Sacred Companions: Part VI

You may be noticing that my list of shareable quotes has been getting shorter. The reason for this has zero relationship with the relevance of the progressing chapters. In fact, this book is making me consider what role I may have in my own person spiritual direction as well as what role I may play in spiritual direction in others' lives. The majority of the information in recent chapters has become experiential examples which has been so helpful, but not applicable unless shared as a whole. If I retyped entire examples (and thereby entire chapters) into my blog, David Benner might not appreciate that too much. Instead, I will recommend the book (again) and leave you with two simple questions seen in this chapter.

Chapter 6: A Portrait of the Process

What is happening in your prayer life? 

What do you think God is asking you at present?

*If you have ever read this book, please feel free to leave your favorite quotes as comments! I would love to see what spoke to you in each of the chapters.

Sacred Companions: Part V

I couldn't wait to get to the end of this chapter after the allusion in the beginning to a section on dreams. I am so interested in and fascinated by dreams. If you have ever read a specifically helpful book on dreams (interpretation, application, etc.), please recommend it!

Chapter 5: Soul Attunement

"Some people have great difficulty moving from their ideas of God to their experiences." (p. 109)

"Biblical revelation aids our attunement to God by helping us encounter the Lord God of heaven and earth, not simply the god of our imagination, childhood experience or previous religious instruction." (p 117)

"Too easily we offer God obedience that is not a heart response, merely a behavioral one. Too easily fear, guilt or a desire to manipulate God can motivate obedience." (p. 121)

On p. 118, I was thrilled to learn a helpful dream response. If you are a fellow "dreamer" please feel free to use this and please share your experience!

"The most basic dream work exercise:"
T Title - give the dream a title
T Theme - note its overall theme
A Affect - note the dominant emotions in the dream and now as you prayerfully reflect on it
Q Question - note the potential questions the dream poses for you

For a full example of this dream exercise, read this chapter! If you are interested in using this formula to evaluate your dreams, keep a journal by your bed and record your dream as soon as possible. As I mentioned before, I am fascinated by dreams. David purposes in this chapter, "Dreams are most useful in spiritual growth when we prayerfully listen to them rather than seek to interpret them." I am hoping to learn to do this as well. Another helpful suggestion David gives in this chapter is to pray about your dreams - something I have honestly never thought to do. I am rejuvenated by the possibility of seeing God in my dreams! May it be so, and may I recognize!

 *If you have ever read this book, please feel free to leave your favorite quotes as comments! I would love to see what spoke to you in each of the chapters.

Reactions and Ben Laden

I woke up this morning to the news of Osama Bin Laden’s death, and before I saw the celebrations at the White House, before I opened Facebook, I found myself with a mix of emotions.

On one hand I feel the weight of President Obama’s words: “Justice has been done.” Throughout history there have been world leaders who have chosen evil, and justice was/is deserved. Moreover, as Christians we feel emboldened in justice oriented actions when atrocities against humanity are great. In Psalm 33:5 we hear: “The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.” To some degree, because God is love, God is also just. In addition, my theology instructs my heart that God gives the power of securing justice in this world to the created. And so, I hear, “Justice has been done” and I feel good about the just results.

On the other hand, in scripture justice is anything but a self-edifying endeavor. The prophet Amos speaks about justice, but his statements on justice are against the nation of Israel. “Let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream”; these words are spoken against his own people because they lacked hospitality and they treated the poor severely. And so, when I hear, “Justice has been done”, I am humbled and forced to check my heart and behaviors – for this is a warning against self-righteousness that would treat others as “less” or “inhuman”.

Of course it was Jesus who leveled the grounds of justice, saying to his followers: “You have heard it said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Like I said, I find myself in a mix of emotions; I wish to celebrate justice, but I hear the somber call to love. And so, I echo a friend from seminary, Rev. Lory Hunt, whose simple reflection speaks volumes to the work of the Church and the teaching of Jesus…

“Lord, have mercy! Christ, have mercy!”

for Christ has risen

Notes from the Pastor…

Last week was a wonderful week of sacred spaces and services.
On Wednesday, many First Christian Church attendees joined with their brothers and sisters of other traditions for the first community Holy Week service held at J Bar J Country Church.  There we acknowledged our personal likeness to Judas and petitioned God for deliverance from ourselves.

Thursday involved two Maundy Thursday services for many and at both we were challenged to live up to the “new” commandment of Jesus in John 13 – “Love one another.”  At the evening service, we practiced our love by washing our fellow disciples’ hands.  My spirit was moved as my hands were washed by Jack McNeill in the spirit of care, acceptance, service, and love.  I am sure those who experienced this practice would say the same of not only those who washed their hands, but also those whose hands they washed.

“Good” Friday was good!  At 6 p.m. many gathered to remember the passion of the Christ – a passion that bids us confession and provides us with healing.  It was Isaiah who said of the Messiah, that “by his stripes we are healed.”  I was overwhelmed at the number who came to be anointed with oil.  Some came for physical healing, others emotional or relational, and still others spiritual.  No matter the reason, many came, and I found myself tearing up, thinking just as Jesus wept over Jerusalem, so too Jesus is weeping over our hurts and needs.

Following the Good Friday service our church embarked on a 24-hour prayer vigil.  I have heard people testify that they felt they were in a sacred space no matter if they prayed in the prayer room, the prayer garden, or the sanctuary.All of this led up to the feast of Easter Sunday.  It was quite a crowd of friends, family, and neighbors who gathered to worship, pray, commune, and celebrate resurrection!

As we start the season after Easter, the benediction of Sunday continues in my heart: May you experience resurrection in this life and the life to come  – for Christ is risen.  May a resurrection perspective bring you purpose and meaning  – for Christ is risen.  And May grace and peace be yours in abundance – for Christ is risen.  Amen.

Grace, Pastor Ryan

Be Prepared!

Notes from the Pastor…

I am writing this article on the Tuesday morning before Easter; also known as Great Tuesday.  While I know that some readers will not receive this article until later in the week, I feel pressed to share some of my thoughts of this Holy Tuesday of Holy Week.
There is a fancy, five syllable word in philosophy that describes beliefs in the last things, or the last days, or the final destruction, or what happens when we die.  That word is  eschatology.  Eschatology is gravely important, because an individual’s eschatology, whether Christian or nonChristian, greatly affects his or her behaviors and life choices.
One text that is emphasized on Great Tuesday is Matthew 25:1-13, the parable of the ten bridesmaids.  Most scholars argue that this parable is a teaching of Jesus about eschatology.  Five of the bridesmaids are prepared for the delay of the bridegroom, and five only bring enough supplies for what is customary.  No matter the interpretation, the application seems clear  – “Be prepared!”
During Holy Week, preparation seems to take on secular connotations.  We prepare for Easter Sunday lunch, and we prepare for Easter egg hunts.  These things are not bad; they are fun, exciting traditions for the family.  Yet sometimes in the middle of those preparations we neglect to prepare our hearts for the depth of spiritual activities we celebrate on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Therefore, this Holy Week let us be prepared!
Let us take moments of silence as opportunities to practice meditation.  Let us notice the Spirit of God in our daily labor.  And let us prepare our hearts and minds for ever challenging death and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus the Christ!

Grace,
Pastor Ryan

Father, can you hear me?

Have you seen the movie, Diary of a Mad Black Woman? If you haven't seen it, don't let the title scare you. Trust me, the title was well chosen. I have yet to watch this movie without crying. It is not a sappy love story or a heart breaking tear-jerker; it is one of the most incredible depictions of forgiveness and resurrection I have ever seen. The video link below will take you to my favorite part of the movie: a young soloist is allowed to sing with the church choir for the first time, an abused woman trades revenge for love, an abusive paraplegic STANDS and recognizes he needs Christ - up to this point in the song I am deeply moved and then the tears come - a drug-addicted mother returns to her family entering the church and the song in true gospel fashion with these words, "Just as I am, I'm in need of the blood of the Lamb... it's me Lord, I know I can't do this by myself, I surrender all!" 


Resurrection.

Jesus' ministry before his death and after and to this day is about resurrection. We cannot be saved from ourselves unless we stand and recognize Christ, call out to him and surrender all. Click the video link below for a truly inspirational church experience. Can you imagine if church - the whole Church - were this alive and honest?

Video

Isn't that beautiful?


May your experience of holy week and Easter Sunday be filled with the light of resurrection, recognition, surrender, and grace.

Holy Week

Notes from the Pastor…

Holy Week is upon us!  This coming Sunday is Palm Sunday  – the day the Savior showed up!  Following Palm Sunday, the first three days of the week continue in the Lenten spirit of preparation.
Maundy Thursday is the first mid-week special service.  The English word “Maundy”  is derived from the Latin mandatum, the first word of the phrase: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you” (John 13:34).  It is on Maundy Thursday that we recommit ourselves to love our Christian brothers and sisters, and we practice our love by washing one another’s hands and partaking in the one cup of the Lord’s Supper.

Good Friday is the celebration and remembrance of Jesus’ death upon the cross.  It is quite ironic that we title this day as “good”, considering all aspects of the day seem anything but good.  Nevertheless, it is “good” because “He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins; he was beaten so we could be whole, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).  On this most holy of days, we recognize the deep love of God, which is most displayed in Christ’s torture and death, and the deep rebellion of humanity; most displayed in the disciple’s abandonment and the crowd’s condemnation.  In light of these revelations we practice repentance and all who are ill are encouraged to come forward to be anointed with oil.  It is by Jesus’ wounds that we are healed – healed from sickness, despair, emotional pain, and darkened thoughts.

Continuing in the spirit of Good Friday, the Elders of FCC Ruidoso are sponsoring a 24-hour prayer vigil. Anyone can sign up for a 30-minute time slot; committing yourself to pray for the individual, the congregation, the community, and the world.  Please consider making this a part of your Lenten season and Easter weekend.

Traditionally, the celebration of Easter begins at sundown on Saturday.  Jesus is in the grave, but the miraculous is about to ensue.  It is on Easter that we recognize "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"  (1 Corinthians 15:55)

It is because of Jesus’ resurrection that we have great hope and believe that neither physical death, nor emotional death have the final victory.  This Holy Week, may we prepare for the Easter hope.  May we join in Christ’s love and love one another.  May we seek forgiveness and find faith for healing.  May we pray for resurrection in ourselves and our neighbors.

Grace,
Pastor Ryan