A worthy passage from Thomas a'Kempis

[Chuck7]

"What, indeed, gives more trouble and affliction than uncontrolled desires of the heart?
A good and devout man arranges in his mind the things he has to do, not according to the whims of evil inclination but according to the dictates of 6 right reason. Who is forced to struggle more than he who tries to master himself? This ought to be our purpose, then: to conquer self, to become stronger each day, to advance in virtue.
Every perfection in this life has some imperfection mixed with it and no learning of ours is without some darkness. Humble knowledge of self is a surer path to God than the ardent pursuit of learning. Not that learning is to be considered evil, or knowledge, which is good in itself and so ordained by God; but a clean conscience and virtuous life ought always to be preferred. Many often err and accomplish little or nothing because they try to become learned rather than to live well.
If men used as much care in uprooting vices and implanting virtues as they do in discussing problems, there would not be so much evil and scandal in the world, or such laxity in religious organizations. On the day of judgment, surely, we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done; not how well we have spoken but how well we have lived."

I finished Andrew Murray and have found another online book .I've read part of it before and really liked it. Let me know if you would like it posted as well. The book is The Immitation of Christ.

[Denny]

I heard he was a mystic. Havn't read any of his works.Any chapter you suggest to get a idea of his writings

[Chuck7]

Thomas..to my understanding was a devout monk. I can see some catholic teachings in there but for the most part you see the writings of a monk is sold out to God. The book is more like a devotional. It is also one of the best sellers along with John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.

He simply has written about a page each on different spiritual topics...I will post one..

The Fourteenth Chapter
Avoiding Rash Judgment
TURN your attention upon yourself and beware of judging the deeds of other men, for in judging others a man labors vainly, often makes mistakes, and easily sins; whereas, in judging and taking stock of himself he does something that is always profitable.
We frequently judge that things are as we wish them to be, for through personal feeling true perspective is easily lost.
If God were the sole object of our desire, we should not be disturbed so easily by opposition to our opinions. But often something lurks within or happens from without to draw us along with it.
Many, unawares, seek themselves in the things they do. They seem even to enjoy peace of mind when things happen according to their wish and liking, but if otherwise than they desire, they are soon disturbed and saddened. Differences of feeling and opinion often divide friends and acquaintances, even those who are religious and devout.
An old habit is hard to break, and no one is willing to be led farther than he can see.
If you rely more upon your intelligence or industry than upon the virtue of submission to Jesus Christ, you will hardly, and in any case slowly, become an enlightened man. God wants us to be 20 completely subject to Him and, through ardent love, to rise above all human wisdom.

[Leafrivermac]

[align=left]Chuck, I found this:
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Your continued donations keep Wikipedia running![/align] Thomas Ã* Kempis From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search[/align] [/align] Thomas Ã* Kempis[/align] [/align] [/align] [/align] Monument on Mount Saint Agnes in Zwolle.[/align] [/align] [/align] [/align] The reliquary with the relics of Thomas Ã* Kempis[/align] [/align] [/align] [/align] Thomas Ã* Kempis on Mount Saint Agnes (1569)[/align] [/align] [/align] Thomas Ã* Kempis (Thomas Hemerken, Thomas Hämerken, Thomas van Kempen) (1380 - 1471) was a Renaissance Roman Catholic monk and author of Imitation of Christ, one of the most well-known Christian books on devotion.
He was born at Kempen, Germany (40 miles northwest of Cologne) in 1380 and died near Zwolle (52 miles east-north-east of Amsterdam) in 1471. His paternal name was Hemerken or Hämmerlein, "little hammer."
In 1395 he was sent to the school at Deventer conducted by the Brethren of the Common Life. He became skillful as a copyist and was thus enabled to support himself. Later he was admitted to the Augustinian convent of Mount Saint Agnes near Zwolle, where his brother John had been before him and had risen to the dignity of prior. Thomas received priest's orders in 1413 and was made subprior in 1429.
The house was disturbed for a time in consequence of the pope's rejection of the bishop-elect of Utrecht, Rudolph of Diepholt; otherwise, Thomas' life was a quiet one, his time being spent between devotional exercises, composition, and copying. He copied the Bible no less than four times, one of the copies being preserved at Darmstadt in five volumes. In its teachings he was widely read, and his works abound in Biblical quotations, especially from the New Testament.
His life is no doubt fitly characterized by the words under an old picture first referred to by Francescus Tolensis: "In all things I sought quiet and found it not save in retirement and in books." A monument was dedicated to his memory in the presence of the archbishop of Utrecht in St. Michael's Church, Zwolle, on November 11, 1897.
Thomas Ã* Kempis belonged to the school of mystics who were scattered along the Rhine from Switzerland to Strasburg and Cologne and in the Netherlands. He was a follower of Geert Groote and Florentius Radewijns, the founders of the Brethren of the Common Life.
His writings are all of a devotional character and include tracts and meditations, letters, sermons, a life of Saint Lydewigis, a Christian woman who remained steadfast under a great stress of afflictions, and biographies of Groote, Radewijns, and nine of their companions. Works similar in content to the Imitation of Christ and pervaded by the same spirit are his prolonged meditation on the life and blessings of the Savior and another on the Incarnation. Both of these works overflow with adoration for Christ.
The following quotes are attributed to him:
"If thou wilt receive profit, read with humility, simplicity and faith, and seek not at any time the fame of being learned."
"In omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro" (I have searched for peace everywhere, but have not found it anywhere except for in a corner with a book).
"At the Day of Judgement we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done."
The Imitation of Christ, Book I, ch. 3 "If, however, you seek Jesus in all things, you will surely find Him. "
The Imitation of Christ, Book II, ch. 7

[Leafrivermac]

Mysticism From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search[/align] Mysticism from the Greek μυστικός (mustikos) "an initiate" (of the Eleusinian Mysteries, μυστή�ια (musteria) meaning "initiation"[1]) is the pursuit of achieving communion or identity with, or conscious awareness of, ultimate reality, the divine, spiritual truth, or God through direct experience, intuition, or insight; and the belief that such experience is an important source of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Traditions may include a belief in the literal existence of dimensional realities beyond empirical perception, or a belief that a true human perception of the world transcends logical reasoning or intellectual comprehension. A person delving in these areas may be called a Mystic.
In many cases, the purpose of mysticism and mystical disciplines such as meditation is to reach a state of return or re-integration to Godhead. A common theme in mysticism is that the mystic and all of reality are One. The purpose of mystical practices is to achieve that oneness in experience, to transcend limited identity and re-identify with the all that is. The state oneness has many names depending on the mystical system: The Kingdom of Heaven, the Birth of the Spirit, the Third Awakening, Illumination, Union (Christianity), Irfan (Islam), Self-Realization, Reintegration, Nirvana (Buddhism), Samadhi (Hinduism), and Gnosis, to name a few.
The term "mysticism" is often used to refer to beliefs which go beyond the purely exoteric practices of mainstream religions, while still being related to or based in a mainstream religious doctrine. For example, Kabbalah is a significant mystical movement within Judaism, and Sufism is a significant mystical movement within Islam. Gnosticism refers to both a mystical movement within Christianity and various mystical sects which arose out of Christianity. Some have argued that Christianity itself was a mystical sect that arose out of Judaism. While Eastern religion tends to find the concept of mysticism redundant, non-traditional knowledge and ritual are considered as Esotericism, for example Buddhism's Vajrayana. Vedanta is considered the mystical branch of Hinduism.

[Chuck7]

Thanks brother Leaf,

I have been blessed by most of the things he has written. I noticed Thursady as we had our Thursaday prayer meeting before school how that all 7 of us were of different denonminations...yet we are all Christain. You could see our theological beliefs emerced in our prayers and I was actually blessed. I'm most closely a holiness so I had that element..then an Episcopal prayed and you got a good flavor of grace and then a baptist, Lutheran etc. All of us love God and it was very neat to see the variety and yet see the unitity in agrreeing with our petitions , thanksgivings, confessions and praise.

I reckon I may like Thomas because I consider topics like ..silence, fasting, ministering to the poor , sabaticals very importance. The only perfect book is the Bible ,so like any book written by man I read very carefully . I eat the meat and throw out the bones.
God bless brother,
c7

[Leafrivermac]

I'm pretty much the same way as far as what I read Chuck. I do refrain from some denominational readings tho as I find more bones than meat.
My purpose of pasting the last post especially tho was to point out that "mystic" as applied to this fella may not have the same dark connotation as we generally associate with the term.

[Chuck7]

Amen...and to be honest ...I probably would fit in as a mystic myself..

[Denny]

Thanks, to both. I should have that message tattooed on my arm