Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem for His last passover and it is quite an event. Jesus enters as King of Peace (riding astride a Donkey in contrast to conquering kings who would enter on a horse of war). Entering the City of Peace (Jerusalem) as a King who is bringing peace. In the midst of anything but a calm and tranquil entrance - Jesus comes to bring peace - the Hebrew word for peace is Shalom. Shalom is a state of wholeness, completeness to be at peace with all things - God, self, others and creation. This certainly wasn’t grasped - in the midst of the shouting and singing this Sunday morning - don’t miss the King of Peace - allow Him again to enter your world bringing wholeness.

NT Readings: Mark 11.1-26; Philippians 2.5-11

Psalm: Psalm 22

Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, who in your tender love towards mankind sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature and to suffer death upon the cross so that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility, grant that we may both follow the example of his patience and also have our part in his resurrection, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I do believe that, “not all time is created equal.” Value is increased dependent on our understanding and approach to time. My wedding day will always be a sacred day; as will be the day my daughter was born and - well you see where this is going. Next week begins Holy Week - commemorating the last week of Jesus life. I have found great value in setting aside a little extra time for reading, prayer and meditation to observe this monumental time in the life of Jesus which has marked human history for all time and eternity.

It would be great if we went from the season of winter to spring all in one day. But here in my neck of the woods - winter always wants to hold on and spring can be fickle too. So mornings can still be in the 20’s and by late afternoon the temps can reach the 70’s. It would be nice if one day the cold stopped and it was 68 degrees till summer. But it doesn’t happen like that - there is always a bit of a reminder of the pain and starkness of winter as Spring arrives.

Holy Week is a bittersweet week with themes of death and dying and pain mixed with hope, love and promise of the new. Yet too many churches fail to observe the days between Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday and miss the sacred and holy steps that fell between Monday and Saturday. They go from the loud shouts and bombast of Palm Sunday to the glory of Jesus’ victory over death the next weekend - with no context for what took place in between. Don’t go from Hosanna to Alleluia without any understanding of the feelings, words, actions and relationships that moved Jesus from the streets of Jerusalem to the road to Emmaus.

Join me next week as I share a very brief devotional thought along with readings and prayers for each day of Holy Week here at Perigrinatio.

Peace!

Last night I was struck again - like I seemed to hear a tune for the first time. I was finishing up in the barn casually listening to the iPod when the lyrics stopped me in my tracks - and I went from casual observer to completely arrested by the music. The song truly brought me to my senses. The fifth week of Lent settled into my mind and I thought of this story (a story of Lent - a preparation story; a repentance story and a story of life after death… don’t miss who is present at this event!)

Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him. [John 12.1-11]

A story worthy of our consideration this week - so many intriguing story lines - but mostly a story of complete surrender as Mary of Bethany goes from sitting at the feet of Jesus to laying down everything she had in complete abandon. A picture of authentic brokenness - not brought on by pain or by circumstance - but seemingly by devotion. My hope as I approach Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem next week is that I will learn from Mary of Bethany; what keeps me from this kind of devotion?

Back to the song in question: The song comes from Matt Maher and is found on his latest recording, The Empty and The Beautiful:

Lay It Down

Everything I am
Everything I long to be
I lay it down at Your feet

Oh pearl of greatest price
No act of sacrifice
Can match the gift of life I find within Your gaze
Oh, what a sweet exchange
I die to rise again
Lifted up from the grave into Your hands of grace’

(BTW - don’t just skim over the words above - check out the images and words in the bridge section of that tune… so many things there - let that just fill your head again).

Today is the second week of advent. The theme many recognize on this feast day is peace. We are reminded that the Holy and Anointed one of God was coming to bring peace - wholeness, reconciliation and well, peace. May we embrace this message of the coming of The Christ. May we find ways to be peace-makers and live in peace with ourselves, one another, our world and our God.

A Scripture for Advent - 2

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this. Isaiah 9.6,7

A prayer for Advent 2:
Lord Jesus, Light of the world,
the prophets said you would bring peace
and save your people in trouble.
Give peace in our hearts at Christmas
and show all the world God’s love. Amen.

The start of a new liturgical year begins today. So, Happy New Year. Advent is that season of repentance, reflection and anticipation in preparation for God’s coming. My hope is that I will enter into this time alert and attentive; looking and listening with greater awareness of God’s working among us.

On this first Sunday of Advent we remember:
As our nights grow longer and our days grow short, we look on these earthly signs–light and green branches–and remember God’s promise to our world: Christ, our Light and our Hope, will come.

Listen to the words of Isaiah the prophet:

The people that walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those who lived in a land as dark as death
a light has dawned.
You have increased their joy
and given them gladness;
They rejoice in your presence
as those who rejoice at harvest,
as warriors exult when dividing spoil. [Is. 9.1-2]

So we pray:

O God, rejoicing,
we remember the promise of your Son.
As the light from this candle,
may the blessing of Christ come upon us,
brightening our way
and guiding us by his truth.
May Christ our Savior bring life
into the darkness of our world,
and to us, as we wait for his coming.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Wisdom today is from The Wisdom of the Desert compiled and paraphrased by Thomas Merton.

An Elder was asked: What does it mean, this word we read in the Bible, that the way is straight and narrow? And the elder replied: This is the straight and narrow way: that a man should do violence to his judgements and cut off, for the love of God, the desires of his own will. This is what was written of the Apostles: Behold we have left all things and have followed Thee. (Page 45)

“…not my will but Thine be done.”

“not mine, Thine.”

peace.

Project Renovation is a ministry venture from Lancaster Bible College led by Rick Rhoads, that I have had the privilege of serving with. In my opinion Rick and his team are an exemplary regional ministry and doing a great job serving, loving and caring for youth workers in Central PA, MD, and DE! There primary focus is the development of the youth worker - so through prayer, spiritual retreats and equipping conferences The Renovation Project attempts to fulfill its purpose. The times I have had the pleasure of serving with “the Project” I have been overwhelmed by the care and hospitality they have demonstrated. So it is no surprise that I am looking forward to the youth conference that Project Renovation is hosting on Saturday October 18! Mike King, president of YouthFront, will be the keynote presenter addressing the topic of “Presence-Centered Youth Ministry.”

If you are from the mid-atlantic states it may be worth checking out the Presence-Centered Youth Ministry Conference on October 18 (9 AM - 4 PM). It looks like it will be a quality day of training with some good elective options (and it is not very costly)!

I will be teaching a seminar at the conference; I have been preparing it to share at a couple of conferences I will be attending - I am looking forward to presenting what I am learning! I am calling the seminar, “On The Matter of Monks: sketching a youth ministry for today.” (Although in full disclosure - the folks at Lancaster didn’t want to freak people out - so no mention of monks is being made in the advertising! I instead refer to “transformative faith communities” or something like that.) I describe this seminar in the following manner:

In this seminar the participant will consider the history of Christian Monasticism and it’s implications for ministry with and for youth today.

• What is Ancient-Future? (Defining and discussing Key Terms to guide our learning)
• Why Monasticism? (What do Monks have to say to kids, anyway?)
• A Brief History of Christian Monasticism?
• A Monastic Matrix (lessons and qualities of transformative ministry)
• Sketching Youth Ministry for Today
• Q&A

If you happen to come by the conference - please say hello!

I have often thought about the seven deadly sins. I think I have probably tasted them all in full or in part - and felt the full impact of their promise for more but instead leaving me drained, wanting and miserable. Too often I have been tripped up by trying to avoid lust and greed, etc. only to find my life going down a black hole of managing my sin rather than living a full life. I think it is a by-product of the attempt to live the Christian life - we can find ourselves focusing on all the wrong things; avoiding mistakes; sin management and keeping up appearances.

This provides the backdrop to a wonderful and encouraging charge from someone who knew how to live. He didn’t live perfectly (in fact he failed big time) but, he charged into life and it seems he learned from his mistakes and focused on falling in love with Jesus. He left us in the form of a letter, a better way. A way that doesn’t avoid the topic of sin - but doesn’t make it the focus of life. He writes to us about what I call a life-giving way. A way to find life to the full! I stumbled across this passage yesterday and it filled me with hope, brought a smile to my face and redirected my thoughts which again had come to rest on former things.

I hope you find encouragement and hope and life as you reflect on the writings of Peter.

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. [2 Peter 1.1-7]

I don’t know where I heard it first - but it has definitely stuck with me. The thought that was posted to my mind was that a name for the mystery of the universe, the God and King of all should be, “Surprise.” Seems fitting. A God who shows up in unlikely places: a bush on fire in the desert, in the belly of a whale, speaking through donkeys, and hanging out with sinners and tax collectors, a God who raises the dead, provides gallons of REALLY good wine at a local wedding and a God who when all the world is stirred up - surprise - ascends into heaven.

That is a God who should be called, Surprise. You never know when or where or even how such a God will show up.

It causes me to keep my eyes pealed. Keeps me alert. Grows my awareness and certainly opens my thoughts to God’s uncanny ability to speak and show Himself through and in the most unlikely circumstances.

When was the last time you sensed, Surprise?

I dare say that unfortunately you will not hear the following tune on Christian Radio. It is a shame. I was listening to this tune penned by Andrew Peterson as performed by Michael Card from his recording entitled, The Hidden Face of God. As I was cleaning stalls in our stable I was struck by this tune - if I had heard it before, I hadn’t really listened. This release is a wonderful recording from Card - (which probably didn’t sell real well) but the center piece of the recording is Peterson’s tune!

As I listened I came to a fresh awareness of this desire in my soul: I long to be a part of a Christian community where discussions on the silence of God is a regular topic of discussion (where this song could be a “theme song” for a season). I long for the day when Christianity is unashamed of the mystery of God (not everything has to be understood, principle-ized, dissected and made into a “how to.”) and the paradox that He is the God who reveals and the God who “hides.”

The Silence of God (by Andrew Peterson)

It’s enough to drive a man crazy; it’ll break a man’s faith
It’s enough to make him wonder if he’s ever been sane
When he’s bleating for comfort from Thy staff and Thy rod
And heaven’s only answer is the silence of God

It’ll shake a man’s timbers when he loses his heart
When he has to remember what broke him apart
This yoke may be easy, but this burden is not
When the crying fields are frozen by the silence of God

And if a man has got to listen to the voices of the mob
Who are reeling in the throes of all the happiness they’ve got
When they tell you all their troubles have been nailed up to that cross
Then what about the times when even followers get lost?
‘Cause we all get lost sometimes…

There’s a statue of Jesus on a monastery knoll
In the hills of Kentucky, all quiet and cold
And He’s kneeling in the garden, as silent as a Stone
All His friends are sleeping and He’s weeping all alone

And the man of all sorrows, he never forgot
What sorrow is carried by the hearts that he bought
So when the questions dissolve into the silence of God
The aching may remain, but the breaking does not
The aching may remain, but the breaking does not
In the holy, lonesome echo of the silence of God