Saturday, September 25, 2010

Youth & Young Adults with Andy Harrison

Friday 8th October 2010
7pm - 9pm
Door of Hope
 
Yo get yourself down to Door of Hope on the 8th of October for a combined Friday night youth and young adults event. Special guest Andy Harrison from Planetshakers City Church Melbourne will be sharing, he is an amazing man of God with a heart to see God glorified and all people living in the power of the Spirit of God. Andy grew up in Hobart and is now the High School's Pastor at Planetshakers. Zions will be leading the way in worship, and this night is open to all youth groups across the city, Gateway Baptist, City View, Zion's Hill and Door of Hope youth and young adults will be there...this is a night not to be missed!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Hey Young Adults,

Well it's been an amazing journey so far!! It amazes me how much people have committed to the study of the Word and how everybody seems to draw different revelations out of the same stories and texts. 
 
I am very proud of the dedication you have all made to study. It is not usually a popular practice, 'bible study', especially among young people. 
 
Big shout out to Anna for her active involvement, jim for his cameo appearances, Bek Williams for being like a Berean (Acts 17:11), Luke Bone for stepping up and the Barnes girls for being characterised by faithfulness, as usual. Also all the students who have invested extra time in the courtship series, you permeate the YA ethos....  
 
peace, 
Ps C

Monday, September 20, 2010

The Discipline of Scriptual Meditation Part 3

Adapted from the book 'Celebration of Discipline - The Path to Spiritual Growth' by Richard Foster 2008


"Sitting I am most at rest, and my heart most upward." Richard Rolle
 
 
In preparing to meditate, it is important to set time aside each day even 5 or 10 minutes to begin with. Those who are proficient in the discipline are able to meditate anywhere and at any time. Regardless, it is important to remember that it is not a religious act but more like on-going contemplative prayer. In 1 Thess 5:17, Paul encourages us to 'pray without ceasing.' Thus our aim is to learn to develop this skill until it becomes a natural way of living life.
 
Some tips to help you get started.
1. One of the many benefits of learning to meditate is that it has the capacity to set the tone for the whole day. It also helps us to achieve a sense of balance and peace even when things get busy. This is referred to as 'holy leisure.' To this end it is beneficial that meditation occurs in the early morning in particular as well as at various intervals during the day if desired.
 
2. Find a place which is comfortable, peaceful (turn the phone off!) and which has a pleasing view.
 
3. Our outward posture often reveals our inward state e.g. tension. So concentrate on dropping the shoulders, deep, even breathing, stretching the toes and fingers and relaxing the entire body...and avoid vigorous chewing of gum!
 
4. Position yourself in the most comfortable position and least distracting position and place your open palms on the knees to receive from Him.
 
5. Close your eyes. Focus on one thing in particular. For example the Lord Himself, a flower, a tree etc. Begin to center all the attention of the body, mind, emotions and inner man onto that object of your focus until "the glory of God in the face of Christ" emerges. (2 Cor 4:6)
 
6. Allow the Holy Spirit to bring His Word to you and let your mind and emotions dwell on these. As you concentrate in this way, you will begin to internalise scripture in a wonderfully personal way. Try to avoid analysing and dissecting His words to you and just simply and humbly receive it like Mary did in Luke 2:51. The most important thing is not to rush but be still before God.
 
7. Another method of meditating is taking a verse of your choosing and then bring all of the senses to it-smell, taste, sight, hearing and touch. Experience the verse so it takes root in your inner man and in your emotions. Be an active participant in the verse you have chosen. Don't be afraid to use your imagination eg playing the part of one of the apostles or those whose life Jesus touched in a special way. Let it become your own reality.
 
For some, taking time out in this way is a sacrifice. However it is essential that as believers, we recreate the silences and return to the deeper place of contemplation. Our adversary would have us continue to be too busy. (It has been quoted that 'Hurry is not of the devil, it is the devil.' Carl Jung.) As you practice the skill of meditation daily, you will notice the blessings of His nearness in a new and more intimate way. Learn to activate your being through meditation until the entire Word becomes an autobiography of you.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Why study the Word?

In Hosea 4:6 the Lord says 
                "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." 
 
So to those who love Him,  let us add to our faith knowledge. His desire is for us to know and understand the mysteries of the Bible.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

The Discipline of Scriptual Meditation Part 2


Adapted from the book 'Celebration of Discipline - The Path to Spiritual Growth' by Richard Foster 2008


"The contemplation of the saints is fired by the love of the One contemplated: that is, God." - Albert the Great

What is the purpose of meditation?
1. It brings us closer and closer to Jesus. Spending time in this manner, it cultivates daily walk with Him which is characterised by an intensity of intimacy and an 'awful reverence'.

2. Meditation is the doorway which allows Jesus access to the deepest recesses of our heart. It is during this process that we are changed and our inner personality transformed.

3. Meditation is designed to fill our mind only with the Lord, leaving the rush and confusion and busyness of everyday life behind. In this way it aims to help us to live our life more successfully and with less stress.

4. It can help provide insights and solutions to pressing problems as well as guidance and clarity to everyday situations.

5. As a divine encounter with our God, it brings joy to the Lover and the Beloved.

6. Meditation is a discipline which requires the Christian to assume individual responsibility by choosing to come into His prescence himself, not through a mediator.

7. We develop the ability to hear His voice and sense His presence more clearly. This in turn, encourages us to seek Him more.

...to be continued....

The Discipline of Scriptual Meditation Part 1

Adapted from the book  'Celebration of Discipline - The Path to Spiritual Growth' by Richard Foster


"True contemplation is not a psychological trick but a theological grace." Thomas Merton.


In order for Christians to move into a deeper place in their daily walk with the Lord, we need to be 'willing to enter into the world of contemplation.' This discipline was practiced by those who were close to the heart of God - Moses (Ex 33:11), Elijah (1 Kings 19), Isaac (Gen 24: 63, and David ( Ps 63:6, Ps 1:2, Ps 119:148) etc. 

The term 'meditation' refers to listening to the Lord when He speaks: reflecting on His works and thinking about His laws, principles and statutes. It differs from the eastern practice of meditation by the fact that there is a change which occurs deep in our inner man as we spend time with Him in this way, culminating in repentence and obedience. One is changed through this Godly encounter.  

Throughout the gospels we read about how Jesus Himself spent time maintaining intimate time with the Father, modelling for us the importance of hearing and obeying. In John 5:30 it states'The Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing; for whatever He does, that the Son does likewise.' He knew how to abide in the Father, thereby establishing a living, fulfilling fellowship with Him.