Ministry in Motion

  Being For Something - Not Just Against Something, a Sunday Thought Author Sarah Bessey names: the need to be “for” something good, not merely “against” what is wrong. Imagining and contending for what you hope for in this world is one of the hardest and kindest paths I’ve discovered out here. Don’t forget to dream of what could be possible. And don’t forget to live into those hopes with faithfulness. In the midst of all this, don’t forget to imagine something better. Have ideas. In the Apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy’s he put it this way : Stay away from foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they grow into quarrels. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, a good teacher, and patient. The Lord’s servant must gently teach those who disagree. Then maybe God will let them change their minds so they can accept the truth. And they may wake up and escape from the trap of the devil, who catches them to do what he wants.  2 Timothy 2...

Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. Fire is a wonderful picture of the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is like a fire in at least three ways: He brings God’s presence, God’s passion, and God’s purity. The Holy Spirit is the presence of God as He indwells the heart of the believer. I'm drawn to the story in the Book of Acts (The acts of the Holy Spirit):  When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them... I like what Luke Powery wrote: "At Pentecost, each body and ethnicity is affirmed as sacred and of worth, a human being loved by God. No human voice or body is denied the presence and fire of God."...

  But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay,  and You our potter;  and all we are the work of Your hand   ~  I saiah 64:8 Because clay can be both pliable and permanent, it has been used for everything from writing to brick-making, from cave drawing to cooking vessels.   Every culture has left its mark in some form of clay. And the symbolic clay that you are holding today carries the whole story of creation. When was the last time you held a lump of clay in the palm of your hand? Consider this contemplative practice :   Find a comfortable place to sit, hold your clay cupped in your hands.   As you breathe in, notice the ease and naturalness of your breath.  As you inhale and exhale, try your very best to let go of anything you do not need in order to be present — be here and now.  With each gentle breath, in and out, let your eyes close or go soft.   Let your mind rest in the clay. Close your eyes if that makes you comfor...

"W e shall not cease from exploration / And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time.” —T. S. Eliot, Four Quartets   Richard Rohr wrote recently: “In the metaphor of life as a journey, I think it’s finally about coming back home to where we started.” Reading these thoughts stirred me to thinking about my personal story, which is not highly publicized, well known or particularly noteworthy to anyone but me. But it’s mine. I own it now and for all generations to come or as long as I’m remembered.   Reading and rereading Rohr’s brief quote concerning coming back home, I’m given to and almost overwhelmed by pause: the beginning beauty and simplicity of my life’s genesis. Not necessarily my family of origin, but my ideals, my expectations, my explorations. Beautiful maybe sometimes illusive and slippery concepts like: equality, justice, life, playfulness, curiosity, friendship, hugs and smiles.   If life is a jo...

Author Kaitlin Curtice writes :   “I believe some of the most powerful places on earth are the rocking chairs on front porches, the benches nestled around dinner tables, the stones set up around firepits … They are the places where we tell stories … and decide how much kindness we will show ourselves and one another.” Why kindness matters.  Kindness is about showing up in the world with compassion and acting for the greater good of all. While being  nice   is about being polite, pleasant, and agreeable and doing what we think we should,   kindness   goes a step beyond.  Kind humans know that life is hard, messy, and complex. Yet they understand that people are doing their best with the tools, resources, and experience they carry. Charles Glassman captured this by saying, “Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.”  Many people view kindness as a weakness, but it's quite the opposite. It is a sign of strength. It is moving from m...

According to the Bible, Peter was released from prison by an angel of the Lord after the night before his trial, as described in Acts 12:3–19.  The story goes that while sleeping between two soldiers, Peter was awakened by an angel who struck him on the side and said, "Arise quickly!"  Peter's chains fell off , and the angel told him to put on his clothes and sandals, and follow him out of prison.  The angel led Peter through the first and second guards, and then to the iron gate to the city, where it opened by itself. After walking the length of one street, the angel left…. Liberation.  The gospel is a message of freedom and liberation — the ministry of Jesus was that of liberating captives.  As followers of Faith, our liberation only comes from the redemptive work of Christ. But we have a part in our faith walk too. Like freeing ourselves from negative thoughts, emotions, habits, and behaviors that can be constricting and limiting. It's about taking ...

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Consider this idea credited to Albert Einstein:   ‘that no problem can be solved by the same consciousness that created it.’  This is so brilliant! It makes the case for contemplation being a part of my faith journey almost better than anything.   Richard Rohr wrote: “…I don’t believe I’m overstating it when I say that only the contemplative mind can help bring forward the new consciousness needed to awaken a more loving, just, and sustainable world. We need a practice that touches our unconscious conditioning where all our wounds and defense mechanisms lie. That’s the only way we can be changed at any significant or lasting level…” Holy Spirit, the promised comforter,  continue to be with us,  changing our hearts our minds and our ways,  conforming us to the image of Christ,  Amen… Pkes     MinM

We’ve come to understand the importance of practice in sports, in music, art, in other disciplines even in any successful business. But for some reason most of us do not see the need for it in the world of spirituality. Yet it’s probably more important there than in any other area.  As we sojourn towards the kingdom to come, let’s agree to ‘not get it right’ but to enjoy and learn from the journey…  Pkes       MinM