Message of 7-8-09
Published: Mon, 07/06/09
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
There are three possible kinds of God:
- the god of one's own ego, in which the atheist believes, and
which is also the god of modern confusionism;
- the god of nature, of stone and gold and silver, which belonged
to the old religions of idolatry;
- and the Supreme God, who made both man and nature, and redeemed
them both upon the cross.
Those who tell us that they deny the existence of God are merely
substituting one god for another.
- Fulton John Sheen
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Gn 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a; Ps 33:2-3, 10-11, 18-19; Mt
10:1-7
R. (22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
Sing to him a new song;
pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.
The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;
he foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
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SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
From "Daily Bread"
- http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"The kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Joseph's brothers are jealous of their father's special love for
him and they plot to kill him. Only second thoughts about outright
fratricide prompt them to leave him in a pit, presumably to die.
Fast-forward a few years. Joseph is an advisor to Pharaoh and the
only one who can provide for his brothers as they come begging for
food. Big-time irony and the perfect setup for getting even, but
Joseph not only rejects revenge, he allows his brothers the grace
to turn their hearts from revenge to regret. Envy leads to
otherwise unfathomable wickedness. Rising above revenge leads to
unfathomable goodness. This is how we proclaim the kingdom.
"Lord, protect us from envy and inspire us instead to gratitude."
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GOD, SELF AND EGO: Meanings and Discernments
by Philip St. Romain© (doctoral project manuscript)
- see http://shalomplace.com/view/godselfego.html
A brief perusal of the literature will reveal many
inconsistencies in the manner in which the terms God, Self, and Ego
are used. In this project, I shall attempt to utilize experiential
definitions for each, and relate these to the works of other
writers. For purposes of clarifying the relationships between these
experiences, I shall make use of the metaphysical insights of
St. Thomas Aquinas and his explicators, whose writings have served
Christianity very well for several centuries.
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REVIEW OF DAY
- from, "Handbook for Spiritual Directees"
http://shalomplace.com/view/hndbk-lite.pdf
Here is a practice used by many at the end of the day to see what
lessons can be learned and how God was present and active through
the day. Set aside fifteen to twenty minutes at the end of the
day for prayer and review of your day. A suggested format is
described below:.
1. Take a few moments of quiet. Breathe deeply. Ask God to help you
see yourself as you truly were during the day.
2. Look back over your day - not to see what you did wrong but to
honestly acknowledge what was going on with you and others.
* What happened? What did I do today?
* How did I feel? Why did I feel that way?
* Were my expectations and beliefs reasonable?
3. Affirm the healthy things you recognize.
4. Admit to yourself and God the unhealthy things. Ask God's
forgiveness, believe it is yours, then decide if you need to
apologize or make amends.
5. Use creative visualization to grow stronger. Honestly
acknowledge the troubling situations of the day. See and feel
yourself acting honestly and lovingly in these situations. Ask God
for the grace to help you act in this new way.
6. Close with simple awareness of the sights and sounds around you,
grateful for the good things in your life.
This process can be undertaken as a daily journal exercise or by
prayerfully reviewing your day in your own mind. I like to take a
walk before bedtime for examen. The important thing is to do it. It
is a discipline, to be sure, but a very important one.
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SHALOM PLACE PREMIUM GROUPS
- Life-long learning and formation in Christian spirituality.
Groups now open include the following:
A. Psychological Types and Spirituality
B. The Way of Christian Spirituality
C. Freedom from Codependency
D. Christian Spirituality Resources
E. Wonderfully Made (Christian Metaphysics)
F. Growing in Christ
G. Spiral Dynamics®
H. Discerning God's Will
I. Dark Night of the Soul
J. Silence, Solitude and Sabbath
K. Alpha Group -- includes all the above and all to come.
- see http://shalomplace.org/groups.html
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