Claimed, gathered and sent

Conformed to His Image Kenneth Boa’s book, Conformed to His Image: Biblical and Practical Approaches to Spiritual Formation, was unfamiliar to me until I had to start reading it for my Spiritual Formation course. It is a treasure trove of ideas and methods to help us be more like Jesus. I will periodically share portions of the book with you I’ve found particularly helpful, challenging and inspiring. Many of us struggle with the concepts of solitude and silence. Many find it impossible to have a quiet moment alone. Our world is so noisy that we often find it difficult to concentrate if it’s too quiet. The following excerpt from Boa’s work challenged me in this. After lunch, as I worked, I consciously quieted myself. Solitude and Silence In solitude, we remove ourselves from the influence of our peers and society and find the solace of anonymity. In this cloister we discover a place of strength, dependence, reflection, and renewal, and we confront

BONHOEFFER for MONDAY - JANUARY 8, 2007 God's Image God does not want me to model others into the image that seems good to me, that is, into my own image. Instead, in their freedom from me God made other people in God's own image. I can never know in advance how God's image should appear in others. That image always takes on a completely new and unique form whose origin is found solely in God's free and sovereign act of creation. To me that form may seem strange, even ungodly. But God creates every person in the image of God's Son, the Crucified, and this image, likewise, certainly looked strange and ungodly to me before I grasped it. Strong and weak, wise or foolish, talented or untalented, pious or less pious, the complete diversity of individuals in the community is no longer a pretext for self-justification. Rather this diversity is a reason for rejoicing in one another and serving one another. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer - from Life Together 90 from A Year with Dietr

Epiphany is a time of discovery, of revelation. Saturday was the feast of the Epiphany for those who follow the western church calendar. In addition to being “an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being” [1] it is also “(1): a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2): an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3): an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure b : a revealing scene or moment” [2] I was struck by a thought in a textbook for the Spiritual Formation course I’m taking this semester. Marcel Proust said, “the real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but in seeing with new eyes.” [3] Isn't this what epiphany is really about? May God give us new eyes with which to see. [1] Meriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary , Online: http://merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epiphany , [7 Ja

The following article is located at: http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2007/001/2.58.html Practical Pampering 29 ways to treat yourself right in the New Year. by Kimberly Neessen T aking care of yourself doesn't need to be a costly or extravagant affair. A friend of mine says it's all in the lighting; anything can be pampering as long as you light a candle while doing it. For example, take a bath and light a candle. Make dinner and light a candle. Balance the checkbook and light a candle. (Well, maybe that last one is taking it a bit too far, but you get the idea!) Lighting issues aside, pampering can be as simple as getting creative with what you have and giving yourself permission to do something special for yourself. Try some of these simple, inexpensive pampering pointers when you need a break from the race that is your life. And don't forget to light a candle! 1. Get a manicure at a local beauty school. 2. Give your walls a new look by checking out artwork fro

We spent Thanksgiving with my son in Buffalo, NY.