Conference Life

Today begins the week of Catalyst West Coast, and I am prepared to see what God has in store for me here in Irvine, CA.

Conferences are fantastic resources for me. I know some are not so encouraged by them, but my heart and mind are frequently refreshed by them. Sadly, because of financial resources, it has been a couple years since I have been able to attend one for which I was not speaking or teaching.

Catalyst includes several people I look forward to hearing from in hopes of a rejuvenating heart for ministry. I would imagine the rest of this week here will have quips and quotes I am taking away from Catalyst.

People I am excited to hear from: Matt Chandler Rick McKinley Michael Hyatt Rev Run Mark Batterson Gungor Carlos Whittaker John Mark McMillan Eugene Peterson Jack Dorsey Anne Jackson

and so many others

Which creative process fascinates you most?

I have always been fascinated by people's ability to draw. It is a creative process I wish I had any capacity for. I simply do not. I love the ability to either recreate a reality on paper or even to create a reality on paper. I am also fascinated by the art of acting, specifically comedy. Naturally, like all art forms there are people who are naturals. But like some art forms, you can still learn technique. I love the art of comedy. There is technique to learn and develop. It is an artform that certainly fascinates me. 

Which creative process fascinates you most? Why?

Jesus Prayer: breathe it in

This week I am revisiting what is known as the "Jesus Prayer". It is one very simple prayer, in one thought, which communicates and professes a myriad of things. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

The prayer was formed by the early Desert Fathers, and it eventually became a classic and common form of prayer.  You see a similar statement in Luke 18:35-43 with the blind beggar, and you commonly see historic uses of it in rhythm with your breathing. (Inhale "Lord Jesus Christ....Exhale "have mercy on me...")

I am reading and praying the Jesus Prayer this week with refreshing realizations. In one simple prayer, you profess adoration and attrition. You profess the glory of God and the sinfulness of man. It is penitential while also being joyful and confident. It is fundamentally Christilogical.

It is simple enough to begin as we realize the most common block to prayer is the act of simply beginning. The prayer is discursive: it does not move from one thought to another. Yet, some have said, it sums up the whole Gospel.

It professes the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the reality of the Incarnation by addressing Jesus. It is a profession of what Jesus is; Son of God, which opens a profession of the Trinity (SON to the FATHER; something we'd only believe with the help of the SPIRIT).

It also professes and confesses our dire need for mercy and grace, which theologians stuffily refer to as "depravity". The prayer leads our thoughts to the life of Christ while facing us with the story of our helplessness. It is a petition of a poor, humble, and recognizably sinful soul. It is a CRY for mercy.

In most cases, it is intended to be repeated frequently throughout the day to help accomplish what Paul challenged us to do; PRAY CONSTANTLY (1 Thess. 5:17). When repeated frequently, it can lead to a real life change. It reorders our priorities.

It can be practiced and prayed anywhere at any moment. It does not have to be vocalized, and at different times, can find its deeps soul-connection in the silent meeting of the heart. C.S. Lewis wrote, "I still think the prayer without words is the best--if one can really achieve it."

I intend to write it out, to vocalize it, and to silently drive my soul to pray it as constantly as I can muster.

LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER

Buddy Wakefield: Convenience Stores

This is the poet I am obsessed with lately. I have always enjoyed him, but I recently got hold of his album, and that was the beginning of the obsession. It took forever to decide which piece I wanted to share; they're all so great. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZkofA_TWVw&w=480&h=390]

The Sun Stare and God's Goodness

God is the source of good as the sun is the source of light

Like I cannot blame the sun for shadows for clouds I cannot blame God for evil for pain

There will be clouds and shadows to block the light There will be pain and evil to block the good

But the source is permanent

#James1:17-18

Guilt: get over it

"Guilt is an idol." -Bonhoeffer

Self-rejection and hatred are far too present in Christians.  It was never intended to be this way.  Too often we project our own self-hatred onto God, and it does not match up.  Too often we assume God feels the same way about us that we fee about ourselves. This is impossible, of course, unless we are able to love ourselves relentlessly.

We have to destroy the idol of guilt and begin to accept ourselves as we really are.  We are all wounded people and need to learn to accept that.

We, instead, either lacerate ourselves with guilt and shame, or hide our wounds with pretty faces and admirable manufactured presentations of ourselves.  We hide behind those masks and never allow ourselves to be known as we are.  Sadly, I often hide for so long behind some masks, I believe them; I forget who I really am.

Guilt remains an idol because my unwillingness to reveal myself as I am is an unwillingness to accept myself.  That unwillingness to accept myself is my unwillingness to accept that God truly is a loving God.

How willing am I to be wounded; to accept that I am wounded? How willing am I to realize and accept that I am wounded without being immobilized by guilt?

How long will I worship the idol of guilt?

Turn it Up: songs I MUST sing out loud

There are certain songs you cannot contain with silent listening. They are the songs that make you check your car with paranoia (even though you KNOW you're the only one there.) They are the songs which are wrecking your steering wheel with repetitious beatings. These are not your "favorite" songs of all time. They are simply the ones which you cannot help but sing aloud.

Mine (in no specific order) are:

Show Me A Little Shame - Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals Another Horsedreamer's Blues - Counting Crows Ashes and Flames - John Mark McMillan Baby's Got Sauce - G.Love and Special Sauce Closer - John Mark McMillan Any Way You Want It - Journey In A Sweater Poorly Knit - Mewithoutyou The Cave - Mumford & Sons Secret of the Easy Yoke - Pedro the Lion Rise from the Ashes - Quietdrive Piano Man - Billy Joel Shine Your Light On Us - Robbie Seay Band Be Near - Shane & Shane All The Same - Sick Puppies Make This Go On Forever - Snow Patrol Gold and Silver - Stavesacre Freefall - Stavesacre Times - Tenth Avenue North

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What songs MUST you sing out loud?