1. Readings. The required texts are: Online Bookstore

1. The Cloud of Unknowing and The Book of Privy Counseling, edited by William Johnston. Image (Doubleday / Random House), Paperback, 1996. ISBN: 0385030975 ISBN-13: 9780385030977

2. The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life, by Bruce Wilkinson. Multnomah Publishers (WaterBrook Press), Hardback, 2000. ISBN: 1576737330 ISBN-13: 9781576737330

3. The Prayer of Jabez Bible Study, by Bruce Wilkinson. Multnomah Publishers (WaterBrook Press), Paperback, 2001. ISBN: 1576739791 ISBN-13: 9781576739792

Textbooks should be ordered from the Canyon College Online Bookstore to insure that the correct volume and edition is obtained.

2. Conferences. Students may schedule no more than two Internet conferences between the student and the professor. These should be scheduled as necessary by the student. Of course, students may ask questions of the professor at any time by sending an E-mail to the address at the link above or by posting them to the message board.

3. Exams. There will be a midterm exam. The exam will cover the assigned readings up to the date of the exam. The midterm exam should be taken prior to the end of the week indicated below.

4. Papers. There will be weekly papers of at least two but no more than three double- spaced pages written in response to the Discussion Questions listed below. The papers are to be e-mailed to the professor. Papers should conform to the form and style outlined in Kate L. Turabian's "A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations," 6th ed. Students should use end notes instead of footnotes. Finally, the papers are intended to be reflection papers and not research or the "author said" papers. Students should indicate their understanding of the texts and this cannot be done merely by quoting the authors.

5. Grades. Course work will be weighted as follows:

Papers Midterm Exam TOTAL

50 50 100

5. Grading Scale.

90-100% 80-89% 70-79% 60-69% 59% or below

A Excellent B Above Average C Average D Below Average F Failing Grade

A = Clearly stands out as excellent performance. Has unusually sharp insight into material and initiates thoughtful questions. Sees many sides of an issue. Articulates well and writes logically and clearly. Integrates ideas previously learned from this and other disciplines. Anticipates next steps in progression of ideas.

B = Grasps subject matter at a level considered to be good to very good. Is an active listener and participant in chats, message boards, e-mails and conferences. Speaks and writes well. Accomplishes more than the minimum requirements. Work is of high quality.

C = Demonstrates a satisfactory comprehension of the subject matter. Accomplishes only the minimum requirements, and displays little or no initiative. Communicates at an acceptable level for a college student. Has a generally acceptable understanding of all basic concepts.

D = Quality and quantity of work is below average and barely acceptable.

F = Quality and quantity of work is unacceptable.

1. Go to http://beliefnet.org and click on “Belief-O-Matic” and complete the quiz there. What do the results say about your religious views? Are you surprised by the results? Post your top five results here.
2. During Bible Study, the instructor says, “To pray properly, you should avoid throwing God’s words back at Him. In other words, when you pray, you should not quote Scripture as God already knows His word.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why or why not?
3. Prepare an outline for this week’s reading of the “Cloud.”
4. Is there a difference between prayer and meditation? If so, please explain what it is. If not, then please explain the key similarities between them.

1. Prepare an outline for this week’s reading.
2. Give a one or two sentence reaction to each part of your outline.
3. Go to: http://www.prayingscriptures.com and click on “Spiritual Questionnaire.” Complete the questionnaire. What are your results? Do you find the website of any benefit to you and your ministry? To others? Will you recommend that others visit the site? If so, why and in what ways will visiting the site enhance such persons’ prayer life?

1. Did your answer to Question Two of Week One change any after doing the reading for this week? Explain why or why not.
2. Review five prayers you experienced on television this week and indicate how these prayers reflected Scripture if at all.
3. Prepare an outline of this week’s reading.

1. You have been invited to deliver a prayer at a memorial for the victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy. You have chosen Psalm 23 as the focal point of your prayer. Write a prayer for this occasion in which you reflect the wisdom of Psalm 23.
2. Has your prayer life changed any since you started this course? Why or why not? If it has, in what way(s)?
3. “The Prayer of Jabez” has been criticized as an apology for the “name it, claim it,” craze which many say is part of the “prosperity Gospel.” Do you agree or disagree with this assessment? Please explain your answer.
4. Which part of “The Prayer” most resonates with you? Please explain.

1. What are the four components of the Prayer of Jabez?
2. Write a prayer in which you employ the four components of the Jabez Prayer.
3. Do you see any utility for the Jabez books in your own ministry? Explain.
4. Do you see any utility for the Jabez books in your own spiritual life? Explain.
5. Has this course helped you in your prayer, spiritual, religious life? Explain.
6. What improvements would you recommend for this course?