It is difficult, but who better knew misunderstanding?

Prepare to be Misunderstood

The paramount stigma of being today's man or woman is probably that of being misunderstood. Nothing is more painful than this. We can cope with a lot that people say against us - as long as they are fully in the picture and still disagree. But what hurts is when they aren't in the picture and they form judgments and perceptions that are based on limited information.

I sometimes think that much of Jesus' pain at His crucifixion was a result of His being misunderstood. Nothing made sense. It didn't add up that the same man who raised Lazarus from the dead a few days before was now hanging on a cross. Why didn't Jesus stop the proceedings that led to His crucifixion? Anybody who could control the wind and storm on the Sea of Galilee could surely have intervened before Herod or Pilate.

There were any number of ways in which He could have stopped being crucified. Common sense told everybody this. So why was He being crucified?

The disciples couldn't figure it out - they all forsook Him and fled (Matt. 26:56). Never once did Jesus explain Himself.

It must have been almost unbearable emotional pain for Jesus to see Mary Magdalene sobbing her heart out at the scene of the cross and not be allowed to whisper to her, "It's OK, Mary; all is going according to plan. I'm atoning for the sins of the world by My blood." But there was no hint of this. He had to bear the further stigma of being misunderstood, even by those closest to Him.

Whether others understood or not, He did the right thing - He listened to God.

Preceeding thoughts found in:
By Love Transformed by R.T. Kendall
(excerpted from The Anointing: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow)

In "Light" of the Anticipation of Spring

David Crowder

Prayer

by Philip Yancey "In a world that glorifies success, an admission of weakness disarms pride at the same time it prepares us to receive grace. Meanwhile, the very weakness that drives us to pray becomes an invitation for God to respond with compassion and power." The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. Psalm 105:4 "In the presence of the Great Physician, my most appropriate contribution may be my wounds."

A Little Biography

Asked for a little background on this author....check it out!

"T. Austin-Sparks was born in London, England in 1888 and was educated in both England and Scotland. At the age of 25 he was ordained as a pastor, however, a few years later his "career" took a decidedly different direction when a crisis brought him to a place of brokenness and he left the denomination with which he was involved and dropped the title of "Reverend"."

"Perhaps one of the earliest of his books can best give us a real clue to his whole life and ministry. It is called "The Centrality and Supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ". This was where he began, and this was where he ended, for it became noticeable in his closing years that he lost interest in subjects and concentrated his attention on the person of Christ. Christ is central! None of us will claim always to have been "on centre", and he certainly made no such claim, but it was his life's objective and the aim of all his preaching and teaching to recognize that centrality and bow to that supremacy."

"Based in Honor Oak, London, he published a bi-monthly magazine called "A Witness and A Testimony" from 1923 until his death in 1971."

"TAS deliberately made no provision for the continuing of his ministry following his death as he believed that what was from God and of God would be taken care of by Him. Time has proved that his trust was not misplaced as God has indeed preserved what was His own. TAS left behind a treasury of writings filled with the Wisdom, Life and Revelation of Christ."

Peace

Found this poem in the new book of Philip Yancey's
"Prayer Does It Make Any Difference?"

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair grows in me
and I wake in the middle of the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water,
and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water,
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Wendell Berry, Collected Poems

This poem has a serenity about it. The nature element provides this.
I almost find myself slipping into the imagery the author has created.
The quiet time that is difficult to find in this hectic paced world is found
in this poem. To find that place, my journey.

Sanctus Real - The Face of Love

Sparked

The Centrality and Supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ by T. Austin-Sparks "...when we have received Christ, everything with which we have to do in relation to Him, anything which we have a voice or an influence, any part that we can take in the Lord's interests, must be wholly, utterly and always for the expression of Christ, the revelation of Jesus Christ, the bringing into view of Christ. No assembly, no church, no movement, no testimony, no fellowship, is justified in its existence from God's standpoint except insofar as Christ is expressed by it." (Hmmmmm, ) "Beloved, we are speaking about the individual. I am not justified, and you are not justified, in claiming to be Christians except in the measure in which Christ is manifested in me, in you; and all the force and weight of hell is out against that. Believers have far more to provoke them to un-Christ-likeness than anyone else in this world. Believers have far more assaults to churn them up and to make them betray Christ than anyone else. Hell is dead set against the revelation of Jesus Christ. Everything begins with this, the revelation of Christ within." "...Christ is the beginning and Christ is the end, the A to Z, the Alpha and Omega.....It is: "Christ in you, the hope of glory,"....." Colossians 1 - Sparks says this ..."first chapter of Colossians carries us right back into the mind and heart of God before the world was, and we are shown what was going on in the mind and heart of the Father concerning His Son. It is called "the mystery," that is the Divine secret."

The Heart...again

From "This Day's Thought"...today
"O, to have the soul bathed all day long in this thought, "as the pebble in the willow brook" until the words come like the tears, because the heart is full, and we cannot help it; to feel, in the darkest hour, that there is an unseen Spectator whose eyes rest on us like morning on the flowers; and that in the severest sorrow, we can sink into a presence full of love and sympathy, deeper than ever breathed from earth or sky or loving hearts- a presence in which all fears and anxieties melt away as ice-crystals in the warm ocean. This is heaven."

Edward Thomson

A Little More....

Sparks ...The Centrality and Supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"When you are studying the person and the life and the work of the Lord Jesus, there must be a Divine quest in your heart, and that quest must be for those features which suggest universality(existing or prevalent everywhere)(relation, extension, applicable to all)(the quality of being universal, or existing everywhere). Approach again the reading of the life of the Lord Jesus with that thought; you will not want for helpful, profitable Bible study, and you will find that things begin to enlarge in a way which throws back your horizon and enlarges your own heart and makes you feel the wonder of Christ. Looking for features of universality you will not go very far before you find them."

Cry Out to Jesus

Song by Third Day

Who Is This King of Glory - Everything to me

Who is this King of Glory, Who pursues me with His love
And haunts me with each hearing of His softly spoken words
My conscience, a reminder of forgiveness that I have
Who is this King of Glory who offers it to me
Who is this King of angels, O blessed Prince of Peace
Revealing things of Heaven and all its mysteries
My spirit's ever longing for His grace in which to stand
Who's this King of glory, Son of God and Son of man
His name is Jesus, precious Jesus
The Lord Almighty, the King of my heart
The King of glory
Who is this King of Glory with strength and majesty
And wisdom beyond measure, the gracious King of Kings
The Lord of Earth and Heaven,
The Creator of all things
Who is this King of Glory,
He's everything to me
The Lord of Earth and Heaven,
The Creator of all things
He is the King of glory,
He's everything to me

by Third Day

Sparking on Sparks

Ok, so my brother, encourager, friend over at walking church has posted (and posted and posted, lol) on T. Austin Sparks. Some great words and understandings on our Life - Jesus Christ.

I have been encouraged to look into the FREE booklet "The Centrality and Supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ" by this author and have found that it is all that and more, for my particular questions at this time.

I don't know if RoG over there at walking church posted on this before but I know that I was just talking to a fellow saint yesterday about this very thing and some bell went off in my mind (which of course is the mind of Christ....and when I listen, it seems to undo me). This takes me to Sparks and this booklet, yet again.....

"The centrality and supremacy of the Lord Jesus is the pivot and the key to all the Scriptures."

"Of course the Lord Jesus Himself has told us as much. We know from Luke 24 that this is so. There we find Him talking Moses, the Psalms, and all the Prophets, and in them all speaking of the things concerning Himself. So that in our reading of the Word of God, wherever we happen to be reading, the question that should always be in our minds is "What has this to do with Christ?": and if you bring that question to your reading of the Word of God, wherever you may read (and that is not said without thought) you will at once get a new understanding of the Word, you will have a new value in your reading: for the Scriptures, and all the Scriptures, are they which speak of Him: although you may have difficutlty sometimes in tracing Him, yet He is there. The cumulative effect of all parts of the Word of God is to bring you to Christ."

Sparks goes on to suggest that whatever we read from the Scriptures to not limit the portion in terms of just historical, narrative, prophecey or any other such theme in itself....but to always have the question ..."What has this to do with Christ? This is the key to unlocking Scripture.
Now, you theologians out there.....know this already, I am sure....but for me....this was a real revelation. I knew this .... but to really think and meditate on this .....mind blowing!

Sparks reminds us that the reason for saying this is ...."the Lord Jesus is by Divine appointment, at the centre of everything in this universe, every phase and every aspect, and He is its explanation."

Way too cool!

Carried to the Table - Leeland - For RoG

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How Great Is Our God

Ok, so I learned how to put videos on my blog today. Thanks Zach. My son, home for "reading" week from U of Windsor in his third year, (English and Political Science) and way more knowledgeable about this stuff than I. He can spell wonderfully in class and on papers and horribly on msn....however, enough about that. So I won't make you all crazy with all these videos but enjoy this one...Chris Tomlin is singing the song in the background. I love it! Show me once or twice and I learn....reading the instructions....just doesn't cut it for me. So I guess that means I am a relational learner... :) It was a great time for him to listen to some really cool songs, which will not hurt him one bit. Mothers can be soooo tricky. :) Enjoy!

Hillsong - Found

Amazing love

Now what else shall I need

Your name brings life

It’s more than the air I breathe

My world was changed

When Your love You gave for me

My purpose found

And all that You want for me

And I found myself in You

And I found myself in You

Amazing love

Now what else shall I need

Your name brings life

It’s more than the air I breathe

And I found myself in You

And I found myself in You

Take me to a place

Where I can see You face to face

And all I want to do

All I want to do

Is worship You

Under His Wings

A Hymn I’m in the Lord’s sacred pavilion; I rest in the holiest place; His kingdom and all its dominion I’ve found with abundance of grace. Refrain: Under His wings, yes, under His wings; I’m resting in Jesus, oh, it is precious! Under His wings, yes, under His wings; I’m resting in Jesus, under His wings. I’m in the Lord’s sacred pavilion, Where peace like a river doth flow; Where manna from heaven is given; Where joys are eternal, I know. I’m in the Lord’s sacred pavilion, Thus sheltered securely from harm; With Him I have constant communion, I’m resting on His mighty arm. I’m in the Lord’s sacred pavilion; Where I would forever abide; Though once far away—a lost alien—In Jesus I now can confide. Written by Barney E. Warren

The Heart

John 6:68 (NIV) Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life." John 14:27 (NASB) Jesus said, "Peace, I leave with you; My peace I give to you , not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."

A New Heart and a New Spirit

Ezekiel 36:26-27 NASB "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be and be careful to observe My ordinances." Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?" Proverbs 27:19 "As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man." The concept of a new heart and a new spirit has been coming back to me, over and over again. I read these references and rejoice that there are things that I will never fully understand. That as I journey into this Life that is Christ ....there are the weavings and concepts in God's Word that I will never totally grasp. This and this...makes that and that....and in and of myself things need to be that way. In and of God, things are NOT always that way. I found in Neil T. Anderson's book "The Daily Discipler", another account of these thoughts. "We have been given a new heart because we have been made a new creation in Christ. In fact, it is the new heart that makes a new person. Our new birth means "a new heart" (see Deut. 30:5,6; Ezekiel 11:19). Proverbs 4:23 reads, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." The last phrase literally means "for out of it are the issues of life." This is seen in Ecclesiastes 10:2, " The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left." Jesus taught that what we do comes from our heart, (Matthew 12:34,35). Our new life stems from our heart. Godly thoughts, motives, words, feelings, attitudes and actions all originate in our heart. It is the mission control center of human life. The believer in Christ, through death and resurrection with Him, has received God's Spirit and a new heart, and thus a new control center of life." What think ye readers of this blog on this? Just curious ....always curious.

Yet Again....Manning

In Brennan Manning's Book, "The Signature of Jesus", he talks of a friend, who was a member of the small community of brothers that they referred to as "the Little Brothers of Jesus". His description of this man Dominique Voillaume, and how Manning talked of the influence Vollaume had on his life was precious to me. A true brother in Christ and mentor by example. The following quote comes as the last entry from the journal of this humble man (found after his death) ....through Manning's book.

"Dominique Voillaume never tried to impress anybody, never wondered if his life was useful or his witness meaningful. He never felt he had to do something great for God...."

.....the last journal entry.....

"All that is not the love of God has no meaning for me. I can truthfully say that I have no interest in anything but the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. If God wants it to, my life will be useful through my word and witness. If he wants it to, my life will bear fruit through my prayers and sacrifices. But the usefulness of my life is his concern, not mine. It would be indecent of me to worry about that."

Manning says then....

"Any spirituality that does not lead from a self-centered to an other-centered mode of existence is bankrupt."

Read the account.....if you never have.

In Jesus and also Dominique's words...."Father, forgive them, ils ne comprennent pas."

How Manning is used by God to convey a hard message full of Truth to others but through a tender manner......amazes me.

Sounds Right to me

"I am not a theologian or a scholar, but I am very aware of the fact that pain is necessary to all of us. In my own life, I think I can honestly say that out of the deepest pain has come the strongest conviction of the presence of God and the love of God."

Elisabeth Elliot

Jesus is all I need.

"The only thing worth holding onto ......is holding onto me".
Jeremy Camp

Joy Unspeakable

Jude 1:20-25 Amplified

20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;
21 Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God; expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)--[which will bring you] unto life eternal.
22 And refute [so as to] convict some who dispute with you, and on some have mercy who waver and doubt.
23 [Strive to] save others, snatching [them] out of [the] fire; on others take pity [but] with fear, loathing even the garment spotted by the flesh and polluted by their sensuality.
24 Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]--
25 To the one only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory (splendor), majesty, might and dominion, and power and authority, before all time and now and forever (unto all the ages of eternity). Amen (so be it).

Verse 24 has spoken to me this past weekend.

I am Nothing Jeremy Camp

Seems I’m always in this place,

Where the things I seem to take, are the things I wish would fade.

I always purpose in my heart,

To do things the right way, then I realize I’m still clay

And this piece that’s being shaped, will be a beauty You create

I am nothing without Your love.

I’m unworthy but Your death has been enough

I’m completed by Your touch,

But I feel like I’ve been given so much so I thank You, I thank You.

I wouldn’t even face, all the troubles of the day,

If it wasn’t for Your grace

Sometimes I even wait,

To see if I’m awake, seems so good I can’t relate

And Your every word I crave,

And I’m grateful for every breath I take

When I’m feeling all my shame, You won’t let it stay,

I sail away into Your love

I’m taking every day, To give my life away,

It’s the only way I know

Behind the Song:

'Without the love of Christ, where would I be? What kind of hope would I have? I know that I don’t deserve the tremendous grace that the Lord offers, but because of His death on the cross I have been given the opportunity to receive the gift of eternal life and become worthy of being called a child of God. It is by the hand of God that I have been completed, and now I can rest in that very hand of love. “Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2' - Jeremy Camp

Continuing on Love

Again in reference to SHOWTIME by Tod Bolsinger..... In the 7th chapter called, "Not you or me but we", ....Bolsinger talks about the different kinds of love, "with agape love being our final goal"...he says...."the love that is like God's love". Now I know that that kind of love is in me if God is in me. It very rarely, if ever manifests itself because I usually get in the way. However, I digress. He then talks about .."taking love out into the world, but only after really loving the community of believers...and to what Francis Schaeffer called 'the mark of a Christian'." John 13:34-35 is the scriptural reference for this. He refers to.... "brotherly love (philadelphia), which is a commitment to fellow Christians not necessarily for all people". I like what he says although, as with everything I read right now, I have a different perspective on the terminology, or the language that he uses. I am working through the thoughts behind what is said if you will. I know that in and of myself, I can do nothing and so without continuing to qualify this always....and until all of this is crystal clear in my mind, I tend to hesitate to share a perspective about what it is that we can do....Arghhhhh ....not that 'we' can do anything in our own strength....(there is the dilemma I face daily.... :) Anyway, in Bolsinger's own words... "God is calling us to be people who take His message of love and gracious acceptance into the world. But before we have the right to say it, we must live it. More than anything else, we need to be a community that communicates to each other in both words and actions: 'I love you, I forgive you, Supper is ready'. " These three phrases are what he indicates ...."a poll a few years back, gave as the top three answers as to what word or phrase people would like to have said to them sincerely". He suggests that these three phrases ..."may be the best description of the church, he has ever read", (and he wrote a Ph.D. dissertation on the life-transforming communion that the church is supposed to be). I like his thoughts.....whenever we look towards being a light out there in the world....we need to make sure the light is shining in the community of believers that we are a part of. That Light, of course, is Jesus, and will shine where it will as we submit. It is what Jesus did though in some ways....brought truth and light to His close company of friends and then sent them out. Sort of like the old adage....if your backyard is in disarray.....don't be trying to clean up someone else's backyard. Again, I share that I believe that Christ in me....does what He wills in any circumstance and at anytime. He brought me to this book and I appreciate this man's thoughts on community. We have a lot to learn about community. True community. I go to, as Bolsinger did as well.... to Galatians 3:28. Paul knew about community.

Another good read

SHOWTIME

LIVING DOWN HYPOCRISY BY LIVING OUT THE FAITH

By Tod Bolsinger

I am almost finished this book and it has proven to be an interesting read. A lot of fresh thought and a lot of really good ideas and I found it an encouraging read about how as Leighton Ford puts it...."how Christ can show through you in a 'show me' world."

Interesting information from the internet mentioned in the book.

The Declaration of Independence: 1,300 words

The Gettysburg Address: 286 words

The Ten Commandments: 179 words

The Lord's Prayer: 66 words

God so loved the world: 5 words

I forgive you: 3 words

I love you: 3 words

The United States government regulation on the sale of cabbage: 26,911 words

American author, obviously but I didn't have time to convert to a Canadian flavour. The message comes through loud and clear though eh? "Less is better, sometimes."

The author states, "Faith that makes a difference is a simple subject, but it's not an easy one".

More tomorrow on this read.

You LORD, are all I want!

Psalm 16 CEV

(A special psalm by David.)

The Best Choice

Protect me, LORD God!
I run to you for safety, and I have said,
"Only you are my Lord!
Every good thing I have is a gift from you."
Your people are wonderful, and they make me happy,
but worshipers of other gods will have much sorrow.
I refuse to offer sacrifices of blood to those gods or worship in their name.
You, LORD, are all I want!
You are my choice, and you keep me safe.
You make my life pleasant, and my future is bright.
I praise you, LORD, for being my guide.
Even in the darkest night, your teachings fill my mind.
I will always look to you, as you stand beside me and protect me from fear.
With all my heart, I will celebrate, and I can safely rest.
I am your chosen one.
You won't leave me in the grave or let my body decay.
You have shown me the path to life, and you make me glad by being near to me.
Sitting at your right side, I will always be joyful.

Perfect Everlasting Love Without Fail

Deuteronomy 7:9 NCV

"Know that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God.
He will keep his agreement of love for a thousand lifetimes for people who love him and obey his commands."

Nehemiah 9:17

"They refused to listen; they forgot the miracles you did for them. So they became stubborn and turned against you, choosing a leader to take them back to slavery. But you are a forgiving God. You are kind and full of mercy. You do not become angry quickly, and you have great love. So you did not leave them."

Psalm 89:33 NKJ

"Nevertheless, My lovingkindness, I will not utterly take from him, nor allow My faithfulness to fail."

Isaiah 54:10 NCV

"The mountains may disappear and the hills may come to an end, but my love will never disappear; My promise of peace will not come to an end, says the Lord who shows mercy to you."

Lamentations 3:22,23 NCV

"The Lord's love never ends; his mercies never stop. They are new every morning; Lord , your loyalty is great."

Jeremiah 31:3 NCV

"The Lord appeared to his people and said, 'I love you people with a love that will last forever. That is why I have continued showing you kindness."

John 1:16,17 NLT

"We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us - one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ."


All of us who know Christ, have Love. He is Love. Let the radiance, the beauty of being His bride, shine forth from that place within, that sometimes goes to another place; a lonely place, a sad place, a wounded place. Enter into the place of His Presence with confidence and love for He is the One who gave everything and and yet lives and has made His perfect covenant with you, His pledge, His word, His love, His peace and His Life. He is the Bridegroom. You are loved lavishly, wondrously, and without measure. Perfectly.
Happy Valentine's Day.


1 Corinthians 2:9

"However, as it is written: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"

Real Freedom

John 8:36 The Amplified Bible "So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free."

I heard a great quote this morning from Greg Laurie's sermon this morning....I don't know if it was his or not...but it led me to other thoughts and so on and so on and ....yep, you get it. " The same sun that melts the wax, hardens the clay." His message was do we want knowledge about God for the sake of accumulating knowledge to appear __________ (fill in the blank) (this is then about me and what I am doing for God), or do we want to know God... intimately and personally, focussing on Jesus Christ, on looking into the Word and receiving revelation from the Word, (this is then about Him and what He is doing through me). Not an earth shattering message for those who know who they are in Christ, but a real tender and simple message for us to be reminded of. Malcolm Smith spoke about becoming too book-learned, too knowledge driven, too determined to know all there is to know....that one can forget to live Life that has been given. Another quote came to mind...I think Francis of Assisi said it...something about being the only Bible some people might read....meaning our Life that is Jesus. Brokenness continues. As I said....and so on and so on. Hmmmmmm

Everything is a learning experience. :) Me Bad.

Max

From Max Lucado's book called "In the Eye of the Storm".

Have you got an upset tummy? Maybe a good reason.

"He had compassion on them." Matthew 14:14 NIV

"The Greek word for compassion is splanchnizomai....

"Splanchnology" is a study of ... the gut. When Matthew writes that Jesus had compassion on the people, he is not saying that Jesus felt casual pity for them....

Matthew is saying that Jesus felt their hurt in his gut;

He felt the limp of the crippled.

He felt the hurt of the diseased.

He felt the loneliness of the leper.

He felt the embarassment of the sinful.

And once he felt their hurts, he couldn't help but heal their hurts."

Every Blessing is Ours

Don't forget, don't ever forget, no matter what, that we have right here and right now......every that would mean EVERY, spiritual blessing, even when we don't particularly feel like we do. :) Ephesians 1:3 NLT " All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ." He has blessed us....I guess that means it is done....thank You, Father.

From the man...Ray Stedman

I think I would have liked this man.......

"A quote by a close friend of Ray Stedman's , Jack Modesett, Jr., quotes Ray himself as saying, "If we will admit our inadequacy, we can have God's adequacy....The greatest problem in the church is trying to do God's work with man's strength....The key to Christian sufficiency is realizing that everything comes from God and nothing comes from me." (from the biographical web site of Ray Stedman)

This quote from that site as posted in a Christianity Today article on the man.

"Ray is now experiencing "the best," and the best conclusion here is to quote Ray's own challenge to his congregation: "So don't lose hope. You are headed for hope, headed for life, headed for glory. All of this life is working toward that end; that's the first thing to hang on to. You don't need to be depressed or feel that everything is useless, that you can't do anything because you are getting older ...that is not true. Paul prays that these Christians may feel in their hearts the great hope to which God has called them. It is all waiting for them, the shining hope beyond death."

Ramblings of a Ragamuffin

So today, I have been looking at the work of Ray Stedman on the Gospel of John and if you haven't checked out his thoughts or writings do so. Maybe it is me because this desire to know everything about everything....I know, I know.....I am like a train, constantly chugging along looking for more knowledge....yikes...don't worry though because that is a sin.... :) I spend time waiting on the Lord to reveal what He would to me as well.
Any whoo... The ladies group I am a part of got into a discussion last night about the beginnings of the New Covenant. The Cross of Calvary changed everything. Everything else before Christ's death and ultimate Resurrection was under the Law. Christ was born under the Law. Any whoo....again, I digress..... I happened upon this book by Stedman and I know I have heard some teaching that refers to this man and his thoughts. ( Frank Friedman).

This quote just blows me away and the fact that my daughter's are facing a chemistry and biology exam emphasized the thoughts on the atom even more and this is like way too cool to pass by.

"This amazing Man, Jesus of Nazareth, in the mystery of His being, was not only a human being here on earth. He was, John tells us, the One who created the universe at the beginning. He understands it. He knows how it functions. He directs, guards, and guides the creation to this day. He keeps it going and holds it in existence."

"I have always been fascinated by the great linear accelerator that runs out toward the mountains behind Stanford University. I have often thought about the immense energies which power that great scientific instrument as I have driven up Highway 280 between Palo Alto and San Francisco. This linear accelerator is, loosely speaking, a great “atom-smasher.” Using enormous voltages of electrical energy, the accelerator moves particles along a long tunnel, increasing the speed of the particles until they approach the speed of light. These high-speed particles smash into a target--the nucleus of an atom--at the far end of the tunnel."

"The energies used to smash these atoms are measured in “mega-electron volts” and “giga-electron volts”--that is, in millions and billions of volts! Why does it take so much power to break apart an atom so that its component particles can he studied? Science has asked that question for decades, and the answer is still unknown. All that is known is that there is a force that scientists do not yet understand which holds all things together."

"The apostle Paul tells us in Colossians what that force is: “In him [Jesus] all things hold together.” (Col. 1:17) The book of Hebrews says, “The Son is . . . the exact representation of [God's] being, sustaining all things by His powerful word.” (Hebrews 1:3) And John says, “Through him [Jesus] all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” The world around you, the book you hold in your hands, and your very body itself are all held together by His word and His power."

So Funny

So, I am on holidays from the full-time job this week and have been having so much fun checking out different blogging sites that are kind of vast and varied but also like-minded in some ways. Anywhooo.... Pastor Mike from on coffee always has a very interesting array of articles from others and himself to check out. So through him to the D'caffeinated Pickle I read this quote from Dale Friesen. "Heaven have mercy on us all-Presbyterians and Pagans alike-for we are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head and sadly need mending." Melville, (Moby Dick) I just laughed and laughed. Very slow day here at the home. :) Which lead me to thinking.....wow ....Friesen....there is a lot of them thar' Friesens and Froesen's ....in my small sheltered, (non-mennonite background) life. Interesting....almost as many as Klassens....great names without question....but where are the Jones and Smiths and Whites....??? One of them just happens to be my maiden name.....nary a one in sight.... :) ~sigh~

Good Friends

Okay so, if you haven't noticed by my posts....not even recent posts but all my posts...I really haven't taken the time to learn how to link and I still have the space thing (you know, those wide random spaces within my blogs that I have no idea where they come from :), to figure out. Well, RoG over at walking church sent me a very kind e-mail and took me through the process and look at this .......!!!!! I am linking! I could have sent him a quiet e-mail thanking him...but he took the time to teach me something about this blogging ....and even though I know it ain't rocket science.....(I am reaching the half-century mark this year).... this age of technology sometimes overwhelms me, he blessed the socks off of me by doing this. Check out his blog. RoG is always sharing some spiritual truth = Jesus with those who drop by. So thanks for your kindness, my friend and being respectful about telling your elders how to manage their blogs....:) You are one of the good guys. God bless. ((((((It truly is the little things that rock my world.)))))

A Good Place To Visit

Tyler Watson at "The Space Between My Ears" has an interesting post about... Why Church? Asks for some response from the readers. I am working on mine. :) The way to get to it....link to his main page of recent posts. Check it out Church!

Or....It Can Look Like

Fear

Judgement

Anger

Brokenness

Sadness

Forgiveness

Grace

Thank You Father, for Jesus Who is Grace.

Church - The Way It Can Look

images courtesy of ....

www.walkingchurch.blogspot.com

www.itmimg.org

www.greatestcities.org

www.gca.cc

www.cityoftaylor.com

www.knowing.img.relaGod.com
www.tanignak.org

www.torringtoncatholics.org

Some of my cherished photos

Church - One of Many Definitions

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary Church Derived probably from the Greek kuriakon (i.e., "the Lord's house"), which was used by ancient authors for the place of worship. In the New Testament it is the translation of the Greek word ecclesia, which is synonymous with the Hebrew "kahal" of the Old Testament, both words meaning simply an assembly, the character of which can only be known from the connection in which the word is found. There is no clear instance of its being used for a place of meeting or of worship, although in post-apostolic times it early received this meaning. Nor is this word ever used to denote the inhabitants of a country united in the same profession, as when we say the "Church of England," the "Church of Scotland," etc. We find the word ecclesia used in the following senses in the New Testament: (1.) It is translated "assembly" in the ordinary classical sense (Acts 19:32, 39, 41). (2.) It denotes the whole body of the redeemed, all those whom the Father has given to Christ, the invisible catholic church (Eph. 5:23, 25, 27, 29; Heb. 12:23). (3.) A few Christians associated together in observing the ordinances of the gospel are an ecclesia (Rom. 16:5; Col. 4:15). (4.) All the Christians in a particular city, whether they assembled together in one place or in several places for religious worship, were an ecclesia. Thus all the disciples in Antioch, forming several congregations, were one church (Acts 13:1); so also we read of the "church of God at Corinth" (1 Cor. 1:2), "the church at Jerusalem" (Acts 8:1), "the church of Ephesus" (Rev. 2:1), etc. (5.) The whole body of professing Christians throughout the world (1 Cor. 15:9; Gal. 1:13; Matt. 16:18) are the church of Christ. The church visible "consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion, together with their children." It is called "visible" because its members are known and its assemblies are public. Here there is a mixture of "wheat and chaff," of saints and sinners. "God has commanded his people to organize themselves into distinct visible ecclesiastical communities, with constitutions, laws, and officers, badges, ordinances, and discipline, for the great purpose of giving visibility to his kingdom, of making known the gospel of that kingdom, and of gathering in all its elect subjects. Each one of these distinct organized communities which is faithful to the great King is an integral part of the visible church, and all together constitute the catholic or universal visible church." A credible profession of the true religion constitutes a person a member of this church. This is "the kingdom of heaven," whose character and progress are set forth in the parables recorded in Matt. 13. The children of all who thus profess the true religion are members of the visible church along with their parents. Children are included in every covenant God ever made with man. They go along with their parents (Gen. 9:9-17; 12:1-3; 17:7; Ex. 20:5; Deut. 29:10-13). Peter, on the day of Pentecost, at the beginning of the New Testament dispensation, announces the same great principle. "The promise [just as to Abraham and his seed the promises were made] is unto you, and to your children" (Acts 2:38, 39). The children of believing parents are "holy", i.e., are "saints", a title which designates the members of the Christian church (1 Cor. 7:14). The church invisible "consists of the whole number of the elect that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ, the head thereof." This is a pure society, the church in which Christ dwells. It is the body of Christ. it is called "invisible" because the greater part of those who constitute it are already in heaven or are yet unborn, and also because its members still on earth cannot certainly be distinguished. The qualifications of membership in it are internal and are hidden. It is unseen except by Him who "searches the heart." "The Lord knoweth them that are his" (2 Tim. 2:19). The church to which the attributes, prerogatives, and promises appertaining to Christ's kingdom belong, is a spiritual body consisting of all true believers, i.e., the church invisible. (1.) Its unity. God has ever had only one church on earth. We sometimes speak of the Old Testament Church and of the New Testament church, but they are one and the same. The Old Testament church was not to be changed but enlarged (Isa. 49:13-23; 60:1-14). When the Jews are at length restored, they will not enter a new church, but will be grafted again into "their own olive tree" (Rom. 11:18-24; comp. Eph. 2:11-22). The apostles did not set up a new organization. Under their ministry disciples were "added" to the "church" already existing (Acts 2:47). [Dictionary.com Unabridged cath·o·lic /ˈkæθəlɪk, ˈkæθlɪk/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kath-uh-lik, kath-lik] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –adjective 1. broad or wide-ranging in tastes, interests, or the like; having sympathies with all; broad-minded; liberal. 2. universal in extent; involving all; of interest to all. 3. pertaining to the whole Christian body or church. ] (2.) Its universality. It is the "catholic" church; not confined to any particular country or outward organization, but comprehending all believers throughout the whole world. (3.) Its perpetuity. It will continue through all ages to the end of the world. It can never be destroyed. It is an "everlasting kindgdom." Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

Tagged by RoG

Okay so this is the thing...RoG from Walking Church tagged me and these are the instructions. I love games... 1) grab the nearest book to you 2) go to page 123 3) go to the fourth sentence and post the next three sentences 4) name the title and author of the book 5) tag three others to do the same Two books did not have page numbers...how weird is that? The thing is I never would have even known this if this game of tag had not come about. So Soul Cravings and The Dust Off Their Feet ....the two top books in the pile beside my desk could not be included....yes, I can count to 123 but I didn't want to! "It may be at times you are so full of love and so awestruck at His presence that you do not know how to speak. That is all right! Your Father is far more pleased with these words - words which He sees pouring out from a heart that is full of love - than He could ever be by elaborate-sounding words that are dry and lifeless." Jeanne Guyon from Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ. Third in the pile. I love to play games .....it is the rules that confuzzle me. I will tag: Redeemed Riders Hislifeinme graceroots We might have to wait on the Lord for some of these responses. :) Thanks RoG.....How many pounds of books have you read on Sparks, so far? Keep it coming!

Soul Cravings

Image by www.christianbook.com

Soul Cravings by Erwin RaphaelMcManus is a book of entries, (journal like), about the cravings of the soul, about the search for God and the deep desire to meet Him. An interesting read, where truth is scattered throughout and touches the places that are deep within and at times become difficult to think about, let alone talk about. Ever since I read the "Barbarian Way" by this author, I have wanted to look at another title. This one is reaching me. I love the way the author brings this down to my level. I understand, emotionally and spiritually the experiences of which he speaks in simple english. He talks a lot about longing to belong, looking for love and coming to the place where one knows the God is that place, first and foremost, and then extensions of that fall into place. That is my unsophisticated take on this book. I enjoy his upfrontedness. It does not offend me. This life is about realness. I like that. These are some excerpts from "Entry #9". One example of how McManus speaks to me through this book. "I meet people who are running from God, angry with God, and yet at the same time desperately searching for him. If God is love, it is maddening when we are running from God and yet searching for love." "Sometimes the thing we want the most, we fear the most." "When it comes to love, often we are our own worst enemies. When we've been hurt in the past, when we feel that love has betrayed us, we can easily become the enemies of love. To see if it's real, we do everything we can to destroy it. We tell ourselves we're testing it, but actually we're resisting it." "The truth of the matter is that we're uncomfortable with God. We're disoriented by the way he loves." "We want God to love us for an endless number of good reasons." "At the same time, we find ourselves nervous before him because he sees right through us and knows everything that isn't lovable. He tells us that he is our place of rest and acceptance and unconditional love, yet we cannot reconcile this love. We know who we are. We know all that is unlovely within us. We wonder how we have become worthy of such love, and that's what worries us - we know we're not. So we escape our own sense of unworthiness; we run from God because we are certain that the closer we come to him, the more guilt and shame we will feel." "It's just too hard to believe that if yu come near to God, you will find yourself not drowning in condemnation, but swimming in compassion. Jesus called to all who were weary and who found their souls exhausted to come to him and find rest. He is telling us that God will be for us our place called home. We run from God because we long to be loved and we have convinced ourselves that the One who is most loving could not and would not embrace us. We run from the One our souls crave." "....We have no real experience of unconditional love, and it goes without saying that conditional love always leaves us wanting. But at least with conditional love we have some control over the situation." So as I read through these fragments of McManus' words..... I found myself so wonderfully blessed to know the Truth that is Jesus. The Grace that is Jesus. The Forgiveness that is Jesus. The Love that is Jesus. The journey through the cravings of this soul, has been long and continues to be one of returning to the knowledge that has come over time. He is Everything. He makes ALL things new. He is Love that does not die. As McManus states......"It is insanity to run from God and search for love."

Just a Little More

"So it is with truth. Scripture cautions us, because we 'suppress the truth in unrighteousness.' We stifle the natural voice and direction of truth, and we twist it to fit our wills and our ways. But even the sinful way we hold truth doesn't make it less true. The truth remains the truth. We may take good things and pervert them, but that doesn't mean they are not good. It means that what we've done with them isn't good, like eating so much Healthy Choice ice cream that it's no longer a healthy choice." "We often begin by holding the gold (the nuggets of truth hidden in fairy tales) and end up cluthching it so tightly it becomes a disfigured, misshapen image. This is the way we start to build castles in the air. We take good gifts, greedily cling to them, and even worship them, ignoring the Giver of these gifts. ....it becomes idolatry that will deform our hearts and make them vulnerable." "When we are accused of living in a world of denial or of fairy-tale thinking, it's pretty safe to say we went there for good reasons. We want the good stuff." Taken from the book Keeping a Princess Heart, by Nicole Johnson. I shall end this short look into this book....with a quote she uses from Oswald Chambers. "Temptation is a suggested short cut to the realization of the highest at which I aim - not towards what I understand as evil, but towards what I understand as good." In Him, Looking forward to living out the most wonderful and grandest happily ever after of all time, because He is Truth and Faithful and His Word is true. The vision of John is no fairy tale but our hope in Him.

Why not?

Well, it is time for a kind of girly girl kind of a post from nightwatch. Only those brothers who are comfortable with fairy tales should proceed. :) Actually this post can be read by all...take what you will away from it.....theologically simple....a great read and food for thought....for all of us who desire a better world. Taken from a book by Nicole Johnson....Keeping a Princess Heart. "It is right that we should desire to live in a world full of love. Our hopes to have beautiful homes and lovely gardens are neither bad nor wrong. Our longings for happy endings are good. All these hungers remind us that our hearts are homesick for a better world - a world that runs the way it is supposed to, a world not ruined by sin. For it is sin, or the way the world has gone wrong, that is the real wrong - not our desires, not our dreams, not our longings. Paul Marshall writes this in Heaven Is Not My Home: Sin is not the story; it is the blight on the story. Sin distorts everything, perverts everything, and corrupts everything. It is not sin that makes us bear children, but it is sin that makes us bear children, but it is sin that makes childbearing painful. It is not sin that attracts men and women, but it is sin that fills our relations with control and suspicions. It is not sin that makes music, but it is sin that fills our songs with vanity and lust. It is not sin that makes us construct cities and towers, but it is sin that makes those towers symbols of pride and power. It is not sin that calls human beings to live and love, to make music, and art, to work and create, to plant and to harvest, to play and dance. But it is sin that undercuts and perverts them all. Sin does not create things. It has no originality, no creativity, no being in itself. Sin lives off that which is good. It is a parasite, feeding greedily on the goodness of what God has made. The goodness of what God has made and the hints of the way/the world should have gone are evident everywhere. We see it so clearly when we are captivated by nature's raw beauty. We notice it when we are playing or throwing our heads back in laughter. We experience it when we are dancing or reading poetry. We taste it when we sit down to a great meal. And we feel it most keenly when we love. There is so much to taste and see and enjoy and feel in the lives God has given us. But alas, as wonderful as it all is, it still falls short. Beauty is marred, the laughter ends, the dance is over, nature changes, and love wounds. Nothing lasts. Even the dusk is poignant in its own way. Everything around us has been touched by sin, and even the best things are affected. So it is with truth......." More to come....hope your curiosity has been tickled.

What Grace Looks Like

Check out a great article on grace called, "Tuesdays with Harry - Sharing Time", posted on http://emergentvoyageurs.blog.com/ Life is too short to be unaccepting of those who cross our path in different ways on different days. Christ in us...would not even contemplate shunning anyone that was different. In fact, He would embrace them. He would love them. He will do this through us. Might we be as gracious as the gathering in this article was.

John 15:5

From the Amplified Bible "I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing." Thank you My Father for that!

WHAT?!

Matthew 5:43-44 KJV "You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love they neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." How did God ever think or know that we were going to handle this Look around you....it just isn't happening! That is the point isn't it? In and of ourselves this can never happen. We just haven't got it in us ..... or do we? Jesus can do this perfectly through us as we allow. Who better to manifest this principle through us. I know I could never, ever, not ever.....on my own....yep, weak and determined, I am going to hold on to that bitterness and resentment forever....He has freed me from that and loosened me ..... He does it through me. It doesn't get any better than that! Peace!

Matthew 5:38-42

Giving of ourselves......to others because of Him. "You have heard that it was said, "Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. 'But I tell you. Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.'" Matthew 5:38-42 Before we start justifying ourselves....or the New Covenant, or the fact that Christ had not yet finished what He came to earth to finish, once and for all, just look at what He calls us to do. It goes against the grain of our very self....our very flesh. How could we.....how could we possibly do this and.....not say a word. Hmmm.

Abandonment

"What is abandonment? It is forgetting your past; it is leaving the future in His hands; it is devoting the present fully and completely to your Lord. Abandonment is being satisfied with the present moment, no matter what the moment contains. You are satisfied because you know that whatever that moment has, it contains - in that instant - God's eternal plan for you." "Abandonment is casting off all your cares. Abandonment is dropping all your needs. This includes spiritual needs. Let me repeat that, for it is not easily grasped. Abandonment is laying aside, forever, all of your spiritual needs." Jeanne Guyon from Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ

Being the Church today....

picture by http://www.wnyc.org/

Well, out for a morning of fellowship with walkingchurch this a.m. and I went back through some information on this word Koinonia that fascinated me then and even more now. What fellowship and community and coming alongside one another means and what that looks like. Walkingchurch is coming into its own and with Jesus as the central focus in any activity, it becomes a true blessing from God. I think He is teaching each one of us so many things that a walk around the park can be just that or so much more. This information came from a couple of different sources and having now lost those....I am very bad at keeping track of information. If this is something you sent or recommended to me.......sorry. This word koinonia......has many different meanings...these are the ones that touch my heart today. Koinonia is the anglicisation of a Greek word that means partnership or fellowship. The word is used frequently in the New Testament of the Bible to describe the relationship within the early Christian church. As a result the word is used frequently within Christian circles to describe the fellowship and community of Christians - or more frequently the idealised state of fellowship and community that should exist. Many Christian organisations use the word Koinonia in their titles, particularly if one of their objectives is the establishment of community. The Spiritual Meaning of Koinonia The word has such a multitude of meanings that no single English word is adequate to express its depth and richness. It is a derivative of "koinos," the word for common. Koinonia, is a complex, rich, and thoroughly fascinating Greek approach to building community or teamwork. Those who have studied the word find there is always an implication of action included in its meaning. The definition of the word is quite rich in that there are many connotations because the word used in a variety of related contexts. Fellowship : To create a bond between comrades is the meaning of koinonia when people are recognized, share their joy and pains together, and are united because of their common experiences, interests and goals. Fellowship creates a mutual bond which overrides each individual’s pride, vanity, and individualism, fulfilling the human yearning with fraternity, belonging, and companionship. This meaning of koinonia accounts for the ease by which sharing and generosity flow. When combined with the spiritual implications of koinonia, fellowship provides a joint participation in God’s graces and denotes that common possession of spiritual values. Thus early Greco-Roman Christians had a fellowship with God, sharing the common experience of joys, fears, tears, and divine glory. In this manner, those who shared believed their true wealth lay not in what they had, but in what they gave to others. Fellowship is never passive in the meaning of koinonia, it is always linked to action, not just being together, but also doing together. With fellowship comes a close and intimate relationship embracing ideas, communication, and frankness, as in a true, blessed interdependent friendship among multiple group members. Community : The idea of community denotes a “common unity” of purpose and interests. By engaging in this united relationship a new level of consciousness and conscience emerges that spurs the group to higher order thinking and action, thus empowering and encouraging its members to exist in a mutually beneficial relationship. Thus community and family become closely intertwined, because aiming at a common unity strives to overcome brokenness, divisiveness, and, ultimately gaining wholeness with each of the members, with their environment, and with their God. By giving mutual support, friendship and family merge. Both fellowship and community imply an inner and outer unity. No where in the framework of community is their implied a hierarchy of command and control. While there is leadership, the leader’s task is to focus energy, and align interests, not impose control. Koinonia creates a brethren bond which builds trust and, especially when combined with the values of Wisdom, Virtue and Honor, overcomes two of humanity’s deepest fears and insecurities: being betrayed and being demeaned. Whether working collectively or individually, the innovators of ancient Greece worked for the greater good of the whole – to propel their community forward, to share their understanding with others so that all ships would rise on a rising tide. Thus loftier goals and dreams are more easily manifested in the mind and achieved in reality.