I took a class yesterday on Centering Prayer Meditation. Below you can find some information on this type of prayer.
It was very fascinating in that it directs a persons innermost prayer, from being inner, self absorbed prayer, to a prayer focusing on faith and Christ. I am going to try this type of prayer myself to focus not on myself, but to Focus on Christ, and Faith, to ultimately better myself.
Let's see how it goes!!
Information on Centering Prayer Meditation
http://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_practices_centering
And videos of Father Keating describing and teaching the methods.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IKpFHfNdnE&playnext=1&list=PL3AD0F45445BC140D&index=44
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pumnj0jNmXs&feature=BF&list=PL3AD0F45445BC140D&index=46
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Original Thought
I have had the privilege, and responsibility, to read many different books for my classes. Some new works, many old works. I am speaking about strictly non-fiction works as I have little time to read fiction now days. What continues to strike me is the lack of original thought in many of the books I have read. This seems to be extremely prevalent in newer works of research than it is in older works.
I know many people will disagree and say that there are great works out today that bring grand and inquisitive thoughts and ideas. True, I agree actually with that, but is it original? Look at any of these works today and look at how many references there are. There could be dozens if not hundreds of different works cited.
Looking at older works, or ancients works from people such as Augustine, Aquinas (though he does quote some others), they are true original thinkers. These are but two I am fairly familiar with, but there are many others. They may quote a few times, but the vast majority of their works mainly just reference scripture. Even a person I greatly admire, mainly for his theology, Martin Luther, quoted many of the great Father's of the Church, yet even he brought original thought. But is there original thought today?
I am speaking primarily about Theological works because that is what I am most familiar with. So my dilemma is: If you take many other works, reference them, cite them, is it truly original thought? You are taking words from someone else, or many others, and putting them together for your own work. You may come up with a new theory, but is it truly original if you are using others (outside of Scripture)?
And,is it heresy to have original thought in the Church (by this I mean, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, etc..the Church as a whole) that may contradict a small portion of what the current established doctrine is? If the Church is a living growing body, why is original thought at times considered heretical? Should original thought, though maybe going against doctrine, be considered the Holy Spirit working within the person to help the Church grow and listened to? Debated?
It seems frequently original thought today is suppressed when it comes to matters of doctrine (again, not speaking of scripture) as heresy. Can the Church grow like this?
I know many people will disagree and say that there are great works out today that bring grand and inquisitive thoughts and ideas. True, I agree actually with that, but is it original? Look at any of these works today and look at how many references there are. There could be dozens if not hundreds of different works cited.
Looking at older works, or ancients works from people such as Augustine, Aquinas (though he does quote some others), they are true original thinkers. These are but two I am fairly familiar with, but there are many others. They may quote a few times, but the vast majority of their works mainly just reference scripture. Even a person I greatly admire, mainly for his theology, Martin Luther, quoted many of the great Father's of the Church, yet even he brought original thought. But is there original thought today?
I am speaking primarily about Theological works because that is what I am most familiar with. So my dilemma is: If you take many other works, reference them, cite them, is it truly original thought? You are taking words from someone else, or many others, and putting them together for your own work. You may come up with a new theory, but is it truly original if you are using others (outside of Scripture)?
And,is it heresy to have original thought in the Church (by this I mean, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, etc..the Church as a whole) that may contradict a small portion of what the current established doctrine is? If the Church is a living growing body, why is original thought at times considered heretical? Should original thought, though maybe going against doctrine, be considered the Holy Spirit working within the person to help the Church grow and listened to? Debated?
It seems frequently original thought today is suppressed when it comes to matters of doctrine (again, not speaking of scripture) as heresy. Can the Church grow like this?
Saturday, January 1, 2011
2011 New Year Resolution
Why am I posting this here? To make and keep myself accountable. My Resolutions that I WILL keep.
Health:
I will lose at least 40-50 pounds this year.
I will exercise at least once a day regardless of my schedule or how tired I am.
Personally:
I will not fret over any relationship I may or do have. Or a past relationship (Reminder: They are not worth the stress)
More confidence in myself over what I do know, and work to understand what I don't know.
What is is. What comes comes. Whatever woman enters my life, then so be it. But enjoy life, it is not a burden but should be a joy.
Spiritually and Educationally:
These are combined because for me they are one in the same.
Education: I will work harder than I have the last few years. Nothing should interfere. A's are only acceptable. This is my future and if I want that PhD, A's are only acceptable.
Spiritually: It is a given, more church and more active in the church. I must remember though, since I feel there are problems with every denomination, which I lean more towards Lutheran and Catholicism (which each has its flaws), it is not the denomination I should focus on but the message. I should not focus on the flaws but more on the attributes. Focus on the Word.
Also, instead of looking inward, to look to grow personally, I need to look towards the perfect human. Jesus Christ. Looking inward is looking away from Christ. Looking towards Christ, following Christ, will ultimately achieve what I want.
I know these are lofty goals, but they are not unachievable. I will do it! And as my brother would say "Resistance is futile!"
Peace...Pax...
Dirk
Health:
I will lose at least 40-50 pounds this year.
I will exercise at least once a day regardless of my schedule or how tired I am.
Personally:
I will not fret over any relationship I may or do have. Or a past relationship (Reminder: They are not worth the stress)
More confidence in myself over what I do know, and work to understand what I don't know.
What is is. What comes comes. Whatever woman enters my life, then so be it. But enjoy life, it is not a burden but should be a joy.
Spiritually and Educationally:
These are combined because for me they are one in the same.
Education: I will work harder than I have the last few years. Nothing should interfere. A's are only acceptable. This is my future and if I want that PhD, A's are only acceptable.
Spiritually: It is a given, more church and more active in the church. I must remember though, since I feel there are problems with every denomination, which I lean more towards Lutheran and Catholicism (which each has its flaws), it is not the denomination I should focus on but the message. I should not focus on the flaws but more on the attributes. Focus on the Word.
Also, instead of looking inward, to look to grow personally, I need to look towards the perfect human. Jesus Christ. Looking inward is looking away from Christ. Looking towards Christ, following Christ, will ultimately achieve what I want.
I know these are lofty goals, but they are not unachievable. I will do it! And as my brother would say "Resistance is futile!"
Peace...Pax...
Dirk
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