Tag Archives: pain/suffering

Friends for the Fray: The Lost Art of Confession (part 3)

Posted on March 9, 2010 by admin

So, after a few weeks championing the benefits confession affords our souls, we come today, to the practical “how-to’s” of this ancient practice.

We look at making a good confession in three parts,
1) self-awareness,
2) thoroughness, and
3) penance

(Only some beginning remarks on penance; just enough to let you know it is probably not what you think it is. We’ll finish up next week)

Have a listen. Continue reading →

Posted in Friends for the Fray | Tagged ancient spiritual paths, character, community, confession, courage, journaling, pain/suffering, penance, prayer, spiritual friends | Leave a comment

A Talk With a Precious 12-Year Old Little Girl

Posted on September 20, 2009 by admin

This week I (Doug) had an appointment with one of the 12 year old girls in our community. Her mom brought her by to talk about question she has about God. She’d just been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and was asking a variation of an ancient trouble spot for Christians: How can God be completely good, and have created a world with such horrendous pain and evil? Continue reading →

Posted in Individual Lesson | Tagged doubt, Love, pain/suffering, questions about God | Leave a comment

Archive: Another Way to Pray: Straight-Up Honesty (Part 2)

Posted on April 30, 2009 by admin

Coming to God in face of painful circumstances is a deep act of faith. Because these are heroic acts of spirituality… (and because we often need baby steps before heroic steps)
To be successful in these new practices, we need to develop the spiritual pattern of coming to God as honestly as we can during those times that are not as demanding. There is something in this simple first movement of prayer that takes us to the center of ourselves. When we become immersed in our own identity we become candidates for the experience of God. Continue reading →

Posted in Another Way to Pray | Tagged circumstances, honesty, pain/suffering, prayer | 1 Comment