Recommended Reading

Spiritual Formation

Mystics

www.freerice.com
As we in America sit down to eat our Thanksgiving Day feasts, let’s bear in mind just how fortunate we are, and how so many people in the world will go hungry today. Let us also bear in mind that feeling guilty about our wealth does not in itself achieve anything (unless it inspires us to take action in a way that can be of service to others). So the point behind remaining mindful about our blessings is not to indulge in the false pride of overweening remorse, but rather simply to spur us to make choices mindfully with an eye to helping those who lack the advantages we enjoy.

Quote for the Day
The word “prayer” has often been trivialized by making it into a way of getting what you want. But… I use “prayer” as the umbrella word for any interior journeys or practices that allow you to experience faith, hope and love within yourself. It is not a technique for getting things, a pious exercise that somehow makes God happy, or a requirement for entry into heaven. It is much more like practicing heaven now. — Richard Rohr, The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See

Prayer
I’m currently reading three books on prayer: Prayer: Conversing with God by Rosalind Rinker. A classic evangelical book from the 1950s about developing greater intimacy and faith in God through unscripted, conversational prayer. Praying Our Experiences by Joseph F. Schmidt. A guide to discerning the prayerful quality of all of life’s journey, including our feelings and our struggle to know and discern truth. Prayer

In search of the perfect Christian Jam Band
Okay, I’m on a mission. Last night, Fran, Rhiannon and I went to see Point of Grace and Mark Schultz perform at a local mega-church. It was the second time we’ve seen Point of Grace, our first Mark Schultz concert. We went mainly for Rhiannon, who is just nuts over what she calls “Fish Music” (because the local Contemporary Christian Music, i.e. CCM, radio station is WFSH 104.7, affectionately nicknamed “the Fish”). Now, I do not mean to be a grouch when it comes to CCM; there are a few bands I truly enjoy: Switchfoot and Third Day top the list, and I was impressed with Delirious? when I saw them a couple of years back, and I can even

Simon’s Cat
Simon’s Cat (In His Very Own Book) By Simon Tofield New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2009 Review by Carl McColman Move over, Garfield, Dewey, LOLCats, and all those adorable cats by Kliban… here come’s “Simon’s Cat,” who insinuated himself (herself?) into my heart