healthy faith Archives - Page 2 of 5

Square Peg in a Round Hole World

Posted on April 19, 2016November 23, 2022 by Michael Rose

David Hayward, aka as the Naked Pastor posted a cartoon recently (see above). This cartoon spoke to me, and I am beginning to understand why I resonate with it, and it is for deeply personal reasons. Confession time. I feel like a square peg, and I have all my life. For most of my…

Used by God – Revisited

Posted on April 13, 2016June 23, 2016 by Michael Rose

The great poet T.S. Eliot once wrote: We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time.   A profound turn of phrase and very true if we live even slightly awake. It is most certainly true with…

Joy of Good News

Posted on December 17, 2015December 4, 2018 by Michael Rose

There are many kinds of good news. The best news for me was the birth of my three sons, and seeing them each succeed in their own ways. For some, good news may be winning the lottery or an all clear on a medical test, getting a new job or buying a new car. We…

The Lesson I have Learned from a Stuffed Rabbit

Posted on September 18, 2015June 23, 2016 by Michael Rose

Being free to be truly authentic is a genuine desire for many people. To be known and still loved. Folks are also looking for authenticity in those who lead them, but this is contrary to many conventional leadership styles. It can be dangerous to be authentic because some see it as a weakness, and,…

Looking for Love in all the Wrong Places

Posted on August 13, 2015September 13, 2016 by Michael Rose

Once upon a time, a Sufi mystic was searching for something on the street outside her small hut. The sun was setting, and darkness was descending, as few people gathered around her. “What have you lost? What are you searching for? Perhaps we can help,” they said. “I have lost my needle.” The mystic replied. One of the people said, “Well, the sun…

My God, my God why have you forsaken me?

Posted on March 30, 2015June 23, 2016 by Michael Rose

I have been reflecting the Gospel accounts of our Lord hanging on the Roman tree, and I am gripped by the sheer terror of the event. As Jesus hung there in great anguish, He cried out “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?) (Mt.27:46) For a long time, I…

Blind Faith – Merton’s Prayer

Posted on January 7, 2015August 23, 2019 by Michael Rose

The following is a prayer by Thomas Merton found in his book entitled Thoughts in Solitude. Thomas Merton was an influential 20th-century Catholic author, popular spiritual writer, poet, author and social activist. A Trappist monk of the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, in Kentucky, Merton was a prolific writer penning over 60 books and many essays….

The difference between Coaching and Spiritual Direction?

Posted on October 17, 2014September 29, 2018 by Michael Rose

What an excellent question and while volumes have been written on Spiritual Direction and life coaching, it is important to understand the two are not the same thing as if Coaching is a more contemporary term for Spiritual Direction. Coaching Christian Life Coaching can be an incredible tool in real life of everyday people, but…

Herman Who? Bible Study with Integrity

Posted on October 15, 2014February 10, 2017 by Michael Rose

We watch the sun rise in the east and set in the west, and on this basis alone one could understandably believe the sun must orbit the earth. Of course, Copernicus settled this for us in the 16th-century proving that the earth orbits the sun but isn’t it true that our point of view influences…

Cracks – A Spiritual Exercise

Posted on October 10, 2014August 1, 2018 by Michael Rose

The following is a short spiritual exercise that will help you engage a little deeper with God. Take a couple of deep breaths and in prayer, invite Jesus into this time. Begin reading the poem below entitled “Cracks” by David Bookless. This first reading is to help you get a sense of the entire piece. Now, read…