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Rev. Doug Hayman
Doug Hayman serves as Chaplain and teaches Reading the Scriptures at Augustine College |
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To Weigh and Consider...A monthly reflection from Augustine College faculty and friends
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"Oh God!" I cried, and that was all. But what are the prayers of the whole universe more than expansions of that one cry? It is not what God can give us, but God that we want.
George MacDonald from his novel Wilfred Cumbermede |
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Who is the focus of your prayers? Don't be too quick before you give the obvious answer ("It's God, of course; otherwise it wouldn't be prayer!"). Think about the content of what you pray. Is it God and His will that you seek, or is it what He can do for you?
How many times do we ask, beg, plead, bargain for what we want, (perhaps need)? How often do we dictate to God what needs to be done for us or someone we love, as though He wouldn't get it right without our instruction? How often do we fear that He won't do what we think ought to be done?
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In contrast, how often do we seek Him and His will first and foremost? Too frequently, "Thy will be done!" is a kind of last resort, or even a word of resignation, "Whatever...", assuming that God will do what He likes, because He's God, even if He makes a hash of everything. (Logically, that doesn't make sense, but how logical are our prayers, especially when we're anxious?)
Yet, if God truly is perfect Love; if He really is the Father of Jesus Christ, who loves us with an everlasting love, and redeems us by unmerited grace; then is not His will the perfect will - that which we ought to be seeking to know and to align ourselves with? "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You... nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will." Mark 14:36 "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." Luke 1:37
When was the last time that you experienced prayer as a occasion of listening and waiting on the Lord? If prayer is truly a conversation, ought we not to shut up some times to attend to His response? We can't hear Him? Perhaps we need to practise listening.
More than that, however: whom do we really love, with whom all our time spent is in verbal exchange? We enjoy our beloved's presence, spending time together doing whatever, or nothing at all. What about with God?
Perhaps we should better define prayer as "walking with God", sharing every moment with Him, practising the sense of His Presence at all times, and recalling ourselves to the fact that it is, "not what God can give us, but God that we want." So we might learn from Job, "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:5-6; from the Psalmist, "Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever." Psalm 73:25-26; and from the very Heart of the Father, even Jesus Christ our Lord, "And this is eternal life, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. " John 17:3
O heavenly Father, in Whom we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray Thee so to guide and govern us by Thy Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our daily life we may never forget Thee, but remember that we are ever walking in Thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, Canada 1962 p.732)
The Rev. Fr. Doug Hayman
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| Augustine College Update |
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The Augustine College Alumni and Young Adults Conference was a success! Six speakers delivered lectures to a sizeable group on the topics of relationships, sexuality, and the Christian tradition. The ground covered in those two and half days was extensive: Fr. Doug Hayman provided morning devotions for the conference and lectured about a biblical understanding of marriage, Edith Humphrey spoke about the relationship between theology and our understanding of sexuality, and others delved into contraception, dating, gender, and happiness. At the end of the conference we held a banquet in honour of past friends and faculty of Augustine College who have helped us through the last 14 years. It was a delightful evening of speeches, good food and fellowship. Thank you to all those who attended and volunteered.
We are pleased to announce that we have 25 students enrolled for Augustine College's 15th year. This is our maximum capacity and we are excitedly making preparations for their arrival. Commencement will take place on September 11th (2:00 PM at Fourth Avenue Baptist Church), and we welcome you to join us. Prayer
- Please pray that God would prepare the hearts and minds of these 25 students;
- that our professors, staff (and their families) would be rejuvenated and ready for the coming year, that God would give them the mind of Christ;
- the planning and preparation of residences;
- for our financial situation and that God would guide our plans and commitments according to His will and provision.
Media
A selection of recent conference sessions is available in the Media Centre.
- JOHN ROBSON Why Taking History Seriously Can Make You Very Cross (also on YouTube).
- EDWARD TINGLEY What's Wrong with the Title of this Conference (also on YouTube).
- THE REV DOUG HAYMAN The Mystery of Marriage
- REBECCA VISSER Contraception, Culture, and the Church
- EDITH HUMPHREY Homo Adorans, Thankfulness and Recognizing the Imago Dei in Today's Context
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