Why Pray?

Why Pray?

by The Rev2 Comments
In high school I participated in something called Summer Institute at Eastern Michigan University. It was a great experience. For two weeks I lived on campus with a group of other high school high achievers from various disciplines. I was there for music. It was an amazing time. I learned a lot about writing and creating music. While we were there we had to do some "electives." One of them was meditation. I remember sitting on the floor on a squishy mat, that was surprisingly comfortable. The instructor spoke in a calm quiet voice and guided us through a time of meditation. I don't remember anything after the first fifteen minutes. Why? Because I fell asleep! (more…)...
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Acta Non Verba

Acta Non Verba

by The RevNo Comments
Every time there is shooting we hear the following phrase, “thoughts and prayers.” Every time that phrase is uttered there are others who say, “thoughts and prayers are useless.” I am tired of both. I am tired of seeing the religious among us continually saying, “I’m praying” but doing nothing. I am tired of the non-religious among us shaming or mocking the religious for their prayer. (more…)...
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Holy Be Your Name

by The RevNo Comments
…or taking time to acknowledge God Photo by Thomas Griesbeck on Unsplash Over the last week I have been doing something new in my spiritual practice, not asking God for anything. I have simply been taking time to acknowledge God. It is ridiculously hard. No, I am serious. I have never done anything this hard in prayer in my life. Spending time in prayer simply acknowledging who God is has been beyond difficult. You would think that someone who has been actively seeking to follow God since 1995 and is a “professional Christian” would be able to spend hours and hours simply acknowledging God. Nope. I can’t. Monday it was about 5 minutes before my mind and heart wandered to other things and people and concerns. Tuesday it was about 2. Wednesday, I didn’t even take time to do it because, “What’s the point?” Yes, I’m firmly Gen X. Thursday, I figured I better make a bit more effort and was successfully able to focus on God and God alone...
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Where Is God?

by The RevNo Comments
In the dark we just need a glimmer of light… Photo by Jordan Whitfield on Unsplash I rolled over and opened my eyes. It was dark. The darkness seemed to drip from the ceiling. My body ached and my head was pounding. The gentle sound of my wife’s breathing was the only comfort in that moment. As I lay there the anger raged inside me as I thought again of my friend dying, as I sat next to him praying for a miracle. Staring at the imperceptible ceiling listening to her breathe in and out, listening to the fan occasionally creak, his face flooded my mind. The smile. The coy eyebrow raise when he knew he got you. The excitement of some new trinket in the man cave. There was a joy and a glimmer in his eye that always drew me in. He was a man. He laughed like a man. He cared like a man. She continued to breathe quietly. The fan continued to...
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