Weekend Edition - A Daily Spiritual Seed
Published: Fri, 03/26/10
- readings, teachings, references and reviews -
Contents:
- Ad - Amazon.com gift cards
- Spiritual Growth Resource of the Month
- Weekend Readings
- Theology Note of the Week
- Saint of the Week
- Book of the Week
- Shalom Place Discussion Board
- Personal Spiritual Guidance
- Affiliate Web Sites
- Website of the Week
- Joke of the Week
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Amazon.com gift cards
- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00067L6TQ/?tag=christianspiritu
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SPIRITUAL GROWTH RESOURCE OF THE MONTH
eHandouts and Worksheets
- http://shalomplace.com/res/index2.html
A variety of short sketches and resources on a wide range of
topics.
- free-will donation appreciated.
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WEEKEND READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Saturday: Ez 37:21-28; Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12; Jn 11:45-56
Sunday: Is 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24; Phil
2:6-11
(2a) My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
All who see me scoff at me;
they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads:
"He relied on the LORD; let him deliver him,
let him rescue him, if he loves him."
Indeed, many dogs surround me,
a pack of evildoers closes in upon me;
They have pierced my hands and my feet;
I can count all my bones.
They divide my garments among them,
and for my vesture they cast lots.
But you, O LORD, be not far from me;
O my help, hasten to aid me.
I will proclaim your name to my brethren;
in the midst of the assembly I will praise you:
"You who fear the LORD, praise him;
all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him;
revere him, all you descendants of Israel!"
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THEOLOGY NOTE OF THE WEEK
- Foreknow, Foreknowledge
It is God's knowledge about things that will happen. Past, present,
and future are all "present" in the mind of God. He inhabits
eternity (Isaiah 57:15). God has infinite knowledge (Isaiah
41:22,23) and knows all things in advance. In the N.T. it does not
always mean "to know beforehand" but also to cause to be. See 1
Pet. 1:2,20.
- http://www.carm.org/f
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SAINT OF THE WEEK
- April 1: St. Hugh of Grenoble
Today's saint could be a patron for those of us who feel so
overwhelmed by all the problems in the world that we don't know
where to begin.
Hugh, who served as a bishop in France for 52 years, had his work
cut out for him from the start. Corruption seemed to loom in every
direction: the buying and selling of Church offices, violations of
clerical celibacy, lay control of Church property, religious
indifference and/or ignorance. After serving as bishop for two
years, he'd had his fill. He tried disappearing to a monastery, but
the pope called him back to continue the work of reform.
Ironically, Hugh was reasonably effective in the role of
reformer--surely because of his devotion to the Church but also
because of his strong character. In conflicts between Church and
state he was an unflinching defender of the Church. He fearlessly
supported the papacy. He was eloquent as a preacher. He restored
his own cathedral, made civic improvements in the town and
weathered a brief exile.
Hugh may be best known as patron and benefactor of St. Bruno,
founder of the Carthusian Order.
Hugh died in 1132. He was canonized only two years later.
- http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1897
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BOOK OF THE WEEK
"The Concise Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament," by
Frederick W. Danker. University of Chicago Press, 2009.
-
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0226136159/ref=noism/christianspiritu/
Why don't more Christians read the New Testament in its original
language? Muslims believe that the Quran exists in Arabic and only
in Arabic. Hindus read the Bhagavad Gita in Sanskrit. Serious
students of Buddhism learn Pali or Tibetan. So why do Christians
make do with translations or even paraphrases?
Frederick Danker's "Concise Greek-English Lexicon of the New
Testament" aims to help those who want to read the New Testament in
its orginal Greek. As the word "concise" in its title suggests,
this is not a book for seminarians and ministry students; for them
there is the full Bauer-Danker Lexicon. This shorter volume is
aimed at laypeople.
Perhaps the best way I can explain what the book offers is to use
an example. In 1 Corinthians 16:1, St. Paul talks about taking a
collection for the "saints." Now, what did he mean by "saints" -- an
English word that has assumed connotations presumably not present
in the first century?
We learn that the actual Greek word ἅγιος is related to a similar
Sanskrit word, and that this suggests an Indo-European etymological
meaning of "set apart for dedication to the interests or
expectations of deity." The simplest one-word translation would be
"holy." More nuances follow: "holy, sacred, consecrated," and so
on. Each of these is supported by references to the word in Greek
New Testament contexts. I learned, for example, that this is the
same word used as an adjective to describe the "Holy" Spirit. I
certainly wouldn't have known that without Danker's book.
But Danker goes further and gives "God's people, special people" as
suggested renderings in some passages. I'm no expert on Greek, but
it seems to me that he has gone way beyond anything that could be
understood from the word itself and introduced his own theology
into these supposed translations. While this concise lexicon is
undoubtedly valuable, I think it must be used with some caution.
(Thanks to Derek, who posted this in the Shalom Place "Book and
Movie Reviews" forum.)
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
A variety of topics are under discussion. Also, you can use the
Find tab to search the forum, or scroll through forum topics to
find one that interests you.
Could Jesus have sinned? - Christian Morality and Theology forum.
Health care reform - Religion and Politics forum.
Huffington Post Religion - Shalom Place Lounge
- http://shalomplace.org/eve/forums
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AFFILIATE WEB SITES (please give them a visit)
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
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/
Serenity of the Mind: supportint those who served and who suffer
from PTSD.
http://serenityofthemind.com/default.html
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
(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
The Days of Holy Week
- http://www.crivoice.org/cyholyweek.html
Provides a good review of how Holy Week is celebrated across a
spectrum of Christian traditions.
See also http://www.churchyear.net/holyweek.html for Catholic
discussion and resources.
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JOKE OF THE WEEK
- The "Wellie Boot's"
A pre-school teacher who was helping one of the children put on his
"Wellie boot's". He'd asked for help and she could see why. Even
with
her pulling and him pushing, the little "Wellie's" still didn't
want to
go on.
By the time they got the second "Wellie" on, she had worked up a
sweat,
and almost cried when the little boy said, "Miss, they're on the
wrong
feet."
She looked, and sure enough, they were.
It wasn't any easier pulling the "Wellie's" off than it was putting
them
on. She managed to keep her cool as together they worked to get the
"Wellie's" back on, this time on the right feet.
He then announced, "These aren't my Wellies." She bit her tongue
rather
than get right in his face and scream, 'Why didn't you say so?'
like she
wanted to.
Once again, she struggled to help him pull the ill-fitting
"Wellie's"
off his little feet.
No sooner had they gotten the "Wellie's" off when he said, "They're
my
brother's "Wellie's", My mom made me wear 'them.'
Now she didn't know if she should laugh or cry. But, she mustered up
what grace and courage she had left to wrestle the "Wellie's" on his
feet again.
Helping him into his coat, she asked, "Now, where are your gloves?"
He said, "I stuffed 'them in the toes of my Wellie's".
. . . She will be eligible for parole in three years!
(Thanks, Carol)
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