How are you doing?

How is your journey through these 40 days of Lent? Sometimes it's easy to get side-tracked. We stumble. We forget the commitments we made at Ash Wednesday - commitments to spend more time in prayer or reading scripture. We fail. Once again, we fail.

I stumbled across the prayer. It seems fitting for these days prior to Holy Week.

Lord Jesus Christ, you are for me medicine when I am sick;
you are my strength when I need help;
you are life itself when I fear death;
you are the way when I long for heaven;
you are light when all is dark;
you are my food when I need nourishment.

- Ambrose of Milan (240-397)

Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, today is a new day. You can start fresh today. Praise God.

from twitturgies

May the bread you break today be Jesus: in every crumb and every conversation his real presence. God incarnate be your table guest this day.

(find more here)

mid-week reflections

When I get serious about my growth as a Christian, especially during Lent, I am reminded of this quote by Maya Angelou: "I'm startled or taken aback when people walk up to me and tell me they are Christians. My first response is the question, 'Already?' It seems to me a lifelong endeavor to try to live the life of a Christian."

Following Jesus is hard work!

Also, I found this tidbit on the internet today: "Where the day is dark and dangers hide. Where the fire in my heart has died. Where the earth cries out for freedom's tide. Come Holy Spirit."

Peace to you this day....

a poem by Madeleine L'Engle

Who Shoved Me Out Into The Night?

Who shoved me out into the night?
What wind blew out the quavering light?
Is it my breath, undone with fright?
This is the Kingdom of the Beast.
For which will I provide the feast?

Who once was daft, with fear am dafter.
Who went before? Who will come after?
Who in this darkness sends me laughter?
I cannon pray, but I am prayed,
The prey prepared, bedecked, arrayed.

The dark is sound against my ear,
Is loud with clatter of my fear.
I hear soft footsteps padding near.
I, who have fed, will be eaten,
Whose dinner will I sour or sweeten?

This is not hell, nor say I damn.
I know not who nor why I am
But I am walking with a lamb
And all the tears that ever were
Are gently dried on his soft fur,

And tears that never could be shed
Are held within that tender head.
Tears quicken now that once were dead.
O, little lam, how you do weep
For all the strayed and stricken sheep.

Your living fur against my hand
You guide me in this unseen land,
And still I do not understand.
The darkness deepens more and more
Till it is shattered by a roar.

Lamb, stop! Don't leave me here alone
For this wild beast to call his own,
To kill, to shatter, flesh and bone.
Against the dark I whine and cower.
I fear the lion. I dread his hour.

Here is the slap of unsheathed paws.
I feel the tearing of his claws,
Am shaken in his might jaws.
This dark is like a falcon's hood
Where is my flesh and where is my blood?

The lamb has turned to lion, wild,
With nothing tender, gentle, mild,
Yet once again I am a child,
A babe newborn, a fresh creation,
Flooded with joy, swept by elation.

Those powerful jaws have snapped the tether,
Have freed me to the wind and weather.
O Lion, let us run together,
Free, willing now to be untame,
Lion, you are light: joy is in flame.

Thoughts from Henri Nouwen

"Are we friends with ourselves? Do we love who we are? These are important questions because we cannot develop good friendships with others unless we have befriended ourselves.

"How then do we befriend ourselves? We have to start by acknowledging the truth of ourselves. We are beautiful but also limited, rich but also poor, generous but also worried about our security. Yet beyond all that we are people with souls, sparks of the divine. To acknowledge the truth of ourselves is to claim the sacredness of our being, without fully understanding it. Our deepest being escapes our own mental or emotional grasp. But when we trust that our souls are embraced by a loving God, we can befriend ourselves and reach out to others in loving relationships."

Lent Continues...

"There is a really deep well inside me. And in it dwells God. Sometimes I am there too. But more often stones and grit block the well, and God is buried beneath. Then God must be dug out again."

- Etty Hillesum

Blue Boat Home

Though below me, I feel no motion
Standing on these mountains and plains
Far away from the rolling ocean
Still my dry land heart can say
I've been sailing all my life now
Never harbor or port have I known
The wide universe is the ocean I travel
And the earth is my blue boat home

Sun, my sail, and moon my rudder
As I ply the starry sea
Leaning over the edge in wonder
Casting questions into the deep
Drifting here with my ship's companions
All we kindred pilgrim souls
Making our way by the lights of the heavens
In our beautiful blue boat home

I give thanks to the waves upholding me
Hail the great winds urging me on
Greet the infinite sea before me
Sing the sky my sailor's song
I was born upon the fathoms
Never harbor or port have I known
The wide universe is the ocean I travel
And the earth is my blue boat home

Happy St. Patrick's Day

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, here's a song that can be sung to the same tune as "Morning Has Broken" ....

1. Christ beside me, Christ before me,
 Christ behind me King of my heart;
 Christ within me, Christ below me,
 Christ above me never to part.

2. Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand,
 Christ all around me shield in strife;
 Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting,
 Christ in my rising light of my life.

3. Christ beside me, Christ before me,
 Christ behind me King of my heart;
 Christ within me, Christ below me,
 Christ above me never to part. 

Prayer !!!

Sudan's president: Foreign aid groups must leave

How was the fasting?

If anyone has any experiences with fasting for the past 24 hours that they are willing to share with me privately, I am interested in hearing! You can leave a comment (which will not be posted) or email me at rev.ragamuffin(at)gmail(dot)com.

Shane Claiborne

More on fasting

Here are 12 ways to pray during Lent.
A short article on fasting from things other than food

Fasting and prayers for healing

Since Sundays are the Lord's Day and are associated with the resurrection, they are not normally days of fasting. They are days of feasting. That is the reason Sundays are not a part of Lent.

Nevertheless, our pastor at Acts 2 has asked us to be in prayer and fasting (give up all food and drinks except water) for the next 24 hours for Brady, infant son of Andy and Cathy. Brady, one of three born at 30 weeks, is the smallest of the triplets and has kidney problems. His brother and sister, Drew and Jordan, are doing remarkably well.

Later today I will post more information on fasting. For many, fasting will be a new experience. There are various types of fasts and ways to fast. Here is a short article to introduce you to the concept of fasting.

Here is a short prayer for healing: Mighty and merciful God, you sent Jesus Christ to heal broken lives. We praise you that you send healing in doctors and nurses, and bless us with technology in medicine. We claim your promises of wholeness as we pray for those who are ill in body or mind, who long for your healing touch. Make the weak strong, the sick healthy, the broken whole, and confirm those who serve them as agents of your love. Then all shall be renewed in vigor to point to the risen Christ, who conquered death that we might live eternally. Amen. (from the Book of Common Worship)

Quote from Henri Nouwen

Being with a friend in great pain is not easy. It makes us uncomfortable. We do not know what to do or what to say, and we worry about how to respond to what we hear. Our temptation is to say things that come more out of our own fear than out of our care for the person in pain. Sometimes we say things like "Well, you're doing a lot better than yesterday," or "You will soon be your old self again," or "I'm sure you will get over this." But often we know that what we're saying is not true, and our friends know it too.

We do not have to play games with each other. We can simply say: "I am your friend, I am happy to be with you." We can say that in words or with touch or with loving silence. Sometimes it is good to say: "You don't have to talk. Just close your eyes. I am here with you, thinking of you, praying for you, loving you."

Amazing Grace...

This rendition of Amazing Grace is making the rounds on the internet. A great reminder this weekend that our lives are all about God's undeserved forgiveness.

If I could just sit with You awhile...

Jesus is mad as a hatter

"If the world is sane, then Jesus is mad as a hatter and the Last Supper is the Mad Tea Party. The world says, Mind your own business, and Jesus says, There is no such thing as your own business. The world says, Follow the wisest course and be a success, and Jesus says, Follow me and be crucified. The world says, Drive carefully — the life you save may be your own — and Jesus says, Whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. The world says, Law and order, and Jesus says, Love. The world says, Get and Jesus says, Give. In terms of the world's sanity, Jesus is crazy as a coot, and anybody who thinks he can follow him without being a little crazy too is laboring less under a cross than under a delusion."

--Listening to Your Life: Daily Meditations with Frederick Buechner

On Saint Patrick

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner. Growing up, I never realized the connection of St. Patrick to the Christian faith. For the next few days I want to reflect on the life and work of St. Patrick.

Here are the lyrics (based on a prayer attributed to Patrick) to an old hymn:

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this today to me forever
By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in Jordan river,
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb,
His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of cherubim;
The sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word,
The Patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Healer of My Soul

Interesting visuals... soothing song...

Prayer on the Second Sunday of Lent

From the online Book of Common Prayer (the prayer book for the Episcopal Church):

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 Word, Jesus Christ
your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Mark 8:27-38

²⁷Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” ²⁸And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” ²⁹He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” ³⁰And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

³¹Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. ³²He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

³⁴He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ³⁵For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. ³⁶For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? ³⁷Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? ³⁸Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

The Stations of the Cross

“It is precisely because of the cross that I have hope in this world…When he dragged that cross through spit and mud Jesus showed us that God is full aware of the realities of life, the hardships, the doubt, the pain.” – found on belief.net

From the earliest days of the church, Christians have journeyed to Jerusalem to retrace Jesus’ steps has he carried his cross from Pilate’s house to Golgotha. This path is known as the Via Dolorosa (“Way of Sorrow”) and the Via Crucis (“Way of the Cross”) and quickly became well known and well traveled by those who follow Christ. By the Middle Ages, other cities began to create replicas of this Sacred Way (or “Via Sacra”). Christians who could not make the journey to Jerusalem to walk this path could make the journey in their own places of worship. The number of stations has varied, but by the 1700’s there were 14 stations that were traditionally recognized. You will often see these 14 stations depicted on the walls of Roman Catholic, Anglican, or churches. The Stations are most often practiced during Lent, especially on Fridays and during Holy Week.

The most common way to practice the Stations is to go to a church or other location that has them around the walls. Worshipers walk from station to station, often reading scripture and saying prayers. If you have ever driven through the Texas panhandle on I-40, there is a large cross along the interstate just east of Amarillo. At the base of that cross you will find the Stations of the Cross.

There are a variety of ways that Christians have depicted the Stations. The traditional version is based on scripture as well as tradition.

1. Jesus is Condemned to Death
2. Jesus Receives His Cross
3. Jesus Falls Under the Weight of the Cross for the First Time
4. Jesus Meets His Mother
5. Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross
6. The Face of Jesus is Wiped by Veronica
7. Jesus Falls a Second Time
8. The Women of Jerusalem Mourn for Our Lord
9. Jesus Falls a Third Time
10. Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
11. Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
12. Jesus Dies Upon the Cross
13. Jesus is Laid in the Arms of His Mother
14. Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

Another set of Stations based on scripture:

1. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 25:36-41)
2. Jesus betrayed by Judas (Mark 14: 43-46)
3. Jesus condemned by the Sanhedrin (Luke 22: 66-71)
4. Jesus denied by Peter (Matthew 26: 69-75)
5. Jesus condemned by the people (Mark 15: 1-5, 15)
6. Jesus crowned with thorns and clothed in purple. (John 19: 1-3)
7. Jesus carries the cross. (John 19: 6, 15-17)
8. Jesus assisted by Simon of Cyrene (Mark 15: 21)
9. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem (Luke 23: 27-31)
10. Jesus is crucified. (Luke 23: 33-34)
11. Jesus speaks to the thief (Luke 23: 39-43)
12. Jesus speaks to his mother (John 19: 25-27)
13. Jesus dies on the cross (Luke 23: 44-46)
14. Jesus is buried. (Matthew 27: 57-60)

Some churches add a 15th Station celebrating the resurrection. But this is traditionally not to be observed during Lent.

“If you cannot contemplate high and heavenly things, take refuge in the Passion of Christ, and love to dwell within his Sacred Wounds. For if you devoutly seek the Wounds of Jesus and the precious marks of his Passion, you will find great strength in all troubles.” – Thomas a Kempis

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,
because by your holy cross,
you have redeemed the world.

Lord Jesus Christ,
take me along that holy way
you once took to your death,
Take my mind, my memory,
above all my reluctant heart,
and let me see what once you did
for love of me and all the world.

For more information about the Stations of the Cross, check out this website.

"Let us fast in such a way..."

"Let us fast in such a way that we lavish our lunches upon the poor, so that we may not store up in our purses what we intended to eat, but rather in the stomachs of the poor."

- Caesarius of Arles (6th century)

O the Deep Love of Jesus...

One of the major themes of Lent is being with Christ in the wilderness or the desert. I am thinking today of water... how nice is would be to be at the ocean ...

Prayer During Lent

Please take a moment today to find out what is happening in Sudan (which has been in the headlines this week!) and to offer prayers for the the people.

Lenten quotes

"IN THE DAILY ROUND of life, dust and cobwebs accumulate in our souls. The hidden corners of our hearts become encrusted with grime or filled with forgotten debris. During the weeks of Lent, God's Spirit is given opportunity to clear away the clutter, sweep away the dust and wash us clean. We are invited to prepare ourselves heart, soul, mind and body for the new life of Easter."

--Marlene Kropf in The Mennonite

(Christianity Today has more Lenten quotes here.)

Simplicity During Lent

Ann Hagmann writes about simplicity during Lent.

Part the Waters/I Need Thee Every Hour

On being empty during Lent...

Lent is often associated with the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness immediately following his baptism. For many, we often feel like we are in the wilderness or a desert in our spiritual lives. When we are in the desert, we can often feel like God is far away. There is an emptiness in our lives.

Henri Nouwen, the great Catholic writer, says:

"We are afraid of emptiness. Spinoza speaks about our "horror vacui," our horrendous fear of vacancy. We like to occupy-fill up-every empty time and space. We want to be occupied. And if we are not occupied we easily become preoccupied; that is, we fill the empty spaces before we have even reached them. We fill them with our worries, saying, "But what if ..."

"It is very hard to allow emptiness to exist in our lives. Emptiness requires a willingness not to be in control, a willingness to let something new and unexpected happen. It requires trust, surrender, and openness to guidance. God wants to dwell in our emptiness. But as long as we are afraid of God and God's actions in our lives, it is unlikely that we will offer our emptiness to God. Let's pray that we can let go of our fear of God and embrace God as the source of all love."