Monthly Archives: January 2014

Connections: New Book from Leonard Sweet

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Steve Harper

Just want to let you know that Leonard Sweet’s new book, ‘The Well-Played Life,’ is available.  Like his others, this one takes established truths and adds creative thinking to them–this time in relation to how we move through the basic … Continue reading →

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Let Us Pray: The Essence of Prayer

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Steve Harper

Here is my distilled essence of prayer.  First, prayer is attitude.  This means it includes occasional acts, but it is actually an ongoing disposition of the heart, not limited to fixed times of devotion. Second, prayer is abandonment.  It is … Continue reading →

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Lumen Fidei: A Light to be Recovered

Posted on January 27, 2014 by Steve Harper

When we are in the darkness, the need for light is even more necessary and urgent.  The light of faith is needed in order to give light to the totality of our lives, not just religion. The light we need … Continue reading →

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Ancient Wisdom: January 26, 2014 (Year A)

Posted on January 25, 2014 by Steve Harper

Read:  Isaiah 9: 1-4 Meditation:  The Promise Fulfilled What we anticipate in Advent comes to pass in Epiphany.  Revelation becomes reality.  Isaiah’s words, read as prophecy in Advent, are now fulfilled. A lot of our life works the same way.  … Continue reading →

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In-Sight: Reclaiming the Gold

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Steve Harper

     As I look back upon my 42 years as an Elder in The United Methodist Church and my 32 years as a professor in theological education, I do so with great joy, appreciation, and a deep sense of having … Continue reading →

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Lumen Fidei: An Illusory Light?

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Steve Harper

Despite every attempt by God to make revelation a matter of light and life (that is, positive and inviting), the fallen world prefers darkness to light (see John 3:19).  This is precisely the response to be expected from an egoic … Continue reading →

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Ancient Wisdom: January 19, 2014 (Year A)

Posted on January 18, 2014 by Steve Harper

Read:  Isaiah 49:1-7 Meditation:  Faithful and Tired Isaiah knew that he had been called by God, even from his mother’s womb.  It was a call to serve God in restoring the nation, and he had labored obediently in relation to … Continue reading →

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In-Sight: Sustained by Grace

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Steve Harper

I hope this new year will find us experiencing the sacraments of the church in deeper ways.  They are the signs that we are created, redeemed, and sustained by grace. Henri Nouwen succinctly reminds us why the sacraments are so … Continue reading →

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Lumen Fidei: “The Light of Faith”

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Steve Harper

Creation began when God said, “Let there be light.” Redemption begins with the same declaration, “In him was life, and the life was the light of all people” (John 1:4). Like natural life, born out of the darkness of creation … Continue reading →

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Ancient Wisdom: January 12, 2013 (Year A)

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Steve Harper

Read:  Isaiah 42:1-9 Meditation:  “On a Mission” Isaiah prophesied that the servant of the Lord would literally be a man on a mission. and so Jesus was.  Using words similar to our reading today, he used the 61st chapter of … Continue reading →

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In-Sight: The Basis of Unity

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Steve Harper

The new pentecost is a coming together, rather than a moving apart.  Henri Nouwen shows how love must be the basis for all unity…. “Love unites all, whether created or uncreated. The heart of God, the heart of all creation, … Continue reading →

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Lumen Fidei: Journey Into The Light

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Steve Harper

With our exploration of Henri Nouwen’s book at an end, I want to turn to Pope Francis’ first encyclical, Lumen Fide. The implications of his words go beyond the Roman Church.  I hope you have a copy of Lumen Fide so … Continue reading →

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Ancient Wisdom: January 5, 2014 (Year A)

Posted on January 4, 2014 by Steve Harper

Read: Jeremiah 31:7-14 Meditation: “What A Day That Will Be!” The end of Christmastide replays the vision we saw on the first Sunday in Advent about six weeks ago: the vision of God’s great ingathering at the end of the … Continue reading →

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Let Us Pray: Stand Watch

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Steve Harper

For a long time, I thought of the phrase “pray without ceasing” in purely individualistic ways.  So, I developed techniques to bring me back into a spirit of prayer throughout the day.  I continue to make use of these “calls … Continue reading →

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Ministry Musings: Better Together

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Steve Harper

The story of the four people who carried their friend to Jesus is a metaphor for ministry.  It us a reminder that there are some things we can do better when we do them together.  The stretcher had four corners.  … Continue reading →

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First Day: Living In Sync

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Steve Harper

As I told you in the December “First Day” post, I have been discerning the place of Oboedire in relation to my status as a retired person. This comes from my belief that we are called to live in our … Continue reading →

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Gleanings: Ready to Sail!

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Steve Harper

Welcome to 2014!!! As you know, I believe we are living in a new pentecost–in a time when the fresh Wind of the Spirit is blowing.  Here is a great quote from St. Ephraem to connect us with this movement … Continue reading →

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