THOUGHT: Seven Deadly Sins

The Seven Deadly Sins; a phrase we have probably heard, but not a topic that we are deeply familiar with. But here is the quick premise: how does a literate Church teach a mostly illiterate population about living safely and effectively in trying times. They came up with this idea of looking at sins that we see as more private matters and focusing on them. So then, we get this list that shows up in many different forms: please avoid
Pride: excessive belief in one's own abilities, that interferes with one's recognition of the grace of God. Perhaps the sin that all others grow from.
Envy: the desire of other's traits, status, abilities or situation. Not satisfied with what God has provided.
Gluttony: an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires. Over-indulgence, over-consumption of anything to the point of waste. This sin was also seen as taking away from the needy.
Lust: an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body. Excessive love of things and people other than God which would make love of God secondary or worse.
Anger: manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury, rage or wrath.
Greed: the desire for material wealth or gain while ignoring the spiritual. Again, this sin would be seen as taking from the needy.
Sloth: avoidance of spiritual or physical work through laziness, mental disconnection, moroseness, sadness or apathy.
These deadly sins were partnered up against Seven Heavenly Virtues: faith, hope, charity, fortitude, justice, temperance and prudence.
Consider these further seven traits considered to be the most spiritually perilous to humanity by Gandhi:

1. Wealth Without Work
2. Pleasure Without Conscience
3. Knowledge Without Character
4. Science Without Humanity
5. Politics Without Principle
6. Commerce Without Morality
7. Worship Without Sacrifice

Truly these are a plague to our emerging culture. We need voices to speak out. No. To cry out against these things that glorify the self and ignore the community.
The seven deadly sins all focus on me and ignore others; the way of Jesus has always been to consider others before ourselves. Thus, the seven heavenly virtues all focus on my actions to another while the sins focus on my own private world. My own private world is a hotbed for sin and dysfunction, while the common world that we all share is a haven of opportunity for selfless behaviour that honours God and aids our fellow humanity.
Therefore, live in such a way that you may aid the change of our world to reflect the Kingdom of Heaven.
g-ram

ANNOUNCEMENT: New Retreat

Yesterday we started the booking / planning process for a brand new retreat. So book your calendars, make a note, plan around this date: September 19-21. This retreat is going to take us into the heart of Muskoka during the awesome leaf changing, symphony of colour that is autumn. It is going to be breath-takingly beautiful. We are going to Muskoka Woods Sports Resort and it looks like our meeting building will be the BOATHOUSE! So the view is going to be spectacular!
Yeehaaaaw! Keep it in mind for your planning.
More info to follow.
g-ram

EVENT: Celebrity Dinner

Well tonight I had the privilege of hosting some celebrities for dinner. We didn't know when we booked that this would happen, but when you are into this hospitality thing mysteries are revealed.
Music, TV, painting, designing and the list goes on. We had fun tonight watching our kids give a work over to Matt Rose & JD Sherman ;) Thanks for being so gracious and fun guys. I know that my family and I really appreciated your time with us.
How fortuitous to be blessed with great friends. May God bless you as He has already blessed us through you.
G-ram

EVENT: Full Disclosure (week of March 30-April 5)

Soulhouse

Last Week: So The Story Goes…Joshua/Jericho (Simon Riley): Well we have started a new series focusing on stories from the Old Testament. If we know these stories then it is from Sunday school: Learned in Sunday School and ignored from then on. There is so much to learn here about our God and the way that he loves us and interacts with us. Too much information to just ignore these stories after grade 4.

So Simon told us the story of Joshua and left us with some huge questions to ponder. I was left just thinking…mmmm I wonder what that really would be like? Joshua’s faith, courage and devotion to God were highlighted and they are a compelling example.

This Week: So The Story Goes…Judges/Samson (Will Sherman)

Next Week: So The Story Goes…Judges/Gideon (Erin Carter)

Common Ground

Last Week: Seven: Pride (Jon Harvey): We started a new series last week called Seven placing our focus on the Seven Deadly Sins. In this series we will be looking at why these sins are called deadly and why the list does not include some of the other “really bad sins.” So good old dependable Jon Harvey, the j-harv, started the ball rolling with a look at pride. Pride will come before a fall, some even go so far as to say that pride is the fall, caused the fall and holds us on the ground after the fall. Pride blinds, steals, hurts, abandons and sickens with sickness as unto death. To truly live pride must be rigorously pursued and subdued. To life then…

This Week: Seven: Greed (Graham Clinton)

Next Week: Seven: Envy (Josh Harvey)

g-ram

EXPERIENCE: Morning Mezuzah

5:12 AM. Dark. Warm. Quiet. Peaceful. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Finnley. Discontent.
My eyes don't want to open. Sleep is near but not attainable. How do I capture every thought and take it captive now? Silence. Come on preacher boy, what you got? I struggle for a thought. Hmmmm how about sleep? God made sleep. Sleep is from God. Let me honour God with my sleep. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Mezuzah. Wave that magic mezuzah stick and see what you can come up with. I want my life to be lived with more awareness of the spiritual. How do I connect with God here?
Pray. Prayer connects me to God. Prayer is a door that allows God to connect to me, to change me, to change my heart and my mind. I want that. I want more of the image in me. I need more.
I can't pray. I can't even open my eyes. I can't think straight. God help. Have mercy on me, I am weak and I am going to need some help praying.
It is quiet again.
Pictures. Pictures come behind my eyes. They come quickly, yet gently. People, yes people. They are not totally clear. I don't remember her having antenna on her head. Why does he look like he is melting? God, do you recognize them?
You do? Good. Hey I think I do too. These are my friends, my PRIMEtime friends. God can you fill in the prayer for me too? These are ones I care about. How about if I think of the face, the pictures, then you take care of the prayers too? Is that ok God?
So tired. Want to mezuzah. Struggling to mezuzah.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Ok God let's pray. I need to be near you cuz I need you to change me more. Into Your image...please.
Thanks. Bless my friends. Take care of my friends. Teach my friends. Love my friends.
Mezuzah in the dark, in the morning.
Daaaaaaadddddddddddddddddddddyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
Merlin's awake.
Time to go. Thanks God.
G-ram

EVENT: Insight, Update & a Leap Ahead

I had great time tonight sharing space and food with Robyn, Ryan & Jennifer Gerard. Watching kids play together ... always full of surprises. How/why do they think those things are good ideas?
Finnley started crawling forward tonight for the first time. Yippee! What a sight. He kind of rocked a little and then just lept forward. Up until now he has only been able to slide himself backwards. A new landmark has been reached.
Robyn & Ryan shared some of the good things that have been happening in their deeper groups. How cool is it that a young couple like that have bravely gone out and taken on that new challenge this year? Good for you guys.
Ryan has a whole floatilla of video ideas to help promote PRIMEtime, SoulHouse and the upcoming events. He also said that he has a whole bunch of ideas for his entry (ies) into X-pression. I wonder what he will chose? I am really looking forward to X-pression, I can't wait to see all of the amazing hidden talents that are going to come flying out. Paint, sculpture, design, dance, etc peering out from unlikely sources.
It was great to share time between my family and the Gerard's. There is just nothing like the spiritual reality of hospitality. I love it.
G-ram

EXPERIENCE: First Post

Monday March 31st.
This morning I met to talk about the next SoulHouse talking about Samson with Will Sherman. Wow, that was filled with lots of new insight re: the strong man. What a great opportunity to really think.
I also received an invitation from JD Sherman to visit and speak at Unionville High School. So here is the real question ... Is it really possible to have multi-faith sacred space?
What does it mean for something to be sacred?
How do we recognize different people groups?
How do we honour different faiths?
How do we respect those faiths?
Is there any respect inherent in the idea of a multi-faith sacred space?
Does the idea imply sameness, uniformity or utilitarian functionality at the expense of the diversity that we were trying to respect?
Hmmmmmm more thoughts to follow.
G-ram