Celtic Odyssey

This months reflection is on Richard Foster’s book, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth .  I don’t know of anyone who, being on a spiritual journey, doesn’t want to grow.  I believe that there is a deep yearning with us on this path to be deeper people.  We sense there is more going on, more to experience than we ever have dreamed possible.  I know it is true with me and I know it’s true with some of my friends.  I will be bold and state that all people ‘know’ that there is something Other than themselves.  It’s just that, at times, we seem to get trapped in the muck and mire of life that we just go through the motions and can’t really hear that yearning for deepness.  That is where I have been for a while now.  And Foster’s book is like a cup of cool water on a dry, endless desert. Foster has divided his book into three sections.  Part 1: The Inward Disciples – Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, and Study; Part 2: The Outwar...

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Wisdom, Jesus Christ your Child; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, on God, forever and ever.  Amen.

I recently purchased a book titled, The Teaching of the 12: Believing and Practicing the Primitive Christianity of the Ancient Didache Community by Tony Jones. It’s a small book and reveals a long hidden document by an ancient Christian community living mid to late first century. According to Jones, it appears that the community didn’t seem to have knowledge of St. Paul or his writings. The book contains the Didache text itself plus commentary from Jones and some insights from a small, organic Christian community living The Way in Missouri who call themselves Cymbrogi -- Celtic for “companions of the heart.” According to most scholars, the Didache “is one of the most important documents in the history of Christianity.” I finished reading this book today and wanted to post each of the Didache “chapters” on here for us to reflect and discuss. The text of the Didache that I will be using was translated and edited by Tony Jones, and is under the protection of a Creative Commons lice...

...International Pipe-Smoking Day. As I posted previously, yesterday was International Pipe-Smoking Day. To commemorate, I purchased some Mac Baren Cube , called up a friend, and we smoked a couple of bowls last night. It was a good time. Of course, the best part about last night was the company. Cube has a very nice flavor and pleasant room note. I highly recommend it. If you are pipe smoker, and you like Aromatics, you should give Mac Baren's Cube a try. If you live in the neighborhood, drop by sometime and we can share a bowl! ~~~ In the Love of the Three in One, Jack

Loving God, whose blessed Child was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weakness of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Child our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Today is International Pipe-Smoking Day! You can read all about it here . To quote their purpose: On this day we will take a breather and celebrate the noble art of pipe-smoking and the noble spirit which pervades the brother/sisterhood of the briar. We will put into practice the time-honored and ancestral traditions of raising our pipes in toast to each other in the evening in unison and, thus, share a bowl together. So, of your so inclined, stop for a few moments this evening and join us in sharing a bowl!

The other evening, my daughter told me she read something in the Bible that really shook her. It was this passage from 1Timothy: Women should learn quietly and submissively. I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly. For God made Adam first, and afterward he made Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result. But women will be saved through childbearing, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty. As you can imagine, this was really upsetting to her. She has recently had a very profound experience with Jesus and is seeking to serve God with all she can. And then she reads that passage and is really shaken by it. I reminded her about a recent conversation we had about studying and doing the work of a historian. At the time, she said that she really didn't see the need for such an in-depth study. As I explained it again, I emphasized the importance of...

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Child revealed your glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of your countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into the likeness of Jesus from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Child our Saviour Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Yesterday morning, after I had my usual breakfast, I determined that I would not purchase biscuits and gravy from the cafe in my building. I am working my way through Richard Foster's book Celebration of Disciple this month. It is really good and I can see why it's a classic and must read for all who are yearning for spiritual growth. With that stated, I just finished the chapter on prayer and said a small little prayer, 'God, please give me "ears to hear" your voice.' As I walked out of my office, the smell of breakfast cooking from the cafe over-came me. I went in and asked for 'the usual'. I was quickly informed that I couldn't be assisted because they were out of gravy. The offered me something else but I refused. When I was asked why, the first thing that popped in my head was answered prayer! I asked to recognize God speaking to me, and I took the 'out of gravy' to be God telling me that I had stated I wasn't going to buy t...