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style of life

...for your discussion and decision

...a discipline undertaken that God may better use the instrument of our life together as witness.

by Rev. John England

1. The Day

to be ordered according to definite priorities begin with a quiet time - -

- - to recognize God's presence in meditation, thanksgiving and adoration

- - to confess the ways you turn away from His will and

- - to receive forgiveness

*read the Bible in some systematic way, using a study guide

*as part of your prayer, read the newspaper or listen to the news so that you can see ways to join what God is doing in the world

*and look at your diary, or particular doings of the day, committing it all to God.

*now "get up and go" into action- work - love-struggle - with God alongside

*Prayer begins - -

- - in what you long for, strive for

- - in being willing to lose ourselves in the job of the moment

- - in being fully involved with others wherever we are

- - in brief moments of withdrawal anywhere, to put ourselves consciously where Jesus is... to reflect in the midst of struggle

*Keep a notebook for meditation and prayer notes

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2. Participation

*and responsibility in the worship and study of a local congregation

*especially in the (weekly or monthly) Sacrament of Communion

*regularly with a few others of similar purpose in study, prayer and sharing of the real you -and in planning for Christian action for justice and peace.

3. Identification

*specific sharing, learning, solidarity with persons suffering by prejudice, pain, poverty, exploitation or any urgent need responsibility for others in personal habits

*a personal commitment to peace and justice

*participating in movements which work for wider social justice or reconciliation in the community.

4. Economics

*to be drastic and comprehensive in time, energy and money, so that ample and increasing margins may be available for deepest concerns,

*to practice the utmost simplicity (agreeable with a rich and varied life) in all things.

*consideration of an economic discipline agreed upon in a small group, and contributing to a chosen purpose.

5. Study

*of books other than the Bible, for fuller Christian understanding....

*of literature, world events, contemporary thought...

*at least a solid book once a month in each case.

6. 'Retreat'

*at least annually for 1-3 days;

*for a few hours each month with others of like mind if possible;

*to include a discussion, say, monthly, of your Christian life and the exercise of your work and "ministry" with one another, (such a "confession" could be related to the Lord's Supper);

*a weekly meditation (mental prayer) on a bible

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or devotional passage.

To Hear God Speak Through the Bible…

LISTEN to the Writers

By praying for a receptive mind and will, and for readiness to act on new truth.

Let the ancient writer speak his message within the original context - study his concrete situation and its background.

Use imagination and knowledge (fed by atlases, pictures, commentaries, dictionaries, outlines +) to picture the time.

LISTEN to the Worlds

To the interests and the needs, the strengths and the weaknesses of those who are to receive the message.

See their concrete situation, place yourself within it, and let the everyday world provide the "agenda" of concern.

Mote the barriers of language, prejudice, misunderstanding and social setting, and study the history and socio-political life of man today in a changing world. ++

LISTEN to Gods

By placing your own life in His presence, and with in the biblical event.

Recognize what the living God - known to us in the man Jesus - is now doing abroad in all the world, by His Spirit.

Accept that He is found wherever the self-giving deeds of Jesus are done for others now.

ACT With God for His Worlds

By measuring the life of your nation, your community, your church and yourself by these deeds of Jesus.

For whom and in what situation must the body of Christ act?

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Commit yourself, with others to be joined to God's serving and transforming activity in the world.

+ for example

"A Theological Workbook of the Bible" ed. A. Richardson, SCM, 1970.

"Key Words of the Gospel" Berkhof and Potter, SCM 1964

"The Greatest Old Testament Words" E. Jones, SCM 1964

"1000 Years and a Day" C. Westennan, SCM, 1962

"Marx and the Bible" J. Miranda, Orbis, 1975

++ for example

Far Eastern Economic Review, Hong Kong, Weekly and Annual.

Praxis - WSCF Asia

CCA News - 480 Lorong 2, Toa Payoh, Singapore 12

Concise History of East Asia - C.P. Fitzgerald, Heinemann, 1966.

Religion, State and Ideology in-Asia - M.M. Thomas and M. Abel, EACC, 1965.

Participants at play