“Not in my Feelings”

I accept not in my feelings – but with my will, the Will of God. I accept His will – not only for time but for eternity. + Mother Teresa, Letter dated August 1,1964

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Turtle Check-In: Moving Forward

It’s time to check-in and reflect on progress (or lack thereof) in the Battle for Purity. HOW AM I DOING PHYSICALLY? I have to say that I am feeling good today.  I am enjoying a successful recovery to the knee surgery I had in December.  That means I can run again and get that physical [...]

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Though Not Adequate, We Must Take Action

But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and the gaps were beginning to be closed, they were very angry, and all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. So [...]

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Obedience As an Act of Humility

The first degree of humility is obedience without delay. This is the virtue of those who hold nothing dearer to them than Christ. + Rule of Benedict, Chapter 5 The self-giving of real obedience is very clear to Benedict. When we follow the voice of the ones who call us to higher service, we put [...]

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The Path to Knowledge Is Obedience

“Obedience Unto Death” by Rita Ford The golden rule for understanding spiritually is not intellect, but obedience. If a man wants scientific knowledge, intellectual curiosity is his guide; but if he wants insight into what Jesus Christ teaches, he can only get it by obedience. + Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost for His Highest”

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Filling the God-Shaped Hole (A Word from the Battle)

As has been mentioned before in these notes, we each have a yearning in our hearts – a hole that aches to be filled. We try to fill it with many things: money, success, women, or sex. But none of these things can fill the hole because it is a God-shaped hole. So how do [...]

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Battle for Purity: Obedience & Grace

We must, then, prepare our hearts and bodies for the battle of holy obedience to God’s instructions. What is not possible to us by nature, let us ask the Holy One to supply by the help of grace. Rule of Benedict, Prologue

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We Are Commended to Do Impossible Things, but All Is Possible in Christ

If it happens that difficult or impossible tasks are laid on a brother, let him nevertheless receive the order of the one in authority with all meekness and obedience. But if he sees that the weight of the burden altogether exceeds the limit of his strength, let him submit the reasons for his inability to [...]

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SALT Meeting: Ups and Downs

HAIL TO THE SALT BRIGADE! We had an abbreviated meeting of the SALT Brigade today. With one member out-of-town, there were only two of us left to meet. So it was more like an extended check-in than a SALT Meeting. Still, the meeting was very valuable to me. The two SALT Brothers who did meet [...]

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The Turtle Reflects

It’s been a while … so let’s do a check-in. FEELINGS: Today (and this week) I have been up and down with feelings. I feel more on the hopeful, grateful, joyful side today, but much of this week has been dominated by feelings of shame, frustration, confusion, and anxiety. ISSUES: The issues facing me most [...]

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