Monthly Archives: October 2016

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Book Review: “The Meeting Place” by Rich Lewis

A Contemplative Book

Rich Lewis appreciates a contemplative walk with God. The kind spiritual living which includes daily times set aside for listening in silence with God. Through Twitter he and I connected because of “Healing the Divide: Recovering Christianity’s Mystic Roots” (RCMR) by Amos Smith.

Rich is a part of the RCMR mystic movement, which highlights Christian truth through the spiritual discipline of meditation. He has written a book on centering prayer, a practice that is helpful in developing a centered spiritual life.

This week Rich shared a review of my book. Here is part of his review and a link to his post. I hope you will check out some of his other blog posts and his free ebook, Centering Prayer. It is a practice I highly recommend.

BOOK REVIEW by Rich Lewis

The Meeting Place: Moments with God at Lookout Point by N. L. Brumbaugh

I am excited to share with you my review of The Meeting Place: Moments with God by N. L. Brumbaugh. Norma is an author, a writer, a speaker, a contemplative and a orchardist. Learn more about Norma at her web site.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Meeting Place: Moments with God at Lookout Point by N. L. Brumbaugh. We all need to take extended time with God as she has shared. “Every week this year I want to spend one hour with you at this spot, to think on you, to pray, to worship, to listen to learn, to praise, to thank, to absorb your truth, your lessons, your life.”norma

Each week, N. L. Brumbaugh shared her innermost joys, concerns and cries for help to God. She then paused and importantly let God respond. I admit, at first I was confused and then it dawned on me. She quietly listened to God and then wrote down what God spoke deep within her. What a wonderful and healthy exercise. I have just begun to do so too.

God unconditionally loves us! God desires to have a relationship with us. Our conversations with God are not meant to be one-sided: we talk and God listens. We are to speak to God and then shut up. We must sit quietly and listen for the inner voice of God.

Review continued-More here…Review, The Meeting Place, by Rich Lewis

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Honor Still Matters

Something precious has been lost during this election season. The lack of civil behavior highlights an alarming trend. Public discourse and interactions have stooped to a new low. I, for one, find this unacceptable.

Some things, when lost, are difficult to retrieve.

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Where will the path lead?

A few years ago my son said to me these words, “I think the problem is that it (society) isn’t civil anymore.” His words surprised me, but they gave me pause.

Does civility matter?

Civil or uncivil behavior denotes a quality resident or missing within the action. Civility is tied to respect and lack thereof is tied to disrespect. We either respect one another or we don’t, which includes people in every demographic found in society.

Several elements are important for a civil society.

First off, it values all its people–all. its. people.

In a civil society . . .

  • -Words matter.
  • -Actions matter.
  • -Insinuations matter.
  • -Behavior matters.
  • -Kindness matters.
  • -Truthfulness matters.
  • -People matter, even those with whom we disagree.
  • -Courtesy matters.
  • -Caring matters.
  • -The dignity with which we treat others matters.
  • -Preborn girls and boys matter.
  • -The ability to listen matters.
  • -Goodness matters.
  • -Civility matters.
  • -Thoughtful consideration matters.
  • -Community inter- and intra-relations matter.
  • -Gratefulness matters.
  • -Spirituality matters.
  • -Honor matters.

. . . . . . . . .

Notice when ‘The pot calls the kettle black.’