June 13, 2013 Steps to Life Newsletter

Dear STL Supporter

What Will You Do When the Practices of the Emerging Church and Spiritual Formation Knock On the Door of Your Church? How Will You Recognise It? Can You Recognise the Language and the Concepts?

Steadily and silently the tide of spiritual formation is quietly engulfing the worship practices and spiritual growth processes found across the spectrum of Protestant and Catholic churches. Spiritual formation is promoted as an anti-dote for Christians who have grown up on an intellectual knowledge of Biblical truth (doctrine) but are failing to have, or want to enhance, a warm and vibrant experience of knowing God. Surely these are desirable aims. The premise put forward is that for spiritual maturity one needs spiritual formation. To experience the love of God, be genuinely changed in heart and mind and to radiate love, a process of meditation and contemplative prayer is needed to connect you to Jesus, the source of spiritual power. A spiritual director trained in meditative, reflective and contemplative prayer practices can guide you in this process of Christian maturation.

For a Christian there can be no argument that a growing and deepening relationship with God is something to be sought after. So what's the problem and how will you respond when Spiritual Formation knocks on the doors of your church in one of its many guises?

Spiritual Formation: It's Origins, Practices, Deceptions and Hallmarks.

Steps to Life's coming weekend seminar will help you to determine how you will respond to the growing tide of Spiritual Formation flooding into the churches. While the apparent aim of deeper spirituality of the Emerging Church appears laudable for one's spiritual health, it's essential to understand the roots, practices and associations of the Emerging Church Movement, and who it's evangelists are. Do you have friends who would benefit from attending the seminar? Why don't you invite them to attend with you?

Anthony Burns will be leading us through a six part seminar on the topic of Spiritual Formation: It's Origins, Practices, Deceptions and Hallmarks.

Our advertised speaker was to be Pastor Rick Howard, author of Omega Rebellion. Unfortunately Rick has developed a health condition requiring immediate surgery. He is an acquaintance of Anthony's and recommends him highly as a replacement speaker. We wish Rick all the best as he undergoes his surgery and ask that you keep him in your prayers. We are.

Anthony and his wife Cheryl are founders of The Second Advent Ministries - a prophecy, medical and teaching ministry based in Tennessee, USA. Anthony spent eight years performing on stage as a musician. He moved from performance into business. As a performing musician he explored the New Age, Scientology and Sorcery. Now as a converted Christian, Anthony understands the masterpiece of deception that Spiritual Formation can take one into. Anthony thanks God for His intervention in his life. On the Friday evening of the seminar Anthony will share his journey into Christianity and the Seventh-day Adventist Church, with us. Click here for full details

Test Your Knowledge of the Language, Practices and Teachings of the Emerging Church Movement and Spiritual Formation. If you have gaps in your knowledge then Anthony Burns' seminar will help provide answers for you.

Here is the self test.

1. Terms and Language. What do they mean?
• Mantra, meditation, mysticism, the silence, breath prayer, centring prayer, contemplative prayer, universalism, monism, pantheism, panentheism, spiritual formation, multi sensory worship, spiritual disciplines, self contemplation
2. Roots, Leaders and Associates. What are they? Who are they?
• The Desert Fathers, Ignatius Loyola, Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, Basil Pennington, Henri Nouwen, Brennan Manning, Richard Foster, the Quakers, Dallas Willard, Rick Warren, Dan Kimball, Robert Webber, Brian McLaren.

3. Justifications Provided for Introducing Spiritual Formation Practice. How would you respond?
• A pathway to a deeper more meaningful spiritual life.
• We have too much doctrine (head knowledge) and not enough love.
• Knowledge without experience is dead. Do you have an experience to match your knowledge?
• Would you like to experience a closer more personal relationship with Jesus?
• The results of our latest church life survey tell us that we need.......?
• Spiritual Formation is not a new Christian idea. We are just rediscovering it.
• Spiritual Formation is a process for becoming a more mature Christian. Would you like to be a more Christian?
• Are you directly experiencing God? Would you like to?
• We need to be open to God's moving in our lives?
4. Which Theological Universities/Courses Teach Spiritual Formation?
5. What is My Position? How Do I Respond?

Against the Flow - Christian Homeschooling in a Godless World.

Light Education Ministries have been invited by Louise Van der Kraan to conduct a CHESS (Christian Home Education Seminar and Show) on Friday, July 5, 2013, at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 18 Barrington Rd, New Gisborne. All welcome. Bookings essential - 03 5428 6887 or 0425781581. Registration - $10 per person or $20 per family. Click here for full details

• Registration - 9.30 am
• Keynote address - 10.00 am. Against the Flow. Christian Homeschooling in a Godless World.
• Session 1 - 11.30 am. Defining the Issues for your family
• Session 2 - 2.00 pm. Introducing LEM Phonics
• Book and Browse - 2.45 pm.

Steps to Life have been invited to film and produce a DVD of the presentation. Most of LEM presentations are on a Saturday. If you are a homeschooler or are contemplating home education and would like to obtain a copy of the DVD please call STL 03 97394093 to reserve your copy.