BookPastor >> "Word by Word" (Marilyn McEntyre)

This review was first published at Panorama of a Book Saint on Sep 5th, 2016.

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TITLE: Word by Word: A Daily Spiritual Practice
AUTHOR: Marilyn McEntyre
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 2016, (224 pages).

As the title suggests, this book is a patient meditation on the Word using ordinary words as entry points into the spiritual practice of meditation. Words are ways in which we describe our inner longings accurately and clearly. Readers are invited to do the same using single words used in "seven different ways and seven different phrases." This is following the ancient practice of 'lectio divina' which enables us to let the power of a single word usher us into the beauty of the Word of God. Used together with centering prayer, not only does it aids our meditations, it helps us in our prayers. The purpose of it all is to slow down our hectic pace in order to keep in step with our natural speed. In a world of multitasking and distractions, these verbs used are samples for us to be creative about our own set of words. Using her own morning Scripture readings, McEntyre shares with readers her method of spiritual reading. Using verbs to guide each chapter, she lists seven ways per verb (one per day) to practice letting the words train our minds. Readers get to listen in our how the author practices the daily routines. With reflections from the Bible, she meanders through a wide range of experiences and illustrations. We learn about prayerful listening. We receive with an eye to bless. We let God's work of creation lead us toward enjoyment. We let go of control so as to appreciate God's sense of timing and direction. We watch God's timing and accept God's way of grace. We resist the ways of the world's seductions and intentionally build in good spiritual habits. We learn to be still so as to develop a sense of clarity in us. We follow the nudging of God, something which is increasingly difficult in a world of distractions. As readers approach the end of the book, it is hoped that there is a pattern that readers can learn of, so as to develop their own set of verbs to be used likewise.

Midweek Meditation: "Humility" (Richard Rohr)

"The only people who grow in truth are those who are humble and honest. This is traditional Christian doctrine and is, in effect, the maxim of Alcoholics Anonymous. Without those two qualities—humility and honesty—we just don’t grow. If we try to use religion to aggrandize the self, we will end up just the opposite: proud and dishonest. Humility and honesty are really the same thing. A humble person is simply someone who is naturally honest about their own truth. You and I came along a few years ago; we’re going to be gone in a few more years. The only honest response to such a mystery is humility.

Growth in the spiritual life takes place not by acquisition of something new. It isn’t like the acquisition of new information, which some call “spiritual capitalism.” In reality our growth is “a treasure hidden in a field” (Matthew 13:44). It is only discovered by the release of our current defense postures, by letting go of fear and our attachment to self-image. Then the inner gift lies present and accounted for! Once our defenses are out of the way and we are humble and poor, truth is allowed to show itself. God could not risk giving truth to proud and power hungry people; they will always abuse it. Truth shows itself when we are free from ideology, fear, and anger." (Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs, Crossroad, 2003, 120-121)

Midweek Meditation: Words by Ken Medema

Ken Medema (Musician)

Teach me to stop and listen,
Teach me to center down.
Teach me the use of silence,
Teach me where peace is found.

Teach me to hear Your calling,
Teach me to search Your Word.
Teach me to hear in silence,
Things I have never heard.

Teach me to be collected,
Teach me to be in tune,
Teach me to be directed,
Silence will end so soon.

Then when it's time for moving,
Grant it that I might bring,
To every day and moment,
Peace from a silent spring.

(Ken Medema)

Midweek Meditation: "Prayer as a Stance"

"I’d like to say something a bit different about prayer, and therefore about religion. Prayer is not primarily saying words or thinking thoughts. It is rather a stance. It’s a way of living in the Presence. It is, further, a way of living in awareness of the Presence, even enjoying the Presence. The full contemplative is not just aware of the Presence, but trusts, allows and delights in it." (Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs)

Midweek Meditation: "Contemplative Prayer" (Tricia Rodes)

Midweek Meditation: Unimportance

This week, I want to reflect on the importance of feeling unimportant. As an early reviewer of Christian books, there is one that has recently caught my eye and attention. Written by someone who has chosen to remain anonymous, the writer urges us to keep ourselves small, even nothing, so that everything of God can be manifested. He writes,

"It's not self-confidence that humans lack, it's that we have too much self-importance, says an author who, by virtue of that, has chosen to remain anonymous. Or Anonymous."

It's ok to be unknown.

The writer continues.

"We have such a high opinion of ourselves that to live and die unnoticed seems a grave injustice. Yet, has God called us to be anything else? That very challenge, the very calling, is in fact to embrace obscurity. 'When we accept that our value is not dependent on what we do or accomplish, we are - ironically - liberated to do much for Christ."

Ditto. If you are ready, worship.



conrade

Midweek Meditation: Think Little of Self

Thomas a Kempis once said,

"He who would learn to serve must first learn to think little of himself. This is the highest and most profitable lesson, truly to know and to despise ourselves. To have no opinion of ourselves - and to thik always well and highly of others is great wisdom and perfection."

(Credit: http://intothekingsgarden.blogspot.com)

In a world that worships success, material things, money, and fame, we are often tempted to copy what the world is pursuing. We buy into the mistaken belief that more is more, and that God only helps those who help themselves. No. The world is not about us. The world is beyond us. We are but participants in the universe of life. We need guidance ourselves, instead of thinking that we must be guided by our fancy wishes. Like John the Baptist who proclaims that "I must decrease, and He must increase," we adopt this attitude of servanthood. When we learn to see others more important than ourselves, we are not necessarily downplaying our worth. We are actually right-sizing ourselves, and to make sure that our sinful selfish selves are kept in its proper perspective. For many of us, hemming ourselves in to think little of our own selves is a good start.

conrade

BookPastor >> "Invitations to God"

This week, my book recommendation is Adele Calhoun's excellent book on spiritual formation. It is one thing to try to force ourselves to do devotions. It is yet another to feel that we are invited into a time to commune with God. We will learn that prayer and devotion is not about us bulldozing our way through in order to get our devotions done. It is about God inviting us in.

conrade 

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TITLE: Invitations from God: Accepting God's Offer to Rest, Weep, Forgive, Wait, Remember and More
AUTHOR: Adele Ahlberg Calhoun
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2011, (208 pages)

This book is written by a fellow alumnus from my alma mater. With "invitation" as a key theme, Calhoun weaves in 11 areas in which we can find ourselves invited to do. "Invitation" is a great word to use with regards to spiritual formation. It is something unforced but encouraged. It is attractive yet gentle. It is an open invite that has our closest interests in mind.

"Invitations are powerful. Like tides, they ebb and flow, sharing the contours of our existence. . . . Invitations shape who we know, where we go, what we do and who we become. Invitations can challenge and remake us. They can erode and devastate. And they can also heal and restore us.... The things we say yes to and the things we say no to determine the terrain of our future." (9-10)

There are four types of invitations. The first are the "business and career invitations" that "invite us to more productivity, vision, initiative and profitability." The second are the "family invitations" that can affect how closely knitted the family can become. The third kind is "educational" which offers ways to improve or enrich oneself through learning.  The fourth is "entertainment and social" which is an invitation to party. What makes God's invitation different from all of these is that God wants to "mend, shape, anchor and grow us into the character of Jesus."  Our spiritual journey is about how we RESPOND to God's invitation to grow into Jesus. Throughout the twelve invitations, the format is similar. There is first an invite followed by a key passage of Scripture. The author then highlights a roadblock that threatens to derail us from an appropriate response to the invitation. It shows us the way to let the Holy Spirit help us, and then to practice in a way to enlarge our receptivity that God may work even more in our hearts.

Midweek Meditation: Seeking God

As we approach the middle of the week, I invite you to meditate upon this prayer of Thomas Merton. It is a prayer to help us look away from our self-seeking inclinations, and to desire God more and more. Like John's request, may I be less and less, so that God be more and more, in my mind, in my heart, in my soul, and in my strength.

(Photo Credit: christianbackgrounds.info)

"My God, I give up my attachment to peace, the delight

and sweetness of contemplation of Your love and Your Presence.

I give myself to You to love Your will and Your honor alone.

I know that, if You want me to renounce the manner of my desiring You,

it is only in order that I may possess You surely

and come to union with You.

I will try from now on, with Your grace,

to make no more fuss about 'being a contemplative,'

about acquiring that perfection for myself.

Instead I will seek only You,

not contemplation and not perfection,

but You alone.

Then maybe I will be able to do the simple things

that You would have me do,

and do them well,

with a perfect and pure intention in all peace and silence and obscurity,

concealed even from my own self,

and safe from my poisonous self-esteem."

(Thomas Merton, Dialogues with Silence, New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2001, p39)

Amen. conrade

Teach me O Lord

As the waters cover the sea.

We live in a noisy world. As the sunset comes, let us welcome the calming of our hearts. Let us still our senses to listen. Let us be in prayer. May the noises of our world keep their distance from us, as we meditate on the Word, contemplate in the Spirit, and gravitate ourselves to the presence of the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. The following poem is helpful for us to settle ourselves, in the weekly sabbatical rhythm of rest.

"Teach me to stop and listen,
Teach me to center down.
Teach me the use of silence,
Teach me where peace is found.

Teach me to hear Your calling,
Teach me to search Your Word.
Teach me to hear in silence,
Things I have never heard.

Teach me to be collected,
Teach me to be in tune,
Teach me to be directed,
Silence will end very soon.

Then when it's time for moving,
Grant it that I might bring,
To every day and moment,
Peace from a silent spring." - (Ken Medema, blind Christian musician)

conrade