Category: Spirituality
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Sleeping in Church
I came across this in John Cassian’s “The Institutes” in the section on the spirit of gluttony. “This same old man declared, based on the following indications, that the devil has ever been the promoter of foolish tales and the enemy of spiritual conferences. For when he was talking with some of the brothers about…
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False Significance
Here’s a quote from Susan Muto’s work “Where Lovers Meet: Inside the Interior Castle.” This work is a companion or commentary to St. Teresa of Avila’s “Interior Castle” classic on the spiritual life. Here Muto is discussing St. Teresa’s ‘vipers’ that one encounters as he or she seeks to draw near to God: The viper’s…
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Imprisoned
Our life may be imprisoned in functional dispositions. They dim the vision of the spirit. Most harmful in this regard are those of ascendancy over others. To prove our functional potency, we may strive vigorously to outshine other people. This competitive attitude engenders inordinate strife and self-exertion. As a result our bloodstream may be polluted…
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Interstate Batteries and God’s Love
UPDATE: Therefore, I’m turning off the comments since the post is over 11 years old. I found myself watching football yesterday and a commercial came on basically proclaiming that we need more of God’s love. At first, I thought that it might be one of ‘our’ UMC commercials (which would have been way cool). I…
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Light to my Feet, or Weight Around my Neck
In Psalm 119, the writer shares his love of God’s word. He wants to learn it, be guided by it and meditate on it day and night. He views it as a light, and a comfort and in God’s word he places his trust. I have not always resonated with Psalm 119. Instead, I…