,
In the hour of my death call me,
And bid me come with you,
That with your saints I may praise you
>For ever and ever.

Book Review

Night Light, by Terri Blackstock.

{figure it's about to time to post this review, seeing as how book 3 is out!}

The second novel in the Restoration series, this one picks up right where Last Light left off. The world has been struck by an electro-magnetic pulse, which has made anything with computer-related break down -- which effects everything from modern automobiles, telephones, the electric grid, water treatment facilities . . . everyone is forced to adapt to the new living conditions.

The series focuses on the Branning family of Georgia, and this book focuses on their decision to being into their home four siblings whose mother has either abandoned them or been kidnapped or killed . . . at the start of the novel, we don't know.

Well-written, pretty fast-paced, good characterization, not a lot of surprises. Blackstock started her writing in the romance field, and although there are a few spots where the novel becomes a little too "girlie" for me, it is an ultimately satisfying read.

Grace & Mercy

It is important to keep these two theological concepts distinct, because they represent two separate events. Mercy is the removal of a negative consequence that was deserved. In terms of eternity, this is the freedom from Hell. But that does not automatically mean the provision of Paradise. We tend to think that to be saved from Hell automatically means eternity in God's presence, but I don't think it would have to be that way.

Compared to an eternity in torment, annihilation would be a preferred result, and that would be Mercy that is worthy of praise. But God has gone so far beyond Mercy, beyond the elimination of our deserved eternal punishment.

Grace is the recieving of an undeserved good thing. This is relationship with God, this is an eternity in His presence on a New Earth, designed for that purpose. This is a separate and distinct act of God, a separate act worthy of praise and thankfulness.

The great dance of God

I do not know who to credit this to, but I found this written on a scrap of paper in my pack of stuff from the Cornerstone festival:

The Trinity is the great dance of God, which we have been invited to participate in. All of life flows from a relationship .... a relationship holds the entire universe together.