Skip to main content

ALL IS GRACE

It was about 15 years ago that I ran across the writings of Brennan Manning.
A Catholic Priest who became a monastic, and also an alcoholic; who after going through recovery began to write on the love of God.  Through his book, Abba's Child, I was set free of the thought that my performance and efforts were what caused God to love me. When I read "The Ragamuffin Gospel" I was undone.  No Protestant who should believe in grace through faith quite captured the heart of the gospel as he did.

Brennan learned all of this in both serving and in recovery.
It all started for him very early.  In February 1956, while Brennan was meditating on the Stations of the Cross, a powerful experience of the personal love of Jesus Christ sealed God's call on his life.  "At that moment, the entire Christian life became for me an intimate, heartfelt relationship with Jesus."
In the late 1960's he journeyed to Spain and lived in a monastic order serving the poor in a rural village.  During that time he lived for six months alone, in a cave, practicing the solitary and contemplative prayer life of the desert fathers.  During his retreat in this cave, he was powerfully convicted by the revelation of God's love in sending his Son to be crucified.  One mid-winter's night he heard from the Lord:
"For love of you I left my Father's side.  I came to you who ran from me, who fled me, who did not want to hear my name.  For love for you I was covered in spit, punched and beaten, and fixed to the wood of the cross."  
Later Brennan who say of that event, "those words are burned into my life.  That night, I learned what a wise old Franciscan told me the day I joined the Order - 'Once you come to know the love of Jesus Christ, nothing else in the world will seem as beautiful or desirable."


I wanted to blog on him because his writings are so simply profound.  A new book has come out and I am anxious to read it and recommend it to you also:  "All is Grace" is a memoir on his Ragamuffin life.  
There is a powerful video of this is on You Tube.  You can find it at:


As you watch this, realize just essential his message is not only for a lost and dying world; but also for us as individuals who believe and love poorly.



Peace

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hands Full of Parcels

"A Man whose hands are full of parcels can't receive a gift."   - C. S. Lewis Romans 4:13-16 (ESV) 13  For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14  For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15  For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. 16  That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all... The last four days have been best described by the word "fatigue".  It's not an uncommon word in our vocabulary.  Listless, tired, sore.  1300 miles of car travel, being sick, not sleeping well, and eating poorly all add up to the word - fatigue.   Someone onc...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Tabernacle

The readings today are Exodus 36, 37, 38 I wanted to post some pictures of what these various parts of the Tabernacle looked like. It's not the easiest read in the world, but if you persevere through it, you can get a picture of all the different pieces that made up the tabernacle. It is a replica of the various parts of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness: First thing in the chapter listed is the outside of the tabernacle which consisted of curtains tied together and put on cross bars through loops. Next at the beginning of 37 is the table and lampstand: Also, the altar of incense: And, the altar for the burnt offering which was in the courtyard: Finally, the courtyard which made it all come together: Hope that helps with what it might have all looked like. Most importantly, this was their "place" of worship they were building. I hope you have a great day of worship. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
1 comment
Read more

The difference between defending and explaining

The news of recent has focused the suffering of Christians in the middle east who have been martyred for their faith in Christ at the hands of Islamic Terrorists. Through the centuries many Christians have lost their lives as a result of their faith. For us, who live in America, there is little chance that we would have this happen here - but it's entirely possibly that terrorism will strike out at Christians sometime.  But, for many Christians in the western world - especially here in the U.S. - being a Christians who believes God's word there is a form of persecution that is defined by words like "ostracized", "passed over", "ridiculed", and more. What do we do in the face of opposition to faith? When the Apostle Peter writes to the early believers who are undergoing great pressure, even persecution for their faith in Jesus, he gives them this charge. 1 Peter 3:8-18 8  Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly lov...
1 comment
Read more