This coming Monday, April 15, 2024, from 8:00-9:00 am New York City time, my son Jonathan and a co-worker, Matthew Derek, will be sponsoring a one-hour workshop on the topic of prayer in a virtual reality setting. If you’re a high-tech, sci-fi-loving sort of person, you may find this fun and fascinating!
Jon explains, “Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology that has long existed in the twilight between science fiction and science fact. First introduced to the consumer market in 2016, VR now offers a number of unique advantages to global prayer networks such as Aqueduct Project. This interactive workshop will offer an orientation to Prayer Room Neapolis (Our first VR Prayer Room) and discuss some of the particularities of facilitating prayer in an immersive environment. Participants are not required to have access to a VR headset.”
Interested? Here’s a link to register if you’d like to join in!
Have a little time to graze in some of God’s green pastures?
The Psalms are the written record of the hopes, fears, and prayers of ancient Israel. In the centuries since they were written, they have served to guide the prayers of the people of God spread across the earth. This course is designed to give participants an introduction to the Psalms, specifically reflecting on how the Psalms can shape our life of prayer.
This free class from Aqueduct Project starts this Thursday, March 7, 2024 and will continue for six weeks on Thursdays until April 11th from 3:00-4:00 pm New York City time. PLEASE NOTE: This is different from the 2-3 pm notice in the photo above! It will be co-taught by Dr. Jonathan Armstrong and Dr. David Wang, who are two of the wisest guys I know! 🙂 Truly, they are also humble, knowledgable, and capable teachers, so I believe this class will be one of the best ever!
If you want to learn more, use the QR code above or click on this link:
Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”
“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28.20, ESV)Â
The following reflection is a sampler from the course, “Lectio Divina: Learning to Pray the Scriptures,” with Matthew Dereck, which just began today. It will be ongoing every Friday morning from 8:00-9:00 am (Eastern Time) from January 26 – March 1, 2024. Matthew sent out this greeting, which I want to pass along to you:
Dear Praying Friends,
Jesus promised that he would forever be with his followers. This promise, made possible through the work of the Holy Spirit, is repeated in various ways throughout the New Testament (see 1 Corinthians 6:17, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:1-10, Colossians 2:6, Colossians 2:10, 1 John 4:13, etc.). However, we as Christians often fail to live in the experience of that promise. How often do we go about our lives without recognition of God’s presence with us? If we are not careful, we can forget about God’s presence even when we are going about spiritual activities such as reading the Bible. Our time in the Word can become merely something to check-off a to-do list before going on to the other activities of our day.
Many Christians have explored how to overcome this human tendency to forget the presence of God. Once such Christian was Brother Lawrence, a lay brother at a monastery in Paris in the 1600’s. In his book, Practicing the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence is quoted as saying: “We need only to recognize God intimately present with us and address ourselves to Him every moment. We need to beg His assistance for knowing His will in things doubtful and for rightly performing those which we plainly see He requires of us, offering them to Him before we do them, and giving Him thanks when we have completed them.”
Brother Lawrence Image courtesy of Mindful Christian Year
One method of practicing the presence of God is called “pondering prayer.” David Benner writes: “We can think through issues and try to come to a decision on our own, or we can think through issues and try to come to a decision in communion with God. The latter is prayer – what I am calling pondering prayer” (Opening to God, 97). Picturing God walking alongside you and actively seeking Him as you wrestle through a difficult life decision, as you try to understand a passage of Scripture, or as you plan out your day takes daily tasks and turns them into prayer. When we practice pondering prayer, we can learn all the more to be Christians who, in recognition of God’s presence, “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
This is one of many topics that will be explored in our course, “Lectio Divina: Learning to Pray the Scriptures.” The course launched today, Friday, January 26, but registration is still open! We hope to see you there.
Early in my work career, my wife Pat and I were transferred to rural Waynesboro, Virginia, where we found a home to rent outside of town. This was new territory for young Michigan city dwellers. One morning, Pat looked out of the kitchen window to be startled by a cow’s huge head staring right at her. Cows from the adjoining farm had gotten free and were congregating in our backyard!
As we learned about farm culture there was one difficult adjustment. As we went on our evening walks, we would see and hear the mother cows “bawling” when the farmers separated them from their calves. Those mournful sounds cut right to the soul. Interestingly, the Bible speaks of this process in 1 Samuel, chapter 6.
Milk Cows in the Bible
The Philistines had captured Israel’s most prized possession – The Ark of the Covenant. They thought it would give them power, but instead, it brought them nothing but misery, so the Philistine priests gave instructions for its return. They found two milk cows who were with calves. They separated the mothers from the calves and hitched them to a cart carrying the Ark, and sent them down the road as a test to see if they would take the cart back to the Israelites. In verses 10 through 12, it says:
1 Samuel 6:10-12 KJV And the men did so; and took two milch kine [milk cows], and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home: And they laid the ark of the Lord upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods. And the kine [cows] took the straight way to the way of Beth-shemesh [located in Israel], and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Beth-shemesh.
In this passage, we find that same mournful, lowing or bawling sound we heard in Virginia. The Philistines thought for sure that the cows would obey their deep instincts and take the road back to their calves. They watched in awe as God’s power led the cows to take the road to the Israelites!
Have you ever felt like those milk cows?
I certainly have. That’s when your heart pulls you one way when God wants you to take a different path. To get a better understanding of what goes on in these situations, let’s look at the word “heart” in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word “leb” (heart) has a wide range of meanings and purposes. At its base, it represents “the center of anything.” When the Bible speaks of man’s heart, it is referring to our center point. Everything revolves around this point.
Additionally, the heart (leb) also embodies our feelings, intellect, and will. Naturally, there will be times when our emotions and intellect are in conflict. The wrestling of our emotions, thoughts, experiences, and intellect can leave us confused and exhausted. But ultimately, the conflict will be ended when our “will” steps in and makes a final decision. This bartered process is no trivial matter, and the result can be critical – even life-changing. This is not simply a contest between our emotions and our intellect. One is not better than the other.
The Heart of the Matter
We need emotions that are tempered by our love for Jesus and intellect that has been schooled by the written and spoken Word of God. Then our emotions and intellect can work together to produce decisions that glorify God instead of self-gratification. The great thing is that when we glorify God, He brings all things to work together for our good (Romans 8:28). It’s a win-win situation!
At the very center of our being, there is a place from which our decisions flow – good and bad. It can be a battlefield where emotions, thoughts, and intellect each fight for influence and supremacy. But, just like the milk cows in 1 Samuel 6:12 there will be times when we must even fight off all our natural instincts and follow the Lord’s direction, which is revealed through searching the Bible along with honest, heartfelt prayer.
Do you have some critical decisions to make in the days ahead? Are you bawling inside over important life issues? Then go to Jesus. Cry out to Him and He will give you comfort and direction.
Scriptures for Peace and Direction
Proverbs 4:23 NIV Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
1 Peter 3:3-4 NIV Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
Mark 12:30 NIV Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5).
Psalm 119:10-12 NIV I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees.
Psalm 37:4-6 NIV Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
Rod Jones often teaches our Sunday school class at Calvary Church, and I’m always blessed and encouraged by his teaching and stories! Thanks for sharing with us, Rod!
*Photo credits from “unsplash.com,” which is a fabulous resource for free photos! Thank you to the following photographers for allowing use of their photos:
Got an hour or two or more to invest in spiritual growth online, from the comfort of your own home? I’m excited to share with you some wonderful opportunities coming up through Aqueduct Project. The first one starts tomorrow and is a book study on Mere Christianity. This is one of my all-time favorite books, because through reading C.S. Lewis’s simple but wise ponderings both my mother and my Aunt Helen came to faith. Whether you’re a believer or would like to believe but still have reservations, this book will stretch you spiritually and help build your faith.
The second offering is a one-hour presentation on Martin Luther given by my son, Jonathan, although I get to be there to introduce him and help field questions at the end (which I’ll most surely be directing to Jon!). 🙂 Anyway, lots of great opportunities coming up, led by men and women who’ve been walking with the Lord for many years. Please come and be blessed!
“Finding Mere Christianity” A 6-Week Book Study with Matthew Dereck
In his final hours, Jesus prayed that his Church would be one even as he and his Father were one (John 17:20). More often than not, however, Christians are divided into different camps on a variety of biblical and theological issues. This course will emphasize the points that unite Christians around the world and across time. Together, we will explore what it means to be united amid diversity in the Church as we seek to find mere Christianity.
“In the Footsteps of Martin Luther: The Wartburg” A Benefit Lecture by Dr. Jonathan J. Armstrong
In this one-hour guided tour, we will explore one of Europe’s most famous castles and the effect of Martin Luther’s translation of the New Testament (which he completed in this castle in the spring of 1522) on the Reformation. This Benefit Lecture will be conducted on Monday, October 16, 2023. There is no need to book a flight or pack your bags! All you will need to bring is curiosity about how God leads his people—in the lives of the saints of the past as well as today—and a cup of tea!
This will be the first in a series of four Benefit Lectures where we’ll be following in the footsteps of Martin Luther. This coming Monday, we’ll be exploring one of the most significant castles in the world: the Wartburg in Eisenach, Germany. It was here that Luther translated the New Testament from May 1521‒March 1522. We will see how Luther’s translation of the Bible sustained the Reformation and how God sometimes does his most important works in our times of confinement and waiting.
“Prayer Walking” A Workshop by Matthew Dereck and Phyliss Hammerstrom Wright
“For the believer the grace and demand of God are mediated through the concrete situation.” This one-hour workshop will explore the physical practice of walking as a concrete practice of spiritual devotion to our Lord. We will consider tools for praying with, though, and for places along our path, and postures of being oriented to our God as we walk our city’s streets, our park’s paths, our countries’ lanes: this Biblical landscape of life.
“Learning to Pray the Prayers of Paul” An 8-Week Lecture Series by Jason Hubbard
In this course we will explore both the biblical theology of prayer from Paul and the prayers that Paul prayed for the churches in the letters that he penned! You will discover the key themes of Paul’s prayers, learning how to pray “Biblical Prayer” all for His Glory, and your Joy! You will gain simple tools to help you draw closer to the heart of God in prayer!
“Toward A Faithful Education” A Workshop Presented by Jonathan Friz with Panel Member Scott Key
What is the place of the Study Center in the future of Christian higher education? The Consortium of Christian Study Centers (CCSC) offers the following definition: “Christian Study Centers are communities of students and scholars animated by the ancient ideal of faith seeking understanding.” After a presentation by Jonathan Friz, a panel discussion including Scott Key (C. S. Lewis Study Center in Northfield, Massachusetts) will follow.
“Study to show yourself approved by God, a workman who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, Modern English Version).
Got an hour this coming Wednesday to invest in praying with other women? Come join us at Global Family as we gather to pray the Lord’s prayer over our region of the world, in our native tongue, in harmony with other women who also long for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Who is invited? Just women this time, but if any of you men out there would like to gather together and pray the Lord’s Prayer over your land, please feel free to organize a similar session! Let me know, and I can connect you with the right man to help make it happen!
Any other stipulations? Jesus “said unto them, When you pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth” (Luke 11:2). This prayer session is for any woman who wants to address God as “Our Father.” We become God’s children spiritually when we repent of our sins and are “born anew” into the family of God (see John 1:12 and 3:1-21). However, physically we are already God’s children by merit of his creating each of us: “But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand” (Isaiah 64:8). “Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O Lord, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting” (Isaiah 63:16). God is a father to all who trust in Him, regardless of our religious pedigree of physical descent: “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother?” (Malachi 2:10).
And, that’s the crux of the matter. We don’t have to be Jews or Christians to pray to God: “And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham” (Matthew 3:9). We just have to be ready to cry out to God as OUR FATHER, acknowledging Him as the One who can provide grace and peace to us and to this groaning world (Romans 1:7).
Is your heart to seek God as your father? To acknowledge Him as the world’s “our” father—the only One who can redeem us and our world? If so, please join us in worshiping God corporately as we petition Him for provision, forgiveness, protection, and peace on this earth.
“Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” (Hebrews 12:9)
This is a story you’ve probably either heard or lived through yourself. I was reaching out to a friend whose marriage had eroded quietly for years but suddenly collapsed in a mudslide to destruction. He has a super bright wife who works day and night to provide for their family and two highly successful children winning all sorts of awards in high school. Yet, even though it looked to me like he’s had a nearly ideal home and family life, he became so dysfunctional from drugs and alcohol that he’s been kicked out. It wasn’t obvious to those who loved the family from afar, but there have been years and years of love, tears, and desire to help that he ignored until it was too late.
How does this happen? “But, you can’t imagine the pressure I was under,” he complained to me. True enough. He had been the #1 salesman in the nation for his company— full of dreams and ambition. That’s a lot of pressure. He’d grown up in an alcoholic home. That’s a terrible obstacle to overcome. Past wounds and present pressures . . . the perfect storm for drowning. But, do we have to drown?
My friend has landed at his father’s house— a ranch sort of in the middle of nowhere. After losing his own wife years ago, this father eventually found his way to freedom through faith in Christ, and he’s sharing this faith with his son, providing a safety net for him, texting him Bible verses every morning, praying for him, and giving him space. Will my friend repent and allow Jesus to transform him? I pray so, but it’s not a given. I’m also praying for half a dozen young (and older) people who seem unable to overcome the addictions that are killing them (literally).
To a greater or lesser degree, I’ve seen this scenario lived out again and again. Some call it Midlife Crisis or burnout. I used to think of it as a middle-age malady among men, but honestly—it can affect any of us at any time. What’s the answer? For me, it’s always Jesus, the source of truth, life, and freedom. The One who died so that we can have forgiveness for our sins. The One on whom we can cast ourselves, confessing our sins and begging for help.
How many times in my life have I taken Jesus up on his offer?— “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). My need for grace and help on my pilgrimage to heaven has never ended. I feel like a salmon trying to migrate up a waterfall, praying and jumping over, and over, and over again . . . how many ever times it takes me to be able to make it to the “next level” in the great adventure we call life on earth.
But, back to my original question: What is Eremos? It’s a Greek word used in the Bible that’s translated often as “wilderness.” It means an isolated, solitary, desert place where no one is and there are no resources. No food, water, or shelter. This is where Satan tested and tempted Jesus. However, Jesus didn’t cave in to temptation. His resource was complete reliance on God. Jesus fasted. He prayed. He stood his ground by quoting Scripture. He survived. And, he went on to save the world. Literally! He’s the only superhero who isn’t fictitious. Jesus is the Almighty God incarnate—in the flesh—, and He is the One and only power in heaven or on earth who can forgive, redeem, save, heal, and transform us.
When we are tested and tempted, we have two choices: to give in to temptation (which leads to sin, addictions, and eventually death), or we can cast ourselves completely on God, coming boldly to the throne of grace, begging him for mercy and the grace to resist temptation and overcome evil with good.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the problems and pressures of life, don’t take a drug, take a walk to the Eremos and meet with God. Cry out to Him and do NOT turn to idols. Billy Sunday taught, “One reason sin flourishes is that it is treated like a cream puff instead of a rattlesnake.” Let’s take our sins seriously and let God fill us with the water of life that flows from the Rock: “for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” ( 1 Corinthians 10:4). Jesus is the friend that sticks “closer than a brother” and promises to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He’ll be with us in the Eremos. We’ll never be alone once we have Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Psalm 61:1-4. “Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.”
(I took the two desert photos from an “eremos” in Tunisia)
Those of you who know me well also know that I’m always thinking about traveling and when and how to get there. I usually plan trips about a year in advance so I can use frequent flyer miles, and with our 50th anniversary coming up in 2023, I was especially keen to start searching for the perfect getaway. By January of 2022, I was getting antsy to start researching so I’d have a feel for the market and could watch for the best deals. However, last January when I started praying about what to do for our anniversary trip, I felt a clear and unmistakable prompting from the Lord, “Don’t even look until 2023.”
“What? I might miss the perfect opportunity. Why not?”
“I’m telling you, don’t even bother to look.”
That was all. But, I knew there was no use arguing with the Lord, because He’s always right, and He is the One Father who truly does always know best. So, I didn’t look. Every once in a while, Alan or one of the kids would ask what we were planning for our 50th, so I would tell them, “I don’t know. The Lord has told me not to think about it until next January.”
It’s hard to wait. There was a side of me that thought the Lord would give us a super special present for our anniversary, but there was also a dark side of me that dreaded the possibility of not going anywhere because one of us would be dead or too ill to travel. Or, one of our kids would need us. Or, ??? I had no clue, so I just had to wait on the Lord. When I’d start to feel myself becoming anxious, I’d repeat Psalm 27:14, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.“
Finally, the day came in early January, 2023, when the Lord said, “You may now look.”
Whew! It wasn’t just that one of us was going to die. It was that the Lord had a surprise waiting for us. This particular morning, there was a 22-night cruise on a 5-star ship with a brochure price of $4,889 on sale for $200 . . . to visit the last continent we’ve never explored! I was incredulous. That price couldn’t be right; that’s only $9.09 per day per person. We can’t buy breakfast at our favorite diner for that little. What’s the catch? I called. There was no catch. I bought tickets for two. We now have tickets and flights and a guaranteed place on board. I’d tell you which ship and where so you could join us if you want to, but when we tried to get tickets, the agent said, “Oh, I’m sorry. There are no cabins left at that price. (Pause) Oh, there’s one. You’re getting the last cabin!”
If we make it back alive, I’ll want to share what we saw someday, although this year I want to finish our adventures through America the Beautiful. So, until then . . . happy sailing! But, meet me in St. Louis on February 2 to share adventures through the Southwest, will you?
“Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:3-5).
December 24th dawned snowy and grey. This was the view that greeted us out our bedroom window. Winter Storm Elliot was so severe some Michigan newspapers dubbed it the blizzard of a generation.
It was with great relief and joy that we received Michael’s family all safe and sound on Christmas Eve Day in time for lunch. Thank you, Lord, for guiding their timing and directing their path through the storm.
Due to the continuing storm, our church (along with many others) cancelled their candlelight Christmas Eve services, so we held our own. We sang lots of Christmas carols with Aaron and Eowyn accompanying us.
Michael led the devotional time with a tradition he and Grace started in their family.
They light candles under chimes with little golden angels floating above them. The heat of the candles make the angels move slowly around in a circle, and as the angels pass by the chimes, they make tiny tinkling sounds.
After the candles were lit, we all waited in complete silence to hear the tinkling bells. It took a while for the heat to make the angels move, and the sounds were so soft that if anyone talked, we couldn’t have heard the tinkling bells.
Michael reminded us that this is what it’s like to listen for the Holy Spirit. We have to quiet our hearts and wait patiently for God to speak to us. If we’re talking, or other people are talking to us, we won’t hear what the Lord is saying.
Listening for the Lord’s quiet voice speaking in our heart is one of the greatest gifts He gives us as his children. If we’ll listen, He’ll direct our steps and guide us through this life and into eternity with Him. Before this month is out, I want to share a surprising and wonderful gift God has given me because I was willing to listen to his voice and obey Him. A year ago I heard His still, small voice give me curious but clear instructions, although I had to wait 12 months to understand why He directed me as He did!
“And he [the LORD] said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:11-13).
The opening pages of January, 2023 . . . fresh, clean, empty pages waiting to be filled! Is your January calendar still open, or have you had to cross out appointments and rearrange plans already? Have you made any resolutions or thought about how to make 2023 your “best ever year!”?
I’m thankful for the Januarys of life . . . snowy white seasons to start afresh and renew my determination (and prayers) to improve with age! 🙂 If you’re like me, you’ve got lots of challenges, hopes, and dreams about this year already bubbling in your brain. Is one of them to know if God really exists . . . or to know God better? I guarantee that to know Him is to love Him, and because of that, I invite you to participate in some of Aqueduct Project’s free online classes!
The first one starts in just two days—Thursday evening, January 5th, at 7:00 pm. “Jesus and Prayer” will take us deep into the heart and teachings of Jesus on the subject of prayer:
Jesus and Prayer
Thursdays from 7:00-8:30pm Eastern Time (UTC-5:00)
January 5 – February 23, 2023
As the course instructor, Dr. Jason Hubbard, explains: “Jesus is the ultimate man of prayer! Like the disciples, we will come and ask the Lord Jesus, ‘Teach us to Pray.’ During this course we will explore the prayers of Jesus, the parables of Jesus on prayer, prayer and mission, prayer and spiritual warfare, and the posture and position of prayer throughout the Gospels! You will leave this course with practical tools to encounter the Triune God of grace in conversation, intimacy, and effective intercession!”
Interested? Here’s the link to explore upcoming possibilities and register for this class on prayer:
Summer Setting 