“The church of God needs saints today,” she once said. “This imposes a great responsibility on us sisters, to fight against our own ego and love of comfort that leads us to choose a comfortable and insignificant mediocrity.... We are called upon to be warriors in saris, for the church needs fighters today. Our war cry has to be ‘fight –- not flight.’”
~ Mother Theresa
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Occupation With Trivialities
Lenten Prayer
http://www.annunciation-church.org/Documents/APRIL_2005_MESSAGE.pdf
The "appropriate hymn" of piety which we are urged to repeat many times during our struggles of Lent, and moreover, while prostrating is the prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian:
"Lord and Master of my life, do not give me a spirit of
idleness,
curiosity,
lust of power and
occupation with trivialities.
Instead, give me, your servant, a spirit of
prudence,
humility,
patience and
love.
Yes, Lord, make me able to see my own faults
and not judge my brother,
for You are blessed in the ages of ages.
Amen."
http://www.annunciation-church.org/Documents/APRIL_2005_MESSAGE.pdf
The "appropriate hymn" of piety which we are urged to repeat many times during our struggles of Lent, and moreover, while prostrating is the prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian:
"Lord and Master of my life, do not give me a spirit of
idleness,
curiosity,
lust of power and
occupation with trivialities.
Instead, give me, your servant, a spirit of
prudence,
humility,
patience and
love.
Yes, Lord, make me able to see my own faults
and not judge my brother,
for You are blessed in the ages of ages.
Amen."
Having Not Promised That Day Away
Renee Zellweger:
Zellweger plans to take a break from acting after completing current projects The Cinderella Man, about Depression-era boxer Jim Braddock, and Janis Joplin biopic Piece of My Heart.
"A lot of projects I had been following for a long time seemed to have all surfaced at once," she told reporters.
"I have never felt that drive to keep going and going until I achieve something that I can feel comfortable with.
"Most of the experiences I have had over the last seven years have been while imitating someone else.
"I need to find out as a woman now what I would do each day, and what I would learn, having not promised that day away for professional objectives."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3982089.stm
Monday, 8 November, 2004
Zellweger plans to take a break from acting after completing current projects The Cinderella Man, about Depression-era boxer Jim Braddock, and Janis Joplin biopic Piece of My Heart.
"A lot of projects I had been following for a long time seemed to have all surfaced at once," she told reporters.
"I have never felt that drive to keep going and going until I achieve something that I can feel comfortable with.
"Most of the experiences I have had over the last seven years have been while imitating someone else.
"I need to find out as a woman now what I would do each day, and what I would learn, having not promised that day away for professional objectives."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3982089.stm
Monday, 8 November, 2004
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Chinese Fortune Cookie Messages, Spring 2005
These are my Chinese Fortune Cookie Messages from Spring, 2005. They were prophetic.
It's not the will to win, but the will to prepare to win
that makes a difference.
Your talents will be recognized and suitably rewarded.
Your lover will never wish to leave.
A golden egg of opportunity falls into your lap this month.
Good to begin well, better to end well.
Love is the glue that holds together everything in the world.
Nothing in the world is difficult if one sets his mind to it.
This is a good time to consider formally helping others.
A single kind word will keep one warm for years.
Everywhere you choose to go, friendly faces will greet you.
You are never selfish with your advice or your help.
Your ideals are well within your reach.
You are a perfectionist. Don't spoil it.
It's not the will to win, but the will to prepare to win
that makes a difference.
Your talents will be recognized and suitably rewarded.
Your lover will never wish to leave.
A golden egg of opportunity falls into your lap this month.
Good to begin well, better to end well.
Love is the glue that holds together everything in the world.
Nothing in the world is difficult if one sets his mind to it.
This is a good time to consider formally helping others.
A single kind word will keep one warm for years.
Everywhere you choose to go, friendly faces will greet you.
You are never selfish with your advice or your help.
Your ideals are well within your reach.
You are a perfectionist. Don't spoil it.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
The Paradox of Grace and Truth
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
~ John 1:14
So God is calling us to be and become joyfully evangelical and intentionally multi-cultural. Which means we are also being called to be purposely paradoxical. I have shared before with this group my delight in the dilemma that John gives us when he proclaims that Jesus, as the Word Become Flesh, is full of both Grace and Truth. This stands as one of the great paradoxes of our paradoxical God. Grace is utterly free and utterly welcoming. But Truth sets limits and demands accountability. And God calls us to live and breathe and honor this tension in our lives.
Jesus loves children and touches bleeding women and eats with sinners and weeps when he sees the broken-ness of Jerusalem. But he also turns over tables of materialism, rails at liars and hypocrites and calls us a brood of vipers when we fail to honor covenant God. forgives the prodigal unconditionally, but then separates the selfless sheep from the greedy goats at the moment of judgment. Yes, graceful truth and truthful grace is the great paradox of our faith - a faith that is both radically free and rigorously accountable.
~ Susan Andrews, November 2003
Moderator of the 215th General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (USA)
~ John 1:14
So God is calling us to be and become joyfully evangelical and intentionally multi-cultural. Which means we are also being called to be purposely paradoxical. I have shared before with this group my delight in the dilemma that John gives us when he proclaims that Jesus, as the Word Become Flesh, is full of both Grace and Truth. This stands as one of the great paradoxes of our paradoxical God. Grace is utterly free and utterly welcoming. But Truth sets limits and demands accountability. And God calls us to live and breathe and honor this tension in our lives.
Jesus loves children and touches bleeding women and eats with sinners and weeps when he sees the broken-ness of Jerusalem. But he also turns over tables of materialism, rails at liars and hypocrites and calls us a brood of vipers when we fail to honor covenant God. forgives the prodigal unconditionally, but then separates the selfless sheep from the greedy goats at the moment of judgment. Yes, graceful truth and truthful grace is the great paradox of our faith - a faith that is both radically free and rigorously accountable.
~ Susan Andrews, November 2003
Moderator of the 215th General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (USA)
In righteousness you shall be established
1 Sing, O barren one who did not bear; burst into song and shout, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate woman will be more than the children of her that is married, says the LORD.
2 Enlarge the site of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.
3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess the nations and will settle the desolate towns.
4 Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; do not be discouraged, for you will not suffer disgrace; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the disgrace of your widowhood you will remember no more.
5 For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.
6 For the LORD has called you like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, like the wife of a man's youth when she is cast off, says your God.
7 For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will gather you.
8 In overflowing wrath for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the LORD, your Redeemer.
9 This is like the days of Noah to me: Just as I swore that the waters of Noah would never again go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you.
10 For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
11 O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, I am about to set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires.
12 I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of jewels, and all your wall of precious stones.
13 All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the prosperity of your children.
14 In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.
15 If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you.
16 See it is I who have created the smith who blows the fire of coals, and produces a weapon fit for its purpose; I have also created the ravager to destroy.
17 No weapon that is fashioned against you shall prosper, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, says the LORD.
Isaiah 54:1-17
Even to them I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.
Isaiah 56:5
2 Enlarge the site of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.
3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess the nations and will settle the desolate towns.
4 Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; do not be discouraged, for you will not suffer disgrace; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the disgrace of your widowhood you will remember no more.
5 For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.
6 For the LORD has called you like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, like the wife of a man's youth when she is cast off, says your God.
7 For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will gather you.
8 In overflowing wrath for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the LORD, your Redeemer.
9 This is like the days of Noah to me: Just as I swore that the waters of Noah would never again go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you.
10 For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
11 O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, I am about to set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires.
12 I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of jewels, and all your wall of precious stones.
13 All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the prosperity of your children.
14 In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.
15 If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you.
16 See it is I who have created the smith who blows the fire of coals, and produces a weapon fit for its purpose; I have also created the ravager to destroy.
17 No weapon that is fashioned against you shall prosper, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, says the LORD.
Isaiah 54:1-17
Even to them I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.
Isaiah 56:5
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