Wk 09*** Inspiration

in·spired (in spī rd′), adj. 1. aroused, animated, or imbued with the spirit to do a certain thing, by or as by supernatural or divine influence: an inspired poet. [1]

"...for my house will be called

a house of prayer for all nations."

(Isaiah 56:7, NIV)

When I go away on a Spiritual Retreat I receive my greatest inspiration. I have traveled out of town for a weekend of prayer, fellowship, and Bible study at least once a year for the past eight years. In the last two years the retreats were taken at the house pictured above. Last year I felt inspired to paint a picture of the retreat house for my pastor, but I did not have my watercolors with me. The inspiration remained in my heart until I returned for this year’s retreat, fully prepared with watercolors, tablet, and a vision of what I hoped to achieve.

Although I was pre-inspired, I was also re-inspired and newly-inspired at the retreat this year. The purpose of every retreat I have attended has been to inspire my Faith. Each weekend retreat has been dedicated to having my Faith renewed, refreshed, strengthened, and deepened. From each retreat I return home with a large concentrated dose of inspiration that stays with me, or within me, throughout the year. I am inspired. I am in the Spirit, or more aptly, the Spirit is in me.

On a smaller scale, or perhaps in a different measure, Sunday worship services supply me with a weekly dose of inspiration; which is not to say I am less inspired in worship, but rather that I am inspired in a different manner. So, too, I am inspired in a different fashion daily, when I begin each day with prayer; and I am inspired throughout the day as opportunities for prayer are presented. Prayer, I believe, is the least common denominator of inspiration; or maybe it is the greatest common denominator. Inspiration, in the Spirit, is a pretty great thing.

In prayer, the Holy Spirit speaks to my purpose, or to my intentions. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Almighty God, with Whom I have been baptized through faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit dwells within me, and is manifest in me in the gifts He has given to me. I wrote about three of the gifts last week: prophecy, artistry, and writing. When I use these gifts I am inspired; I am in the Spirit; I am praying in the Spirit, and the Spirit is creating the results. I prophesy, create artwork, and write in accord with how the Spirit moves me, according to the purpose to which I have been called.

I confess, I do not always pray before I begin to write; although, each day begins with prayer. However, as I write, and as I paint my watercolors, I am constantly in prayer for the situation or the occasion of the work. I am praying in the Spirit. I am praying that the Spirit would have His effect and would produce the results that He desires. It is written: “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— (Ephesians 6:17-18, NKJV).

[1] The Random House College Dictionary, Copyright © 1973, 1972, 1969, 1968 by Random House, Inc.

Wk 08*** Tongues of Creation

Tongues of Creation

“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

(Genesis 1:2, NIV)

“They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated
and came to rest on each of them.”

(Acts of the Apostles 2:3, NIV)

It has long been debated whether or not God has a practical, or commercial, application in the workplace. During the early days of the Christian Church, a successful sorcerer named Simon asked if he could buy some of the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter rebuked him for not having a right heart before God (Acts 8:9-24). Dr. Billy Graham once said: "I believe one of the great moves of God is going to be through believers in the workplace." I do not know what Billy Graham had in mind, but God has certainly been evident in the response of global corporations and local businesses to the recent plague of natural disasters around the world. What motivates people to respond the way they do? What gives people the ability, or power, to rebuild a city, or a state, or an entire country, or all the coastal towns of several continents? It must be something of enormous power.

My belief is that the Holy Spirit, whom I believe is God Himself, gives this power to people of the earth, in abundant portions as is best fitting to serve His purpose for Mankind. By and large, I think His purpose is that Mankind would come to know Him. On a small scale (very small compared to the Power who created the universe), I came to know God through His gifts of the Holy Spirit. The gifts are the manifestations of the same Power which, or who, created the universe. There are many, many gifts, but most people probably only know of a few. A Church issued Spiritual Gifts Inventory and Survey revealed my gifts as prophesy, artistry and writing. I validated the authenticity of my gifts by prophesying God’s Word in letters to the editor of a secular newspaper and by revealing God’s glory in watercolors that I painted for a local art show.

By coincidence, or by Divine Intervention (you be the judge), soon after I discovered my gifts, my lumbar vertebrae deteriorated and necessitated a job reassignment. My employer sent me to school for retraining in computer graphics, where my gifts, or Divine talents, were recognized as something of excellence and I earned acceptance into the National Honors Society. At the same time that I was sent to school, I was reassigned to work in the safety department, where, without previous experience, I designed and authored two dozen technical safety programs. My written programs indirectly gave testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit, especially to His gifts of writing and artistry. In little more than a year, I became the head of a revamped health and safety department.

Four years after discovering the gifts of the Spirit, I submitted artwork to my employer’s art show in Bochum, Germany. I was selected as the employee-artist to represent the United States. A color brochure featuring the artists was published to advertise and to market the corporation (and the art show) to a global market. My bio in the brochure gave testimony to the glory of God and to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Additionally, a portion of my testimony was published in the corporate newspaper, which was distributed to 70,000 employees around the world. It is my impression that even if the corporate world has no practical application for God to serve their purpose, God has a practical application for the corporate world to serve His purpose.

I am no longer employed, but I am a full time student studying to become an ordained minister. Before the Holy Spirit was manifest in me as the gifts of prophesy, artistry and writing, I was not a prophet, nor an artist, nor a writer. Now I regularly preach the Gospel (prophesy), paint watercolors of God’s glory, and write essays about the things of God. I may never become a Billy Graham, nor a Leonardo da Vinci, nor a Leslie Miller (my literary essay teacher), but with the power of the Internet and publication venues like http://www.blogspot.com/, I have the potential for reaching a very large audience. Of course, the Holy Spirit will decide how, where, when and who He wants to reach.

Wk 07*** Taken – For Granted

I was raised in a Catholic family, back in the days when the Sunday worship service, the Mass, was celebrated in Latin. Altar-boys were required to learn Latin to serve on the altar. Only boys could become altar-boys; girls were not allowed. I was a boy, but I could not learn Latin; so as a second-grader at Saint Agnes Catholic Elementary School, I flunked out of the class of altar-boys. I took it for granted I would never be able to serve on the altar.

When I was a teenager, the Catholic Church converted the Latin Mass to English. Eight months after graduating from Cardinal Gibbons (all boys) Catholic High School I received the Divine Call to ministry. I took it for granted that God was calling me into the priesthood, so I entered the Catholic Seminary to become a Catholic priest. I also took it for granted that I would have to take a vow of celibacy, never get married, and never have children.

Living in the seminary was like being on a spiritual retreat for the entire duration of my stay. I prayed constantly, and most of the time I was begging God not to deny me the blessing of having children. God heard my plea, and six weeks after I entered the seminary, for reasons I cannot divulge, God clearly told me to leave. Two years later I met a Lutheran girl, and two years after we met, we were married in her Lutheran Church.

The Missouri Synod Lutheran Church adheared to doctrine almost identical to the Roman Catholic Church, except for canonizing saints and a few other details. I took for granted that our Lutheran wedding vows were as strong as Catholic vows and we would remain married until death parted us. I confess that I was so happily married and bound by my vows, that I took my wife’s love for granted. On our tenth wedding anniversary she left me for another man.

I took for granted that our three children, ages two, five and six, would go with their mother, and they did for the first week. However, the living arrangements were inadequate, so I convinced their mother to let them come back home until she could better provide for them. A year later she divorced me and disappeared, leaving me to raise our children by myself. Although I was devastated by my wife’s abrupt departure and mysterious disappearance, I remembered that I had begged God for the blessing of children. God always answers prayer.

The task of raising three children was overwhelming, but God was with me and provided an abundance of childcare from my large Catholic family, as well as from my Lutheran Church, where I remained a member in good standing and where my children were enrolled in school. A teacher from the school offered to take care of the two older children after school and my mom took care of the baby during the day. When my youngest began school, the same teacher took care of all three of my children. Later, when my Dad retired, my parents took care of my children through the summer months. Still later, one of my five sisters provided free care before and after school.

As a single parent, raising my children to age eighteen brought many trials and tribulations, but I learned I could always trust God to see me through every situation, no matter how devastating. One such challenging situation was a long term struggle to repair a birth defect on my lumbar spine. Two radical fusion surgeries failed and eventually left me totally disabled. By the time I adapted to this life’s struggle, I had finally learned not to take anything for granted, not my career, not my dinner, not the ability to tie my shoes, not even the ability to walk.

My life had had so many unexpected changes that I didn’t even take my disability for granted. God had provided so much for me over the years that by now my faith was such that I just accepted the situation as part of a larger plan that God would reveal when the time was right. And in His time, God provided the greatest miracle of my life (aside from my children) – He healed my broken back. He completely healed my back. However, because of my lengthy history of back problems, and because the corporate world takes for granted that backs cannot be healed, I was unable to secure gainful employment.

That's when God trumped His previous greatest miracle and hooked me up with a full scholarship that will allow me to pursue an undergraduate degree in religious studies. He also inspired me to join the United Methodist Church where I have been accepted into the program for ordained ministry. Now, although I still take nothing in this world for granted, I do take God's Divine Mercy and Love for granted. His Love and Mercy have been unchanging throughout my life. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." [1]

[1] Hebrews 13:8 , NIV

Extra*** A Child Is All

A Child Is All

A child is small.
She needs a tether, umbilical cord, apron strings to grow tall.
A child does bawl.
She gets an embrace, lullaby praise, comfort and a pet doll.
A child can crawl.
She takes her first step, finds she can walk, then runs down the hall.
A child will fall.
Her Dad will catch her, lift her up again, take her to the mall.
A child might draw.
She learns about life, grows to be strong, studies the Great Law.
A child has law.
She grows to know God, created by God, likened to God’s Squaw.
A child I saw.
She is like Jesus, full of God’s Grace, blessed of the Western Wall.
A child is all.
She lives for God’s Love, becomes God’s Love, this is her life’s call.
A child is All.
She illuminates Christ, she bears His all, she is Christ’s All.
Christ is her All.
She is Christ’s All.
Christ is her All.
She is my All.


DAD (TedtheRabbi)
Guest Book of Christin & Andrew Owens
March 11, 2005 -- One day before wedding.

Extra*** Love Is

Love Is

Love is: First Corinthians Thirteen,
And the Whole Bible, too;
For Holy Writ is a Love Story
Of how much God Loves you.

In all the Chapters, all the Verses,
God’s Love for you comes through;
He even gave His own Son, Jesus,
The Chosen One, a Jew.

My few words here can only provide
A very tiny clue,
That the same Deep Love God has for us,
Is Love I have for you.

I pray that you and Andy Owens
Forever share a pew;
I love you both, together as one,
The Greatest Love, times two.


DAD (TedtheRabbi)
Guest Book of Christin & Andrew Owens
July 19, 2004 -- Engaged and Registered

Wk 06*** Does This Wallet Make My Butt Look Fat?

Does This Wallet Make My Butt Look Fat?

“The Fall of Man”

In earlier years, when I was still married and the kids were quite young, I carried a standard type wallet, or billfold, like the one pictured above. No, wait -- that is the wallet I carried. It is still stuffed with a dozen or so pay-stubs, a file of plastic sleeves for photographs of the children, a collection of business cards, and a few charge cards that I stopped using because they were maxed out. I stopped carrying that wallet when it got too fat to fit in my pocket. I guess I never got rid of it because it had become a file cabinet for all that important stuff.

Later in life, long after the wife ran off and shortly before the children began to move away, I became independently wealthy, a self-made man, and I began working on becoming self-actualized. No, not really -- I really had a midlife crisis like everyone else my age and I bought a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The black leather wallet with the security chain was part of my riding apparel. However, I truly was working on becoming self-actualized, and I turned my weekend hobbies, like riding, into my daily livelihood.

I became a Street Preacher and founded an Interdenominational Independent Christian Church. I ministered to people who were neglected by the mainline churches: the homeless, the impoverished, the nursing home shut-ins, and the rebellious bikers. I took my church ministry to people who for whatever reason could not, or would not, be caught dead inside a fancy church building. And I prophesied hell and brimstone against any church whose mission was to build a larger church rather than to feed the Hungry.

My ministry was legally incorporated, so I needed to carry a larger file cabinet – that is, a larger wallet. Zipped inside my Harley-Davidson embossed leather wallet was everything a business executive might need while on the road – or in the street as was the case: a business checkbook and ledger; a personal checkbook and ledger; a day planner and pen; a dozen charge cards – business and personal; ID cards – business and personal; a storage locker pass card; several grocery discount cards; a stack of my business cards; a stack of other people’s business cards; a stack of receipts; and a photo file of my kids. Oh! -- And some cash; however, I usually carried the cash in my pocket, because it was too much trouble to unzip my wallet to buy a coffee.

The physical mechanics of my ministry were somewhat cumbersome, like my wallet. For example, delivering groceries or transporting someone to the hospital or to social services was physically impossible on a motorcycle. Truth be told -- my Harley was a Harley. It leaked oil like a sieve and it spent more time in the shop than on the street. Truth be told – my Harley was no different from an expensive fancy church. It cost too much to maintain, and the people it served could not ride in it -- or eat in it. Never the less, the message of my ministry was sound and the Good Lord blessed my work and rewarded my efforts. He called me to a greater ministry.

Called to reach a larger audience, both rich and poor, I have been blessed with the means to return to school full time. Undergraduate studies have revealed some methods employed by other Faith systems to deal with poverty. I am especially intrigued by Buddhism. The spiritually wealthiest Buddhists dedicate themselves to having compassion for the spiritually, and financially, poorest members of society. Jesus might have been a Buddhist if He wasn’t a Christian. Anyway, I have learned to find greater spiritual happiness with lesser physical wealth. I have downsized my wallet. I have emptied myself of all excess to find the Truth of my Self. I have become the Buddha. No, not really – my Harley wallet was too heavy to carry along with all my college text books.

I really have begun to strip myself of all excess. Now all I carry is a small stack of personal essentials: driver’s license; SSA card; Towson ID card; Master Card; Bank card; Library card; Weis Markets discount card; a couple of Starbucks discount coupons; and less than $20.00 cash. All this is bound together with two elastic hair bands. I don’t carry a comb, but I carry the extra hair bands in case my pony tail breaks loose. Also, I carry two key rings; one with a valet car key; the other with a spare car key and my house key. And I always carry a handkerchief. I hate to sneeze into my bare hand.

That’s it; nothing else. I am practically naked – or at least I felt that way when I first got rid of my excess, my security blankets. I long for the day that I can live like Adam and Eve, naked and free, no burden to carry, no sin to bear. No! Wait a minute – I can’t live without my designer fig leaf jeans. Or my Oregon Scientific wristwatch that doubles as a heart monitor; that’s something else I always carry. I even sleep with my wristwatch. It is sinful how insecure I am, how afraid I am to be without my stuff. I think that’s the original Original Sin, isn’t it!? – Wanting more than your naked butt needs to have – -- or carrying a wallet that makes your butt look fat!?

Wk 05*** The Gates of Heaven

The Gates of Heaven

An elderly gentleman of our congregation, who I call 'Joseph', asked for a Stephen's Minister. His health was in a downward spiral and he suffered a diminished capacity to remain active. I accepted the assignment. My job was to listen to Joseph express his feelings, to help him cope with a diminished capacity, and to express Christ’s love to him. I ministered to Joseph for a little more than a year, visiting several times a month.

Joseph was a private person, but more than willing to share the obvious. So for a year we talked about his aches and pains, his loss of eyesight and hearing, and about the constant barrage of blood tests ordered by his physicians. Our conversations were largely superficial, seldom reaching deeper than the surface of his bruised skin. At prayer time, Joseph never asked for any specific needs, but left me to petition Our Lord at my discretion. When our visit was over he always thanked me.

The listening skills developed through course-work in the Stephen’s Ministry allowed me to hear what many people could not hear, and even some things Joseph could not talk about. For example, if Joseph said: “Mary, bring me something to drink," I could hear: “Mary, only you bring me comfort.” Or if Joseph was reading the obituaries and joked: “I was looking for my name," I could hear: “I’m afraid I might die, soon.” During one visit Joseph complained: “I didn’t think I was going to make it through the night!” I asked: “What about death causes you fear?” Joseph whispered his reply: “I don’t know what Heaven is like. I’ve never been there.” I offered to research the subject in the Scriptures and to bring my findings to our next meeting.

The following Saturday I arrived with my Bible in hand and a list of verses I hoped to share with Joseph. My plans were changed when I found Joseph’s family gathered at his bedside. He had spent several days in the hospital and had been sent home to be with his family for his final days. I briefly spoke with the grown children and with his wife, then sat on the bed at Joseph’s side. He didn’t seem to notice me. Maybe he was asleep or even unconscious. But I spoke to him as if he could hear, showing him my Bible and suggesting that I save the readings for another time. I asked him about his health, but the children answered for him.

After a few minutes, I felt I should leave, and I moved to the foot of the bed. Joseph appeared to become uncomfortable and began to grumble and to fidget. I felt somewhat unsatisfied with our short visit, and it occurred to me that Joseph wanted prayer. I voiced my feelings: “I think Joseph wants me to pray, and I should do that now.” Again moving close to Joseph’s side and holding his hands, I asked if he had any special needs. He did not answer. As I began to pray he seemed to come to attention, like a soldier receiving orders to march. I had to look closely at Joseph to determine if he was still breathing. I don’t recall the exact words of my prayer, but I communicated all the good things Scripture says about Heaven, and I prayed that Joseph find comfort there.

During prayer I had a vision of my prayers. Joseph and I became like children, walking along and holding hands as we explored a new neighborhood. Excited and apprehensive, we searched for a grand house where one of us would soon live. We paused outside a pair of large majestic gates, knowing that this was the place. Joseph approached the gates and turned to me, and without speaking said everything. The bright Glory of Heaven fell across Joseph’s shoulders from inside the gates. I blinked my eyes and tried to understand this scene, for in the bed I could see Joseph’s mouth and eyes, sunken with age, and his ribcage protruding across a hollow stomach, but in the vision I only saw beauty and peace, and Joseph in perfect health. More glorious and miraculous than a newborn child was this sight of my Christian brother receiving the robe of Eternal Life.

Behind me, suddenly I could hear the tears of Joseph’s children. I knew I had to go back to be with them, so I quickly prayed that our sorrow would be comforted and I ended my prayer. I apologized to the children for bringing on their tears and I asked Joseph if my prayers were all right. Clearly I heard his reply: “Thank you.” He always thanked me when our visit was over. Joseph died about ten hours later.

This vision has been the defining moment of my life. It has changed my life. Since that day, my prayer life has moved to a higher level. The realm of the Divine has been opened to me. The Presence of Our Lord, Jesus, visits with me in visions, dreams, and routine prayers. He has revealed my purpose. I have seen my future. When I have fulfilled my time on earth, I, too, will enter the Gates of Heaven.