Sacred Threshold ::

Mid-Day Prayer :.

The Concluding Prayer of the Church
Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.†

May Your Kingdom come, Your will be done...

War and rumors of war, threats and counter threats, volley for my attention.

May peace come to the earth.

Move Thy hand O God. Move Thy hand.

Remember dear Lord, I have three sons.

Prayer Tips :.

Light hearted yet practical tips on prayer here.

Steeping :.

"I will meditate on your commandments and give attention to your ways."

Steeping a cup of tea cannot be hurried. It takes time. Yesterday I ordered an iced tea at a local coffee shop. Before it could be iced it had to be brewed.

"It will take four minutes for your tea. Is that okay?"

"Four minutes? Sure."

In the day of instant everything, when even the fanciest of coffee drinks are only a minute away from sipping, four minutes was a notable wait. Maybe it was the extra step of brewing then icing that was different. Four minutes was short compared to the goodness of the long conversation I was about to embark into and refreshing delight of the iced tea that would soon be served to my table.

When a four minute wait may be inconceivable for some, I cannot wonder why old spiritual practices like meditation and mindful paying attention have fallen by the wayside for most Christians. Taking time to steep in the warmth and richness of God's way and truth for us, letting it change us like cup of freshly brewed tea, is essential for living the life we desire to live.

So in this moment.....Take a deep breath, slow down the pace, notice your surroundings, read the passage one more time, and taste the richness of the food given this day to nourish your soul. May you brew up something wonderful with your life today and always.

Contemplative Youth Ministry :.

Here's a link to a contemplative youth ministry grid blog tour on a new book by Mark Yaconelli entitled Contemplative Youth Ministry.

After talking with a friend on the state of the evangelical church in relationship (or lack thereof) to contemplative prayer, I was delighted to see a book that was attempting to open a doorway to new ways of encountering God and doing ministry. Based on real experiences with The Youth Ministry and Spirituality Project, it looks very promising.

Follow the blog grid and hear for yourself others' reaction to the book.

Prayer of the Church :.

One thing I notice as I pray more consistently the Divine Hours, is the importance of gathering myself into the "Prayer of the Church." As a person who spends a lot of time in solitude these days, the prayer reminds me of the larger story I am desiring to live more fully. It keeps me focused on the reality of who Jesus is--the head of the church--and who I am--His servant. The words change with the time of day and the day of the week but the interior attitude does not. I need to be reminded of what is True and Real through daily rhythm and practice.

Pray :.

A call to pray for the children...

Awakening :.

"It is not we who choose to awaken ourselves but God who chooses to awaken us."
                                                            --Thomas Merton,The Seeds of Contemplation

Lectio :.

Read Judy's (Emergent Self) insightful post on Lectio here...

Rachel's Vineyard :.

This weekend I am serving as the pastor on a Rachel's Vineyard Retreat. Please pray for God's healing, comfort and grace to be present to all who are present.

Daily Office :.

Join together in a common spiritual practice of praying the daily office here.