Your Comments - Page 67: 12/12/06 - 1/24/07 (The Prayer Foundation)

Your Comments: Page 67 12/12/06 - 1/24/07

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1/24/07________________________________

Dear Monk Preston,
I wrote to you on November 15, 2006 re: Paul Arblaster and a Tertullian quote on your website, as I was writing an essay on how Celtic Christian Monasticism contributed to the life of the church.
Thanks again for your help.
Tim Yau, 1st Year Ordinand (Cambridge, U.K.)

1/19/07_________________________________

I must say, I am thoroughly impressed. For some time I have had a great deal of interest in monastic living, and I wasn't aware that others were seriously pursuing a life of Christian community, poverty, and evangelism.

After reading through your history of New Monasticism, I began to wonder why a few specific groups do not receive any mention. Specifically, conservative anabaptists such as the Amish, Hutterites, and many Mennonites have engaged in very strikingly similar pursuits since before your history of New Monasticism begins.

I'll acknowledge that the Amish are not involved in much of what we would call evangelism, but they are outstanding in areas of community outreach. I think it's fair to say that, when they preach the gospel, they rarely resort to words (to paraphrase St. Francis), but their service to those around them definitely reveals Christ's love.

I myself am a Mennonite, and, like most Mennonites, I do not live in any sort of an intentional community. The Mennonite church is highly missions/evangelism oriented, however. With essentially the same goals in mind that you have, I have looked to the Amish as an example (admittedly an imperfect example) rather than to the early Christian Monasteries. I just find it very interesting that, in drawing my inspiration from them and staying true to Christ's teaching and example, I have envisioned something almost identical to what you call New Monasticism.

In addition, the stories of the early anabaptist reformers closely resemble the church-planting and persecution stories of many of your favorite monks. They were people who were wholly devoted to the notion of returning to a Biblical lifestyle and a radical return to the doctrine and operating style of the churches of the apostolic age.

I'm not suggesting that your history is inaccurate in not mentioning these groups, because they, to my knowledge, have never claimed to be monastic, but I did want to draw them your attention. Perhaps further study of these groups will give you a better understanding of your role as a community and your place in the history of Christianity, and maybe the anabaptists churches can serve as positive examples to you in other ways as well.

Keep up the good work.
John B. (Indiana)

1/18/07_________________________________

I thank you for your...prayers and a wonderful website.
Kind regards,
Esther S. (South Africa)

1/15/07_________________________________

Survey:
Liked Best: Celtic Pages, & Book Reviews.
Liked Least: I like it all, I really do.
Like to See: Book Store/online purchases.
Born-again? Yes.
Visit Site: Weekly.
Additional Comments: Very informative, encouraged by the sound doctrine, and the biographies, unique!
May the Lord use you and bless you in these last days even more than He has already. (Washington State)

1/5/07__________________________________

Dear Friends,
I am truly glad to have found your website. I have a great desire to follow Jesus Christ. Today I have accepted him in my heart and asked forgiveness of my sins.
For a long time I have studied books, internet, classes, etc... But have not really felt a calling to one path or group of Christians (except that now I can describe my feelings as you put it on your website, Born-again Celtic Franciscan). I spend as much time in prayer as I can including the traditional hours. Now, today, I feel the strength to give my life and my heart to Christ. Thank you for inspiring me (to be saved). My path to Jesus was started strangely enough, by watching the movie Brother Sun, Sister Moon a long time ago. I try to live a simple life. I am a small farmer, with a wife, and wonderful son and daughter. I live in rural Northeast Thailand. There are no Christians here (I know, hard to believe). I guess I could try to be the first. I have been here for 5 years now, and life is very different than Vermont, USA. I will try to seek out fellowship in the big city of Bangkok. I go there every once in a while, but it is a 6 hour drive away. I do feel like a monk in my heart (one with lots of solitude).
I will continue with God's help to grow in Christ. I believe I am here in the boonies for a purpose.
I pray that my wife will come to accept Jesus Christ, (I guess this could be a prayer request!), and that I may be a strong example for my children.
I pray I can be strong in faith as I am surrounded by those that worship spirits (life in the village is quite medieval in flavor). Perhaps I'll tell my whole story someday.
Thank you again.
Your brother in Christ,
David (Thailand)

1/5/07__________________________________

Dear Brothers and Sister,
I was happy to see in the Prayer Requests that Monk Bob's health has
improved enough to go back to the streets and preach the Word. May he continue to "bear fruit in old age" and "stay fresh and green." (Ps.
92:14, NIV)
The Lord bless you all richly!
In Christ's love,
Monk Denise in Japan

1/4/07__________________________________

I thank you for your time and prayers and a wonderful website.
Kind Regards, Esther (Nelspruit, South Africa)

1/1/07__________________________________

I found your site and it looked so very good...I will be sending some born-again and liturgical/sacramental Christians to your site! Thank you,
Shari

12/26/06__________________________________

Blessings=)

I have been reading and going to your site regularly since before the summer of this year and it has been a blessing to me. I've been memorizing Psalms to recite in my prayers (oh what a blessing!), reading A Lot of the books you've recommended, Practicing the Presence of God...St Francis of Assissi: A Biography...and have been spending hours in prayer - and it is a joy! not a burden. Ahh, it is good to read about how Monk Preston spends hours in prayer, for there are no other Christians I know that devote so much time to prayer like I have been trying to and desiring to do like he has...I am 22 and have one year left on my enlistment in the Marine Corps, here at Quantico, Virginia...what I've read on Prayer Foundation - and I've read it all a lot)...I honestly have no other desire but to live as you all do and come to this union of love with God once I get out of the Marine Corps...

Thank you so very much,

Joseph (Quantico, Virginia)

12/12/06__________________________________

Greetings! I'm intrigued by your site and the monastic community you have started. I've never really felt called to a monastic lifestyle yet, (although the Anglican priesthood is pretty close...), but have always felt that they are a good idea and provide many services to the Church.:)

I'm excited about this new development, and in my prayers and future ministry will be highly supportive of this new evangelical monasticism! I hope the Lord blesses your efforts and that we see many communities of prayer spring up around the globe.

Oh, and the green habits are just plain cool :) kudos :)

Wesley (Texas)

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