Musings with PWC

Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast; There by His love o’ershaded, Sweetly my soul shall rest. Hark! ’tis the voice of angels Borne in a song to me, Over the fields of glory, Over the jasper sea. Refrain: Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast; There by His love o’ershaded, Sweetly my soul shall rest. Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe from corroding care, Safe from the world’s temptations; Sin cannot harm me there. Free from the blight of sorrow, Free from my doubts and fears; Only a few more trials, Only a few more tears! Jesus, my heart’s dear Refuge, Jesus has died for me; Firm on the Rock of Ages Ever my trust shall be. Here let me wait with patience, Wait till the night is o’er; Wait till I see the morning Break on the golden shore.

I have just read Brennan Manning’s book “All is Grace.”  I found myself captivated by his honesty and integrity.  On one particular page he wrote these words:  “My message, unchanged for more than fifty years, is this….”  Stop!   He has my attention—does he have yours?  Fifty years is a pretty long time to stay focused on one message.  One of the difficulties in preaching for more than 35 years is this—what if there is some recorded sermon of mine from 32 years ago?  What if someone actually thought I knew what I was talking about?  Anyway, back to the point.  I’m very interested now—Brennan is preaching the same message for fifty years!   Here it is: “God loves you unconditionally, as you are and not as you should be, because nobody is as they should be.” This is good theology and flies in the face of a performance driven religion. It’s hard, for those who have been followers of Jesus for a long time (like me)—for those who have worked hard at being spiritual (like me)—for those who t

I've borrowed this from "Disposition Weeks for the Spiritual Exercises." "Poverty of spirit means that my confidence is in God alone, not even in my own talents, or gifts, or achievements. It is to open to God all the resources of my intellect, heart, possession, and time. It is to cooperate consciously with God's dream for planet earth in my plans, endeavors and choices. It means that I am sufficiently detached from such things as my need for approval, esteem, possessions, etc. so that I am dependent only on God's Spirit." I (don't shoot me-look in the mirror) will tend to lean on my own abilities.  These are the things I have accomplished and learned over the years of life.  I've done the assessments--learned about my personality giftings etc.  I know what I can do--and conversely I know what I cannot do.   However, as I look at all of that--I can tend to develop a sense of confidence in 'ME.'  I do this well--but not that well.  That i

If you know me at all—you know I am not a baseball fan.  If there were more people around like me, professional ball players would earn what Walmart greeters earn annually.  However, that’s not my point.  I do have somewhat of a rudimentary understanding of baseball.  I understand that you have three chances at hitting the ball.  So, it’s three strikes and you are out! Here are three swings at a ball—which one are you swinging at? Swing Number One: There is a certain mind set—some call an orphan mind—a performance driven mind—that says the following.  I am working hard for the kingdom of God. I work for my church.  I attend everything at my church.  My church and its activities are the number one priority in my life and my family.  I am a worker.  I am driven.  I am busy for God.  I am striving hard.   And, with all that—God is happy.  He sees me working hard.  He sees me rejecting comfort, ease and pleasure.   After all doesn’t Amos say:  “Woe to those who are at ease?”  I’m not a