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Welcome to OneLife Ministries. This site is designed to lead you prayerfully into a heart experience of Divine Presence, Who is Love. While it focuses on Christian teaching, I pray persons of varied faiths will find inspiration here. Indeed, "God" can be whatever image helps us trust in the Sacred, by whatever means Grace touches us each. Please share this ministry with others, and I hope you return soon. There is a new offering daily. And to be placed on the daily OneLife email list, to request notifications of new writings or submit prayer requests, write to barukhattah@embarqmail.com .
Blessings,
Rev Dr Brian K Wilcox, MDiv, MFT, PhD
Interspiritual Pastor-Teacher, Author, Workshop Leader, Spiritual Counselor, Chaplain
Brian encourages support of the 4-Star Christian organization Compassion, which supports children worldwide; for more see www.compassion.com .
Opening Meditation
Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.
*Hymn, "Rock of Ages," Stanza 3; Word, Augustus M. Toplady, 1740-1778.
Sacred Scripture
21Out of your heart come evil thoughts, vulgar deeds, stealing, murder, 22unfaithfulness in marriage, greed, meanness, deceit, indecency, envy, insults, pride, and foolishness. 23All of these come from your heart, and they are what make you unfit to worship God.
*Mark 7.21-23 (CEV)
Sacred Teaching
One day a bishop knelt before the altar and, in an outburst of religious fervor, began to beat his breast and exclaim, "I'm a sinner, have mercy on me! I'm a sinner, have mercy on me!"
The local priests, inspired by this example of humility, fell on his knees beside the bishop and began to beat his breast and say, "I'm a sinner, have mercy on me! I'm a sinner, have mercy on me!"
The sexton who happened to be in church at the time was so moved he could not constrain himself. He too fell on his knees, beat his breast, and cried out, "I'm a sinner, have mercy on me!"
Whereupon the bishop nudged the priest and, pointing toward the sexton, said with a smile, "Look who thinks he's a sinner!"
Even in our religious, or spiritual lives, we can use such as another expression of prideful self-focus.
*Anthony de Mello. Taking Flight.
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When we believe that God was made man to be for us an example of humility and to demonstrate God's love for us, our thought is formed by this knowledge. It is good for us to believe and to keep steadfastly unshaken in our hearts that the humility whereby God was born a woman and shamefully brought by mortal men to death is the supreme medicine to heal the swelling of our pride and the exalted mystery that can loose the shackles of sin.
*St. Augustine. Augustine of Hippo: Selected Writings. "On the Trinity." Trans. Mary T. Clark. In "The Classic of Western Spirituality."
Quietly Responding
1) What are different ways that pride manifests in our attitudes? Actions? Relationships?
2) Prayerfully ask the Spirit to show you any way in which pride is manifesting in your life. Pray for Spirit to heal you of that manifestation of pride.
Blessings! In Christ!
Rev Dr Brian K Wilcox
June 29, 2009
barukhattah@embarqmail.com
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*OneLife Ministries is a ministry of Brian K. Wilcox, of SW Florida. Brian lives a vowed life and with his two dogs, Bandit Ty and St. Francis. Brian is an ecumenical-interspiritual leader, open to how Christ manifests in the diversity of Christian denominations and varied religious-spiritual traditions. He is Senior Chaplain for the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Punta Gorda, FL.
*Brian welcomes responses to his writings or submission of prayer requests at barukhattah@embarqmail.com . Also, Brian is on Facebook: search Brian Kenneth Wilcox.
*Contact the above email to book Brian for Spiritual Direction, retreats, or workshops. You can order his book An Ache for Union at major book dealers.
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