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Who Sits At Your Round Table
Proverbs 27.17*
It was ordained of Arthur that when his fair fellowship sat to meat, their chairs should be high alike, their service equal, and none before or after his comrade. Thus no man could boast that he was exalted above his fellow, for all alike were gathered round the board, and none was alien at the breaking of Arthur's bread." Wace , Roman de Brut
Five Tips on Effective Prayer
by 16th Century Catholic Sage
To pray is to say, "Let thy will be done." It is to form a good purpose. It is to raise your heart to God. It is to lament your weakness. It is to sigh at the recollection of your frequent disobedience.
This prayer demands neither method, nor science, nor reasoning. It is not necessary to quit one's employment. It is a simple movement of the heart towards its Creator and a desire that whatever you are doing, you may do it to His glory.
Give Yourself a Blessing
by Anne Daniel, R.N.
As you prepare yourself for work, to care for your family, to continue your daily life, remember, "you can do all things through Christ." Philippians 4:13 Take the time in the near future, like later today and give a blessing of healing, hope, love, faith, peace, encouragement, and open a window through which His holy presence can embrace you and another in a blessing. As you go forth in life, God has given you the power of blessing for, "whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who is worthy: and there abide till ye go thence. And when you come into a home, salute it. And if the home is worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet." Matthew 10:11-14 "What you have freely received, freely give." Matthew 10:8
The Rules!
VI. Keep in Touch: Principle of Connection
How do we stay connected with anyone? Through communication - the more enthusiastic and frequent, the better. What happens when we fail to communicate? We feel lost, alienated, disgruntled and generally unhappy. "Failure to communicate" is a major cause of divorce, family feuds, broken relationships, bankruptcy, lawsuits, job terminations and war.
Just a Few ofGod's Promises Regarding Prayer
James 1:6:8
Only it must be in faith that you ask, with no wavering - no hesitating, no doubting. For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea, that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.
For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything (he asks for) from the Lord
.
Why Pray?
"We are sure of this - God listens to whatever we ask
when it's in line with His will". I John 5: 14
How do we stay connected with anyone? Communication. The more ardently and frequently it is done, the better.
What happens when we fail to communicate? We feel lost, alienated, disgruntled and generally unhappy. Failure to communicate is a major cause of divorce, family feuds, broken relationships, bankruptcy, lawsuits, and job terminations.
IV. Love God's Creation: Principle of Stewardship/Responsibility
We were created to love and care for all of God's creation, beginning with ourselves, then others, and finally the flora and fauna and the environment itself. We are given a choice: to either live in harmony with God and His creation, wisely employing our resources and "talents" toward managing the part of the creation we're responsible for (such as family, job, business, community), or to instead exploit, plunder or trash the creation.
Eat to Live
The best brand name of medicine is Nature. God designed the human body to heal itself if it is properly taken care of. What comes from physicians and pharmaceutical companies are added bonuses to what nature provides.
The Rules!
III. Love Others: Principle of Harmony
When we are aligned with God's ground rules (Rule I), and have fully accepted who God created us to be (Rule II), when our world is in harmony-internally and externally-life is both exciting and rewarding. Unfortunately, since most of us are out of harmony internally, we are externally out of balance (with those around us) as well. Because we spend most of our lives with other people and almost all our endeavors involve others, this disharmony is at the heart of most of our unhappiness.
The 22 (Non-Negotiable) Laws of Wellness
An Introduction
How to Think, Feel & Live Better Than You Ever Thought Possible!
Wellness is one of the greatest and most powerful words in the English language. Unfortunately, it is also one of the least understood. But start putting this word into your vocabulary and the concepts it entails into your life. Wellness is one of the most important ideas of our time.
Indeed, 85 percent of Gallup Poll respondents believe their physical well-being depends on how well they care for themselves. That is the heart of wellness.
The Rules!
II. Love Yourself: Principle of Self-Creation
How we relate to others is a direct reflection of how happy we are with ourselves. Therefore, we need to first love ourselves before we can love others. Of course, we don't mean a shallow, self-centered, narcissistic love that blinds us to true healthy priorities, responsibilities and others' needs. Rather, self-love in this sense is a realistic acceptance of who God has made us to be. Since God loves us, we know that it's okay to love ourselves, "warts" and all.
True Faith is a Mystery
Believing by Candlelight
By Leonard Sweet, Ph.D.
Part of the journey from modern to postmodern is coming out of a fluorescent consciousness back into a candlelight faith. The year 1877 is when Edison made the shadows reel with his invention of the electric light. When moderns took it further and installed overhead lighting, the artificial light banished every shadow from the room as ruthlessly as modernity drove mystery from faith. In the words of biologist Richard Dawkins, who is one of the world's leading Darwinists and is himself stuck in the modern paradigm, "The ultimate goal of science is to remove all mystery."
The Rules!
The guiding principles to a fulfilling life
I. Love God: Principle of Primary Alignment
Jesus taught us that the first rule of life was to love God with every fiber of our being. Historically, both Jews and Christians have agreed on this as the primary means we must employ to honor God's commandments (or ground rules).
Eliminating Obstacles to Your Success
By Dr. Monte Wilson
Anxiety, phobias, and depression are often rooted in the belief that we have found something to worry about that God has overlooked. And rather than "giving it to God". (Phil 4:6-7; Ps 50:15; Ps 57; Ps 62:1-2; 1 Peter 5:7), we choose to believe that worrying is a more effective tool to resolve the potential conflict than trusting in Him.
I use the word "potential" advisedly. For how often do we worry about things that never take place? My boss mentions that he wants to see me before I leave the office today; subsequently, I spend the day in dread of coming doom. The appointed time arrives; I sit down in the chair that faces the boss' desk.
Curiosity
By Monte Wilson
Laurence Sterne said, “What a large volume of adventures may be grasped within this little span of life by him who interests his heart in everything.” (A Sentimental Journey) Curious people are people who are always learning. Their minds are never idle, their souls never experience decay, their lives are never static…and they have no frame of reference for what others refer to as “boredom.” All they experience is “adventure.”
Self-Awareness
I know a man who sees himself as a real player-A-Team all the way. He talks and carries himself as if he were the embodiment of every great spiritual leader across the ages. The interesting thing is that neither his friends nor family see him in this light: no one does except himself. Further, those who sought to gently disabuse him of his illusion and point out that leaders usually had followers were quickly excommunicated from the orbit of his greatness.
Learning From Others
By Monte Wilson
Here in the US, for the most, our education is via teachers talking at students. The “teacher” can be a parent sitting across from us at the dinner table, a person standing behind a desk or lectern, someone we listen to on a CD, or the author of the book we are reading. We listen, we take notes, we memorize, we reflect, and, if we are hungry for truth, we carry on an internal debate with our teacher. However, while this certainly can be an effective model for education, it does have some weaknesses.
Patterns for Living
Humans are patterning geniuses. We watch our mom and dad walk and then begin to seek to move on our own two legs-exactly as they walk. We watch and listen to the people around us speak. We then imitate the utterances we hear and so learn our native language. We witness how the people in our world behave toward one another and we set about to reflect this behavior in the process of our relating to those people around us. And we do this (and so much more) without giving it all that much conscious thought.
Hallmarkians
by Monte Wilson
The capacity to give one's attention to a sufferer
is a very rare and difficult thing; it is almost a miracle; it is a miracle.
--Simone Weil
What About Mental Health?
Is mental discipline part of spiritual growth? Mental Discipline is necessary for growth. Have you noticed how easy it is for our minds to butterfly-like flit from one thought to another while we are listening to one of our children, attending church, reading the Bible or are being instructed by a boss? Paying attention, having the ability to focus laser-like on the subject, task or person before us is necessary, not only to our spiritual development, but also to our ability to serve effectively.
What About Emotional Health?
Spiritual health also includes Emotional Health. Our culture is permeated with fear, anxiety, frustration, acute stress, anger and a multitude of other negative, debilitating and often sinful emotions. Too many of us allow ourselves to be swayed by these prevailing tides of emotion and find ourselves feeling and behaving no differently than unbelievers.
Physical Health
By Monte Wilson
Does This Life Matter?
The body matters: it is created by God. Spiritual health does not require one to "escape" the body or the world. Made in our creator's image, we are to give our physical self the attention appropriate to such an honor.
internetmonk.com
iMonk 101: Why Do They Hate Us?
March 11th, 2009 by iMonk
One of the first big splashes this blog made was when this post (2002!) made it into the atheist blogosphere. I got about a hundred notes from atheists saying “Thanks.” I’ve always agreed with what I wrote here, and I’ve always felt it was important. I also know that many culture-warring Christians will say this is a surrender document and I should join in the hatred of those who sometimes hate us. Check with Jesus on that one.
The Wisdom of the Ages
Before the sometimes incomprehensible chaos of modern denominationalism (over 25,000 church denominations each claiming to represent the most correct version of Christianity), before the Protestant/Catholic wars of the 1600's, before the Crusades lead by the Popes against Islam in the 11th and 12th centuries, before Islam's victorious conquest of eastern Christianity in the 15th century, and hundreds of years before the advent of what is now called the Roman Catholic Church, there existed Byzantium, the greatest Christian civilization-and the longest lasting empire (1,000 years) in the history of mankind.
Celebrate Life!
"God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy" - Ecclesiastes 2:26
The Book of Proverbs tells us to "search for [wisdom] as for hidden treasure." What would you do if you knew that somewhere in your backyard was "hidden treasure?" You'd sift very carefully through every inch of ground until you found it. This project would become your top priority. You'd undoubtedly be excited to wake up every day and resume your quest.
Celebrate Life!
What is wisdom?
" Wisdom, according to the Bible, is about the sense you make of creation in order to live effectively" ( Uncommon Wisdom, 52). The King James Version of the English Bible refers to the Hebrew book of "Proverbs" as the "wisdom necessary for life."
Creating an Inspiring Vision for Your Life
What is your "vision" for your life? (Your long-term plan, your "ideal" for how your life will turn out, or the legacy you'll leave behind?). Most of us don't have a clue - beyond "getting married", or "having kids" or getting "divorced", or having a successful career as a (you fill in the blank). Each of these is a goal but not much of a vision.
What are You Listening For?
by Monte Wilson
What do you listen for?
When people engage you in conversations, what are you primarily listening for: what is your attention focused upon?
For many people, the instant response is usually, “I dunno … I just listen.” Maybe. Maybe not. Given our history, our values, our beliefs, our desires, our fears, I think we more often than not are listening for something specific, although we are usually not aware of doing this.
Asserting Your Right to Exist
Monte Wilson
I recently worked with a client who had struck a self-made brick wall that was standing in the way of his upward mobility. His 360 Feedback told him that most everyone under, around and over him saw him as being timid. His direct manager, he told me, was constantly telling him that he needed to be more assertive.
Adding Value For The Joy Of It
By Kathleen Roberts
"Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting." Elizabeth Bibesco
In the world of personal and business coaching, we frequently refer to the concept of "attraction" or being "attractive". This, of course, does not have anything to do with physical appearance, but rather indicates a way to live your life so that the things you want come to you - like bees to honey. Over time, many principles of attitude and behavior have been developed to assist us in becoming more "attractive." Adding Value For The Joy Of It is just one of these principles.
Values: Looking Back on a Life Well Lived
Imagine yourself nearing the end of your journey here in this world. You have become the person you wished to be, accomplished such wonderful things, created and maintained healthy relationships, had so many remarkable adventures and continued to follow after God with all of your heart, mind and strength. What a ride…what a journey …what an awesome gift!
The Map is Not the Territory
by Monte Wilson
Even though a map is an artifact, something made, it is not arbitrarily imposed on the land. It comes out of careful observation and accurate recording of what is actually there. It is required that maps be honest. And there is also this: maps are humble—they don’t pretend to substitute for the country itself. Studying the map doesn’t provide experience of the country. The purpose of the map is to show us the way into the country and prevent us from getting lost in our travels.
--From the Introduction of E Peterson’s newest book, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places.
Values: Why do I do what I do?
I read somewhere recently that the vast majority of people who go to the movies prefer those that make them laugh. This really didn't surprise me. We all love to laugh, want to be happy. Even those who love to wade around in melancholy, love to go to movies that make them cry, actually do so because this makes them "happy."
The fact is that you choose to do what you do because you believe it will make you happy: or at least happier than the assumed results of other choices available to you. There is something about your choices that you believe-consciously or unconsciously-that have a peculiar value to you that motivated you.
Affirmations
Creating your own reality
When I first began reading Arthurian legends, I knew that I didn't want to be King Arthur. I wanted to be Merlin. The power of his vision and his magical use of words held me spellbound. When this guy spoke a commanding word the desired object would appear, the malady would be healed, the dead brought back to life, the land covered in dragon's breath.
Focused Awareness: To See or Not to See … THAT is the Question
By Monte Wilson
I use to know this guy who’s calibration skills were often off the charts: his ability to read people’s nonverbal communication was usually so spot on it was spooky. On the other hand, this skill juxtaposed with the fact that he so often was clueless as to his impact on others—how his words, attitudes, demeanor, and behavior affected those in his world—often left me scratching my head as to how such a glaring incongruity could exist in a person who is so utterly aware of what is going on his outer world.
Promises for the Journey
A magnificent journey lies ahead of you!
On your Quest, the discoveries that you will make concerning your capabilities and gifts will boggle your mind. The stupendous glory of all creation that you will learn to enjoy and utilize will be awe-inspiring. The opportunities you will find to make a positive difference in the lives of others will continually humble you. And what about the promises of God that you will experience? No words can begin to describe the wonder of them all.
Skewed Feedback
by Monte Wilson
Few things are as painful than having someone we love falsely judge us, or projecting inaccurate beliefs, attitudes and behaviors onto us.
Why does it hurt us? It hurts because it leaves us feeling invisible to someone we value so highly.
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