Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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You are here: Home / Archives for Prayer

Gesso on a Wooden Board (The Writer’s Inner Life)

February 6, 2017 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Gesso board

(Second in a series on writing an icon in the Orthodox Christian tradition. Click here to start at the beginning.) It all starts with a white gesso board. No. That’s not right. The board is not actually white  with gesso, ready to receive lines and paint, until the fourth step of the process. If I […]

Filed Under: Iconography, Prayer, The Inner Life of the Writer Tagged With: board, gesso, Prosopon School

Writing an Icon (The Writer’s Inner Life)

January 30, 2017 by Gary Neal Hansen 2 Comments

writing an icon

Recently I told the readers of my newsletter that I’m exploring writing of another kind: I’m “writing” an icon as taught in the Orthodox tradition. I asked them to let me know if they would be interested in reading about the process. A number of people said “Yes.” Precisely the same number of people clicked “Unsubscribe.” […]

Filed Under: Iconography, Prayer, The Inner Life of the Writer Tagged With: Iconography, Prosopon School, Writing an icon

Lectio Divina on the Song of Simeon

December 21, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen 2 Comments

St Simeon the God Receiver What does it mean to receive God? What does it mean to “see” your salvation? Those are questions that come to mind when you pray your way through “The Song of Simeon,” the old man to whom Mary introduced the Baby Jesus in the Temple. The Orthodox call him “St. Simeon the […]

Filed Under: Bible, Prayer Tagged With: Lectio divina, St Simeon the God Receiver

Upcoming Webinar on Lectio Divina

October 17, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

As I write, it is mid October. From my kids’ perspective two things stand between now and Christmas: Halloween and American Thanksgiving. (In our house we have already celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving. Multiple cultures make for extra thankfulness.) For the Church, though, there is another whole season between now and Christmas: Advent, the four week period when […]

Filed Under: Bible, Church Year, Prayer Tagged With: Lectio divina, Presbyterian Outlook, scholarships, Webinar

Journaling for Clarity and Action (The Inner Life of the Writer)

September 12, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Here’s the writer’s dilemma in a quick haiku: Sit before your screen. An empty file. No words come. You curse the cursor. It is writing that makes you a writer. Having ideas only makes you want to be one. To be a writer you have to make words come out: turn thoughts into letters, string them […]

Filed Under: Prayer, The Inner Life of the Writer Tagged With: John Beadle, Journalling, Puritans, The inner life of the writer, writer's block

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Theology. It’s good for you.

I'm a Church historian by trade. My writing, speaking, and teaching explores the Christian past to equip today's disciples. Join me here for regular posts on the best of theology, spirituality, community, and ministry. read more…

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