Taking the challenge? Will you share your thoughts. Richard Foster in Life with God, Reading the Bible for Spiritual Formation, says that scripture is border territory, the place my life merges with yours.
We find our true selves, as wonderful and diverse and different as each of us, in the pages of scripture. Will you take the risk and share that which most deeply yours from God?
You can through the Bible Reading Challenge SJEC. This is a closed Facebook group. Let me know you want to join and I'll add you to the group. (If you don't already have a facebook page, you will need to create one.) Closed on Facebook means only those in the group can see one another's posts. Its a way we can network with one another and share among us.
Today Genesis tells the story of Jacob and Laban, an illustration of how wonderful, diverse, different in motivation and perspective we all are!
Join me!
Reflecting on the every day, practical dimensions of faith. Practices to shape our lives each day as followers of Christ. Stories to share our practical experiences of wisdom, faith, hope, and love.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
Bible Reading Challenge
Today I caught up. The challenge began on Ash Wednesday and I started yesterday. So today I've read through, Genesis 22-27, Psalm 9, and, Matthew 9.
I noticed, again, how much of Matthew we hear read aloud in church yet we hear it in a completely different order. The teachings that begin with Matthew 5 continue in a sequence through Matthew 7.
Those chapters could be Lent reflection for spiritual growth in 2014!
What did you notice?
For my Bible I am using The Life with God Bible, New Revised Standard Version, published by Harper Bibles. The editor is Richard Foster, a well known writer on the Christian Spiritual Life. In addition to notes on the texts there are more extensive notes on spiritual disciples and how to use the texts for spiritual formation.
Did you go to Bible Reading Challenge or Diocese of Maryland website to download the daily reading? Are you with me and our bishop as we read through the Bible Ash Wednesday 13 to Ash Wednesday 14? Follow my blog, comment, and share.
I noticed, again, how much of Matthew we hear read aloud in church yet we hear it in a completely different order. The teachings that begin with Matthew 5 continue in a sequence through Matthew 7.
Those chapters could be Lent reflection for spiritual growth in 2014!
What did you notice?
For my Bible I am using The Life with God Bible, New Revised Standard Version, published by Harper Bibles. The editor is Richard Foster, a well known writer on the Christian Spiritual Life. In addition to notes on the texts there are more extensive notes on spiritual disciples and how to use the texts for spiritual formation.
Did you go to Bible Reading Challenge or Diocese of Maryland website to download the daily reading? Are you with me and our bishop as we read through the Bible Ash Wednesday 13 to Ash Wednesday 14? Follow my blog, comment, and share.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Prayer, Reflection, and Study
The season of Lent invites not only the spiritual disciplines of putting oneself aside, fasting and giving to others, but also going deeper into our inner spiritual lives.
Resources abound. Two for going deeper are right, literally, at our fingertips. First, The Daily Lenten Devotions written by members of St. John's appear on our home page, www.stjohns.org. A reflection that brings one closer to members of our community and to God is there in a few key strokes.
Second, read the Bible along with others in the Diocese of Maryland. The diocese is offering the Bible Reading Challenge to read the entire Bible in one year from Lent 13 to Lent 14. Go to www.ang-md.org for the click through to the daily reading list. Don't worry it started Ash Wednesday. I am starting today too and I invite you to join me. Want to form a facebook group or email list to encourage one another? Then, email me at my st john's email address. Accountability in community supports our individual goals!
Lent is the season a spiritual disciplines. A Spiritual Discipline is an intentionally directed action by which we do what we can do in order to receive from God the ability (or power) to do what we cannot do by direct effort. Richard J. Foster Life with God. Page 16. Intentionally direct your action to Devotions with St. John's and reading the Bible in community. May this Lent draw you closer to God.
Resources abound. Two for going deeper are right, literally, at our fingertips. First, The Daily Lenten Devotions written by members of St. John's appear on our home page, www.stjohns.org. A reflection that brings one closer to members of our community and to God is there in a few key strokes.
Second, read the Bible along with others in the Diocese of Maryland. The diocese is offering the Bible Reading Challenge to read the entire Bible in one year from Lent 13 to Lent 14. Go to www.ang-md.org for the click through to the daily reading list. Don't worry it started Ash Wednesday. I am starting today too and I invite you to join me. Want to form a facebook group or email list to encourage one another? Then, email me at my st john's email address. Accountability in community supports our individual goals!
Lent is the season a spiritual disciplines. A Spiritual Discipline is an intentionally directed action by which we do what we can do in order to receive from God the ability (or power) to do what we cannot do by direct effort. Richard J. Foster Life with God. Page 16. Intentionally direct your action to Devotions with St. John's and reading the Bible in community. May this Lent draw you closer to God.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Another reflection to share
As I read for spiritual challenge and nurture, as I read for sermon preparation, as I read to pray, I am always glad to discover reflections written by colleagues. In parish ministry while my life and times focus on the congregation I serve, often I have colleagues and friends with whom I have shared a project or season of ministry but who I do not see face to face on a regular basis. Reading a colleague's writing brings me back into that friendship.
So I share today a reflection written by a colleague found, like many others I have shared, in Daily Feast, Meditations from Feasting on the Word, Year C, by Lewis F. Galloway.
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
"Receiving the Gospel is not simply giving assent to the articles of a creed. Receiving the Gospel is not a matter of accruing one more good thing to a life that is already full of good things. Receiving the Gospel is discovering in Christ a new center of existence, a new power for living, a new perspective from which to view all things."
So I share today a reflection written by a colleague found, like many others I have shared, in Daily Feast, Meditations from Feasting on the Word, Year C, by Lewis F. Galloway.
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
"Receiving the Gospel is not simply giving assent to the articles of a creed. Receiving the Gospel is not a matter of accruing one more good thing to a life that is already full of good things. Receiving the Gospel is discovering in Christ a new center of existence, a new power for living, a new perspective from which to view all things."
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