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Bravo! Bravo to the One who comes from the unknown and unseen place to rattle the landscape and roust the pretenders!

This One, and this One alone, is worthy of devotion.

The Majestic One thunders into the silence of tyranny. At the sound of this Voice, all creation shudders in remembrance of forgotten promises.

This One, and this One alone, is worthy of ovation.

The flames of Pentecostal power scorch those of arrogant aspiration. They cleanse and clarify the speech of all willing to stand in the breach of earth’s travail. By them, we are born again.

This One, and this One alone, is worthy of acclamation.

The seed of this Lover has not been annulled; the womb of this Beloved has not been aborted.

This One, and this One alone, is worthy of exaltation.

The children of God testify together: These fires from above are not to be feared; these turbulent winds pose no threat. For by them the Merciful One upholds all who are bound by the bonds of justice and the chords of mercy.

This One, this Gracious but Untamed One, is alone worthy of obligation.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Psalm 29 & the Pentecost story in Acts 2.

Sisters and Brothers in the God Movement: Hear and heed these words of instruction. Don’t hedge on the truth. Trust the ties that bind us one to another. Truth-telling makes them stronger.

Remember this: The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love.*

When you become angry with another—and it’s bound to happen—don’t let your anger overwhelm your affection.

Remember this: Every occasion of conflict is an opening for deeper communion. The risk is worth the reward.

Turn your back on thievery. Don’t steal money, don’t pillage hope, don’t plunder anyone’s good name.

Remember this: The hard-won wages of honest work are not for hoarding. You didn’t “earn” what you have any more than you “earn” God’s grace. Generosity is the evidence of both.

Trash-talking is a sure sign you’ve made your bed in a dump. Don’t menace with your mouth, don’t pollute the air with gossip.

Remember this: Sticks and stones merely break their bones, but poisoned words can kill. Practice the same care with your speech as you do with your roses and your heirlooms.

Shower yourself with tenderheartedness, as Christ has tendered you. Scrub away your greasy wrangling and your grimy wrath.

Remember this: God’s good Name is at stake in the way you treat each other. Cuss your neighbor, cuss your God.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Ephesians 4:25-5:2. *Sentence from a William Sloan Coffin benediction.

With eyes apprised by the urgency of Heaven, with lungs in harmony; with hands contrite—no fear, no fright—we raise our humble plea.

Christ in your mercy, enslave every malice, transform every heartache to glee. Rain mercy upon us; Beloved, conform us, to Heaven’s harmony.

All virtue and valor, bestow on our way. Consign all contempt to the flame. Be thou my vision—freed from its prison—with hope confess, proclaim.

Christ in your mercy, enslave every malice, transform every heartache to glee. Rain mercy upon us; Beloved, conform us, to Heaven’s harmony.

In grace let us linger, content to remember that life can’t be had on the cheap. Extravagant splendor, lived in surrender, to the bountiful harvest complete.

Christ in your mercy, enslave every malice, transform every heartache to glee. Rain mercy upon us; Beloved, conform us, to Heaven’s harmony.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org.

The Radiance of Day is my light and salvation.
No threat can entrap me, no terror encroach.

The Sovereign’s my full-armored haven, safe harbor.
No storm can o’erwhelm me, no gale can prevail.

Though foes clamor ’round, bitter fright falls in torrents,
thy Sheltering Hand’s dense defense doth surround me.

Cast me not, Gentle Savior, into grief’s ruin and ravage;
for thy countenance only, I aspire and desire.

O Beauteous One, with rainbow adorned, insurrection,
resurrection, pure affection thy attire.

With relished delight all attest this confession:
The goodness of God brims the land of the living.

I dare lift my head ’bove the raucous assemblage;
with joy serenading, Thy praises resound!

Be strong, oh my heart, with courage impart; neither leave
nor depart ’til by Mercy embraced.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Psalm 27.

The great and mighty judge had no use for God,
neither for people, save the few with favors to grant
or flattery to display.

Widow woman, widow woman,
     face bathed in tears.

Least of the judge’s concerns were the pitiful pleas
of those with no standing in the courtrooms of the mighty.

Widow woman, widow woman,
     choking back her fears.

Confound this pesky woman!
Grant her justice just to shut her up!

Widow woman, widow woman,
     you done worn that ol’ judge out.

Will not the Judge of judges hear?
Hear and respond? Respond and redeem?
Will persevering faith be found on the earth?

Widow woman, widow woman,
     time to sing and shout!

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Luke 18:1-8.

Where there is no vision, the people perish.

Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint.

Without revelation, people run wild.

Without divine guidance, the people are scattered.

May we seek your guidance, O Wisdom Divine, as eagerly as the infant seeks the breast of nourishment.

Give us a yearning for your revelation, O Blessed One, as passionately as the thirsty seek water.

Give us ears itching for your prophetic Word, as ardently as the lover pines for the beloved’s voice.

Give us fearless eyes for uncompromised vision, amid the fog of war and marketing deceit.

Restore every voice silenced by weight of woe and threat of misery, that songs of joy outlast and outlive every grief-stricken aria.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Proverbs 29:18.

When we are asked—Who are you?—what shall we say?

We are followers of Jesus who believe that doing justice and loving mercy are intimately tied to walking humbly with God.

And if asked—What is you mission?—how do we respond?

Our mission is to nurture spiritual formation in ways that support prophetic and redemptive work in the world.

And what do these things look like?

In the Prophet Isaiah’s vision, one day wolf and lamb, leopard and calf, cow and bear, child and viper, shall rest fearlessly in each other’s presence.

And this is why we long to know God, because acquaintance with the Beloved brings health and healing to the earth.

“They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Using language from the Circle of Mercy Congregation’s vision and mission statement, along with language from Isaiah 11

All who dwell in the dell of the Blessed Embrace shall raise anthems of joy and grace.

My fortress, my shield, by mercy concealed: O Shelter, my shiv’ring displace.

The Protector uncovers the snare of the fowler and snatches from ravaging claws. ’Neath Redemption’s wide wings every heart soars and sings, every voice, every hand, shouts applause!

The terrors of night shall stalk you no longer, nor the arrows that fly by day. The pestilent shadows no longer encroach, nor savaging tremors dismay.

Scuttle the fear of wrath’s pure fright, all restive disquiet allay. Confound the vandal of wreckage and ruin, and the prowler lurking its prey.

With the Lord now your refuge and holy abode, no evil can track your ascent. For angels hover o’er you, their hands to restore you, when feet stumble hard in lament.

“When you call I will answer,” says Love Everlasting. “Cleave to me and none shall assail.”

Now may honor adorn you, long life befriend you; arrayed in redemption, your future prevail.

©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Psalm 91.