Submission

It has been abused! The purpose of the discplines is freedom, and our aim is that freedom, not the discipline itself. The moment the discpline becomes our central focus, we will turn it into law and loose the freedom that should come with it.

Submission is freeing! If only we could see that most things in life are not major issues, then we could hold them more lightly. Usually the best way to handle most matters of submission is to say nothing. There is a need for an all-encompassing spirit of grace beyond any kind of language or action.

The Biblical teaching on submission focuses primarily on the spirit with which we view other people. Jesus' teaching on self-denial is the only thing that will genuinley bring self-fulfillment and self-actualization.

"To have no opinion of oursevles, and to think always well and highly of others, is great wisdom and perfection."

Kempis

Jesus lived a cross-life in submission to his fellow human beings. He was the servant of all. If anything, the sting on the teaching on submission falls on the dominant partner- it is not at all repressive to the submissive!

Spiritual authority is marked by compassion and power. Revolutionary submission would command us to live in submission to human authority until it becomes destructive.

Solitude

We are afraid of loneliness and we assume solitude is the same thing: it is not. The Word cannot resound in our noisy, crowded, everyday lives because there is not enough silence. Loneliness is inner emptiness, but solitude is inner fulfillment. Jesus went regularly to seek out solitary places: so should we! We must seek out the retreating stillness of solitude if we want to be with others meaningfully. We need community AND solitude.

Solitude is not defined by silence, but it always involved the act of listening.

It is easier to be silent altogether than to speak with moderation! We are so often found speaking when we do not need to. There is a profound tendency to use words to justify ourselves. We constantly speak because we are in a constant process of adjusting our public image: we fear so deeply what others will think of us that we talk. We also rely on words to control other people. Silence releases us into the freedom to let our justification rest entirely with God.

Silence and solitude are characteristic of the 'Dark Night of the Soul'. They draw us away from distractions, strip us of overdependednce on the emotional life and let us see God.

How do we find this solitude?
- Take advantage of the little solitudes that fill a day.
- Experiment with doing deeds with no words of explanation.
- Discipline yourself so your words are few and full.
- Take time out regularly (4 times per year?) to spend a few hours in silence, thinking about your path.

The fruit of solitude is increased sensitivity to and compassion for ohers. There comes a new freedom to be with people. There is a new attentiveness to their needs, new responsiveness to their hurts.

"Silence and solitude teach me to love my brothers for what they are, not what they say."

Merton

Simplicity

It's a gift to be simple, it's a gift to be free. Simplicity is an inward discipline that should result in an outward lifestyle; otherwise it just becomes legalism. It ought to be liberating to us! We crave things we neither need nor enjoy. We insist on possessing everything. We call covetousness, ambition; hoarding, prudence; greed, iondustry.

BUT simplicity is not the same as asceticism. Creation is good and is supposed to be enjoyed! Both asceticism and materialism lead to idolatory. Simplicity becomes idolatory when it takes precedence over seeking the kingdom. If you are not seeking the Kingdom first, you are not seeking it at all. Freedom from anxiety is the inward evidence that you are seeking the Kingdom.

3 inner attitudes:
- What we have, we receive as a gift.
- What we have, we entrust to God to care for.
- What we have, we make available to others.

10 principles for the outward expression of simplicity:
1. Buy things for usefulness, not status.
2. Reject anything that is producing addiction in you.
3. Develop a habit of giving things away.
4. Reufuse to be propagandized by the custodians of modern society.
5. Learn to enjoy things without owning them.
6. Develop a deeper appreciation for creation.
7. Look with healthy skepticism on all 'buy now, pay later' schemes.
8. Obey Jesus' instructions about plain and honest speech.
9. Reject anything that will breed the oppression of others.
10. Shun whatever would distract you from your main goal.

To seek first His Kingdom and understand all that implies is to live in simplicity.

Study

God is about the business of transformation: of the WHOLE person, including the mind. Experience alone is not enough to transform us. Our minds also need renewing. We need to understand.

Study is hard: it requires careful thinking, concentration and a singleness of mind. Ingrained habits of thought WILL become a reality to us. This is why repitition is so powerful.

Study is different to meditation: analytical as opposed to devotional. Study can be of verbal sources (books and lectures) or non-verbal sources (nature, events and people).

4 types of study:

- Repertition
- Concentration
- Comprehension
- Reflection

Study is NOT the accumulation of knowledge. We need to learn to really read a book: understand, interpret and evaluate it. We ought to read widely and broadly. We ought to discuss what we read. It is not a waste of time! Read whole books of the Bible in one sitting, read Christian classics. Learn from nature. Learn about yourself. Why must we always justify ourselves? Learn about what controls you. Learn about your culture and the things that shape it. Ponder events and ask questions. Study produces joy!

Fasting

So neglected! Jesus assumes we will do it. The purpose is spiritual: not health. Fasting ought to be private. Humility is greatly grown through fasting and it reminds us of what we ought to be pursuing in life. Regular fasting is a good discipline. MOTIVE is very important: fasting must centre on God. Fasting has power to reveal the things that control us. It helps us to keep our balance in life.

Prayer

Prayer is change; of us and of God's plans. We learn to see things from God's point of view when we pray. All of the 'great' Christians have viewed prayer as the most important part of their lives. Prayer ought to be like breathing. We must LEARN to pray- it is gradual.

Jesus prayed confidently, knowing what the will of his Father was. Seek out people who pray and learn from them. Pray with an expectation that change will occur. Use your imagination- eyes of faith. Tune in to God and find out what you should be praying. Meditate before you pray. Ask God for guidance. We need to have COMPASSION for people when we pray for them: do not proceed without it! Love them.

Pray like a child.

Pray even if you don't feel like it. "Show up and shut up!"

Meditation

Richard Foster has written this gem of a book about the classical disciplines of the spiritual life: Celebration of Discipline. I've pulled out some good quotes and summarized a few of the ideas, but they are not particularly coherent.

---

Slow down and stop hurrying; busy-ness promotes superficiality.

The world needs deep people.

This is not about emptying your mind, but filling it with truth. Eventually, the inward reality will become evident in our outward word and deep. We need to be constantly reminded that the physical, causal approach our society takes is NOT all there is; the spiritual realm is equally real and important. Meditation reminds us of this.

Being in God's presence is what changes us.

It is best to have a specific time and place for meditation. Close your eyes, meditate on an object, a picture. Use your imagination! Pay attention to your dreams. Release your concerns and fears to God and get some of His perspective. Meditate on scripture or an unfolding scene in your imagination. Meditate on the events of your day.