Hello and welcome to all. Just call me “Joanie” and I hope you will join this Christian blog and we can have some lively chats. This blog is non-denominational and non-controversial. It is designed to present biblical history, and other biblical-related Christian topics. You will not find “hell-fire and damnation” preaching here. Open discussion is encouraged. I will contribute articles to share with you and hope we can learn more about the Bible, it truly is like an onion; layer upon layer.
Special note: The 5-part series on Simon Magus and other series do not appear in order. Scroll up or down to find the next part on the series. Sorry about this being out of order.
Liminal space or existence in
religion is a sacred space in which dwells a sacred time. It means a threshold;
for the Christian, it means we live between heaven and the world. We are ready
on the threshold to step over into heaven, but have not yet received the call.
Living in the liminal (limen) is also described as “in-between-ness” and “already,
but not yet.” For the Christians who are
part of the Kingdom of God on Earth, this means the “already” pertains to
victory over sin, death, and hell (1 Cor. 15); the “not yet” means that
Christians are still living in a fallen world where sin is rampaging. We live
with God’s promise of victory, but have yet to enjoy the glory of heaven. Paul
wrote of this in Philippians 3:18-21. And while we wait, we live in the limen,
waiting for our call to cross over the threshold.
Theologians point to two examples in
the Old Testament of liminal space. One of the examples is about Jacob’s
encounter with God between Heaven and Earth (Gen. 28:12-19); the other is about
Isaiah’s meeting with God in the temple of holiness (Isa. 6:1-6). Theologians
also suggest that a person experiences the revelation of sacred knowledge from
God in this manner.
The Scriptures tell us about God and we can get a head
and heart knowledge of Him in a somewhat single dimension, but we know that God
is more than that because His fundamental nature is a mystery beyond our full
understanding, and it requires us to go beyond reading about Him to truly know
Him by using all our five senses. Church services often include the experience
of all our senses in symbolism and rites to bring us into a worshipful state of
mind. In many churches, when a person enters, they see inspirational
stained-glass windows; the Word of God is heard both in sermons and songs
praising God. People touch each other in greetings, their Bibles, their
hymnals. The faint scent of incense wafting from the censer can be detected and
the taste of bread and wine from the communion lingers – all reminders of Jesus
Christ, of the Father, of the Holy Spirit. When entering into the state of the
senses to be with God invite Him in and throw out your ego. To love God completely, we need to submit completely, worship Him
with all your senses and your mindset should be adjusted toward a relationship
with Him. “Loving God is an act of the will that must engage the whole person”
(K. Boa, 2001).
”Love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul, and with your entire mind and with all
your strength” Mark 12:30 NIV).
We should think of God as someone we
can walk and talk with on a daily basis, not as some far-off aloof deity. I
cannot count the times I have heard someone say that they feel close to God
when they spend time walking in a park or other wooded area where they could meditate
and take a leisurely nature walk. A friend who mentors women at her church uses
a nature walk in her ministry. She took me on one of her walks to demonstrate
how calming and meditative the walk could be using all five senses in
worshiping God.
At the head of the trail, she told
me that conversation would be kept to a bare minimum and we said a simple
prayer asking God to instill the mindset that we wanted to have a relationship
with Him and that we were submitting ourselves to His will, and we were willing
to worship Him with our entire range of senses. I recommend that you
concentrate on one sense at a time for a better and more memorable experience.
How you choose the order of your senses (see, hear, touch, smell, and taste) is
up to you.
For example, let’s say you are
taking this walk and will be concentrating on sight as your first sense. Look
around you; what do you see? Really see? Is it the shape of leaves, insects,
birds in flight, a creek, colors of nature, the sky and the clouds? They are
all parts of God’s creation we look past every day in our busy lives and all
which have a purpose for being. Stop along the walk, close your eyes. What do
you hear? Do you hear bird songs, the hum of cicadas, the chirp of crickets,
the wind rustling through the leaves, water trickling over rocks, the voice of
God? What are you stopping to touch? Is
it the texture of bark, the smoothness of a river rock, a pretty wildflower,
the wind touching your skin, the hand of God? As you continue your walk with
God, what do you smell? It is the earthy fragrance of loamy soil and the scent
of wildflowers blending for natural incense? God gave directions to Moses in
Exodus 30 on how to make incense especially for Him. And God likes the aroma of
Christ in Christians (2 Cor. 2: 15-16) As for taste, it could be the sweet
taste of life for the experience of walking with God or the actual taste of
something you may find on your walk such as berries. I would like to think it
was both. At trail’s end, it would be nice to show your appreciation for God’s
creations in the natural world with a “thank you prayer.”
“Rejoice
always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus for you9” 1 Thessalonians 5.
Yes, Protestants have a rosary. Most of us are familiar with the Roman
Catholic rosary, but every major religious tradition has included the use of
prayer beads or a prayer rope tied in intricate knots. The tradition goes back
thousands of years. The Anglican/Episcopal (Protestant) rosary is different
from the Roman Catholic rosary in that it has fewer beads and has no set
prayers. You pray what is on your heart. There has been a recent surge of
interest among Protestants to use the Anglican rosary and women’s groups in some
churches are making them to distribute to encourage prayer. Because other Protestant denominations use the
Anglican rosary, it will be referred to as the Protestant rosary. The Anglican
Church was the first Protestant breakaway church from the Roman Catholic
Church. This article will explain the origin and meaning of the Protestant
rosary, how to pray it, and how to make your own to make it more personal.
Origin of Christian Rosaries
The origin of the Roman Catholic
rosary occurred sometime between the 12th and 15th
centuries. It was in the mid-1980s, when The Rev. Lynn Baumann created the
Anglican rosary to aid in completive prayer1. There is a difference between meditation
and contemplation. Meditation is the active partner of contemplation in that it
involves action (unhurried) through reading scripture and quiet outward prayer
(usually). Contemplation is the quiet, still partner that involves being
patient and waiting to receive what God offers while you pray inwardly because
you have entered into the prayer of Jesus; meaning that you are spiritually
alive 2.
Why pray a rosary?
The main reason for praying a rosary is that it helps deepen your
prayer life. The touch of the beads aids in focusing on your prayers, and helps
keep your mind from wandering. What lies in your heart, your focus, and your
intent are important. The rosary is only one of several ways to engage in
prayer. “Remember, you are free to pray
the rosary any way you wish. It is a private devotion3.” We pray to talk to God and to listen to Him.
The true purpose of prayer is to be calm in our spirit to allow God to speak to
us. Praying the rosary is an aid to help us enter into His presence.
Difference between Catholic and Protestant
(Anglican) rosaries
It may help to know the difference between the Roman Catholic and the
Protestant rosaries, especially if you want to make your own or as a gift. The
Protestant or Anglican rosary is made up of 33 beads while the Catholic rosary
has 59. The Anglican rosary is divided into four weeks of seven days each; the
Catholic rosary has five divisions of ten (decade) beads each. A single large
bead separates the divisions on both rosaries. The Anglican rosary features a
plain cross, while the Catholic rosary features a crucifix and small religious medal4. The rosaries are prayed by touching the cross
and each successive bead in order. The difference in this is that there are no
set prayers for the Anglican prayer beads. Instead, the rosary is to be an aid
to meditative prayer that Christians can adapt to their own spiritual needs.
The Catholic rosary is prayed in a traditional devotional pattern that also involves
the recitation of Hail Mary on each of the decade beads5. A word of caution here, any kind of prayer in
any denomination can become empty phrases. Always pray from the heart.
Symbolism
The Anglican rosary was designed to be symbolic as well as a prayer and
meditation aid. The 33 beads represent the 33 years Jesus lived among us. The
cross is a reminder of why Jesus died on the cross, our identity in Him, and to
pick up the cross and follow Him. The Cruciform (large) beads form the points
of the cross and also represent the four cardinal points of the earth, the four
seasons, the sanctity of time, and the Creation. The large bead above the cross
is called the Invitatory bead which is an invitation to trust God, offer our
worship and praise. When the rosary is arranged in a circle, it represents
God’s unending love and our Christian unity. The four groups of seven beads are
called Weeks. The seven beads represent the seven days of the Creation and the
Sabbath, our offerings, time, and lives. Seven is associated with completion
and perfection in Hebrew and Christian mysticism. This does not mean that we
have achieved perfection yet, but it is the continuing work of God in each of
us toward that goal6.
According to Delaney (2013), it is traditional to use the number seven
to represent spiritual perfection and contemplation. Furthermore, according to
tradition, the rosary circle is prayed in an unhurried manner, bead by bead,
three times to emphasize the Holy Trinity. “In the Middle Eastern tradition, 99
is the complete number for Divine names,” (Delaney, 2013). He further states
that if the cross is prayed at the beginning or the end, then the total would
be 100, matching the Orthodox rosary and signifies the fullness of creation.
Following the rosary prayers, a period of silence is usually observed for
reflection (Delaney, 2013).
Praying the rosary
If you have not used a rosary, it will take a
little practice to become comfortable using it. If at all possible pray around
the rosary three times because as you settle down in the prayers, you will go
deeper into them and meditation and contemplation are made more possible. Begin
with holding the cross in one hand and slide the fingers of your hand over the
beads. The first large bead above the Invitatory bead is the first Cruciform
bead and where you begin your journal around the rosary to the right
(counterclockwise). The rosary is also known as the circle of prayer
Following is an example of praying the rosary. You can write your own
prayers, use scriptures, or use prayers from books printed for this purpose and
inspirational poetry. If you have a Common Book of Prayer as used by the
Episcopalians, there are many appropriate prayers that could be used. Let us
begin.
The
cross: In the name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
The
Invitatory bead: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
The
Cruciform beads: Be the eye of God dwelling with me, the foot of Christ in
guidance with me, the shower of the Spirit pouring on me, richly and
generously.(Pray this on each of the four beads). After the first Cruciform
bead, pause and offer thanksgiving, intercessions, and petitions, and then
continue on with the Weeks beads. If you think of another prayer, pause after
the next Cruciform bead and offer that prayer.
The
Weeks: (Pray each phrase on a separate bead; repeat on all four sets; on the
last round drop down to the Invitatory bead and cross and close).
I bow
before the Father who made me,
I bow
before the Son who saved me,
I bow
before the Spirit who guides me in love and adoration,
I praise
the Name of the one on high.
I bow
before thee Sacred Three,
The ever
One, the Trinity7.
The
Invitatory (on the last time around): The Lord’s Prayer.
The
Cross (on the last time around): Let us (I) bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.
“Remember, you are free to pray the rosary any way you wish. It is a private devotion8.”
Making the rosary
The rosary is a time-honored pathway to prayer. You can purchase an
Anglican rosary at most Christian book stores, online at Amazon or specialty
sites, and some jewelry stores, or make your own. By making your own rosary, it
is personal and more meaningful to you. I suggest that if you make it; start
with the basic 33-bead rosary to give you a feel for how it is constructed. You can make it as simple or as elaborate as
you wish. The rosary is made for prayer and it is up to you and how you want to
use your creativity.
ExampleThe rosary below was purchased online and is made from olive wood. Spacer beads are used before and after the Cruciform (large) beads and the Invitatory bead above the Cross. The bead count for this rosary is 28 medium beads, 4 large Cruciform beads, I Invitatory bead, and a cross, and 10 small spacer beads.
Example
Protestant Rosery
Photo courtesy of R. Millsap (2009)
References
1Delaney, C. (2013). Differences between the Anglican & Catholic rosary.
3Gurri, M.
Ph.D. (2013). Anglican prayer beads:
Prayer for joyful journeys. Lexington, KY Joyful Rhythms
4Delaney, C. (2013). Differences between the Anglican & Catholic rosary.
5Ibid.
6Rick Millsap. (2009). The
Anglican rosary. Retrieved from www.trinityreno.org/Anglican%20Rosary.pdf
7Ibid. Poem
by Sister Brigit, Carol, S.D.
8Ibid. Quote
by Pope John Paul II.
9Life Application Study Bible –New International Version (NIV). (2005). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
Provocative thoughts . . . Is the Bible more than a religious tome?
Copyright
2017 by Joan Berry
Generations
past and present were/are taught that the Bible
is only a book about the Jewish nation and moral laws that apply to all
regardless of the age in which we live, and that its contents are a precursor
to the arrival of the Messiah. All mentioned is true, but not complete. It is
common knowledge that some clergy, archaeologists, anthropologists, and related
scholars have asserted that the Bible
is not a book to be relied upon for science, accurate history, or some concepts
of religion. The Bible contains poetry, songs, history, prophecy, parables,
diet, laws, what the people of God experienced and what they saw and recorded;
all inspired by God.
Following
is an example of a little mystery in Job. Those who take the Bible literally may pick up on what the
following verses in Job are describing: God said to Job (Ch. 40)–
“Look now at
the behemoth, which I made along
with you;
He eats grass like an ox. 16 See now, his strength is in his hips,
And his power is in his stomach muscles. 17 He moves his tail like a cedar;
The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit. 18 His bones are like
beams of bronze;
His
ribs like bars of iron.
The
conclusions that many scholars have arrived at is that the beast may be a
metaphor, an elephant, hippopotamus, ox, or a crocodile. However, ‘the tale of
the tail’ says otherwise. “He moves his tail like a cedar” — The crocodile
neither grazes on grass nor lifts its tail up high as do some reptiles. An
elephant, hippopotamus, and ox do not have tails like cedars. The tails are
short and fat. However, there was an animal that does fit the description in
the family of the sauropod dinosaurs. Specimens of
this dinosaur were found and some of the tails were as large as a tree trunk.
The animal had a long neck and the huge tail helped balance the sauropod. Some
descriptions include a description of the hips. That dinosaurs existed with
mankind should not be a surprise. Fossils of human and dinosaur footprints
sites were found in recent years in Texas where the prints were side-by-side.
It has also been suggested that the animal was a stegosaurus dinosaur.
