Christ-commons_&_

• Do NOT waste a spiritual director’s time unless you are serious about praying daily and meeting regularly (say, once a month) with the director. If you resist such a discipline, a few meetings with a gifted director may help clarify your resistance. Your discipline does not have to be perfect, but your intention must be mature, before spiritual direction will be useful to you.
• Do NOT use a spiritual director as a therapist. The spiritual director is trained in the life of prayer, and may or may not have training in areas of counseling and psychology. An effective spiritual director will refer you to a therapist if your concerns are more psychological than theological. A good rule of thumb: therapy seeks greater personal satisfaction and effectiveness in life; spiritual direction seeks greater union with God — an objective which carries no guarantee of “satisfaction” or “effectiveness.”
  
• Do NOT seek spiritual direction from a spouse, family member, or close friend. Most often a person is too close to persons in these categories for meaningful direction.
• DO state your expectations and concerns about spirituality up f
  ront. Strive to be honest with the director. Remember, your relationship is with God; the director is simply there as a resource person.
• DO make sure you and the director communicate clearly about frequency and duration of meetings, length of time until you evaluate the relationship (I recommend evaluating the spiritual direction relationship every six months), and payment issues. Many directors give this ministry freely, while others charge a fee per visit. Clarify this point.
• DO change directors when appropriate (as a courtesy, direction relationships should only end at agreed-upon times, such as the end of six months). Trust your inner wisdom when a director does not seem to work for you.

peace, dwight

“Every soul has a will capable of loving God.”
– St. Francis de Sales

Centering Prayer is a method of prayer, which prepares us to receive the gift of God’s presence, often referred to as contemplative prayer.  It consists of responding to the Spirit of Christ by consenting to God’s presence and action within. It furthers the development of contemplative prayer by quieting our faculties to cooperate with the gift of God’s presence.

Centering Prayer facilitates the movement from more active modes of prayer — verbal, mental or affective prayer — into a receptive prayer of resting in God. It emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God. At the same time, it is a discipline to foster and serve this relationship by a regular, daily practice of prayer. It is Trinitarian in its source, Christ-centered in its focus, and ecclesial in its effects; that is, it builds communities of faith.

Centering Prayer is drawn from ancient prayer practices of the Christian contemplative heritage, notably the Fathers and Mothers of the Desert, Lectio Divina, (praying the scriptures), The Cloud of Unknowing, St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila.. It was distilled into a simple method of prayer in the 1970’s by three Trappist monks, Fr. William Meninger, Fr. Basil Pennington and Abbot Thomas Keating at the Trappist Abbey,
St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts.

“A single word even may be the spark of inextinguishable thought.”

– Percy Bysshe Shelley

Christian Contemplative Prayer is the opening of mind and heart - our whole being - to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond thoughts, words and emotions, whom we know by faith is within us, closer than breathing, thinking, feeling and choosing; even closer than consciousness itself. The root of all prayer is interior silence. Though we think of prayer as thoughts or feelings expressed in words, this is only one expression. Contemplative Prayer is a prayer of silence, an experience of God’s presence as the ground in which our being is rooted, the Source from whom our life emerges at every moment.

For the Church’s first sixteen centuries Contemplative Prayer was the goal of Christian spirituality. After the Reformation, this living tradition was virtually lost. Today, with cross-cultural dialogue and historical research, the recovery of the Christian contemplative heritage has begun. The method of Centering Prayer, in the tradition of Lectio Divina (praying the scriptures) is contributing to this renewal.

For a detailed listing of upcoming workshops, retreats or to set up an encounter for Spiritual Direction, please contact me.

“Many of the insights of the saint stem from his experience as a sinner.”
– Eric Hoffer

peace, dwight

“He who has eyes sees something in everything.”

– Roy Lightenberg

My typical rate for spiritual direction is $50.00 per hour.  Though he can provide a sliding scale if the cost is an issue.

peace, dwight

Maybe you’ve been searching for a friend, meaning, belonging, truth, a sense of being a part of something bigger than you, or maybe just a good cup of coffee or the perfect micro brew. We all search.
 
When you climb off your mountain bike to sit down by a mountain stream and think. What do you ponder? “Is this it?” “Will my new _______ really satisfy me to the core of my being?” “Is there a God?” “If so, so what or who?”
 
If you’ve had thoughts like that from time to time, than there may be spiritual component to your searching. To be a seeker in the spiritual realm is to seriously consider – or reconsider – what God means to you.
 
As a searching person you’re open to the possibility that God might be real and able to make a definite difference.
 
Things in your life don’t have to suck to spawn seeking – you don’t have to be desperate. But you do have to be looking for something more. You’ve stopped pretending you have it all together. You’ve laid down the mask that you’ve used, on occasion to hide behind. You know you don’t know – but you want to. You’re open-minded and you’re willing to think, discuss, research, be challenged and to act – when the time is right.
 
Considerations in your search for God
 ”Ask and it will be given to you: seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be open.” Jesus (Matthew chapter 7: verses 7-8)
 
Why do you want to know God - what do you hope to get from God?
 
People search for God for various reasons. Some think their search will lead to a more fulfilling life or a greater sense of purpose. Others are looking for relief from pain. Still others are curious and just want to find out what’s true. What’s your reason?
 
Perhaps you’re searching because you want to find greater happiness. What if you find God, but your life circumstances lead to less happiness? Will you feel cheated? People who follow Jesus sometimes share stories of God giving meaning, purpose, joy, and hope, but nearly every honest “Christ follower” will also admit to experiencing difficulty.
 
So this might be a helpful question for you: What am I looking for? And, conversely, what does God offer me? As a pastor, my encouragement to you is to make it your goal to find answers to questions like these.
 
Are you placing limitations on what God can ask from you?
 Do you realize that God wants to be a powerful presence in your life, not just an idea in your head? Following him means following God’s leadership. So let’s be honest - accepting that leadership will affect your lifestyle.
 
What do you think about Jesus?

Oxford professor, writer and thinker C. S. Lewis once said that there can be only three options when considering Jesus Christ.
 
Jesus is a liar. He was making it all up. But why would he die for a hoax? Why would his friends continue to follow him long after his death, and ultimately die for their beliefs?
 
Jesus is a lunatic. Just nuts. But why is there so much truth in his words? How would a “crazy” person become the most influential person to have ever walked the earth? Why would the religious leaders of the day feel so threatened by someone who was a few bricks short of a load?
 
Jesus Christ is Lord. He is who he says he is. And if that is true then we may need to take a close look at his life and words.
 
Don’t be distracted by what you’ve heard about Jesus. Read his words for yourself!
 
How could you respond to Jesus?
The teachings of Jesus are certainly interesting and profound. But Jesus never settled for people simply agreeing intellectually with what he said. In reading the Bible, you will see that Jesus called for an all-out commitment to following him.
 
He asks those who seek him to make a decision to follow him. To decide to tell the truth about yourself, to ask him to forgive you and to lead you. Jesus himself is a seeker, he seeks to know you. The Bible says Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.
 
Jesus is throwing out life-preservers all over the place, but its up to you. Will you admit you’re drowning without land in sight, or will you take him up on his offer?
 

Some Recommendations:

·         Ask God to reveal Godself to you, if you’re not sure God’s there.

·         Find a community of people who can interact with.

·         Read the God’s Story – the Bible (look in the index, find “John” and begin there. Then read “Mark” and “1 John.”)

·         Talk with someone who displays a genuine relationship with God. Ask them to describe their spiritual journey.

·         Start attending a church (like Quest!) on a regular basis.

·         Spend time in nature, observing and experiencing God’s creation.

·         Question things most people take for granted - be a lover of truth.

·         Write down your thoughts and questions.

·         Expect ongoing questions and some doubts along the way.

·         Reflect on your presuppositions (the things you already believe). Try as much as possible not to allow those things to interfere with your pursuit - strive to be objective and rational as you seek to encounter the mystery of God.

·         Remember you don’t have to know everything to know something. 

·         Act.

peace, dwight

When you read the Bible you are encountering God and God’s story.  You’re not simply learning facts or trivia or reading just another great piece of literature.  An effective way to get to know God is to read what God has said about Godself. 

Be careful as you read the Bible, many people have made the mistake of thinking they are reading a bunch of rules describing how a person is supposed to live, that is a secondary goal at best.  

The Bible is God’s story.  It is the grand narrative of the Almighty God in an all out pursuit a “Bride” (a Biblical metaphor those seeking relationship with God).  The Bible is a love story.  God wooing people back to Godself.   

Where should I start reading?  

There is no “w
rong place” to begin reading – its all good.  However, if you’ve never read the Bible before I’d suggest you open your bible to the “Table of Contents”.  You’ll notice there two main sections; most often referred to as the Old Testament, and the New Testament.

All the books in the Old Testament where written before Christ, and talk about creation and how God begins to build people for relationship.  The books of the New Testament were all written after Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, and chronicles the continuing saga of God pursuit of a people who would choose to relationship, and has a very personal feel often leaving one with a clear sense of God’s love.

If you’ve never read the Bible before, I’d encourage you to turn in your Bible to the New Testament, reading the book of Mark, followed by the book of First John.    

After reading Mark and First John, try to get a feel for God’s activity throughout Biblical history.  I suggest the following order as a good overview to understanding his story.

a) Genesis  b) Exodus  c) Deuteronomy  d) John  e) Acts  f) Romans

What do I do when I read?  

If at all possible read with other people.  There is something meaningful about interacting with the Bible within the context of a community.  As you read ask the following questions:

·                     What does this reveal about God?

·                     What can this teach about life?

·                     What is this saying and what does it mean?

·                     What is one thought I can carry with me today?

·                     So what?  

How much should I read?  

No right answer here.  Read what is comfortable for you.  Often when a person first reads the Bible they find it helpful to do a quick “overview” and cover lots of ground.  Jotting questions as one reads or highlighting paragraphs to reread can be beneficial.

For those who want to read more slowly its often helpful to read until there seems to be a natural stopping point.  Then ask yourself those questions again.  I highly recommend that you keep a journal of your thoughts and questions.

peace, dwight

Meditation, solitude and silence.  Great-sounding words, neat concepts, but practical and obtainable?

We are bombarded with noise from the moment we wake until we retire at night.  Think about it.  We wake up to a clock radio blaring, turn the TV on during breakfast, listen to more radio in the shower, hop in the car with the cd player going, enter our workplace with our minds racing about the urgencies awaiting us, and then it’s back home again with a mind cluttered with noise. Where is God in all this? When do we have time to be still and know our Lord?

Solitude and silence are a key to the Spiritual Disciplines. You can’t communion with God meaningfully without dealing with the clutter and  noise — whether the noise is external noise or the internal noises of your mind. 
Quest believes that our cultivated ability to be still and listen for the voice of God is key to fostering dependence on Christ.

·         Matthew 14:23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.

·         Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

·         Luke 4:42 At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.

·         Psalm 62:1 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.

·         Isaiah 30:15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.”

The invitation of the Bible is clear; God longs for us to BE with Him in His presence. 

It is also very helpful to take time during the day to have just a few minutes of stillness whenever you can grab the time — in the car, in your office, at your desk in school, or wherever you may be, or better still, to set aside specific days just to listen.  Just practice focusing on Christ and clear the clutter from your mind.  Let Christ bring you life.

Peace, dwight

Prayer is talking with God, it is a dialogue of the soul. 

But prayer is much more than words.  It is an expression of your heart, mind and emotions toward God.  It’s an experience, a relationship, not merely an activity.  The goal of prayer is not to talk, rather to be with God.

Does it sound a little mystical – good – it is.  Prayer may seem strange at first but most things do when you first try (remember learning to ride a bike or to use chop sticks how did it feel at first).  So hang in there.  It won’t take too long before talking with God will be like talking with a friend and it will become increasingly meaningful to you.

Can I really just talk with God, or do I need to get a book of prayers?

Yes you can simply talk with God as you talk with a trusted friend.  God knows you and loves you, and He longs to hear from you.  Talk with God honestly – tell Him your hurts, and longings, your concerns and your joys.  God is interested – and listening.

Do I have to light candles and be in a church building to pray?

No.  Prayer is talking with God.  God is everywhere.  So you can be at home, in your car, at work, in class.   However, our physical envi
ronment does play an important role.  Prayer can be challenging in an atmosphere filled with distractions.  So for some people it can be helpful to find a quiet place.

Do I have to get down on my knees to pray?

No.  The reason people often close their eyes and bow their heads is to cut down on distractions.  Sometimes people get on their knees out of respect for God (it can be a good discipline – but whatever your posture you have God’s attention). If you’re talking with God while driving, its best to stay off your knees and to keep your eyes open.

We Recommend:

• Be Honest (God knows – so don’t try to trick Him)
• Tell it to God Straight (God can handle your worst, and He is hoping that you’ll talk with Him about it)
• Don’t wait (When the feeling to pray hits you – do it)
• Set aside specific times of the day to talk with God

Try:

• Writing a letter to God
• Write some poetry (Psalms in the Bible is a book of poetry written to God)
• Imagine God is sitting in an empty chair in your room, and talk to Him
• Pray with a trusted friend, or a small gathering of friends.

What do I include in my prayer?

Prayer is your unique communication with God there is no magic incantations or phases.  If you’d like some guidance in getting started, I’d encourage you to consider the following prayer outline, its also an acronym (ACTS):

Adoration – Take a moment to tell God what you value about Him, what you appreciate about His character – this has been call worship or praise.

Confession – Express again you dependence on God and you need for His forgiveness, God promises to forgive us.  The more we begin to understand who God is the more we see our own short-comings, and our need for God.

Thanksgiving– Spend some time focusing on people, things, experiences, events etc. you are thankful for and communicate those to God.  You may wish to express your thanks to God for the forgiveness God just granted you.

Submit Requests – What are the needs in your life – relational, spiritual, financial, emotional, physical etc. God is interested in them all.  Maybe you have some friends or family or maybe you’re aware of something that concerns you and you just want to talk with God.  Its all good.

Take a look at things Jesus taught His followers to include when they pray, see Matthew 6.

A prayer God promises to answer, when sincerely offered:

God,

I’m full of questions and I know I’m not perfect, I’ve “sinned” and I need your forgiveness.  Help me learn to depend on You.  I’d like to walk in your way as best as I can.  Please make me more like Jesus.  

Thanks

Your search for truth and meaning has brought you to the place where you consider yourself to be a follower of Jesus Christ.  You’re on a journey; you are a pilgrim.  Well, look out because you’re in for the adventure of a lifetime.
 

Full devotion to God is normal for every follower of Jesus.

There is no hierarchy of people or jobs – we are all equal before God.  And God expects the same thing from each of us.  So . . . what does God expect?  

God expects one thing.  For us to live with him, Christianity is a holistic lifestyle.  The Bible uses the phrase – “To abide with Him” (John 15).  Jesus used a gardening metaphor to illustrate this point.   

He said, picture a grapevine.  For a branch to produce grapes, it’s got to stay connected to the vine.  If a branch gets cut off, it’s not going to produce any fruit.  However, if the branch “abides” in the vine, then the fruit is inevitable.   

Jesus was saying that if you will just stay connected to God, then God will do the work of producing “fruit” in your life.  He will do the transforming work.  All you need to do is choose to abide with Him.  

The goal of the follower is that he or she becomes like the leader – Jesus.  For that to happen the follower must know Jesus first – doing life together is a must.  As you abide with Jesus, he promises to make you like him.  He promises to produce “fruit.”  The fruit, which is the very life and character of Jesus; fruit like love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  He promises to guide us to live lives marked by faith, hope and love.   Ultimately, the “trademark” of Christ-followers is love. Not fitting some kind of label, not a certain political stance, not having a fish on their cars’ bumper, nor a cross around their neck, simply love.  

Jesus said that the whole world would recognize His followers by seeing their love.  When Jesus summed up the entire Bible and its teaching He said, “Love the Lord your God… and love your neighbor as yourself.”  That’s what following Jesus is all about – loving God and loving people.  

So.  How goes your transformation?  How is your experience of community?  Are you looking more like Jesus?  Are you connecting deeply with others?  

Ask your self:  

·         Am I growing in my ability to give and receive love from God and from other people?

·         Am I sensing God communicating to me that I am His child?

·         Am I learning to love what God loves and hate what he hates?

·         Am I ordering my life to stay close to God?

·         Am I becoming more like Jesus?

peace, dwight