As promised, Andy has coached me on how to import photos from my cell phone into my blog. I am on my way to Wonder-Boy status!

Last week, I spent 4 days with my friends at Monastery of Our Lady of Grace in Connecticut. I shared 6 talks with the 40 cloistered nuns there. They have been like family to me and my own family for the past 16 years when we first met.

These women devote most of each day to prayer, with their first time of community prayer at 5:50 am and their final evening prayer at 8:00 pm. They pray the offices of the Church throughout the day and also celebrate Mass in the morning at 7:00 am. They pray for themselves, each other, the hurts and hopes of the world, and for you and me.

To describe my experience in one word: holiness. Many of these women radiate the grace and goodness of God. You can literally see the holiness of God in their faces. They are modest and humble,loving and kind. The community lives simply. Quiet and stillness permeate the monastery.

It was an honor to be with them and to be invited to teach and speak. The time proved to be a great retreat for me. Quiet. No web access. Prayer. Beautiful New England Fall in its fist stages. Long walks. Time to reflect and be with God. Best of all, the woman taught me much about prayer, faith, suffering, and God.

Here are a few photos of the monastery and grounds. I have chosen not to share photos of the ladies themselves so as to honor their privacy and cloistered call. I will post a few more photos next week.

Here is the church itself, which is open to the public for prayer and for mass each day.



And the garden outside the church. This garden stands where the original monastery was built. It burned down in the 1950's and several sisters perished in the fire because they did not want to leave the community they had committed to.


The sanctuary and altar in the church. The picture does not capture the beauty. Truly magnificent.

You may be feeling stress, anxiety, even duress about the economy and the stock market jitters right now. So I share with you two real life and faith words that may be of help you.

1) Coins - Remember the phrase inscribed on our coins. In God We Trust. Tough times provide opportunities for you and me to look deeply into our hearts and souls to find where our trust really lies. In stuff? No. In wealth? No.

In God? Yes. And God is constant - the same yesterday, today and forever. He alone is the source of our hope.

2) Fasting - I know that is a weird word for tough times. But it occurred to me yesterday as I drove around for an hour looking for gas. Atlanta is experiencing a gas shortage with long lines at the few stations that actually have gas. When we fast from food, it reveals the things and emotions that are controlling us. Our inner selves often are revealed.

Right now, we are fasting from gasoline in Atlanta. Most of us are having withdrawals, and it reveals what is inside of us. Many people are angry; others are greedily hoarding; others are anxious or suspicious. All of these inner feelings come out on display when we fast. Let's be honest: we are addicted to gasoline, mobility, and our lifestyles. We like being comfortable very much. We have placed our hope in the wrong place. We have trusted stuff more than God.

All in all, I think this is a great time to invest in faith. It pays rich dividends. It provides hope, strength, and inner peace. Faith endures.

In God We Trust - the phrase just may be more valuable than the coins it is inscribed on. Have a great faith-full week.

For a more financial perspective with the same point, check out this article in the Wall Street Journal

Tremendous caller and emailer response to the discussion last night of the execution of Ric-Ric Henyard in Florida last week.

Most of you do not agree with me that life belongs to God. Life is not ours to make nor is it ours to take. Ric-Ric, in spite of his despicable behavior, deserved to live - in prison, with no chance of parole. He was created in the image of God every bit as much as you and I.

But,enough of me - out of the dozens of emails, here is one of my favorites - from "David"

May have to share more later because there is a "rich" variety of thought and logic in the responses.

First I will say kudos to for repeating that it was only your opinion that abortion/capital punishment are wrong. As for you question why, did you ride the short bus to theology school? Did you skip the whole day when 'freewill' was discussed? Plain and simple man has the freewill to choose whether to kill or be killed. Man can choose not to turn the other cheek and lay some smackdown on your butt. Know that in this country every citizen has the right to their opinion. Some are synergistic while others a antagonistic.

This election season has been full of surprises. Lots of them.
- Obama, the first black nominee in American history
- McCain picking Sarah Palin out of nowhere
- Obama's speech on race, one of the finest speeches of this decade by a politician
- McCain's resurrection from the political dead about 15 months ago
- Obama's defeating the sure-bet Hillary for the Democratic nomination

But nothing has surprised me more than the large role of faith in this election. First came the media's poor coverage of Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Obama's faith. Then came the odd attempt to paint McCain with the comments of pastors he barely knew.

Then came the Saddleback Civil Forum, where both candidates spoke freely and warmly about their deepest convictions and faith in a non-debate setting.

Next came the selection of Joe Biden as the Obama camp went after the "Catholic vote." Whatever that is. No one seems to know. But Biden surely does not reflect well on the rest of us Catholics - with his lack of deep thought around abortion and his record-low personal giving to charity. Embarrassing.

Then the selection of Sarah Palin and the media's pitiful awakening to the Pentecostal movement in America and the world as if it were some small subset of people like West Texas polygamist Mormons. Where have these media guys been living?

But what amazes me the most is the odd relationship both parties have with Christians, as if all believers were a monolithic group and a demographic to be targeted. Republicans have grown accustomed to having Christians in bed with them in a monogamous relationship.

Obama has not been content to let that continue and actually has an entire staff team dedicated to reaching out to Christian groups. Even marketing "Obama Believer Gear" for Christians to wear and display.

The whole thing is just weird.

First, shame on us Christians for allowing ourselves to be sought, bought, and sold like prostitute in the quest for our "vote."

Second, shame on the politicians for working us like Johns.

Third, shame on most of the media for their ignorant and often hostile portrayal of Christians without understanding the slightest detail of how most Christians believe or how we live.

Finally, Rick Warren accomplished something the rest of the country needs to notice. He asked the candidates what they believe, how that affects their leadership and governance behavior, and what their core priorities are. That is the proper role of faith in this whole deal.

The rest of it just makes me feel like I need a shower.

A group of Dominican nuns have been very instrumental in my life. When I was very sick, and our family was living in New Haven, CT, the nuns at Our Lady of Grace prayed for us diligently. They are remarkable and special ladies.

Since my conversion to become Catholic last January, the nuns invited me to spend a week with them at their monastery/convent. I will be sharing some of my own faith journey with them this week and also teaching them from the letters of Saint Paul.

It is my hope that this week will also be a good retreat for me as well. A lovely place. Delightful sisters in Christ. Time and space for prayer and reflection.

Please pray for me this week. I will be most grateful.

Will share results and reflections (and maybe a few photos) when I return at the end of the week.

PS - I also hope to begin working on another book this week. Anita and I have been shopping our recent book on Cultivating Faith in Children with strong interest from several publishers. God is good.

I got a number of emails recently asking for spiritual help in dealing with the Wall Street chaos, the economic uncertainty, and the financial stress a lot of Americans are facing right now.

Here is one of my favorite prayers that I recommend to people who are experiencing anxiety and are seeking to trust God more fully.

St. Francis of Assisi penned the prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

In a time when my hometown, Atlanta, is installing "homeless meters" that you can donate to instead of actually giving money to live homeless people (aka panhandlers), it is refreshing to discover this story.

A successful businessman devotes significant amounts of his time and energy to helping the other human beings living on the streets of Detroit. Head of a multi-billion dollar business spearheading the effort to raise $1MM to build a medical clinic for homeless people (25% of whom are kids). Well done!

Even more remarkable? His own story - abandoned on the Salvation Army doorstep at 6 weeks, reared in 11 different homes by 11 different families, until he was old enough to make it on his own.

Best of all? He still remembers. He remembers what it was like to be in need. And is helping those are in need right now.

Good stuff!

I still remember. Standing in a convenience store. Staring at the TV. Watching planes rip through the Twin Towers.

I still remember leading a prayer service that night at our church. Churches swelled with people - for a few weeks.

The world is different. Most of us know more about Islam now than we did 7 years ago. Parents are more protective of their children now. Airports are a mess, and flying is a hassle.

For some people, 9/11 proved to be a spiritual turning point. An executive recruiter told me yesterday that 9/11 proved to be just that for him.

Caused him to return to his faith and Church after a 30 year hiatus.

He now focuses more on the meaning and purpose of his life. Less on stuff. More on soul and love. Less on things. More on relationships and people. More God, more faith.

At the same time, I also know people who abandoned their faith after 9/11. Could not reconcile a loving God with the horror of that day.

One emailer even wrote that he gave up his faith when he saw how the terrorists lived out theirs. Lumping all faiths into the same pot.

I do know this. 9/11 was a life-changer and a world changer. In more ways than one.

First, it was Fox News' obsession with Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Trinity United Church of Christ, and black liberation theology. Hannity focused for months on Obama's Christian faith and the way it is expressed at Trinity.
Few, if any, in the media (besides my show of course!) had the wisdom to point out that the theology and practice of Rev. Wright and Trinity is well within the mainstream of black churches in America. It is one expression of the Christian faith here. No big deal.
But, then again, you actually have to know something about churches, faith, and Christianity to see that. And most of the media does not.
CNN is proving that to be true again. Last night I saw a special on "The Faith of Sarah Palin." It was obnoxious in its ignorance. The CNN "investigative reporter" was acting as if Pentecostals were some subterranean cult group. Hello?!?! Earth to CNN - this is the largest worldwide social movement in the past 100 years - and you (along with lots of the intelligentsia) have never heard of it. Might want to observe the world a bit more if you are going to report the news.
Geez! If you are going to talk about faith, please know something before talking. Hannity and CNN would both do well to heed this advice.
The CNN report on Palin was embarrassing. Simple statements were twisted with suggestive tones and innuendo. Makes one wonder if there are any Christians at all on their reporting staff.
Here is the written version of the report from last night. Some of the same wording and suspicion of everything Christian present in the report on air last night is embodied in the writing here. You really do have to listen to it to get the full effect.
I love the opening line - sounds so indicting!
For more than two decades, vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin was a practicing Pentecostal.
OMG - NO! A practicing Pentecostal. Can't be!
Reminds me of Dukakis - for more than two decades, he was a card-carrying member of the ACLU.
And the statement of the obvious as if it were blood-curdling news: Palin's former pastor says he has no doubt her religious beliefs will influence her decision making when it comes to government policy.
We all have world views. Our world views shape who we are, how we think, and what we do. Of course, Sarah Palin will be influenced by her faith. Everyone is. Geeez!
And the closing line - should have heard this one read aloud on air. Remarkable
But in the last week, her religious background and outlook has certainly spurred debate far beyond Alaska.
No, really, it has just been you, CNN. The rest of us get it. We may agree or disagree but we get it. Feel free to join the rest of the world when you have a moment.

What a great show last night on "Guyland," regarding guys who extend adolescence and delay adulthood through the 20's and on into their 30's.

The most provocative email came from a Seattle listener (KTTH is our affiliate there).
Quite a viewpoint - check it out. If you can follow the thought (albeit a hard thing to do), it is a rather disturbing one.

I agree the guyland is a bad thing, and failure to contribute to our White race would be a prime motive for me to get married at 38, but I probably won't.
That was interesting that you can't understand these guys, I can't identify with your 'way'...Here in seattle, the white women go for blacks or asians and the white guys go for asian women. I only saw my dad's shiite marriage to a whore (and her whore daughter who married a black idiot) who ended up dating at the end of the marriage, leaving him when his health started failing, and taking half of his life's work. At the funeral, she wondered aloud if she could have his ashes fused into a diamond for a ring. And my 'blood' sister, who also witnessed the early portion of their shiite marriage married a black idiot also.
I say this not due to racism, but both these black guys are jackasses: the former a gold digging, low-EQ smartarse and the latter a gold digging, I'm a black victim, former crack head w/ a shiite family...
In my 20's I couldn't understand why any man would get married: it's obvious for the woman; children and money. In my 30's, didn't/don't give a shiite whether I do or don't. The best way for me would be to contribute in some way to needy White children and their mothers...dunno how to go about it.