How To Journal

How to journal. I am not fond of blogs, comments, books, articles, etc. that have a title of “How to ….” My intuition says that nothing is that simple and clearly stepped. Nevertheless, here are some of my thoughts about journaling. You may want to journal a chronicle of the day’s events such as May Sarton’s beautiful journal At Eight-two, a journal. It is a lovely read and as I approach that age, I am enjoying reading about her activities at age 82. You may, however or in addition, want to journal some of your internal workings. When I do this self-reflection journaling, I often use the acrostic FACE. I journal my fears, angers, control issues and expectations. I have these inner situations or ‘voices’ going on internally almost every day and journaling helps me to bring them to the light of consciousness where I can look at them with some sense of evaluation. When I can bring them to my consciousness, I ask myself, and it is usually part of the journaling, “How realistic and healthy, is this thought, feeling, etc. and, do I want to entertain it or even follow it with words, actions, etc.?” If my journaling is to be a spiritual journal, I like to follow the Daily Examen and journal (1) how have I been grateful today and did I express my gratefulness to whomever as well as (2) where did I think I experienced God today and what made me think it was God?” Journaling is a good discipline for looking within as well as around my life’s activities and discerning “How am I doing

Personal Development as part of Bible Interpretation

I have the idea that the scriptures were written by folks at different stages of spiritual developmental and written to communities at different spiritual developmental stages. If my hypothesis is anywhere near true, then it is important to interpret scriptures (the study of hermeneutics) based on stages/phases/types of spiritual development of both the authors and the community of recipients. This means that I do not interpret all scriptures as of equal significance. I interpret Jesus’ teaching and life, as recorded in the Gospels, as the most developed and significant. The other scriptures I interpret in terms of their situation as well as what I believe to have been their spiritual development stage. For example, I recently heard of a conversation between a young child and her aunt at a funeral. The young child has not developed to the time when she has the capability of abstract thinking. When she heard the Preacher say that one day we will see uncle again, she replied, “You mean Uncle will become un-dead?” That is perfect logic for a young child with concrete thinking. Later in her life, her brain will have developed the capability of doing abstract thinking and, when that happens, she might have a different interpretation of what that Preacher said at her uncle’s funeral.

The Asbury Revival "Broke Out"

The news stations are reporting that a revival has broken out at the University of Asbury in Wilmore, Kentucky. It is reported that the revival began at a Chapel service when the speaker felt led to ask for testimonies. After the Chapel service, the folks stayed to pray and continue singing. That was this past Wednesday and today is Sunday. The revival is continuing. Folks are coming from nearby and faraway places to experience what is happening in the Chapel of Asbury University. I am struck by the words “broken out.” This revival was neither planned nor created by the students or faculty at Asbury. It “broke out.” It was not, and continues not to be, controlled by anyone. It “broke out.” I want to be reminded of that reality. The work of God, via the Holy Spirit, is not under our control. God’s work seems to “break out.” Our task is to be sensitive and alert to whatever the Holy Spirit may be doing and wherever the Spirit is doing Her thing (Old Testament word for Spirit is feminine). “Thanks” be to God.

The "Doughnut Syndrome"

I often asked folks if they like doughnuts. They usually answer that they love doughnuts. I love doughnuts. I remind them that there is something very wrong with doughnuts. They have holes in the middle of them. Instead of enjoying the wonderful and tasty and doughnut, you could focus on the hole—or what is wrong with the doughnut. You could be extremely critical of doughnuts. By focusing on the hole, you deny yourself the pleasure of a tasteful doughnut. Too many of us have a strong critical voice that seems to lurk deep inside of our brain and seeps out through our words and expressions. Criticism may be helpful, especially when requested, but too often criticism is expressed when it was not requested. We can be too critical of ourselves as well as others. Such a critical attitude is what I call “the doughnut syndrome”.

God is the Life-Force of Everyone and Everything

God is that life-force that has been, is and will be before, behind, above, and below as well as within everything that has ever been, is now or will ever be. Everything is God’s creation or God’s child. Every human individual that has ever lived, is now living or will ever live regardless of culture, language, skin color, religion, etc. is a child of God. Every plant that exists whether it is the rose bush in your yard or the giant sequoia trees are children of God. All animals are God’s creation. The air we breathe and the water we drink are children of God. The starry skies and the Sun as well as every creating galaxies are God’s creations. In the gospel of John, we are instructed that “God so love the world” which I take to mean that God loves everything that has ever been, is now or will be. If I am to honestly love God, I will demonstrate that love in the manner with which I love and, creatively care-for, what God loves, i.e., everyone and all of creation, no exceptions.