I’ve retreated for a night (or two) to one of my favorite sanctuaries, the St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, MN. What better reading at a monastery than St. John Chrysostom’s classic treatise on the sacred vocation of the priesthood written around 374 AD. My jaw dropped to the floor as I read his description of … More ‘Marvelous Things, Charged with Terror’
Here’s another letter from Fenelon (1651-1715) on “The Death to Self”: I cannot express to you, my dear sister, how deeply I sympathize with your afflictions; but my grief is not unmixed with consolation. God loves you, since He does not spare you, but lays upon you the cross of Jesus Christ. Whatever light, whatever … More Spiritual Letters: Fenelon (Letter 4)
While I am not sure if David Brook’s spiritual journey is leading him to Christ, I did find this conversation with Oprah filled with valuable perspective and hard-won wisdom worth considering. And, no, I do not endorse all the teachings and teachers Oprah promotes. But this is a great example of appreciating true spiritual insights … More David Brooks & The Second Mountain
“But among you stands one you do not know” (John 1:26). We’ve all experienced it. A long lost friend you haven’t heard from in years suddenly calls you up. He’s cheerful and so thrilled to be reconnecting. You get caught up on each other’s lives, and the conversation is warm and you wonder why you … More Among Us in the Shadows
“Sir, more than kisses, letters mingle souls. For, thus friends absent speak.” —John Donne As part of my doctoral thesis project at Northern Seminary I am exploring the role of letter writing in pastoral care and spiritual formation. In the ancient world, letter writing was a preeminent way pastors engaged personally with those under their spiritual … More Letters Mingle Souls
Kingdom Harbor 