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1) I think by this she means that instead of us enshrining the world by means of strife, prayer enshrines the world with what is true, and lovely, and by this, our lives are better. I agree with this and think that along with that, prayer also helps brush off the dust of our light, and helps it shine brighter, like a foggy headlight. If cleaned, that headlight shines so much brighter, and prayer is the new lens, or the cleaning fluid by which we brighten our testimony.
2) Underhill sounds a lot like Buttrick in that they both give a kind of template for what to do and what not to do in Prayer. I think this is a good thing to remember when entering prayer, but not to think of as steadfast rules, for prayer can be different based off of what you are coming to God about, and the setting in which you are at, along with the fact that we are all in different stages in the Christian life.
3)I don't really have any questions specifically to the text, but if I were to have one, it would be that this text seems to be talking about a daily, longer prayer, but what is you are just coming to God for something that is bothering you. Do you still follow these dos and don'ts? or not? And if not, then what would most likely apply, and what wouldn't?
Monday, May 9, 2016
Bro. Lawrence
1) The three characteristics that attract me the most are his radical change to God, his "let go and let God"attitude, and lastly, his relation to others. The first one, his radical conversion towards God, intrigues me because his change came through something that we so often reduce to a cycle that life must go through. Too rarely do we slow down enough to consider the one who created those cycles, and the effect that pattern has on the rest of the world, or could have on the world. The second one, his "'Let go and let God'" attitude is very hard for humanity to do. For some reason we always want to have control, and I would say even more so today. We want to do what we want to, and only submit when we know the immediate consequences. A good example is how everyone goes 5-10 mph over the speed limit at least when driving. The last one, his relation to other people, is also like the second one. Bro Lawrence doesn't allow popular opinion to decide how he sees the world. At first, this seems to be the opposite of the second characteristic, but when you look a little bit closer, most people go with the flow so they don't "suffer the consequences" as it were. Instead, Bro Lawrence stands in the middle of the flow, trying to exemplify what's correct, and how God wants us to relate to people.
2) I dislike his easiness towards his life, how he says our love for God "eventually coming to a deep knowledge of God..., where 'life seems to be but one long unbroken practice of His divine presence.'", and lastly, and his advice to a sick friend. The first one I don't like because we are all imperfect, and therefore make mistakes. While this is true, Lawrence seems to be almost perfect in his relation to God. It makes it hard to read because while he seems to do everything right when things go wrong, I'm here doing everything wrong. The second thing I dislike because it sounds good ideally, but in today, we do the same thing almost every day, and almost can't help forgetting where we are in today, and have to remind ourselves constantly to stay attentive. And finally the last one I don't like, probably because I am reading it wrong. When he tells his friend to "Leave off human remedies, and resign yourself entirely to the providence of God. While it is true God can and often times will heal the sick, he has also created a world that while it can make the sick, can also often times heal it. Also, we are called by God to take care of our bodies the best we can, so if someone is sick because they had a pound of sugar the day before, God may not heal them immediately because they caused their sickness. Along with that, God sometimes needs to bring someone down in order for them to look up to Him.
2) I dislike his easiness towards his life, how he says our love for God "eventually coming to a deep knowledge of God..., where 'life seems to be but one long unbroken practice of His divine presence.'", and lastly, and his advice to a sick friend. The first one I don't like because we are all imperfect, and therefore make mistakes. While this is true, Lawrence seems to be almost perfect in his relation to God. It makes it hard to read because while he seems to do everything right when things go wrong, I'm here doing everything wrong. The second thing I dislike because it sounds good ideally, but in today, we do the same thing almost every day, and almost can't help forgetting where we are in today, and have to remind ourselves constantly to stay attentive. And finally the last one I don't like, probably because I am reading it wrong. When he tells his friend to "Leave off human remedies, and resign yourself entirely to the providence of God. While it is true God can and often times will heal the sick, he has also created a world that while it can make the sick, can also often times heal it. Also, we are called by God to take care of our bodies the best we can, so if someone is sick because they had a pound of sugar the day before, God may not heal them immediately because they caused their sickness. Along with that, God sometimes needs to bring someone down in order for them to look up to Him.
3) In this section, Tessa compares Brother Lawrence's beliefs on life to those of Saint Teresa. They agree on things like God's love, the value inside each of us, our connection with the divine, and the devotions we have today.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Prayer according to George A. Buttrick
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Here you go!
1) At the core, I'd say that Buttrick thinks prayer is communion with God. I agree with this, and would say that it is one of the best ways to commune with God.
2) I would say this tension exists for two reasons. Firstly, people sometimes need things spelled out for them, especially in unfamiliar, or new places in their life. Buttrick is trying to say that while these things are helpful, but not set in stone. While we may want to follow this pattern in most cases, there will be times we most likely wont follow this pattern perfectly. Second, as people in general, we generally like patterns. While we like patterns, it is good to change things up once in a while. Imagine it like doing the exact same thing every day with your best friend. Eventually, you are going to want to do something different. It is the same with your relationship with God, sometimes you need a change, especially as you grow in Christ.
3) Buttrick describes four main elements of prayer: self-preparation, thanksgiving, confession, intercession, and petition, along with meditation between each of these. In essence, you enter prayer preparing yourself, then thank God for all he has done, or "enter his courts with thanksgiving", then ask for God to forgive you, then prayer for others, and lastly, ask for God to help us in our needs.
4) I really like how he describes it as not an easy thing. It is like telling your parents all that you disobeyed them that day. I also really like hot he describes contrition as surgery, because while it is a good thing, it isn't always easy.
Here you go!
1) At the core, I'd say that Buttrick thinks prayer is communion with God. I agree with this, and would say that it is one of the best ways to commune with God.
2) I would say this tension exists for two reasons. Firstly, people sometimes need things spelled out for them, especially in unfamiliar, or new places in their life. Buttrick is trying to say that while these things are helpful, but not set in stone. While we may want to follow this pattern in most cases, there will be times we most likely wont follow this pattern perfectly. Second, as people in general, we generally like patterns. While we like patterns, it is good to change things up once in a while. Imagine it like doing the exact same thing every day with your best friend. Eventually, you are going to want to do something different. It is the same with your relationship with God, sometimes you need a change, especially as you grow in Christ.
3) Buttrick describes four main elements of prayer: self-preparation, thanksgiving, confession, intercession, and petition, along with meditation between each of these. In essence, you enter prayer preparing yourself, then thank God for all he has done, or "enter his courts with thanksgiving", then ask for God to forgive you, then prayer for others, and lastly, ask for God to help us in our needs.
4) I really like how he describes it as not an easy thing. It is like telling your parents all that you disobeyed them that day. I also really like hot he describes contrition as surgery, because while it is a good thing, it isn't always easy.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Merton
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2) These obstacles are thinking of prayer as mere good will, resisting God, thinking there are tricks to the spiritual life, imprisoning ourselves, and a brave and absurd attempt to evade reality. Merton does offer help with these through a spiritual director, and watching out for some of these mentalities developing.
3) This chapter has helped my in many ways. Firstly, I now have a little reminder in the back of my mind to try new things, and cultivate outlooks toward prayer with God. Secondly, I now know what to watch out for in my prayer life, and feel more prepared for what is to come. I do wonder however, when he gives many outlooks to prayer, isn't that kind of a formula for how to come to prayer?
1) Merton's understanding of meditation or contemplative prayer is quite interesting. He describes it as not a method or system, but that we should cultivate an attitude or outlook toward prayer. While this is true, we need to beware of the many obstacles in prayer, and our attitude toward it.
2) These obstacles are thinking of prayer as mere good will, resisting God, thinking there are tricks to the spiritual life, imprisoning ourselves, and a brave and absurd attempt to evade reality. Merton does offer help with these through a spiritual director, and watching out for some of these mentalities developing.
3) This chapter has helped my in many ways. Firstly, I now have a little reminder in the back of my mind to try new things, and cultivate outlooks toward prayer with God. Secondly, I now know what to watch out for in my prayer life, and feel more prepared for what is to come. I do wonder however, when he gives many outlooks to prayer, isn't that kind of a formula for how to come to prayer?
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Bringing Solitude into Our Lives
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1) According to Nouwen, solitude is a time that you shut everything else out, and focus on God. This is not always easy, but with practice, it will become easier.
2) He believes this because without your mind focused on God, you can't listen to him. It's like trying to talk to a person at whisper level in a crowd. He suggests that we set a time on our calendar to meet God, and focus on him to begin to quiet the crowd around you.
3) He defines the absurd as the life deaf of God's voice, but the Obedient one the one that listens to His voice. I find this useful because it helps me understand the importance of the solitary life, and what is consists of
1) According to Nouwen, solitude is a time that you shut everything else out, and focus on God. This is not always easy, but with practice, it will become easier.
2) He believes this because without your mind focused on God, you can't listen to him. It's like trying to talk to a person at whisper level in a crowd. He suggests that we set a time on our calendar to meet God, and focus on him to begin to quiet the crowd around you.
3) He defines the absurd as the life deaf of God's voice, but the Obedient one the one that listens to His voice. I find this useful because it helps me understand the importance of the solitary life, and what is consists of
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Athanasius
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I believe that Athansius is trying to say that we were created to know him and take part in his dominion over the earth. He did this by creating us after His own image or likeness. He also gave us knowledge of him that we may be better than the beasts around us and worship him. While we did this at first, over time humanity turned from God and beganto worship the creation that came from God. This resulted in everything in human life being thrown to the stars, and God having to come and redeem humanity. Along with this, God made himself known to man in three ways. Firstly, creation was build to reflect the creator, second was to learn to know God, the Artist of all things, and lastly, the laws built by man that reflect His laws. In this, I have experienced all three, but most of all, by seeking God, he has reviewed himself most. I have been able to make connections from Man's creation, to God's plan, seek him out through time in prayer and the word, and seen his marvelous power through creation, and miracles, or fixings of creation. I have been able to do this, only because God has green man by one way, one very humble act of sacrifice for us. God came, robed in flesh, and died as the perfect sacrifice for us, that we may be saved.
Friday, January 22, 2016
Alexander Schmemann's For the Life of the World
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I liked this passage. It really brings together that the world is meant to reflect God,and that instead of seeing it as a prohibition from God, look at it as a pointer to God. While this is true, I don't think that the world should become our God. If food IS getting between us and God, we should not let it keep its hold, and break it through fasting, dieting, etc. I think this also ties into the fact that everything physical has some sort of spiritual connection too. such as when Elijah made the offering to God on Mount Caramel, Elijah literally sacrificed to God, he sacrificed water which was a huge necessity back then. I believe that has a spiritual connection, and God honored that. I also like his point on how the sin is to no longer be hungry for God. In another book, I read that it is literally like our appetite of food. If we feast on sweets and sugar foods, we wont want to eat our bread and meat because we are so used to the immediate satisfaction of the sweets, and so we get stuck in this cycle and become spiritually sick, fat, and inactive. This is where Satan wants us, but not God. So, we must break the cycle, and go for a while without sweets, and begin eating the meat, and drink the waters that God offers us. I believe this is seen as fasting, not just reading, but studying God's word, and praying earnestly to learn more about God, and this will make us spiritually strong.
I liked this passage. It really brings together that the world is meant to reflect God,and that instead of seeing it as a prohibition from God, look at it as a pointer to God. While this is true, I don't think that the world should become our God. If food IS getting between us and God, we should not let it keep its hold, and break it through fasting, dieting, etc. I think this also ties into the fact that everything physical has some sort of spiritual connection too. such as when Elijah made the offering to God on Mount Caramel, Elijah literally sacrificed to God, he sacrificed water which was a huge necessity back then. I believe that has a spiritual connection, and God honored that. I also like his point on how the sin is to no longer be hungry for God. In another book, I read that it is literally like our appetite of food. If we feast on sweets and sugar foods, we wont want to eat our bread and meat because we are so used to the immediate satisfaction of the sweets, and so we get stuck in this cycle and become spiritually sick, fat, and inactive. This is where Satan wants us, but not God. So, we must break the cycle, and go for a while without sweets, and begin eating the meat, and drink the waters that God offers us. I believe this is seen as fasting, not just reading, but studying God's word, and praying earnestly to learn more about God, and this will make us spiritually strong.
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