Flee, Be Silent, Pray

Flee, Be Silent, Pray PDF Author: Ed Cyzewski
Publisher: MennoMedia, Inc.
ISBN: 1513804367
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 144

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Book Description
What if prayer could be simple rather than strenuous? Anxious, results-driven Christians can never pray enough, serve enough, or study enough. But what if God is calling us not to frenzied activity but to a simple spiritual encounter? What if we must merely receive what God has already given us? In Flee, Be Silent, Pray, writer and contemplative retreat leader Ed Cyzewski guides readers out of the anxiety factory of contemporary Christianity and toward a God whose love astounds those quiet long enough to receive it. With helpful guidance into solitude, contemplative prayer, and practices such as lectio divina and the Examen, Cyzewski guides readers toward the Christ whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light. Ready to shed the fear of the false self and the exhaustion of a duty-driven faith? Flee. Be silent. Pray.

Flee, Be Silent, Pray

Flee, Be Silent, Pray PDF Author: Ed Cyzewski
Publisher: MennoMedia, Inc.
ISBN: 1513804367
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 144

Get Book Here

Book Description
What if prayer could be simple rather than strenuous? Anxious, results-driven Christians can never pray enough, serve enough, or study enough. But what if God is calling us not to frenzied activity but to a simple spiritual encounter? What if we must merely receive what God has already given us? In Flee, Be Silent, Pray, writer and contemplative retreat leader Ed Cyzewski guides readers out of the anxiety factory of contemporary Christianity and toward a God whose love astounds those quiet long enough to receive it. With helpful guidance into solitude, contemplative prayer, and practices such as lectio divina and the Examen, Cyzewski guides readers toward the Christ whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light. Ready to shed the fear of the false self and the exhaustion of a duty-driven faith? Flee. Be silent. Pray.

Is Centering Prayer Catholic?

Is Centering Prayer Catholic? PDF Author: Connie Rossini
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780692518489
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 130

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Book Description
What is Centering Prayer? What are its origins? Is it a form of New Age meditation, or a thoroughly Catholic prayer method that can lead to contemplation? Connie Rossini digs into the writings and public statements of Fr. Thomas Keating, one of Centering Prayer's foremost proponents. She compares his words with the writings of St. Teresa of Avila on prayer, and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on New Age spirituality. Find out if Centering Prayer is a reliable method for union with God, or a counterfeit that Catholics should avoid.

Action Versus Contemplation

Action Versus Contemplation PDF Author: Jennifer Summit
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 022603237X
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 253

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Book Description
“All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone,” Blaise Pascal wrote in 1654. But then there’s Walt Whitman, in 1856: “Whoever you are, come forth! Or man or woman come forth! / You must not stay sleeping and dallying there in the house.” It is truly an ancient debate: Is it better to be active or contemplative? To do or to think? To make an impact, or to understand the world more deeply? Aristotle argued for contemplation as the highest state of human flourishing. But it was through action that his student Alexander the Great conquered the known world. Which should we aim at? Centuries later, this argument underlies a surprising number of the questions we face in contemporary life. Should students study the humanities, or train for a job? Should adults work for money or for meaning? And in tumultuous times, should any of us sit on the sidelines, pondering great books, or throw ourselves into protests and petition drives? With Action versus Contemplation, Jennifer Summit and Blakey Vermeule address the question in a refreshingly unexpected way: by refusing to take sides. Rather, they argue for a rethinking of the very opposition. The active and the contemplative can—and should—be vibrantly alive in each of us, fused rather than sundered. Writing in a personable, accessible style, Summit and Vermeule guide readers through the long history of this debate from Plato to Pixar, drawing compelling connections to the questions and problems of today. Rather than playing one against the other, they argue, we can discover how the two can nourish, invigorate, and give meaning to each other, as they have for the many writers, artists, and thinkers, past and present, whose examples give the book its rich, lively texture of interplay and reference. This is not a self-help book. It won’t give you instructions on how to live your life. Instead, it will do something better: it will remind you of the richness of a life that embraces action and contemplation, company and solitude, living in the moment and planning for the future. Which is better? Readers of this book will discover the answer: both.

Desire and Mental Health in Christianity and the Arts

Desire and Mental Health in Christianity and the Arts PDF Author: David Torevell
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1000930769
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 173

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Book Description
This book considers the connection between the world of mental health in the twenty-first century and the traditional concept of desire in Christianity and the Arts. It draws parallels between the desire for rest from anxiety among mental health sufferers with the longing for peace and happiness in Religion and the Arts. The author presents Biblical, philosophical and theological insights alongside artistic ones, arguing that desire for rest remains at the heart of spiritual living as well as mental health recovery. The chapters draw from historical and contemporary voices, including Plato, Augustine of Hippo, Julian of Norwich, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Simone Weil, Samuel Beckett, Tennessee Williams, Jean-Louis Chrétien, Eric Varden and others. The study demonstrates why longing continues to fascinate and grip individuals, creative endeavour and society at large, not least in the development of the understanding of mental health. It is valuable for scholars and advanced students of Christian theology and those interested in spirituality and the arts in particular.

The Serendipity of Hope

The Serendipity of Hope PDF Author: Simon Lee
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1666737062
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 293

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Book Description
Institutions are very precious. If any idea is going to persist into the future, then it needs an institution to keep it going. Each of us comes to understand, often only gradually over the decades, how some influences from our earlier life have affected us. Some will have been inspiring. Some will have given us direct models of how to behave or how not to behave. Indeed, it is often the case that the deeper an influence turns out to have been, in the long run, the less likely it is that we noticed it at the time it was happening. For this reason, it has become necessary to find the time to reflect on and express gratitude for the institutions that helped form who we are and the work that we do. This collection of essays explores the impact of one institution on twenty-five participants, twenty-five years after we worked together. The Institution was Liverpool Hope University College and is now Liverpool Hope University. By telling and reflecting on our stories, we aim to encourage others to think about their own experiences and, ultimately, our earnest hope is that a greater awareness of this aspect of university life will help to transform our collective understanding of the nature of universities in particular, and of communities, institutions, or societies in general. But there was something special about belonging to a community called Hope.

Training the Body

Training the Body PDF Author: David Torevell
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 100058867X
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 214

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Book Description
This is the first book to examine the body in training in the context of religion, sport and wider physical culture, offering important insight into the performative, social, cultural and gendered aspects of somatic discipline and exercise. The book presents a series of fascinating thematic and case-study led chapters from around the world, examining topics including the martial discipline and symbolism of artistic gymnastics; religious interpretations of body vulnerability in the context of marathons; the religious language of corporeal training in sport and martial arts. Drawing on multi-disciplinary perspectives, from sport, religion, history and philosophy, the book explores the often contested and sometimes over-zealous application of training in both sport and religion and the ways in which this can cause harm to athletes or adherents. This is fascinating reading for any advanced student or researcher with an interest in the body, physical cultural studies, the ethics and philosophy of sport, the sociology of sport, religious studies, Asian studies or philosophy.

The Sacred Enneagram

The Sacred Enneagram PDF Author: Christopher L. Heuertz
Publisher: Zondervan
ISBN: 0310348153
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 272

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Book Description
Most of us spend a lifetime trying to figure out who we are and how we relate to others and God. The Enneagram is here to help. Far more than a personality test, author Chris Heuertz teaches us that the Enneagram is a sacred map to the soul. Lies about who we think we are keep us trapped in loops of self-defeat, but the Enneagram uniquely reveals nine ways we get lost, as well as nine ways we find our way home to our true self and to God. Whether you are an enthusiast or simply Enneagram-curious, this groundbreaking guide to the spiritual depth of the Enneagram will help you: Understand the "why" behind your type beyond caricatures and stereotypes Identify and find freedom from self-destructive patterns Learn how to work with your type toward spiritual growth Awaken your unique gifts to serve today's broken world Richly insightful and deeply practical, The Sacred Enneagram is your invitation to begin the journey of a life transformed. Praise for The Sacred Enneagram: "Integrated within these pages is Chris's extensive knowledge and understanding of this ancient tool, along with depth in his teaching of contemplative spirituality as practiced by Jesus. Readers are offered a powerful way forward in their unique journey of spiritual transformation through aligning Christian contemplative prayer postures to specific Enneagram types." --Nina M. Barnes, Dean of Spiritual Formation & Leadership, University of Northwestern-St. Paul "The Sacred Enneagram is a groundbreaking contribution to the Enneagram community, providing unique spiritual growth insights for all nine types. If you're not yet convinced of the value, depth, and accuracy of the Enneagram, Chris demystifies and makes this ancient wisdom more accessible than ever." --George Mekhail, pastor, The Riverside Church NYC

Mindful Silence

Mindful Silence PDF Author: Phileena Heuertz
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
ISBN: 083087223X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 205

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Book Description
The hallmarks of contemplative spirituality—solitude, silence, and stillness—have never been more important for our fast-paced society. Filled with insights and wisdom from personal experiences, Phileena Heuertz introduces us to themes and teachers of contemplative spirituality, as well as several prayer practices, and invites us to greater healing and wholeness by learning to practice faith through prayer.

Holy Listening

Holy Listening PDF Author: Margaret Guenther
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1561010561
Category : Spiritual direction
Languages : en
Pages : 162

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Book Description
Describes the role and practice of a spiritual director as distinct from pastoral care and from psychotherapy. Compares the spiritual director to a midwife for the soul, describing actions of teaching prayer and offering exercise suggestions.

Into the Silent Land

Into the Silent Land PDF Author: Martin Laird
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0195345606
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 167

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Book Description
Sitting in stillness, the practice of meditation, and the cultivation of awareness are commonly thought to be the preserves of Hindus and Buddhists. Martin Laird shows that the Christian tradition of contemplation has its own refined teachings on using a prayer word to focus the mind, working with the breath to cultivate stillness, and the practice of inner vigilance or awareness. But this book is not a mere historical survey of these teachings. In Into the Silent Land, we see the ancient wisdom of both the Christian East and West brought sharply to bear on the modern-day longing for radical openness to God in the depths of the heart. Laird's book is not like the many presentations for beginners. While useful for those just starting out, this book serves especially as a guide for those who desire to journey yet deeper into the silence of God. The heart of the book focuses on negotiating key moments of struggle on the contemplative path, when the whirlwind of distractions or the brick wall of boredom makes it difficult to continue. Laird shows that these inner struggles, even wounds, that any person of prayer must face, are like riddles, trying to draw out of us our own inner silence. Ultimately Laird shows how the wounds we loathe become vehicles of the healing silence we seek, beyond technique and achievement. Throughout the language is fresh, direct, and focused on real-life examples of people whose lives are incomparably enriched by the practice of contemplation.