1). Quite frankly, there was nothing that really stood out to me or helped me in any way. I did not agree with the reading, due to the fact that Prayer is an action, and not a feeling, we should not rely upon our feelings because they are constantly changing.
2). I am quite confused by what she is saying, but I am assuming that she means that we should reach for the truth of who God really is, and not who we think he is.
3). From the part that I slightly understood, it reminded me of Dr. Jerry Root when he said that we need to try to try to rid ourselves of our false ideas about God and who he is and reach for the truth.
4). I would like to see Biblical support of what she is saying. I find things easier to understand when there is biblical evidence used correctly (as in not taken out of context), and I find it much easier to believe.
Monday, April 11, 2016
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Buttrick response
!. Buttrick defines prayer as friendship with God, friendship is not formless, but it is also not formal, nor casual. I agree with Buttrick, because too much formality can keep us from developing a relationship with God, but casualty can make us forget who we are talking to and we can begin to disrespect God.
2. I think that this tension exists because in order to have a relationship you need to be comfortable with the other person, or in this case God, but we also do need to respect God because he is God. There are not "rules" per say, but there are guidelines and it would be better, i guess, if we followed them.
3. Self Preparation, this is where we sit and let God's peace fill us so that distractions will cease.
Thanksgiving, this is simply thanking God for all he has done for us, this is where we show our true gratitude.
Confession, this is where we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness from our hearts, honesty is key, and once we have asked for forgiveness we must try and refrain from indulging in our sinful practices again.
Petition, this is where we come to God with our needs, this should be at the end of the prayer to avoid selfishness.
Intercession, this is where we lift others up to God, not only the people that we like, but also the ones we don't particularly care for.
4. We need to feel truly remorseful, and not only remorseful but also determined that we will, with the help of God, try to resist temptation and not fall back into those sinful habits.
2. I think that this tension exists because in order to have a relationship you need to be comfortable with the other person, or in this case God, but we also do need to respect God because he is God. There are not "rules" per say, but there are guidelines and it would be better, i guess, if we followed them.
3. Self Preparation, this is where we sit and let God's peace fill us so that distractions will cease.
Thanksgiving, this is simply thanking God for all he has done for us, this is where we show our true gratitude.
Confession, this is where we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness from our hearts, honesty is key, and once we have asked for forgiveness we must try and refrain from indulging in our sinful practices again.
Petition, this is where we come to God with our needs, this should be at the end of the prayer to avoid selfishness.
Intercession, this is where we lift others up to God, not only the people that we like, but also the ones we don't particularly care for.
4. We need to feel truly remorseful, and not only remorseful but also determined that we will, with the help of God, try to resist temptation and not fall back into those sinful habits.
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Celtic Christianity
1).One of the characteristics of Celtic Spirituality is the belief that all creation is good since it was and is created by God. Nothing is created evil, it is only tainted by the devil. Another characteristic is that they are thoroughly biblical as is apparently evident in all of their biblical texts. The third and final characteristic that I will mention is their general Theology which "thinks of the divine being and act or, better, the divine presence and power, flowing in and through what can only be described as an extended family."
2). How do they justify inserting pagan deities into their "Christian" practices/life? That is Changing the scriptures, Gods own words, and that doesn't seem right to me.
3). Magic is completely incompatible with Celtic Spirituality because magic is putting the power into our own hands and attempting to bypass and overrule God's mercy and power. When we call on God we are putting our troubles and desires into his hands because he is the creator and the creator can surely fix his creation.
2). How do they justify inserting pagan deities into their "Christian" practices/life? That is Changing the scriptures, Gods own words, and that doesn't seem right to me.
3). Magic is completely incompatible with Celtic Spirituality because magic is putting the power into our own hands and attempting to bypass and overrule God's mercy and power. When we call on God we are putting our troubles and desires into his hands because he is the creator and the creator can surely fix his creation.
Monday, March 7, 2016
John of the Cross
1). According to John of the Cross we have our "dark nights" because God wants us to grow. At that point we are ready for the next level. The "Dark night" is essentially when our Spiritual Journey begins to get harder, and we see less and less the pleasure we once found in our Spiritual Activities.
2).One of the false thoughts that Christians have sometimes is the idea that as soon as you give your life to God that everything will all of a sudden get better and our lives will be perfect with no hardships. There are always hardships, and they can always get harder, we just need to remember to always turn to God for help, no matter how small the problem may seem to us.
2).One of the false thoughts that Christians have sometimes is the idea that as soon as you give your life to God that everything will all of a sudden get better and our lives will be perfect with no hardships. There are always hardships, and they can always get harder, we just need to remember to always turn to God for help, no matter how small the problem may seem to us.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Merton
1. Merton sees meditation as a set time and place to get to know God deeper and more intimately. During this set time the goal is to focus entirely on God and not get distracted by anything else, to focus on God's love and is-ness.
2. Obstacles Merton presented were avoiding God when he is talking to us, we do this out of either confusion or no confidence. Pride, which is when we get above our "level" and therefore trap ourselves in our pride. Merton suggests that in order to help with this problem a spiritual mentor.
3. The reminder that Prayer is a process and that we need to work for it is always a comfort especially when I hear others pray and start to compare my prayers to theirs. Prayer id not a contest, and it always helps to be reminded of that.
2. Obstacles Merton presented were avoiding God when he is talking to us, we do this out of either confusion or no confidence. Pride, which is when we get above our "level" and therefore trap ourselves in our pride. Merton suggests that in order to help with this problem a spiritual mentor.
3. The reminder that Prayer is a process and that we need to work for it is always a comfort especially when I hear others pray and start to compare my prayers to theirs. Prayer id not a contest, and it always helps to be reminded of that.
Monday, February 15, 2016
Nouwen
1). According to Nouwen solitude is being without distraction in a place where we are able to fully concentrate and give our full attention and devotion to God.
2). According to Nouwen through Spiritual discipline we can prevent the world from infiltrating our thoughts, and we are truly free to pray and allow the Holy Spirit into our lives. He suggests putting aside a time and place for God and God alone.
3). Nouwen describes the Absurd life as being deaf because we need to learn to listen to God. The obedient life he describes as listening, in order to be obedient to God we need to be listening to what he says. I do find these helpful because we need to make that transition from being Spiritually empty and "deaf" to being able to listen to God, and to do so, we need Spiritual discipline.
2). According to Nouwen through Spiritual discipline we can prevent the world from infiltrating our thoughts, and we are truly free to pray and allow the Holy Spirit into our lives. He suggests putting aside a time and place for God and God alone.
3). Nouwen describes the Absurd life as being deaf because we need to learn to listen to God. The obedient life he describes as listening, in order to be obedient to God we need to be listening to what he says. I do find these helpful because we need to make that transition from being Spiritually empty and "deaf" to being able to listen to God, and to do so, we need Spiritual discipline.
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Athanasius
1). God created Humanity so that we can know him. We are made in God's image because we are his treasured creation, and so that we can have a deeper relationship with God.
2). Humanity, instead to worshiping the creator turned to worshiping the creation,resulting in separation from God. We created gods to worship instead of worshiping God, and totally separated ourselves from God, but God still continues to come after us.
3).God makes himself known to us through other people, his Word, and the universe. We are surrounded by the beauty God has created in his universe everyday, and by family and teachers who always tell me about God and his love for me and everyone, and I have the great blessing of being able to own a Bible so that i can read his Word everyday.
4). God restored Humanity by becoming human in order to tell us of himself and his Love for us. Jesus submitted himself to death in order to save us so that we can draw closer to God and further know him.
2). Humanity, instead to worshiping the creator turned to worshiping the creation,resulting in separation from God. We created gods to worship instead of worshiping God, and totally separated ourselves from God, but God still continues to come after us.
3).God makes himself known to us through other people, his Word, and the universe. We are surrounded by the beauty God has created in his universe everyday, and by family and teachers who always tell me about God and his love for me and everyone, and I have the great blessing of being able to own a Bible so that i can read his Word everyday.
4). God restored Humanity by becoming human in order to tell us of himself and his Love for us. Jesus submitted himself to death in order to save us so that we can draw closer to God and further know him.
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