Category Archives: Connections

​Christmas is the time for experiencing the formative work of descent.  We sing, “Love came down at Christmas.”  It is the hymnodic way of declaring with John that “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14).  Christ’s “coming down” was a descent … Continue reading →

I am happy to tell you that my new book, Five Marks of a Methodist, is available. You can get it right now directly from Abingdon Press at a discounted price via this link: http://www.abingdonpress.com/product/9781501800597#.VN5eidAo7mw. Or you can place a … Continue reading →

I always feel way behind the curve when I refer folks to social media, but I would rather be repetitive than silent.  Here are two online ministries I find very helpful.  Both have a Facebook page and a website… (1) … Continue reading →

Go to “The Oboedire Shop” to read about new highlighted ministries offered by Jan Richardson and Christianne Squires.  You will find the information in the “Formation Ministries” section of that page.

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 →

You will be blessed and helped at the Spirituality Shoppe, a multi-faceted ministry founded by Evan B. Howard… http://www.spiritualityshoppe.org

The coming of the Spirit at Pentecost engaged both men and women in the ministry of the church.  The Spirit was poured out on “all flesh.”—-“and your daughters shall prophesy.” With this post, I am adding another Category to capture … Continue reading →

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you know how important I think the word “vocation” is.  We live vocationally–that is, in response to God’s call. My good friend, and Episcopal priest, Rob Goodridge has … Continue reading →

When a creative formational resource crosses my path, I want to share it with you. Such is the new “Gathering Place” series published by Wipf and Stock.  My longtime friend and colleague, Dr. Daryl Smith, originally envisioned the series, small-group … Continue reading →

I want you to know about a new book that has just been published as a Kindle Book.  It’s entitled, When TV Came to Town.  It’s a different kind of book for me, but one I have wanted to publish … Continue reading →

Just a reminder that Upper Room Books has published my book Talking in the Dark: Praying When Life Doesn’t Make Sense as a Kindle book. 

Here’s an update on the post I sent earlier today announcing the new Kindle edition of Talking in the Dark Below is the Amazon Permalink you can use to go directly to the kindle edition…. http://amzn.com/B00B64OX5M

I’m happy to tell you that Talking in the Dark: Praying When Life Doesn’t Make Sense is now available in a Kindle Edition. You can find it by going to amazon.com, and searching “books” using this identifier: talking in the … Continue reading →

As many of you will know, I am an advocate of reading devotional classics.  I think we should be reading something “classical” all the time.  Here are two ways to do it…. (1) Christian Classics Ethereal Library—an online source that … Continue reading →

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this ministry before, as well as its co-founder Dr. Susan Muto.  But I was visiting the ministry website and was nudged to mention it again. As you know, one of the convictions I have is that … Continue reading →

I have two new resources for you to check out… (1) Renovare (www.renovare.org)—-this time-tested ministry has developed several new formation ministries:  “Stepping Stones” (for children), “The Order of the Incarnation” (for college students), and “Lyfe” (for anyone, but with a … Continue reading →

Jeannie recently ordered a CD from a distribution source called “CD Baby.”  You may already know about it, but if not, I want to tell you just a little. The confirmation email she received is one of the “happiest” and … Continue reading →

I’m sure that somewhere in the Oboedire archives is a previous “Connection” posting that announced the publication of A Pocket Guide to Prayer by Upper Room Books.  It’s a book I wrote to provide an actual resource for prayer (particularly … Continue reading →

I’ve become familiar with a source I want to pass on to you:  http://www.ancientfaith.com As you’ll see it’s a website for a radio-oriented ministry, but as you explore the site, you’ll discerer that there are also written posts (lectures and … Continue reading →

I’ve just learned that one of my long-time mentors, Dr. Donald Demaray, has a website that shows all of his many publications.  I want you to have it:  http://www.donalddemaray.com. “Dr. Don” was literally the first person I met at Asbury … Continue reading →

A friend of mine has recently recommended that I take a look at Joel Manby’s new book, Love Works (Zondervan).  He felt it would encourage me in relation to previous blogs having to do with the necessity of relational leadership.  … Continue reading →

The Upper Room has resumed a free, daily e-letter called “Upper Room Daily Reflections.”  It is not simply an electronic version of the devotional guide.  It is a resource that includes excerpts from Upper Room Books and other materials you … Continue reading →

Jeannie has been sharing meditations with me from a site called “The Praying Life.”  I have been blessed by the contemplative spirit which they so powerfully and beautifully represent.  I’m ready to connect you to this ministry site as well…. … Continue reading →

I may be way behind you on this recommendation, but today I have run into Robert Sutton, professor of Management Science at Stanford University.  I’ve made a quick run through his archived writings, and he clearly is a respected spokesperson … Continue reading →

Hello, Everyone! A while back, I told you about my new friendship with Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, who is one of the leaders of The New Monasticism and also part of the related Rutba House in Durham, North Carolina. Jonathan recently interviewed … Continue reading →

Some of you will doubtless already know about Jonathan, his leadership in the New Monasticism, and the Rutba House he and others have established in Durham, North Carolina. If not, I want you to get to know him and his … Continue reading →

I have previously recommended Richard Rohr as a source you may find interesting and helpful. A little while ago, he began a blog.  So, I want you to know about it as well. http://richardrohr.wordpress.com Enjoy!

I have just discovered “Bible Study Tools” (www.biblestudytools.com). It has so many features, I can only ask you to check it out for yourself if you are looking for resources that will enable you to enrich your study of Scripture. … Continue reading →

This past week,  I completed my reading of Brennan Manning’s memoir, All is Grace.  Not surprisingly, I found it to be a blessing—another “from the heart,” honest book from one of God’s servants. If you already know about Manning, I … Continue reading →

I do not know anyone who deals with the subject of “women in ministry” any better than Carolyn James.  Her latest book, Half the Church, is one that no one who has an interest in this topic should miss.

I’ve just found an amazing resource:  Discipleship Library (www.discipleshiplibrary.com). It’s a new feature of The Navigators, and simply put, it’s a collection of hundreds of audio presentations by a mind-boggling array of speakers, who have ministered at Navigator conferences for … Continue reading →

If you don’t already know about it, the site http://www.smallgroups.com is an excellent place to receive instruction and learn about new resources for small groups.  You can subscribe to a free e-letter and keep track of additions to the website.

I have previously connected you with the “Spirituality and Practice” website.  It’s an eclectic site featuring many vantage points from which to view the spiritual life.  Not all of it is within the Christian tradition, and not all of it … Continue reading →

Like me, some of you will have found Dallas Willard to be a good mentor in your spiritual formation.  I just learned yesterday that he has a new website. http://www.dwillard.org Check it out.  

I was recently reminded that Thomas Merton struggled with the idea of transferring from the Cistercian Order to the Carthusians.  I realized I don’t know much about the Carthusians. Thanks to a recent post by John Michael Talbot, I found … Continue reading →

Recently, two websites have come to my attention—sites that can give some perspective on two critical issues in the world today:  slavery and poverty. The first is http://www.slaveryfootprint.org.  It’s an 11-item survey that estimates how many slaves you have working … Continue reading →

This past Saturday was the day to remember St. Therese of Lisieux.  I was browsing the web and came upon a new site for me:  http://www.storyofasoul.com It features the complete text of St. Therese’s classic autobiography, The Story of a … Continue reading →

You may be like me and wonder how to wade through all the news media and find articles having to do with religion. Recently, I came upon a resource that helps me do that:  pewforum.org If you go there, you … Continue reading →

Augsburg Books has a series called “40 Day Journey with ____________.”  The blank is a person.  For example, “40 Day Journey with Parker Palmer.” I may not have the latest list of persons featured in this series, but here are … Continue reading →

My friend, John Michael Talbot, has blessed us with two new resources. First, his CD “Worship and Bow Down”–a series of beautiful, new compositions blending the spirit of the new monasticism with the forthcoming revision of the Roman Missal. Second, … Continue reading →

Do you like history and biography? If so, “This Week in Christian History” e-letter may be of interest to you.  It’s part of the Christianity Today family of publications, and you can receive it automatically and for free by going … Continue reading →

I’ve been reading an online resource for several weeks, and I think you might want to check it out.  It’s called “Journey With Jesus” (www.journeywithjesus.net). It appears each Monday morning.  You can have an automatic subscription, if you wish. What … Continue reading →

Many of you will already have heard of John Stott’s passing this past Wednesday.  We have truly lost one of Christianity’s most-respected global leaders. About five years ago, he gave us a treasure in his book, Through the Bible, Through … Continue reading →

The Henri Nouwen Society has upgraded its website and expanded its offerings.  I hope you’ll take time to check out their “new and improved” ministry at  http://www.henrinouwen.org. When you do, pay particular attention to the new Henri Nouwen Spirituality Series.  … Continue reading →

For some of you, it will not be possible to “pull up roots” and attend school in another location.  But it is difficult to discern what online options are actually worth considering. I want to encourage you to take a … Continue reading →

Check out the interview with Brother Paul Quenon on the Abbey of Gethsemani website (www.monks.org).  You can click on to it on the Abbey’s Home Page. It is a video of the interview for a recent “Religion and Ethics” program … Continue reading →

“Adoration” and “Thanksgiving” have always been two forms of prayer that seem very similar.  I know the technical difference:  adoration is our way of being grateful for who God “is,” and thanksgiving is our gratitude for what God “does.”  But … Continue reading →

Some of you have asked me to send a post when A Pocket Guide to Prayer is available for Kindle. I’ve just check the Amazon.com site, and I find that it is available for $7.60. I hope you will find … Continue reading →

If you follow the “Oboedire” site, you know that one of the disciplines I quietly commend is reading the daily Gospel lesson.  Just for review, here are the places where I have found help in doing that…. The lesson itself … Continue reading →

Michael Todd Wilson has started a blog specifically for the care of clergy.  It’s an expression of a ministry he has been engaged in for some years now. You can find it at http://blog.shepherd-care.org/ Jeannie and I met Michael at … Continue reading →