Pray without ceasing - or at least get it on Twitter

The fourth topic in the 2012 Lenten Series at Christ Church Cathedral was presented by Interim Dean, Ron DelBene on Wednesday, March 21. The theme of the series is Occupy Yourself: Doing Lent in an Unre-Lenting World. Prayer being a major discipline during Lent, in his presentation Ron emphasized the importance of “Living in the Present”.

The world-view of the Hebrews, for example, was of creation of heavens above where God resided and earth and the oceans below. Our knowledge today is of an unending universe, and the earth occupying a tiny space in the expanse. The world-view continues to change since July 20, 1969 when, for the first time a created being, stepped outside its habitat and looked at it from a distance.

Whereas in the Hebrew world-view, to see God meant death – and no one wants to die – in the present world-view God resides among us and to see God is to have life.

Dean DelBene gave ample illustrations of the tensions between the desire to “live in the present” in prayer, and religious establishment. Monasticism is an example of that desire to get back to the present, away from the established ecclesiastical practice.

Finally, DelBene emphasized the importance of intensity in prayer. It is necessary to ask oneself: “What do I call God and what am I asking for?”

Next Wednesday, March 28, will be the final presentation in the series. Jerry Lowe's topic will be: Lent on the Lens: Redemption and Joy at the Sinema. We will bring you a report but it is best to be there and hear it yourself.

As always your comments and suggestions are welcome.

Co-existence or interdiction?

During a local church function recently, a friend noticed a license plate in the church parking lot that read: “Co-exist”. The expression troubled him greatly, especially because it was a statement made within a church parameters and intended to send a message to other faiths, he thought.

“What do you feel about Christians declaring co-existence with Muslims?” he lamented. Yet the question before us is: Should Christians co-exist with anyone outside their faith?

Almost eight centuries ago, on March 19, 1229, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II entered into a compromise with Muslims to secure access of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher by Christians. Actually, he had not been enthusiastic about the 6^th Crusade.

Nevertheless, the compromise was immediately rejected by both sides. For his part, Frederick II was excommunicated for choosing peace rather than war. Further the Church placed an interdict on Jerusalem.

That was almost 800 years ago. Today, most communities are  as pluralistic as they can be. One can even hear the muezzin's call for prayer on any street corner. Numerous diverse places of worship dot city maps on all the directions of the compass.

Would there rather be more “co-exist” license plates or interdicts? Can even Evangelism – that prized lifeline of some Christians – be otherwise possible in this pluralistic society?

Share your comments and suggestions.

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere

Those are the words of Psalm 84:10 and the inspiration behind Fresh Winds Choir the touring worship group that seeks to praise God through songs, and similarly to encourage and inspire others to do the same.

This Sunday, March 18, the group was at City Gospel Mission as part of their 2012 Spring Tour. And what a worship and praise moment it was! It is unlikely that any of the twenty-plus people in the pews will forget the experience any time soon. For more than an hour and half they were on their feet, completely absorbed in the choir's message of inspiration, hope and praise.

Although that is precisely the ministry of City Gospel Mission , a special occasion like this reminds everyone of the blessings and the privilege of being called the child of God. Even more so when we settle into a routine and take it for granted.

There was also inspiration from the story of a member of the group who was once lost in addiction but found new life and meaning in God's mercy and grace and today he cannot cease to praise God.

Check out the choir's schedule; they might be coming to a church near you, and if they are, make every effort to join them in worship and praise – it is a transforming experience.

Bread is not good enough: Cake is better

The First Reading for this Sunday, The Fourth Sunday in Lent, is from Numbers 21:4 -9 where the Israelites “spoke against God and against Moses, (saying) 'Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food”.

“For there is no food?” Actually there was food from heaven - manna - but it was not what they wanted.

It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between “needs” and “wants”. Many complaints heard everyday are not because of lack of needs but wants. Every report of good news on the media, for example, new jobs added or less claims for unemployment, there follows a counter-measure, such as, “but gas prices continue to make life difficult!”

Who would think that the Israelites would make a comparison with bondage in Egypt? Yet this Reading is a good reminder of Short-term Memory.

God desires gratefulness. Indeed, the other lessons for this Sunday – Ephesians 2:1 -10; John 3:14 -21; and Psalm 107:1 -3, 17 -22 all emphasize God's mercy and grace.

The appropriate response is “a sacrifice of thanksgiving and telling of God's acts with shouts of joy” (Ps.107:22) not complaints. Is there anything at all to be grateful for?

Meditate on God's holy Word: Discussion

The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is also a library, meaning a collection of books written by different authors.

It is true also that a community of faith made the collection scriptures. The Orthodox churches, of different traditions, have more books in their bibles than the Catholic church which has more books than the Protestants or the Anglicans.

How do we explain God's inspired Word with reference to the writers and the community of faith? Actually, there were more writers than they are in the scriptures

Add your comments and suggestions.

Meditate on God's holy Word: Is it on YouTube?

This was the third presentation in the 2012 Lenten Series at Christ Church Cathedral in Cincinnati under the theme: Occupy Yourself: Doing Lent in an Unre-Lenting World.

When it comes to a general knowledge of God's holy Word Episcopalians rank on the bottom of the scale, even below atheists. (Incidentally, atheists have better general knowledge of the Bible than some Christian denominations – not just Episcopalians).

In his presentation on Wednesday, March 14, the Rev. Scott Gunn stressed that the Bible is God's inspired word. To underscore the significance, he informed his listeners that when deacons and priests are ordained in the Episcopal church, they sign a document to declare their affirmation of the fact.

The Forward Movement is the Episcopal national church's initiative to encourage and facilitate the study of God's holy World. The organization publishes and distributes Forward Day by Day meditations.

Click here for Rev. Gunn's notes of the presentation. The following are some thoughts and questions for discussion. You are invited to join in and next Wednesday Interim Dean Ron DelBene will present Pray without ceasing – or at least get it on Twitter.

Thoughts for the day from John Newton - writer of the song "Amazing Grace"

We can easily manage if we will only take, each day, the burden appointed to it. But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday's burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow before we are required to bear it.

There is many a thing which the world calls disappointment, but there is no such a word in the dictionary of faith. What to others are disappointments are to believers intimations of the way of God.

The Lord afflicts us at times; but it is always a thousand times less than we deserve, and much less than many of our fellow-creatures are suffering around us. Let us therefore pray for grace to be humble, thankful, and patient.