Woke up in the middle of the night last night. Could not go back to sleep. Been thinking about the discussion around the ruthless elimination of hurry. I haven’t dived into the book yet, but have read a number of different resources related to the same theme: moving at the pace God designed and creating space for real communion to expand our capacity to know and experience God‘s love for us and thereby become fuller conduits of that love to those he puts in our lives. This has been a huge theme of reflection for me over the last six years and has steered me on a new theological journey as I seek to understand what that means. I am always in a hurry. I’m always trying to produce more. A few years ago I read a book by Justin Whitmel Earley. He describes his transformation from frenetic an anxious pace of life that led to serious physical complications to a life of liturgy. The name of his book is The Common Rule. He describes what we are looking at here in this community together. He talks about a rule of life and living inside the rhythms God designs for us. He wrote another book called the habits of the household. Haven’t read that one yet but want to! Anyway, It had a huge impact on me and created in me a desire for more liturgy. I started studying Anglicanism and fell in love with what I learned. There’s a reason so many men in America and so many people in America are returning to Catholicism or Eastern Orthodox faith. There’s a hunger for centeredness and a connection to ancient tradition, something that is deeper and more stable than common fads and pop spirituality. We long for truth that transcends our appetites and consumer centered lives. Liturgy and a rule of life are ways to help us do that more effectively. The learning I did while creating the Legend of Messiah devotional material for The Crucible also made a huge impact on me as I reflect on God‘s design for us, why he made us, why he created time and space defined by day and night, and how he designed us. And then to think how part of his rescue was to form a nation for himself and in forming them he created a calendar with appointed times that were all designed to keep his people in rhythm with his own story. Everything about their lives centered on the story of red redemption and pointed to him at the center of everything, and help helped keep them subordinate to his purposes. As I studied, I realized that the traditions we are learning about through a rule of life and liturgy are rooted in the faith of our Jewish “older brothers.” Jesus followed those rhythms. I’m trying to learn more about what those rhythms were and what that meant for Jesus and what that means for me.

Hey y'all, I am currently at the airport about to travel to North Africa for 2.5 weeks for work and vacation - while I am very excited for this trip, I am also nervous for a variety of reasons - I'd appreciate prayers for the following: - That I would continue to seek God and connect with Him daily, really moment by moment, even though my regular schedule will be completely thrown offf - For protection - physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual protection - I will be traveling by myself and I know that I can more vulnerable in that context. Pray that I would make good and wise decisions and resist any temptations and schemes of the evil one Thanks y'all!

Every day, we spent at least 15 minutes during our hour with God directed to sit in complete silence, and we were prompted to focus on a singular phrase. Through the 40 days, that was over 10 hours of meditation. Early in the process, I started compiling the individual phrases into a singular prayer, not knowing if it would make sense or flow together. I love what it produced, and I wanted to share it with you all. I hope it blesses you. I'm thankful to have this prayer with me year-round, even though the 40 Day Crucible has finished. The Crucible Prayer Jesus, I believe that with you, the best is yet to come. In all things, I take you at your word to me; so I will rise and go as you tell me, because I want to get well. I trust and declare that You alone are enough. I hear you telling me who you are, and I will not be afraid. There was a time that I was blind, but now and only through you, I can see. I hear you calling me out of my sin and death by name, because you love me. I'm in awe that you created me in your own image, and with your own hands you formed me; and unlike anything else in your creation your breathed your own breath of life into me. I am overwhelmed that you are mindful of me. You hold all things together when I seek You and heed your Wisdom. You are very great, O Lord. Through your sacrifice, the old man is dead and you have made me a new creation. Jesus, crush the lies of the Enemy that will come against me to try to separate me from You. You became the curse of my sin and nailed the curse to your cross; yet sin is crouching still, but You will deliver me. Search me, O God, and know my heart. Your rainbow is your promise, and I trust in You. Above anything the world has to offer, God, I turn to you. I trust in You and what You tell me. I choose to live by faith and love as your image bearer, and not for my own power, control, or glory. I am thankful that You draw near to me. Jesus, cover me with your blood. I will stand still and see all that You are doing in my life.