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Routine . . . Patterns . . . what comes to mind when you think of these words? Many years ago, Paul Simon gave a rather gloomy assessment of the power of patterns in a song he wrote by the same name.
The night sets softly
With the hush of falling leaves,
Casting shivering shadows
On the houses through the trees,
And the light from a street lamp
Paints a pattern on my wall,
Like the pieces of a puzzle
Or a child's uneven scrawl.
Up a narrow flight of stairs
In a narrow little room,
As I lie upon my bed
In the early evening gloom.
Impaled on my wall
My eyes can dimly see
The pattern of my life
And the puzzle that is me.
From the moment of my birth
To the instant of my death,
There are patterns I must follow
Just as I must breathe each breath.
Like a rat in a maze
The path before me lies,
And the pattern never alters
Until the rat dies.
http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/simon_garfunkel/patterns.html
But while patterns and routines are powerful forces in our lives, the good news is that they are neither out of our control, nor to they need to be viewed quite so gloomily. In fact, they can be powerful forces to shape us for good. We are not helplessly at their mercy, but in fact, can make choices about the kinds of patterns that we will live and which will direct our lives.
In this week's sermon, Pastor Dustin explores some of the patterns and routines that were at the heart of Jesus' life and ministry, and which give us some important glimpses into what life looks like as we take seriously what it means to live out Loving God, Loving People. This is not just a task we undertake, it is the reflection of a way of life that grows out of certain intentional patterns of living, and the patterns he explores in this sermon are those that lie at the heart of it.
To Listen to Pastor Dustin's Sermon once again, click here.
Questions for Further Reflection:
As you think about the Patterns that direct your lives,
A Central Pattern In Jesus' Life
Personal Solitude
Mark 1:35
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Luke 5:16
16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke 6:12-13
12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:
Matthew 14:22-23
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
Luke 22:40-41
40 On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." 41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,
Solitude in Community With Others
Mark 6:30-32
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
Luke 9:28
28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:
Some Helpful Links
Prayer Reflection Exercise for the End of the Day
Prayer Ministry - Calimesa Church Website
Christian Spiritual Practices Website
Which ones do you seem to be trapped in?
What are some of the ones that are the most helpful to you?
What are some creative ways you can alter the less helpful patterns so they can be more life giving and less draining?
Where are some of the places you could experiement with encorporating more of the patterns reflected in Jesus' life into your routines?
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