How we relate to God & the return of "the eds"

Snowed: at my house overnight -- this is noteworthy for the sunny South :)
Remembered: Last year when we were visiting Paul's and St. Ananias' chapels in Old Damascus on this day
Watched: This wonderful Why Do You Fear Me? event from Thursday night in Colorado featuring Carl Medearis (lover of Muslims, Arabs, the Middle East & Jesus!), former SC governor David Beasley and Christian novelist Ted Dekker
Discussed: a challenging chapter - The Blind Man and Zacchaeus - on reaching out to the oppressed & oppressor from the book, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes
Enjoyed: seeing the neighborhood children sled and ride four wheelers in the snow
Borrowed: this thing about how people relate to God; with permission from Eva at A Thought Chronicle & her friend Rochelle who summarized this from Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas - thank you, Ladies

Read through these and see which describes you best.

Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas

“Sacred pathways…describes the way we relate to God, how we draw near to him.”

Naturalist: Loving God Out of Doors

· Naturalists are moved by creation. They believe nature clearly point to God. Creation prompts them to worship. They believe that looking at the ordinary helps to reveal some of the mystery of God.

Sensates: Loving God with the Senses

· Sensates “want to be lost in the awe, beauty, and splendor of God”. Sights, sounds, and smells are all part of worship. They use the five senses to delight in God.

Traditionalists: Loving God through Ritual and Symbol

· Traditionalists are fed by the “historic dimensions of faith: rituals, symbols, sacraments, and sacrifice”. They find discipline, ritual, and structure nurishing.

Ascetics: Loving God in Solitude and Simplicity

· Ascetics “live a fundamentally internal existence”. They connect with God in the quite and with prayer. They do not want distractions.

Activists: Loving God Through Confrontation

· Activists “serve a God of justice”. They see worship as living against evil and calling sinners to repent. They focus on living truth and confronting injustice to change society.

Caregivers: Loving God by Loving Others

· Caregivers “serve God by serving others”. They see Jesus in the needy. Caring for others is energizing and they love God through loving others through service.

Enthusiasts: Loving God with Mystery and Celebration

· Enthusiasts need “excitement and mystery in worship…joyful celebration.” They want to experience, feel and be moved by God.

Contemplatives: Loving God through Adoration

· Contemplatives see God in “images of a loving Father and Bridegroom.” They seek simply to love God deeply.

Intellectuals: Loving God with the Mind

· Intellectuals like to study doctrines and “live in the world of concepts.” For them faith is to “be understood as much as experienced.”

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What pathway do you primarily use to draw near to God? Why?

Which have you rarely used? Why?

Which would you like to try to incorporate into your life more? What would hinder you?

What is the benefit of approaching God in different ways?