Wednesday, September 30, 2009

There are two ways of spreading light:

To be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.

~ Edith Wharton

Whether is it by reflecting the light of grace in Christ, or by allowing your God-given inner light to shine, we are to be light for the world. "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid," Jesus tells us. So let it shine today in whatever ways God has gifted you to shine.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Dare to love and to be a real friend.

The love you give and receive is a reality that will 

lead you closer and closer to God, 

as well as those whom God has given you to love.

~Henri Nouwen

Jesus, when asked what the greatest commandment is, replied to love God and to love others. He wants us to know that these two love are in fact one love. 

So walk this day awake to the reality that as we love others we are lead closer to God and to others. Extend yourself to give and receive.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Happiness is essentially a state of going somewhere, whole heartedly, without regret or reservation.

~ William Sheldon

And it is the result of trusting the journey Christ calls us to walk. Second thoughts, anxieties, and fears can easily sap our energies and focus. But to give ourselves to our journey whole heartedly (providing that the path we have taken is worthy of us) is indeed a key to happiness.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

The place God calls you is the place where your deep gladness meets the world's needs.

~ Frederick Buechner

What we are gifted to give and what others need is the intersection of grace. Finding these places in life is one of the greatest challenges and blessings of our journey. That place will move over the course of life and with changes in the world. Yet the constant remains: our deep need to share blessings and need of others to be blest.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.

~ Cicero

Often we feel we are entitled to so much, and we are are encouraged always to want more. To appreciate what we have, knowing the we are not owed anything, is to cultivate the gift of gratitude. This gift is the start of happiness, generosity, and joy.

Monday, September 21, 2009

When I was young I was sure of everything;

in a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, 

I was not half so sure of most things as I was before;

at present, I am hardly sure of anything but what God has revealed to me.

~ John Wesley

Surety is elusive. Often we do not know. But to trust in God is to say, "while I may not know, God knows, and that is enough."

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a person on their feet. Blessed is the one who speaks such a word.

~ William Barclay

St. Paul had a companion named Barnabas. The name "Barnabas" means "son of encouragement." We all need companions to encourage us and we need to be those who offer a good word. There is much we can bear so long as we know we are not alone.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened. 

~ Douglas Adams

In the face of such an unfathomable and unknowable universe a good dose of humility is in order. In fact, one of the less appealing faces of the religious is the temptation to be a know-it-all. Standing before the mystery of life without words to explain it is our proper place. We do not know all and we do not need to, but with trust we can celebrate it.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Our background and circumstances have influenced who we are,

but we are responsible for who we become.

We are the responsible for our lives. We are the author of our own feelings. Our background and family is important to understand. And often unless we do understand we are in the dark. But that understanding ought to not be about blaming. As adults we are responsible for our lives and no one else. If we are happy, or content, or loving it is up to us.

Monday, September 14, 2009

If someone you know needs help, don't annoy them by asking if there's anything you can do. Think of something appropriate and do it.

~ Edgar Howe

As someone who has needed some help over the last few weeks, I know that generic offers of help are not that helpful. But when someone does something caring or thoughtful it makes all the difference. 

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Joy is not in things;

it is in us. 

~Richard Wagner

You can't buy it. It does not come from success, or wealth, or achievement. It is not in a pill or bottle. It will not come from having the perfect house, or child, or education.

It is already in you, waiting to be welcomed. Jesus tells us, "the kingdom of God is among you."

Please join us for "The Way of Prayer"

Please Join Us For "The Way of Prayer"

The Way of Prayer is a 10-week group designed to help you expand your understanding of the nature and practice of prayer. Pastor Steve will lead this group that will meet Monday evenings starting in October from 7-9 p.m..

Many Christians grow up with a limited vision of what prayer is and how to pray. The Way of Prayer offers many forms to explore and practice, both individually and as a group. People with different temperaments, spiritual types, and learning styles will each find expressions of prayer that draw them closer to God. We will also learn to integrate body, mind, and spirit in prayer, and to live a more creative rhythm between the inner life and the outward journey of service. 

In this 10-week study, you will explore the nature of prayer and a number of prayer forms. Topics and dates are:

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Said a traveler to one of the disciples, "I have traveled a great distance to listen to the Master,but I find his words quite ordinary."

"Don't listen to his words. Listen to his message."

"How does one do that?"

"Take hold of a sentence that he says. Shake it well till all the words drop off.  What is left will set your heart on fire." 

~ Anthony de Mello, SJ

We can easy get lost in the words and not search for the deeper meanings. So remember that words are signs, they point beyond themselves to something deeper. Today, let that "deeper" set your heart on fire.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

One word frees us of all the weight and pain in life.

That word is love.

~ Sophocles

We often think that being rich, or strong, or beautiful, or smart will save us, will "free us of all the weight and pain in life." But typically all those things teach us to only rely on our own strengths. What deeper spiritual traditions offer us is our essential need to be a part of something bigger than ourselves and be taken up in the concerns of others and our world. Love is the power that makes those larger connections. It offers us a more expansive life and lifts us beyond our own "weight and pain in life."