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By now I'm sure you've heard of blogs, and might even visit or subscribe to a few. Blogging is a good way for an individual or group to share ideas, experiences and opinions, and to allow others to interact with them. I set up something like this at http://philothea.net a few months ago, mostly to share scriptures and other writings that promote the love of God.
A much more broad-based discussion has been going on since 2001 at the Shalom Place Discussion Board. As with a blog, I can open a topic to engage others, but unlike a blog, the Board is also open to registered users who might wish to start one. This has allowed for the expression of a much richer variety of topics than I would have ever come up with on my own. It also means, however, that I have to keep very close tabs on what's going on, as we have had our share of spammers through the years, not to mention discussions that get bogged down or get too far off-track.
During the past 12 years, the contributors to the Shalom Place Discussion Board have helped to develop a very rich resource center, with topics that often show up in web searches. Listed below are the Board stats from October 2012. It will give you an idea of the reach of our Internet Ministry.- 1,365 members
- 82,338 page views (October only)
- 21 forums open
- 2,484 topics open
- 42,540 posts to topics (to date)
Please help to support this outreach!
Thanks, Phil
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The great imperfection of most of us proceeds from want of
reflection, but, on the other hand, there are many who think
overmuch, who fall into the mistake of too close self-inspection, and who are perpetually fretting over their failings and weaknesses."
- Jean-Pierre Camus [17th C], The Spirit of St. Francis de Sales
(So. . . which side do you tend towards?)
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Phln 7-20; Ps 146:7, 8-10; Lk 17:20-25
R. (5a) ]Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
The LORD secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
USCCB Lectionary
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When the Pharisees asked Jesus what sign would indicate the "Day of the Lord", Jesus replied that only one sign would point to that day and that sign was Jesus himself. Jesus surprised the Jews of his time by announcing that God's kingdom was already present among them in his very person - the Son of God sent from the Father to redeem the world from sin and destruction. In Jesus we see the power and the glory of God's kingdom. His divine power overthrew the powers of darkness and sin. Jesus knew that the only way to victory was through the cross. On that cross he defeated death and canceled the debt of our sins. The victory of his cross opens the way for us to become citizens of God's kingdom. Do you seek the coming of God's kingdom with joyful hope?
"Lord Jesus Christ, may your kingdom come and my your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Be the Ruler of my heart and the Master of my life that I may always live in the freedom of your love and truth." DailyScripture.net
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Summary
St. John's teaching can be summarized as follows: the beginner experiences a growing difficulty in meditation through no conscious neglect or unknown illness. This decrease in the ability to meditate goes hand-in-hand with a desire to remain still and at peace, resting in a new contemplative knowledge of God that is being given to it. Though this knowledge is very faint and sometimes imperceptible at the beginning, it soon grows more and more conscious when the person learns what attitude to take up in regard to it; he then recognizes the presence of God within. The dark night of sense, instead of being an abandonment by God, is in reality the beginning of a deeper communion with Him. The darkness is not the result of privation but unaccustomed brightness, and if the soul submits to it and takes up the proper attitude, it will soon perceive that this is so.
Excerpted from St. John of the Cross and Dr. C. G. Jung, by James Arraj. (Part 10 of 10) Paperback (Kindle edition available)
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