MetroMonk

Sometimes faith makes no sense. At the same time, faith doesn't always transcend experience and reason. God is reasonable, and sometimes, he is not. Right? It is definitely true that the Lord speaks to use through common sense and knowledge, but what happens when what you feel and hear make no logical sense?  This is what has been happening to me and my family. But this post isn't about trying to make sense of it or trying to explain faith- this post is about my decision to LIVE OUT LOUD.  When we began this journey to move I really didn't want to tell anyone. I just wanted to head out at the 11th hour and tell people once I had everything all figured out, but nothing went according to my plan. Looking back on it, I suppose the Lord did answer my prayer and have his way. People found out. Everyone found out it seemed. Random people my wife and I never really talked to came up to us and said, "so I hear you're moving." We were surprised at how fast the ...

Seven seems to be a special number for me. I don't know why, but it is what it is. After seven years with the Young Life organization in Libertyville, IL, I decided to just up and change everything. Libertyville will always be my first love, but people thought I was crazy. I had poured my heart into that place. I had great friends and everything, but I felt Lord stirring and so my wife and I decided to uproot and plant some place else- a place where we did not know. Unfortunately, our decision was not met positively. My friends and colleagues thought I was foolish and some were even angered with me. However, it was a decision heavily steeped in prayer. It was a hard decision, but Lord was moving within us and we were certain of that.  The Lord led us to Midland, MI. I have a lot I could say about Midland, MI, but all in all, it turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Midland will always be a very important chapter in my life. We bought our 1st house, have had two wonder...

This is my journey. I'd rather look back on the journey that I'm currently on and tell you all how crazy it all was, how I was scared and full of anxiety, how I didn't know what life would be like in a month from now, and how God made everything come together and it was great. I would like to, but that's not how I'm approaching this time in my life. I want to share a front seat  It's all been so backwards. This is how we did it- we told our employers we're moving, we sold our house, we moved into a short-term lease apartment (oh, we move out a week from today, because out lease it up), and we have no jobs and no place to go.  Usually it would go like this- Our employer is transferring or relocating us (so we know we have a job some place else), we start looking for a place to live, we have a definitely end date in mind, we move and we know where we're going. Thus, there's some security in mind.  Why would we do this? (By the way, the ...

Almighty God, on this day (the day of Pentecost) you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit; Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen Tweet

{I don't know where my wife read this, but she sent it to me soon after I confessed to her the spiritual warfare I felt going on within me} In the secret of His presence How my soul delights to hide! Oh, how precious are the lessons Which I learn at Jesus’ side! Earthly cares forever vex me, all my trials lay me low; But when Satan comes to tempt me, To the secret place I go.When my soul is faint and thirsty, ‘Neath the shadow of His wing There is cool and pleasant shelter, And a fresh and crystal spring; And my Savior rests beside me, As we hold communion sweet; If I tried, I could not utter What He says when thus we meet. Only this I know: I tell Him All my doubts and griefs and fears; Oh, how patiently He listens! And my drooping soul He cheers; Do you think He ne’er reproves me? What a false friend He would be, If He never, never told me Of the sins which He must see. Would you like to know that sweetness Of the se...

This is a picture that I have seen each day in the month of April (my wife made a wall calendar of our family). It's a picture of my son enjoying the warm weather. I love this picture so much. I see the sun on my son's face. His smile is so big. He's soaking it all in. I can almost feel the warmth that he must be feeling too. The look on his face is pure delight. How refreshing!  This picture speaks 10,000 things to me, but one of the overwhelming voices I hear is a voice reminding me to have joy. What have kind of day I might be having my son's smile is purity to me. It lifts me up too.  As he looks up to the sun, it reminds me to also lift up my head too- "Lift up your head, set your gaze heavenward and let the light, glory and warmth of the Father fall upon you."  It's just a picture, but to me it says so much more. May the peace of the Lord be with you. Tweet

Mark 14:12-26 This is my meal, the time when I sit share with my Lord. This meal is profound and intimate. It is a time that often transcends me to higher heights. At this meal the Lord is always there. It is truly one of the only constants in my life. This is my morning Eucharist, my morning (holy and sacred) meal. This is my peace.

Help us, generous Lord, to trust you to provide not only for the things we know we need but the things we don't know we need. And help us to be generous and compassionate with those who turn to us for help.  [Taken from Lent for Everyone by N.T Wright, pg. 54. Reading from Mark 6:30-44] Tweet

“You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.” At once the Spirit forced Jesus out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among the wild animals, and the angels took care of him” Mark 1: 11b-13 (Common English Bible). I’ve had the same routine for about 5-6 years now. For Lent I’m fasting from my routine. It has only been one week and I’m going nuts. I feel so unproductive, but through this whole thing I feel this sense that something in me needs to die. I need this challenge. I find some sense of irony in the verses scribed above. As a father myself, my first instinct wouldn’t be to send my son off into the wilderness for temptation. (We could delve into how important the Father’s love is to the Son and even how great the Father’s love is by letting his Son go), I’m just saying, it wouldn’t be my first instinct. Would it be yours? What did Jesus do in the desert? This desert experience seems to be vital for Jesus...

“ Desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” - Matt. 6:33 (Common English Bible) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - Matt. 6:21 God is not concerned with our comfort. God wants our allegiance, our loyalty, our fidelity. The inspiration behind this piece comes from readings on St. Anthony (251-356 C.E.) and the Desert Fathers, prominent leaders and pillars of our faith, who, through their lives of asceticism, experienced the Lord in profound ways and blessed visitors from all over the world in extraordinary ways. Asceticism is defined as: severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons....