It is no secret that I am a huge fan of a very little known band called the Seventy Sevens. Since many moons ago (circa 1982) I have followed the career of these bad luck or no luck paupers of the back beat. The recordings of Roe and Co. have been the soundtrack of a large portion of my life. Their honest and gritty lyrics and their way of pairing it to great hooks and often raw but still beautiful music for some reason connects with me.

So, the 77’s are rumored to be putting out their first new recording (working title - Jesus Hits Like an Atomic Bomb / rumored actual title - Holy Ghost Building) in some 6 years. A collection of old blues tunes given the royal 77’s treatment (think a Stones/Zep take on Run to the City of Refuge or Workin’ on a Building). I don’t know when it will ultimately “hit the street” (or website store) - but hopefully mid to late summer. There is even some talk of the power trio version of the band (Roe, Harmon and Spencer) making a little road trip round the country playing churches, clubs and maybe even a back yard or two.

Well, I couldn’t be happier! It is so refreshing to find beautiful and authentic music made out of sheer love for the art. I think that is what I find when Roe croons, and Harmon grooves and Spencer keeps time. They long gave up “the dream” and now the music is a result of their friendship, their connection and maybe even to quiet and satisfy their small, but rabid and devoted fan base.

Well, Mike Roe, lead singer and guitarist of the 77’s, has been working on mixing and readying the new sevens recording… and also has played a few solo dates this past week. I stumbled across this gem of a performance on you tube and felt COMPELLED to share it (do it for love!!). [stick with me here as I name drop and reference and well hang in and see if you can understand the next sentence ] It is Mike Roe in John J. Thompson’s (of True Tunes fame and the keeper of the Gallery stage at Cornerstone for many years) kitchen/dining room in Nashville helped out by Matt Slocum on Cello (Sixpence None The Richer); Phil Madeira on guitar (B-3 legend playing with everyone from Keaggy to Emmylou Harris and Buddy Miller); Jimmy Abegg on guitar (painter, photograher, solo artist and member of the old Exit label band Vector) and Steve Hindalong on percussion (Member of the Choir and producer of the famed City on a Hill recordings; writer of God of Wonders). So without further ado… here is Mike and company turning up some beauty in the suburbs of Nash-vegas… doing his take on the Velvet Underground’s, “Pale Blue Eyes“:

In less than a weeks time we will be in the midst of the holiest week of the year. How have you personally prepared? How has your community of faith anticipated and focused for this important observance?

I find as I come into such “special and set-apart times” that if I “just let it happen” - often nothing does. It is when I allow myself to be transformed through personal preparation or my involvement with a communal commitment that the “special time” takes on a heightened significance and becomes transformative. One practice, apart from all the rest, that has become a way of preparation in my life is reciting a prayer for such an occasion. In this week proceeding Holy Week, I will be praying this prayer at least once a day.

O Lord my God, to you and to your service I devote myself, body, soul, and spirit.

(From the Book of Common Prayer)

Over the past few weeks I have been preparing for some teaching that I will be conducting on the topic of Developing A Rule of Life. It is a topic that both intimidates and excites me. I have never been part of a community that has adopted a rule of life. So it puts me in a great disadvantage to speak on the topic.

I have read widely and I have a personal rule of life - so that is somewhat helpful - but I lack the communal aspect — so I often wonder, “do I get this at all?”

None-the-less, long ago I learned if it is worth doing, it is worth doing imperfectly. So I trudge ahead.

When we hear this word rule, many think of it as a set of regulations or a list of prohibitions. While that is the popular definition, rule in this context is maybe the older understanding of, “a straight edge to draw straight lines and to measure.” A rule of life is more of a guide to help us measure and line up our life - it helps us answer at least two critical questions:

1. Who do I want to become?

2. How do I want to live?

Based on this answer we develop some ways to head toward that end. Great rules of life have drawn many into community with others who feel called to the same aspirations. A great case in point is Benedict’s Rule. His rule is built on helping others become stable and yet ever converting in their faith; to model Christian hospitality; and to live a life marked by unceasing prayer. Thousands have made the Rule of Benedict, there own (even this day I am considering officially adopting his rule as an Oblate of St. Benedict).

Answering those two questions is never easy. I have been struggling as I have re-assessed my answers over the years. I think at this point my answer would be:

Who do I want to become? I want to become more fully human - following Jesus as a more engaged human. (To my ears this means I desire to be more present [aware and attentive] to myself, others, creation and God).

How do I want to live? I want to live my life authentically - in a manner that is appropriately vulnerable and accepting, hospitable and available - that others might find encouragement and hope from the well of my life.

Tomorrow we will look at how we might incorporate behaviors and practices into our lives to make our rule a reality.

I took this test - from the Upper Room the other day and I found it both helpful and affirming. (I was reminded of it by my blogging friend - Brian Eberley) It reinforces an idea of mine that our temperament and our “personality” can actually be transformed. For many years while I was in full time Youth Ministry I proudly wore the badge of Type A - driven personality. I found that to be something that could excuse my plowing people over and being emotionally and relationally unengaged…

But over time I came to see that Type A personality in my life for what it was - an excuse to sin! After my life began to come apart at the seams I sought God in new ways (new to me - not new mind you - actually kind of ancient ways!) and over time I began to be put back together.

That was nearly 10 years ago and I have attempted to stay on the path that I started journeying on for that amount of time. So it was a real joy to see some of the results of this test and others like it. It is not scientific or even close to 100% accurate - it does however reveal that a transformation has taken place in my life! That is encouraging to me. God does transform us. It is a mystery how it happens, often slowly and over time, bit by bit God rearranges, replaces, composts, and recycles our sin and brokenness to create us into a whole new creation that honors Him.

So anyway the test I took - reveals that I am part of the school of the mystics (a far cry from the driven results oriented, just the facts kinda guy I tried to be [and thought was desireable] in my earlier days of youth ministry).

The Test Results Write Up:

You are a Mystic, known for your imaginative, intuitive spirituality. You value peace, harmony, and inner silence. Mystics are nurtured by walking alone in the woods or sitting quietly with a trusted friend. You may also enjoy poetry, meditation, wordless prayer, candles, art, books, and anything else that helps you connect with God.

Famous Mystics:
Thomas Merton | Enya | John (the Gospel writer) |
Brother Lawrence (Practicing the Presence of God) |
Desert mothers and fathers | Charlie Brown |
Sister Wendy | Phoebe Buffay (Friends) | Julian of Norwich |
Luke | Anthony de Mello

Hey if you want to try the test check it out over at The Upper Rooms Spirituality program called Method - X

Last night was a real treat. My church hosted a concert with The David Crowder* Band. What fun! It was a great time - my daughter and some friends and my wife and I and a good friend all piled into the suburban to attend the show.

I have seen Crowder and company a few times at YS - but never a full concert. It was pretty cool to get an hour and a half of Crowder and the boys!

Crowder* in Center Township, PA

It was cool to meet David after the show - my buddy got his Crowdster signed by it’s namesake - you can read that story at Peter’s site.

I have been asked what is so great about St. Benedict. From my perspective I really find the following fascinating:

1. St. Benedict was trying to reform the church from it’s laxness and compromised position of being wed with the state. He was trying to regain the counter-cultural-ness of Christ’s Kingdom. I love that radical spirit and that passion for bringing an alternative way of life - and wait for it - he bases his model for radical Christian living on the family!

2. St. Benedict is a Church Father all can relate to and emulate. He was a layman (not a priest); he desired to reach out and minister to and with whomever God brought along his path (ie - Benedictine hospitality); and no one tradition can call him their own (Benedict is pre-Great Schism and pre “reformation”).

3. St. Benedict makes the four Gospels the model for directing our life. His way forward was thoroughly Christological. In the prologue of the Rule he invites the reader to follow a new life and to “make the Gospels our guide.”

4. As I mentioned yesterday - I also like the extremes, even paradox, that Benedict weaves into the lives of those who follow his rule - stability and constant conversion; work and leisure; flexibility and asceticism; cloistered yet hospitable - and of course his commitment to guiding the day by the liturgy of the hours (the work of God) and the recitation of the psalms.

5. St. Benedict is not for those who are “really serious” or some graduate level spirituality for the “super pious” - St. Benedict was writing for the average Christ-follower. He again writes in the Rule that his purpose is, “to erect a school for beginners in the service of the Lord.”

Benedict is for beginners!

I saw a great story on NPR’s website, regarding “Six Word Memoir’s.” They were reporting that an online magazine was pushing people to write a memoir using only six words. The inspiration was Ernest Hemingway who was challenged to write a full story using only six words, he responded with: “For Sale: baby shoes, never worn.” So this online magazine (Smith) - developed a similar exercise, tell your story using only 6 words.

Such limitations and brevity, push us to work with language in a much more profound way. Finding just the right words and creating a statement that captures who we are in six words. It is a puzzle - but like poetry; it is pure writing in a compact form. Mensa has a similar exercise which I have used quite a few times - to create a self-portrait using only five lines. I think such limitations find us having to edit out any extraneous and redundant information and leave only the vital and essential. It forces us to stop diluting and start distilling.

So what would your memoir look like in six words?

I was thinking about this while doing barn work last night. I moved from memoir to spiritual biography and then to a prayer. Such compact language lends itself to a handy prayer - one that is memorable, can be repeated with regularity and accuracy, and is said so quickly; yet has a profundity. So I ended up praying this six word prayer sentence:

As He is, may I be.

I have grown with this statement just in living with it the past 10 hours or so. There are quite a few layers to that statement - a prayer I find that is worth praying, considering, meditating on and carrying around with me.

So, what about you… what six words would you string together.

Oh, MY six word memoir?

“I fell apart, God is mending.”

A good friend and I were discussing the need for good spiritual practices this past weekend (I was speaking and he was leading music for a winter retreat for teenagers). As we were talking around a nice fire on a cold afternoon he reminded me of this old prayer and the value of regularly repeating it from the heart - it could do a world of good.

Hopefully I will follow this sage advice!

A Collect for Purity

Almighty God,
unto whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy Name;
through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Saturday was a wonderful day! It started early as I attended Dave Ambrose’s seminar - “What Monks Can Teach Us.” It was a fun and helpful seminar that looked at both contemplative AND activist approaches to developing our spirituality. It was a good mix of both helpful content and interactive learning experiences.

Next was general session 3. All I can say is wow. Phyliss Tickle was someone I was really looking forward to hearing. Did she ever deliver. Amazing. This 80 (oops 72, thanks Heidi) year old woman came out and shared a “map” of the way in which Christendom has responded to the upheaval and revolutions that have rocked our world every 500 years (from the fall of Jerusalem, the fall of Rome, the great schism, the great reformation and now the great emergence). It was jaw dropping. It deserves a bit or reflection before I post anymore.

After a time of laughter with friends and some new friends. I attended Folmsbee’s super seminar, Story, Signs, and Sacred Rhythms (it was a real introduction to what SonLife is all about). It presents a helpful system or process by which to approach our ministry to youth theologically. It was a great group of folks who seemed to be engaged, asked good questions, and participated enthusiastically. Chris involved Matt and I by letting folks know we could field questions, etc. So, I had a couple of fun conversations with those who were there. (I also got to meet Josh!)

The evening was great! Wonderful conversations, laughter, refreshment, and just a great time with great people. (Riddle, Matt, Darian, Len, Josh, Chris, et. al.)

I arrived last night in Atlanta… found some good mexican food (something sorely lacking in Western PA) and my bed (and it is comfortable!).

I am staying about 6 or more blocks from the site of the YS convention at the Georgia World Congress Center. I am not far from Peach Tree Center at the Hampton Inn. I mentioned that 20 years ago I attended the YS Convention here in ATL - as I look out my hotel window I see the site of that convention - The Westin, Peachtree, pretty cool.

Other news… I am meeting a fellow blogger - a first for me. Meeting someone I formerly only knew through the “blog-o-sphere.” I’ll let you know how it goes!

Later today I begin my critical concern course. Looking forward to being led on a bit of a “spiritual retreat” with Mike King and Jeff Johnson.

Running through my brain, Psalm 123:1 as found in, “Work Of God Benedictine Prayer“:

“I gaze at the heavens,
searching for you, my God.”

May my search end at my delight.

Finally, pray for rain here in the drought-ridden Southeast… (it did rain last night… but they are down 17 plus inches).