Ski Trip

We will be going skiing Feb 13-16.  Obviously it will be lots of fun, but it will also be a chance to connect with God in a special way.  

Message from Mitch

Hey, just wanted to let you know Mitch wanted to say hi to everyone. He wanted to thank us for having them.- Just wanted to pass the message along. Feel free to leave them a message on Myspace thanking them for the awsome weekend.

D-Now Pictures

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D-Now Review

Friday morning there may have been a lot of uncertainty about Disciple Now. I was waiting anxiously to meet the band and speaker. My previous discussions with them had me feeling optimistic, but there is always that uncertainty when you turn over control of a program to people you have never met.

Youth may have been packing their bags as they got ready, but I think a lot of you still didn't know what the heck this weekend was all about.

Sunday morning though, there was no uncertainty. We all knew what D-now was about. A few weeks before we may have described D-now as "an intense weekend of worship and discipleship" but now that expression finally made sense, because for the last couple days we had lived that very experience.

It's really hard to put this kind of experience into words. We stepped away from Forsyth to a place without cell phone reception but where our inner radio was somehow able to pick up God with a lot less less static than we may have been used to.

We were reminded that being a Christian means being "little Christ's" as we strive to be like Jesus. Discipleship is the practice of following Jesus. Spiritual formation, similarly, is the process of forming our hearts and lives to be more like Jesus. During this weekend we learned various practices that help us as Disciples to draw closer to God and help form our hearts to the likeness of God.

Here's a review of some of the practices we experienced. If you haven't already done so, I'd recommend choosing one and trying it out for a month. See if it helps you follow God and if it helps you allow God to form you into his likeness a little bit more.

Breath Prayer
This practice uses the act of breathing to assist in prayer. It requires a short sentence. For me the sentence was "Lord Jesus, transform my heart." When you have selected a sentence, either from the Bible or some other source (including thinking of something yourself) you are ready to begin.

This prayer is divided into two parts. When you breathe in, pray silently the first portion of your sentence. For me I prayed "Lord Jesus" as I breathed in a deep breath. As I felt breath entering my lungs, filling my body with life giving oxygen, I invited my lord Jesus to fill me with his life. I then breathed out and prayed "transform my heart."

A breath prayer is to be repeated for five minutes, twenty minutes or any amount of time. It can be done in any situation and can help be an aid to prayer without ceasing, prayer walks, or dealing with situations which can lead to sin (such as anger).

Holy Imagination
Studying the Bible for facts is one method. Holy imagination on the other hand is designed not merely to understand the Bible but to experience it (in your mind). As you read a scripture passage pause to imagine yourself there. Feel the breeze on your face, the sand beneath your feet, the heat of the sun. Hear the words Jesus speaks, imagine he is speaking these words to you.

Lectio Divina
Lection Divina, or "holy reading" is another way to read the Bible. First one must select a passage of the Bible. Then read the passage four times following the following steps.

1. Lectio: Simply read through passage slowly.
2. Medetatio: Read the passage again and meditate on what you read. What word or phrase stands out to you?
3. Oratio: Read the passage again and respond to God as you read. Oppen your heart to God in prayer.
4. Contemplatio: Read the passage a final time and rest in God's presence. Feel God with you and simply enjoy the realization of God's presence.

Prayer Walk
Praying doesn't have to be done sitting. It can be done walking around. This is often done in nature but can be done in any situation. Walk slowly, observing your surroundings. Pray to God and use what you see to inspire you to pray more. See trees, birds, spirrels and thank God for nature. As you see people walking by pray for them. Use this walk as a specific time to pray.

Body Prayer
For this we spit up into two groups. I joined the "intense" group outside. It was a little chilly and the ground was wet. We practiced two types of body prayer.
Our Father: We prayed the Lord's prayer ("Our father who art in heaven...") normally except by using our bodies as well as our words. We lifted our hands towards heaven and bowed our heads to God. We got down on our knees and bowed our head on the grass in submission to God. We stood again lifting our hands to our father. It was a powerful experience.
Soaking Prayer: I believe this is named because you are soaking in God's presence. Clearly when the ground is wet it takes on another meaning. We laid on our backs and prayed silently. I could see stars in the sky and branches from a tree nearby. I felt the earth beneath my back. It didn't feel good, but it felt real and for a moment I felt connected to the vast expanse of space and the ground I walk on and take for granted every day. And in that moment I did soak in God's presence.

Centering Prayer
The last type of discipline we practiced was centering prayer. In this prayer you begin by choosing a word or phrase which you will use to help center your mind on God. I chose "Jesus." You then try to clear your mind and center it on God. The key is to think about nothing else. Try to think about nothing for a few minutes. It’s not easy. But each time a distraction pops up use your phrase to pull your attention back to God.

After Edmund Leading Worship

We ran into a scheduling problem with our initial worship band and had to look for a last moment replacement. What appeared to be a major problem turned into a great opportunity. The professional band After Edmund agreed to lead worship even though it was last minute and our budget is considerably less than they typically make.

Band Info
Website: Listen to their music (they will be doing an acoustic worship set for us), check out their pics etc.
Myspace: Add em to your friends

Bio

Having been raised on a hearty intake of indie, classic and experimental rock, along with the fact that members are classically trained and met amidst college music classes, are just a few points of distinction for After Edmund in the modern pop/rock pack. The LaGrange, Georgia-groomed quintet (named after the Edmund character in C.S. Lewis' bestselling book series The Chronicles of Narnia) has been electrifying that regional scene and beyond since 2001, touring tirelessly and refining a potent alternative sound that merges the timeless sensibilities of Pink Floyd and the Beatles with the organic influences of Wilco, the dynamic swells of Keane, plus the band's own razor-sharp rhythms and introspective lyrics

Our Speaker

Michael D. Sciretti, Jr., an experienced youth and spiritual formation leader, will guide us in exploring spiritual disciplines at D-Now.

He has been in youth ministry for nine years, most recently at Lake Shore Baptist Church in Waco, TX. After graduating from George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Michael attended the Epiphany Academy of Formative Spirituality in Pittsburgh, PA.

At present he is pursuing a doctorate in historical studies through Baylor University’s Religion Department and is the Contemplative Resources section editor for Baylor’s journal, Family and Community Ministries: Empowering through Faith.

He and his wife, Rachel, have been married for eight years and have two daughters - Anastasia (2 years) and Zoe (3 months). In addition to spending time with his family, Michael enjoys watching the New Orleans Saints and LSU Tigers, playing basketball, reading and watching works of historical fiction, and playing with his two Welsh Springer Spaniels Britton and Riley.

F.A.Q.

What will we do? A key emphasis will be on connecting with God through worship and spiritual disciplines. We will also spend time getting to know one another better, and have some fun and recreational activities. Of course we are keeping some things secret so there is a little bit of a surprise.

Where will it be? Our "headquarters" will be at Camp Kaleo. A major part of the event will take place in host homes in small "family" groups.

Will Josh be speaking? Nope. He recruited an expert to come in and be our group leader. Hopefully Josh can learn something this weekend too.

Then who is our speaker? Michael Scirretti. He is an experienced youth minister from Waco Texas who specialises in spiritual formation.

This costs money? Yes, $45. This helps offset the many costs such as a speaker, a band, food, t-shirts, etc. The church is paying for a significant amount of this event.

But I can't afford it. Please let Josh know if money is a problem. He wants everyone to be able to participate and can provide scholarships as needed.

Can I invite a friend? Yes, you definitely should.

Will I be able to stay in the same house as my friend? Most likely. We are trying to make sure people are in a house with one or two people they know well as well as some folks they might not know as well. On the registration form be sure to list who you would like to stay with.

My friend isn't a Christian, should I invite him/her? Maybe. Make sure your friend understands that this event emphasises connecting with God. This is not a sneaky "fun event" that tricks people into liking church. Be upfront in letting your friend know that we will be spending time in worship, prayer, have a guest speaker etc.

My friend is a member at another church, should I invite him/her? Yes. This event is not designed to get new members for our church but simply to grow in Christ together.

My parents want to host a group in our home but I don't want to get stuck with them. Don't worry, tell your parents you want their help. I'll put you in a different home.