Spiritual Growth

Introduction: Spiritually Speaking…

Posted on March 16, 2019 by Karen Thomas Olsen

“When someone talks about spirituality or being spiritual, what do you think of?  What do you think the other person is thinking of?”

In my January post, “Deeper and Deeper,”  I began with these two questions but then  did not directly address them.

So, I want to return to those questions as springboards to initiate JNC’s new series on Spirituality.  I’m sure you’ve noticed that in the last several decades there has been a surge of interest in “spirituality” of all sorts. How do you respond?

I grew up in a spiritual home. Continue reading →

Categories: Perspectives on Culture, Spiritual Growth | Tags: | 2 Comments

Deeper and Deeper

Posted on January 21, 2019 by Karen Thomas Olsen

When someone talks about spirituality or being spiritual, what do you think of?  What do you think the other person is thinking of?

Before you read further, please click on the link below to access some J. S. Bach performed on classical guitar (!!!) while you read this, if you would like. Oh, I think you would!

This is my first post of 2019. My last post discussed light. Energy. “Let there be light.” And before that, I wrote a series of posts about my father, since my father’s 100th birthday was in the fall. I doubt he celebrated it, but we did! He’s been in heaven since 2004.

Last January, I made one resolution. (Note the January 1 and January 11, 2018 posts.) I resolved to keep on keeping on. I have. Enabled by the energy God has given me daily. Yes, I’m still tired. But I’ve not given up! I’ve not given in!  It was a huge year for us — moving in the summer from Prescott Valley, Arizona to Fort Wayne, Indiana! Oh, my! A whirlwind year. (I’m writing this in Florida, where we’re spending a month with dear friends from the Good Samaritan Mission, happily avoiding below zero temperatures in Indiana!)

So, now a new resolve to make for 2019 and a new series to start: Continue reading →

Categories: Spiritual Growth | Tags: , , | 9 Comments

The Personality of Light

Posted on December 23, 2018 by Karen Thomas Olsen

Lights, lights, lights. ‘Tis the season: Christmas lights on trees, wreaths, houses, and stores.  This, of course, triggered my thinking: What is light? Literally. Figuratively.

What is darkness? Well, except for the obvious contrast, maybe the latter will have to be explored at another time!

Light?  Immediately, I connected the light theme with Scripture. Jesus claimed, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Hmm. I’ve always found this phrase, “light of life”, to be a curious expression. John 1:4 says, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men”.  Life’s light; Light’s life.

I need to explore.  But I can only do so if I slow down in my cluttered busyness to “be still” and learn to “know” something of what is available to be known. Research creates another kind of clutter. Out come stacks of books, spread all over our dining room table! Oh, no! Not much time! Must clean this up by tomorrow! So, here is what happened:

Continue reading →

Categories: nature, Spiritual Growth | Tags: , | 2 Comments

Happy 100th Birthday, Dad! The Breeze Still Blows

Posted on October 5, 2018 by Karen Thomas Olsen

I’ve been anticipating this day for a year.  October 5, 2018 marks the 100 year anniversary of my father’s birth.

Marion Ray Thomas at age 2.

“Happy Birthday, Dad!”

I called him “Daddy” most of my life. Marion Ray Thomas. Born on October 5, 1918 and died on July 26, 2004 at the age of 85, nearing 86. I miss him. In his latter more quiet years, I heard him exclaim numerous times, “Oh, I’m just a happy boy!” Dad faced many troubles and stressors, and often responded emotionally, but always found equilibrium, returning to his “happy boy” position in Jesus.

Dad was a gardener, grocer, factory worker, public school teacher, Brethren preacher/church planter, poet, letter-to-the-editor writer, and writer in general. I’ve been reading some of his journal writings and poems.

Sometimes, he wrote on any paper he could reach. Around the year 2000, he handed me a 9 x 12 inch sheet of pink construction paper on which he had written Continue reading →

Categories: Biography, Christian Reader, Spiritual Growth | Tags: | 4 Comments

Coming Up for Air

Posted on July 29, 2018 by Karen Thomas Olsen

I’m coming up for air today and hoping that you are still there! In my last post, I explained our decision to relocate back to the midwest. I said it would be my last post in Arizona, and so it was, but I never expected to take this long to pick up where I left off! So, I left you up in the air!

Plans, both well made and poorly made, instigated some difficult turns followed by God’s gracious intervention via His loving people. I didn’t arrive at our new home in Fort Wayne until July 12, almost a month later than we planned! What happened? Crazy stuff, but we’ve made it.

Right now, I’m reclining in a comfy chair in our new sun room. Gone are the mountains, but I have three walls of windows showcasing a spacious, lusciously green and carefully manicured yard, edged in the far back by a wooded strip.* God’s nature is still speaking to me — glory.

Our recent experiences are also speaking to me. Like water gushing from the rock Moses struck, so flow many lessons from our rocky adventures.  I feel both troubled and blessed. How can that be? Continue reading →

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Telomere Tales, Truly Yours

Posted on April 21, 2018 by Karen Thomas Olsen

Telomeres. I’ve run into this term several times recently, and then my doctor wrote about them in an article entitled “Successful Aging.”  Ah. What are these? (I didn’t learn about them in high school or college biology.) There is the science of telomeres, and then there is the theology of them. The latter comes from my pedestrian theology, not my doctor’s spirituality. Yes, if we’re slow enough to consider (and God gave me the gift of slowness), we may see that everything physical reveals corresponding, spiritual realities.

I have read that “the average person” is composed of over 32 trillion cells, each cell containing 23 pairs of chromosomes with each chromosome composed of a very long pair of spiraling, DNA strands.* Selah (that is, “ponder this”)! Now, where do telomeres come in?

Continue reading →

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Resurrection Day Resolve and Comfort

Posted on April 2, 2018 by Karen Thomas Olsen

I had an article to post last week but didn’t think it was appropriate for the Easter season. Actually, I am several weeks overdue.  I’ve been processing a very deep, wide, and lingering grief.  Yet, no sadness intrudes alone.  God consoles through continuous, “take for granted,” daily provisions. God comforts through His quiet presence. I breathe; therefore, I am thankful.

It is spring time. I love the increased conversation, both private and public during this rejuvenating season, about the life of Christ. So, I was anticipating Resurrection Day – Easter Sunday. While I knew I would not  attempt the Sunrise Service (at 7:00 a.m., long after sunrise), I did expect to attend the breakfast and worship service. Not so. Continue reading →

Categories: Joy & Suffering -- Good & Evil, Spiritual Growth | Tags: , , | 4 Comments

Joni, Elisabeth, and My Applesauce: How Not to Go Astray

Posted on February 10, 2018 by Karen Thomas Olsen

What kind of title is this? ” Joni, Elisabeth, and My Applesauce: How Not to Go Astray.”  It represents a smattering of thoughts that come together in my struggle to walk. To walk in a particular way and in a particular direction, neither of which is natural to me. Have you ever tried to change the way you walk? Self-consciously, you turn your feet forward, not letting them angle out or in or whatever way you really like, but your doctor says is incorrect. It is just not natural for you.

Beyond the literal, “walking” can mean so many things. If you look up walk in an exhaustive Bible concordance, you’ll find hundreds of references. Walk. Walked. Walking. I’m exhausted! And I haven’t even mentioned run, running, and races!

Hmm. So much to talk about! Let’s sit awhile. Would you prefer coffee or tea? Just a few reflective excursions and then we’ll resume our walk. Or, is the seated conversation a part of the walk? Yes. So glad we can rest and walk at the same time. (The world of the Kingdom is ironically different.)

Continue reading →

Categories: Spiritual Growth | Tags: , | 6 Comments

Simply Resolved

Posted on January 11, 2018 by Karen Thomas Olsen

Resolve, resolute, resolution. Verb, adjective, noun. So, I’ve simmered over my resolutions and plans for 2018 and presented the topic to you, appropriately, on New Year’s Day. But I did not offer my “New Year’s Resolutions.” I invited you to share your thoughts, yet only one person has responded, only to ask me what my resolutions are. Well. . . . Continue reading →

Categories: Spiritual Growth | Tags: | 4 Comments

God’s Blessings in 2018: Resolved

Posted on January 1, 2018 by Karen Thomas Olsen

My Dear Readers,

Today, January 1, 2018, I send you my best thoughts for God’s best for you this year. This will be short! Amazing! Here also is a word from the Word:

Daniel 1:8:  “But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.” (ESV)

Few role models could surpass Daniel as portrayed in the book of Daniel. When people belittle the practice of making New Year’s resolutions, remember Daniel. His resolve was not made at the beginning of a new year, but at the beginning of a new life, a life he did not choose, a life forced upon him, exiled from home. His resolve was made with grace, wisdom, and tenacity. According to Daniel 9: 23, Gabriel commended Daniel : “You are highly esteemed.” God’s esteem is the best kind.

The KJV translates “Daniel resolved” as “Daniel purposed in his heart”. Ahh.

Paul and I are working on some resolves and heart-purposing. I suppose you are too? God bless you with grace, wisdom, and tenacity in your resolves. Maybe I’ll share some of my resolves. I invite you to share some of yours right here on JNC!

Gratefully,

Karen

 

Categories: Spiritual Growth | Tags: | 2 Comments

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