Patheos

BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Patheos

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Word + Flesh

2012-07-20T05:29:16-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Friday Fast: Ramadan Edition

Last updated on: July 20, 2012 at 5:29 am   By Ragan Sutterfield

Fast from all food, and to the extent safe, fluids during daylight hours. Today marks the first full day of Ramadan.  One way that Christians can journey with Muslims in this period of seeking submission to God is to follow the daily fast which extends from sunrise to sunset each day. Other key practices of Ramadan that would be helpful for Christians are the offering of charity and reading through the Koran, a particularly helpful practice for Christians unfamiliar with... Read more

Fast

Christianity

Fasting

Koran

Ramadan

St. Francis

2012-07-18T16:23:46-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Pray with Those Who Weep

Last updated on: July 18, 2012 at 4:23 pm   By Ragan Sutterfield

Who is weeping in your neighborhood?  What is the source of their sorrow?  Whoever they are, whatever the reason, go and pray with them.  Pray that God will guide you to those whose sorrows God would like to enter with love. Read more

Prayer

mourning

prayer

sorrow

2012-07-16T11:20:54-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Palms Down, Palms Up

Last updated on: July 16, 2012 at 11:20 am   By Ragan Sutterfield

Sit in a straight backed chair and imagine Christ before you. Place your palms down and give all of your thoughts, your worries, your hopes, your whole self to Christ. Place your palms up and receive from Christ love, hope, peace, patience, humility, and Christ’s very person. Read more

Meditation

Uncategorized

Christian meditation

listening prayer

2012-07-16T11:19:38-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Farming as a Spiritual Discipline

Last updated on: July 16, 2012 at 11:19 am   By Ragan Sutterfield

We need practices that help us embody the kinds of virtues to which Christ calls us.  Farming is one hands-on practice through which we can gain these virtues because farming calls us to recognize our limits and our most basic dependence on God. Today, be a farmer.  You don’t have to have fifty acres or even one.  Instead, commit to growing one plant for food and nurturing it until it flourishes and fruits.  Pumpkins and winter squash are an excellent... Read more

Simplicity

farming

gardening

kindle

spiritual discipline

2012-07-15T17:32:10-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Lectio Divina: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

Last updated on: July 15, 2012 at 5:32 pm   By Ragan Sutterfield

Read Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 aloud to your self, pausing on any word or phrase that stands out to you. Then read the passage again silently.  Again, if there is a word or phrase that stands out to you, repeat it to yourself and think about its meaning.  Abide with the passage. Ask yourself why you heard what you heard in the passage? What is it in your life that made you hear what you heard? What might God be telling you? For... Read more

Lectio

lectio divina

Revised Common Lectionary

spiritual reading

2012-07-14T15:14:30-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Difficulty of Pleasure

Last updated on: July 14, 2012 at 3:14 pm   By Ragan Sutterfield

Pleasure can be a difficult thing.  Often we distract ourselves from true, deep pleasures by flitting from one small pleasure to the next.  For instance I love to buy books or look through them rather than enjoying the deeper, more difficult pleasure of actually sitting down to read.  The Sabbath was given as an invitation to take the time for true, deep pleasure.  So take today to truly enjoy the pleasures with which God has filled creation. Read more

Sabbath

Uncategorized

pleasure

reading

Sabbath

spiritual disciplines

2012-07-14T15:09:19-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Day Begins

Last updated on: July 14, 2012 at 3:09 pm   By Ragan Sutterfield

It is helpful, in practicing the Sabbath, to follow the Jewish tradition of marking the beginning of the day with sundown.  The Christian Sabbath would then begin on Saturday night.  At sun down, welcome the rest of God and enter the darkness with a full sense of God’s presence.  Light candles to mark the presence of God. Read more

Sabbath

Christian Sabbath

evening

welcome

2012-07-12T20:08:34-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Go to Those Who Ask

Last updated on: July 12, 2012 at 8:08 pm   By Ragan Sutterfield

Jesus told us to “give to those who ask.”  Many of us solve this problem by avoiding those who might ask something of us.  We see a homeless person and we look the other way, making sure we don’t make eye contact.  Today, make yourself available to those who might ask.  Go to someone who might need help and ask if they need it.  Somewhere along the way you might find Christ or at least a new friend. Read more

Works of Mercy

Give to those who ask

homeless

Jesus

Works of Mercy

2012-07-11T19:19:33-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Statio

Last updated on: July 11, 2012 at 7:19 pm   By Ragan Sutterfield

Monastics have a practice called statio that they use as a tool to be mindful and attentive in everything they do.  Statio is simply stopping one thing before beginning another.  In its negative formulation, this means no multitasking.  Each task, each conversation, each dish washed is completed as a singular event.  One key to practicing statio is to pause for a moment after each task.  For instance, if you are checking Facebook, pause for a moment after you’ve finished and then... Read more

Meditation

Simplicity

monasticism

multitasking

spirituality

statio

2012-07-10T16:27:58-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A Benedictine Day

Last updated on: July 10, 2012 at 4:27 pm   By Ragan Sutterfield

Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Benedict of Nursia.  St. Benedict’s most enduring legacy is his rule of life, which has recently been paraphrased beautifully by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove.  Central to Benedict’s wisdom is living in moderation and balance as we pursue Christlikeness.  For Benedict this includes a daily rhythm of prayer, community life, and work. In honor of St. Benedict’s feast, try to incorporate a Benedictine rhythm into your day.  Wake up, pray (include others if possible), spend... Read more

Prayer

Feast

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

rule of life

St. Benedict



TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the key message of Proverbs about how to live?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Seek power Win battles Pursue wisdom Amass riches


Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Confession Ecclesiology Ecology Fast Feast/Celebration Humility Lament Lectio Lectionary Reflection Meditation Memorization Nonviolence Praise/Thanksgiving Prayer Recollection Reconciliation Review Sabbath Sermons Service Simplicity Solitude Soul WOD Study Submission Uncategorized Vision Works of Mercy Worship

Select a Month June 2015 February 2015 November 2014 September 2014 May 2014 January 2014 August 2013 July 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011


TRENDING AT PATHEOS Progressive Christian

Tax The Rich

There’s a cost-of-living crisis across Europe right now, resulting in protests in...

Six Reasons Why Christians Shouldn't Fear Halloween

It's Halloween! That time of year when kids trick-or-treat for candy, people...

Understanding the Oneness of God and Function of...

Understanding the Oneness of God, the Trinity, and Importance of Spiritual Discernment...

Paul Young’s Return to the Shack: God’s Love...

I’ve been waiting for Wm. Paul Young’s sequel to The Shack for...

Prayer for the Earth, to the Earth

What if we asked the Earth to pray for us? This lyrical...

An Insightful Look at Age-Gap Relationships in Scripture

If you've paid any attention to social media over the past 20...

view all Progressive Christian blogs

Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube