RB: Chapter 6b – Restraint of Speech

In this 2nd part I will be using Rule Book of St. Benedict in English 1980 Edition
In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise. – Proverbs 10:19
Benedict, having already discussed that a disciple ought to be silent and listen now turns his instruction to the manner [...]

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RB: Chapter 6 – Of Silence

Rule of St Benedict Chapter 6
“For it befitteth a master to speak and teach; and it beseemeth a disciple to hold his peace and listen.”
In today’s culture it would appear listening is a lost art. I have always been amazed at spiritual novices who seem eager to one up those who are of greater spiritual [...]

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Absurd Living

I read a portion today from a work of Henri Nouwen called Spiritual Direction that struck my fancy since I have written on this:
Being formed in God’s likeness involves the struggle to move from absurd living to obedient listening. The word absurd contains the word surdus, which means “deaf”. Absurd living is a way of [...]

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Eucharist: Painted Portrait or Photograph

I was watching a movie set in WWII a while back. An American soldier, after arriving in Berlin broke into a German home, unknowing to him, of a Nazi officer who was off serving in the war. The GI picked up off a nearby table a photograph of the Nazi officer in his uniform. The [...]

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Sept 6, 2009 – Time for an Update

Wow I can not believe it has almost been a year since my last “daily” journal update.
I was reflecting back and re-reading my daily entries and meditations from early on in this blog. It reminded me of all of the cool things I was learning in the Spirit. Sure there was immense pain and trial, [...]

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RB: Chapter 5 – Of the Obedience of Disciples

Rule of St Benedict Chapter 5
The first degree of humility is obedience without delay.
Obedience. A word that makes one cringe ever so much. It grinds against the very pride of man to rule himself and his destiny. Benedict says to us here, “the first degree of humility” that is the first identifiable mark of [...]

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Partakers of the Divine Nature

Here are the notes and content of the sermon I gave 1/4/09 in the Sunday AM service in pdf format. The content covers further detail and additional thoughts not in this mornings presentation.
Partakers of the Divine Nature
Click link to download – you will need adobe acrobat reader.
Comments and questions are welcome.

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RB: Chapter 4 – Tools of Good Works

Rule of St Benedict Chapter 4
One of the challenges I find today is simply how do we live out our faith. It seems everybody and their brother has a take on what the church ought to be doing to be relevant, missional, incarnational, etc. Benedict calls on a variety of scriptures to help direct the [...]

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RB: Chapters 2-3 The Abbot Part 2

Rule of St Benedict: Chapter 2 and Chapter 3
Understanding the severity the undertaking of the Abbot we have to be cognizant of the simple fact that they are but men. This fact alone should be enough to cause a man to think carefully and prayerfully about the community to which he is the shepherd of. [...]

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RB: Chapters 2-3 The Abbot Part 1

Rule of St Benedict: Chapter 2 and Chapter 3
Ok, break is over back to the Rule and my general comments on it in context to my own Evangelical Protestant viewpoint and application of ministry. The uniqueness of the Rule is it hasn’t changed since it was written in the 6th century and it’s application to [...]

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