Celtic Prayer Retreat is Over

MSA’s 18th Annual Prayer retreat is over.  We had a great time up on Camano Island and I thought that those of you who cannot make it to the Pacific Northwest would be interested in some of the prayers and photos from the event.  Maybe you would like to conduct your own mini retreat based [...]

Washing Dishes as Spiritual Practice

Many of us have been challenged by the writings of Brother Lawrence and his ability to connect to God in the everyday activities of the kitchen.  Here are a couple of ideas that may help all of us in doing this.
The first is a prayer given to me by Tim Dyer in Sheffield, Tasmania, Australia [...]

Celtic Retreat is Coming

Each year in August Mustard Seed Associates hosts a prayer retreat on Camano Island on some land that hopefully in the next few years will become a monastic village, a community in which people can learn more about sustainable faith and sustainable living.  The retreat draws on ancient Celtic prayers as well as ones which [...]

What Is A Spiritual Practice?

A couple of months ago I wrote a post on reimagining our spiritual practices.  I wrote that I feel we really limit our understanding of God and faith when we restrict our spiritual practices to prayer and scripture study.  I also said that for me a spiritual practice is any routine I perform on a [...]

Away on Retreat

As many of you know part of the rhythm of our lives is that Tom and I go on retreat every 3 -4 months to listen to God and refocus our lives.  We are heading off this morning to our favourite dog friendly motel in Annacortes for our Lenten retreat.  we always try to plan [...]

A Happy St Patrick’s Day

 
 
It is St Patrick’s Day and while many here in the US think only of Hallmark cards over corned beef and cabbage some are aware that this is a day to remember one who helped to spread the gospel in a time of darkness and oppression.  I was going to write a long post on [...]

Hunger and Homelessness

The end of another week of Lenten reflections.  Some are still in the Hunger & $2 challenge like Kathy Escobar and her reflections on Hunger.  Others like Tom Grosh are reflecting on Lent in general in You Have A confession to Make.  Others, as is reflected on this comment by Pat Lasusky are focused on [...]

Thoughts From the Garden

Someone commented yesterday on how many of my reflections revolve around the garden and I have been thinking about why this is so ever since.  I did not grow up as a garden lover – in fact my mother is constantly amazed at how keen I have become on gardening.  I think that it was [...]

Previewing 2009 with MSA

As we look ahead to 2009, we find ourselves facing a spreading global recession that is putting growing numbers of our neighbors near and far in serious peril. At MSA, we hope to help followers of Jesus respond to the current crisis creatively and effectively in 2009. Please consider joining us with support and participation.

In [...]

Jeff Johnson & Selah Services

Many of you know that I am a fan of Jeff Johnson’s Celtic music.  I often use his music as background for my video meditations.  Jeff and musicians Brian Dunning & Gwen Franz will be live in concert for Celtic Christmas and Advent Selah services in the Pacific Northwest this December. Check out the calendar [...]