?One of the finest of interior disciplines, practiced by those whom we have most reason to admire, is that of a period of deliberate receptivity at or near the beginning of the conscious day. Some who have gone deeply into the life of the Spirit report that they begin the day by saying ?Lord, I […]
Leadership: Asking for Direction
In the book of Joshua, God?s people have a very unfortunate experience of poor spiritual leadership in what the New Living Translation calls ?The Gibeonite Deception? (sounds like the title of an action/thriller to me). Specifically, as Israel was entering into the land God had promised to them through Abraham, they were not to […]
What Do I Really Want?
?It is doubtful if any work of excellence is ever produced without some discouragement and without days when the producer goes on doggedly, not because he likes it, but because he knows that this is the only way in which any work of importance is ever completed.? (Elton Trueblood. The New Man for Our Time. […]
Practical Thoughts on Personal Retreats
Recently, I read a book by one of my favorite historic spiritual directors: Reginald Somerset Ward, Lord and Giver of Life. It?s a collection of retreat talks on the Holy Spirit. I paraphrased some of his practical counsel about fully engaging a personal retreat: The body on retreat Sleep well. Try for eight hours per […]
Living Life at the Pace of Love
When Paul the apostle goes about listing characteristics of love in 1 Corinthians 13, the first word he uses is ?patient.? Love is patient. Love is slow. I remembered again Kosuke Koyama?s book, Three Mile an Hour God. I once posted on my personal blog, quoting him, ?Is Jesus Too Slow?? He was a Japanese […]
Confession: Freedom in Truthtelling
Are People Basically Tools?
Ok, some people are? ?like the able-bodied people who take up handicap parking stalls when my wife is shopping with our special needs boy; ?like any football fan that roots for a team other than my beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers; ?like the people who don?t get the movie The Princess Bride. I?m digressing here. This is […]
