In Constant Prayer

The last few days I have been reading a book called IN Constant Prayer by Robert Benson, its definitely an interesting book.  Robert Benson is an Episcopalian, and truly at the beginning of this book, I struggled with moving ahead, his ideas are very liturgical and it felt like I was being influenced to become Catholic.  Of course not long after that I realized he was Episcopalian, to which I was highly relieved-ha-ha.  But as I continued to read I soon found out I had a lot to learn from Mr. benson.  His main thesis if you will was found in Paul's statement, "to pray without ceasing."  Through the books entirety he illustrates with vivid detail this importance and what this truly means. 

In the early days of Christianity Paul's readers would have understood this statement.  Benson describes this with the idea of the seven prayers of the day that the Jews would do.  Each one different and each one reflective of a different aspect of God and a different way to respond to him.  It truly is a beautiful thing, he goes on to show that eventually over time this idea of constant prayer through the day disappeared.  It started with Constantine, when Christianity became the nations religion.  This obviously was very  exciting and liberating at the time.  But this sacred practice of prayer over time depleted due to the religious freedom and lackadaisical lifestyles that ensued.  And really this sacred practice never has caught on again. 

Toward the end of the book Benson goes through a discourse of how we all have plans in life, things that we aspire to do, or are doing,  These things some common in nature like moving, require a certain amount of time to prepare for and time to take to accomplish.  But all of us no matter truly what stage of life we are in have to plan for things, we have things that are set in the future and have to prep for them ahead of time.  But majority of us never plan on improving our spiritual lives, we never sit down and take the time to clearly determine what it would take to improve our walk with God.  Most of us will make commitments at some retreat that we go on and year after year we will make the same thing, but never follow through on it.  And truly for most of us is because when we get home we don't have a plan to put these into action.  His suggestion is to these not on a retreat but in the mundane times of our lives.  To paint a picture of where we would like to be with God in the future, and then plan how to get there.  So practical and simple, but if we actually did it we would be blown away. 

This idea of planning our spiritual lives was so mind-blowing to me, because I am always looking for ways to change my life and I make plans to do so, but I never think about where I would like to be with God in a year, and how to get there.  And the act of doing it is simple.  If you want to learn to play an instrument you need to pick it up and try it out, the simple act of actually following through on something can be the start to becoming a very talented musician and in this case a closer walk with Yahweh. 

Overall the book was intriguing and his idea of praying without ceasing has given me a lot to think about, and I look forward to understanding what the book of common prayers is really about, and not some Catholic thing that is empty is repetition, but something of greater value with greater purpose than I have truly understood.

God is Speaking

It is a sad realization when we come to the conclusion that God has spoke, and miss the very fact that God is speaking.  Ever since the beginning of creation God has been speaking, and just as he spoke things into being then, he is still speaking through his created things now.  It would be a sad thing to look at the Bible and say that it does not speak to you, for the second part of the Godhead is seen as the Word.  John 1:1 brings this Word to life and other passages of scripture state that the Word of the Lord is living and active.  In lieu of this and many others things which could take a long time to articulate, we should never say that God is not speaking to us.  The reality would be, that we are not listening.  The Bible is living, it speaks to those who read it, to them, not to someone else.  It is for all believers and even those who do not know him.  It is a powerful and useful book.

But we cannot stop there, for in the beginning this Bible did not exist, and God spoke to many that are recorded in the pages of scripture, but also I am sure to others not recorded.  God has been speaking since the beginning of Him creating time, there has been no lapse just missed opportunities.  I for one would rather be out in nature listening to its beautiful song and the beautiful out-pour of God's glory.  Too many of us our caught up into our man-made world and miss the very fact that nature is praising and adoring God every day.  God is still speaking through his Creation, and if you doubt that then consider a clear night.  Looking up you see a vast array of stars, a moon shining bright, and the comfort of silence that the night often brings.  If you cannot find awe and amazement in such a sight, then I for one would check your pulse.   In these places I find the words of the Psalmist "Be still and know that I am God" resound infinitely. 

"Lord teach me to listen.  The times are noise and my ears are weary with the thousand raucous sounds which continuously assault them. Give me the spirit of the boy Samuel when he said to Thee, 'Speak, for thy servant is listening.'  Let me hear Thee speaking in my heart, Let me get used to the sound of Thy voice, that its tones may be familiar when the sounds of the earth die away and the only sound will be the music of Thy speaking voice.  Amen."  (A.W. Tozer)

~CDS~

Missional within question?

I was thinking today as I read through some church history about the way Paul evangelized.  Almost always he would start by going to the local Synagogue and would engage in discussion with the Jewish leaders in that town.  He was a passionate speaker, and he undeniably knew the Law in and out.  Paul would lavishly present his ideas in a graceful, yet in your face kind of way.  He was a friend of sinners, I am sure, as he says he is the chief of all, but most of his ministry is found in him engaging different synagogues along his journeys.

In today's popular Christian culture, we here the idea of being missional.  Simply engaging in people's lives to be simply their friend with no strings attached.  To put it simply as C.S. Lewis once said, "preach the gospel and if necessary use words.  Missional ideology is simply getting involved in one's community, without using a bull horn!  So with that in mind, where do we place Paul's approach?  Now, it has to be noted that he was not engaging sinners in these synagogues but Jews.  Paul was never afraid, he spoke the truth in love I would imagine, but he was not ashamed and willing to die to put forth his message.  Is this something we should be doing, its not necessarily something that Paul charges us to do, he does charge us to share the good news and live lives of obedience.  But the question remains....

Now culturally at this time the gospel has just begun, Christians are spreading everywhere through the diaspora after Pentecost, and through Paul's missionary journeys.  So maybe this was an exception for his time, to prove to the Jews that the Messiah has come, died, and rose again, and no longer are we under the law but grace.  This may be the case....But yet again with Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah's Witness, and so on, I wonder if this type of engagement should continue in today's society.  For these religions are all miscued from the truth...Is there a place for these conversations like a synagogue today?  I don't know, but ponder these ideas I must...

P.S. -Just want to clarify Paul's evangelism like this was involved solely against religious people...not necessarily sinner's with no ties to any religion, and this was not bullhorn evangelism...just need to clarify for my own peace of mind


~CDS~

Grace through the lens of Paul

Bible study just ended tonight and we just finished the book of Philippians and I am compelled to write...Paul's life is an amazing story...he was a Hebrew of Hebrews, a student of the Law, a Pharisee, a Roman citizen, born of the tribe of Benjamin, he had it all.  In light of his world, he could not have been born into a better place.  He could not have been a better Pharasaic follower, both as student and as a teacher of the Law.  In his society being a Jew, he would have been adored, praised, and basically a celebrity of sorts.  A tremendous man who conquered many things, who was sent on a mission to purge these so called "Christians" out of town to their deaths or imprisonment.  He was sent as the leader of this mission for his reputation preceded him everywhere he went.  If at the death of Christ, I would not be surprised if he would have found joy in nailing this so called "Son of God" to the Cross.

This was the man often called Saul, but his life changed drastically on his journey to persecute these filthy Christians.  His calling in life, his passion, everything he created himself to be was altered, to be called to his real mission, his real purpose, his real destiny.  (As I am writing this I think of the many Christians in the world, who think they are following their calling, but in fact like Saul are missing it completely)  After his encounter with God he is sent to the one place that he would not want to make a friend, sent to Barnabas.  For a period of three years he had to relearn, rediscover, restudy, who and what God really was.  For his frame of mind was jaded, and during this period he was watched, gossiped about, and many of these Jewish Christians were terrified and skeptical of his conversion.  But amidst all of these things he persevered and became a leader of the early church.  It was a long fight to reorient his life with God, but as he writes, he learned that he can do all things through Christ who gives him strength.

With this background in mind, we come to the book of Philippians, we come to learn that he is in prison, for the very thing that he was going to imprison others for.  Irony at its highest level to say the least.  We soon find out in this letter to Philippi that he is ready to die, he is sold out for God and debating whether he would rather live or die...his internal division is difficult, for to die is to be with God, but to live is to be a benefit to others.  His division is not about himself, its about the two greatest commands of loving God and loving people.  He writes though as if he has chosen to stay for now, looking to the needs of others above his own, in which he encourages his readers to do the same(Chapter 2).  He also warns them to not put confidence in their spiritual accomplishments, for it is Christ who makes us righteous and nothing else, their is no hope in our flesh. 

Finally, we come to the end of this great letter and Paul talks about contentment, about learning that no matter what happens in life, if our trust is in God we can deal with any circumstance that comes our way.  No created thing can give us this peace that passes all understanding except the only un-created; God.  To sum it all up Paul with this amazing history and amazing journey says one thing, GRACE.

Can you imagine a better word for someone like Paul himself to say other then GRACE.  His life cannot be summed up better, a murderous Jesus hater converted to a magnificent humble servant of Jesus.  That is why he concludes with such a word, that to his readers would understand to such levels that would overwhelm them with emotion bringing them to tears.

Grace, when you think of that do you feel that uncontrollable joy and unexplainable emotion deep inside?  I know that after reading Philippians and reflecting on the life of Paul, I hope that I can come to such a glorious place to summarize all my work and all my life and say "Grace."  And that word without any attachment points toward God alone...who alone deserves the glory.

~CDS~