Greg Burnett blog

2003-06-19T23:40:00.000-04:00

FYI, FYI... new web log is now cranking out virtual reams of virtual paper:

http://www.gregburnett.com

Yes, we like ecology!

2003-06-18T07:25:00.000-04:00

OK, my new blog is now running... but expect some changes.

Check it out at www.gregburnett.com and have a blessed day! (Yes, especially YOU, Neal!)

2003-06-18T06:58:00.000-04:00

These days are now quite full. I am working again and managing our home and listening for the Lord in regards to these and our continued foray into night-and-day prayer. I was invited to participate in the Metrolina (i.e. Charlotte-area) Regional Prayer Council (I think its capitalized) and we are having our second meeting tomorrow. Its a great mix of prayer leaders and I am convinced God has His hand on this group for His purposes in the area. There were around 15 prayer leaders and I anticipate a few more joining in. Our first meeting was a time of meeting each other and listening and praying a little while. It was terrific from my perspective.

I am reading "A Cloistered Walk" by Kathleen Norris; its a provoking writeup on her thoughts and experience as a Protestant who became a Benedictine oblate (oblate in Mirriam-Webster's dictionary: a layman living in a monastery under a modified rule and without vows). Quite an experience the woman appears to be having, God healing her soul and her marriage even while her husband is out of the country. From where I am and where I recognize we are heading, I find the Benedictine Rule also some good food for thought. She also writes from a non-Evangelical perspective so her language and interpretation of God's interaction/interruptions are very distinct and flavored differently than the way I would convey them. She has a strong creative bent and has been bruised by others when she did not routinely "fit in" as she journeyed into adulthood. Her transparency is offered as she allows the reader to work with her through certain catalytic events as she participated regularly in the life of a monastery.

Peripherally but significant to me, I am still learning my new blog tools for my new blog... I'm getting it ready for the transition. I think web design is a kick... its amazing what you can express in this forum. Thanks for hanging around... and I did catch your shoutout, BTW, Jon.

2003-06-13T23:10:00.000-04:00

I was sent an image from when I was helping with worship at one of our first Harp and Bowl meetings in the city center, (i.e., a couple of weeks ago). Thought this might be nifty on the blog. I'll be relocating to a new host service soon.... more on that later.

2003-06-12T20:20:00.000-04:00

The Living Flame of Love

O lamps of fire!
in whose splendors
the deep caverns of feeling,
once obscure and blind,
now give forth, so rarely, so exquisitely,
both warmth and light to their Beloved.

How gently and lovingly
you wake in my heart,
where in secret you dwell alone;
and in your sweet breathing,
filled with good and glory,
how tenderly you swell my heart with love.

- St. John of the cross

(and also happy birthday to my mom! I love you!)

2003-06-10T15:56:00.000-04:00

The sinkhole is still a problem. Its massive and in the parking lot of "The Masters Inn". The Charlotte Observer reports this morning that:

"One of the two 126-inch corrugated steel pipes that carry the usually placid Edwards Branch under the motel lot collapsed Saturday after more than 4 inches of rain fell in a few hours. The parking lot looked as if it had been ripped open by an earthquake. Slabs of asphalt fell into the trench that opened up after the pipe failed, washing away tons of dirt."

Sounds like this will be a lingering issue.

You'd have to read yesterday's blog to track on this with me. Its one of those things that happens and makes you cock your head a little bit sideways and scratch your chin for a moment. What else can be said?

The forecast for tomorrow is that we will finally break the 90 degree mark for the season. I have friends and family back in Texas. If I conveyed with any accuracy how pleasant this spring was it could cause them to stumble. So I won't elaborate on how our evenings have been down in the 50s and that it is supposed to rain again on Thursday and Friday. And I won't dwell on how remarkably verdant our plants and trees are in this region.

- Greg

2003-06-09T07:50:00.000-04:00

It continues to rain on a regular basis here; we are presently about 1 1/2 feet above normal rainfall for the calendar year. Incredible.

I was checking the weather report on a local TV station early this morning when another report caught my attention. Yesterday a sink hole developed over near Independence and Briar Creek here in Charlotte. A car fell into it as a parking lot of a motel pretty much dissolved. A large drainage pipe collapsed in the midst of runoff from a pounding rain we had over the weekend. It is about 1 block from a house that we were renting before we moved into this place we now own. We walked over the parking lot at times to go to the IHOP pancake house which is right beside this motel. In the helicopter video angles you could see the IHOP clearly.

(Side note: IHOP has become something of an acronym in the 24-7 prayer movement that God has started, referring to the International House of Prayer.) What really intrigued me was the subsequent 30-second soundbyte interview of the motel manager saying that water had risen from being "ankle deep to waist deep" in "a matter of minutes". The Charlotte Observer article reports that "Water didn't collect on Independence, but it filled the bottom floor of the motel, forcing employees and long-term guests to flee to higher ground."

The language of the manger is rather striking and sounds something like Ezekiel chapter 47:

The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side.
As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in - a river that no one could cross. He asked me, "Son of man, do you see this?"
Then he led me back to the bank of the river. When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. He said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds-like the fish of the Great Sea. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing."

Hey, I'm not a prophet! But I am part of a prophetic people called the Body of Christ. I'm just telling you what I'm seeing and hearing... that's all. In 1992 the whispers of God began making me aware of "night and day prayer" emerging in Christ's Church. And a remarkable experience I had before the Lord back in February of 1994 really established in me the reality of this pretty effectively. Jesus, give us ears to hear You and the wisdom to build our lives upon You.

In closing, one of my favorite scriptures, the opening verses of Psalm 66, (man I love this!):

Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
Sing out the honor of His name;
Make His praise glorious.
Say to God,
"How awesome are Your works!
Through the greatness of Your power
Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
All the earth shall worship You
And sing praises to You;
They shall sing praises to Your name."

2003-06-05T10:11:00.000-04:00

A friend has emailed me a notice that Jews are about to begin celebrating Shavuot, the giving of the Torah to Moses on Mt. Sinai. I do find it fascinating also that it is the day that King David is considered to have been born and to have died.

So, in memory of David, the man after God's own heart, I will quote from his writing in Psalm 119: 145-152:

I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD ,
and I will obey your decrees.
I call out to you; save me
and I will keep your statutes.
I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I have put my hope in your word.
My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promises.
Hear my voice in accordance with your love;
preserve my life, O LORD , according to your laws.
Those who devise wicked schemes are near,
but they are far from your law.
Yet you are near, O LORD ,
and all your commands are true.
Long ago I learned from your statutes
that you established them to last forever.

Amen!
- Greg

2003-06-03T08:46:00.000-04:00

Alright! {High five, angels!} I've got a work project in hand! {Insert sigh of relief here}

Ever wonder why God seems to take you "the long way" around life situations? I had an insight yesterday afternoon while talking with a close friend and, while talking, I suddenly knew why I was there and what I needed to say. I only knew this because a) the Holy Spirit revealed it and b) the Lord gave me a clear reference to a situation years previous in my life. It was really neat, and I sensed the love of God just oooooozing out of me... with conviction and joy as wisdom from heaven was given.

Shifting gears now...

Today, listen to the job description Jesus gives His followers (from Luke 6):

20 Looking at his disciples, he said:
"Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
22 Blessed are you when men hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.
24 "But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.
27-36: "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

37-38: "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Didja catch that... let me give it an emphasis for myself today: "he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked"

Help me Jesus to hide this word in my heart that my musings might be pleasing in Your sight!

- Greg
Charlotte, NC

2003-05-31T08:14:00.000-04:00

G'day. A new adventure on tap: a trip to Winston-Salem today so that Matthew the oldest can engage in a video game contest. It makes me realize that, for as much as I have traveled, I really haven't seen North Carolina much. Pray for it to be a good time, good food, good talks.

Still more progress on the prayer front: the last 2 Wednesdays we have had our Harp&Bowl at the center city site where the Healing Rooms ministry is beginning. Its an interesting area with gobs of history, particularly pentecostal meetings at (now very weathered and presently unusuable) this auditorium. I think it was built back in the 1920s or so and we meet near that building; it apparently was hit pretty hard by infamouse hurricane Hugo that took a bite out of Charlotte back in 1989. The auditorium has a really, really tall vertical sign way up high that says 'Jesus saves'. With all the banking headquartered in Charlotte I think financial institutions will misunderstand that phrase. Anyway, our prayer meetings have gained in sustained focus as well as size. Collaboration, when God joins you with friends, is a marvel to behold.

It seems that God is up to something here.

2003-05-28T11:51:00.000-04:00

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. II Cor. 5:14-15

What else can I say? What else can I think? The only good things I have in my life are what that God has given, and events He has initiated and led me through.

And the stunning promise comes to us, THIS work of God:
"And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live." (Deut. 30:6)

Jesus anticipated this promise fulfilled as He looked to the other side of the cross and said: "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" Luke 12:49

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

Thank you, Jesus.
Make me like You.
Let me see You.
I want to know You.

There is much-too-much between us, these things I set before You. "My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely." (Song of Sol. 2:14)

- Greg

2003-05-26T08:05:00.000-04:00

Here in Charlotte, in the last week of May, we are over a foot above normal rainfall total. A foot! And we have now had more rainfall this year than we had for all of 2001. Incredible... you should see how well our lawn is doing.

I see there was a big quake off the coast of Japan a little over 2 hours ago. They say it registered 7.0. That is within the week of the Algerian quake where over 2000 died. We are really in an timeframe of great challenge and opportunity. We must build our lives upon Jesus, the only foundation which cannot be shaken. He is the same, yesterday, today and forever. And we're as close to Him as we want to be (see article linked below on May 19).

- Greg

2003-05-23T10:37:00.000-04:00

I almost have the article on the Fourth Mansions finished. Its a challenge to get my arms around it and then distill it down to a few chewable paragraphs. This one will be a bit longer than most. But God is helping me with this. I had an experience with the Lord early Sunday morning that has given me enough leverage for the task. He is into my writing this much more than I had supposed.

Off to look into Matthew's guitar playing...

- GB

2003-05-19T21:54:00.000-04:00

Wow, what a day. We're clearly gaining ground and the firery darts are flying. Accusation and deception and various attempts to discourage abound. As does the peace of God that passes understanding.

More detail later, but for the meantime here is a link here to an article I read back in 1990 that truly changed my life (click on its title to read it):

Four Circles of Intimacy With God

Check it out!
Greg

2003-05-17T09:51:00.000-04:00

"As silver is tried by fire and gold in the furnace, so the Lord trieth hearts" (Prov 17:3).

The only one to whom God does not appear new and strange is God Himself. - St. John of the Cross

In walking with Jesus in this season I have discovered something that He has produced in me: He has removed from my soul a yoke that the world and its systems have used to yank me away from beholding Him. Even in this uncertain time it has become apparent that, in my own mind/way of thinking, my vocation does not define me in a way beyond the boundaries of God's Word. I am amazed! And grateful! There has been maturation; and some progress circumstantially as well as the Lord continues to build us into His house of prayer.

The Cross is the staff whereby one may reach him, and whereby the road is greatly lightened and made easy. Wherefore our Lord said through St. Matthew: My yoke is easy and my burden is light, which burden is the Cross. For if a man resolve to submit himself to carrying his cross — that is to say if he resolve to desire in truth to meet trials and to bear them in all things for God’s sake, he will find in them great relief and sweetness wherewith he may travel on this road, detached from all things and desiring nothing. (The Ascent of Mount Carmel, n, 7. in The Complete Works of St. John of the Cross, translated and editedby E. Allison Peers (Westminster: Newman, 1945), vol. I, p. 91.)

Another quote from St. John of the Cross:
These times of aridity cause the soul to journey in all purity in the love of God, since it is no longer influenced in its actions by the pleasure and sweetness of the actions themselves, . . . but only by a desire to please God. It becomes neither presumptuous nor self-satisfied, as perchance it was wont to become in the time of its prosperity, but fearful and timid with regard to itself, finding in itself no satisfaction whatsoever; and herein consists that holy fear which preserves and increases the virtues. . . . Save for the pleasure indeed which at certain times God infuses into it, it is a wonder if it find pleasure and consolation of sense, through its own diligence, in any spiritual exercise or action. . . . There grows within souls that experience this arid night (of the senses) care for God and yearnings to serve him, for in proportion as the breasts of sensuality, wherewith it sustained and nourished the desires that it pursued, are drying up, there remains nothing in that aridity and detachment save the yearning to serve God, which is a thing very pleasing to God. (The Dark Night of the Soul, i, 13. Peers, op. cit., vol. I, p. 393.)

And to our friends journeying with us, following this Person who is The Way:
The little knots of friends who turn their backs on the “World” are those who really transform it.
-C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves

2003-05-13T07:15:00.000-04:00

The "Great Job Search 2003" continues. My mother sent me the book "Who Moved My Cheese?" some time back, which has become a very popular mantra in business circles and life-philosophy pundits. They now have morphed into several niches and sub-categories. Its a proberb kind of story about some mice and how change is hard to learn but inevitable. Two are adaptable and move on but two (Hem and Haw) have real problems when their cheese is gone from its traditional place in the maze.

Sheesh, look at that web site. "Moved Cheese" clothing, learning material and movie! I'm surprised they don't have a link to the I Love Cheese web site, or the American Dairy Association.

Anyway, we're getting notice out of my work availability. I sense that God works/speaks during these transitions to wean one's identity away from their vocational gig. It can definitely be malforming.

Blessings to you today!
Greg

2003-05-08T22:17:00.000-04:00

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. (2 Cor. 11:3)

What a hectic storm we sometimes find ourselves in. You know what I mean. This job transition can be such a distraction and threaten with circumstantial pressure. But Jesus tells us to lift our vision higher, such as in the parable of the sower:

"This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop."

OK, Jesus. Help my unbelief. Lead on.
Greg

2003-05-07T06:52:00.000-04:00

I blogged yesterday afternoon but my laptop froze about 30 minutes into typing. I will get back to it later today... see you then.

- GB

2003-05-02T16:18:00.000-04:00

I got the new porch swing up and hanging last night after dinner. Its offers quite a view, really. And we've got a thick cushion on it. So as I decided to test it, I allowed myself a moment to catch my breath.

After my moment cascaded down into a deposit of, oh, five minutes I suddenly realized I could hear birds around the neighborhood making some rather exotic calls.

How long have they been doing this, I wondered? And why would I not hear it?

Thank you, Lord, for arresting me. And making me present to the moment, far better grounded and being part of what you have made rather than the 5-gallon-aquarium-world I typically swim in within my mind.

(Insert a thankful sigh here),
Greg

2003-05-01T06:26:00.000-04:00

What I do here, sometimes, is publicly ask myself questions. Questions regarding my assumptions, or questions that God is asking me. Feel free to use the 'Shout Out' link at the bottom of an entry if you want to comment or offer feedback. Its on the left-hand side of the column.

By the way, the inventor of cappuccino was just honored by the pope. About time. (The article is here)

- GB

2003-04-30T07:47:00.000-04:00

Good morning! Or good early morning to you friends to my left on the map.

It was a terrific day on Sunday, meeting with Frank and loving him. Hearing about his dreams and visions. YWAM is blessed to have leaders such as this.

I'm feeling challenged by God as to my paradigm of leadership. I only have a moment to splash this on the page here, but I'm going to ramble.

Is leadership the sole responsibility of God's Spirit? (man-o-man, I am restarting several sentences here at this point, backspacing ... I need to chew on this awhile) My understanding of Scripture is that leadership is vested within an intentional group, agreeing in values and goals and willing to defer to one another if they are responding in obedient, loving faith in commitment to God's leading that community. What then are the roles of elders? Is this an honor and respect for the observable history of that person's service to Christ? What should it then confer upon them? A more valuable opinion? Greater trust? The greater benefit of a doubt? And were James, Peter and John chiefs among the elders in Jerusalem? Did they get to vote twice? First in line in the cafeteria? (C'mon a little humor helps the medicine go down)

I think what can happen is not seeing the forest because the trees block our view. Waaaaaaaaaaaaay back when I was on a YWAM team to Nepal (January of 1993) we had spent time in pre-travel prayer and I had a vision of a roman-looking building on the top of a mountain with 3 tremendous pillars in it. We didn't get an interpretation for it at the time. But after arriving in Pokhara, Nepal we were invited to a weekend love feast that the YWAM base was hosting. When we joined in the festivities we found that there was a special time scheduled to pray for and honor 3 Nepali men among us who had endured years and years of persecution and torture as they faithfully carried/embodied the gospel in that region. As we joined in their prayers of thanksgiving, I suddenly had understanding of what the Lord was showing us in the vision of the 3 pillars. They were sitting right in front of us.

In gratefulness to the Lord Jesus today, Who has everything to teach us and nothing to learn from us.
Greg

2003-04-27T07:08:00.000-04:00

I'm out the door shortly... how fast can I type to get this in? Here goes..................

I'm about to drive out to Ashville, North Carolina. A beautiful place (the Austin of North Carolina in my mind). I am meeting this morning with Todd Hedgepeth and Frank Naea to talk about missional community development. Am I in over my head? You bet. First time there? Hardly. But something has been brought to remembrance of what I believe is significant to the moment:

Caryn got up to turn off the wake-up alarm (a short while ago) and when she climbed back into bed I reminded her of our first trip to North Carolina back in the fall of 1994, and she reminded me (she was mostly asleep, so the connection to the following incident was unavailable to me) of what the Lord spoke to me a few weeks later back in Austin. At that seaon in our life, we had left many things and given up stuff, we had gone through 3 YWAM schools back-to-back-to-back and then were back in Austin waiting on the Lord in response to His interrupting our lives with clear direction previously when we had been living in Moscow, Idaho at the beginning of the 90s. (Sorry for the run-on sentences; I will take to make a point soon :) ) But being back in Austin, several things were coming together: our relationship with Ed Silvoso and the Harvest Evangelism team... and even then having visited the Yuba City/Marysville pastors network in California to consider working together to reach their cities with the gospel. All this to say, my wife just now brought an incident from that waiting period back to mind as I was getting up to head to Ashville:

It was the first week of December, 1994. We were waiting to hear from the Yuba/Sutter pastors as to the direction they would pursue. Caryn and I were renting a dinky 2-bedroom house for us with our 2 children. A call came one evening from Dave Bryan, a leading pastor in their network. He said they wanted to go for it, and work together to mobilize their people into prayer and outreach to reach their cities with the gospel, and they wanted us to come and help with the work. I said, terrific... we'll come! As I hung up the phone my mind began racing with thoughts of our awesome God. And I spontaneously thought, "Lord, You alone have caused this. No man has orchestrated this. And now we are at a defining moment for our family. In all the remarkable ways you have led us and have spoken to get us to this point, it seems like an appropriate time for you to speak right now."

What would you think have happened? A scripture refernce popped in to my mind, one unfamiliar to me: Numbers 11:23

Caryn and I grabbed a bible and turned to the passage and read: And the LORD said to Moses, "Has the LORD's arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not."

Jaw-dropping, stunning, brilliant God we serve. Or as He has been described: a better leader than we are followers. Blessed be His Name!

So, friend, this testimony has surfaced again this morning. Now I'm out the door. And over my head. Drunk with love for my Savior.

Grace and peace to you, Christ's workmanship.
Greg

2003-04-25T15:10:00.000-04:00

Terrific, provocative article in the New York times last week. It was titled "Of Empty Tombs and Angels". It was an "Easter week" type of article, one contrasting perspectives of the biblical narratives of the post-resurrection empty tomb of Jesus.

The interpretation of Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is presented, which is one that the 2 angels appearing by Christ's tomb can have meaning reflective of the structure of Israel's ark of the covenant. On the lid of the ark two angels were crafted facing one another. And it is this ark motif, he suggests, that can bring helpful illumination to understanding both the reality of the empty tomb and the eyewitness accounts of his appearing. From the article:

"In his essay, Archbishop Williams recognized a need for scholars of Christian origins to explore the historical basis for the empty-tomb narratives and other Resurrection stories. But he insisted that theology, as 'a disciplined mode of reflection' on the 'grammar' of Christian faith, had something to say about the matter as well.

For him, the empty-tomb tradition, with all its untidiness, is an essential element of that faith. As an 'image of absence, an image of the failure of images,' the emptiness of the tomb, like the space between the cherubim of the ark, safeguards the liberty of God."

There is much to be said for the mystery of God. As the hymnist has said:

The love of God
is greater far
than tongue or pen
can ever tell.
It goes beyond
the highest star
and reaches to
the lowest hell.

The guilty pair,
bowed down with care,
God gave His Son
to win.
His erring child
He reconciled
and pardoned from
his sin.

In the shadow of His wings let us sing for joy!
Greg

2003-04-24T06:52:00.000-04:00

If you read much here you should know that I am committed (note to my wife: And you know what I mean) to being involved with sustained, night and day worship and prayer. I think that daily offices of prayer can be deep and meaningful. But through a sovereign "interruption" of God I realized that He is doing something in our day that is unique... not in principle but in scale.

24/7 intercessory worship has happened before. Really. God truly does this. He did it with David, several times again in Israel's OT history, and even since the ascent of Christ. No, no... really. Check this article out, for example, about the history of Bangor, Ireland:

"Comgall considered praise so important to the life of the Christian community that he mandated that worship be patterned after the style of the Temple in Jerusalem. Students and teachers alike all participated.

Rev. Ronnie Nesbit is the current Rector of Bangor Abbey. He said, 'Within the history again, and the traditions that have come down [to us], one of the things they talk about is 'perpetual praise'. And, indeed, there is some documentation that praise was offered on a 24-hour basis-that there was a 'root of praise'.'

Calvert added, 'Well, it was a practice in many monasteries, and Celtic communities, to have what was called, in the Latin: 'Laus Peranus', perpetual worship-if you like-going on around-the-clock. Formal, organized worship.'

'We know something about the content of that worship,' Calvert said, 'because we still have a service book, a very famous service book. It was used here during the monastic settlement: The Antiphonary of Bangor as it is called.'"

Click here for the full article... its terrific.

I felt moved upon by God a year ago to write down a poem. Its about the call to continual intercessory worship. I think its a song actually but I still don't have the music, but the words are thus:

Now the procession comes into view,
we're following Jesus, we look like you.
We heal the sick and we raise the dead,
we carry our cross and talk of blood He shed.

God, set us free to love You more,
we want to be burning as our faith's reward.
Open the heavens, let fire come down,
consuming our lives
as we cast our crowns.

As the procession comes into view
the winter is over for gentile and Jew.
Prayer is ascending, God's song being sung,
a joyful assembly for an audience of One.

God, set us free to love You more,
we want to be burning as our faith's reward.
Open the heavens, let fire come down,
consuming our lives
as we cast our crowns.

Now the procession continues its way,
their lovesongs for Jesus makes nations to sway.
His glory's knowledge now filling the earth,
as a passionate bride aches for His return.

God, set us free to love You more,
we want to be burning as our faith's reward.
Open the heavens, let fire come down,
consuming our lives
as we cast our crowns.

More on my story another time. Keep thinking about Jesus.
GB

2003-04-22T07:28:00.000-04:00

/short blog today.../

I had the privilege of a rare event recently. My son, the 3-year "old" fell asleep sitting on my lap. It was a moment of reflection, briefly given. And of observation.

As his weight collapsed, surrendering to the sleep calling him, he rested completely upon me. His head, like a precious stone, lay against my chest. His hands on my legs, no longer given to exploration and toss.

David, I wondered. Can you hear the heart
which beats to love you?
Divinely fused together, this moment of grace is upon me with
the gentleness of David's steady, slow breathing.
And the surrounding breath of God's Spirit
as I hold my little one.
Thank you, Jesus, for your rest.

He soon stirred, oblivious to the embrace
that I will carry,
more than a picture in my wallet.
Rather more like a balm
for when God chooses to lead me
through a valley of the shadow of death.

Not a false comfort.
For we are led together
as a family to know Christ better,
and to love what He loves
as He shows us His way.

2003-04-18T14:49:00.000-04:00

Interesting days... these are fascinating times.

After much thinking, a little dialogue and some prayer I threw out some of my thoughts in our weekly prayer circle regarding missional community and how, for example, it could be a dynamic context for continued development of a harp and bowl network in the city. The feedback was terrific and it is apparent that there is interest in talking this stuff out further.

And there has been what I perceive to be Divine affirmation of this direction for my family and I. A couple of unexpected and
high-energy communications with some leaders outside of my typical/daily sphere of relationships has given my thinking
of these changes quite a boost. I am confident that the Lord would have my family living/laughing/crying/etc. in the context of deep friendships and passionate discipleship and outreach. An intentional community sharing clear goals and working in partnership with Jesus day to day. And this is so because of this:

The grace that has electrified natural history
from that "Good Friday" generations ago
is still working out God's purposes
in awe and wonder.

Pursuing you.
Pursuing me.
Joining men to Himself and, through Himself, to each other.

God claiming a people for Himself, fully reconciled
and now they can receive gifts to bear witness
with His Holy Spirit that
the crucified and resurrected Christ
makes this reconcilation possible.
He whom the Son sets free, he is free indeed.

Thank you for the cross, Jesus. If the nations see You as You truly are they will worship You also.

Greg

2003-04-16T07:03:00.000-04:00

Alright now! The Wilsons next door had their baby yesterday. A little chunk of a guy who tipped the scales at 9 1/2 pounds.

9 1/2 pounds!

I remember reading somewhere that when Lew Alcindor (the basketball player who changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) was born in New York City he set a record at coming in at over 13 pounds. Sheesh. So Lynn, when you read this, know that your little bundle of joy was - after all - on the scale of reasonable. I'm sure it didn't seem like it at the time. But maybe he'll be in the NBA some day.

Pause

Did you ever read Garrison Keillor's ode to his fictional forefathers in fictional Lake Woebegon? At the launching of new life, with all it potential and sweetness... its fragility and vulnerability, I remember the ode... for all its quirkiness and charm:

Our people headed for Oregon
when they left Newburyport;
great-grandma Ruth and her husband John,
but they pulled up in Lake Woebegon
two thousand miles short.

It wasn't just the dangers ahead
that stopped the pioneers.
Ruth simply said,
"Its been 3 weeks without a bed,
I'm tired... let's stay here."

So they stayed a week to rest the team,
were welcomed and befriended.
And slowly he gave up the dream
and there the journey ended.

They bought some land just north of town,
a pleasant piece of rolling ground:
a quarter-section, mostly cleared.
He built a house before the fall,
they lived there 40 years in all
and by God's grace persevered.

And right up to his dying day,
when he was laid to rest.
No one knew,
he did not say,
but his dream had never
gone away.
He still looked to the west.

She found them in a dresser drawer,
a box of pictures, every one
of mountains by the ocean shore.
The mountains he had headed for
in the state of
Oregon.

There beside them lay his will.

"I love you Ruth", the will began,
"and count myself a well-loved man.
Please, send my ashes when I die
to Oregon,
some high green hill.
And bury me and leave me lie
off in that green and lovely land
we dreamed of,
you and I."

At last...

At last she saw her husband clear
who stayed and labored
all those years,
his mountains all uncrossed.
Of dreams postponed and finally lost,
which one of us can count the cost
and not be filled with tears?

And yet how high those mountains are,
those mountains that we sense afar,
the land we never see?
The golden west
and golden gate
are visions that illuminate
and give wings to the human heart,
wherever we may be.

That old man, by dreams possessed,
by Oregon was truly blessed.
In his eyes, more than a state
and something
like
a
star.

I wrote this poem in Oregon
wanting the leaden words to soar
in memory of my ancestors
and all who lie along the way.
God, rest their souls on a golden shore.
Lord, bless us who carry on.
For we are the life that they lived for,
we bear their vision
every day.

- Garrison Keillor

Makes you want to pause, pray for faithfulness to God's call as a parent, and raise your hands in awe before God at that secret altar we all have in our hearts, doesn't it? Let me hear Your voice, calling me. Today.

Grace, grace, grace.
Greg

2003-04-07T14:31:00.000-04:00

Growth in prayer: Teresa of Avila's Third mansions
by Greg Burnett

Continuing to examine Teresa of Avila's biography and writing on the Christian's life in prayer (cf. Thomas Dubay, "Fire Within")...

Teresa's diagram of seven mansions that correlate to stages of growth in prayer are the subject of her writing in the book "Interior Castle". Previously I have been working though this subject matter to our present topic: the third mansions.

Those in the third mansions are the saints who have tender consciences and make life decisions with a sincere and earnest desire to please God. In this arena of spiritual maturation one practices charitable works and exercises order and disciplines in their home. Repentance is integrated into their lifestyle in their maintaining orientation towards Jesus Christ. Teresa's experience was that a great number of Christians arrive at this state. Progress to this point typically takes time. Maturation to this state involves issues of detachment from the world as well as an emerging new identity as the very beloved of God. Through the third mansions the burden of our corrupt human nature is oppressive. There may be a glimpse into the delights of prayer but they are few. But for the diligent who hold themselves accountable to God through this level and keep Him "always before me" (Psalm 16:8) there will come the gentle beginnings of infused prayer. This is the capturing of our heart and soul by the Person who is literally "the Light of the world", (John 9:5). More regarding this in the next article in this series.

The differences between mental prayer and contemplative prayer are vast. And standing in the third mansions we may peer ahead, into the unknown where these distinctions become experiential. While many of these who have gone ahead are reckoned as "mystics", their insistance has remained that they are sinful human beings who entered into the Life that Jesus Christ offers each of His followers. The path may not be as frequently treaded past this point, but the Person Who is the gate (John 10:7) and Who is the Way ("I am the way and the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me," John 14:6) beckons us forward.

A good reputation and worldly gain are not the effects of continuing. Discovery and encounter of our ageless, unchanging Creator will be your reward... and lasting fruitfulness in teaching and evangelism as a prophetic servant sent out into the world at His side. ("Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?", Song of Sol. 8:5a). The apostle Paul (who emphatically described himself as an example of God's patience towards sinners, 1 Tim. 1:16) said the loss of the things that did not lead to Christ He considered inferior in light of what He had gained and of Who yet remained foremost in His life, (Phil. 3:7-11). He knew God as we can: the supremely fascinating and satisfying One. As St. Francis of Assisi wrote:

"Jesus, Joy of loving hearts,
Fount of Life, Light of men.
From the best bliss that earth imparts
we turn, unfilled, to You again."

Be encouraged, as the designation that was given to Abraham is available for you and I: he is recognized in the scriptures as "the friend of God", (James 2:23). The Lord Himself called him "My friend", (Isa. 41:8)! The Lord truly offers Himself, for He says, "I love them that love Me, and those who seek Me diligently will find me," (Proverbs 8:17). Let us respond anew to the apostolic call of the Holy Spirit, being "fools for Christ" on display at the end of the procession of saints, (I Cor. 4:9-13). Let us watch and pray.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!
Greg Burnett
Charlotte, NC

2003-03-26T13:37:00.000-05:00

Growth in prayer: Teresa of Avila's Second mansions
by Greg Burnett

Continuing to examine Teresa of Avila's biography and writing on the Christian's life in prayer (cf. Thomas Dubay, "Fire Within")...

Teresa of Avila was born in the city of Avila in Spain in the year 1515. She was part of an affluent family; they had money and close relationships with nobility. Teresa herself was intelligent and a physically attractive person. While there were a few indications of Godward devotion early in her life, it was also the case that as a young adult she was easily distracted and lacked spiritual depth. When she then experienced great difficulty with her physical health, Teresa began to look more earnestly to God. As she sought Him in such a state she did find Him. Need beget her searching for God, searching beget encounter as the transcendent Beloved revealed Himself, and encounter enkindled deeper passion and hunger to know God. The matchless splendor and beauty of the One who alone is the Creator and Judge and Redeemer of men had captured her. And her lifelong fascination with Jesus began - and a discovering of the Triune God that will continue yet throughout the endless ages.

The Teresian emphasis for a Christian's growing in prayer is that, most emphatically in this early season of discerning that God is speaking and leading, this is a response of love and that fidelity to Jesus Christ becomes the standard by which all of life's choices are made. Technique or methodology for prayer are not suggested to those who are first beginning the process of spiritual growth, but rather the goal of sincerely embracing the first commandment and a willingness to suffer loss as present-tense obedience becomes paramount. Loss of reputation and of the honoring by people around you should be expected as your loyalties are redefined. But in light of real fellowship with God this will increasingly appear to be a wise choice.

We covered the traits of those in first mansions in the previous article. The traits of those in the second mansions are as follows: People here are still half-engaged in worldly pasttimes; they see imperfectly but some growth has occurred. They are weak and irresolute in their responding to God. The means by which God appeals to them can include: conversations with godly people, preaching/teaching on the scriptures, good reading, circumstantial trials, and divine light during prayer. In the second mansions earthly pleasures still seem eternal and the soul finds it hard to give up esteem in the world. But conviction has emerged that "only in God in one's surety", thus "...the will is inclined to love Him and leave worldliness with all its falsehoods", (cf. Dubay). Also in this state the virtues of humility, obedience, love and patience are young; if depth in prayer is to be reached then living according to the gospel must be perfected.

For the person who recognizes themself in this state, do they have a legitimate hope to experience God from a lesser distance? How the sin that so quickly entangles us can appear overwhelming in its grasp! Lift your eyes to Jesus, sojourner. As the poet has said, "Look you saints, the sight is glorious! See the Man of sorrows now! From His grave He rose victorious, before His throne all knees will bow." Your remedy rests in Him, and inner transformation will come from Your gazing at Him. This is a primary reason why the true knowledge of His excellent character and unrivaled attributes are to be treasured. Thus said, set Your hope upon the Son of God who died for you, knowing your weakness and impurity and yet is unshakable in His confidence to lead You through life and is unchanging in His love for You. "The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation," (Isa. 12:2). Let your reach to Him become ceaseless, and fan your desire to know Him into a most vehement flame.

Principles for, including Teresa's counsel for, continued growth into spiritual awakening from the second mansions includes the following:

- The soul should avoid a close association with "evil" and mediocre people, and pursue interaction with those who are cultivating friendship with God and are serving the people around them.

- Taking up the cross must be willfully done, accepting hardships and dryness in prayer.

- You must maintain fidelity to the Divine Will; "... to labor and be resolute and prepare (yourself) with all possible diligence... to bring (your) will into conformity with the will of God," (Dubay). Offer yourself completely to God. Let extravagant love overtake you, giving yourself beyond obligations and requirements.

- When one falls do not lose heart. Continue making serious effort in advancing. God will even bring good out of the failure.

- Be regular in prayer.

Next, we will examine Teresa's paradigm of the third mansions. As we continue I pray that God might bring us to absolute surrender. The privileges of being joined to Jesus Christ are waiting, and these coming from the one who declared Himself to be a Bridegroom to us, His beloved.

Amen, for the Lord is good, and His mercy endures forever!
Greg Burnett

2003-03-24T15:24:00.000-05:00

Growth in prayer: First mansions
by Greg Burnett

Continuing to examine Teresa of Avila's biography and writing on the Christian's life in prayer (cf. Thomas Dubay, "Fire Within")...

Teresa believed her paradigm of seven mansions was given to her by the Holy Spirit as an aid to understanding spiritual maturation and the prospect of growth in prayer. I have been taking the liberty to condense Dubay's treatment of her writing for the sake of simplifying the wide scope of her work and then adding my own exhortations, so let the reader understand this and give me license to succeed or fail in my endeavor to find words to offer wisdom by the Holy Spirit. Thus said, her analogy of prayer begins in a broad place, on ground that is common for many human beings - the traits of which are described as follows:

Those in the first mansions are people who have a sincere desire to avoid offending God, and they also are interested in doing good works. But they scarely perceive light from God due to worldly preoccupation. They are "puffed up with worldly honors and ambitions". Their spiritual retardation is due to their free-will choice of how they spend their time, what they turn to for comfort and what affections they cultivate in their soul.

How does one begin to step towards a God-filled and Christ-centered life from this low state? Is it too much to hope for the thing that Abraham received: that God Himself can be our reward if we desire to walk consciously with Him day by day, (Gen. 15:1)? Is He desirable to you, sojourner? The inspired scriptures and the diligent who have gone before us all attest to this: not just that wisdom and knowledge are in Christ Jesus, but ALL of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in this Person, (Col. 2:3). He beckons you not as "a higher power" nor as a distant force, but as the One who created and calls men by name and offers Himself to those who agree to His requirements for intimacy. You should remember how Moses caught a glimpse of the reality of the Persons of God and became enflamed in his desire to know the Lord: "Now therefore I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way that I may know You and find grace in Your sight!", (Ex. 33:13). Similary, give us eyes to see You, and ears to hear You, Lord!

Principles for, including Teresa's counsel for, beginning growth into spiritual awakening from the first mansions includes the following:

- Change your preoccupation from everything that does not lead to God; resign from worldly ambitions. Your definition of "success" will need to be radically shifted.

- Thoughtul reflection, especially on the 4 gospels of the Bible, is extremely helpful. As Jesus spoke and touched the lives around Him He did not give "opinions". He spoke and creation emerged out of nothing at the beginning of natural history. He spoke and the dead were raised to life. He spoke and the hearts of men were deeply aligned either for Him or against Him. He is still speaking to men today, and His words still have these effects. That is why he said, "The words I speak, they are spirit and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe", (John 6:63f.). "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away", (Matt. 24:35).

- Loving much is the main imperative. We may perceive the leading or mind of God on a matter, but speaking about it will profit us nothing if it is not said in love. A simple act of loving consideration is of greater eternal benefit than even precise utterance of the word of the Lord.

- Let the praise of God become your primary occupation. God loves being loved and will surprise us in the ways that He responds to us as we live for Him as our First Love. As the beloved says to her bridegroom in Song of Solomon 8:6-7, "Set me as a seal upon Your heart, as a seal upon Your arm; for love is as strong as death, jealousy as severe as the grave; its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised." Add this as a prayer in your thought life.

- It is here the process begins to rid oneself of sins, imperfections and attachments which impede spiritual progress. We are only qualified to stand before God by the forgiveness of sin granted by Jesus Christ and then, having gained this access by His blood that He offered while dying on the cross, what we do with such privilege becomes a defining factor in our continuing life with Him. Let the invitation be underscored here that we are each as close to God as we want to be. There is a banqueting table available to all who are in Christ, where we can dine with Jesus who is truly "the Desired of all nations",(Haggai 2).

Next, we will examine Teresa's second mansions. As we continue I pray that God the Holy Spirit will, out of His jealousy for us to love Jesus first, "… give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your heart being opened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatnesss of His power towards us who believe", (Eph. 1:17-18).

Amen, for the Lord God Almighty reigns!
Greg Burnett

2003-03-23T21:50:00.000-05:00

/ good evening /

The kids are down; it gets easier to bed them when spring is upon us and we can all get outside and climb and run, (mostly them, let the reader understand). Our yard is awesome and we are grateful for it. If you get one chance to see Charlotte, try to see it in springtime... the dogwoods and all are spectacular. Not being native to the area, we think its special 'cause trees are everywhere in a dense, forest-like way. Flying in to Charlotte this can jump out at you. Its rather striking.

We have neighbors on one side of us who are just about to have child #2... and friends a couple of blocks away where he (of them) has just lost his father to heart failure. What tensions there lie in the world! God really takes a risk to allow human beings to trust Him and look to Him foremost in this kind of loss and pain. But He is there just as He will be when the Wilsons get their newborn. And since He exists above time, He is constantly in that place of joy or sorrow. Who is like this God? Teach me more of You, Holy Spirit. Help me see Jesus, who has shown us the Face of this invisible, eternal Creator.

Suffering is truly better than the alternative, as evidenced by God allowing it to be so. He has only been good.

- Greg

2003-03-16T17:09:00.000-05:00

Sheesh; I just blogged for about 30 minutes but the web site/server failed when I tried to publish my entry. Argh!

I thought it was a pretty nifty entry... now it is just between me and God. Some things are better left unpublished anyway.

It has been a terrific weekend... now off to do a bit more yard work. I just wanted to update the page.

Peace to you today.

- Greg

2003-03-13T15:54:00.000-05:00

"Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His Presence continually." 1 Chr. 16:11 (RSV)

We had a terrific time this week at our Harp and Bowl gathering this week. I love these dear friends who came and worshipped with us. The sense of God's nearness and involvement were special. At one point during the evening we began singing a request, asking the Lord to "Be the strength of Your church, Lord". There was quick agreement among us as we sang this petition, so simple yet profound in its implication. After this ended, Caryn turned to me and pointed out this scripture (above) she had recently read. It is from the worship and intercession that David wrote for the first day when he gathered the singers and intercessors to minister before the Lord continually!

Wow!

At those moments when God shows you again how much He is leading and inspiring you, it can really take your breath away. It was memorable to me in a personal way. Thank you, Lord! When you give us Your Spirit of "wisdom and revelation" to know You better, who can be restrained from worshipping You?

Thank You for such kindness.

2003-03-13T15:27:00.000-05:00

Growth in prayer, part 2
by Greg Burnett

Continuing to examine Teresa of Avila's biography and writing on the Christian's life in prayer (cf. Thomas Dubay, "Fire Within"), it becomes clear that she sees growth in prayer as a process. In no regard does she presume to derive a formula for spiritual maturation. However, like many aspects of life, there are discernible stages that are common to those who are committed to growing into Christ. From the revelation she experienced from God and out of her examination of the scriptures, Teresa emphasized that progression was possible and transitions were gradual rather than abrupt jumps from one stage to another. These points of arrival were what she described as seven mansions, each progressively building towards immersion in the pure and perfect beauty of God.

I am reminded this morning that God can anoint many things, including inanimate objects such as Paul's handkerchief (Acts 19:12). He can speak truth through many agencies, including animals such as donkeys (Num. 22:28). This is not to say that these operations are not without their benefit and purpose in the household of faith, simply to offer perspective that God has only one bride that He is preparing for His Son and only one people within all creation that He has expressed His intention to dwell among. To love God first and aspire to have friendship with Him is our highest privilege, and this should become our unending orientation upon receiving salvation and the new birth in Christ. John the Baptist did no miracles yet was the man of highest commendation from Jesus for he was a burning and shining lamp, willing to increase and decrease in the eyes of men according to the purposes of God.

Teresa's persistent emphasis is quite simple and provides a stark contrast in philosophy to the Information Age we are in: "whatever degree of prayer one is in, it is love, not reasoning that is primary," (cf. Dubay). In her own words she stated that, "If you would progress a long way on this road and ascend to the Mansions of your desire, the important thing is not to think much, but to love much." Consider this in remembering our goal: communion with Jesus, and out of the beholding of Him and interaction with Him finding ourselves being conformed into His image. To "live and move and have our being" in Him (Acts 17:28) and to be "filled with all the utter fullness of God" (Eph. 3:19).

As we next begin an examination of Teresa's paradigm of seven mansions of growth in prayer and the experiential benefits of our spiritual marriage with Christ, may God grant us understanding of the real prospect of transforming union and mature life in Jesus in this world. And as the Spirit of God leads you forward and meets you in surprising ways, to be wary of the ditches on either side of the path: denying or minimizing Divine communication on one side or uncritical enthusiasm for the all things spiritual on the other. In the Name of the Father and His Son and Holy Spirit, amen.

Grace to all who have an unending love for our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 6:24),
Greg Burnett

2003-03-10T14:18:00.000-05:00

Growth in prayer, part I
by Greg Burnett

In examining Teresa of Avila's biography and writing on the Christian's life in prayer (cf. Thomas Dubay, "Fire Within"), it has been beneficial to scrutinize her teaching that growth in prayer is possible for every Christian. Teresa's insistance that all who are reconciled with God through Jesus Christ can attain a deep and profoundly satisfying love relationship is not simply an encouragement to those who want to walk with God daily... it is also thoroughly biblical.

"Now this is eternal life: to know You, the only God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent," (John 17:3).

Here I want to briefly outlay some of her perspective on how growth in prayer is possible. Teresa stands out in the tides of Church history as one of whom it was said that she "... enjoyed God so much that what did not pertain to God tasted bitter to her." Be encouraged, sojourners, for it needs to be said that it is possible to advance in prayer and that there are discernible stages in such growth. We need not be blindly stumbling through the spritual darkness and hostility that has arrested fallen creation. Knowing how to progress in prayer can be the difference between accomplishing deep transforming union with the Triune God or abandoning spiritual pursuits altogether.

Beatific vision is a lofty term, defined by Merriam-Webster's dictionary as "the direct knowledge of God enjoyed by the blessed in heaven". Allow yourself to consider as such the testimonies of numerous saints who have found that God loves us so much that "... when He finds us open and ready, He cannot refrain from filling us to the extent that we are emptied," (c.f. Dubay). If we push away from the table of the world, the fleeting pleasures that it offers and the vain promises it makes, and instead tack our course day by day towards the discovery of God then we will declare that God's name is actually "Wonderful"; and Jesus' promise of John 14:21 will be realized: "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him". Repentance leads to holiness, holiness leads to obedience, obedience leads to personal transformation as we interact with Jesus and He reveals His will and manifests Himself to us. There is nothing from within created order like the quality and impact of His love.

Let me also warn you as you prioritize your time to watch, listen, and pray with Jesus. Lovesickness will inevitably invade your mind, will and emotions. Its grip will occur and you will realize that the Savior has truly become your Magnificent Obsession. This is the effect that Jesus eagerly anticipated that the gospel would have: "I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I would that it were already blazing," (Luke 14). His absence from our experience becomes a wound and He Himself its cure. Passion for Him ignites an aching need for His Message and for Him as its Messenger. Newfound realization of His Person leaves all else as comparably tasteless and colorless and without appealing melody or fragrance. Our God is truly a consuming fire.

A few points from Teresa's writing to leave you with to contemplate today:

1) Know the desination in prayer: communion with Jesus, to live and move and have our being in Him. The encounters that wait for those who watch for God are satisfying beyond compare.
2) Growth in prayer entails sacrifices and difficulties; seek out and give encouragement to the people you know are choosing to love God first and prioritize devotional prayer. Some challenges are by God's design and some are not and, in any event, this pursuit requires quiet but deep determination.
3) Ask both Holy Spirit and those specific people He may lead you towards to offer you spiritual direction, to the end that you may find causes and solutions to spiritual retardation and setback. The distillation of Teresa's teaching offers us illumination that there are principles and a growth process to spiritual formation; issues that allow one to rightly appreciate and cooperate with the Divine Beloved for continuing maturation and deepening fellowship with Him.
4) We need to know how to operate within the varying stages of growth in prayer; one prays differently according to the manner God is meeting you. There are times of subtle interaction as well as occasions of deep and arresting disclosure from God. What she refers to as "favors" from God are not merit badges for spiritual accomplishment nor are they jewelry for public display. They are almost always intimate exchanges between the Redeemer and His child for their encouragement and reproof as He continues to offer Himself and works to enlarge our capacity to receive more of Him. Responding well to these leads further into continuing fellowship, otherwise they can cause setbacks and confusion if we do not understand the ways of God as He leads us past routine, tradition and what is generally perceived to be "normal" Christianity.

More of these points in future communication. And an overview of her model of seven mansions of stages of growth in prayer.

In closing, join me in asking God for a new generation of teachers and spiritual directors to be given to the Church. Where are God's champions who are familiar with His ways? Father, release to your Church in our day the men and women You have been preparing to impart wisdom and understanding of the "ancient paths", the spriritual disciplines such as prayer and fasting. May You by Your Spirit restore many of these who have stopped along the way: those who are trapped in sin or feel bound by circumstances. Give to these handpicked servants the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to meet Jesus today, and let them hear Your voice calling them out of the wilderness as they lean upon Your breast. Amen.

Unto the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the Only Wise God,
Greg Burnett

2003-03-08T20:12:00.000-05:00

Harp and Bowl prayer background
By Greg Burnett

Charlotte, NC - September, 2002

Harp and bowl prayer - An intercessory worship gathering that blends worship and prayer for the twofold intention of 1) ministering to the Lord by the Body of Christ in Charlotte and 2) ultimately sustaining this expression day and night in the "spirit of the tabernacle of David" until the return of Jesus Christ.

1) How do you define "ministry to the Lord"? What does that look like?

Ministry to the Lord could be described as "putting our face to the Lord's face". It is the simple activity of giving God our undistracted attention in prayer and/or in worship. Prayer and worship share a common root in that they both are basic agreement with God. Intercession is asking for God's will to be accomplished, (i.e. agreeing with His purposes), and worship is a response of adoration and joy as we agree with the Holy Spirit's revelation of God's character and nature. As we interact with God in the ways of prayer and worship we are ministering to the Lord. We declare both with our mouths and with the wise use of our time in standing before Him that we have been saved for His pleasure - that He is not the means to any other end above the unsurpassable joy of knowing Him.

2) Why do you think there should be night and day prayer in Charlotte; is it important?

Prayer and all other activity of human beings do not benefit God to any degree. He is splendid and unchanging in His purpose as He orchestrates natural history. However, prayer is an appropriate response to God's delegation of the stewardship of creation to man: that we recognize our need for His wisdom and leadership and that we express our preference for Him to exert these on our behalf. Further, the reality of God's pursuit of men via the gospel provides assurance that His care goes well beyond benevolence - He is passionately intent upon bringing man into a love relationship with Him, and to adorn us with the flawless beauty of His likeness. It is because of both our great need and as a loving response to the matchless gift of Christ Jesus that we as Christians should aspire to collaborate towards a perpetual night and day ministry to the Lord.

It should also be underscored that the core activity of Christian life is adoring prayer that empowers our testimony of the life, death and resurrection of the Son of God. It caused confidence and boldness and power to be manifest within the first generation Church, and to those succeeding generations that prioritized prayer. Consider that the 10 commandments first emphasize man's right response to God even before instructing us in our right interaction with fellow human beings is by His brilliant design. The depth and reality of our conscious interaction with Him are what lead to personal transformation and the bearing of "fruit that remains".

I believe a vision for night and day worship and intercession is being given by God's Spirit. It is not a "good idea" nor is it a concept that some people who are more mature or more intelligent have "figured out". This is God's answer in our day to His promise to rebuild "the tabernacle of David", (cf. Acts 15:16-17, Amos:9:11ff). If in fact God is
giving us understanding that He is bringing us together for this purpose, then the importance of this ministry is self-evident.

3) Is this a biblically sound goal? Couldn't this be construed as a striving towards spiritual accomplishment rather than a grateful receiving of God's grace?

This is a biblically sound concept, though it initially may appear to be extreme or too fantastic to hope to ever happen. This is more of an effect of living in an affluent, "instantly available" culture where the ways of prayer have grown foreign to us who live in countries such as the United States. However, in the parable of the unrighteous judge, Jesus gives an important description of God's response to the prayer of the saints:

"Now shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily..." (Luke 18:7f) NAS

The prospect for sustained prayer was regarded by Jesus Christ as the appropriate response to the challenges in life, and that God's answer would be unfailingly dynamic. "Night and day prayer" was not regarded as overzealous activity by the Lord. We find in the gospel of Luke that the woman named Anna is given recognition for her faithful "night and day" intercession, (Luke 2:36ff); this reference to her is an inherent part of the arrival and dedication of Jesus Christ.

Similarly, the reality of God calling His people to this kind of lifestyle was described by the prophet Isaiah:

"I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest until He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth," (Isa. 62:6f.)

The deepest expression of what the Holy Spirit is birthing is experienced corporately, with various gifts and callings working together to sustain the prayer at a single, continuous meeting. This ministry will not replace the need for a context for teaching and fellowship for every Christian in our city. The prayer center/meeting will involve some who are committed to the ministry of prayer as the foremost use of their time, but a number of occasional and weekly participants will need to find their place in these
gatherings as well. Working together we will ascend into deep and lasting encounters with the Lord that are uniquely given to us as a corporate people.

A major effect of night and day prayer in Charlotte will be the advancement of God's purposes in the city, due to the consistent intercession that is framed by psalms, the apostolic prayers in the New Testament, and praying though scriptural accounts of epiphanies. These involve prayer for unity in the Body of Christ, deeper experiences of Christ's love for His church, continuing and widening responses to evangelism, and unrelenting prayer for Jesus to return.

Luke 18:1 - "And Jesus taught His disciples a parable to teach them they should always pray and never give up."

4) Is this "harp and bowl" approach to prayer somehow better than the traditional type of prayer that I have known?

This model of prayer is not superior to other expressions of prayer in the least way. The sincere petitions of a heart reaching for Jesus are greatly enjoyed by God and typically impact history in ways greater than we understand. The honoring of Cornelius by the Lord (Acts 10:4ff) is one great example of that truth.

It is called harp and bowl prayer due to the blending of worship and singing with prayer as the primary means of ministering to the Lord. The title "harp and bowl" is from the activity that was revealed to John the apostle in the book of Revelation, (Rev. 5:8). There are prayer centers in the process of establishment in a number of cities around the world, and many are utilizing similar principles to nurtue corporate intercessory worship.

What makes "harp and bowl" prayer worth growing into is that it is a viable way to sustain worship and intercession by an entire room of people. This is accomplished by a) being a "team endeavor" where musicians and prayer leaders are coordinated and responsive to each other, allowing their gifts to mesh together in a symphonic expression of prayer, b) allowing singing and music to bring the participants to articulate petitions before God in an inspired, Spirit-led way, c) using the scriptures to quickly be in agreement with God and keep focused, even while waiting for God's leading.

Harp and bowl prayer is characterized by a Godward focus that utilizes the scriptures as a framework to explore and declare God's heart for His Son, His Church and the lost. It is not a platform to groan about the Church or complain about the world. This cannot be over-emphasized: these are non-negotiable parameters in that they would take the focus off of beholding the Lord's beauty and inquiring of Him (cf. Psalm 27:4), which is the true realization of "ministry to the Lord".

The effect of these guidelines allows for a remarkable experience of being "joyful" in God's "house of prayer", (cf. Isa. 56:7). As King David stated, one day in God's court was better than thousands elsewhere, (cf. Psa. 84:10).

cf. http://www.fotb.com/

http://www.austinhouseofprayer.com/

http://www.ihopchicago.com/

http://www.knoxhop.org/

http://www.housesofprayer.net/

2003-03-08T19:52:00.000-05:00

Hey.

i hope this is beneficial to visitors, the stuff i put here. my name is greg and i live in charlotte, north carolina. i enjoy writing and would like to post articles and occasional thoughts. my field of interest is fairly limited... pretty much about following jesus, and this as a father and a husband as well as a friend, worker and neighbor. i wonder if my email link will stick to this page: My email. feel free to respond to my posts. i am trusting mighty microsoft to fight off the spam once i post that email address (those web robots are relentless to scrounge up email addresses to sell).

following this i will post a paper on one of my primary activities: hoping to see night and day prayer take root and flourish by collaborative participation of the broader christian community in the city where i live. i will also post other articles and the like, espcially on prayer and spiritual formation. it helps me process to write, and perhaps it will serve you as well.

greg
saturday evening
charlotte, nc