Brennan Manning

Brennan Manning

Forever Loved 

(New York, April 27, 1934-April 12, 2013)

*All quotes below are that of Brennan Manning.

I awoke this morning, turned on the computer, looked over my list of blogs that I follow and discovered that quite a few were discussing the death of Brennan Manning. I was shocked to hear so. To be honest I had thought that Brennan had passed(not past) away some time ago (I don't know why?) and was sorrowful at that point in time. To hear it once more is just as saddening.

Brennan Manning has had a very deep impact upon my life. When I am about to give up, reject, throw out any and all conceptualizations of 'Christianity' there is but one man who can bring me back to a place where I can be who I truly am in the Christ. 

This man has opened my eyes to the realness of Jesus, I mean the utter humaness of Jesus. He has taught me the utter importance of loving me for myself and that it is only then that I am better to serve others. 

"Experience has taught me that I connect best with others when I connect with the core of myself. When I allow God to liberate me from unhealthy dependence on people, I listen more attentively, love more unselfishly, and am more compassionate and playful. I take myself less seriously, become aware that the breath of the Father is on my face."

That God loves me no matter what or who I am and that by thinking otherwise I deny the entire gift of God's grace and love. 

"The love of Christ embraces all 

without exception."

 This man introduced me to the Christ outside of Christianity and for that I am forever grateful. 

"The story goes that a public sinner was excommunicated and forbidden entry to the church. He took his woes to God. 'They won't let me in, Lord, becuse I am a sinner.'

'What are you complaining about?' said God. 'They won't let Me in either." 

So while I may abandon Christianity, I can never abandon the Christ.

"Those who have the disease 

called Jesus will never be cured."

Thank you Brennan for all that you have done. You will forever huant me.  

No Bad Words

For the purpose of GOOD and EVIL, we use words.  The GREATEST TRAVESTY, however, is when we waste them on MINDLESS DRIVEL! 

*Please note that I am in no way saying that I have come any where close to perfecting that of which I have said in the following. I view myself, not as better then anyone in this field, but rather as co-journeyers in the understanding of linguistics and the use there of.  I have much to work on in speech and in grammar as well. This is an area in which I hope to better myself. Thanks*

"Think Before You Speak"

and

"Actions Speak Louder Then Words" 

These are phrases we have all heard before, but have we failed to look deeper into their meanings than what we have come to know them as? Have we failed to pass these understandings unto our children, ourselves and even unto others? 

Over the years as my three children grow, I have been teaching them, and learning myself, the value of words. To cherish and respect them as treasured instruments. 

Words are living…always evolving, whether quickly or over long periods of time. They are powerful and, as we have seen in history, have the ability to alter the future. They give hope, knowledge, and awareness. Have we not all heard, at young ages through to our adulthood, from our parents, elders, and even peers that there are some words that are 'bad' and should not be said? How many of us have had our mouths washed out with soap, literally or metaphorically?

My children are learning that THERE ARE NO BAD WORDS!...only bad ways of using them. It is our attitudes, motives and reasonings behind our speech that we must hold check, not the word. For this reason, many have become confused and unjustly accuse the word, and/or the speech, of being foul… when all along it was the attitude behind it that they so disagreed with. My children thus learn to conduct their thoughts, feelings and speech in respect, honour and love of others as well as words. Attitude is not the only concern when using words, but also learning which words are most effective as well as understanding the social group they are in and the words that are best suited and respectable for that social setting. 

My family and I have the privilege of making this journey together, for as far as I can remember, I was not taught this vital differentiation (At least not in this exact manner. This is no put down to my upbringing but rather a personal observation.). We view this as a more holistic approach to the use of and understanding of words and language. In this manner, one begins to realize and appreciate speech and thus becomes it.  

Language derives not in the word, but from within the heart.

Language and words, and the use their of, are of immense importance, I fear that I sound like an old dud when I say this... but in our age of abbreviations (txt) and grammatical brutality, in forms of short point information (twitter, facebook,) we may have deadened, not only words, but our minds conceptualization of them and their use. 
*Please, I mean no offence to those of you who use these particular forms of communication. They have their place and importance, and like words they themselves are not bad, it is how and what they are used for that have made them a nauseant to some.

It is my hope that all those who have a presence in the lives of my children will likewise respect and cherish words, understanding that THERE ARE NO BAD WORDS!, only bad ways of using them. Please, do not tell children or others that a word is bad, wicked or evil, but rather focus on how they may better handle their attitudes prior to the use there of and why they feel the need to use that and/or those words. 

THERE IS POWER IN OUR WORDS AND HOW WE USE THEM! GO... SPEAK WISELY, COMPASSIONATELY AND IN LOVE!

The Suicide of Matthew Warren

The news tells it...

Son of Pastor Rick Warren Commits Suicide.

The death of a loved one, through old age, accident or murder, is an extremely difficult thing to experience, taking all that you are to just barely pass through it. But what of living through a loved one's suicide? 

My heart both breaks and rejoices in the tragedy of the suicide of Rick Warrens son. My heart weeps for the loss that the family and friends feel at this time. Perhaps feeling responsible, helpless or not good enough. They mourn for the death of someone they cared for, a death that was purposeful not by the hands of another, but by the very hands of the one they loved so dearly. Can anything else be so shaking to our very foundations? 

Why might I rejoice? Well, it is bitter sweet. I have been in a place where suicide is an extremely viable option, in fact it at times seems to be the only option. The suicidal do not relish the thought, no they are terrified of it. We all seek happiness and we all have different ways of going about getting this happiness. Even the suicidal seek happiness and this is why suicide becomes the only option. So in a sense I rejoice for the soul that is finally at rest from the hell they endured. 

Rick Warren recalls a conversation that his son had with him after another failed approach of help,

Dad, I know I'm going to heaven. Why can't I just die and end this pain?

Now, before anyone think of how selfish that may be for one to commit such an act... remember that no one escapes this pursuit unequally, we all selfishly seek the same thing no matter how we do it.

With suicide rates increasing within our societies, we must become aware of the hurting and seek to understand. One must try with all that they are to grasp how hurt or distraught one is in order to consider the suicidal thought. If you think that one can just snap out of it or think that the devil must have got a hold of them, then you do not understand and you do not have the heart to approach the suicidal. No, you must be or have been broken in order to comfort those who carry such heavy a burden of thought. In fact it is often those who have experienced such similar thoughts and feelings that are so quick to help others. 

Rick's son was one of these, 

You who watched Matthew grow up knew he was an incredibly kind, gentle, and compassionate man. He had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room. He'd then make a bee-line to that person to engage and encourage them.

Warren shares that, 

 ...only those closest knew that he struggled from birth with mental illness, dark holes of depression, and even suicidal thoughts. In spite of America’s best doctors, meds, counselors, and prayers for healing, the torture of mental illness never subsided. 

To the Warren family and friends, I am truly sorry for your loss. To all that have experienced such similar events, I am truly sorry. 

The only thing that I can think to say, that may be of some comfort in such a particular situation is, Weep, mourn, gnash your teeth and in the end take comfort that your loved one is now at peace.

I weep alongside you. A loss is a great tragedy, no matter the cause.

The Crucified Question

I posted this last year near 'Good Friday' and thought I would once again. I love the cartoon by David Hayward and all that it captures. Click on the link below the cartoon to view more of his brilliant work. 

cartoon drawn by David Hayward @ nakedpastor click link to see other great drawings.

This is the time of year that many reflect on the later days of Christ and his ministry. A Jewish carpenter who, in his thirties, left his trade and travelled the countryside, villages, and cities with a message of hope. Healing few, impressing many, challenging and impacting all. When Jesus encountered others, whether they hated him or loved him, they were amazed. This is what one philosopher, Peter Kreeft, refers to as the "Jesus Shock".  None were bored with Jesus. 

We tend to view Jesus as an answer, someone who came to earth to provide an absolute. While this may most definitely be true, I wonder if we have forgotten a very important aspect of the Christ.

When the Christ was in presence of the people and when he is in the presence of us, he raises the question. We can not help but question when we stand beside him. We question all that has been, all that is present and all that shall be. We question our hearts, desires and motives. All things become questionable in the presence of Jesus.

To question is uncomfortable, uneasy and difficult. For most of us we are afraid of what we shall find, or perhaps, even more frightening, what we will shall not find.

I believe this is why we crucified the Christ... why we crucified the question.

The 'Croods'ifiction

Reflecting On The 

Croods-ifiction

This is the time of year that so many look upon the cross and remember what Christians have coined 'Good Friday'. On this day of Good Friday, my family and I, also, spent time reflecting... reflecting on the Croods-ifiction(No, that is not a spelling error.).

We did not attend any service at a 'church' nor did we partake in any ritual that commonly goes with 'Good Friday'. Rather, being spurred within our souls by the melting of snow and the scent of spring flowing through our beings, we decided to venture out, as a family, to catch the latest movie release of 'The Croods'. We went together, spend time together, laughed together and even cried together.

I will share part of the story, all the while adding my input here and there as to what came to my mind as I watched and later reflected upon it.

The story is about a family of cavemen who dwell constantly within their cave, only venturing out in desperation for food. These cavemen(Or cave-persons for the politically correct.) ever hide there in fear due, in part, to losing many of whom they have known to various outside dangers. Their daughter, Eep, however has the spirit of life within her, desiring to explore and experience the world her father so wishes to keep at bay.

"New is always bad! Never not be afraid!", he demands.

 The father, Grug, while in the safety of their cave,  shares with his family, during their nightly story time, a story of a curious little bear(His daughter) who's curiosity got the better of her.

Grug: Tonight we'll hear the story of Crispy Bear. A long time ago this little bear was alive because she listened to her father. So she was happy, but Crispy had one terrible problem. She was filled with curiosity. Yes, and one day she saw something new and DIED!

Thunk(Grug's Son): Just like that?

Grug: Yes! 

Gran(Grug's Mother In-law): Same ending as yesterday.

Thunk: I get it, dad. I will never do anything new or different! 

Grug: Good man, Thunk. 

At this point, the Croods was a reminder to me of the life that I too once lived within a cave...a cave called Evangelicalism, Protestantism, Church, you name it. The cave was a place where the shepherd, leader, pastor etc. instilled within me a fear of the outside. A fear of those Secularists and their deceitful ways. Danger lurks everywhere, demons hide behind every bush waiting to pounce on those who stray to near to or just outside the cave...outside the fold. Christ had been kicked out and 'Christianity' was my cave.

Back to 'the Croods'...

Unbeknown to them, tragedy was about to befall them. While returning to their home from a hunting mission, the earth begins to shift and their cave is crushed by the mountain of rock above it. Their shelter, their safe place and all that they have come to know have now been left to rubble. All is lost and they are left to wonder, wander and look outside what was once their home to new beginnings.

Like their home, the North American church today is falling to ruin and many are left without the comfort of their cave theologies and rituals. They are forced to explore a whole new world with all it's unknown dangers and life altering adventures. They are forced to adapt as they can not return to what they once knew, no...not even if their desire was to do so. But, as it was for the Croods, this is no easy task to undertake. Many perils lay before them.

"Where are we?" they wonder in amazement.

"Where are we?" Indeed!

No longer being able to remain where their safe place had once been, they reluctantly move on, much to Grug's despair, looking for a new place to begin, once again, a life of shelter void of living.

To live a life of shelter one must have rules and... well, we all know what rules were made to be.... I had once felt that being in that cave was what was right and was the only way to live. Isolating ourselves from the outside, not watching their movies, not listening to their music and not talking the way they do. So, while those rules within that cave may have been a way to 'live'. I now realize that, 'That wasn't living. That was just not dying.'

Grug: The Rules. They kept us alive!

Eep: That wasn't living! That was just not dying!

Guy, a young wonderer filled with new ideas and adventure, who happens across this family of cavemen, bares them news that the end is near. Duh!... duh! duh!. He encourages them not to hide in caves but to seek the sun and follow it to freedom, follow it to tomorrow. They must seek for tomorrow, searching forever on until one day they may arrive. Of course Grug is not at all to pleased with this newcomer, particularly the interest his daughter, Eep, is paying to him. As the journey continues, with all it's hardships, the family starts to see things in a new light. Grug, taking the longest of course. All that he wants is a cave to be safe in, a cave without thinking, questioning and meddling. However, even he too comes around to having his eyes open to new possibility.

The end was near, the Christianity that I knew was drawing to it's end and at it's end, it was crucified. Fear and wonder found it's place within me, but in the midst of the destruction and crucifixion something arose from the horror, what it was, I am not entirely sure, it may be that of the divine, small and difficult to distinguish. Whatever it was, it gave me hope and peace. It gave me comfort that I need not build up around it a temple, alter or any other such building whether physical or mentally. I need only to know that it's present, know its love and peace, not for it's sake, but rather for mine. 

At the movie's end, 'the Croods' learn something that we all must consider, we need not be hindered by our fears of the outside. We need not be ruled by them, for we can always change our thinking, always face our fears and never allow them to stop us. One can always step outside the cave.

I continue to seek, never again enclosing a philosophy, theology or any others within a cave of confinement. I will spread my wings and allow the wind to flow beneath, guiding here and there.

Eep: "The Croods will make it, because we changed all the rules, the rules that kept us in the dark. From now on we'll stay out here where we can follow the light."