Weekend Edition - A Daily Spiritual Seed
Published: Thu, 12/23/10
- 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
"Handbook for Spiritual Directees"
- see http://shalomplace.com/view/handbook.html
"Handbook for Spiritual Directees" is a collection of spiritual
exercises that can be used by directees to stimulate reflection and
discussion in spiritual direction. Spiritual directors will also
find it a helpful resource in their ministry of supporting and
guiding directees. Of course, anyone interested in spiritual growth
can also make good use of this material, even if they are not in a
formal, spiritual direction relationship.
Some of the exercises included in this work include:
* Preparing for Spiritual Direction
* Methods of Prayer
* Faith History
* Guidelines for Discernment
* How to Drop an Attachment or Addiction
* Knowing Your Spiritual Pathways
* Writing Your Mission Statement
* Rule or Way of Life
And many more . . .
Free sample preview of the first 17 pages. Available as a
paperback book, pdf download, or for Amazon Kindle and Apple
iBookstore.
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WEEKEND READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
- Christmas, during the day
Saturday: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18
Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Ps 128:1-5; Col 3:12-21; Mt
2:13-15, 19-23
R. (cf. 1) Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants
around your table.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
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THEOLOGY NOTE OF THE WEEK
- Incarnation
The addition of human nature to the nature of God the second person
of the Trinity. It is where God became a man (John 1:1,14; Phil.
2:5-8). It was the voluntary act of Jesus to humble Himself so that
He might die for our sins (1 Pet. 3:18). Thus, Jesus has two
natures: Divine and human. This is known as the Hypostatic Union.
The doctrine is of vital importance to the Christian. By it we
understand the true nature of God, the atonement, forgiveness,
grace, etc. It is only God who could pay for sins. Therefore, God
became man (John 1:1,14) to die for our sins (1 Pet. 2:24) which is
the atonement. Through Jesus we have forgiveness of sins. Since we
are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9) it is essential that
our object of faith be accurate. The doctrine of the incarnation
ensures accuracy, the knowledge that God died on the cross to atone
for sin and that the God-man (Jesus) is now in heaven as a mediator
(1 Tim. 2:5) between us and God.
Jesus came to reveal the Father (Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22), to do
His will (Heb. 10:5-9), to fulfill prophecy (Luke 4:17-21), to
reconcile the world (2 Cor. 5:18-21), and to become our High Priest
(Heb. 7:24-28). (Contrast with Kenosis)
- http://www.carm.org/i
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SAINT OF THE WEEK
- St. Thomas Becket (1118-1170): December 29th
A strong man who wavered for a moment, but then learned one cannot
come to terms with evil and so became a strong churchman, a martyr
and a saint--that was Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury,
murdered in his cathedral on December 29, 1170.
His career had been a stormy one. While archdeacon of Canterbury,
he was made chancellor of England at the age of 36 by his friend
King Henry II. When Henry felt it advantageous to make his
chancellor the archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas gave him fair
warning: he might not accept all of Henry's intrusions into Church
affairs. Nevertheless, he was made archbishop (1162), resigned his
chancellorship and reformed his whole way of life!
Troubles began. Henry insisted upon usurping Church rights. At one
time, supposing some conciliatory action possible, Thomas came
close to compromise. He momentarily approved the Constitutions of
Clarendon, which would have denied the clergy the right of trial by
a Church court and prevented them from making direct appeal to
Rome. But Thomas rejected the Constitutions, fled to France for
safety and remained in exile for seven years. When he returned to
England, he suspected it would mean certain death. Because Thomas
refused to remit censures he had placed upon bishops favored by the
king, Henry cried out in a rage, "Will no one rid me of this
troublesome priest!" Four knights, taking his words as his wish,
slew Thomas in the Canterbury cathedral.
Thomas Becket remains a hero-saint down to our own times.
- http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1236
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BOOK OF THE WEEK
"The Very First Christmas," by Paul N. Maier. Concordia Publishing
House. 2003. (paperback and hardback editions)
-
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0758606168/ref=noism/christianspiritu/
This informative gift book is much better than its introduction
might lead readers to suspect; Maier lays out a traditional
Christian apologetic approach, using tools such as archaeology and
history to prove the trustworthiness of the Bible. In the chapters
that follow, he analyzes the Nativity through the lenses of
economics, law, literature, geography and even meteorology,
claiming that this composite reveals the "unfamiliar story" of
Christ's birth. Some readers may quibble that Maier bases his
claims on a rather selective reading of the evidence, but most will
enjoy the rich detail he offers about daily life in Palestine
around the year 5 B.C.
- review from "Publishers Weekly"
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"Jesus, Son of God, Son of Mary: Immanuel," by Donald Goergen OP.
Wipf and Stock, 2003.
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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1592443265/ref=noism/christianspiritu/
Dominican Father Donald Goergen is a top-notch theologian and a
deeply spiritual man. In this work, he presents an updated
understanding of who Jesus is, making use of current biblical
scholarship and theological studies. A good reference for
spiritual reading and adult education.
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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.
Christophany by Raimon Pannikar - Book and Movie Reviews forum.
The meaning of the Incarnation - Christian Morality and Theology
forum.
Jesus: the Teacher Within - Book and Movie Reviews forum.
- see http://shalomplace.org/eve/forums for this and hundreds of
other discussions.
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AFFILIATE WEB SITES (please give them a visit)
Institute for Women's Spiritual Dynamics: holistic, flexible,
sensible Christian spirituality for women.
http://www.womensspiritualdynamics.com/
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://emmanuellahouse.shawwebspace.ca/
Serenity of the Mind: supporting 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
The Sanctuary Foundation for Prayer: resources for spiritual growth.
http://fromholyground.org/index.htm
(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
Christmas Poems
- http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/poems/
Sometimes a poem says it best, and this site has many to choose
from.
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JOKE OF THE WEEK
- The Politically Correct 12 Days of Christmas
On the 12th day of the Eurocentrically imposed midwinter festival,
my Significant Other in a consenting adult, monogamous relationship
gave to me:
TWELVE males reclaiming their inner warrior through ritual drumming,
ELEVEN pipers piping (plus the 18-member pit orchestra made up of
members in good standing of the Musicians Equity Union as called
for in their union contract even though they will not be asked to
play a note),
TEN melanin deprived testosterone-poisoned scions of the
patriarchal ruling class system leaping,
NINE persons engaged in rhythmic self-expression,
EIGHT economically disadvantaged female persons stealing
milk-products from enslaved Bovine-Americans,
SEVEN endangered swans swimming on federally protected wetlands,
SIX enslaved Fowl-Americans producing stolen non-human animal
products,
FIVE golden symbols of culturally sanctioned enforced domestic
incarceration, (NOTE: after members of the Animal Liberation Front
threatened to throw red paint at my computer, the calling birds,
French hens and partridge have been reintroduced to their native
habitat. To avoid further Animal-American enslavement, the
remaining gift package has been revised.)
FOUR hours of recorded whale songs
THREE deconstructionist poets
TWO Sierra Club calendars printed on recycled processed tree
carcasses and...
ONE Spotted Owl activist chained to an old-growth pear tree.
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