" Our present life feels like a real fight as if there were something really wild in the universe we are needed to redeem'
William James
It's been a while since I've written here but it's now time to begin again.
A while back a friend spoke to me about something called Exodus 90. It sounded all rather Lenten/ Hairshirt but, I have to say, that having now completed it with 6 others it was utterly transformative.
A pal spoke to me about his sermon series on fasting which I have never preached on until 2 weeks ago. I spoke on the text 'This kind only comes out by prayer'. I was helped enormously by Lloyd-Jones in his sermons on Revival. He unpacks the words 'This kind' so deeply and perceptively and 70 years later if change the cultural context much still applies.
If you want some teaching on fasting then this series by John Mark Comer is good.
A few of us at church are reading Draw the Circle which is are 40 readings on prayer and fits the season well. The chapter about wearing waders really tickled me.
I found the section in Moving Mountains on prayer for others helpful. At another point, Eldredge quotes C S Lewis:
'He seems to do nothing of Himself which He can possibly delegate to His creatures. He commands us to do slowly and blunderingly what He could do perfectly and in the twinkling of an eye. Creation seems to be delegation through and through' p. 67
Eldredge was interviewed by Adam Young about his new book. This podcast I commend and blessed me during a tough season.
In the interview, Eldredge recommends an Ignatian prayer app called 'Pray as you go'. I spent a term being guided through the Spiritual exercises while at Vicar Factory.
I prayed for a 101 year old lady called Violet to receive Christ recently. She died some weeks later and doing her funeral was a privilege.
Recently, I sat down and read 'Sinners in the hands of an angry God' which was the Edwards sermon that sparked the Great Awakening.
A friend has a pastor who has been 'In Revival' for 6 years speaking at his church. I've pondered a bit what exactly that ''in revival' means and what it might mean here.
On that subject, I'm rereading Wesley the preacher by John Pollock.
More thoughts, writing and encouragements may follow.
We'll see.
