Author: Jay Forrest

Dr. Jay N. Forrest is an Ordained Interfaith Minister and Certified Meditation Teacher who guides others on the Mystic Way through contemplative teaching and interspiritual insight.Since becoming a Christian in 1983 and earning his Doctorate in Ministry, Jay has served within a rich range of Christian traditions—including Pentecostal, Charismatic, Baptist, Methodist, and Liberal Catholic churches—and provided compassionate care as a Hospice Chaplain.His journey has also led him through catechism studies with the Orthodox Church in America, minor orders in the Liberal Catholic Church, and over two decades of Buddhist study and practice. His path is one of depth, integration, and a lifelong dedication to the transformative power of spiritual practice.

20 Times tο Keep Your Mouth Shut

“To watch over mouth and tongue is to keep out of trouble” (Proverbs 21:23).

DON’T OPEN YOUR MOUTH:

1. In the heat of anger (Proverbs 14:17).

2. When you don’t have all the facts – (Proverbs 18:13).

3. When you haven’t verified the story – (Deuteronomy 17:6).

4. If your words will offend a weaker brother (1 Corinthians 8:11).

5. If your words will be a poor reflection of the Lord or your friends and family (1 Peter 2:21-23).

6. When you are tempted to joke about sin (Provers 14:9).

7. When you would be ashamed of your words later (Proverbs 8:8).

8. When you’re tempted to make light of holy things (Ecclesiastes 5:2)

9. If your words would convey a wrong impression (Proverbs 17:27).

10. If the issue is none of your business (Proverbs 14:10).

11. When you are tempted to tell an outright lie (Proverbs 4:24).

12. If your words will damage someone’s reputation (Proverbs 16:27),

13. If your words will destroy a friendship (Proverbs 25:28).

14. When you are feeling critical (James 3:9).

15. If you can’t speak without yelling (Proverbs 25:28).

16. When it is time to listen (Proverbs 13:1).

17. If you may have to eat your words later (Proverbs 18:21).

18. If you have already said it more than once, that is, you would be nagging (Proverbs 19:13).

19. When you are tempted to flatter a wicked person (Proverbs 24:24)

20. When you are supposed to be working instead (Proverbs 14:23).

______
Author is Unknown

Four Versions of the Jesus Prayer

There are four versions of the Jesus prayer. They’re helpful for different times and occasions. Let’s go through all four of them briefly.

Let’s begin with the long version. This is the one that is usually taught to newcomers to the Jesus prayer. It goes, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

The slightly shorter version, which has a much longer history, goes like this: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.”

The shorter version, which is the one that I use, goes like this: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” The advantage of this version is that it is more balanced. Which means you can breathe in saying, “Lord Jesus Christ,” and breathe out saying, “have mercy on me.”

And then there’s the micro version, which is the shortest version of the Jesus prayer. It is simply, “Lord Jesus.” The advantage of this is it is great for meditation, when one’s breathing is not as long. You breathe in saying “Lord,” and breathe out “Jesus.”

What is Hesychasm?

Hesychasm is the practice of the Jesus Prayer in an effort to attain union with God(theosis) through stillness (Greek hēsychia). It was primarily a movement within Eastern Orthodox Monasticism, although it can be found elsewhere.

A hesychast is someone who practices the Jesus Prayer with stillness and union with God as the goal. Unlike the word mystic, it does not have the connotation of attaining union with God. It remains humble and just claims the practice.

St. John Climacus, an early leader in the Hesychast tradition, wrote, “Let the remembrance of Jesus be present with each breath, and then you will know the value of stillness (hēsychia).”

Hesychasm is the oldest meditation practice in Christianity, dating back to the early desert fathers and mothers. Traces can even be found in the New Testament, like when Paul to “all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:2).

For those who may not know, the short version of the Jesus Prayer is, “Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me.” And Jesus promised, “If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it” (John 14:14).

Lutherans, Anglicans, and Reformed

I asked Microsoft’s Artificial Intelligence chat, “What do Lutherans, Anglicans, and Reformed have in common?” It gave me a good but brief answer:

Lutherans, Anglicans, and Reformed (Presbyterians) share several theological and historical similarities:
Protestant Heritage – All three traditions emerged from the Protestant Reformation, rejecting certain aspects of Roman Catholic doctrine while maintaining core Christian beliefs.
Scripture as Authority – They emphasize the Bible as the ultimate authority in matters of faith and practice.
Trinitarian Belief – They affirm the doctrine of the Trinity, believing in one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Sacraments – They practice baptism and communion, though their views on the nature of these sacraments differ.
Liturgical Worship – While varying in style, all three traditions maintain structured worship services with elements of historical Christian liturgy.
Justification by Faith – They uphold the belief that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works.

Reference

Microsoft Copilot, conversation with author, June 9, 2025.

The Three C’s

Our destiny is to live out what we think, because unless we live what we know, we do not even know it. – Thomas Merton

I have already spoken of how important our thoughts are, and that we should choose our voluntary thoughts carefully. But Thomas Merton brings up another aspect.

What does he mean by saying that “unless we live what we know, we do not even know it”? In order to explain my interpretation, I must explain the three C’s.

There are three criteria we can use to determine if a claim is true. They are the three C’s: correspondence, coherence, and consequences. Correspondence refers to the evidence that a claim matches reality. Coherence refers to the quality of the claim being logical and consistent with other reliable claims. And consequences refer to the result or effect of putting the claim into action.

Thomas Merton is, in my view, talking about the third C, which is consequences. So “unless we live what we know, we do not even know it.” That is, we only really understand a claim is true if we put it into action and see the results.