“…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us…” (John 17:21)

When I was growing up it was popular among the “born again bunch” to hear a question like, “When did you invite Jesus into your heart?” or “When did Christ come into your life.” A dominant metaphor of many Christians that I talk to is this metaphor of Christ coming into our lives. I have been thinking about this and I wonder if it is the most helpful picture. I know Paul uses it on one occasion that I can recall, “Christ in you, the hope of Glory” (Colossians 1:27), but is it enough to think in these terms. Is it enough for us; is God satisfied for us to go through our lives thinking in this manner - God in me.

If this is accurate then I am the host. In essence, I am still in charge. God is a guest. I have “invited Him in.” He is merely a part of my life. God is another aspect of my life which I must consider.

There is a greater metaphor at work in Scripture that we must understand (and help others to understand - especially those youth workers among us). It is the picture of us “in Christ.” That we don’t merely allow God into us - where we would like (where we can stay in charge and if we would like stay on the periphery) - but we are absorbed into Christ. The image of being in Christ moves us out of control. The image of being in Christ moves us from periphery or being the host of God to the place of surrendering to the Divine Center. It radically changes our relationship by changing the position of in from after Christ to before Christ. Being in Christ I think is the goal. For when we find ourselves resting or residing in Christ we become more fully integrated into the mind, will, mission and way of the God of the Universe.

How do you think of your relationship with God - is Christ in you; or are you in Christ? I think we need to think about both being true and both being integral to our understanding of the relationship between God and humans. Do you think it matters? Or am I making something out of nothing?

For years I have been searching for a bible that one could just read. Not another study bible or a bible that featured commentaries, just the black words (no small numerals or arbitrary chapter breaks) on a white page. I really resonate with Brian McLaren’s entry in A is for Abductive entitled, Versus Verses. I never cared for the breaking up of the text in verse thoughts - I understand it helps us get on the “same page” in the midst of the myriad of versions/translations, though. [Don’t even get me started that the publishers prevailed against Eugene Peterson’s wishes on not having verses and chapters as part of The Message.]

Imagine my surprise when I learned that the International Bible Society is releasing a new version of the Bible - with “readers” in mind! This is in my mind - a GREAT and greatly needed resource. An uncluttered version of the scripture with no extras (footnotes, translation notes, etc.), no chapter breaks, no verse markings in the text - merely a translation of the Older and Newer Testament. It is welcome to my eyes. Here is how the IBS is talking about this new resource entitled, The Books of the Bible:

The Books of the Bible project encourages better Bible reading, particularly by emphasizing the reading of whole books. The result is an inviting and clean visual presentation of the Bible, in Today’s New International Version (TNIV), that can be understood and enjoyed more easily. The Books of the Bible differs from the format of most current Bibles in significant ways:

Chapter and verse numbers are removed from the text
(A chapter and verse range is given at the bottom of each page)
Each book’s natural literary breaks are shown instead
There are no notes, cross references, or section headings in the text
Text is presented in one column rather than two or more
Books that have historically been divided into parts are restored
Books are presented in an order that gives readers more help in understanding

I think that this would be an excellent resource to help individuals, teens, and churches to approach the reading of the scriptures in a fresh and helpful way. Those in ministry desire for people to read, know, and live out the story of God and often complain about the lack of results. This resource holds promise for people to be able to approach reading the bible in a new way. As a result of its format and focus on the books, as wholes - it may encourage people to feel less intimidated in picking up the Bible (especially if they are exposed to it first using it in ministry settings - youth groups, small groups, christian education setting, etc.). I hope that many youth ministries will take the time to review the potential of this ministry resource. I look forward to experimenting with this new and fresh “readers bible” personally and in ministry contexts.

I spent some time reading some of the samples from this new resource - I would encourage you to check it out.

I have been invited by my friend over at Calacirian to participate in Lynn Hallewell’s “synchroblog” entitled “How I Pray.” So here it goes.

For me the following are the most regular prayer practices that inform and form my prayer life.

The Jesus Prayer - about 5 or so years ago this practice of praying became a very regular part of my life. It remains to be my “go to prayer.” I can pray this prayer 100’s of times in a day. It is so portable. Powerful. Meaning FILLED. I repeat it gratuitously. I repeat it fervently. It rolls in the back of my mind on some occasions like the surf on the beach. It has in some ways become a part of my pattern in living.

The Jesus Prayer is a simple prayer from the Eastern Church and the prayer while incredibly profound is merely a simple sentence (that most can remember upon hearing just once.). The scriptural intent behind this prayer is to help the Christian Pilgrim fulfill Paul’s admonishment to “pray without ceasing.” (I Thessalonians 5:17) The words themselves that make up the Jesus Prayer also come from the words of Scripture - Luke 17:13 and Luke 18:14.

The words I use for the Jesus prayer (there are shorter and longer versions) come from what I understand to be the Anglican Tradition. The version I say, regularly is:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.

I find myself often praying it in the following manner - focusing my prayer on the bolded word each time.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
God, have mercy on me a sinner.
God, have mercy.
Have mercy.

Praying the Hours has been the other way in which I have learned to pray. Joining with the Church universal several times a day to pray and read the Psalms has been a life line in my life with God. I have not been as regular in my habits the past year in this endeavor. I have been real hit and miss, actually. But, that foundation has made my prayer life the richer. I long to be part of a community which has a habit of practicing the hours. Nonetheless I journey on in my attempt to keep the hours of Morning Prayer (Matins), Mid-day Prayer (None) and Evening Prayer (Vespers). The prayer books that have been most enriching for me are St. Benedict’s Prayer Book; Celtic Daily Prayer and For All The Saints.

I have blogged about this before - so for the roots of this practice and some reviews of the books I mentioned above and maybe a couple of others - check out this post - Using A Prayer Book

Besides some spontaneous prayer during idle times during the day - it is the Jesus Prayer and Praying the Hours that inform and form my prayer life.

Others who have participated in this synchroblog -

Calacirian
Lyn Hallewell
Cindy Bryan
Brother Maynard
Lew A
Jonathan Peres
Out Of The Cocoon
Alan Knox
Rick Meigs
Barry Taylor
decompressing faith

I had heard, not too long after Mother Teresa died, that if she was a saint it would be a saint to the doubting. I wondered about that - and did some research and learned that Mother Teresa had not felt or sensed God’s presence since the late 40’s. This boggled my mind. Was it since she was surrounded by Christ’s presence in the poor, sick, and homeless? Was it to quell her pride? Was it a “sharing in the sufferings of Christ?”

Time Magazine has written a fairly extensive article on this “little known reality” in Mother Teresa. It is well worth the reading. The “dark night” and the purgation of senses is often a topic we avoid. Yet, this is a necessary and requisite journey all of us take (and some take for their whole lives).

Mother Teresa’s Crisis of Faith

So, I have been out of the picture the past couple of days - a trip and then recovering from being away a couple of days.

That means two things - I have no idea what the “buzz is in the blog-o-shpere” and I think I owe you something!

This may be old news; this may be all over out there - but seriously I wouldn’t know.

So - The latest Robbie Seay Band release, Give Yourself Away is being given away for free through relevant magazine… get it while it’s hot! (it’s going on sale 8/28 - so this is probably a limited deal). Good rock oriented worship style music (with a very tasty and fresh take on The Choir’s Beautiful Scandalous Night).

Go get it! (you do have to leave a name and email and sign up for 2 email newsletters - nothin’s “free”.)

nothing profound to write about - nothing of NOTE - just a note to say - despite the rain, cold (first fire in AUGUST?!), wind, and grey August day - this made it all a bit more fun!

it went just about anywhere… well there was nowhere it didn’t go

it made some hard work in less than ideal conditions - just a bit more enjoyable! yeah, pretty cool how the mundane can be made just a little less dreary by an addition or a slight change in the routine.

it will reside at the jones homestead for a while!

good times.

Brother Roger was the founder of Taize (a small ecumenical monastic community) which has become a regular gathering point for young people around the world to take part in prayer and reflection. I enjoy his prayer as he incorporates the powerful picture of Jesus’ appearance on the road to Emmaus.

Dear Father,

Amen.

The following prayer is one used at Taize, so we can join in praying with the pilgrims at Taize, today…

Jesus, light of our hearts,
since you rose from the dead,
you have never stopped coming to us.

Amen.

I have been pursuing God in more passive ways over the past few years. I don’t know if it is “right” - but it has been the path I have been on. By “passive” I mean - less about things I do and more about being available or receptive to what God is doing. I call this a “passive-spirituality.” Again to re-iterate not because it is spirituality for the lazy or laissez-faire - but a spirituality where we receive and God acts (as opposed to many of the disciplines we are familiar with fasting, studying, verbal prayer, corporate worship, etc.).

I find that I need help to “wind-down” and to enter into a receptive/passive mode in my relationships. To be present to others and God. It takes time - and a peaceful environment to bring your whole self before God and just - be. It then takes faith to trust that just being with God is really happening and that over time this transforms us (but I think most of the time I believe it!?).

Some music really assists me in this way (not all - like I wouldn’t recommend AC/DC - Back In Black for this purpose). If you want to explore this whole passive-spirituality I would encourage some music that calms, moves you to an awareness of yourself and to an awareness of the presence of God. As we bring down the RPM of our inner life - we can be more present to the now and more present to God’s presence.

Some musical recommendations to help us be… and prepare us to be with God:

Benediction by Jeff Johnson

A great mix of vocal and instrumental music with some celtic influence. Very nice stuff - a great help in regaining a focus and moving one from the temporal stresses to the “big picture” perspective. Also a great introduction to the music of Taize - Jeff does some great renditions of some classic Taize tunes (Jesus, Remember Me, Bless the Lord, etc.) making them a bit more accessible.

Beyond These Shores by Iona

A journey piece that all at once connects us to our roots of this earth and the beauty of heaven. A very emotive and atmospheric piece that never fails to slow my pulse a bit and simultaneously provides perspective (this is not escapist music). Great musicians and great art - definitely celtic in flavor (as the name implies)!

Empty Canvas by John Michael Talbot

Instrumental guitar in the “Windham Hill/new age” tradition. Great stuff. J. M. Talbot creates so much on the “empty canvas.” I find this disc is a great one for finding rest and yet keeping me from slipping away into sleep or day dreaming. It has an ability to keep me in a peaceful alertness. Great music for preparing one for practicing a “passive-spirituality.”

Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come, Holy Spirit) by Taize

This may stretch some (either in the ears or in the attention-span), but for me I must mention this release; it is often spun when I need to “wind down.” Like most Taize recordings the lyrics are sung in a variety of languages (primarily English and Latin - but others show up). This repetitive and simple lyrical and musical approach is written for the very purpose of practicing a more “passive spirituality.” It is worth a try if you have never tried. The focus of this particular release is an invitation for the Spirit to visit us; sharing the fruit and gifts that accompanies the Spirit’s presence.

Passion by Peter Gabriel

This particular recording strikes a very “primitive” place in me. It definitely helps me find my place in “the world.” I absolutely love the music and also find it helps me connect to the world and to God in a very unique way. Although this is the soundtrack to a rather controversial film - Gabriel, nevertheless, has produced a masterpiece that transcends the film. On more than one occasion this offering has served to help me enter into the now - where God becomes more present and I am more present to myself.

Share any questions, thoughts or suggestions in the comments below that you might have as it relates to music, meditation, passive-spirituality (or AC/DC for that matter?!)…

in one peace.

I have been tagged by Sonja (mend well, lady!) for a confession meme. Seems a very fitting meme - one in which we would answer with care and sincerity; for those who follow Christ should be marked as being a people who confess and a people full of mercy. The rules follow:

1. Apologize for three things that Christians have often got wrong. Your apologies should be directed towards those who don’t view themselves as part of the Christian community. Alternatively, apologize for things you personally have done wrong towards those outside of the church.
2. Post a comment at the originating post so others can keep track of the apologies.
3. Tag five people to participate in the meme.
4. If desired, send an email with the link to your blog post at the Christians Confess site, giving permission for your apologies to be added to the website.

Three Confessions:

I confess that I have experienced and even helped perpetuate a Christianity that was more consumed by “a love for power than the power of love” (a great couplet that captures my thoughts exactly stolen from Bishop N. T. Wright). Too often the church wants to be in the position of making decisions and charting the course, grabbing more influence and more and more; rather than assuming the posture of Christ - the posture of love. May the church repent and return that we might be known as a community of unconditional love.

I confess that the churches I have affiliated with have often been overly concerned about “eternity” and the hereafter; and too often only gave lip-service to the realities and horrors of everyday life (poverty, homelessness, AIDS, fair trade, genocide, war, violence, environmental concerns, etc.). This is not the way of Christ, as I understand Him. May the church repent and return to the values of Christ and be known as those who actively reveal a Kingdom of holistic-restoration.

I confess that too often the church is more concerned about “right thinking” (in all areas - sometimes which can be characterized as focusing on the minutia) and not equally concerned about showing “right behaviors.” I think our over-emphasis on orthodoxy sometimes to the detriment of orthopraxy has shown those outside the church a fractured, rancorous, too much bickering with too little action body. May the church repent and return that we might “be one, as God is one.” May we demonstrate the actions of Christ to the world around us and take to heart, “in the essentials unity; in the non-essentials liberty; in ALL things charity (attributed to Augustine see correction in the Comments).”

I tag the following folks to participate in this meme:

Chris Folmsbee
Matt Steen
Monty Stewart
Christine Stine
Mark Riddle

It’s been just about 5 months since I began Perigrinatio. Today I issue/write the 77th post.

In that time - just about 1750 unique folks have stopped by and just under 5000 pages viewed (4,996 to be exact).

So while not a WILD amount of action here - not bad for the first couple of months.

Anyway in honor of the 77th posting - I honor my favorite band -

The 77’s.

From the earliest days of Ping Pong Over the Abyss to their most recent, Direct and Fun with Sound - the 77’s have been the soundtrack of my life.

Keeping with this rather light hearted and rambling entry - here is one of my favorite 77’s lyric.

The Rain Kept Falling In Love
from the album “Pray Naked”
(by Mike Roe)

i curse the sun in the summer
burns me up till i’m blind
i curse the cold in the winter
but i don’t really mind
if they asked any money
i would give any money
to the sun and the wind
and the rain to be kind

rain on rain on
rain on rain on
the rain kept falling in love

© 1992 Fools Of The World, LTD. (ASCAP)