I knew that the discipline of early morning prayer was practiced & urged in the scriptures but to see it practiced & encouraged by so many of the remarkable saints throughout history was quite compelling. When Mother Teresa was asked by a minister how to be a better minister she urged him to spend an hour every morning in prayer. Carlo Carretto’s regimen for intentionally drawing close to God begins each day with ‘Lauds’-a word I had never really encountered until recently. For an evangelical, ‘lauds’ is basically morning devotions complete with prayer & scripture reading. Saint Benedict & his disciples began each morning in prayer & singing from the Psalms. Continue Reading…
A Case for Early Morning Prayer
Top 10 Things I’m Thankful for in 2010
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. -God (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
1.1st & foremost, thank you, Lord. Thank you for Christ, my strength, my deliverer, my wisdom, my help, my certain victory, my guide & my God. Wow, you are my all in all. In you, who can stand against me? Because of you, I can do all things! Because of you, I will conquer!
2.I’m thankful for my wife! Not only is she a complete hottie but she’s the grace & brains behind our entire outfit. I readily do not hide the fact that she’s my most trusted friend, confidant & advisor.
3.I’m thankful for our church. Jill & I became the lead pastors of our church 11 months ago & there have been so many friends & church members who have rallied behind us during this transitional season. Thank God for all of you! You make us feel like we can actually do this…& together we will!! Continue Reading…
What is ‘Fright Night’ & why on earth is a church doing it?
Fright Night is an event put on by our very own Fire Escape-which is pretty much the coolest youth group in Loudoun County for those who are newbies. This event takes place the last 3 weekends in October. Groups of people are taken on a guided 25 minute walk through the trails on our property in the dark. During this ‘haunted trail’ experience hikers step by step encounter the unexpected as the fear of the unknown mounts. Continue Reading…
