Monthly Archives: October 2013

Let Us Pray: UnceasingvPrayer

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Steve Harper

St. Augustine sheds helpful light on how we pray without ceasing… “And all my desire is before you” (Ps 37:10)… This very desire of yours is your prayer; and if your desire is continual, your prayer is continual too. It … Continue reading →

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Ministry Musings: Keep Watch Over Yourself

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Steve Harper

Institutions in decline increase the pressure on leaders to “produce” and “succeed.” This is the sociological equivalent to the natural survival instinct. I see it across the board in North American Christianity, but especially among church-planting pastors and those … Continue reading →

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In-Sight: Realistic Spirituality

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Steve Harper

This is not a commercial for The Common English Bible. There are some places where I think it misses the boat, which is a risk every translation must take in its aim to make the Bible more accessible and readable… … Continue reading →

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Announcement: A Simpler Way

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Steve Harper

Hello, Everyone! I have made the decision to end my regular, thematic postings. The production of them has become too labor-intensive and deadline-driven. As of today, the only regular post for Oboedire will be “The Holy Gospel” each Saturday. I … Continue reading →

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The Holy Gospel: October 27, 2013 (Year C)

Posted on October 26, 2013 by Steve Harper

Read: Luke 18:9-14 Meditation: “The Great Mistake” Jesus hit the nail on the head–when we declare ourselves “righteous,” we will use our self-declared status to look upon others with contempt. That’s what egotism does. It has to be “above” some … Continue reading →

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Ooops!

Posted on October 23, 2013 by Steve Harper

Working ahead on the blog has backfired on me! A post intended for Christmas week posted accidentally today. No….I am not taking a two-month “Christmas break”—and even though I am a Willie Nelson devotee, I am NOT ready to hear … Continue reading →

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Listenings: Sign of Our Deliverance

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Steve Harper

Gratitude is the sign that our resentments no longer rule us. Gratitude is not just an occasional “thanks be to God” (p. 63), it is a disposition of the heart that celebrates our liberation from death-dealing elements in our lives. … Continue reading →

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The Holy Gospel: October 20, 2013 (Year C)

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Steve Harper

Read: Luke 18:1-8 Meditation: “Spoiled Chilren” Jesus’ question at the end of today’s lesson used to strike me as disconnected from the parable. But one day, I realized it was precisely the question to ask. The parable of the importunate … Continue reading →

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Recommendation: The Dave Test

Posted on October 18, 2013 by Steve Harper

I have just received a copy of a book, written by my friend Fred Schmidt. It is so powerful that I want all my readers to know about it, so I am posting this note on all my social media. … Continue reading →

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Listenings: Our Universal Challenge

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Steve Harper

As we resume the weekly “Listenings” posting, we return to Nouwen’s book, ‘Spiritual Formation’ (HarperOne, 2010), and we pick up our exploration of it in the midst of his call for us to move from resentment to gratitude. Nouwen defines … Continue reading →

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The Holy Gospel: October 13, 2013 (Year C)

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Steve Harper

Read: Luke 17:11-19 Meditation: “The Importance of Gratitude” All ten lepers were cleansed. It is important to see that. We do not have to be grateful to God in order for God to do something good to us. God’s generosity … Continue reading →

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Listenings: Resumes on October 14

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Steve Harper

Some of you have asked if the “Listenings” category is going to resume. You are remembering that it is this category which contains the basic postings about attentive spiritual formation, the heart of Oboedire. The answer is, “Yes.” We will … Continue reading →

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The Holy Gospel: October 6, 2013 (Year C)

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Steve Harper

Read: Luke 17:5-10 Meditation: “The Increase of Faith” The request of the disciples for increased faith (v 5) comes on the heels of their realization of how challenging the Christian life is, particularly when it comes to forgiveness. The rest … Continue reading →

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First Day: A New Series

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Steve Harper

With the coming of October, I want to tell you about a new series which begins on October 9th. Each Wednesday, I will post a writing related to Pope Francis’ first encyclical letter: “Lumen Fidei.” I have been reading it … Continue reading →