Weekend Edition - A Daily Spiritual Seed
Published: Thu, 01/06/11
- 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
The Christian Mysteries
- http://shalomplace.com/inetmin/mysteries/index.html
Audio conferences on the basics of the Christian faith with images
to help illustrate the points. A discussion forum is provided to
help process the information; there's already a lot of reflection
that's been shared, but more is always welcomed.
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WEEKEND READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Saturday: 1 Jn 5:14-21; Ps 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b; Jn
3:22-30
Sunday: Is 42:1-4, 6-7; Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10; Acts
10:34-38; Mt 3:13-17
R. (11b) The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Give to the LORD, you sons of God,
give to the LORD glory and praise,
Give to the LORD the glory due his name;
adore the LORD in holy attire.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters,
the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
The God of glory thunders,
and in his temple all say, "Glory!"
The LORD is enthroned above the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as king forever.
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THEOLOGY NOTE OF THE WEEK
- Immutability
The divine attribute of unchangeableness. God said in Exodus 3:14,
"I AM that I AM," signifying His eternal sameness and His
sovereignty. He cannot change His moral character, His love, His
omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, etc. God is "From
everlasting to everlasting," (Psalm 90:2).
Immutability does not mean that God does not vary. The incarnation
is just such an example of variation. Also, God's attitude toward a
person is changed when the person becomes a Christian. For example,
the enmity between God and man is removed (Rom. 5:10).
Mormonism denies the immutability of God. It says that God was not
always God, that He was a man on another planet who became a God
(Mormon Doctrine, by Bruce McConkie, p. 321.).
- http://www.carm.org/i
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SAINT OF THE WEEK
- St. Gregory of Nyssa (330-395): January 10
The son of two saints, Basil and Emmilia, young Gregory was raised
by his older brother, St. Basil the Great, and his sister, Macrina,
in modern-day Turkey. Gregory's success in his studies suggested
great things were ahead for him. After becoming a professor of
rhetoric, he was persuaded to devote his learning and efforts to
the Church. By then married, Gregory went on to study for the
priesthood and become ordained (this at a time when celibacy was
not a matter of law for priests).
He was elected Bishop of Nyssa (in Lower Armenia) in 372, a period
of great tension over the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity
of Christ. Briefly arrested after being falsely accused of
embezzling Church funds, Gregory was restored to his see in 378, an
act met with great joy by his people.
It was after the death of his beloved brother, Basil, that Gregory
really came into his own. He wrote with great effectiveness against
Arianism and other questionable doctrines, gaining a reputation as
a defender of orthodoxy. He was sent on missions to counter other
heresies and held a position of prominence at the Council of
Constantinople. His fine reputation stayed with him for the
remainder of his life, but over the centuries it gradually declined
as the authorship of his writings became less and less certain.
But, thanks to the work of scholars in the 20th century, his
stature is once again appreciated. Indeed, St. Gregory of Nyssa is
seen not simply as a pillar of orthodoxy but as one of the great
contributors to the mystical tradition in Christian spirituality
and to monasticism itself.
- http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1256
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BOOK OF THE WEEK
"Teachings of the Christian Mystics: An Anthology," by Andrew
Harvey (editor). Shambhala, 1997.
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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1570623430/ref=noism/christianspiritu/
An introductory anthology of wisdom from two thousand years of
Christian mystical writings. The Christian mystics are the treasure
of Western civilization -- yet they remain little known among those
of us who are potentially their spiritual heirs. Andrew Harvey's
anthology confronts us with the mystics in their own words, to show
us how well they serve, even now, as guides for the spiritual life
-- and to challenge our preconceived ideas about the path of
Christianity. He has chosen selections that represent all eras of
the Christian tradition, as well as the amazing range of people who
have embodied it, people like Francis of Assisi, Meister Eckhart,
Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Avila, Thomas Merton, Bede Griffiths,
and many others.
- Amazon.com book 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
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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.
False self, sin and freedom - Christian Spirituality Issues forum.
The meaning of the Incarnation - Christian Morality and Theology
forum.
Richard Rohr's new book - Book and Movie Reviews form.
Celbrate Recovery - Health and Wellness Issues 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)
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
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/
(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
Celebrate Recovery
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrate_Recovery
Although Celebrate Recovery meetings are similar to those of other
twelve-step programs, one difference is in their focus on
Christianity. The program stresses that there is no other Higher
Power except for Jesus, as opposed to groups like Alcoholics
Anonymous which encourage members to choose their own concept of a
Higher Power. Another difference is that Celebrate Recovery does
not require one to conform to a singleness of purpose declaration,
a member does not have to qualify oneself as an alcoholic, addict,
or gambler--there are no requirements for membership. You may attend
with a desire to work the steps for healing with any number of
"hurts, hang-ups or habits" (compulsive behaviors).
- From the web site
Many churches now sponsor C.R. groups. This seems to be a good
group to support anyone wanting to put the Twelve Steps of recovery
groups like AA into practice in a Christian context.
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JOKE OF THE WEEK
A little boy was in a relative's wedding. As he was coming down the
aisle he would take two steps, stop and turn to the crowd
(alternating between bride's side and groom's side). While facing
the crowd, he would put his hands up like claws and roar. So it
went, step, step, "ROAR," step, step, "ROAR," all the way down the
aisle. As you can imagine, the crowd was near tears from laughing
so hard by the time he reached the pulpit.
The little boy, however, was getting more and more distressed from
all the laughing, and was also near tears by the time he reached
the pulpit. When asked what he was doing, the child sniffed and
said, "I was being the Ring Bear."
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