> My point - yes I am getting to it - is that people have the "Spiro" > experiences when they intentionally learn the Spiritual Disciplines. That is > why people who go on the Walk to Emmaus (UCA sponsored in Australia) and > participate in the Companions in Christ program (Mediacom) often claim to > have significant experiences of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. > > Both these educational programs allow participants the time and space to > actually practice prayer, Bible study and worship - not just talk about > them. Both were originally written by Upper Room (United Methodists, USA) > and just look like educational programs on paper. Why then, do people talk > about the Holy Spirit more when they have done them (and talk about the > increased impact the HS seems to be working in their lives)? > > I believe it is related to the disciplines of discipleship - we are > transformed by prayer, study, Christian community, acts of service, ... even > singing!
Amelia, Well, you may have a point there! Certainly the Lukan emphasis is on Jesus at prayer as a precursor to experiences of empowerment. Perhaps I should ask you to come and lead a prayer retreat? :-) But, I am still left with some questions. First, I admit that my doubt arises from my own experience. As a once young, single minister in a remote parish, I went through a time of feeling extremely isolated while under pressure of difficult pastoral duties. During this time I went on a kind of Emmaus weekend, during which I was sent out to sit on a hill and contemplate. The end result was that I felt not-at-all spiritually empowered and even more isolated than ever. So my own personal and particular experience probably contributes to my doubt. Second, I am still left pondering the fact that both Paul and Luke either spoke of, or portrayed, the Spirit descending on people as they heard the proclaimed word. "Faith comes from hearing", Paul said in his shorthand for experiences of the Spirit; and Luke keeps telling us how, while someone was still preaching, the Holy Spirit came upon the listeners. Is this an ongoing phenomenon in the Uniting Church? - Greg ------------------------------------------------------ - You are subscribed to the mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put in the message body 'unsubscribe insights-l' (ell, not one (1)) See: http://nsw.uca.org.au/insights-l-information.htm ------------------------------------------------------
