Confessions, Book IV, Ch. 10

"For Wherever the soul of man may turn, unless it turns to you, it clasps sorrow to itself.  Even  though it clings to things of beauty, if their beauty is outside God and outside the soul, it only clings to sorrow."

Augustine says in this rewarding section that everything that we would set our soul on for happiness but God will rise and set like the sun--that God created them to give joy, but He also created them to end in order that we would be taught to rest in Him alone, who never ends.

I can't do it justice, you'll have to read it for yourself!  (if you can understand the ole english)
Read all the way from chapter 10 through 13.

In debt to the needy

Do not withhold good from its owners, when it is in your power to do it.
Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it"--when you have it with you.
proverbs 3. 27-28

This is an upsidedown way of understanding the idea of doing good.
Usually we understand that the owner of the Good is the person who does it.
Here, scripture is saying that the recipient is actually the owner.

The very moment we have good that we can give to someone who needs it, they become the owners of that good. We then become debtors to them to give them their due.

Caracas, VZ

I like these pictures because from the first shot, it looks like san francisco by night, minus the sky scrapers. but the day pic shows the true form, mostly iron shacks and cement buildings thrown together in random form.

another hagar's song take

Hagar's Song from Paul Nix on Vimeo.

advent conspiracy

adventconspiracy.org

Acts 6.1-6

Read and Lectio Acts 6.1-6

The Church is growing.
Luke now moves to the Hellenistic Jewish community in Jerusalem.
We see the Palestinian Jewish Apostles include the Greek speaking Jewish Christians in their ministry, foremost of whom is Stephen.

There was a gap growing in the community, with the Greek speaking widows being overlooked, so the apostles appointed a leadership structure to serve them.
This gap was probably a cultural gap.

• What cultural gaps have you seen develop in your ministry context?

(gaps on your team and within those you minister to)

• What was at the heart of the apostles response to this gap? Can you apply this to your context? 
  

(exp. An open, non-controlling, non-possessive, God-centered understanding of their power enabled them to share the responsibility)

Acts 5. 17-21

Read 12-21, Lectio 17-21

• What does the many signs and wonders cost the apostles in the end?
  

• What are the power dynamics in the context of your ministry? (who would feel threatened if the God manifested his authority and power?)
  

• The apostles were told to speak to the Jewish community at the temple; who has He told you to speak to?