Tall Monastic Guy

"It is very important that our inner room has pictures on its walls, pictures that allow those who enter our lives to have something to look at that tells them where they are and where they are invited to go. Without prayer and contemplation, the walls of our inner room will remain barren, and few will be inspired."
-Henri Nouwen, Here and Now

Laughing with

Caught this over at Mike Todd's and was just too fascinated not to re-post it. I've copied the lyrics underneath the video.

 

stages of identity (in my own words)... updated

The purpose of these stages is to lead the individual toward inner reflection and personal examination, which allow them to set life/character goals for themselves. It also is intended to help guide the process of asking the universal questions “Am I good?” and “Am I lovable?” which precedes or sometimes follows the questions “Is God good?” and “Does God love me?”

JP's backyard dedication

The following is the order of our brief but extra meaningful time of spiritual dedication prior to JP's birthday party yesterday afternoon. Fifteen of our friends were present along with a herd of kids as we were blessed to pull it off before the rain dumped. Thanks you guys, for making this a significantly memorable day for us!

"Need to" and "Get to"

I really like this...

Guilt-Ridden Faith from Recycle Your Faith on Vimeo.

At 31 I confess the pendulum in my conscious swings from the "need to" in order to somehow fulfill God toward the "get to" out of honest worship of a God that is particularly fond of me. But the dramatic swings in the direction of "need to" are progressively decreasing. How's bout you? What's your response to this clip?

your focus?

"The more you focus on something -- whether that's math or auto racing or football or God -- the more that becomes your reality, the more it becomes written into the neural connections of your brain."

-Andrew Newburg, neuroscientist

So, for a moment let's take God out of the idea of prayer. If we're investing daily time focusing on the other, our neighbor, our friends and even our enemies perhaps the more likely we'll be able to empathize, live amongst, advocate for, etc.

two phrases worth pondering

I'd like to process two phrases that have been circling in my consciousness the last few weeks. I've been randomly texting these to some friends of mine with a few interesting responses in return. And if you'd take a few minutes I'd like to hear how you feel about these two... 

"She (Grace) travels outside of Karma" from the U2 song, "Grace" (All That You Can't Leave Behind 2000)

"Papa (God) is especially fond of you." from The Shack by Paul Young

Some highlights of our recent brief trip to visit my brother in Charleston, SC...

JP's first exposure to the Atlantic and a visit to the nations (supposed) oldest tree. In the picture with all the shovels, the Taylor's are creating the now, wildly popular beach game, "Holes 150."

Good times.

Washington Post- "The High Cost of Poverty"

Excellent article out of the Washington Post

"The poor pay more for a gallon of milk; they pay more on a capital basis for inferior housing," says Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.). "The poor and 100 million who are struggling for the middle class actually end up paying more for transportation, for housing, for health care, for mortgages. They get steered to subprime lending. . . . The poor pay more for things middle-class America takes for granted."

Read entire article HERE

Magnificent

Just another Saturday morning for our good friend's Vic, Sarah, Sam, & Em Merchant... This is like poetry and makes me smile every time I watch, so hopefully it does the same for you. Our friend, Caleb Seeling, was inspired by the video to write this article on parenting.