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“You are going to feel like hell if you never write the stuff that is tugging on the sleeves of your heart — your stories, visions, memories, visions and songs. Your truth, your version of things, your own voice. That is really all you have to offer us. And that’s also why you were born.”
Anne Lamott

“You are going to feel like hell if you never write the stuff that is tugging on the sleeves of your heart — your stories, visions, memories, visions and songs. Your truth, your version of things, your own voice. That is really all you have to offer us. And that’s also why you were born.”
Anne Lamott

Spiritual Discipline

George

I continue to read Robert Mulholland’s Shaped By the Word. Today’s reading included a section regarding spiritual discipline which I found relevant as I continue to struggle with spiritual discipline.

Ultimately spiritual disciplines are not something we choose for ourselves. This is another problem we have in our individualized, privatized form of religion in our culture. We think spiritual disciplines are something we take on.We decide we need to grow in some particular area of our spiritual life, so we set to work in this area to develop some spiritual disciplines.” The only problem is that when we develop our own spiritual disciplines, they have a way of being compatible with who we are and what we do. I don’t mind taking up the cross and following God as long as I can choose when I’m going to take it up and who see it and praise me for it. Even though such disciplines may not be easy, I can handle them as long as I’m getting those kinds of ego boosts by being allowed to do it my own way.

Genuine spiritual disciplines intrude into our lives at points where we are in bondage to something that diminishes the word God speaks us forth to be. These disciplines occur in our bondage to our own brokenness from which God is seeking to liberate us. At this level, spiritual disciplines are not comfortable. Spiritual disciplines are a grace that comes to us from God. We may not initially see them as coming from God’s hand; but once we have submitted ourselves humbly to them, have become responsive to the disciplines, and have begun to experience the growth and wholeness they bring, we begin to realize they are a gift of God. They are God’s doing all along-not our own.

New Look for Website

George

I have revised my website. As you can see, rather than incorporating my blog into the website, I’m using the blog format as the website. All of the previous website content has been incorporated into blog format. There may be a few bugs to start but I believe this approach will be better.

Historic Events

George

Thie past week and, indeed, the past few weeks have been described as historic. The global financial collapse and the presidential election are at the center of our attention.

What I find interesting about myself is my unawareness of historic events. I have commented on this in the past. Now having the time as well as a different perspective on life, I have come to realize that for much of my life I lived oblivious to important and historic events going on around me. This unawareness extended in all directions, from world impacting events to personal historic events.  Most recently I watched American Experience about Lyndon B. Johnson. I was struck by the truly historic events during his time as president and how little I was aware of them.

The question for me is: Why? Why was so oblivious? Why am I now more aware?

Rob Bell shed some light for me on the why in two recent lessons from Philippians. Beware the Dawgs! and Blocks and Boards . In part, he talks about the lens through which we view ourselves and the world around us. He describes three lens or worldviews that characterize our human experience: egocentric, ethnocentric and worldcentric. Life viewed through an egocentic lens is all about self. Everything is seen and judged by what is best for me. Life viewed through an ethnocentric lens is all about the tribe to which we belong. Everything is measured by the norms and rules of our tribe and what will best preserve and protect the tribe. Worldcentric is a view that encompasses all the world around us. With this view we are able judge and act in ways that are in the best interest of all, not just our self or our particular tribe.

Today, I am more aware because the lens through which I see the world around me is changing. I believe the reason for my unawareness of past events, both world and personal, was because I was seeing through egocentric and ethnocentric lens. A significant aspect of my journey and transformation has been a slow but certain shift toward a worldcentric lens. This shift has come, not because I understood the need for a worldcentric view, but comes as a natural result of the transforming work of the Holy Spirit within.

Texas Visit

George

I am posting from the Abilene airport as we wait for our flight home. Our time in Abilene was good. We had a good time with Ann’s parents. Her mother is suffering a lot of pain but, as always, she does not let it stop her from whatever she sets her mind to. We played lots of 42. We ended tied for the visit. We need some older competition I suppose.

The week was highlighted the Abilene Christian University football game Saturday. We were guests of Ann’s brother, Lorin. ACU won the game and finished 10-0 for only the second time in school history. They are in the Division II playoffs and have a descent shot at a national championship. Saturday evening we attended a concert by Barrage. They are a musical group consisting of 6 violinists, two guitarists and a drummer. It was an outstanding performance. The local high schools have a similar but larger group called Revolution. They were equally entertaining. Their talent and energy was amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole event. Check out Barrage from this UTube video: