No doubt that most of you would have seen the movie the wizard of Oz. There seems to be a flaw in the story. Dorothy has been leading a rather bleak existence in Kansas when she is transported to a lovely paradise in Oz. Once there, her only wish is to return to Kansas, and this wish motivates her journey to see the Wizard. Other than her attachment to her aunt and uncle, why should she wish to leave this ideal fairyland and go back to her humdrum life on the grey (flat as a pancake) Kansas prairie? The moral seems indeed to be that "there's no place like home." A deprived existence in a miserable shack is preferable to the Garden of Eden because it's home. The truth concealed behind this saying is that the ultimate spiritual reality lies within each individual person-in their "own backyard"-and not off somewhere over the rainbow. "The kingdom of Oz is within you."
How true is that of many of us, we have the very Spirit of God living in us. And we seem unsatisfied, as if there is a constant yearning within to want more, an insatiable appetite for the things of God.
Yet scripture tells us that "....... godliness with contentment is great gain". (1 Timothy 6:6)
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Thursday, November 09, 2006
mmm...worth considering, a favourite author
This from N. T. Wright's commentary on Colossians 3:6...
'Part of the horror of hell, it appears, is that those who consciously and continuously choose sin instead of God become less and less human, until all that ennobles them as creatures made in God's image has, by their own choice, been altogether obliterated, beyond hope or pity. It is perhaps along these lines that the difficult doctrine of hell may be comprehensibly stated today, in opposition to the current notion that hell does not exist, or that if it does it will at the last be untenanted, or that even if some will remain there it is in bad taste to mention the fact. Unless we are to rob human beings of all meaningful responsibility for their actions, and to underplay the utter holiness of God, hell must always be at least a possibility. Those who make evil a way of life begin to lose their humanity, begin (in other words) to die, even while they are alive: witness the dead eyes of the miser, the torturer, the prostitute. ... Those who choose to live without God will one day find that they have forfeited their likeness to Him.'
'Part of the horror of hell, it appears, is that those who consciously and continuously choose sin instead of God become less and less human, until all that ennobles them as creatures made in God's image has, by their own choice, been altogether obliterated, beyond hope or pity. It is perhaps along these lines that the difficult doctrine of hell may be comprehensibly stated today, in opposition to the current notion that hell does not exist, or that if it does it will at the last be untenanted, or that even if some will remain there it is in bad taste to mention the fact. Unless we are to rob human beings of all meaningful responsibility for their actions, and to underplay the utter holiness of God, hell must always be at least a possibility. Those who make evil a way of life begin to lose their humanity, begin (in other words) to die, even while they are alive: witness the dead eyes of the miser, the torturer, the prostitute. ... Those who choose to live without God will one day find that they have forfeited their likeness to Him.'
Thursday, November 02, 2006
The Scriptures report that there is the "power of life and death" in the tongue. As God's Word became flesh and transformed the lives of many, so our words have the power to bring life to others or simply change the very atmosphere we walk in. We create or tear down with the things we say. We shape attitudes, expectations, and situations. We foster life or we further death. Think about it for a minute; we have influence in our lives all around us. Complaining can be seen in many ways as resentment over unmet expectations. But it is an expression that serves only to affirm our "own expectations" whether they are based on a faulty reality or not. It is an expression that says, "I refuse to re-evaluate my perspective, to reposition my gaze to a higher altitude. I am right and this is all that I will see." Many can portray this in life and influence others, but the reverse is also true that people can be strongly influenced by the positive and be much happier there (I know full well that positive people are much more fun to be around). When Jesus proclaimed "I am the bread of life," the crowds had a hard time accepting his words. The Gospel of John says, "When many of his disciples heard it, they said, 'This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?' But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, 'Do you take offence at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?'" (John 6:60-62). He seems to say, "Do you realize what you are saying? Will you only see what you expect to see? If the truth itself were in front of you, would you even then refuse to believe?" As finding sunshine may be a matter of lifting our gaze, so joy is a matter of vision, and expectation. Peter writes of our certain hope in Christ, "You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place" (2 Peter 1:19). Are we gazing only at the looming darkness? Do we grumble among ourselves in the dark of failed expectation? Might there be more to see? Is there a hope beyond the veil? Is it easier to always look on the dark side of life? When all the time Christ in you is the LIGHT OF THE WORLD. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! Hallelujah. Well they are some of my thoughts, Pastor Rob
A matter of altitude
I have had the privilege of travelling many times to other nations and valued the many people that have travelled with me. I remember one time the incredible hand of God in getting an associate not only out of Australia but into another country without a passport. It was simply amazing. But you know at the time things were pretty gloomy on the ground before we left and indeed when we arrived in the other nation reality hit again, "How do we get past customs and immigration?" But all was OK. Another time it was horribly wet and rainy on the ground but once up in the air the sun was shining and life was great. So I suppose you could say sunshine is a matter of altitude. Many times I have been challenged in my own heart to make my own sunshine, in other words to climb in altitude and attitude. This has been a life changing thought at many times.
Intimacy
(Thanks also to Jill Castilla)
I was doing some reading tonight and found out some interesting facts. The earth at the equator is spinning at 1,609 kilometres per hour. As if that is not enough we are travelling through space to make our yearly orbit around the sun at the phenomenal speed of 108,000 kilometres per hour (give or take a K). Yet here I sit at the keyboard as still as can be. I pondered this and thought about how unaware we are of our movement and the incredible speed of it. Then it dawned on me that our Spiritual life is very similar, we are travelling towards our destiny at a great rate of knots but in total unawareness (if there is such a word?) We to can be so unaware of how far we have slipped from our original launch place. That time when we were alive in God, totally aware of His grace and mercy that we had received. We then start our slow drift and in total ignorance are unaware of how far and how fast we have drifted from our first love. Our first love where nothing was too much to give or too hard to do for God. Where another opportunity to attend a meeting or go to a service was greeted with fanciful enthusiasm and not begrudging disdain. Where we had led our children to believe Church was actually great and fun and not a hard place that drains us (their reponses are reflections of our hearts). Passive faith leads to loss in the end. The close walk that you and I had with God in School or Uni or in our younger years is no guarantee of intimacy today.
If you desire to walk intimately with your God, consider what you are doing on a daily basis to foster this intimacy. The prophet Hosea, himself was painfully aware of the waywardness of human hearts, he exhorted Israel,
Hos 6:6 - " I want your constant love, not your animal sacrifices. I would rather have my people know me than burn offerings to me." (GNB)
I was doing some reading tonight and found out some interesting facts. The earth at the equator is spinning at 1,609 kilometres per hour. As if that is not enough we are travelling through space to make our yearly orbit around the sun at the phenomenal speed of 108,000 kilometres per hour (give or take a K). Yet here I sit at the keyboard as still as can be. I pondered this and thought about how unaware we are of our movement and the incredible speed of it. Then it dawned on me that our Spiritual life is very similar, we are travelling towards our destiny at a great rate of knots but in total unawareness (if there is such a word?) We to can be so unaware of how far we have slipped from our original launch place. That time when we were alive in God, totally aware of His grace and mercy that we had received. We then start our slow drift and in total ignorance are unaware of how far and how fast we have drifted from our first love. Our first love where nothing was too much to give or too hard to do for God. Where another opportunity to attend a meeting or go to a service was greeted with fanciful enthusiasm and not begrudging disdain. Where we had led our children to believe Church was actually great and fun and not a hard place that drains us (their reponses are reflections of our hearts). Passive faith leads to loss in the end. The close walk that you and I had with God in School or Uni or in our younger years is no guarantee of intimacy today.
If you desire to walk intimately with your God, consider what you are doing on a daily basis to foster this intimacy. The prophet Hosea, himself was painfully aware of the waywardness of human hearts, he exhorted Israel,
Hos 6:6 - " I want your constant love, not your animal sacrifices. I would rather have my people know me than burn offerings to me." (GNB)
Lifting Weights
Lifting weights once seemed to me so unnecessary--an activity for people who wanted to feel like gigantors, while the real exercisers were off somewhere running. But as it turns out, I was wrong. Incorporating weight training into your exercise routine is beneficial on many levels: raising metabolism, increasing strength, reducing the risk of injury, heart disease, and other illness. I even read recently that lifting weights can help lift depression. I have no doubt that using weights properly can build both muscle and benefit our health. With a weight in my hand recently, I found myself worrying about upcoming events, things I needed to do, things I wasn't doing well enough, and so forth. To be honest I can't remember exactly what I was worrying about that day. But I remember thinking about the weight I was physically lifting and the weight I was mentally carrying--and marvelling at the illustration. I believe it is possible to use life's resistances/problems to build character and faith. Even so, as it is in weight lifting, a weight is only beneficial to the body when it is lifted and released. Muscles grow during times of rest; to never release a weight would negate any benefits of weight lifting (not to mention look very silly). When it comes to worrying, I think I might resemble a person hauling around a barbell, stubbornly refusing to put it down.
Its only when we release the weight does any growth occur. Similarly its only when we let what has been a burden go to God, that we find a growth in our own lives. Jesus tells us, "Who by worrying can add anything to their lives?" (Paraphrase). By letting the struggle and worry go, what we are saying is that WE TRUST GOD. This is a sure sign of growth. Sure life will have its ups and downs and the downs at times will seem so low that we will never get up again. But the reality is that when I first started to exercise I thought I would never move my arms again. But slowly and surely I gained confidence and strength, and now I look forward to it (well most days).
Its only when we release the weight does any growth occur. Similarly its only when we let what has been a burden go to God, that we find a growth in our own lives. Jesus tells us, "Who by worrying can add anything to their lives?" (Paraphrase). By letting the struggle and worry go, what we are saying is that WE TRUST GOD. This is a sure sign of growth. Sure life will have its ups and downs and the downs at times will seem so low that we will never get up again. But the reality is that when I first started to exercise I thought I would never move my arms again. But slowly and surely I gained confidence and strength, and now I look forward to it (well most days).
One Body
Today as I talk with other ministers both on-line and in person the one common thing in the western church is transfer. People are transferring from one church to another, or transferring right out of the church. People all have their reasons rightly or wrongly and that is between them and God but the one factor that we can all miss from time to time is GOD. He is the one who called us in the first place, He placed us in the church and He should be the only one we move for. He died for the Church. I hear many saying "I am the Church" which is true to a degree, but its the corporate gathering of the many members that He is joining together that makes the Church.
(Rom 12:5) "So we the many are one body in Christ, and each one members of one another.
We cannot love the Head (Jesus) and not the body (people of the Church). We are , like it or not members of each other."
It's time for the new generation to arise those who are full of faith and Grace, who look beyond and build for the Kingdom. I once spoke in a church in Sydney and I said these words. "Those who bail out of Church now and do not fight to belong, will miss out on what the faithful will become". The Pastor of that Church rang me and reminded me of my exact words, and thanked me for them. It's time for me and the general body of Christ to fight for what is ours, our heritage in Christ that will come to those who are faithful. And to those who CHOOSE to walk in unity with a clean heart.
Well those are my thoughts, Pastor Rob.
(Rom 12:5) "So we the many are one body in Christ, and each one members of one another.
We cannot love the Head (Jesus) and not the body (people of the Church). We are , like it or not members of each other."
It's time for the new generation to arise those who are full of faith and Grace, who look beyond and build for the Kingdom. I once spoke in a church in Sydney and I said these words. "Those who bail out of Church now and do not fight to belong, will miss out on what the faithful will become". The Pastor of that Church rang me and reminded me of my exact words, and thanked me for them. It's time for me and the general body of Christ to fight for what is ours, our heritage in Christ that will come to those who are faithful. And to those who CHOOSE to walk in unity with a clean heart.
Well those are my thoughts, Pastor Rob.
Kingdom Love
A quote from Kluane Spake which I really loved;
We must move from legalism to Kingdom love. It isn't easy to love without expectation of reward. For surely, beloved, you will be disappointed again and again. Luke 21:16-19 reminds us: "You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. By standing firm you will gain life" (NIV). Jesus is coming back for a church that stands together firmly in victory and that walks together in the spirit. Let us migrate to the next level and breakthrough with new revelation and expectation. Remember: Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit -- defined as committed, trustworthy, loyal, reliable, constant, steadfastness, & sincere. Faithfulness & commitment are demonstrated through a performance of duty, or keeping ones word or promises to one to whom you are loyal. That means you keep your promises regardless of any change or disappointment that might occur.
We must move from legalism to Kingdom love. It isn't easy to love without expectation of reward. For surely, beloved, you will be disappointed again and again. Luke 21:16-19 reminds us: "You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. By standing firm you will gain life" (NIV). Jesus is coming back for a church that stands together firmly in victory and that walks together in the spirit. Let us migrate to the next level and breakthrough with new revelation and expectation. Remember: Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit -- defined as committed, trustworthy, loyal, reliable, constant, steadfastness, & sincere. Faithfulness & commitment are demonstrated through a performance of duty, or keeping ones word or promises to one to whom you are loyal. That means you keep your promises regardless of any change or disappointment that might occur.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
The Spirit of Life
Genuine concern can accidentally lead to destructive worry. We CONTINUALLY need to take a close look at our heart and motives. My friend, this is the hour to purge every bit of leaven out of our lives and our weakened emotions (Mk. 8:15). The major problem with emotional SIN (Rom 7:20) is that we tend to SEE things as they seem on earth and not as they are in heaven. Anxiety is first overcome in the spirit realm and then manifested in our heart (soul). Out of the abundance of the HEART, the mouth speaks. Paul admitted that in his flesh, was no good thing. He wanted to do right but was not always able to do right (Rom. 7:18 KJV). Not only does anxiety choke our faith, but it binds joy, shuts down our confession, and causes increased and disabling pressure. Many times, we want to quit worrying, but can't. Later on Paul discovered the answer! Why do so many preachers stop with Romans 7? To them, it's all about repeatedly dying to this "all-powerful carnal self" that never quite does right -- and never quite wins the battles. Hasn't the church lived long enough under the law of the flesh and the law of sin and death -- wanting to do good and finding evil present (Rom 7:21)? Truth is -- worry is one of the greatest enemies to believers today.
BUT, Paul found the answer and so can we! Just keep reading. Paul tells us that the remedy isn't giving into our weaknesses because we live under the spirit of death. There's another law of God after the inward man (Rom. 7:22). It is here (in this law) that we can delight. It is the LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE (8:2). Why do we stop before we get here? We can be totally healed of our long-standing emotional weaknesses. Resurrection power in us means we don't have to be afraid. My God! We don't have to be angry anymore. Jesus died to bring forth His Kingdom on earth. His plan is that we exercise the authority that He has given us and restore that Kingdom back to Him! The Kingdom is IN US. It's all about living in the fullness of the intention of the LIFE He gives. Let's become healed and effective! The Message Bible says, "Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud (spirit of death)". A new power is in operation. The Spirit of LIFE in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death" (Rom. 8:1-2 MSG). "Lift up your heads oh ye Gates" (Ps. 24:7). The Spirit of LIFE brings forth COURAGE into the heart of believers so that we can RULE in the Gate at this optimum moment (Ps 24:7).
BUT, Paul found the answer and so can we! Just keep reading. Paul tells us that the remedy isn't giving into our weaknesses because we live under the spirit of death. There's another law of God after the inward man (Rom. 7:22). It is here (in this law) that we can delight. It is the LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE (8:2). Why do we stop before we get here? We can be totally healed of our long-standing emotional weaknesses. Resurrection power in us means we don't have to be afraid. My God! We don't have to be angry anymore. Jesus died to bring forth His Kingdom on earth. His plan is that we exercise the authority that He has given us and restore that Kingdom back to Him! The Kingdom is IN US. It's all about living in the fullness of the intention of the LIFE He gives. Let's become healed and effective! The Message Bible says, "Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud (spirit of death)". A new power is in operation. The Spirit of LIFE in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death" (Rom. 8:1-2 MSG). "Lift up your heads oh ye Gates" (Ps. 24:7). The Spirit of LIFE brings forth COURAGE into the heart of believers so that we can RULE in the Gate at this optimum moment (Ps 24:7).
Thoughts that I borrowed...Ps Rob.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Unity
Martin Luther spoke of Godly treasure, “I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess.” For if a kingdom is divided against itself, then that kingdom can’t stand (Mk. 3:24-25). The same is true of the church. To succeed we must be working together and single in cause. Some of the biggest criticism of the Church comes from within the church. This should not be so! A single eye towards the direction God has set is the answer. It is only in Unity can we expect the blessing of God and only in Unity can we really see God's hand move. Let's set our heart to be as ONE. No matter what life or others dish out to us let's react in a Godly manner and show the love of Christ. Life is too short to live any other way.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Where is God in this?
I know that many of you have seen or heard this before, but for those of you who have not I pass it on for your thoughts. Stan DeKoven sent it to me and again it got me thinking.
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary, Sunday, 12/18/05.
Herewith at this happy time of year, a few confessions from my beating heart: I have no freaking clue who Nick and Jessica are. I see them on the cover of People and Us constantly when I am buying my dog biscuits and kitty litter. I often ask the checkers at the grocery stores. They never know who Nick and Jessica are either. Who are they? Will it change my life if I know who they are and why they have broken up? Why are they so important? I don't know who Lindsay Lohan is either, and I do not care at all about Tom Cruise's wife. Am I going to be called before a Senate committee and asked if I am a subversive? Maybe, but I just have no clue who Nick and Jessica are. If this is what it means to be no longer young, it's not so bad. Next confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution, and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to. In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke, it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show, and Jane Clayson asked her, "How could God let something like this Happen?" (regarding Hurricane Katrina). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?" In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped, and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK. Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW." Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to Hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing? Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. If you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary, Sunday, 12/18/05.
Herewith at this happy time of year, a few confessions from my beating heart: I have no freaking clue who Nick and Jessica are. I see them on the cover of People and Us constantly when I am buying my dog biscuits and kitty litter. I often ask the checkers at the grocery stores. They never know who Nick and Jessica are either. Who are they? Will it change my life if I know who they are and why they have broken up? Why are they so important? I don't know who Lindsay Lohan is either, and I do not care at all about Tom Cruise's wife. Am I going to be called before a Senate committee and asked if I am a subversive? Maybe, but I just have no clue who Nick and Jessica are. If this is what it means to be no longer young, it's not so bad. Next confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution, and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to. In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke, it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show, and Jane Clayson asked her, "How could God let something like this Happen?" (regarding Hurricane Katrina). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?" In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped, and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK. Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW." Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to Hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing? Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. If you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
Free Will
What an incredible thing God has given us in free will and choice. We can choose to walk how ever we like, God will never force our hand. Imagine if you will for a minute the incredible thing that is. The God of Heaven and earth creator of man's first breath, allows us free choice. I find that amazing, if I was inventing/creating man he would do what he was jolly well told. (Aren't you lucky I'm not). But there is a reason in my mind why God does this, and that is that he believes in us. He loves us and really does trust us. Yes we will mess up and He knows that, and yet He still loves and trusts us to make our own decisions and plans.
Life leads us on a merry ride at times and the choices we make have consequences on this life that we are living, hence the reason that choices are so important. And part of the reason God allows us to make our own choices, He knows that life will draw us around to where we should be, and that the choices we make wether good or bad, will teach us.
Our choice is to learn! Or go around the mountain again.
I don't know about you but I can see a few of my footprints in front of me from time to time. Our job is to support one another in the decision making process and help those who want to grow and learn. I am still learning in a big way, how about you?
Life leads us on a merry ride at times and the choices we make have consequences on this life that we are living, hence the reason that choices are so important. And part of the reason God allows us to make our own choices, He knows that life will draw us around to where we should be, and that the choices we make wether good or bad, will teach us.
Our choice is to learn! Or go around the mountain again.
I don't know about you but I can see a few of my footprints in front of me from time to time. Our job is to support one another in the decision making process and help those who want to grow and learn. I am still learning in a big way, how about you?
Things you don't learn in school
This advice was offered by BILL GATES in a speech to a group of high school students. His topic was: Things You Don’t Learn in School.
RULE 1: Life is not fair… get used to it.
RULE 2: The world won’t care about your self esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
RULE 3: You will NOT make 40 thousand dollars a year, right out of high school. You won’t be a vice president with a car phone, until you earn both.
RULE 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss.
RULE 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for flipping burgers: they called it opportunity.
RULE 6: If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault. So don’t whine about your mistakes, learn from them.
RULE 7: Before you were born, your parents were not as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parents’ generation, try cleaning up your own bedroom.
RULE 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they’ll give you as many chances as you want to get the right answer. This doesn’t bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.
RULE 9: Life is not divided into terms. You don’t get summers off, and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.
RULE 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life, people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs
RULE 1: Life is not fair… get used to it.
RULE 2: The world won’t care about your self esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
RULE 3: You will NOT make 40 thousand dollars a year, right out of high school. You won’t be a vice president with a car phone, until you earn both.
RULE 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss.
RULE 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for flipping burgers: they called it opportunity.
RULE 6: If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault. So don’t whine about your mistakes, learn from them.
RULE 7: Before you were born, your parents were not as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parents’ generation, try cleaning up your own bedroom.
RULE 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they’ll give you as many chances as you want to get the right answer. This doesn’t bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.
RULE 9: Life is not divided into terms. You don’t get summers off, and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.
RULE 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life, people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs
Enjoying the journey
The great architect Frank Lloyd Wright was fond of an incident that may have seemed insignificant at the time, but had a profound influence on the restof his life. When he was 9, he went walking across a snow-covered field with his reserved, no- nonsense uncle. As the two of them reached the far end of the field, his uncle stopped him. He pointed out his own tracks in the snow, straight and true as an arrow's flight, and then young Frank's tracks meandering all over the field. "Notice how your tracks wander aimlessly from the fence to the cattle to the woods and back again," his uncle said. "And see how my tracks aim directly to my goal. There is an important lesson in that." Years later the world-famous architect liked to tell how the experience had contributed to his philosophy in life. "I determined right then," he'd say with a twinkle in his eye, "not to miss the things in life, that my uncle had missed." Frank Wright saw in those tracks what his uncle could not: It is easy to let the demands of life keep us from the joys of living. We all recognize that any goal in life worth achieving demands a great deal of our energy. If you are a doctor you must spend vast hours alone and in Uni studying the human body. The life of your patient demands it. If you are a teacher you must live in the library researching and preparing for your lecture. The mind of your student demands it. If you are a carpenter you must patiently measure the building before you drive the first nail. The strength of the structure depends on it. If you are a mother you must sacrifice your life for another. Your children require it. We could not live if we did not set goals and work to fulfill them. No sane person would argue otherwise. But here's what young Wright discovered at the tender age of 9, and what some don't learn until 59: The objective in life is not the goal but the journey on the way to the goal. One time the whole city had gathered around where Jesus was, pressing in to see Him. The demands on him were piling up. He cured many, cast out demons, and taught constantly. When he left in the morning early to pray, they went searching for him. And when they found him they said, "What are you doing, everyone is searching for you?" Our lives can be that way with the demands of work, family, life, illness etc. How do we enjoy the journey when everyone and everything is searching for you, wanting a piece of you, and demanding your time? We can do it by remembering....
1. Hard Work Is Required.
2. Not To Let Others Define Our Goal.
3. Enjoy the ride
4. Remembering to Pray!
Well those are my thoughts, Pastor Rob.
1. Hard Work Is Required.
2. Not To Let Others Define Our Goal.
3. Enjoy the ride
4. Remembering to Pray!
Well those are my thoughts, Pastor Rob.
Manifesting the Life of Christ
Well this is our first meeting , so to speak.
Not sure what you are expecting from all this but it is my intention to just throw the thoughts that I have into cyber space and try as best as I can to encourage "You the Body of Christ". Now not everything may fit your theology, or mine but I hope the things I say will promote you to think outside the box and see God from a newer light and a fresher point of view. Occasionally I may post a funny thought or even a web page or picture.
For me, and I have no doubt for you also, life can seem to have its ups and downs. Our challenge is to find consistency in our reactions to these challenges. If we looked at the fruit of the Spirit we would see a constancy in their outworking. If we are going to manifest the life of Christ, consistency is a key to our life and victory. Making a decision is one of the best things we can do in times of trouble, let me encourage you with this verse;
"Trust God, my friends, and always tell him each one of your concerns. God is our place of safety". (Psalm 62:8)
Not sure what you are expecting from all this but it is my intention to just throw the thoughts that I have into cyber space and try as best as I can to encourage "You the Body of Christ". Now not everything may fit your theology, or mine but I hope the things I say will promote you to think outside the box and see God from a newer light and a fresher point of view. Occasionally I may post a funny thought or even a web page or picture.
For me, and I have no doubt for you also, life can seem to have its ups and downs. Our challenge is to find consistency in our reactions to these challenges. If we looked at the fruit of the Spirit we would see a constancy in their outworking. If we are going to manifest the life of Christ, consistency is a key to our life and victory. Making a decision is one of the best things we can do in times of trouble, let me encourage you with this verse;
"Trust God, my friends, and always tell him each one of your concerns. God is our place of safety". (Psalm 62:8)
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