Lectio Divina - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lectio Divina - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "The Four Moments

Lectio Divina has been likened to 'Feasting on the Word.' The four parts are first taking a bite (Lectio), then chewing on it (Meditatio). Next is the opportunity to savor the essence of it (Oratio). Finally, the Word is digested and made a part of the body (Contemplatio).

Lectio

This first moment consists in reading the scriptural passage slowly, attentively several times.

Meditatio

The Christian, gravitating around the passage or one of its words, takes it and ruminates on it, thinking in God’s presence about the text. He or she benefits from the Holy Spirit’s ministry of illumination, i.e. the work of the Holy Spirit that imparts spiritual understanding of the sacred text. It is not a special revelation from God, but the inward working of the Holy Spirit, which enables the Christian to grasp the revelation contained in the Scripture.

Oratio

This is a response to the passage by opening the heart to God. It is not an intellectual exercise, but an intuitive conversation or dialogue with God.

Contemplatio

This moment is characterized by a simple, loving focus on God. In other words, it is a beautiful, wordless contemplation of God, a joyful rest in his presence."

Imprecatory Psalms - Theopedia

Imprecatory Psalms - Theopedia: "Imprecatory Psalms
From Theopedia

Imprecatory psalms are those those psalms that contain curses or prayers for the punishment of the psalmist's enemies. To imprecate means to invoke evil upon, or curse. Psalms 7, 35, 55, 58, 59, 69, 79, 109, 137 and 139 all contain prayers for God's judgment on the psalmist's enemies. Example imprecatory statements from the Psalms follow:

* Psalm 55:15 - Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the grave.
* Psalm 58:6 - O God, break the teeth in their mouths.
* Psalm 69:28 - May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.
* Psalm 109:9 - May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.
* Psalm 137:9 - How blessed will be the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks."

Upcoming Discipleship Classes - December 5-6

Hello fellow Steele Creekers,

I want to make special invitation for you to attend the upcoming Discipleship Classes.
Charlie Crowley and I are interested in taking the class for studying the Word.
David Long is an excellent teacher and the Lord is leading me to do inductive studies of the Bible.

With the recent events one might consider the class called Oneness.

Please pray with me for those taking the D-1 class.

My Thanksgiving 2008

My Thanksgiving 2008
Colossians 3:15-17 (New King James Version)

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Thank you, Stuart, for calling me this morning with this Scripture. It Blessed me beyond measure.

I reviewed the Thanksgiving message that email out to everyone last year. Boy, I've grown a lot in the Lord this year. Reflection is a theme of this Holiday, a Holy day.

Juan invited to come to be with him and his family today. My heart aches because I wish could be in with everyone today. Juan and I share in our struggles with employment.

I am remembering passed Thanksgiving Holidays with my Mother and my older sister Beth. In 1985 Beth over did the festivities of the meal because of the recent passing of Mom. Dad had a big project to do because the oven had be replaced to make the event happen. Dad always comes through. As for me that year I was in so much pain in secret, almost like quiet desperation. Remembering the pass reminds me on my Love today.

Its going to me to be hard to call my niece, Marissa and and my nephew, Stone, today. I'm holding back tears because so much miss my sister Beth around the Holidays.

I wish I could be with my Dad and my brother, Michael, in Florida today. However, duty calls tomorrow. I should be grateful for a little work even though I know testing coming soon.

I hope to call my sister, Cheryl, and her husband Lee in South Jersey to remind them of the reason for the season. I'm sure they will cringe inside, its my little tradition with her. I love my little sister and so does Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Universe.

To all my cousins, aunts and uncles out there I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving today. Check out my family photos online: http://picasaweb.google.com/kingdan.610 . Let's get together sometime soon.

The Philadelphia Eagles is such a love/hate relationship. Andy Ried screwed up McNabb's head. What happen to running quarterback that I loved to watch? Andy is eating too many Tastycakes and Cheese Steaks! Then that bum Jeffery Lurie goes and invites stinking Joe Biden into the owner's box. The bums!!! Green and Silver forever, but I want change now! Well there's always next year. Ok I feel better now.

Well, going to eat some fowl bird now. What turkey am I.

God Bless you all today and Happy Thanksgiving.

Fwd: Happy Thanksgiving!

From: David Merideth <>
Date: Thu, Nov 27, 2008 at 3:21 AM
Subject: Happy Thanksgiving!
To:

The following is an article which I clipped from a newsletter which I receive. It's a good reminder and a deeper look into the history of the Thanksgiving holiday. More than I had ever learned in school. It's an even more insightful to look at how much our congress has changed in the last 67 years.

I pray that this email finds each of you in true "Thanksgiving", and in the spirit of which the holiday was declared.

Abiding,

David

SQUANTO - THE PILGRIM'S GOD-SEND

"Measured by the standards of men of their time, were the humble of the earth. Measured by later accomplishments, they were the mighty. In appearance weak and persecuted they came -- rejected, despised -- an insignificant band; in reality strong and independent, a mighty host of whom the world was not worthy destined to free mankind." - Calvin Coolidge

Cold and sick, fighting snow and sleet, a motley band of English men and women struggled through their first winter in the New World. Fewer than 50 of the 110 pilgrims and crew that had stepped off the Mayflower survived until spring. On their own, the Pilgrims would have likely all perished their first year on the coast of New England.

God had better plans for them.

In March of 1621, a loincloth-covered native stepped out of the woods and said, "Welcome" in clear English. Samoset, the chief of the Algonquins, had learned English from the fishing ships that occasionally put into the coast of Maine. A few days later he returned to the little Pilgrim village with another English speaking native named Tisquantum (aka "Squanto").

When the Pilgrims arrived in late 1620, they settled on cleared land that belonged to nobody. Squanto's entire tribe had been wiped out while he was in England after having been taken as a slave in 1605. After returning to his native homeland with Captain John Smith in 1614, Squanto was again kidnapped and taken to Spain, where he was bought by local friars and introduced to Christianity. When he returned home, he found his tribe gone and the land that had belonged to them shunned by other tribes. He wandered until he found the Wampanoags who lived about 50 miles to the southwest.

And so, Squanto proved to be a literal God-send for the Pilgrims. He stayed with them and taught them how to stalk deer and catch eels and plant corn the Indian way. He showed them how to refine maple syrup and to discern which wild plants were edible and which were poisonous. He introduced them to trapping beavers, the pelts of which were in high demand in Europe. Without his help, few of the Pilgrims would have survived.

By the autumn of 1621, the Pilgrims were well-prepared for the coming winter and extremely grateful to God, to the Wampanoags, and to Squanto. Governor Bradford declared a day of public thanksgiving to be held in October. They invited Massasoit, the Wapanoags' chief, to a feast to celebrate their bounty. The Wapanoags taught the Pilgrims the art of making popcorn and the Pilgrims introduced the Indians to fruit pies.

The Pilgrims had additional days of thanksgiving for God's provision during the next years of difficulty and hunger, but we remember these days of feasting and games and competitions in our Thanksgiving celebrations. God had shown He cared for this little band of persecuted Englishmen in search of religious and civil freedom.

There have been several days of thanksgiving since the time of the Pilgrims.

1777: Samuel Adams made a "Thanksgiving day" proclamation that was adopted by all 13 states:

"It is therefore recommended... to set apart Thursday the eighteenth day of December next, for solemn Thanksgiving and praise, that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor..."

October, 1789: President George Washington proclaimed Thursday the Twenty-sixth day of November to be a day of national thanksgiving to Almighty God.

October, 1863: President Abraham Lincoln announced that the last Thursday of November would be dedicated "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens."

Finally, an act of Congress in 1941 dedicated the fourth Thursday of November for the purpose of thanking our Creator.

Even as our forefathers acknowledged the provision and goodness of God, let us also make this national holiday a very special time to thank Him for our own provision - our families, our sustenance and, above all, our redemption in His Son!

Fwd: Greetings to the SCCC Family

Hello! This is Pastor Kelvin.

In light of how some things were shared and received during last weekend's services, I am calling for a sacred assembly of prayer, healing and hope for our church family.

Please join me as we move toward clarification and reconciliation during each of the weekend services.
My heart is heavy but full of hope. Please know that I love you very much. I look forward to seeing you this weekend.

Glenn Beck presents the Obama National Anthem

Proverbs 2 and a Redemptive Community

Good Morning my Brothers,

Today is November 2 and I listened to Proverbs 2.
Click here: http://www.listenersbible.com/devotionals/listen

Pursuing holiness together while living in a Redemptive Community with my Band of Brothers; this is truly loving one another!!!

Looking forward to see you soon.

Kind Regards,
Daniel K. "Dan" King

Fwd: James Dobson is One of the Great Speakers at Conference in Charlotte

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Itickets Mail <mail@itickets.com>
Date: Fri, Oct 31, 2008 at 4:05 PM
Subject: James Dobson is One of the Great Speakers at Conference in Charlotte
To: Dan King

---

THIS EVENT UPDATE BROUGHT TO YOU BY CHRISTIAN HAPPENINGS The Christian Event Source If you would like to receive a FREE online subscription to the Christian Happenings magazine, visit www.ChristianHappenings.com www.iTickets.com

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NO MORE EMAILS PLEASE: http://www.ccmpromo.com/email

iTICKETS.COM 6185 Huntley Road Suite Q; Columbus OH 43229

Fwd: Cardboard Testimonies - WOW!

I cried when I watched this....

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gwen Berry <>
Date: Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 11:28 PM
Subject: Cardboard Testimonies - WOW!
To:

Dear all, This is very powerful… think you will enjoy it. Only takes a few minutes. http://www.rhchurch.org/pages/cardboard-testimonies/

"One Vote" - ValueVotersUSA.com (official)

Clumsy Best Man Ruins Wedding

Clumsy Best Man Ruins Wedding - Watch more Free Videos

All I can say is........WOW!!!

Check it out, very powerful!
forwarded from Eric Scott

http://www.maximumreferrals.com/bridge

One minute each night

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: <Steve_Womack>
Date: Fri, Oct 10, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Subject: One minute each night



Dear Friends,

Consider joining in this prayer effort. I know you're already praying but it sounds good to think of the nation praying together at the same moment.

Steve Womack
Wycliffe




From:
Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2008 10:02 PM
Subject: One minute each night






ONE MINUTE EACH NIGHT....
This is the scariest election we as Christians have ever faced. From the looks of the polls, the Christians aren't
voting Christian values. We all need to be on our knees. Do you believe we can take God at His word? Call upon His
name, then stand back and watch His wonders to behold. His scripture gives us, as Christians, ownership of this land
and the ability to call upon God to heal it. I challenge you to do so. We have never been more desperate than now for
God to heal our land.


2 Chronicles 7:14 :


If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their
wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.


During WWII, there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every
night at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England , its people and peace.
This had an amazing effect as bombing stopped.


There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America .. The United States of America and our
citizens need prayer more than ever!


If you would like to participate: each evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time, 8:00 PM Central, 7:00 PM Mountain, 6:00 PM
Pacific, stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our
citizens, for peace in the world, for wisdom and courage for our leaders, the up-coming election, and that the Bible
will remain the basis for the laws governing our land and that Christianity will grow in the U.S.


If you know anyone who would like to participate, please pass this along.


Someone said if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be
speechless. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have.
Thank You





At TEBC we are building people for the Glory of God....


from Birth to Eternity! Matt. 5:14-16

Financial Peace University at church

Dave Ramsey's

FinancialPeace
UNIVERSITY

Dear FPU Attendees:

Thanks for a fantastic first class for Steele Creek Church of Charlotte! We had a great finish & I just wanted to thank you for participating through a long 13 weeks. You are to be commended for your faithfulness & we want to encourage you to continue on the journey that you started. For those of you who may have started the class, but were not able to finish it with us, I pray that you were able to go through it on your own and are applying the principles.

I would like to share a few numbers that we extrapolated from our class that may encourage you on your journey.
&#183 $210,492 - Total amount of savings and debt reduction for those the finishing class
&#183 90 - Total number of credit cards cut up by the class
&#183 $1,100 - Average amount saved per family during the course
&#183 $2,887 - Average amount of debt reduction per family during the course
&#183 2 - Average number of credit cards cut up per family

We're always trying to understand the impact of classes like this & see how we can improve. Would you be willing to send us an e-mail to provide feedback to us? I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on improvements that we could make, as well as any personal testimonies that you would share with us that we may be able to share with others to encourage them to participate. Please see one I received recently that is attached below. You'll notice that we will remove the names to protect confidentiality. If you do send me one, please let me know if I can have your permission to use it publicly or if you would prefer that I keep it confidential.

Thanks again for a tremendous class!

-Wes.

Dear Pastor Wes:

I just wanted to thank you for allowing me to share what Dave Ramsey's course 'Financial Peace University&quot has meant to me.

For as long as I can remember I've had a bad relationship with numbers. I've never felt comfortable or competent. I even wound up marrying someone based on my reasoning that he was so much better with numbers and math than I was. While that was true, he had some other major problems and we wound up divorced. And I was back, trying to get a grip on the money monster, alone. And now with a child.

I got to where I had given up on being able to handle money well--it never seemed to get better. I felt stupid and irresponsible. I was frozen-stuck. I cried out to God for help for more than a decade-and I never felt that I got any answers. I was in despair, feeling like I could never have good credit, never own a home-never even balance my checkbook. When I arrived at 'Financial Peace University' (FPU) my head was hanging down, literally. All I could think of was how badly I had messed up.

One of the first things we had to do was prepare a mini-budget. It took me about 3 weeks to actually do it-I was scared of it! But I finally decided it had to be done-I was enrolled in the class-and after all, I am a teacher. My FPU small group leader very gently encouraged me to get it done. That budget started one of several 'aha moments' that happened throughout the course. After doing the budget and looking at what money went where, I discovered something I kinda knew all along-I don't make enough money! It was very strange-and almost comforting-to see it on paper. Now I knew what I was up against.

Another thing that is highly suggested was that single parents get a mentor-someone to walk along side them in the process. But who would take on such a big responsibility with me? Who would want to put that much time into me? I finally asked my FPU small group what they thought I should do. They suggested I ask someone in my home fellowship. I honestly hadn't thought of that before! And that's how my mentor came into the picture. I asked and she almost instantly volunteered. Turns out she has the gift of administration. And boy is she good at it! But as wonderful as she was in helping me navigate through some of my financial landmines this summer, the best thing about my mentor is that she has BEEN THERE. I'm not walking through this on my own anymore.

By the middle of the course Dave was talking about mutual funds. Mutual funds?? I HAVE a mutual fund but I had no idea what it was! Retirement stuff…I don't know…Dave explained it so that I actually have a clue what it was I signed-and I didn't have to put toothpicks under my eyelids to stay awake either! I was now starting to look at things I was always afraid of looking at-keeping my checkbook current (it didn't have to be perfect right now-just as close as I can get it), finding how much debt I was really in (not as much as I thought-and was afraid of), and saving enough money so that when I have an emergency I can take care of it. He made it sound so simple-and did it in an entertaining way. I learned that I needed to maintain my 'four walls'-taking care of food, shelter/utilities, transportation, and clothing-before worrying about my debt. I can't even put into words the pressure that has taken off me.

But the best lesson was the last one-learning how to give. I felt that for most of my life I've been a taker, not a giver. I was always afraid to give because I could never give out of abundance-I didn't have any. But FPU sets that as a goal-to have an abundance so you can give it away-how cool is that? I want to do that too-to be able to have enough money left over to give it to others-maybe other single moms who struggle like me.

Every summer for 4 years I struggled to keep gas in the car, food on the table, keep the electricity and telephone on and all while being overdrawn at the bank-with all the fees that go along with it. This summer, because in the fullness of time God answered my prayer; through the generosity of this church and my home fellowship, there is gas in my car, food in my refrigerator, all of my utilities are on-and I HAVE (in the positive!) $252.00 in my checking account!! Woo-hoo!! A savings account has been set up so that a certain amount of money will be automatically deducted from my normal teacher paycheck so that by next summer I will have a normal monthly income to live on. I have a part time job that will help me save up for my emergency fund. I am also currently seeking a roommate so that I can save even more money.

August 29th I will receive my first paycheck since May 30th-and boy I can't wait! Because that will be when all of the plans will really start to roll. I can't remember ever being this excited about money. I can't wait to start using the 'debt snowball' to pay off my debts with 'gazelle intensity.' I now hold my head up, and I have something I haven't had in a very long time-hope for my future. Dave Ramsey and FPU CHANGED MY LIFE.

I don't know what you have planned for the future of this class but by all means do whatever it takes to bring it back. There are lots of hurting people out there who need this valuable course- not just single moms. God has gifted Dave Ramsey and used him as a miracle in my life. I will go anywhere and talk to anyone to tell how important this is. It has the potential to change lives. It certainly changed mine.

Sincerely,

FPU Participant

McDonald's surrenders! Boycott declared over Family group says fast-food giant agrees not to promote 'gay' agenda

You have been sent a message PKD blog
as a courtesy of WorldNetDaily.com (http://www.worldnetdaily.com)



To view the entire article, visit http://www.worldnetdaily.com/?pageId=77515

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MONEYNETDAILY
WorldNetDaily Exclusive
McDonald's surrenders!
Boycott declared over
Family group says fast-food giant
agrees not to promote 'gay' agenda

---

Three Steps to Change the Nation's Future

Three Steps to Change the Nation's Future: "We are at a crucial time in our country's financial history. Congress defeated the $700 billion bailout plan on Monday. However, they are revising it and trying to push it through again. Dave is supporting an alternative plan that will keep our nation from going even deeper in debt.

We need everyone's help! Here are 3 steps you can take to change our nation's future:"

Kirk Cameron: I Only Kiss My Wife ... Even on Screen

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,427161,00.html

And the Toddler Room was never quite the same again.

And the Toddler Room was never quite the same again.
http://www.apostoliclive.com/play.php?vid=492

NewLife.com: Bearing Each Other’s Burdens

NewLife.com: Bearing Each Other’s Burdens: "Bearing Each Other’s Burdens

by Steve Arterburn
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

We are called to walk alongside others on the journey of disciple­ship. We serve our brothers and sisters by helping them stay on or return to the path of faithfulness. And we also serve them by
making sure we continue in faithfulness. Self-neglect and irre­sponsibility impose an unfair burden on your brother and sister in Christ, because they’re responsible to help you.

The body of Christ is not a place of self-sufficiency. It’s time we quit believing those lies we’ve been listening to for so long. The Christian faith is not each person looking out for him or herself. Nor is it the survival of the fittest. The body of Christ is a place of interdependency. When you share the troubles and problems of others, you’re fulfilling the law of love. Our burdens bring us together! As you call on others to help you bear your burdens, you will find your love and appreciation growing. Your weaknesses call forth other’s strengths. And when others call on you, you have the opportunity to be an agent of God’s mercy and grace, looking for nothing in return.

Do you know someone who is under a heavy burden at this time? Whatpractical way can you come alongside that person and help him or her bear it? Prayerfully consider what God may be calling you to do, then step forward and do it.

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” - Charles Dickens(1812-1870"