My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following
your will does not mean
that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that my desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire
in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything
apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
you will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear,
for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me
to face my perils alone.
- Thomas Merton (1915-1968)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Monday, August 03, 2009
McFerrin
Friday, May 22, 2009
Buy this t-shirt!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Mountain-Three-Wolf-T-Shirt/dp/B000NZW3KC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8
Or at least read the reviews.
Or at least read the reviews.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Handshake.
How well do we know God?
John Watson’s book, Psychological Care of Infant and Child, published in 1928, has this advice for parents: Treat children “as though they were young adults… Never hug and kiss them, never let them sit in your lap. If you must, kiss them once on the forehead when they say good night. Shake hands with them in the morning…”
I haven’t read Mr. Watson’s book, but I’m full of questions. What did his kids look like? (Maybe he just had super ugly kids.) How did he keep from kissing them? (Obviously, he’s never seen my kids. Complete strangers find themselves compelled to pucker up and beg for a kiss.) I want to know what a parent was to do when a child skinned her knee, or had a bad dream, or had a pet die or was bullied at school.
I’m pretty sure these are things a firm handshake wouldn’t cure. Seems like these situations require a child to run into arms of love.
Scripture tries to show us the relationship God desires to have with us in many ways. Behold the metaphors: We’re his children. He’s our Master. It’s like a marriage. It’s like being different parts of a body. Jesus is our brother.
The book of James talks about Abraham’s relationship God and calls them friends. In the book of John, Jesus says we can be His friends.
John 15:13-15a
13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends…
Friend of God. Is that a title we could bear? Friendship requires an investment of thought, time and intention.
Our gathering here is more than an item on a checklist. It should involve more than a handshake. It’s a precious moment spent with a friend who knows us deeply. It’s time spent with a friend who cares about our most agonizing wounds and our toughest battles. But this isn’t just a shoulder to cry on or someone to commiserate with. It’s time spent with some who has the answers and can fix the problems. He’s the author of life. His presence transforms us.
[This is a post in a series. For more Calls to Worship see http://calebnei.com/calebnei/come-and-worship/.]
John Watson’s book, Psychological Care of Infant and Child, published in 1928, has this advice for parents: Treat children “as though they were young adults… Never hug and kiss them, never let them sit in your lap. If you must, kiss them once on the forehead when they say good night. Shake hands with them in the morning…”
I haven’t read Mr. Watson’s book, but I’m full of questions. What did his kids look like? (Maybe he just had super ugly kids.) How did he keep from kissing them? (Obviously, he’s never seen my kids. Complete strangers find themselves compelled to pucker up and beg for a kiss.) I want to know what a parent was to do when a child skinned her knee, or had a bad dream, or had a pet die or was bullied at school.
I’m pretty sure these are things a firm handshake wouldn’t cure. Seems like these situations require a child to run into arms of love.
Scripture tries to show us the relationship God desires to have with us in many ways. Behold the metaphors: We’re his children. He’s our Master. It’s like a marriage. It’s like being different parts of a body. Jesus is our brother.
The book of James talks about Abraham’s relationship God and calls them friends. In the book of John, Jesus says we can be His friends.
John 15:13-15a
13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends…
Friend of God. Is that a title we could bear? Friendship requires an investment of thought, time and intention.
Our gathering here is more than an item on a checklist. It should involve more than a handshake. It’s a precious moment spent with a friend who knows us deeply. It’s time spent with a friend who cares about our most agonizing wounds and our toughest battles. But this isn’t just a shoulder to cry on or someone to commiserate with. It’s time spent with some who has the answers and can fix the problems. He’s the author of life. His presence transforms us.
[This is a post in a series. For more Calls to Worship see http://calebnei.com/calebnei/come-and-worship/.]
Monday, February 02, 2009
The future of the church.
It's certainly true that I've thought often about the future of the way many Americans view church and God. I don't have the time to do the thought the justice it deserves. Michael Spencer has thought about it.
http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/my-prediction-the-coming-evangelical-collapse-1
It's sad in a way, because the American evangelical church is all I know. Still, I've observed many of the weaknesses Michael points out. Also, I'm excited because I know God will take us exactly where we need to go. Still...bittersweet...
http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/my-prediction-the-coming-evangelical-collapse-1
It's sad in a way, because the American evangelical church is all I know. Still, I've observed many of the weaknesses Michael points out. Also, I'm excited because I know God will take us exactly where we need to go. Still...bittersweet...
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Come and Worship.
A Call to Worship
If you're a leader of people (or just need something to think about) I offer this as a collection of preparations for worship. We need to remember who God is, what he has done, and what that means to us. As we gather on Sunday morning (or whenever) it is good for us to focus our hearts and our minds. To that end:
http://calebnei.com/documents/ComeandWorship.pdf
If you're a leader of people (or just need something to think about) I offer this as a collection of preparations for worship. We need to remember who God is, what he has done, and what that means to us. As we gather on Sunday morning (or whenever) it is good for us to focus our hearts and our minds. To that end:
http://calebnei.com/documents/ComeandWorship.pdf
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