Dr Jared Ortiz & Pastor Dominic Palacios - Conversation #13 No. 57

A Reformed Pastor and Catholic Theologian Walk Into a Bar….

No. This isn’t the lead into a joke. These two friends didn’t walk into a bar. They sat in my office in August 2018 to talk about contemplative prayer, the Lord’s prayer, catechism, and theological orthodoxy. As a pause from our series through Fr Martin Laird’s A Sunlit Absence, Pastor Dominic Palacios and Dr Jared Ortiz speak candidly about the tensions within the church to engage the deeper levels of transformation available in contemplative spirituality.

The greatest gift these two men offer is a way of sharing what they have in common in Jesus Christ rather than focusing on what makes them different. In the context of our very divided society and its culture wars, this conversation displays that there is peace, love, hope, growth, unity, fellowship still possible even today!

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A Sunlit Absence by Fr Martin Laird – Part VIII No. 56

You are in the midst of some form of trauma. Healing found in silence is available.

If you are fighting against injustice today, you need the nourishment of silence to sustain you through tomorrow.

External, physical violence against black bodies originates in a noisy, wounded, empty soul. Where does healing come from? What will end the violence?

St. Augustine wrote: “Why do you want to speak and not listen? You’re always rushing out of doors and are unwilling to return to your own house. Your teacher is within.“

Fr Martin Laird writes: “ Indeed silence does more than tiptoe around the house. Silence moves through sound like water through a netting. The deeper our own interior silence, the more we take on its gracious ways of opening up the tight mind that clenches its teeth around what it wants and spits out what it doesn’t want.”

Our clenched teeth will be loosened by silence.

Bob, a friend who studied spiritual direction with me, said all of the above in another way:

”We are only as gentle with others as we are with ourselves.”

Our Zoom Q&A with Fr Laird is Thursday July 9, 2pm EST. More information is available HERE.

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A Sunlit Absence by Fr Martin Laird – Part VII No. 55

This is part VII of our journey through Fr Martin Laird’s A Sunlit Absence, the second of his three books on contemplative prayer. In the last episode we looked at how the opposite of the contemplative life is not the active life, but the reactive life. In this episode we consider how silence leads us to justice, to an honest awareness of what is broken, sick, and failing inside of ourselves. Fr Laird is working out the teachings of Jordon of Saxony, a 13th century Augustinian monk who writes, “Through silence a brother begins to cultivate and practice justice by which virtue he is informed so as to live his own life honestly. Not to harm others, and to each each one his due. Such formation as this carries anyone so formed on to the state of perfection. On the other hand, from the breakdown of silence, disturbance of mind arise. Quarrels are borne.”

A simple summary of Jordan of Saxony goes like this: the children of silence: peace of mind and cultivation of justice. 

Please sign up to stay informed about the date and times of our two Q&A sessions with Fr Laird here: https://www.invitationpodcast.org/fr-laird-qa-webinar

In this time of quarantine and as we face the racism in America, I invite you to contemplation for two reasons:

1. Contemplation is a practice of Divine healing, where the Holy Spirit can have more access to reach the trauma, exhaustion, and despair we are experiencing.

2. Contemplation is a de-centering practice that open us to listen to God, and others, especially open to see how we are complicit in racism and in other arenas of sin. For more help with facing racism, please visit: www.invitationpodcast.org/facing-racism

If you have not already subscribed to the Invitation Podcast, please do so: https://www.invitationpodcast.org/subscribe

It is a gift and honor to serve you through the Invitation Podcast. We hope you are well wherever you are during these difficult times. Peace of Christ

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A Sunlit Absence by Fr Martin Laird – Part Six No. 54

Key passages from Chapter Two:
“The opposite of the contemplative life is not the active life, but the reactive life.”

 “The problem is noise in our heads. This is why the great spiritual masters offer practical advice on how to deal with our reactions to our thoughts and feelings. For reacting to them generates an inner video. This inner video can become our predominant experience of inner life.”

Key insight from Evagrius of Pontus:

“Those who long for true prayer, but are given over to anger or resentment will be beside themselves with madness. They are like someone who wants to see clearly but keeps scratching her eyes.”

“Resentment blinds the reason of one who prays and casts a cloud over prayer.”

“The most fierce passion is anger. It constantly irritates the soul and above all, at the time of prayer, it seizes the mind and flashes the picture of the offensive person before one’s eyes.”

This episode is part SIX of our journey through Fr Martin Laird's book A Sunlit Absence. Here Josh completes a guided study and practice through chapter two. It is not too late for you to join into this journey especially if you want to join into the webinar Q&A session with Fr Laird. Information and signup to be involved in the Q&A is found here: www.invitationpodcast.org/fr-laird-qa-webinar

Due to Covid-19 the date and time for the first of these two sessions is TBA.

In this time of quarantine and as we face the racism in America, I invite you to contemplation for two reasons:

1. Contemplation is a practice of Divine healing, where the Holy Spirit can have more access to reach the trauma, exhaustion, and despair we are experiencing.

2. Contemplation is a de-centering practice that open us to listen to God, and others, especially open to see how we are complicit in racism and in other arenas of sin. For more help with facing racism, please visit: www.invitationpodcast.org/facing-racism

Watch a video invitation to this new series

Checking In w/ Chris Hoke - Contemplation, Racism, Prison & the Church - Conversation #12 No. 53

In the context of the growing race protests across America, Josh checks in with one of his favorite conversation partners, Chris Hoke of Underground Ministries in the Skagit Valley of Washington State. Chris initially appeared in episode 19 in January of 2018. Chris has been a prison chaplain and now also is involved connecting former convicts with local churches. Josh especially wanted to reach out to Chris to discuss the question of race after the killing of George Floyd.

Chris will become a regular monthly contributor to the Invitation Podcast to help create conversation that connects the dots between deep, spiritual formation and the outcasts of America's industrial incarceration system.

ALSO, we are continuing our journey with Fr Martin Laird's A Sunlit Absence this summer. Sign up for our two webinar Q&A sessions with him at www.invitationpodcast.org/fr-laird-qa-webinar

A Sunlit Absence by Fr Martin Laird – Part Five No. 52

What is the point of continuing to read, study, and practice contemplative prayer in the midst of one of the most important conversations about racial injustice America has ever experienced? What is the point of one white man guiding you through the writings of another white man? I’m learning the painful lesson that my voice and leadership are not important right now. It’s time to listen to our black and brown teachers and leaders.  I’ve wrestled with postponing this journey with A Sunlit Absence even with the exciting plans to host two online Q&A sessions with Fr Laird.   Here are two reasons why I invite you to continue (or begin...it’s not too late) with A Sunlit Absence:  

1. If we are to sustain our activism, we need a consistent source of peace, healing, and spiritual and emotional nourishment. Contemplation offers us help as Covid-19 and the killing of George Floyd (preceded by many others) are taking a toll on our mental health. Contemplative prayer has been called “Divine Therapy.”

 2. With the work that is before us to face racism as a country, the invitation is to see myself and how I am part of the problem. Contemplation can be described as centering prayer; however, if you attend to it in a substantial and an extended way, contemplation can aide in a de-centering journey. Contemplative prayer can dislodge our egos and aid our capacity to listen to the black and brown voices that we must turn our attention to. 

 As we continue with a Sunlit Absence, I want to offer three challenges to you: 

 Challenge #1: Commit to practicing contemplation daily for the duration of the time we are reading, studying, and practicing A Sunlit Absence. The first time I really dove in, it was in response to Ruth Haley Barton challenging me: five minutes a day of wordless prayer for a whole year. The wisdom is that shorter, consecutive, daily practices of prayer are more fruitful than longer, sporadic practices. 

Challenge #2: Commit also during this time to daily study, discussion, and doing something tangible that engages the sickness of racism in America, what Dr. King described as America’s original sin.  

 Challenge #3: Tell someone about your intention to these daily practices, or even better, ask someone to join you in a daily practice of contemplation and to engage with you in the conversation on racism. 

 Be safe, and Peace of Christ to you,  Josh 

Below are a few resources to learn more about racism. I will continue to update a list of resources on this page: https://www.invitationpodcast.org/facing-racism with the help of my wife, Susanna Childress. And please feel free to submit your recommended resources as well.  

Resources on racism 

Quick, deep dive videos: 

Bryan Stevenson: There’s a Direct Line From Lynching to George Floyd | Amanpour and Company 

Poor People's Campaign: How Rev. William J. Barber Uses His Faith To Fight | TIME 

Why “I’m not racist” is only half the story | Robin DiAngelo | Big Think 

Robin DiAngelo on "White Fragility" | Amanpour and Company 

Films: 

Just Mercy - FREE to watch for a limited time on Amazon Prime 

I’m Not Your Negro 

13th  

Books, essays, and more to come at this link. 

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A Sunlit Absence by Fr Martin Laird – Part Four No. 51

While protests continue to erupt across America, we continue here on a journey into contemplative prayer knowing that contemplation is not an escape from the brokenness around us. Contemplation is not a comfortable way of hiding from the justice that we should all be crying out for today either. Contemplation will deepen and clarify our understanding of justice. Contemplation will help us identify each of our own unique responses to the crises that beset us, and contemplation will also help sustain and nourish our much needed activism to address the racism that continues to have a stranglehold on us. In fact, it may only be via contemplation that you are freed from your ego long enough to catch a glimpse of how you are contributing to the oppression of the marginalized and are a part of the problem!

In this fourth episode working through Fr Martin Laird’s book, A Sunlit Absence, we finish up chapter one and should by now have a working definition of contemplation. In this episode we consider how through practice, the mechanical nature of this prayer movement will eventually become familiar and more graceful.

The exciting news is that Fr Laird has committed to two separate Q & A sessions with Invitation podcast listeners. The specific details are being worked out, but the idea is to meet with Fr Laird after chapter four and then again at the end of the book which will likely take us through most of July 2020. It isn’t too late to dive into this valuable book and for you to come up with your own questions that you may very well be able to ask Fr Laird yourself.  If you haven’t already, please subscribe so that we can contact you with the further details about these two online events. https://www.invitationpodcast.org/subscribe

Also, in this episode Josh mentions his song, “Silence.” The song can be found at the end of the episode, at 22:40. This is a more recent version of the song that includes Josh’s wife, Susanna Childress as well as strings performed by Jared Demeester.

The greatest gift you can offer back the invitation is to invite a friend to the Invitation. Please share the Invitation!

If the Invitation has been of help to you, and if you would like to see the Invitation grow sustainably, your financial help is much appreciated.  https://www.invitationpodcast.org/donations

Peace of Christ to you in these very bewildering times. Amen.

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A Sunlit Absence by Fr Martin Laird – Part Three No. 50

We GET to go through it. The obstacles are doorways.

First, we avoid silence because we are addicted to noise and rush, addicted to our self-importance, our genius ideas, powerful emotions, and valiant actions. Then we abandon silence because we are horrified by what we discover is really going on inside of ourselves. The only way forward is to have compassion for ourselves in the midst of our struggle. Father Martin Laird explains that, "The thoughts and feelings, which were previously the most distracting obstacles to inner peace, are now seen to be vehicles to it."

As the children's book reads, "We can't go over it! We can't go under it! Oh no! We've got to go through it! In fact, we get to go through it. There is no other way but to go through our obstacles into the still presence of God

This third installment of our journey through A Sunlit Absence by Fr Marin Laird continues in chapter one. Chapter one is a summary of Laird's previous book, Entering the Silent Land. The intention here is to offer a substantial definition of contemplation as well as offering some practical descriptions of how contemplation is practiced. Bless you for continuing on this journey. May you be blessed even in the midst of this covid pandemic. Subscribe to this podcast to stay updated when new episodes, classes, and retreats are made available www.invitationpodcast.org/subscribe

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A Sunlit Absence by Fr Martin Laird – Part Two No. 49

Part two of a journey of guided prayer, reading, and commentary through A Sunlit Absence by Fr Martin Laird. Buy your own copy of the book and read more in-depth on your own or access the journey through this transformative book with the podcast. A new episode will be offered every second or third day. Questions and comments are welcome. Email josh at invitationpodcast dot org. If you have not already subscribed, please join the journey www.invitationpodcast.org/subscribe Peace of Christ to you during this quarantine wilderness..

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A Sunlit Absence by Fr Martin Laird – Introduction Part One No. 48

One sentiment offered on social media this past week went something like this: “let's not return to normal. Normal wasn't working. If we try to return to normal, we won't have learned the costly lesson." This is the truth of all transformation. COVID 19 is just a very severe, collective opportunity for us to move beyond "normal."

This episode no. 48 is the first of a new series of reading, studying, and praying through Fr Martin Laird’s book A Sunlit Absence. Fr Laird helps us reform a consciousness that can embrace the transformation that is at hand. You are invited to buy the book to follow along in your own reading or to simply listen and pray with the podcast.

If you have not subscribed yet to the podcast, please join the journey www.invitationpodcast.org/subscribe 

And also, please consider inviting someone to the Invitation. Let someone know about the goodness of going deeper with God with the Invitation Podcast. Peace of Christ to you during this troubling time wherever you are in the world.

Pray with Psalm 19:14, Nathan Foster NEW No. 47

This episode turned out to be two meditations, connected to each other but each worth separate listens. First, Josh walks through some questions for us to consider regarding our experience of being in quarantine. How free are you to accept the trauma of this crisis and to talk to God about your suffering?

Then, at around 12 mins in, the episode moves on to Nathan Foster of Renovare guiding a prayer through Psalm 19:14, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, my Rock and Redeemer." This is an invaluable prayer to direct our hearts and mind while we are in the midst of this pandemic.

May you be blessed in your prayer. Please subscribe to this podcast and share it with someone! www.invitationpodcast.org/subscribe

Pray with Psalm 131, Nathan Foster re-release No. 46

It's hard to sit still in the midst of confinement and suffering. You are not alone in your struggle.

This episode is a re-release of guided prayer through Psalm 131 by Nathan Foster from 2018. We will also be posting a meditation on Psalm 19:14 he also offered in 2018 but was never released. More prayer resources to come soon!

Re-Release Retreat #5 Lament: To Cleanse Your Spiritual Eyes no. 45

In the midst of our current crisis, I'm re-releasing a guided meditation on Ecclesiastes chapter 3 originally released on Dec 2, 2017.

One-third of the Psalms are psalms of lament, yet most of us recoil from speaking honestly with God about our questions, anger, pain, and disappointment. Surely this is a time where we especially need the sacred space of lament. We need to give ourselves and each other permission to speak to God freely and honestly. The peace of Christ to you during this crisis.

Please subscribe to the Invitation so that we can keep you updated about new episodes, retreats, classes, and other events. www.invitationpodcast.org/subscribe

Lacy Finn Borgo on Chanting the Psalms Conversation #11 No. 44

In the midst of this bizarre, unsettling spread of covid-19, we invite you to continue on your Lenten journey with this episode on chanting the Psalms. Here in episode no. 44, Josh has a discussion with Lacy Finn Borgo of Good Dirt Ministries and Renovare about how singing the Psalms can get this holy, prayer book of the Scriptures into our bodies. What a great help for us always and especially as we face our current trials, to have the vocabulary of the Psalms deep inside of us to help us speak honestly with God!

Included in this episode is a recording of a Fuller Seminary, DMin in spiritual direction cohort chanting on September 27, 2017. Audio of the full-length of their chanting of Psalms 67, 25 & 26 led by Lacy is available at www.invitationpodcast.org/downloads

The book Josh mentions in this episode is The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk.

Also, please check out Lacy’s new book: Spiritual Conversations with Children: Listening to God Together. It is an encouraging, inspiring, and practically helpful way for us to nurture faith in our children and is sure to become a lifegiving resource to parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and anyone ministering to children.

Thanks for listening and joining The Invitation on a journey deeper into the life and love of God. It is an honor to create with you time and space for God. Please subscribe to the Invitation and stay updated on new releases as well as the classes and retreats offered by the Invitation. www.invitationpodcast.org/subscribe

If the Invitation has been fruitful in your life, please share the podcast with a friend, consider a one-time donation, or become a sustaining donor by visiting www.invitationpodcast.org/donations Peace of Christ to you!

Lenten Liturgy & Conversation w/ AJ Westendorp No. 43

We had intended to release an episode on chanting the Psalms next with Lacy Finn Borgo, but this liturgy led by Maple Avenue Ministries member, AJ Westendorp was too good not to sneak in and share with you.

AJ is a former college football player, a Guatemala missionary and is now on staff with Escape Ministries in Holland, MI as well as employed at a local juvenile detention center. Finally, AJ also is a volunteer who joins Josh in the prison prayer practices on Saturdays in Muskegon, MI. Before offering the Lenten liturgy, Josh shares some of his conversation with AJ to help you get to know AJ and to explore the reason why spending time with and befriending “the least of these” is at the core of the Gospel and why it’s a practice we would recommend to you for you journey through Lent.

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6)

We also encourage you to go back and listen to episode 39, Josh’s conversation with the Rev. Dr. Denise Kingdom Grier, Josh and AJ’s pastor. By listening to bother episodes you will discover the similarities between Advent and Lent as a time of preparation with an emphasis on God’s love of the poor.

The opening reading of this liturgy is from Roddy Hamilton of the Church of Scotland.

The liturgy begins at 12 mins into the episode.

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Your financial contributions help us create this spiritual formation resource for you. Please consider making a donation today at invitationpodcast.org/donations 

Thanks for listening!

Josh

Conversation #10 David Taylor No. 42

In episode 42 David Taylor, assistant professor of theology and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary shares from his forthcoming book, Open and Unafraid: The Psalms as a Guide to Life. David is one of the many people who have befriended and inspired Josh over the span of many years. Here Josh and David focus on praying the Psalms in a way that will get inside of our bodies, to transform and heal us to become whole. 

Deeper Living Space Intro Eph 2 & Matt 6 No. 41

This long-format retreat is an audio adaptation of an expanded version Invitation's prayer guide, "40 Ways to Spend 5-Minutes with God." Here just follows a lectio divina style structure using Ephesians 2 and Matthew 6 offering reflections, questions as prompts for prayer, and extended sections of original meditative music to help you explore the depths of prayer.

The original prayer guide, “40 Ways to Spend 5-Minutes with God” can be found at https://www.invitationpodcast.org/downloads The expanded, short prayer book version of the prayer guide is titled Deeper Living Space and is a work in progress. The music in this episode is created by Josh and many of his former Hope College Students as well as some friends from Oklahoma City. See below. Artwork is a creative interpretation of the Invitation logo by Samantha Kadzban. 

Please subscribe, share the podcast with others, and consider helping us financially: https://www.invitationpodcast.org/donations Thanks for listening!

Musicians:
Jared DeMeester
Josh Holicki
Travis Kingma
Alex Mouw
Zach Pedigo
Dustin Ragland
Michael Reynolds
Nate Roberts
Wayne Titus

Chuck DeGroat & Sr Diane Zerfas - Contemplative Spirituality in the Local Church No. 40

This is the second in a new collaborative series with the Dominican Center on the role of contemplative spirituality and spiritual direction in the context of the local church. In this public conversation hosted by the Dominican Center on Nov 13, 2019, Josh is joined by Sr Diane Zerfas and Dr Chuck DeGroat. When many are reporting the decline in church attendance, should we be alarmed? How are the signs of the times inspiring a return to deeper prayer practices? What are some specific things local churches can do to help us go deeper? These questions and more are discussed with the questions and contributions of those who gathered that day.

For more information on the: www.dominicancenter.com
For Chuck’s private practice, teaching, retreats, and video courses :  www.chuckdegroat.net 
and be sure to subscribe to the Invitation Podcast as well!

The next Public Conversation on the role of contemplative spirituality and spiritual direction in the context of the local church will be on February 18 2:30-4:00pm with author, director, and retreat leader Sharon Garlough Brown, and AJ Sherrill, lead pastor of Mars Hill Church.

Starting in late February, I will also be facilitating an ongoing workshop for pastors and lay leaders who are looking for creative way to introduce their worshipping communities to contemplative practices. We are calling the series of classes, “Contemplative Prayer and Spiritual Practices in the Local Church Workshop.”

Vulnerability & Poverty, An Advent Meditation w/ Rev. Dr. Denise Kingdom Grier no. 39

I had promised to release the public conversation with Chuck DeGroat and Sr Diane Zerfas next, but after listening to my pastor’s sermon on the first Sunday of Advent, I had to put together this episode!

Advent is a season many churched Christians are relatively numb to. We struggle to enter into the deeper richness of longing and waiting. In this episode, we move from the Rev. Dr. Denise Kingdom Grier's sermon on the first Sunday of Advent to a follow-up conversation on becoming poor as we wait with expectation and eagerness for the coming of our King!

I pray this mediation helps you in your longing and waiting for our coming King!

Peace of Christ & BIG love to you,
Josh

An Update & Meditation w/ the Desert Fathers: The Podcast is Returning! no. 38

This update episode is way overdue. I miss you, so I'm finally reaching out to get you caught up on all that's been happening with the Invitation. At the end of this update, I offer a brief meditation on a timely word from The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, specifically a conversation between John the Dwarf and Abba Poemen (pictured above).

It's Giving Tuesday! I would sincerely appreciate your financial support. You can find a place to offer donations at this link.

There is so much new content coming your way soon!

Much Love to you and yours!

Josh