tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61004726927775626262024-03-29T08:00:32.518-06:00Jay ForrestNondenominational Christian SpiritualityJay Forresthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09990741849237698289noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100472692777562626.post-8616057707016257922024-03-29T08:00:00.004-06:002024-03-29T08:00:00.131-06:00Before Meal Prayers<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u543rZfb6sbXLwRUxLXYraITSArcoyykB9bF89PC0SxSW1caDFkslMtSafFUfRnqgA8HgyAHpCtYfL56aEOznk3_mQPI4ctHllTGr6OuidkLnu5HOEXkk96tSe4Xk9ES3tGM5mglonvcrV2Dfydnd9djNlNUI99xf7Rz95n1iHuyOFVoxRUaYkGCrAM/s300/Jays-Cross-Logo.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jay Forrest" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u543rZfb6sbXLwRUxLXYraITSArcoyykB9bF89PC0SxSW1caDFkslMtSafFUfRnqgA8HgyAHpCtYfL56aEOznk3_mQPI4ctHllTGr6OuidkLnu5HOEXkk96tSe4Xk9ES3tGM5mglonvcrV2Dfydnd9djNlNUI99xf7Rz95n1iHuyOFVoxRUaYkGCrAM/w200-h200/Jays-Cross-Logo.png" title="Gnostic Christianity" width="200" />
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</p>Dear heavenly Father, thank you for this food.<br />Bless it and nourish it to our bodies.<br />Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.<br /><br /><b>Catholic</b><br />Bless us, O Lord, and these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.<br /><br /><b>Eastern Orthodox</b><br />O Christ God, bless the food and drink of Thy servants, for holy art Thou, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.<br /><br /><b>Anglican</b><br />Bless, O Father, Thy gifts to our use and us to Thy service; for Christ’s sake. Amen.<br /><br /><b>Lutheran</b> <div>Come, Lord Jesus, be our Guest, and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.</div>Jay Forresthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09990741849237698289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100472692777562626.post-69182482178127345612024-03-28T08:00:00.011-06:002024-03-28T08:00:00.139-06:00The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u543rZfb6sbXLwRUxLXYraITSArcoyykB9bF89PC0SxSW1caDFkslMtSafFUfRnqgA8HgyAHpCtYfL56aEOznk3_mQPI4ctHllTGr6OuidkLnu5HOEXkk96tSe4Xk9ES3tGM5mglonvcrV2Dfydnd9djNlNUI99xf7Rz95n1iHuyOFVoxRUaYkGCrAM/s300/Jays-Cross-Logo.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jay Forrest" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u543rZfb6sbXLwRUxLXYraITSArcoyykB9bF89PC0SxSW1caDFkslMtSafFUfRnqgA8HgyAHpCtYfL56aEOznk3_mQPI4ctHllTGr6OuidkLnu5HOEXkk96tSe4Xk9ES3tGM5mglonvcrV2Dfydnd9djNlNUI99xf7Rz95n1iHuyOFVoxRUaYkGCrAM/w200-h200/Jays-Cross-Logo.png" title="Gnostic Christianity" width="200" />
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</p>I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible.<br /><br />And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And the third day He arose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end.<br /><br />And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke by the prophets.<br /><br />In one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.<br /><br />_____<br />Source: "The Creed: The Symbol of Faith," Orthodox Church in America. 2024.<br /><a href="https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/prayers/symbol-of-faith" target="_blank">https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/prayers/symbol-of-faith</a><br /><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Note</h2><br />This is the original Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed that was made by the first ecumenical council in Nicea (325) and the second ecumenical council in Constantinople (381). The form of this creed that the Roman Catholic Church adopted on the authority of the Pope (and not on the authority of an ecumenical council), had two additions: "God from God" (Deum de Deo) and "and the Son" (Filioque). This was in violation of the third ecumenical council, held at Ephesus in 431, which forbade setting up a different creed. The Eastern Orthodox argues that only an ecumenical council can change an ecumenical creed. The Roman Catholic Church counters that the Pope is the head of the Church and therefore has the power to do this. The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation, in 2003, declared that the question of the Filioque is no longer a "Church-dividing" issue, which would impede full reconciliation and full communion.<br />Jay Forresthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09990741849237698289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100472692777562626.post-59739996903533805402024-03-26T01:28:00.000-06:002024-03-26T01:28:34.918-06:00The Lord's Prayer (Modern Verson)<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u543rZfb6sbXLwRUxLXYraITSArcoyykB9bF89PC0SxSW1caDFkslMtSafFUfRnqgA8HgyAHpCtYfL56aEOznk3_mQPI4ctHllTGr6OuidkLnu5HOEXkk96tSe4Xk9ES3tGM5mglonvcrV2Dfydnd9djNlNUI99xf7Rz95n1iHuyOFVoxRUaYkGCrAM/s300/Jays-Cross-Logo.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Jay Forrest" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u543rZfb6sbXLwRUxLXYraITSArcoyykB9bF89PC0SxSW1caDFkslMtSafFUfRnqgA8HgyAHpCtYfL56aEOznk3_mQPI4ctHllTGr6OuidkLnu5HOEXkk96tSe4Xk9ES3tGM5mglonvcrV2Dfydnd9djNlNUI99xf7Rz95n1iHuyOFVoxRUaYkGCrAM/w200-h200/Jays-Cross-Logo.png" title="Gnostic Christianity" width="200" />
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</p>Our Father, who is transcendent,<br />honored be your name;<div><br />Your rulership come;<br />Your will be done;<br />on earth as it is in heaven.<br /><br />Give us each day the food we need.<br /><br />And forgive us our sins,<br />as we forgive those who sinned against us.<br /><br />And let us not fall into temptation;<br />but delivering us from the evil one.<br /><br />For yours is the rulership,<br />the power and the glory,<br />for ever and ever.<br /><br />Amen.</div><div><br /></div><div>__________</div><div>A dynamic equivalent translation from the Textus Receptus Greek New Testament by Jay N. Forrest</div>Jay Forresthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09990741849237698289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100472692777562626.post-29804799163903406132024-03-23T19:30:00.003-06:002024-03-23T19:30:32.834-06:00The Apostles’ Creed<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u543rZfb6sbXLwRUxLXYraITSArcoyykB9bF89PC0SxSW1caDFkslMtSafFUfRnqgA8HgyAHpCtYfL56aEOznk3_mQPI4ctHllTGr6OuidkLnu5HOEXkk96tSe4Xk9ES3tGM5mglonvcrV2Dfydnd9djNlNUI99xf7Rz95n1iHuyOFVoxRUaYkGCrAM/s300/Jays-Cross-Logo.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Jay Forrest" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u543rZfb6sbXLwRUxLXYraITSArcoyykB9bF89PC0SxSW1caDFkslMtSafFUfRnqgA8HgyAHpCtYfL56aEOznk3_mQPI4ctHllTGr6OuidkLnu5HOEXkk96tSe4Xk9ES3tGM5mglonvcrV2Dfydnd9djNlNUI99xf7Rz95n1iHuyOFVoxRUaYkGCrAM/w200-h200/Jays-Cross-Logo.png" title="Gnostic Christianity" width="200" />
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</p>I believe in God, <div><span> </span>the Father almighty, </div><div><span> </span>creator of heaven and earth. </div><div>I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. </div><div><span> </span>He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit </div><div><span> </span><span> </span>and born of the Virgin Mary. </div><div><span> </span>He suffered under Pontius Pilate, </div><div><span> </span><span> </span>was crucified, died, and was buried. </div><div><span> </span>He descended to the dead. </div><div><span> </span>On the third day he rose again. </div><div><span> </span>He ascended into heaven, </div><div><span> </span><span> </span>and is seated at the right hand of the Father. </div><div><span> </span>He will come again to judge the living and the dead. </div><div>I believe in the Holy Spirit, </div><div><span> </span>the holy catholic Church, </div><div><span> </span>the communion of saints, </div><div><span> </span>the forgiveness of sins, </div><div><span> </span>the resurrection of the body, </div><div><span> </span>and the life everlasting. Amen.</div>Jay Forresthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09990741849237698289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100472692777562626.post-4929022573530256892024-03-23T19:23:00.004-06:002024-03-23T19:23:27.327-06:00Confession of Sin<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u543rZfb6sbXLwRUxLXYraITSArcoyykB9bF89PC0SxSW1caDFkslMtSafFUfRnqgA8HgyAHpCtYfL56aEOznk3_mQPI4ctHllTGr6OuidkLnu5HOEXkk96tSe4Xk9ES3tGM5mglonvcrV2Dfydnd9djNlNUI99xf7Rz95n1iHuyOFVoxRUaYkGCrAM/s300/Jays-Cross-Logo.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Jay Forrest" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u543rZfb6sbXLwRUxLXYraITSArcoyykB9bF89PC0SxSW1caDFkslMtSafFUfRnqgA8HgyAHpCtYfL56aEOznk3_mQPI4ctHllTGr6OuidkLnu5HOEXkk96tSe4Xk9ES3tGM5mglonvcrV2Dfydnd9djNlNUI99xf7Rz95n1iHuyOFVoxRUaYkGCrAM/w200-h200/Jays-Cross-Logo.png" title="Gnostic Christianity" width="200" />
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</p>Most merciful God, <div>we confess that we have sinned against you </div><div>in thought, word, and deed, </div><div>by what we have done, </div><div>and by what we have left undone. </div><div>We have not loved you with our whole heart; </div><div>we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. </div><div>We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. </div><div>For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, </div><div>have mercy on us and forgive us; </div><div>that we may delight in your will, </div><div>and walk in your ways, </div><div>to the glory of your Name. Amen.</div>Jay Forresthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09990741849237698289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100472692777562626.post-52044157937353568122024-03-23T19:18:00.004-06:002024-03-23T19:18:26.303-06:00A Prayer attributed to St. Francis<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u543rZfb6sbXLwRUxLXYraITSArcoyykB9bF89PC0SxSW1caDFkslMtSafFUfRnqgA8HgyAHpCtYfL56aEOznk3_mQPI4ctHllTGr6OuidkLnu5HOEXkk96tSe4Xk9ES3tGM5mglonvcrV2Dfydnd9djNlNUI99xf7Rz95n1iHuyOFVoxRUaYkGCrAM/s300/Jays-Cross-Logo.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Jay Forrest" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u543rZfb6sbXLwRUxLXYraITSArcoyykB9bF89PC0SxSW1caDFkslMtSafFUfRnqgA8HgyAHpCtYfL56aEOznk3_mQPI4ctHllTGr6OuidkLnu5HOEXkk96tSe4Xk9ES3tGM5mglonvcrV2Dfydnd9djNlNUI99xf7Rz95n1iHuyOFVoxRUaYkGCrAM/w200-h200/Jays-Cross-Logo.png" title="Gnostic Christianity" width="200" />
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</p>Lord, make us instruments of your peace. <div>Where there is hatred, let us sow love; </div><div>where there is injury, pardon; </div><div>where there is discord, union; </div><div>where there is doubt, faith; </div><div>where there is despair, hope; </div><div>where there is darkness, light; </div><div>where there is sadness, joy. </div><div>Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; </div><div>to be understood as to understand; </div><div>to be loved as to love. </div><div>For it is in giving that we receive; </div><div>it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; </div><div>and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. </div><div>Amen.</div>Jay Forresthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09990741849237698289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100472692777562626.post-16982029078254359012024-03-23T19:01:00.001-06:002024-03-23T19:01:10.958-06:00The Lord's Prayer<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u543rZfb6sbXLwRUxLXYraITSArcoyykB9bF89PC0SxSW1caDFkslMtSafFUfRnqgA8HgyAHpCtYfL56aEOznk3_mQPI4ctHllTGr6OuidkLnu5HOEXkk96tSe4Xk9ES3tGM5mglonvcrV2Dfydnd9djNlNUI99xf7Rz95n1iHuyOFVoxRUaYkGCrAM/s300/Jays-Cross-Logo.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Jay Forrest" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u543rZfb6sbXLwRUxLXYraITSArcoyykB9bF89PC0SxSW1caDFkslMtSafFUfRnqgA8HgyAHpCtYfL56aEOznk3_mQPI4ctHllTGr6OuidkLnu5HOEXkk96tSe4Xk9ES3tGM5mglonvcrV2Dfydnd9djNlNUI99xf7Rz95n1iHuyOFVoxRUaYkGCrAM/w200-h200/Jays-Cross-Logo.png" title="Gnostic Christianity" width="200" />
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</p><p>Our Father, who art in heaven, <br />hallowed be thy name;
<br />thy kingdom come; <br />thy will be done;
<br />on earth as it is in heaven.
<br />Give us this day our daily bread.
<br />And forgive us our trespasses,
<br />as we forgive those who trespass
against us.
<br />And lead us not into temptation;
<br />but deliver us from evil.
<br />For thine is the kingdom, <br />the power and the glory, <br />for ever and ever.
<br />Amen.</p>Jay Forresthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09990741849237698289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100472692777562626.post-72728087972586506362024-01-26T15:42:00.015-07:002024-03-16T14:16:06.277-06:00Careful About One Thing Only<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u543rZfb6sbXLwRUxLXYraITSArcoyykB9bF89PC0SxSW1caDFkslMtSafFUfRnqgA8HgyAHpCtYfL56aEOznk3_mQPI4ctHllTGr6OuidkLnu5HOEXkk96tSe4Xk9ES3tGM5mglonvcrV2Dfydnd9djNlNUI99xf7Rz95n1iHuyOFVoxRUaYkGCrAM/s300/Jays-Cross-Logo.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jay Forrest" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u543rZfb6sbXLwRUxLXYraITSArcoyykB9bF89PC0SxSW1caDFkslMtSafFUfRnqgA8HgyAHpCtYfL56aEOznk3_mQPI4ctHllTGr6OuidkLnu5HOEXkk96tSe4Xk9ES3tGM5mglonvcrV2Dfydnd9djNlNUI99xf7Rz95n1iHuyOFVoxRUaYkGCrAM/w200-h200/Jays-Cross-Logo.png" title="Gnostic Christianity" width="200" />
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</p><blockquote>“Be careful about one thing only,” says the Lord - “your relationship with Me,” - Oswald Chambers (cf. Matthew 6:25)</blockquote><p></p>Stop getting distracted by a hundred and one nonessential things. Stay focused Jay. The only thing that really matters is your relationship with God. It doesn’t matter whether the Bible is inerrant, what matters is that God is inerrant. <br /><br />Stop buying books. Seriously, stop! The only thing you should be buying is a good Bible and books on prayer and solitude. And then read them. Pray them. Focus on living the Way instead of studying the Way. You learn in the doing.<br /><br />Again, all questions should come back to how this affects my relationship with God. If it interferes with my prayer time, my solitude, or my spirituality, it should be avoided. This includes family and friends. God must be first.<br /><br />But family is second. Their relationship with God should be the priority here. Sacrifice for their good. Spend quality time with them, but not at the expense of your prayer life.<br /><br />Remember, be careful about one thing only, your relationship with God.<br />Jay Forresthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09990741849237698289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100472692777562626.post-55955659095234175162024-01-01T06:00:00.010-07:002024-03-16T14:15:50.775-06:002024 The Year of Prayer<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u543rZfb6sbXLwRUxLXYraITSArcoyykB9bF89PC0SxSW1caDFkslMtSafFUfRnqgA8HgyAHpCtYfL56aEOznk3_mQPI4ctHllTGr6OuidkLnu5HOEXkk96tSe4Xk9ES3tGM5mglonvcrV2Dfydnd9djNlNUI99xf7Rz95n1iHuyOFVoxRUaYkGCrAM/s300/Jays-Cross-Logo.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jay Forrest" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u543rZfb6sbXLwRUxLXYraITSArcoyykB9bF89PC0SxSW1caDFkslMtSafFUfRnqgA8HgyAHpCtYfL56aEOznk3_mQPI4ctHllTGr6OuidkLnu5HOEXkk96tSe4Xk9ES3tGM5mglonvcrV2Dfydnd9djNlNUI99xf7Rz95n1iHuyOFVoxRUaYkGCrAM/w200-h200/Jays-Cross-Logo.png" title="Gnostic Christianity" width="200" />
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</p><blockquote>"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation" (Matthew 26:41).</blockquote>I declare to myself that this year, 2024, shall be the year of prayer. <br /><br />I have never been a prayer warrior. Yes, I have studied the Bible, theology, and church history. Likewise, I have worshiped and praised. But prayer has always been a weak point for me.<br /><br />It is time to make prayer a priority. It must become a daily habit. No, even deeper. I must learn to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).<br /><br />I will study and practice the Jesus Prayer with the Eastern Orthodox Tradition. Furthermore, I will practice the prayers in the Common Book of Prayer. I will pray the prayers in Luther’s Small Catechism. And I will practice the prayer in the Catholic prayer book of St, Benedict. In all cases, I will learn how to pray from those who have been praying for ages.<br /><br />I will, of course, pair this with Bible reading and meditation. And I will not neglect silence, solitude, and simplicity. My desire is to grow in my relationship with God.<br /><br />Pray every morning and prayer every evening. And pray throughout the day. Remember to remember. “Pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).<br /><br /><div>Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.<br /></div>Jay Forresthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09990741849237698289noreply@blogger.com