I like a fresh change every now and then. Just ask my wife. Different rooms in our apartment get rearranged about every other month. I get bored with having things be the same all the time! I understand this can be both good and bad, though usually with me it is a good thing. So as you can see, it's time for a change here with the blog as well.
The moment I feel that the blog has been "nailed down" will probably be the time I delete the whole thing. Like my own journey, I want it to reflect its creator and the different life circumstances I am at that present moment.
A little over a year ago, I changed the name and format of the blog from Liminal Space to Quest for Abundant Life then shorted it to Quest for Life. I did away with the LS title for certain reasons. Now I am feeling as though Q4L just seems to broad/general. Isn't that what we are all on (or most of us at least).
Yeah, I could be like some folks and just start another blog but I don't want to be managing more then what I already have. It's easier for me to just update my main blog.
It wasn't until I started rereading one particular book that seemed to encapsulate where I am in my life/faith journey. And it still represents my "quest." Plus, I also wanted to focus more on the things that I am most passionate about. Particularly the outdoor/wilderness survival, male spirituality, nature education and rites of passage. It won't be exclusively those subjects but you will see more of them, more frequently.
I settled on Sacred Fire because it has more of a concrete image for me as a man who loves nature, spirituality and adventure. It embodies all sorts of biblical and natural imagery as well. Again, I will not change the web address only the name and the layout. I hope to set aside more time for posting in the future and not neglect it so much. Let me know what you think. I hope that there are still folks out there who read this thing.
August 14, 2007
July 25, 2007
Focus
Taken from my journal:
distraction - what we do to avoid talking about what matters most.
vision - not being distracted!
I wonder which of the two definitions I identify with more? I'm reminded of the verse in Proverbs, Where there is no vision, the people perish (29:18a KJV). I suppose the same can be said of our faith...
distraction - what we do to avoid talking about what matters most.
vision - not being distracted!
I wonder which of the two definitions I identify with more? I'm reminded of the verse in Proverbs, Where there is no vision, the people perish (29:18a KJV). I suppose the same can be said of our faith...
Reignited
I am convinced that Camp Mack is sacred ground! Every time I'm there I encounter God's presence in a way that is often different than in my day-to-day circumstances. This past week only confirmed that sense.
I spent 8 days volunteering as a counselor for a group of 15 & 16 year olds who chose not to go to the typical "youth" camp. Instead they chose to dive deeper in their spiritual life through disciplines like prayer, meditation, journaling, Bible study and exercise while having a wilderness living experience in tents, cooking all their meals over an open fire and exploring nature. So right off the bat, these youth were already longing for a different experience.
As mentioned in an earlier post, I was looking forward to this time not only for the youth but for my own faith journey as well. Since I have been back to work full-time, I believe that it has diminished my devotional life. My longing is still there, it's just that so often the time isn't like I'd want it to be. So I came into the week feeling spiritually stagnant, wondering if what I had to offer the youth would be worthy. On the other hand, I had a chance to infuse the two things that I am most passionate about in my life right now: spirituality and nature. I was hoping that between the two, I could reignite the ember of my spiritual life.
I did.
The life of Christ reignited itself into my being. For the first time in months, I began to pray again. I began to breathe again. I began to commune with creation again. I was becoming alive again! I had retaken up the Quest for Life!
Maybe it was the intentionality of having to go get our food and water or getting comfortable in your tent each night. Maybe it was taking the time to get a fire ready so that you could eat. Maybe it was the worship times in the tipi or going creek stomping to observe animals, insects and birds. Maybe it was the quiet, away from all the noise that fills our heads day in and day out. Maybe it was doing without all the "technology" that permeates our existence. Maybe it was the one-on-one time spent with youth in which you heard their stories. Maybe...
Maybe it was everything...
I spent 8 days volunteering as a counselor for a group of 15 & 16 year olds who chose not to go to the typical "youth" camp. Instead they chose to dive deeper in their spiritual life through disciplines like prayer, meditation, journaling, Bible study and exercise while having a wilderness living experience in tents, cooking all their meals over an open fire and exploring nature. So right off the bat, these youth were already longing for a different experience.
As mentioned in an earlier post, I was looking forward to this time not only for the youth but for my own faith journey as well. Since I have been back to work full-time, I believe that it has diminished my devotional life. My longing is still there, it's just that so often the time isn't like I'd want it to be. So I came into the week feeling spiritually stagnant, wondering if what I had to offer the youth would be worthy. On the other hand, I had a chance to infuse the two things that I am most passionate about in my life right now: spirituality and nature. I was hoping that between the two, I could reignite the ember of my spiritual life.
I did.
The life of Christ reignited itself into my being. For the first time in months, I began to pray again. I began to breathe again. I began to commune with creation again. I was becoming alive again! I had retaken up the Quest for Life!
Maybe it was the intentionality of having to go get our food and water or getting comfortable in your tent each night. Maybe it was taking the time to get a fire ready so that you could eat. Maybe it was the worship times in the tipi or going creek stomping to observe animals, insects and birds. Maybe it was the quiet, away from all the noise that fills our heads day in and day out. Maybe it was doing without all the "technology" that permeates our existence. Maybe it was the one-on-one time spent with youth in which you heard their stories. Maybe...
Maybe it was everything...
July 13, 2007
Jesus-jitsu
This was more fun than I ought to be having with biblical characters. Click here to see if you can make Jesus can kick Satan's butt. It took me a couple of rounds but in the end... Satan went down! Have fun and let me know how it went for you.