Spiritual Apps

“How is the Holy Spirit Like Alcohol?”

2010-09-18T21:16:00.001-07:00

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Let me ask you a question: What are you using to feel normal? Is it an addictive substance, or addictive lifestyle or even addictive religious rituals? Jesus offers an alterativethe wine of the Holy Spirit. Have you been filled with the Holy Spirit?

Transformed by Informed Faith

2010-08-14T22:24:00.001-07:00

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Jesus approached faith from a different perspective. Instead of treating belief as a very difficult thing, he acted as though people have plenty of faith. Belief, according to Jesus, is pretty easy. The real question is whether our belief is properly informed. Have we lined up our belief with truth?

Transformed by Confession

2010-07-31T21:54:00.001-07:00

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comming

Transformed by Personal Study

2010-07-10T21:28:00.001-07:00

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Study involves curiosity about anything and everything. I wonder why that works that way? How did they come up with that? The real goal, however, is more than knowledge of more facts. The ability to continually learn in any situation transforms us into a more loving person.

Transformation by Study

2010-07-09T12:23:00.000-07:00

We cannot continue following Jesus without ongoing repentance, a change of mind. Now, here’s the problem. We can’t change our thinking on our own. We know what we know. We don’t know what we don’t know. When left to ourselves we think we are right. We receive information and sift it through our understandings, which are based on our experiences. We find it mystifying that someone else wouldn’t see it our way. If left to ourselves, we cannot change what we think once we have made up our minds that we are right. So how do we repent? Only God can move us to repentance. The only thing we can do is practice the app of study by staying open to new information and asking God to invade our thoughts.

The spiritual app of study invites us to become a lifelong learner. One of the major benefits is that this helps us stay connected with others even when we strongly disagree with them. We remain open to listen and learn because we are constantly aware that our current views may be wrong. This attitude helps us to be a more loving person.

Bruce Humphrey, “Transformation by Personal Study,” July 10/11, 2010

Transformed by Solitude

2010-06-28T09:48:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the RBCPC Spiritual App Blog. Seeking transformation through Solitude may be new to you. This is the place for asking your questions and for sharing your comments, concerns and experiences. First, here’s a review of the information that we shared in worship Sunday morning:

SPIRITUAL APP: SOLITUDE
The PRAY acronym helps remember the four steps to solitude:

PREPARE   Find a quiet place and a quiet time, get comfortable, settle in.

REST          Invite God to join you and to work within you.
                   Quietly repeat a Psalm prayer: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Or
                “O Rest in theLord; wait patiently for God.”
                    Let all thoughts (mental activity) die away.
                Let your breath become deep and regular.

ATTEND     Wait and watch for the Spirit to emerge into your awareness.

YIELD         Allow God to work within you.
                    Offer thanks for the time together.
                    Return to solitude soon.
                    Regular practice yields the best results.

Many people imagine solitude as a time of doing nothing. Is it a surprise to you that there is something to do? Actually, the first two steps are just for getting to a place of quiet. My life is so busy and complex. I seek solitude with the hope that letting God in will help make sense of all the other stuff—to get life simplified down to the “One Thing,” to refocus my purpose and get infused with God’s gracious presence. For me the challenge is to stay with the Prayer of Quiet long enough to let all the mental and emotional activity calm down. Sometimes that step takes a great deal of patience. Once that happens, my awareness will naturally expand and deepen, because I have opened myself God’s active presence. Engaging in the activity of Solitude really is an act of trusting that what God says, God means. What kind of experiences are you, or have you, had? Have you had any difficulties getting started? Have you had any challenges emerge from your trials? I would like to know. Please write anything you like here. Together we can help each other grow in deepening our practice. I look forward to reading your thoughts.

Christopher Cook

Sermon Transformed by Solitude

2010-06-28T09:22:00.001-07:00

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Spiritual Apps: for the life you've always wanted.
Transformed by Solitude by Bruce Humphrey