Matthew 5: 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
The Message of Christ
The message of Christ can be merry or lonely. During the depth of winter and the shortest days of the year, we offer celebration and tinsel and gift giving. The world groans for rescue from loneliness. People duck behind computer screens in bedrooms and living rooms. Time is consumed with fish and farm that will never be smelled, touched, or bite back. Churches are full of services meant for the indoctrinated while extending meaningless invitations to the leprous. When the invited come, few really connect, we are too busy with each other and our secret handshakes and vocabulary. Sterile relationships can never share a cold or a Christ.
Our world is full of shallow and painful relationships. Jesus offers friendship that can be felt. The message of Christ offers acceptance and friendship that is fellowship to all of us. Jesus stepped out from the great beyond of the untouchable and brought God face to face and hand to hand to us.
Catching Christ
Christ can be caught. While Christ is a title indicating the anointed, the messiah, the savior, there is a man/God behind the tile. Jesus is contagious. His attitude is contagious. His thoughts are contagious. His approach to living is contagious. God reached to us to touch us and infect us. He makes us perfect. He makes us like Him.
Perfected
Being perfect is less about being perfect than it is about being God-like and infected and perfected. Love the unlovely and the lovely. Greet with honest appreciation and thanksgiving, each. Each person is placed as a gift of God to us. Receive the gift offered. Make a place. Don’t get hung up so much on “your thang” than you leave out the person sitting next to you. Quit breeding loneliness in others by focusing so much on “your thang”. That is perfection.
Perfecting
Be a perfecting person that changes the world in which you live. Who do you need to touch? Who could use a face to face visit? Who could use a hug outside the foyer of the church building? Who needs a smile that locks and looks eye to eye longer than an uncomfortable quickie at the checkout counter? Who could use a word of encouragement that is thought through and covered with prayer?
Repentance = Mind Change
Okay, I am feeling convicted at this moment. Every time the word’s of God and the example of Christ touch me, I get a little uncomfortable. That is purposeful on His part. He is contagious. To repent means to change your mind. That might be a good vocabulary change for the Christ folk. Who in the heck understands that religious idea of repentance? Most of us struggle to accept a new thought. Most of us struggle to give up an old thought. There, try that one.
Right now, I am thinking of some not so close relationships that should be closer. Over time, I have let them become distant. They are unlovely. They are painful to the touch.
Let’s Pray
Father, how do I get beyond my own resistance to change? Touch me. I am unlovely in so many ways. Maybe, I think I am super lovely. But, there are ways in which I am really unlovely. You keep touching me. You keep coming to me. You never let up. Teach me to do the same with those around me that seem unlovely. Really, they are most lovely. You love them. You offer them friendship and fellowship. Jesus sat with the blatant prostitute and the thief and the sloppy drunk. He even took time for mother-in-laws and government tax agents and politicians and lawyers and whiny busybodies. He called them friends. Break me out of my shell to do the same. That is the real message of Christ. All are human and fragile and flawed and failed. All are worth being loved and changed and infected and perfected.
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
A Journal of Praise and Prayer
The expressions of love to God during the week leading up to and on the National Day of Prayer were incredible. Words really do escape me for describing the moments of the day and getting there. I'll try a simple attempt to reflect some of God's grace from that day.
Phil
Friday, May 08, 2009
Citywide Praise and Prayer Service
TimeLine
Pastor Jeff Mitchell, Tabitha Baptist 00:08:30
Tabitha Baptist Praise Team 00:15:25
Pastor Amanda Conner, The Cathedral 00:33:10
Pastor Charles Smith, Bethesda and SHUB 00:33:40
Antioch Full Gospel Praise Team 00:40:11
Psator Lester Cezar, Antioch Full Gospel 00:55:15
Dick Wegener, CBMC 01:03:30
Quail Springs Church of Christ Praise Team 01:09:15
Pastor Charles Martin, Integrity Voice of Victory 01:21:00
Integrity Voice of Victory Praise Team 01:31:00
Joint Choir 01:50:00
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
In Spring in Winter
The wasp, the ladybug, and the squirrel all seem alive in this Spring moment of Winter. Sitting outside at the lake, I’ve contemplated this phenomenal week. All around me the cardinals and finches wisp through the air at the neighbor’s bird buffet. It is February. It is time for ice and storms and cold. Yet, the grass is attempting to grow.
When we entered our lake home late last night after an exhausting week, how surprised I was to find a wasp jumping about on the ceiling of the living room. What was he doing awake? After taking care of him, I notice a ladybug flying. A ladybug! The sure sign of Spring was in my home in the dead of winter. Sure it had been 70 degrees that day. But on the road down, there was ice constantly on the side of all the north facing hills. Ice and Spring seem odd mixture.
In Spring in Winter, this week has been odd like that. It has been absolutely phenomenal. For months, I have been attempting to get some sort of stable ministry going with our young married couples at Catedral. For months, I have been attempting to get my work organized and sales started in motion in my business. Neither want to make any progress. Every day is a hard struggle and a push against resistive force.
In Spring in Winter life is exploding in areas that seemingly should be dormant. In Matamoros, the explosion of God’s grace was phenomenal. You will have to read that story elsewhere. It is too big for this spot. The Father performed miracles, substantial miracles, and built relationships that will last a lifetime. In Oklahoma City, I came across a new film being produced that needs to be prescreened in the Latino community. We will work alongside Los Abuelos and see miracles. Miss HIV is out and has some great clips of friends in it. A minister friend took a copy for his congregation. EGM gave me ten more to distribute. This week I speak alongside friends at an urban ministry school convocation. The one minister and his congregation were a key part of that movie in OKC. Not an unnoticed happenstance that God puts us together in the right week. A large organization agreed to send us food for the poor in Mexico and Oklahoma City. A sponsoring church directly across from the business of a friend involved agreed to give us storage space to receive and ship. Ministers are meeting and talking about joining together in efforts.
Where does all of this Spring activity fit in the winter of struggle? Seemingly it jumps from nowhere. In a moment we are launched into an effective mission organization being prepped to bring solutions to our own city and sister up with a congregation in Matamoros. In the same week, a local alternative school in the middle of the worst gang infestation in our metro wants our involvement. The principal asked me to work weekly with his teachers in building a community of peace. This is the start of then reaching those students and influencing their home world. Couple this with the HIV work and Los Abuelos and you have a more than full time ministry changing a community and the world through partnerships.
In Spring in Winter, I am a business man with multiple businesses to run? Again, this week I’ve been asked to speak at yet a third conference this Spring (the real one). In two months I will speak in Vegas for a computer conference, in Philadelphia for a digital publishing conference, and in Washinton D.C. for a facility and engineering conference on exactly the same subject. In the next two months we will launch two new nationwide clients. What gives? Why now? There are other pieces wanting to launch in the background. This is a monumental week of happenings birthed out of years of relationship and cultivation of friendships in Christ across the community. The Father is speaking. The Holy Spirit is organizing His agenda not mine. Jesus is advancing His ministry and life to others. Stay tuned. God so love s the world.
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
When we entered our lake home late last night after an exhausting week, how surprised I was to find a wasp jumping about on the ceiling of the living room. What was he doing awake? After taking care of him, I notice a ladybug flying. A ladybug! The sure sign of Spring was in my home in the dead of winter. Sure it had been 70 degrees that day. But on the road down, there was ice constantly on the side of all the north facing hills. Ice and Spring seem odd mixture.
In Spring in Winter, this week has been odd like that. It has been absolutely phenomenal. For months, I have been attempting to get some sort of stable ministry going with our young married couples at Catedral. For months, I have been attempting to get my work organized and sales started in motion in my business. Neither want to make any progress. Every day is a hard struggle and a push against resistive force.
In Spring in Winter life is exploding in areas that seemingly should be dormant. In Matamoros, the explosion of God’s grace was phenomenal. You will have to read that story elsewhere. It is too big for this spot. The Father performed miracles, substantial miracles, and built relationships that will last a lifetime. In Oklahoma City, I came across a new film being produced that needs to be prescreened in the Latino community. We will work alongside Los Abuelos and see miracles. Miss HIV is out and has some great clips of friends in it. A minister friend took a copy for his congregation. EGM gave me ten more to distribute. This week I speak alongside friends at an urban ministry school convocation. The one minister and his congregation were a key part of that movie in OKC. Not an unnoticed happenstance that God puts us together in the right week. A large organization agreed to send us food for the poor in Mexico and Oklahoma City. A sponsoring church directly across from the business of a friend involved agreed to give us storage space to receive and ship. Ministers are meeting and talking about joining together in efforts.
Where does all of this Spring activity fit in the winter of struggle? Seemingly it jumps from nowhere. In a moment we are launched into an effective mission organization being prepped to bring solutions to our own city and sister up with a congregation in Matamoros. In the same week, a local alternative school in the middle of the worst gang infestation in our metro wants our involvement. The principal asked me to work weekly with his teachers in building a community of peace. This is the start of then reaching those students and influencing their home world. Couple this with the HIV work and Los Abuelos and you have a more than full time ministry changing a community and the world through partnerships.
In Spring in Winter, I am a business man with multiple businesses to run? Again, this week I’ve been asked to speak at yet a third conference this Spring (the real one). In two months I will speak in Vegas for a computer conference, in Philadelphia for a digital publishing conference, and in Washinton D.C. for a facility and engineering conference on exactly the same subject. In the next two months we will launch two new nationwide clients. What gives? Why now? There are other pieces wanting to launch in the background. This is a monumental week of happenings birthed out of years of relationship and cultivation of friendships in Christ across the community. The Father is speaking. The Holy Spirit is organizing His agenda not mine. Jesus is advancing His ministry and life to others. Stay tuned. God so love s the world.
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Foreward Thoughts
http://www.dalegentry.com/
Check out this video of Dale's latest thoughts on where our world is going.
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
Check out this video of Dale's latest thoughts on where our world is going.
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
New Days Dawning
Rejoicing takes many forms during a transition of cultures. Some rejoice in what appears to be a downfall of opposing ideas. Some rejoice in having the rush of new power in the center of ego. Some rejoice just because others are rejoicing. Some rejoice as feelings of newness and emotion engulf their community. Some have taken time to consider and study and see a new road. Rejoicing takes many forms in the heart of mankind.
Weeping takes many forms during a transition of cultures. Events that mark the path can be viewed as destroying old ways. What was once held sacred is now viewed with disdain. Careful building had taken decades of foundation and structure. No one likes to see their investments of time and talent be slashed in a second. Letting go of what was for what is never appeals to many.
Fear takes many forms during a transition of cultures. Violence can erupt. The conflicts of men's hearts has to be resolved at some point. Some settle quickly with forgiveness. Some settle with tolerance. Some settle with a quiet resolve. Some escalate to vitrolic speech and pundit making. Some escalate to withdrawal or denial. Some just get nasty.
In the warp and woof of the United States, we find ourselves in transition. This new culture bubbling from beneath the surface has an undetermined end. Struggles to define legally acceptable and binding relationships push for a new cultural norm. Struggles to protect the lives of others clash with personal expression and personal rights. Ancient taboos against throwing out the weak, the infirm and unbeautiful clash with ancient rituals of Spartan child abandonment and sacrafice to Molech. A desire for Utopia where all have access to the science and caring of education and health care and housing clashes with realisms of the unsharing nature of the soul of mankind.
more later......
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
Weeping takes many forms during a transition of cultures. Events that mark the path can be viewed as destroying old ways. What was once held sacred is now viewed with disdain. Careful building had taken decades of foundation and structure. No one likes to see their investments of time and talent be slashed in a second. Letting go of what was for what is never appeals to many.
Fear takes many forms during a transition of cultures. Violence can erupt. The conflicts of men's hearts has to be resolved at some point. Some settle quickly with forgiveness. Some settle with tolerance. Some settle with a quiet resolve. Some escalate to vitrolic speech and pundit making. Some escalate to withdrawal or denial. Some just get nasty.
In the warp and woof of the United States, we find ourselves in transition. This new culture bubbling from beneath the surface has an undetermined end. Struggles to define legally acceptable and binding relationships push for a new cultural norm. Struggles to protect the lives of others clash with personal expression and personal rights. Ancient taboos against throwing out the weak, the infirm and unbeautiful clash with ancient rituals of Spartan child abandonment and sacrafice to Molech. A desire for Utopia where all have access to the science and caring of education and health care and housing clashes with realisms of the unsharing nature of the soul of mankind.
more later......
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Queen Rania
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Some cleanup and focus
prayermetrodevotion.blogspot.com
prayermetrostudy.blogspot.com
Okay, so I put up two new blogs to differentiate. This one was getting too clouded.
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
prayermetrostudy.blogspot.com
Okay, so I put up two new blogs to differentiate. This one was getting too clouded.
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
The Call of Jerusalem - City of Peace
When Jesus attempts to come to present day Jerusalem, he is met with missles and tanks and barbed wire. Tear gas and rubber bullets bang against his body. He would like to return. People all over the world pray for his return. They just don't want him to come in the form he seems to prefer in this season.
Some want him to come in the clouds out of the east and establish a new kingdom. Some want him to come peacefully on a donkey. Some want him to come and turn over the tables and walls that keep people away from his place of prayer. Some want him to come as Messiah. Some want him to come as prophet. Some want him to come as king. Some want him to come as priest. Some don't want him to come at all.
The heart of the people appears to be violent toward Him in Jerusalem and throughout the nation of Israel these days. He approaches in strange dress and strange language too different to suit his keepers. His ways live in people speaking in Aramaic and English and Hebrew and thousands of other languages. The Israeli nation builds walls and fences to keep such words and ways at a distance. the affect of Jesus/ ways coming in by means of those who study his life is too frightening for them. Laws prevent open and decisive conversation of his life.
Today it would be easy to say the walls and lawas are meant to keep out the violent. They invite violence. As surely as the disparity of "colored" restrooms and restaurants and backs of busses in the United States in another era or the apartheid of South Africa, the walls and laws of the Israeli nation invite violence, anger, and grief. To deny fact is a symptom of insanity. These rules of separation prevent the purpose of the the city of peace, Jerusalem. It is a place of God designed to invite people to his solutions. Through history it has been a place of refuge and worship and prayer. Today it is a site of anger, division, and persecution.
Jesus, Yeshua, Isa - met that situation in his earthly lifetime. Jerusalem was much the same as today. Political pressure and religious rightness stirred anger and violence among the people. He brought an attitude of dedication to holiness, openness, service, and kindness to resolve such days. What if the Israeli nation opened to such thoughts? Many Muslims study and work ot live them. Many Christians study and work to live them. Many Jews study and work to live them. If we believe that Jesus was a rabbi or teacher from the Judaic heritage of thought, then there seems to be a point of agreement among these warring faiths.
What if the nation of Israel could return to God thoughts? What if the state of godless Israel would open to seek and allow him and his ways to prevail through those that already seek him? They are so close, yet walled apart.
Sure, there are violent Christians, Jews, and Muslims. They are the exception not the norm and only a small portion. Do we make walls and laws in reaction to the violent few or open the door to be flooded in blessing by the peacefilled many? Walls and laws invite violence and cursing. Open windows and kindness invite peace and blessing.
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
Some want him to come in the clouds out of the east and establish a new kingdom. Some want him to come peacefully on a donkey. Some want him to come and turn over the tables and walls that keep people away from his place of prayer. Some want him to come as Messiah. Some want him to come as prophet. Some want him to come as king. Some want him to come as priest. Some don't want him to come at all.
The heart of the people appears to be violent toward Him in Jerusalem and throughout the nation of Israel these days. He approaches in strange dress and strange language too different to suit his keepers. His ways live in people speaking in Aramaic and English and Hebrew and thousands of other languages. The Israeli nation builds walls and fences to keep such words and ways at a distance. the affect of Jesus/ ways coming in by means of those who study his life is too frightening for them. Laws prevent open and decisive conversation of his life.
Today it would be easy to say the walls and lawas are meant to keep out the violent. They invite violence. As surely as the disparity of "colored" restrooms and restaurants and backs of busses in the United States in another era or the apartheid of South Africa, the walls and laws of the Israeli nation invite violence, anger, and grief. To deny fact is a symptom of insanity. These rules of separation prevent the purpose of the the city of peace, Jerusalem. It is a place of God designed to invite people to his solutions. Through history it has been a place of refuge and worship and prayer. Today it is a site of anger, division, and persecution.
Jesus, Yeshua, Isa - met that situation in his earthly lifetime. Jerusalem was much the same as today. Political pressure and religious rightness stirred anger and violence among the people. He brought an attitude of dedication to holiness, openness, service, and kindness to resolve such days. What if the Israeli nation opened to such thoughts? Many Muslims study and work ot live them. Many Christians study and work to live them. Many Jews study and work to live them. If we believe that Jesus was a rabbi or teacher from the Judaic heritage of thought, then there seems to be a point of agreement among these warring faiths.
What if the nation of Israel could return to God thoughts? What if the state of godless Israel would open to seek and allow him and his ways to prevail through those that already seek him? They are so close, yet walled apart.
Sure, there are violent Christians, Jews, and Muslims. They are the exception not the norm and only a small portion. Do we make walls and laws in reaction to the violent few or open the door to be flooded in blessing by the peacefilled many? Walls and laws invite violence and cursing. Open windows and kindness invite peace and blessing.
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
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