Weekend Edition - A Daily Spiritual Seed
Published: Fri, 10/12/12
A Daily Spiritual Seed
Weekend Edition:
October 12-14, 2012
| Contents: - Weekend Scripture Readings - Spiritual Guidance - Discussion Board highlights - Affiliate Web Sites - Theology Note of the Week - Spiritual Growth Resources. - Book of the Week - Saint of the Week - Joke of the Week - Web Resource of the Week - - - Sunday: Wis 7:7-11; Ps 90:12-17; Heb 4:12-13; Mk 10:17-30 R. (14) Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!  Teach us to number our days aright,that we may gain wisdom of heart. Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants! Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. Make us glad, for the days when you afflicted us, for the years when we saw evil. Let your work be seen by your servants and your glory by their children; and may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands! - - - Amazon
Gift Cards - - - Spiritual Guidance - see http://shalomplace.org/eve/forums
for these and hundreds of other
discussions. Philothea.net: promoting
the love of God as expressed in The First Great Commandment Theology Note of the
Week Paraclete is the Greek words for "helper, comforter, and advocate." It is used in John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7 and 1 John 2:1. In each instance it is in reference to the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is sometimes refered to in theological discussion as the Paraclete. - - - Joke of the Week - Two Penguins A man drives to a gas station and has his tank filled up. The gas pumper spots two penguins sitting in the back seat of the car. He asks the driver, "What's up with the penguins in the back seat?" The man in the car says "I found them. I asked myself what to do with them but, I haven't had a clue." The clerk ponders a bit then says, "You should take them to the zoo." "Hey, that's a good idea," says the man in the car and drives away. The next day the man with the car is back at the same gas station. The clerk sees the penguins are still in the back seat of the car. "Hey, they're still here! I thought you were going to take them to the zoo." "Oh, I did," says the driver, "And we had a great time! Today I am taking them to the beach." (from http://www.pacprod.com/jokes.pl) |
Featured Spiritual
Growth Resources
Critical Issues in Christian Contemplative Practice, by James Arraj and Philip St. Romain. Inner Growth Books and Videos. 2007.  .
. . we face the first sustained practical interest in contemplation
since the end of the 17th century, but already this enthusiasm has
raised critical questions that need to be addressed lest these new
beginnings go astray. Part I introduces us to three modern attempts to
renew the Christian life of prayer. Part II allows us to meet people
today who have had Christian experiences of prayer and contemplation.
Part III explores how the renewal of the Christian contemplative life
is interacting with Eastern forms of meditation. The material here came
originally from shalomplace.com and innerexplorations.com.Paperback - Kindle - ePub - - - Book (movie, CD) of the Week Why Stay Catholic: Unexpected Answers to a Life-Changing Question, by Michael Leach. Loyola Press, 2011. - http://www.amazon.com/dp/0829435379/?tag=christianspiritu  Written by the dean of Catholic
book publishing, Leach gives answers that will inspire and challenge
those who may be weak in their faith and tempted to give up on the
Catholic Church. He gives his readers reasons to celebrate the Church. In part one, he gives great ideas that many have never heard about or have forgotten about, such as God's ever presence, the Communion of saints, the gift of Mary, disagreement with the Church, spiritual paths to God, guardian angels, the hard job of the papacy, Catholics who like to party, and God among the pots and pans. In part two, Leach the former priest, gives the grace-filled stories of many holy ones whom he has grown to love and imitate. Among these are Sister Miriam Therese Winter, Mitch Finley, Walter Burghardt, Anntoinette Bosco, Andrew Greeley, Dorothy Day, and his precious wife Vickie who is now suffering from dementia. He maintains because of the examples of holiness of so many holy ones, Leach remains Catholic. In part three, Leach lists places and organizations that have made Catholicism important to him. These include the Abbey of Gethsemani, Catholic charities and schools and hospitals and relief agencies and bookstores , the Extension Society, and the possibility of a Vatican III. For the latter, he gives a formula that would wow the most hardened. Because of these means of grace, Leach remains Catholic. He proposes that Vatican III be a time of general forgiveness for the sins of the past. To begin with, the Pope would write an encyclical on forgiveness in which the Church begs forgiveness on behalf of all those who have been hurt, living and dead, and vows to reform itself. For three months, priests would preach forgiveness from the pulpits and encourage everyone to forgive and to accept forgiveness."Forgiveness becomes an almighty force that opens hearts, cleanses minds and inspires our whole being." People are encouraged to forgive and to sin no more. Forgiveness becomes the theme of the Church. The three months would culminate in one grand forgiveness ceremony. That would be Vatican III accomplished in three months but spread over all the rest of each person's life. (Thanks to Sr. Irene Hartman OP for this review.) 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 - - - Saint of the Week - http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1171 - St. Ignatius of Antioch (d. 107?) October 17  Born in Syria, Ignatius
converted to Christianity and eventually became bishop of Antioch. In
the year 107, Emperor Trajan visited Antioch and forced the Christians
there to choose between death and apostasy. Ignatius would not deny
Christ and thus was condemned to be put to death in Rome.Ignatius is well known for the seven letters he wrote on the long journey from Antioch to Rome. Five of these letters are to Churches in Asia Minor; they urge the Christians there to remain faithful to God and to obey their superiors. He warns them against heretical doctrines, providing them with the solid truths of the Christian faith. The sixth letter was to Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, who was later martyred for the faith. The final letter begs the Christians in Rome not to try to stop his martyrdom. "The only thing I ask of you is to allow me to offer the libation of my blood to God. I am the wheat of the Lord; may I be ground by the teeth of the beasts to become the immaculate bread of Christ." Ignatius bravely met the lions in the Circus Maximus. - - - Web
Resource of the Week
Y-Jesus - http://y-jesus.com Y-Jesus attempts to present the evidence for Jesus' identity with an even-handed approach. Who did Jesus really claim to be? Is the resurrection merely a Sunday school story without evidence? Has the New Testament account of Jesus been rewritten by conspirators? Is The Da Vinci Code right when it asserts that we have been duped? Y-Jesus asks the tough questions about Jesus Christ. This somewhat skeptical approach may threaten some believers who have never dealt with these issues. Yet, these questions about Jesus are the hottest topic in the national media. Francis Schaeffer stated that for faith to have conviction of the whole person, it must be based upon the mind as well as the heart. Therefore, it is the purpose of Y-Jesus to think through the tough questions about "Who is the Real Jesus," and then look carefully at the evidence. What convinced the disciples? Why were they and the early Christians willing to die for what they believed? How did we get the New Testament, and could the message have been rewritten? The research behind the Y-Jesus articles is extensive. Viewpoints from dozens of leading scholars are presented here. Dr. Ron Heine, PhD, and professor of early New Testament history, was consulted regarding much of the information presented in articles 3 and 4. We have also included the evidence that persuaded several skeptics that Jesus Christ is who he claimed to be. - from the web site: very good material and a place to refer your skeptical friends and family members. |
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