A Day Away

If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord...   Isaiah 58:13,14.

How Easily Words Hurt

Words are wonderful things. 

The Word is the most wonderful thing (John 1:1). 

Words are what I do as I study and read, preach and teach, counsel and converse. I try and choose them carefully. I need to, as they are incredibly powerful, often when I least expect them to be.

Our week at Cedarly was spent with our wonderful hosts, Andy & Nancy Hagen, and six others involved in various types of pastoral ministry. It was a joyous mix of Reformed and Pentecostal and E-Free and Lutheran and Presbyterian heritages, all gathered around the dinner table. 

In passing, I was asked about differences between the church in New Zealand and the church in America. And so I waxed eloquent about some cultural differences as exemplified in the divorce rates in the two churches I have been privileged to serve. My spiel was unnecessary. Worse, it was stupid. Worse still, it was unkind. One of my fellow-pastors had recently been through an incredibly painful divorce, and felt judged, I later discovered. 

In that later discussion, where apologies were offered and grace was kindly extended, I was reminded again of the potency of words to heal or to hurt. I realized again, to my shame, that intent and impact are not always related. 

But best of all, I learned afresh that the Word made flesh, who was full of grace and truth (John 1:14), can, if all parties let Him, bring his truth and His grace to our less-than-graceful (dare I say "graceless") words.

Pastoral Retreat

Mrs B sits cross-legged for long stretches
in a manner impossible for Mr B

 Had a great week away with my favorite woman at Cedarly Pastors' Retreat in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin: (click for more on Pastors Retreat Network). I get out there myself for a day of prayer and contemplation every month or two, so it was great to take Mrs B. to this place that has become an oasis for me. The emphasis was on sabbath rest, so that's what we did. I also got to read three books, one, a novel, just for fun. Shhhh! 

Mrs B says, "How
uncomfortable" &
snaps a pic

A slim volume that was really challenging was David Whitney's Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health (NavPress, 2001). It's worth another, even slower, read, so I'm gonna have to get a copy.

It's interesting how, as pastors, we are called to diagnose and treat others' spiritual health, and yet give so little attention to our own. Maybe that's one reason why 1,700 pastors leave the ministry each month (for stats click here).

Also did some journalling, praying, canoeing, playing "Monopoly Deal" and we even broke the media fast to see the "The Help" (powerful movie).

Last, but not least (perhaps even best), meditated on Jesus' words in Matthew 11:28-30:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

"Now you look comfortable," says she, with a click

A Day Away

Life gets so busy, even in the summer. So there's nothing better than getting away to a place where I meet God in a unique way.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

Spiritual Retreat

Today I'm at Cedarly, this oasis in Oconomowoc (I love saying that word; writing it on a phone is a bit more challenging).

A few days ago, in my reading through Isaiah, I came across this verse in 30:15:
"In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength."

It's great to get away and be quiet with God. And I love having around 40 personal prayer requests from our church family, through Sunday's communication card, that I can bring before our loving Lord.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7