Your Comments - Page 52: 4/8/05 - 5/29/05 (The Prayer Foundation)

Your Comments: Page 52 4/8/05 - 5/29/05

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5/29/05_______________________________

(I found your Site) surfing for warrior monks (China).
(Like best) the set times for readings and prayer.
(Improvement?) Well, there is a lot of information and it is all available, but it was hard to get to everything quickly. I have no suggestion for improvement, but it was not as easy a site to surf as it might be.
(Would like to see) more pictures, more things in the Gift Shop and more Audio Books.
Born-again, visit site less than weekly (volunteered as Prayer Warrior).

I have been to your Site many times. It has really grown and I like the direction. I am an ordained minister and a full time student at Liberty University. I have little time for things outside of school, but I do hope to be able to fit more things into my day, including these prayers and readings (Daily Prayer: Praying the Hours).
I look forward to praying with you all.
Brent (Texas)

5/27/05_______________________________

I have always admired the monastic life, a life dedicated to prayer and
constant devotion to God. I found your website about a year ago and have been visiting it every now and then, considering inquiring. I feel that becoming affiliated with your monastery would help me fulfill a call I have felt for a long time, a call to prayer and a devoted life. How do I join? I would appreciate your response. I have read through the Statement of Faith and fully agree with it. Also, do you publish a Daily Office or recommend a daily office/devotional? I admire your work.
God bless,
Paul (Omaha, Nebraska)

(Note: Our favorite two "Devotionals" are Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest and Thomas a Kempis' The Imitation of Christ).

5/26/05_______________________________

Dear brethren,
I would like to be a (Newsletter) subscriber and would love to contribute to the ministry by buying a number of the Movies that you are offering at your website.
David L. (U.K.)

5/25/05_______________________________

Thanks so much for the written compliment and particularly the compliment of putting it on your website (Note: Dr. Freddy Davis' book: Praying is not for Wimps). It is my desire that all Christians can experience their praying as a vital interaction with God rather than a mechanical repetition of words.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.
God bless,
Freddy (Tallahassee, Florida)

5/13/05_______________________________

I would like to recommend a Site I found to my fellow monks, prayer warriors and anyone else who frequents The Prayer Foundation Site and is interested in Celtic art and knotwork. The site is Walker Metalsmiths (CeltArt.com) (Note: you will have to use your "Back" button to return to this Site). This Site is operated by a Christian who has written a lot of historical things about Celtic arts and Christianity. I really enjoyed reading about all the wonderful designs developed by Celtic Christians (past and present!) and thought you might too!
Monk Denise (Japan)

(See our webpage: Celtic Cross History & Symbolism)

5/11/05_______________________________

Good Morning,
I strongly believe in prayer, Jesus Christ and His ministry.
I do question the relative ease at which one can become a monk.
Through my studies of monastic life, mostly Catholic, I have never heard of a Lady Monk. Saint Francis of Assisi was a saint and lived a very holy life. I am in the Third Order of Saint Francis or better known as the Franciscan Order of the Atonement. Having been in the seminary for several years I am very familiar with his life and how devoted he was to God and His way of life. You are definitely doing good work but I think without too much elaboration that the word Monk is being somewhat misused in terms of what history has shown it to be (see our webpages: Why Monks?, and Brief History of Christian Monasticism to see how and why we have re-defined the word, "Monk" -Editor).

...I go to a monastery three or four times a year, where there is a strict order of silence, devotion to the Lord through Mass, communion, confession, spiritual prayer, Bible readings, study, labor inside the monastery, looking after the grounds, night prayers, and many sessions of chanting and praying. This is just a brief outline of what I have experienced...the life of a Monk is very involved on a daily base as a way of life and devotion to Jesus Christ to save souls, to live in harmony with nature, a devotional life to prayer...and to praise God for the ultimate sacrifice to save us from eternal damnation. ...My wife and I are (have volunteered through The Prayer Foundation ™ Website as) prayer warriors. Why not prayer supporter or something less dramatic?????
These are just suggestions as I see you are still in the initial stages of
developing this web site, which is very comprehensive.

...I hope that lay people will not get the impression that it is easy to
obtain a certificate as a Monk, knowing what we both know involves the
extent it really takes for true Monks to reach the level with their
organization and Jesus to acquire such status. I have read your outline for becoming a Monk but I question the accountability of the individual who has acquired this status without actually knowing for sure they have fulfilled all the requirements (we agree with you and will be making changes in the future. -Editor).
Take Care,
John (Nova Scotia, Canada)

5/5/05_______________________________

Monk Preston, Monk Linda;
After spending time praying & looking over your site, I'd like to be
formally associated with you & your Order's beliefs. Tomorrow a $30
dollar postal money order will be sent via the U.S. mail. I wish to be
recognized as a monk in your Order. I have been reading the scriptures
daily along with prayer. What's changed for me? Not much Except a more appreciative approach to reading God's word. I'm in agreement with what's recommended for Daily Service. I'm in total agreement with your Statement of Faith. I "Thank You" for being here for like minded people as myself. I Do hope that one day this summer I can come down for a visit for a couple days for conversation and to hear what you have in mind for the future.
I'll close now and I hope to hear from you soon. By the way, "If"
accepted, I'd like Brother Carroll to be on the certificate & card.
May The Lord Jesus Christ Bless You & Yours.
Your Brother In Christ,
Brother Carroll (Seattle, Washington)

5/5/05_______________________________

Thank you for allowing me to pray for others, it has been one of my most (deepest) desires to pray for others. God bless. Love, Brother Omar

5/4/05_______________________________

Dear Brethren,

Greetings in Christ our Lord. I am a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America... I have enjoyed your website over the past few years, and have profited from it. I am particularly interested in praying the Psalms. I have read your article by Athanasius (Athanasius: Praying the Psalms), and enjoyed it.

In Christ,

Richard H.

4/21/05______________________________

When the King James Version of the Bible was translated, why were some books (found on early scrolls) left out of the Protestant Editions of the Bible, but are found in the Roman Catholic Editions of the Bible and (in abbreviated form) in the Koran? Were the English scholars attempting to keep something from the people?

Leon C.

Reply from The Prayer Foundation ™:

Protestants, Roman Catholics, and Orthodox all publish their own Editions or translations of the Bible, but it is the same Bible, just different Editions. (Any added footnotes or added commentaries included can be quite different, however!)

There are Different Kinds of "Apocryphal" Books

You are referring to "Apocryphal" Books. These are of different kinds---they are books that were never considered to be inspired Holy Scripture, and so were never admitted into the Biblical Canon. None were considered to be inspired Holy Scripture in Christian History.

"The Apocrypha"

Those known as "The "Apocrypha" are often found in Roman Catholic Editions of the Bible (also in some Anglican Editions). The Roman Catholic Church has never considered them to be inspired Holy Scripture, but thinks that they are good books to read. Protestants also believe the same, that they are not inspired Holy Scripture, but that they are good books to read (this was the view of the early Church, also). When Protestants began translating the Bible into the vernacular (the common languages of the people, who could not read Latin), they did not put them into the new Bible Editions but into separate Editions. Protestant leaders thought putting them into the actual Editions of the Bible was too confusing for the average person, since they were not actually a part of the Bible (inspired Holy Writ).

Rejected "Apocryphal" Books

There are also other "Apocryphal" Books which were rejected by the early Church as being without worth, and teaching Error. These were usually books "forged" under the name of some Biblical person by a Cultic group as supposed backing for their teachings. They are also rejected by Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox. An example of one of these would be the so-called "Gospel of Thomas". It could not have actually been written by the Apostle Thomas because it contains obvious untruths. For example, the "Gospel of Thomas" states that when Jesus was a small boy, he worked a miracle by making a bird out of clay and bringing it to life. In the Gospel of John, (Chapter 2), the Apostle John states that Jesus' very first miracle was turning water into wine at the wedding of Cana. This was done when Jesus was an adult. The real Thomas would obviously have known this, also.

Rejected "Apocryphal" Stories in the Koran

None of the apocryphal books are found in their entirety in the Koran, but the Koran does contain some of the stories from some of them---for instance, it includes the story (which never happened) from the so-called "Gospel of Thomas" about bringing the clay bird to life.

4/20/05______________________________

Greetings!
Read the "story" with truisms about Telemachus. Did not know he was a "saint" -- nor some of the other facts. Wrote an "essay" about Telemachus about 15 or so years ago. One person can make a difference.
Peace and God bless,
Gary (Michigan)
SSgt USAF 1968-1972
Assistant Director PH HOG Chapter 2335
Michigan Remembers Run (since 1998), Founder and Chairman
(the Last) Chairman, Michigan Agent Orange Commission 1990-1997

4/14/05______________________________

Hello my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. ...I will be starting a local chapter here in Ontario, Canada. I am currently working on my counseling certification and my B.A. in Ministerial Studies.
I...came to Christ at the age of 22... After doing some research of the beloved little poor man (St. Francis), I fell in love with his teachings and his way of doing things...I could relate so much to him.
I have always felt like a monk of sorts within my heart...Finding the Knights of Prayer...fills that longing to feel as though I have a place in this life and that there are people of like minds. That I do not have to give up who I am as an individual to give myself up entirely to the Lord God.
Thank you very much for this group. I have already sent in my Money Order
and a short letter for my (Monk) Certificate and Card donation with you and look forward to being a member within this religious family. The Order is truly Conceived and Blessed by the Lord God Almighty. Thank You so very much. I have seen Brother Sun, Sister Moon...it was the movie that firmly finished strengthening my resolve to become a monk. ...It was such an inspiring film and really captured the reality of St. Francis and who he was and what he stood for. It was such an inspiration. ...I have recently purchased Luther and found it also to be a great and inspiring movie that has helped me to realize the meaning behind the whole Protestant movement.
May the Lord Bless you all and Keep You.
Pax et Bonum
Bro. Brian (Ontario, Canada)

4/13/05______________________________

I was curious, impressed that an evangelical protestant organization would return to the call of Holy Life. As an Anglo-Catholic, I myself am a Novice in the Order of St. Benedict; I have a great interest in the monastic life. I was especially impressed by the ordination of a female monk. I am curious about the use of the green habit. Is that historically based, or something new and specific to this order? (Alabama)

Reply from The Prayer Foundation ™: The use of green for our habits is indeed new (1997), original with, and specific to our Knights of Prayer ™ Monastic Order. We know of no previous historical use of green for Christian Monastic Habits (the Traditional colors are: Natural, Grey, Brown, White, Black, White & Black---these are the natural colors of wool from different types of sheep). We saw one interesting study that said that Ireland did not have its current association with all things green until the Middle Ages; this was offered as an explanation of their understanding that the Habits of St. Patrick and his earliest Monks were blue.

4/11/05______________________________

Dear Br. Preston,
How is the context of "community" created among the monks scattered
across the globe?
Regards,
Steve +

Reply from The Prayer Foundation ™:

We already feel that we are all a "community" through the contact of our website. We are all "like-minded"---our goals of putting Christ first in our lives and dedication to the Word of God and evangelistic outreach are the same. Our practice of our own unique Daily Office Daily Prayer / Praying the Hours is the same, whether the minimum of The Three Prayers (The Lord's Prayer, Psalm 23, and Psalm 117) are observed, or the entire Office (or something in between). We all of us pray at least once weekly for the Prayer Requests sent in to our website. Our basic Christian training is the same (our Growing In Christ Monastic Training Course). Our inspiration derived from Francis of Assisi, the ancient Celtic Monks, and the other great Christians of History (see: Christian History Timeline) is the same. Of course, here we have the advantage of many of the Monks dropping by to visit, if only once yearly (like Monk Paul, for example). When Monk Bob is evangelizing in Mexico, (as he is this week), or Monk William is evangelizing in China, we are with them in prayer and in spirit, and in hearing of their experiences upon their return. And of course, we pray daily for all of our brother and sister Monks---perhaps this is even the main way our worldwide Monastic "community" is formed and maintained.

4/11/05______________________________

Dear Knights of Prayer,

My name is Br. Obl. Benedict. I belong to the Order of St. Benedict as a lay monk oblate. We are as you have already figured, Catholic. It has touched my heart to see my non-Catholic Bros. in Christ, chase the monastic prayer life. I...have many Protestant friends who may be inclined to join an Order (such) as yours. May the Lord bless us, protect us from evil, and bring us to everlasting life. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

In His Love, Br. Benedict (Olympia, Washington)

4/8/05______________________________

Greetings again from Deep East Texas!
I hope this finds you all well!

I sent my (Monastic) Registration letter to you yesterday via regular mail...

Yours in Christ,
Brother Eddie M. (Texas) ____________________________________________________________

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