Weekend Edition - A Daily Spiritual Seed
Published: Fri, 06/26/09
- readings, teachings, references and reviews -
Contents:
- Weekend Readings
- Spiritual Growth Resource of the Month
- Theology Note of the Week
- Saint of the Week
- Book of the Week
- Spiritual Growth Resource of the Month
- Shalom Place Discussion Board
- Personal Spiritual Guidance
- Affiliate Web Sites
- Website of the Week
- Joke of the Week
- - -
WEEKEND READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Saturday: Gn 18:1-15; Luke 1:46-47, 48-49, 50 and 53, 54-55;
Mt 8:5-17
Sunday: Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24; Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13;
2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mk 5:21-43
R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O LORD, you brought me up from the netherworld;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.
Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.
You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
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SPIRITUAL GROWTH RESOURCE OF THE MONTH
The Chakra System: A Christian Understanding
- http://shalomplace.com/inetmin/chakras/index.html
Eight audio conferences plus handouts presented by Philip St.
Romain, M.S., D. Min.
The encounter between Eastern forms of mysticism and Christian
spirituality is one of the most significant "signs of the times."
One extreme response to this is syncretism, in which various
elements from different traditions are extracted and synthesized
into a new spiritual tradition. This seems to characterize much of
what is called "New Age" spirituality. The other extreme is to
minimize the importance of the East-West interaction, or to view
these traditions as inherently contradictory. Some of the far right
of Christian thinking tend toward this view. Finding a middle
ground which respects the uniqueness of differing religious
traditions, while learning what is useful in them to enhance one's
spiritual growth is a difficult challenge.
In this workshop, Dr. Philip St. Romain avoids the extremes of
syncretism and triumphalism as he reflects on the significance of
the Hindu/yogic metaphysical view of human nature. Similarities and
differences between this paradigm and the traditional Western,
scholastic view are noted, along with parallels between the powers
of the chakras and various developmental theories. Practical
implications for growth, healing and spiritual direction are noted,
while helpful resource handouts are provided.
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THEOLOGY NOTE OF THE WEEK
- Creation
Everything that exists except God himself. This includes material
as well as immaterial things and time. God is the creator, (Heb.
11:3) we are the creatures. The creator/creature distinction must
be maintained to properly remain in humble relationship with God.
We are not God, cannot create, nor can we help ourselves do good in
order to be saved. Only God is God. Only He can create. And, only
He has the ability to save man.
- http://www.carm.org/dictionary.htm
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SAINT OF THE WEEK
- July 4th. St Elizabeth of Portugal.
Of Spanish birth, the daughter of a king of Aragon (born 1271), she
was married at the age of twelve unto the Portuguese royal house
and endured rather than enjoyed an unfaithful and violent husband.
She devoted her attentions to works of practical piety. orphanages,
hospitals, and such like. She was an assiduous worker for peace:
she managed to end a long standing feud between her husband and her
son and managed to bring about a change in her husband's
disposition before his death in 1324. On a wider Front, she also
averted war between Portugal and Castile. She then became a
Franciscan tertiary and adopted an extremely simple life, still
dedicating herself to initiatives for peace She died in the town of
Estremoz, near the Spanish border, in 1336.
- http://www.hullp.demon.co.uk/SacredHeart/saint/index.html
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BOOK OF THE WEEK
"An Altar in the World, A Geography of Faith." by Barbara B.
Taylor. Harper One. 2009.
- http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0061370460/ref=noism/christianspiritu/
Taylor offers her readers ways to encounter God beyond the walls of
any church as she invites them to walk with her in the ordinariness
of daily life with eyes attune to the wonders of all of creation.
She admits that at times when she leaves the building of the
church, she feels empty and can only evoke enthusiasm for life by
looking for and finding the something more she needs in the "whole
world of the church". These encounters do indeed satisfy her
longings and she finds the Divine in the everyday of life.
The author finds courage in the words of St. Francis of Assisi who
read the world as reverently as he read the Bible. She seeks a
single bird and counts it as truly a messenger of God as is a cloud
of angels. "Earth is full of divine possibility."
She treats reverence as the virtue that keeps us from acting like
God. "To forget you're human, to think you can act like God, is the
opposite of reverence." She advocates a quiet time before a stream
as a way to begin practicing reverence. She notices the pebbles,
the weeds in the water, the quiet movement, and bids her readers
sit alone beside the stream. "Go slowly. No hurry. God is near."
Everything can become an altar in this world; even getting lost can
be a holy exercise. "You have to ask for help, you need to find a
new route, you meet new people, you have time to pray." She says
getting lost can take various shapes. One may be lost finding one's
way home, looking for love, between jobs, looking for God. "Take
heart. Others have found their way in the wilderness with angels
all around."
Taylor speaks of others as not those one can use, change, fix,
help, save, enroll, convince, or control, but as those who can
spring you from the prison of yourself. "This is indeed dying to
self."
Her chapters on blessings, keeping the Sabbath, offering
hospitality, and saying no, speak especially to readers who are in
earnest in making "the world their altar."
by Sister Irene Hartman
(Courtesy of Judith Mansell who gave me this book to read)
Make the Christian Spirituality Bookstore your starting point for
online shopping at Amazon.com. You can buy books, cds, videotapes,
software, appliances and many other products at discount prices.
As Amazon.com affiliate, we are paid a small fee for purchases
originating from our web site. Every little bit helps!
http://shalomplace.com/books/index.html
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- PERSONAL SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE -
Need a companion for the spiritual journey? We have several
wonderful people ready to help, using email and telephone
conferences to bridge the miles.
- Now providing -
Consultations: this option is best for short-term guidance
pertaining to a specific issue.
Spiritual Direction: ongoing relationship with a spiritual director
to become more attuned to God's presence in all of life.
See http://shalomplace.com/direction/
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SHALOM PLACE DISCUSSION BOARDS
The discussion board has a new home:
- http://shalomplace.org/eve/forums
A few active discussions:
Within your wounds, hide me - Christian Spirituality Issues forum.
From false gods to Christ - Transformative Experiences forum.
The Shack -- Book and Movie Reviews forum.
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AFFILIATE WEB SITES (please give them a visit)
Heartland Center for Spirituality (retreat center in central
Kansas).
http://heartlandspirituality.org/index.html
Emanuella House of Prayer: a place for prayer and silence in
British Columbia
http://members.axion.net/~massf/
The Ark: Providing a variety of scripture and lectionary study
resources.
http://www.theark1.com
Kyrie Places of Pilgrimmage and Renewal.
http://www.kyrie.com/places/index.htm
Contemplative Rudder: "In the midst of Consecrated Silence'
atmospherics ... a Rudder!
http://www.contemplativerudder.com/
Inner Explorations: a vast array of spirituality resources for the
mature Christian.
http://innerexplorations.com
The Sanctuary Foundation for Prayer: resources for spiritual growth.
http://fromholyground.org/index.htm
SeeScapes. Picturing the deeper dimensions of our spirituality.
http://www.seescapes.com
Temenos Catholic Worker: support for homeless youth in Polk Street
neighborhood, San Francisco
http://www.temenos.org/
Contemplative Ministries of the Pacific Northwest: teaching and
support on contemplative practice
http://www.prayeroftheheart.com
(Reach other people who have a similar interest in Christian
spirituality. Simply publish a link to Daily Spiritual Seed--
http://shalomplace.com/seed --on a prominent place on your web site
and we will reciprocate with a weekly link to your site in the
newsletter. Contact the Editor when you're ready to begin.)
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WEB SITE OF THE WEEK
Junkfood Science
- http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/
"Critical examinations of studies and news on food, weight, health
and healthcare that mainstream media misses. Debunks popular myths,
explains science and exposes fraud that affects your health. Plus
some fun food for thought. For readers not afraid to question and
think critically to get to the truth."
- from the website
I checked out this blog after it was recommended to me by a
spiritual directee. Lots of great articles, many of which go
against the grain of a number of common notions -- e.g., the health
dangers of being overweight.
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JOKE OF THE WEEK
- Overheard . . .
On my way home one day, I stopped to watch a Little League base
ball game that was being played in a park near my home. As I sat
down behind the bench on the first-base line, I asked one of the
boys what the score was
'We're behind 14 to nothing,' he answered, with a smile.
'Really,' I said.. 'I have to say you don't look very
discouraged.'
'Discouraged?', the boy asked with a puzzled look on his face...
'Why should we be discouraged? We haven't been up to bat yet.'
(If you've ever coached little ones, you understand.)
Thanks, Carol, for this story.
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Please help support Heartland Center's Internet ministries:
- For more info on tax-deductible donations, see
http://shalomplace.com/seed/donations.html.
Thanks for your consideration!
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