Category Archives: Uncategorized

Sitting at the gate, I see the recovery of true humanity– a view of who we are that has been too-much lost. Last month, I wrote about three Bibles I read most days: nature, the Perennial Tradition, and the Hebrew/Christian … Continue reading →

[Note: beginning today, this “At the Gate” series will become a monthly post on the first day of each month. I hope that making it less frequent will result in writing that is more revealing of a “big picture” life … Continue reading →

Just a reminder that our second group meeting is tomorrow (Friday) at Noon (ET). We will focus on Chapter 2 of ‘Journey to the Common Good.’ Here is the link to the Zoom meeting… https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9314085719 Meeting ID: 931 408 5719

I am sure you will agree that it is difficult to summarize Brueggemann’s insights in chapter two. Even by his own standards, it took nine sections for him to convey his message about subversion. In this post, and the remaining … Continue reading →

Looking forward to visiting with you today at noon (ET), focusing on the introduction and first chapter of Brueggemann’s book Here’s the Zoom meeting link… https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9314085719

Just a reminder that our meeting is changed to tomorrow (Saturday) at Noon (ET), not today. Looking forward to a good discussion of Brueggemann’s introduction and first chapter. Here is the link to the meeting… https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9314085719

The first online meeting of our group has been changed to Saturday, the 25th at Noon (ET). We will share in relation to the introduction and first chapter of Brueggemann’s book. Here is the link to the meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9314085719

This Friday, we have our first Zoom meeting, in which we share our experiences while reading chapter one. Here is the link to the meeting that runs from Noon to 1:00 p.m. (ET)…. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9314085719 We have seen the ignition of … Continue reading →

In chapter one, Brueggemann takes the broad idea of journey and applies it to the common good. Wisely, he shows us that we move into the common good in stages. It is not a state as much as it is … Continue reading →

A window is a place to stand or sit and look out on a larger reality. The Wesleys lived and ministered in ways that have become windows through which we can see life in Christ and live it inwardly and … Continue reading →

Sitting at the gate, we experience the sacredness of space. Some see space as protective, living with a “keep your distance” mentality. And of course, there are times when that’s good advice. In a dangerous world, space can be a … Continue reading →

I’m looking forward to meeting with you tomorrow (Thursday) at Noon (ET).

Read: “Love and Forgiveness” The way of God is the way of love. We always love in the midst of life as it is–rarely, if ever, loving in ideal conditions when everything is as it should be. Often, we love … Continue reading →

Among the missional senses that the Wesleys had for the Methodist movement was this: the conjoining of knowledge and vital piety, which John said had been too long divided. He incarnated that grand reunion through his integration of theology and … Continue reading →

I expect this series will go on for awhile, so before I dive into it, I want to let you know the sources which have formed me with respect to Christ. Maybe it’s the teacher in me that motivates me … Continue reading →

[Note: today I resume this series after lying dormant since 2013. I hope you will go back and read the earlier posts archived on the home page sidebar. They deal with important ideas related to Wesleyan spirituality that I will … Continue reading →

Question: I am 66 years of age. I need to think more about living as an elder. What does this mean for you? Response: I must begin by saying that I don’t think there is a one-size-fits all pattern for … Continue reading →

“A New Normal?” Living in the pandemic for a little over a year, we find ourselves asking, “Will there be a new normal?” As I have read articles in which the question is raised, it is an expression of anxiety, … Continue reading →

This month’s “Day One” post comes after the “In-Sight” post because I wanted the December “In-Sight” to be about Advent. So, I posted it on November 28th. If you have not seen it, it’s the one immediately before this one … Continue reading →

I am posting this a week early to connect with the Advent Season… Whatever else Advent is, it is an annual season in the Christian Year that invites us to make a fresh start. All four readings contain the keynote … Continue reading →

The “Merton’s Prayers” series will now post only on the International Thomas Merton Society Group Page on Facebook. I really want you to find the reflections there, in the midst of a rich feast of other writings with respect to … Continue reading →

More than a year has passed since Merton included a prayer in his journal. But I must emphasize that the intervening months contain ample evidence of his prayerful life, largely shaped by Roman Catholic liturgy and the liturgical calendar. Merton … Continue reading →

“Blessed Saint Thomas, who are blessed because, seeing the risen Christ and handling His wounds you believed in Him: pray to Him that I, seeing His body and the blood of His wounds each day may also believe Him, and … Continue reading →

“Now we faithful glorify  the Holy Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit  and we give this triune Lord  all the taste of the salt  all the love of the heart  all the fervor of the soul for ever and … Continue reading →

October 22, 1939 “Pax Tecum Filumena” (“Peace be with you, Philomena) [1] Between his last recorded prayer and this one (two months) Merton accepted a call to the priesthood and consulted with friends about how best to fulfill the call. … Continue reading →

August 24, 1939 “Christ, have mercy on us. God save you, Mary, full of grace.” [1] Merton entered a second prayer into his journal the same day that he included the first one. It was a response he had to … Continue reading →

​“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our … Continue reading →

​In my classes on Spiritual Formation, I had the opportunity to refer to a host of saints, canonized and otherwise. I made it a point to say that when studying persons, the best way to get to know them is … Continue reading →

Some of you will immediately recognize the title of this post as one of Richard Rohr’s phrases to describe where he believes God calls us to live.[1]  I have intentionally used his words, because I agree with him, and because … Continue reading →

A lot of politics in general and some of the president’s words and deeds in particular are beyond my expertise, even though sometimes I can’t keep myself from commenting about them. But when Donald Trump wanders into certain territory, he … Continue reading →

Yesterday, Deacons and Elders were ordained by Bishop Ken Carter in the Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. [1] This annual service is a highlight and a reminder that God calls every Christian to a discipleship ministry, and … Continue reading →

​Living in the present moment is living with “eyes wide open,” seeing into things so that their realities come into view (see Mark 8:18).  This kind of seeing gives us courage. First and foremost, we gain the courage to become … Continue reading →

​When I finished the previous post on the spiritual life as a dance, I saw in my mind’s eye the healed man outside the Temple walking, leaping and praising God (Acts 3:8).  I watched St. Francis dance down the road … Continue reading →

Dr. Hawkins got the attention of Wheaton and beyond when she posted on her Facebook page that “we all worship the same God.”  Ironically, she was referencing a similar statement made earlier by Pope Francis, and she was only repeating … Continue reading →

Statements of faith are common in Christian educational institutions.  How they are used speaks more loudly than what they say.  Much of what is happening in the Wheaton-Hawkins situation bears this out. I attended and served an institution that has … Continue reading →

In my Facebook post earlier today, I wrote that the Wheaton College conflict with Dr. Larycia Hawkins is “a situation to follow.”  There are multiple reasons why this is so, and a number of them are particularly significant.  The best … Continue reading →

A meditation from Martin Copenhaver, pastor of Wellesly UCC, in Wellesley, Ma…. “In our already overcrowded lives, another space is being taken away. When I was learning to type, I was taught that you should have two spaces after a … Continue reading →

I am in a “less is more” phase with respect to the Oboedire blog and my Facebook pages. So…for the rest of the Summer, I will not write the weekly “Ancient Wisdom” lectionary meditations. Pre-scheduled  Oboedire writings will continue each … Continue reading →

Read:  Numbers 11-24-30 Meditation:  “Distributing the Spirit” Today is Pentecost Sunday, the day we often call “the birthday of the church.”  Our minds go immediately to Acts 2, as we recall the Spirit’s being poured out on everyone in the … Continue reading →

Read:  Acts 1:6-14 Meditation:  “Ready for Whatever” The question of the disciples was exactly what we’d expect them to ask.  Their Jewish understanding of the Messiah as one who would restore the Davidic Kingdom had revived in them following Jesus’ … Continue reading →

Read:  Acts 17:22-31 Meditation: A Manual for Our Witness” The account of Paul’s visit to Athens provides an outline for the way we should engage non-Christian people, no matter where they are. First, Paul took the time to get to … Continue reading →

Read:  Acts 7:55-60 Meditation: “Covering Our Ears” Stephen was stoned because the angry crowd covered their ears (v 57).  It was all over after that.  It still is. When we stop listening, we stop relating.  When we stop listening, we … Continue reading →

Read:  Acts 2:42-47 Meditation:  “Off To A Good Start” On the basis of repentance and baptism, the first Christians set about establishing the foundation for their life together.  Over time, they added other features.  But we are fortunate to see … Continue reading →

Read: Acts 2:14, 36-41 Meditation:  “Where It Begins” There may have been a million people in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost.  As the story reveals (2:7-11), people from all over the world were there.  And when Peter finished his … Continue reading →

Read:  Acts 2:14, 22-32 Meditation: “Taking It To The Street” Theologians call it the Kerygma.  Essentially, it is the core message the early Christians developed to “proclaim Christ.”  Today’s lesson can be viewed from the vantage point of content/doctrine.  But … Continue reading →