CCU Religion Spiritual Exercises

Question#1. 

Discussion Prompt: Spiritual Exercise 2

For this session’s spiritual exercise, choose either the fasting exercise (Holt, p. 90-91) or the simplicity exercise (p. 117-118). Follow the directions and guidance given by Holt.

After you practice one of the above exercises, post as your initial submission a reflection of what you got out of this experience. Stay focused on the uniqueness, spiritual value, and biblical fidelity of the experience rather than on the deep, remedial, or personal work God may have done through the experience.

Do not address any personal information inappropriate for this forum (e.g., “This experience gave me victory over my bad habit of ____________.”). Remain vague on personal information.

Do quote any pertinent Scripture verses or other source material (e.g., course textbooks) that may deepen the content of your reflection. 

QUESTION#2. 

Journal

Journaling is considered a spiritual discipline. Whether you journal currently or have done so in the past, journal practice is worth your effort. Each session you will create a journal entry drawing upon your Holt reading and the weekly prayer exercise. Your grade for the assignment will be based on how comprehensively you answer the Holt questions along with how extensively you engage the prayer exercise. Here’s how it works

.Part 1: Reflect on the Holt reading by answering the following questions:

What was the most profound idea (in terms of applying to your life) and why?

• What bothered you most in this session’s reading and why?
• Part 2: Practice praying by following the prayer exercise below. Answer the questions in the exercise in the form of a personal, for-your-eyes-only, journal entry. HOWEVER, you should submit for this assignment an abridgement of your full answer. Reflect on the value of the experience in the submitted entry and do not include any personal information that you do not want your instructor to read.

(Mark 8:34-38) Doctrine of the Cross. What does Jesus mean when he insists that in order to be his disciple we must take up our cross and follow him? What are the crosses in your present life? Are you carrying them in the same way that Jesus carried his cross to Calvary? What do you need to change in your present attitude toward your crosses? (from Chester P. Michael and Marie C. Norrisey, Prayer and Temperament [Charlottesville, VA: The Open Door, Inc., 1991], 87.)