BookPastor >> "God is Not Fair and Other Reasons for Gratitude" (Daniel P. Horan)

This review was first published at Panorama of a Book Saint on Nov 28th, 2016.

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TITLE: God Is Not Fair, and Other Reasons for Gratitude
AUTHOR: Daniel P. Horan
PUBLISHER: Cincinnati, OH: Franciscan Media, 2016, (144 pages).

This is a Christian book with a strange title. Using a counterintuitive title to draw curiosity, it is also about learning not to see things from the eyes of individualism but through God's eyes. As long as we wear personal subjectivity and egoistical lenses, we will accuse God of being unfair for the most part. The key thesis of this book is that we need both open minds and open hearts in order to grow in faith. Gratitude is that key to cope with the harsh realities of life; the complex cultures around us; and to unlock the mystery of faith. Through a series of reflections from cultural symbols to modern icons of the world, readers are invited to reflect on what it means to live in a world that seems so unfair. For Christians, it is about living in an intersection of theology, scripture, culture, and relationships. Part One focuses on the Christian faith in the modern world. What do we make of the movie depictions of zombies and World War Z? In a world flooded by negative media depiction of priests, can we still find dignity in the priesthood? What are we going to do about slavery? Can nonviolence and the abolishment of capital punishment bring about greater good in the world of violence and evil? What about failures? Who and what is a saint all about? These issues and more are looked at from the eyes of faith.

Midweek Meditation: "A Thankful Heart" (George Herbert)

A THANKSGIVING PRAYER

Thou that hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, a grateful heart.
See how thy beggar works on thee
By art.

He makes thy gifts occasion more,
And says, If he in this be crossed,
All thou hast given him heretofore
Is lost.

But thou didst reckon, when at first
Thy word our hearts and hands did crave,
What it would come to at the worst
To save.

Perpetual knockings at thy door,
Tears sullying thy transparent rooms,
Gift upon gift, much would have more,
And comes.

This not withstanding, thou wenst on,
And didst allow us all our noise:
Nay thou hast made a sigh and groan
Thy joys.

Not that thou hast not still above
Much better tunes, than groans can make;
But that these country-airs thy love
Did take.

Wherefore I cry, and cry again;
And in no quiet canst thou be,
Till I a thankful heart obtain
Of thee:

Not thankful, when it pleaseth me;
As if thy blessings had spare days:
But such a heart, whose pulse may be
Thy praise.

George Hebert (1593-1633)

Midweek Meditation: "Gratitude" (Adele Ahlberg Calhoun)

How to we cultivate more gratitude? Perhaps, the following spiritual exercises can help.

1. Begin a gratitude journal by keeping a record of the 'abundances' God has given you. Next to each abundance write what it means to you to have a God who interacts and intervenes in your life. Notice what you have been given that you did not deserve. What you you want to say to God about these things?
2. End every day by saying thank you to God for at least one thing. Then tell God what that one thing meant for you.
3. Write a letter of thanks to someone who has touched your life in the past year, the past month, the past week.
4. Get a current hardship firmly in mind. How do you feel about the hardship? Tell the truth to God. Where is the evidence of God's presence in this hardship? Is there anything you can be thankful for? If you cannot find God in your hardship, spend some time with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. What does he want to tell you?
5. What sorts of things tend to encourage you in thankfulness? Praise songs? Worship? Time spent with friends? Giving and receiving presents? Plan ways of incorporating the things that encourage thankfulness into your life on a regular basis.
6. Hold a thank-you party. Invite the people you want to honor with a thank you.
7. Create a thank-you scrapbook. Besides photos and pictures, write your prayers of thanksgiving.
8. Notice your tendency to make comparisons that result in feelings of dissatisfaction or entitlement. Practice abstaining from comparative statements about what you don't have. Instead give thanks for what you do have.

(page 31)

Thank You Project - Story of Kellie Haddock's Attempt to Give Thanks

This is a powerful short film and testimony about how gratitude can bring out the best of people. Kellie Haddock reflects back on the joys and tragedies of her life and decides to do the one thing that is within her means. She gave thanks.



One of the most touching moments is when a woman helper shared that she had never been thanked before. It tells us that giving thanks is not simply something that needs to be done, it must be done more often.

This posting from her says it all.

"There is so much heartache in our world right now; so much brokenness. Let us be people of love who share love everywhere we go. #loveneverfails #weartruth This bracelet and other styles available here http://kellies-music-store.myshopify.com/"

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Happy Mother's Day 2015 - Touching Tributes

This is a really touching video clip about showing our love and appreciation for our mothers. It is a project done by Jurong Point officials who set up a booth to ask shoppers at random to call their mums. Many of us would be able to identify the universal expression of love.

Make this Mother's Day a really special one.



conrade

A Mother's First Birthday (Moving Tribute)

Sometimes, the most touching moments come when we remember the small little things that truly matter. Love manifested in remembrance, gratitude, and outpouring of care will move hearts.

This is a heartwarming video that pays tribute to young mothers on their journey to the most important job in the world. I double-dare you NOT to cry. If you do, I understand.




conrade

Midweek Meditation: "Thanksgiving Song"

With Canadian Thanksgiving around the corner, it is an appropriate time to dedicate this week's "Midweek Meditation" with one of the most beautiful Thank You songs. Here it is:

LYRICS

Lord, I am thankful;
Thankful for the Name of Jesus; 
Thankful for the Blood that cleans us. 
Lord, I'm thankful for You, each day. 
Each day I am thankful; 
Thankful for the Spirit's leading;
Thankful that in You there's healing.
Lord, I'm thankful for You.

Lord, I am thankful;
Thankful for the Name of Jesus; 
Thankful for the Blood that cleans us. 
Lord, I'm thankful for You, each day. 
Each day I am thankful; 
Thankful for the Spirit's leading;
Thankful that in You there's healing.
Lord, I'm thankful for You.
CHORUS: 
Oh let my spirit soar in worship to Your Name. 
My life is not the same by the power of Your Blood. 
And every moment that I breathe, 
Your Spirit leads and meets my every need 
of walking in the Light of You.
Lord, I'm so thankful;
Thankful for the Name of Jesus; 
Thankful for the Blood that cleans us. 
Lord, I'm thankful for You, each day. 
Each day I am thankful; 
Thankful for the Spirit's leading;
Thankful that in You there's healing.
Lord, I'm thankful for You.

Lord, I'm so thankful
O Lord I'm thankful...
For all you are to me...

Lord I'm so thankful,
Very very thankful
For you are to me..

conrade

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is one of my favourite hymns of thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving!

conrade

Noticing Life Outside and Inside

This is a wonderful video. Last week I have been reflecting on beauty and the art of noticing. I even wrote an article to express the need to observe more of life. Most of my thoughts were centered on noticing life outside. This video makes me notice life INSIDE my heart and its appropriate response: Give Thanks.

"Just by your presence Let your gratefulness overflow into blessing all around you. Then it will really be a good day."

Take your time to watch the video here. Do not rush it. Enjoy it.



Let us not to take life for granted. Let us not to treat any day too mundane or too ordinary. Let us develop eyes to gaze at dimples of perfection, not stare at faces looking for pimples of imperfection. Let us grow ears to listen to people for who they really are, and not hearing in order to find loopholes in their arguments. Let us taste the beauty of relationships, instead of leaving it alone, only to pick them up when we find a use for it.

Appreciate life. Cherish people. More importantly, respond by cultivating an attitude of gratefulness. With a heart of thanksgiving, we can make this world a better place, a more beautiful place. The ABCs of stewardship is essentially to increase our level ATTENTIVENESS, the appreciation of BEAUTY, and the cultivation of CREATIVITY.

conrade