http://www.thesoulpurpose.net Living From The Inside Out Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:18:40 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2009/02/taking-a-leave-of-absence-officially.php I received an email today from a dear friend who sincerely lives her life according to God's will and the love of Jesus Christ. We don't always agree on politics and lately I'd been getting pro-Palin email from many such Christians. I do not find Palin to be ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2008/10/christian-citizenship.php This past Sunday, I preached in the little country church where I am a member. After the worship, a young mother came up to me to tell me how much she enjoyed being in the worship service. It had been awhile since she had gone to church and her ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2008/08/jesus-christ-a-swear-word.php When I was being praticularly bratty as a teenager, I would often respond to my parent's corrective actions with the exclamation "Well, I didn't ask to be born you know!" When going through particularly trying times as an adult, I would say the same thing in jest to ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2008/07/i-didnt-ask-to-be-born.php I've been keeping the silence on this website for quite some time. My daughter's wedding, her graduation from grad school, family and friends visiting have all taken my attention outward. At the same time, I've been "keeping the silence" in my daily spiritual practice. For anyone ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2008/07/silence.php Christ has died. Christ has risien. Christ will come again. This is the ancient mantra of the church and one I sorely miss hearing on Easter Sunday. There is a dear couple in the church I attend who know to greet me on Easter Sunday with the call and response ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2008/03/he-is-risen-indeed.php Many years ago, I was introduced to the concept of the "Abuse" or "Co-dependency" Triangle. I have come to think of it as a visual description of sin. Imagine a triangle. At the top of the triangle put the word "Oppressor." At the left corner ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2008/03/triangles-and-trinities.php Ever-Recreating God, when we cling to old identities, forgive us into new being. When we hang on to old ideas and understandings, forgive us into new thought. When we clutch old practices and traditions, forgive us into new spirit. When we nurse old grudges, forgive us into ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2008/02/prayer-of-confession.php I am at that point in life where I am learning a new role: that of Mother In Law. There are so many jokes about this role and I understand why. I find it more challenging than being a step-mother, a role that has been for me ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2008/02/on-being-a-mil.php This is a quote from a man who started New Hope Ministry in a little baptist church here in the Southern Tier of NY state. "I believe God doesn't waste a hurt" says Ray Kuhr. His program is an expansion of 12-step programs and is aimed at all ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2008/01/god-doesnt-waste-a-hurt.php It wasn't too many years ago that news of a recession and the falling of stock prices would have been meaningless to me, mostly because I didn't have any stock in anything and didn't own a home. Being healthy and able to work myself to death gave me a ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2008/01/crisis-brings-clarity.php "What is therapy and why do people seek it?" asks A.G.S. I've become a bit cynical and jaded about this question. On a personal level, I spent a total of 20 years in one form of psychotherapy or another. When I was a pastor and a ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2008/01/changing-from-the-inside-out.php About 15 years ago, I was in the habit of reading a story to the children at the preschool in the church I pastored. This was often a humbling experience. Very young children have trouble saying the name “Peg”…it often comes out as “pig.” I was respectfully addressed ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2008/01/epiphany-and-the-new-year.php My womb once so full and expectant is now empty of life, its purpose fulfilled. My ovaries are shrunken, no longer bursting with possibility. My breasts are dried up, no babies to suckle. I think of little Mary, young and frightened, looking at her newborn son ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2007/12/merry-christmas-mary-mother-divine.php St Thomas, Apostle In the deepest night the star of morning has heralded the Child's birth. The coming of the Child is for us the dawn of God's salvation here on earth. Trust what you see, believe the vision, lay bare your hearts to God's own Word, do not refuse the Savior's mission, accept the message you ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2007/12/christmas-eve.php A century or two ago, this season called Advent was a time of repentance with fasting and prayers of confession; not exactly the things we associate with joy. Christmas was a feast day but things like Santa Clause and Christmas trees and stockings hung on the mantel with care ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2007/12/joy-joy-joy.php We missed church today. We were expecting a "snow day" here in the Southern Tier. It was mostly sleet followed by gentle snow falling all day. My mother-in-law is here for two weeks - I'm not sure if she loves us or our house more. She ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2007/12/third-week-of-advent-peace.php I haven't been able to post much the past few days. Travelling does me in. Insomnia and other sleep disorders are par for the course with Fibromyalgia. I have developed an adverse reaction to Ambien and Lunesta - I sleep walk and sleep eat to the tune ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2007/12/insomnia-redeemed-hope-in-the-second-week-of-advent-2007.php For the world and time are the dance of the Lord in emptiness. The silence of the spheres is the music of a wedding feast. The more we persist in misunderstanding the phenomena of life, the more we analyze them out into strange finalities and complex purposes of our own, ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2007/12/second-week-of-advent-an-image-of-hope.php I am writing a day late because we spent most of yesterday in airports - cancelled flights, mechanical failures, changing flights - we got to our home sweet home close to 3 am. I barely overheard the news about the most recent shootings in Colorado in the place people ... http://www.thesoulpurpose.net/archives/2007/12/second-sunday-of-advent-peace-when-there-is-no-peace.php