Finding Our Way Again

Ancient Practices for Todays World

If the modern era can be characterized
by a cold war between scientific and
religious belief systems, then the
postmodern era can be characterized by
a search for spirituality, a word that
somehow captures this idea of a viable,
sustainable, meaningful way of life.
- Brian McLaren

The GENESIS of Practice

Genesis 12 The Lord said to Abram, Goto the
land that I will show you.

Pilgrimage
Fasting
Holy Meal
Common Prayer

Tithing
Sabbath
Liturgical Year

Why PRACTICES Matter

The Development of Character
In a wild world like ours, your character, left untended,
will become a stale room, a vacant lot filled with
thorns, weeds, broken bottles, [and] raggedy grocery
bags. Your deepest channels will silt in, and you will
feel yourself shallowing.

Why PRACTICES Matter

The Development of Character
Well tended, your character will be a fragrant garden,
an artists home, with walls and halls full of memories
and beauty, a party with live music and good jokes and
pleasant conversation in every corner.

Why PRACTICES Matter

Seeking Aliveness
Spiritual practices could be called life practices, []
because they help us practice being alive. They
develop not just character, but also aliveness,
alertness, wakefulness, and humanity.

Why PRACTICES Matter

Experiencing God
Spiritual practices are also about the Spirit. They are
about somehow driving with our windows wide open to
God, keeping our elbows in the wind and hands surfing
beside the mirror. They are about tuning our radios to
the frequency of the Holy Spirit, turning up the volume,
and then daring to sing along. They are about staying
alert so our eyes see the glory of the coming of the
Lord.

Why PRACTICES Matter

Development of Character
Seeking Aliveness
Experiencing God

Looking AHEAD
WEEK ONE
WEEK TWO
WEEK THREE
WEEK FOUR
WEEK FIVE
Year

Introduction
Practice Makes Possible
Fasting / Holy Meal
Common Prayer
Sabbath / Liturgical

Finding Our Way Again

Ancient Practices for Todays World
Spiritual practices are about life,
about training ourselves to become
the kinds of people who have eyes
and actually see, and who have ears
and actually hear, and so experience
with increasing consistency and
resiliency not just survival, but
LIFE.
- Brian McLaren

A P R AY E R o f S e l f Dedication
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so
guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our
wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to
you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, and always to
your glory and the welfare of your people; through our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.