Thomas Keating Centering Prayer Guidelines Intro

Centering Prayer, eight minute introduction by the founder, Fr. Thomas Keating. This edited, brief "How To" is designed to encourage further exploration of the ancient mystical prayer practice that can lead to Contemplation

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Centering
• Prayer
• Thomas
• Keating
• Meditation
• Christian
• Education
• Contemplative
• Outreach
• relationship
• God
• Guidelines
• Intro

[Prophets4Christ]

What purpose is a symbol for? Ive been using this method of prayer for along time as described in books by: Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, Madame Guyon, and Andrew Murray to name a few with great success. I only focus on His presence with all my soul. Can you elaborate about using a symbol please.

[lawrenceweiss]

@Prophets4Christ Hello, P4C, sorry to be late responding. The word is only a symbol to remind us of our intention to consent to the presence and action of God within. Being human, we find it difficult to keep our minds from drifting. It has no more value than a road sign. It is not a repeated mantra, it is not an object of worship. It is solely used to "refocus" oneself from where our thoughts are drifting, back to our original intention to be silent, still and attentive in God's presence.

[SuperSerenity007]

For the people who leave remarks about this not being bibicial, its a shame, any kind of relationship where people are seeking God more is all good. Why should i get on this site and discourage, becuz i dont agree. The so-callled bibical christan dosent even meditate and thats a shame. And the only time they think their in His Presence is when their in church. Keep Seeking and You Shall Find.

[hoagy918]

@windstorm1000 God bless you, may you come to a revelation of the Truth, and may you fulfill all the intentions God has for you. Shalom

[windstorm1000]

@hoagy918 Sodom's destruction, I repeat, was a xtreme abuse of guests by not following hospitality laws-Read bk below: Chap. 1:"The Sin of Sodom: Inhospitality". NO verse saying 'to have sex with them'--you've got a faulty bible or are making it up to create mischief. The 2 words 'to know'--unlikely about sex. "2 know" might have meant S. men were asking why these 2 strangers were there. Nothing to do w sodomy--a twisted term to conveninetly link one's Biblical prejudices--like yours.

[windstorm1000]

@hoagy918 "The sin Paul refers to is not homosexuality but Gentile idolatry--it's his concern thruout the whole of the chap.1." (Ibid) Leviticus also concerned w idolitry-- not homosexuality. Simple minded Bible thumpers, such as yourself-who don't know the cultural meaning--use the B. like red flags to ignite YOUR own prejudices--regularily bring these 2 verses out to thump gays & lesbians on the head. The Bible also states to stone one's wife if she goes astray."God's" law, right?

[windstorm1000]

@hoagy918 "A naive reading of the Scriptures has led many sincere followers of Jesus astray. They oppose & oppress lesbian & gay people in Paul's name. Bolstered by socital prejudice & zealous in their sexual self-righteousness, Christians have been misreading Paul''s letter [and other Bibilical tracts] & rejecting members of the Christian community because of it..fomenting hatred & fueling oppresion, committing grave injustices."--What the Bible REALLY says about Homosexuality (book)

[windstorm1000]

@hoagy918 I don't give a f--- what's acceptable to you--this is my life and i LOVE it. And God doesn't destroy what he creates. So when you point a finger at me, just remember 4 fingers are pointing back at you. 'When you tell someone to take the cinder out of their eye, take the timber out of yours.

[windstorm1000]

@hoagy918 If I'm going to hell, I'll meet you there, because you'll be there for hypocricy.

[hoagy918]

@windstorm1000 Genesis 19:4-7 "Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house.They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him and said, “No, my friends. Don’t do this wicked thing." Don't kid yourself, you know the cities were not destroyed "because of hospitality reasons."

[hoagy918]

@windstorm1000 Romans 1:26-27"Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error." I love you as a person made in the image of God, but your gay lifestyle is not acceptable to the Lord or me.

[windstorm1000]

@hoagy918 U are getting your Bible all wrong. Sodom & Gomorrah were destroyed because of hospitality reasons. I will never repent for being the person I am--as God made me. Its not a lifestyle choice--its genetic. U don't hang around any gay people, do you. Some day u will find out that a family member is gay & u will either choose love--or hate. Compassion in faith. I hope u understand, & I love you sister in spite of your very human frailties which are not supported by Scripture.

[hoagy918]

@windstorm1000 Jesus is the Son of God, He is God. He loves you and died for you. He defends you and wants you to take Him as your Savior so you can go to heaven when you die. However, God did not make you gay. That is a demonic lie. God made it clear that He did not condone homosexuality when He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. I love you as a brother, but I cannot agree that your lifestyle is acceptable to God. Repent means to change your mind. The Holy Spirit can help you.