Comments on: Spiritual Disciplines: Meditation http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2006/05/30/spiritual-disciplines-meditation/ Thoughts from Australian cartoonist and pastor, Matt Glover Fri, 18 May 2012 02:34:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Alison http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2006/05/30/spiritual-disciplines-meditation/#comment-2874 Alison Fri, 02 Jun 2006 11:24:35 +0000 http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/?p=161#comment-2874 Philippians 4:8 says: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. I know it was God helping me get through some negative thoughts last night- this verse popped into my head- and I went over the words- true, noble, etc, and thought of something I know about God or in the Bible that matches it. When my brain got tired, I moved on to the next word. Funny thing was- I couldn't remember it word for word after that- the verse jumped into my head from- well, I think I know where. This is better than getting bored trying to dwell on a "mantra". (a popular one about exams, this time of year is: "I can wing it!") Does anyone else have minds like those TVs that can show many channels at once? it helps to fill all the active areas with God stuff- not try to focus on one "panel" and get distracted. Philippians 4:8 says:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I know it was God helping me get through some negative thoughts last night- this verse popped into my head- and I went over the words- true, noble, etc, and thought of something I know about God or in the Bible that matches it. When my brain got tired, I moved on to the next word. Funny thing was- I couldn’t remember it word for word after that- the verse jumped into my head from- well, I think I know where.

This is better than getting bored trying to dwell on a “mantra”. (a popular one about exams, this time of year is: “I can wing it!”)

Does anyone else have minds like those TVs that can show many channels at once? it helps to fill all the active areas with God stuff- not try to focus on one “panel” and get distracted.

]]> By: Matt Glover http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2006/05/30/spiritual-disciplines-meditation/#comment-2873 Matt Glover Fri, 02 Jun 2006 05:33:23 +0000 http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/?p=161#comment-2873 A mix of everything Digs. Nothing was prescribed as such, but our people free to spend as much or as little time at each of the stations. There was some kind of 'activity' at each station to help with the focus. Some had Bible passages on the wall, others had Bibles for you to read whatever, some just asked you to write something as a prayer. As I said, a mix of everything. From what you've written on your blog from time to time, I reckon it would go down well with your bunch. A mix of everything Digs. Nothing was prescribed as such, but our people free to spend as much or as little time at each of the stations. There was some kind of ‘activity’ at each station to help with the focus. Some had Bible passages on the wall, others had Bibles for you to read whatever, some just asked you to write something as a prayer.

As I said, a mix of everything. From what you’ve written on your blog from time to time, I reckon it would go down well with your bunch.

]]> By: Digger http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2006/05/30/spiritual-disciplines-meditation/#comment-2872 Digger Fri, 02 Jun 2006 02:05:45 +0000 http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/?p=161#comment-2872 So was the main type of meditation you focussed on bible style, read a passage, go over it in your head, think about it heaps kinda thing? Did you talk at all about Centreing Prayer or anything like that style of meditation? So was the main type of meditation you focussed on bible style, read a passage, go over it in your head, think about it heaps kinda thing? Did you talk at all about Centreing Prayer or anything like that style of meditation?

]]> By: Matt Glover http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2006/05/30/spiritual-disciplines-meditation/#comment-2638 Matt Glover Wed, 31 May 2006 01:39:17 +0000 http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/?p=161#comment-2638 G'day Kevin, Have read Foster's book many times now. It's near the top of my all time favourite list. G’day Kevin,

Have read Foster’s book many times now. It’s near the top of my all time favourite list.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2006/05/30/spiritual-disciplines-meditation/#comment-2634 Kevin Tue, 30 May 2006 17:51:30 +0000 http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/?p=161#comment-2634 Just stumbled upon your site. Have you read Foster's celebration of discipline? Just stumbled upon your site. Have you read Foster’s celebration of discipline?

]]> By: Alison http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2006/05/30/spiritual-disciplines-meditation/#comment-2633 Alison Tue, 30 May 2006 11:56:10 +0000 http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/?p=161#comment-2633 how did you guys feel about focus? I know it was hard to focus/meditate on God- distractions fill your head. I guess filling your head with thinking about God stuff is the way to stay focused on God stuff. No idea how the eastern religious guys can keep it up- you are supposed to not think about ANYTHING but this is of course, pretty un-attainable unless you have reached Nirvana or something. So you drill on a saying. I thought with meditation- "here we go, we are going to have to sit here, legs crossed, and repeat "love love love..." or "forgiveness forgiveness..." without actually thinking about what they mean. Eastern meditation is about denial of self- the goal of Buddhism is to quit coming back. (reincarnation) Christian meditation demands that you USE your mind to work out what God is about. The division between prayer and meditation is somewhat artificial, I agree Matt. How are you going to best think about God if you aren't talking to him? :) "Arrow Prayers" (see Nehemiah 2) don't fit the meditation thing though. Great sermon. Really really cool and God filled. Thank you for letting God speak through you Matt. how did you guys feel about focus? I know it was hard to focus/meditate on God- distractions fill your head. I guess filling your head with thinking about God stuff is the way to stay focused on God stuff.

No idea how the eastern religious guys can keep it up- you are supposed to not think about ANYTHING but this is of course, pretty un-attainable unless you have reached Nirvana or something. So you drill on a saying.

I thought with meditation- “here we go, we are going to have to sit here, legs crossed, and repeat “love love love…” or “forgiveness forgiveness…” without actually thinking about what they mean.
Eastern meditation is about denial of self- the goal of Buddhism is to quit coming back. (reincarnation) Christian meditation demands that you USE your mind to work out what God is about.

The division between prayer and meditation is somewhat artificial, I agree Matt. How are you going to best think about God if you aren’t talking to him? :) “Arrow Prayers” (see Nehemiah 2) don’t fit the meditation thing though.

Great sermon. Really really cool and God filled. Thank you for letting God speak through you Matt.

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