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Pray More… Speak Less

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The Hour of Vigil; Oli Scarff, Getty Images

 

MEMORIAL OF THE PASSION OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

 

Dearest brothers and sisters… it’s been so long since I have had the opportunity to write a meditation—a “now word” for our times. As you know, we have been reeling here from that storm and all the other problems that cascaded during the past three months. It seems that these crises are not over, as we just learned that our roof has been rotting and needs to be replaced. Through it all, God has been crushing me in the crucible of my own brokenness, revealing the areas of my life that need to be purified. While it feels like punishment, it is actually preparation—for deeper union with Him. How exciting is that? Yet, it has been extremely painful to enter into the depths of self-knowledge… but I see the loving discipline of the Father through it all. In the weeks ahead, if God wills it, I will share what He is teaching me in hopes that some of you may also find encouragement and healing. With that, onward to today’s Now Word…

 

WHILE unable to write a meditation the past few months—until now—I have continued to follow the dramatic events unfolding throughout the world: the continued fracturing and polarization of families and nations; the rise of China; the beating of war drums between Russia, North Korea, and the United States; the move to unseat the American President and rise of socialism in the West; the growing censorship by social media and other institutions to silence moral truths; the rapid advance toward a cashless society and new economic order, and thus, central control of everyone and everything; and last, and most notably, the revelations of moral putrescence in the Catholic Church hierarchy that has led to a nearly shepherd-less flock at this hour.Continue reading →

Wormwood and Loyalty

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From the archives: written on February 22nd, 2013…. 

 

A LETTER from a reader:

I totally agree with you — we each need a personal relationship with Jesus. I was born and raised Roman Catholic but find myself now attending the Episcopal (High Episcopal) church on Sunday and becoming involved with the life of this community. I was a member of my church council, a choir member, a CCD teacher and a full-time teacher in a Catholic school. I personally knew four of the priests credibly accused and who confessed of sexually abusing minor children… Our cardinal and bishops and other priests covered up for these men. It strains belief that Rome didn’t know what was going on and, if it truly didn’t, shame on Rome and the Pope and the curia. They are simply horrid representatives of Our Lord…. So, I should remain a loyal member of the RC church? Why? I found Jesus many years ago and our relationship has not changed — in fact it is even stronger now. The RC church is not the beginning and the end of all truth. If anything, the Orthodox church has just as much if not more credibility than Rome. The word “catholic” in the Creed is spelled with a small “c” – meaning “universal” not meaning only and forever the Church of Rome. There is only one true path to the Trinity and that is following Jesus and coming into relationship with the Trinity by first coming into friendship with Him. None of that is dependent upon the Roman church. All of that can be nourished outside of Rome. None of this is your fault and I admire your ministry but I just needed to tell you my story.

Dear reader, thank you for sharing your story with me. I rejoice that, despite the scandals you have encountered, your faith in Jesus has remained. And this doesn’t surprise me. There have been times in history when Catholics in the midst of persecution no longer had access to their parishes, the priesthood, or the Sacraments. They survived within the walls of their inner temple where the Holy Trinity resides. The lived out of faith and trust in a relationship with God because, at its core, Christianity is about the love of a Father for his children, and the children loving Him in return.

Thus, it begs the question, which you have tried to answer: if one can remain a Christian as such: “Should I remain a loyal member of the Roman Catholic Church? Why?”

The answer is a resounding, unhesitating “yes.” And here is why: it’s a matter of staying loyal to Jesus.

 

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Update from Up North

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I snapped this photo of a field near our farm when my hay equipment broke down
and I was waiting for parts,
 Tramping Lake, SK, Canada

 

DEAR family and friends,

It’s been awhile since I have had a moment to sit down and write you. Since the storm that struck our farm back in June, the whirlwind of ongoing crises and problems has kept me away from my desk literally ever day. You would not believe it if I told you all that continues to happen. It has been nothing short of a mind-numbing two months.Continue reading →

On True Humility

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A few days ago, another strong wind passed through our area blowing half of our hay crop away. Then the past two days, a deluge of rain pretty much destroyed the rest. The following writing from earlier this year came to mind…

My prayer today: “Lord, I am not humble. O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart unto Thine…”

 

THERE are three levels of humility, and few of us get beyond the first. Continue reading →

An Invincible Faith in Jesus

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Dear brothers and sisters, the past two weeks here have been crazy. You read about the storm that hit us. An insurance agent called the damage here “catastrophic,” so we have a long recovery ahead. At the same time, I began inexplicably losing hearing in my left ear, I need a tooth pulled, and our family vehicle just had a major breakdown this past weekend costing thousands. Pretty crazy, eh? But through it all, this writing has been on my heart. The more we suffer, the more we need to surrender; the more we enter darkness, the more we must walk by faith; the more uncertain things become, the more we must turn to the Great Certainty: God the Father, who loves us unconditionally, and who allows suffering in order to purify and discipline us. That purification, in turn, empties us more and more so that we can be filled with Him that much more. 

This week, our third daughter is getting married, which then brings us into hay season. So if my writings are sparse over the next few weeks, that is why. Also, thank you so much to everyone who donated this past week to our family to help with all that’s happened here. It’s hard for me at times, as “the provider” in my home, to rely on Divine Providence (ie. to be a “beggar”), but at the same time, it has helped me see just how much we are in God’s loving hands. Bless you and thank you…. and together, in your trials and mine, let us cultivate an Invincible Faith in Jesus. 

First published May 31st, 2017.Continue reading →

Your Kindness

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SINCE the storm on Saturday (read The Morning After), many of you have reached out to us with words of comfort and asking how you can help, knowing that we live on Divine Providence in order to provide this ministry. We are so grateful and moved by your presence, concern, and love. I am still a bit numb knowing how close my family members were to possible injury or death, and so grateful for God’s watchful hand over us.Continue reading →

The Morning After

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BY the time evening rolled around, I had two flat tires, had broken a taillight, took a huge rock in the windshield, and my grain auger was spewing smoke and fuel. I turned to my son-in-law and said, “I think I’m going to crawl under my bed until this day is over.” He and my daughter and their newborn baby just moved from the East coast to stay with us for the summer. So, as we walked back to the farmhouse, I added a footnote: “Just so you know, this ministry of mine is often surrounded by a whirlwind, a storm…”Continue reading →