January Response

January 1999

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Bible Study: "When God Speaks to Women" by Mary Lou Santillian Baert

This Bible study looks at the parable of the woman, who having 10 silver coins, lost one. Jesus indicates that God is like that woman. This study looks at this story and others of women. It explores women's calling from God, what it means to have a calling, and models of response from our foremothers.

"Spiritual Disciplines: To Know God" by Barbara B. Troxell

Why bother with spiritual disciplines? This article explores a way of awakening the presence of God within ourselves; why it is important to have spiritual disciplines; and specific disciplines of different people. "A spiritual discipline is a teaching habitually followed for the sake of growing in the knowledge of God." This article also features sidebars on "Knowing God in the Rush of Life," and "Finding God Away from Home." Read another sidebar called "A Teen Seeks God."

"When We Pray" by Annette Vanzant Williams

When we pray, who hears our prayers? God hears our prayers the first time we pray. This article explores the way we communicate with God. It looks at the power of prayer, the African-American tradition associated with praying unceasingly, and a formula for praying.

"Korean Prayer Life" by Chinsoo Kim

This article looks at the outstanding characteristics of prayer life for Korean Christians, called Sae-Byuk Kido, the pre-dawn-hour prayer, and Tongsung Kido, praying out loud in unison. Read this article.

"Meditation: Waiting Upon God" by Hazelyn McComas

Meditation is the act of giving time back to God. It is intentional, open, receptive, with no expectations. This article is helpful for people considering meditation as a practice. It suggests steps for meditating thirty minutes each day, the difficulty of meditation, the depths of it, and the existence of God within it, until there is a transformation.

"Spiritual Inheritance from the Earth" by Anita Phillips

To live as a Native American is to live in the midst of the spirit. This article looks at tribes who coexist with unique language, history and culture, claiming a sovereign identity. Yet, common threads are manifested in ways Native-American people experience Creator God. The dominant society calls this "spiritual disciplines." This article explores what it means to be a Native American Christian and the spiritual disciplines that arise from knowing Creator God made everything in creation to be inter-related. Read this article.

"Faithful Discipleship: Making a Difference" by Anna Rhee

The 14th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew begins with an account of the death of John the Baptist, who was arrested and imprisoned for speaking truth to power. John the Baptist was a prophet, a teacher, and one who didn't shy away from controversy. Jesus responded to the death with compassion. So, what does this story say to us. This article looks at what it means for United Methodist Women to take action and be out-front on issues.

"Teaching Children to Love God" by Faye Wilson

How do we teach children to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37) and to "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39)? This article looks to the challenge of teaching these commandments in the midst of societal influences, including television, computers, books, magazines, and peers.

"The Fast I Choose" by J. Ann Craig

What is a fast? Who does it? Why fast? This article looks at the spiritual discipline of fasting--foreign to most U.S. Christians. It explores spiritual models, cautions and exhortations of fasting, and gives ideas for doing it in today's culture.

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