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Disorganized souls

…our need for truth is inescapable.

Instead of conforming ourselves to what is, we twist everything around, in our words and thoughts, to fit our own deformity.

The seat of this deformity is in the will. Although we still may speak the truth, we are more and more losing our desire to live according to the truth. Our wills are not true, because they refuse to accept the laws of our own being: they fail to work along the lines demanded by our own reality. Our wills are plunged in false values, and they have dragged our minds along with them, and our restless tongues bear constant witness to the disorganization inside our souls.

— Thomas Merton, No Man Is an Island, Sincerity

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I’m not sure I can imagine a better description of where we are, as a culture, right now.

Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.

May God help us. Amen.

dw

Copyright © 2020, becomingflame.com

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Current Events Scripture

The truth we tell

Young man wearing hat that says Love Your Neighbor.

If love is not in the truth we tell,
are we telling the whole truth?

dw

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I read this from the apostle Paul today – he is coaching Timothy on how to be a good pastor.

The whole point of what we’re urging is simply love—love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God. Those who fail to keep to this point soon wander off into dead ends of gossip. They set themselves up as experts on religious issues, but haven’t the remotest idea of what they’re holding forth with such imposing eloquence.

Peterson, Eugene H.. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language . The Navigators. Kindle Edition.

Grace and peace to you…

dw

Copyright © 2020, becomingflame.com

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Current Events Prayers

when I feel awash

When I feel awash, untethered, I often look to my ‘go-to’ prayers to anchor myself again.

I find this prayer especially helpful when lies and truth are mixed together so thoroughly…so thoroughly…I start to wonder how our society can ever find a truthful footing for an honest discussion.

Grace and peace to you…

dw

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Holy God, who entered our world as the Word,
the Word of truth, of love, of light, and of life,

When we speak words of error, hatred, darkness and death, have mercy:

May those listening see our lies for what they are,

And may you awaken our conscience and grant us repentance;

May you change our very hearts to make them clean, wholly loving you and our neighbor, whoever that neighbor may be.

When we speak words of truth, love, light and life, have mercy:

May those listening take heart and have hope,

And may you grant us the joy and gladness you have always purposed for us,

to be your people with your Word living with us and in us.

Holy God, may your Word be spoken and cherished in all places and by all people.

Through your Son, Word of God, Jesus,

Amen.

originally posted here pray for truth