| 2006 | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
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| 2007 | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
| 2008 | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
| 2009 | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
| 2010 | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus . . . Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
"Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us" (2Tim 1:1-2, 13-14).
What makes a theologian, clergy or lay? The same thing that makes a Christian, clergy or lay. Prayer, study, and trial make a Christian and, therefore, a theologian--clergy or lay--the discipline and, therefore, the disciplined life of prayer, study, and trial.
For disciplined prayer, besides the liturgy and its component parts, namely, the Ordinary, those parts which ordinarily remain the same from Sunday to Sunday, such as the Gloria Patri, the Kyrie, the Gloria in Excelsis, and so forth, and the Propers, that is, those parts which are proper to the given Sunday, church season or occasion and, hence, do change, including the readings, the sermon, the prayers, the hymns and the like, may I suggest the discipline of Daily Prayer.
Within the setting of the seasons of the church year and, personally, within the venue of our several lives, in the context of shepherd and sheep, Daily Prayer can, in the experience of countless pious believers down through the centuries, serve as the means to continued growth in the Christian faith and a deeper and more disciplined life of prayer.
This will necessarily entail the other two related disciplines, study and trial, which, along with prayer, make a Christian and, consequently, a theologian, growing in the faith, delving ever deeper into the Christian life and discipline. This way we'll have a bi-rhythm and, hence, a bio-rhythm, a daily and weekly rhythm, besides a seasonal regimen, for growth and vitality. Now all we need is a little bio-diesel, Bio Willie!
With the Spirit's bio-fuel we'll be cooking. We'll have the Holy Scriptures inscripted not just transcribed and prescribed. We'll have the pattern of sound words, Holy Writ, imprinted not just impressed--a real paradigm of success! We will be duly indoctrinated. We will be formed and informed, transfigured and transformed. We'll be converted instead of subverted.
We will have both text and context. For we will be praying and studying God's Word, rightly divided by the Holy Spirit Himself, ring within concentric ring, the ring of truth, the golden ring, the golden mean, the hermeneutic circle, Scripture interpreting Scripture interpreting Scripture.
And in this school of hard knocks, this kindergarten of kindred souls and of the Holy Spirit, trial is bound to follow, as faith follows the Gospel and form follows function, and function, substance, as the cross awaits us and, afterward, the tomb--and after that, that tomb emptied at the resurrection. All the while, growing in the life of prayer, and study, and trial, growing as a theologian, growing up into Christ our Head. Amen.
- Pastor Erickson