“…my fellowship with Jesus…” – that’s what Billy Graham replied when asked what he loved most about his years of ministry. You can read about the context of the question in the Our Daily Bread devotional HERE or listen to the story HERE.

Hearing this story was a nice reminder to open the book Jesus Calling. The author, Sarah Young, allows one approach to fellowship: imagining what Jesus would say to us. A portion of today’s listing in Jesus Calling resonates on the fellowship theme:

“Thanking Me for trials will feel awkward and contrived at first. But if you persist, your thankful words, prayed in faith, will eventually make a difference in your heart. Thankfulness awakens you to My Presence, which overshadows all your problems.” ~ Jesus Calling by Sarah Young (p. 181)

ACTION: say a prayer, thanking Jesus for walking alongside you during times of trial, and being thankful for those tough times and the reminder of how you are not alone.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 24, 2018:

• 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 and Psalm 9:9-20   OR
• 1 Samuel 17:57-18:5, 18:10-16 and Psalm 133
• Job 38:1-11 and Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32
• 2 Corinthians 6:1-13
• Mark 4:35-41

Did the title of this post just seem wrong? After all, prayer frequently conjures up images of kneeling and inaction, NOT exercising!

Bob Hostetler talks about praying while exercising in the Guideposts article HERE  entitled “6 Ways to Pray While You Exercise”

A couple of ideas to augment Bob’s

• doing the Christian Playbook Daily Audio Prayer exercise for the first 5-8 minutes of workouts works well to focus prayers on a daily topic. Stream this audio from the internet (HERE) to a smart device or go “old school” and burn it as a CD and listen through a boom box placed right next to where you exercise/stretch
• post a prayer list or photos right in front of you on your exercise machine or where you do stretching – it helps channel your thoughts to particular prayer situations

Rejoice in the opportunities to pray, while at rest and while exercising.

Enjoy the day and the plethora of opportunities to exercise your body, mind and soul while filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 24, 2018:

• 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 and Psalm 9:9-20   OR
• 1 Samuel 17:57-18:5, 18:10-16 and Psalm 133
• Job 38:1-11 and Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32
• 2 Corinthians 6:1-13
• Mark 4:35-41

[NOTE: this is an annual re-post from previous years, with some modifications]

Happy Father’s Day.  Hmmm… while I appreciate the concept, perhaps this is less about celebrating men who father children (flesh and blood) and more about recognizing men who are wonderful examples to children (heart?)

So… maybe this year we can say “Happy MaRoMo** Day!” to all the guys in our lives? Not quite as catchy, is it?

Most of us have life blessings which include a multitude of positive male role models – dad, brothers, uncles, cousins and/or several other male family members, teachers, ministers, work colleagues and friends. Thinking of good MaRoMo examples, Jesus has certainly been an important one.

What positive characteristics come to your mind when thinking of Jesus? JOY is one for me, perhaps helped along from my reading of the book JESUS Man of Joy by Sherwood E. Wirt, including this description

“Jesus smiled wider and laughed heartier than any human being who has ever walked the planet.  He was young.  He radiated good cheer.  The real Jesus was a man of such merriment, such gladness of heart, such freedom and openness, that he proved irresistible.  He became known through Galilee for his genuine strength, sparkle in His eyes, the spring in His gait, the heartiness in His laugh, the genuineness of His touch; his passion, playfulness, excitement, and vitality: His JOY!  He made a dazzling display of love.  He set hearts of fire.  He was an elated, triumphant young man with an incredible quality of life.”

~ JESUS Man of Joy p.22

Wirt continues with some action-oriented thinking

“We ourselves may also express the joy of the Lord in smiles and laughter and good cheer, but those are not the only ways.  We participate in his joy through acts of worship, praise, prayer, and song, in witnessing to the saving grace of God and in helping others.”  –  – JESUS Man of Joy p.22

May each of us – male and female – find some Christ-like behaviors to model for our world on this Happy MaRoMo Day and in the years to follow…

Enjoy the day, with the joy that the Spirit only enhances!

…………………………………

** MaRoMo (Male Role Model) 

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 17, 2018:

• 1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13 and Psalm 20
• Ezekiel 17:22-24 and Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15
• 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17
• Mark 4:26-34

This CAC article shares wonderful perspective about the blues and jazz. Here are two noteworthy portions of the article (though we encourage reading of the entire devotional:)

“The contemplative moment comes as the cause of the blues is considered within the broader context of God’s inexplicable absence or startling intervention.”

 

“When Miles Davis blows the cacophony that can barely be contained by the word song, we come closest to the unimaginable, the potential of the future, and the source of our being.”

 

Music provides wonderful therapy. As we contemplate the blues and celebrate jazz, may the Spirit move through us in unimaginable ways!

ACTION: The article mentions: “In addition to reading her words, I invite you to listen (and perhaps dance?) to B. B. King or Miles Davis as a contemplative practice.” Here are a couple: Come Rain or Come Shine (B.B. King) and Seven Steps to Heaven (Miles Davis)

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 17, 2018:

• 1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13 and Psalm 20
• Ezekiel 17:22-24 and Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15
• 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17
• Mark 4:26-34

This Guideposts article by Phnesha Marchette is wonderful – – the idea of using art as a stress-reducer makes sense, even for those of us who might not consider this a primary gift!

Phnesha laughs when first feeling the call to artistic efforts. Isn’t it wonderful how the Spirit can work in such mysterious ways?

• The “you should paint” stirring that happens regularly
• The salesperson who becomes an informal accountability partner by saying he’ll expect to see one of Phnesha’s paintings the next time she’s in the store
• Phnesha’s girls taking an interest in painting

Ever feel that stirring inside? Typing those words spurs a memory of this “Just Do It” song…

ACTION: Allow yourself some quiet time after reading the Guideposts article. Any chance you feel a stirring that needs some action?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

P.S. Apologies for the spurious posting yesterday during early preparations for this Christian Playbook post

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 17, 2018:

• 1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13 and Psalm 20
• Ezekiel 17:22-24 and Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15
• 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17
• Mark 4:26-34

“Doubting, asking questions, struggling to believe — these are not signs of human failings, but are human experiences. The challenge for us is, perhaps, to continue to engage our struggles, to face our fears, to wrestle through the night — and, during those dark nights when we cannot feel or believe that God is present with us, to continue the work that was set before us.”  ~ Comments by Beth Richardson, in “From the Editor” note, Alive Now – March 2016.

In this same note, Beth talks of doubts and tells of Mother Teresa and the doubts she describes in her own private journals and letters. This Time.com article about the book of Mother Teresa’s  life – Crisis of Faith – is fascinating and includes this comment:

Martin of America, a much more liberal institution, calls the book “a new ministry for Mother Teresa, a written ministry of her interior life,” and says, “It may be remembered as just as important as her ministry to the poor. It would be a ministry to people who had experienced some doubt, some absence of God in their lives. And you know who that is? Everybody. Atheists, doubters, seekers, believers, everyone.”

WOW. Guess it’s not surprising that the saints of our age – even you and me – might have a little doubt, when saints before us had some of their own! As “way show-ers,” we don’t have to be perfect…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 10, 2018:

• 1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15) and Psalm 138
• Genesis 3:8-15 and Psalm 130
• 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
• Mark 3:20-35

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

A few weeks back The Center for Action and Contemplation shared a weekly set of meditations summarized HERE. The idea of community expressed is so desirable and yet challenging to attain. Quotes from MLK Jr., Henri Nouwen and others make clear that we know some of the pathways but are frequently left wanting more action than we’re necessarily ready to take.

If you have time, peruse the summary, taking time to click on the particular day if you want to read more.

ACTION: Do the practice listed HERE of Praying the Community into Being. If you have the inclination, listen to the music and consider drumming along? 🙂

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 10, 2018:

• 1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15) and Psalm 138
• Genesis 3:8-15 and Psalm 130
• 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
• Mark 3:20-35

Ever “walked” a labyrinth? The experience has many positive aspects.

The Christian Playbook summary of walking a labyrinth HERE is taken largely from a training shared many years back by MWPC’s former pastor, LP Jones. The good news is that you don’t need to have an outdoor labyrinth available – you can use a pocket version and now even an online version. There are many links to labyrinth materials on that webpage! 🙂

Know where there’s an outdoor labyrinth to walk sometime this week? If not, check the CP labyrinth page for a labyrinth locator link. Or check out one of the online versions there too. Lose yourself in that labyrinth, and in the Lord (the good news is that there is only one way in and one way out!) 🙂

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 3, 2018:

• 1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20) and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
• Deuteronomy 5:12-15 and Psalm 81:1-10
• 2 Corinthians 4:5-12
• Mark 2:23-3:6

A good quote can motivate, make you think and maybe even bring a smile. Here are a few favorites…

• “If God is your co-pilot, SWITCH SEATS!”
• “I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that he didn’t trust me so much.” – Mother Teresa
• Life is fragile, handle with prayer
• Be ye fishers of men. You catch ’em – He’ll clean ’em

Additional humorous lines are HERE and HERE

ACTION: Have some humorous religious quotes or stories to share? Tell a friend [and share with the Christian Playbook if you’re willing (salong.now@gmail.com).]

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 3, 2018:

• 1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20) and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
• Deuteronomy 5:12-15 and Psalm 81:1-10
• 2 Corinthians 4:5-12
• Mark 2:23-3:6

Viewing pictures of those for whom we’re praying can enhance prayer. If you haven’t done this before, maybe this is the day to try it out?

At first, find a few pictures of loved ones. Place those photos in an area(s) where you’ll see them regularly while praying.

As time goes on, this practice can stay relevant by adding more hard copy photographs around the house and/or by adding photos using technology. Locating hard copy photos all around may even help prompt prayer?

[For those liking technology, you might also create a Word/PowerPoint document and copy/paste photo images of people who are on your prayer list. This electronic file of pictures can be on your computer and also “on the cloud” for viewing the photos on smart phones, tablets or other computers even when away from the house. As a small example, HERE is such a prayer photo collage for world leaders and families (past and present.) ** NOTE: please don’t let this technological option become a burden – it’s just an additional way to make prayer visual and impactful. If it’s not adding joy, it’s not worth considering! ]

With Memorial Day happening tomorrow, maybe you “dig out” some family pictures of those loved ones who’ve gone on before us to place around the house for remembrance?

Have fun with pictures and prayer. Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, May 27, 2018:

• Isaiah 6:1-8 and Psalm 29
• Romans 8:12-17
• John 3:1-17