To Scribe

Where are you?

2009-06-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

God is not missing the meeting.

We are.

(This is bigger than your local church gathering.)

Relative to the Him, where are you?
Face to face :)
Your back is turned.
Stiff-necked.

Interesting metaphors for an analysis of our spiritual condition.

Maybe, it is not what we expect from Him that's important, it is what aspect we have of Him.

Relative to the Him, where are you?

"Be Ye Perfect"

2009-05-16T12:29:00.001-07:00

"Be Ye Perfect" includes patience and compassion with the imperfections of others and yourself.

Mexio Outreach slideshow

2009-02-20T13:34:00.000-08:00

My father and Jim, my brother, went to Mexico to help a guy from Jim's church construct a cement block house, a new home for some old folks. Jim is an electrician, he was there to put the wiring in. You will see in the slideshow that they did more than just the electricity.

Papa says, "For some of these old folks this is the nicest place they have ever lived in."

In this slideshow you will see the building, the church and the little town. OH, and there is a humvee with an automatic machine gun on top at the border!

TeaTime

2009-01-16T10:56:00.000-08:00

Scrubbing a stubborn stain, I realized when I scrub lightly it help some, and when I scrub heavily it helped a little more. It dawns on my that I need a bleaching agent.

The blood of Jesus cleans the sinners heart.

The anticipation of reconciliation

2008-08-22T07:10:00.000-07:00

There is an anticipation of reconciliation involved in God's forgiveness..

He knows that when we accept His forgiveness we are brought back into relationship with Him..

There is no motive of vindication: HA see I was right

2008-05-03T09:10:00.000-07:00

Holy is the Lord

2008-04-17T05:29:00.001-07:00

How great, how awesome is He? and together we sing!
Holy is the Lord God Almighty,
The earth is filled with your glory,
Holy is the Lord God Almighty,
The earth is filled with your glory,
the earth is filled with your glory..

Thank you Jesus for this new day,
bless all your children with the knowledge of your constant presence and imminent return.

2006-08-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

The ultimate goal of the religious system is to shift to the individual the burden of pursing for himself the knowledge and love of God.

This will not be a widely shared pursuit until we get over our odd conviction that spiritual education is conducted by bishops in church buildings and nowhere else.

2006-07-24T21:03:00.000-07:00

Ps 119:1-8 A personal response

Wholly sated is the filled vessel on THE journey whose support and defense is the Existing One's own words.

The completely satisfied are evidences of their encounter with the Eternal from their inmost parts they crave Him.

Actually, how can they consider doing evil? To be on THE journey to and with Him is their life!

Oh One! You yourself you show to us and we burn brightly in observing you!

Oh sweet caress, that I could labor in your cause without missing a step!

There is no threat of a wasted life because I am connected to you and you are all I am looking at!

My hands point to you,
my mouth babbles about
your beauty
your faithfulness,
your glory,
- oh words fail.
You are too wonderful to contemplate
and my heart has no direction but to know you.
I thrist for you.
My day-to-day is a recitation of you.

Your words are engraved on my heart
Don't ever let me go or I am lost!

2006-06-04T17:08:00.000-07:00

Just a thought..

Humility is not a skill ...
It is a knowing - convinced of our deep need of His life.

Without Him you can do nothing.. (what part of nothing do we not understand?)

2005-11-10T13:42:00.000-08:00

Wear your joy!

2005-11-03T12:02:00.000-08:00

The very best thing we can do for ourselves is to get over ourselves.

2005-10-31T17:32:00.000-08:00

Outside in, Inside out: what about who and what God is satisfies our souls desires?
First, let's see what we (humans) do to be satisfied.

There are two kinds of unhappy people in the world.

Those who believe that if they could just arrange the "outside" circumstances of their lives, they would be happy...if they had a ... new car, better job, quiet wife (oops did I say that??!), children that would wash up the dishes without complaining, more sleep at night, lyposuction... whatever "outside" needs to be fixed in order to find happiness... fill in the blank. Truthfully, new toys satisfy our soul for about 3.5 secs.

Then there are those souls that despair over their "insides" if they made less mistakes, could get it right, be more patient, more studious, more diligent, less critical, less prone to temptation... more or less _______ whatever. Seems like most of the time life is not being good enough, guilty, dissatisfaction, or vexation at less conscientious people, maybe pridefulness too, and above all... tiredness.

I think we all find ourselves on both sides of this outside/inside scale; I know I can see myself in each.

I think the reason we believe that outside arrangements or inside self-control will bring us happiness is we all get a momentary measure of a happiness from that shiny new toy (outside), or that moment we acted adult when the other guy was childish (inside).

And we believe the lies because we do not have the right view of who and what God is, the true source of souls satisfaction: joy, peace, mercy, love, grace and all good things.

The words out-SIDE and in-SIDE give a clue. These are human (created creature) concepts, as there is no boundaries at all in God, the truth about God is He has no SIDES. Theologians throw around big words: God is omnipresent, everywhere present, every "time" present.

We have insides and outsides. I can see your outsides : )

So let's consider our SOURCE: Christ the triumphant is on the throne, and He is not negligent concerning things that concern us, there will be a recogning of all unjustice, He is the giver of real joy, peace, and love, trust his hand See Chrirst outside of you?

Our true inside source: Christ in my heart - we are indwelled .. not by the thought of God, not by the measure of righteousness we can muster, but by the One true living God Himself. There is no end to His shininess. I think it says, we WILL shine, we must, cant help it, because it is based on His nature.

So we see the ONE that is both outside and inside. In Him there is no division, no boundary. Our true source, based on who and what He is. We live in Him and He dwells in us.

How does this play out in our 4D world? God is manifest in me for me, for others, for the love of God to be shed abroad in our hearts, for a witness to His pleasure in me, for the glory of the Son.

How did Spurgeon put it? "If Jesus was undertook to bring me to glory, and if the Father promised that He would give me to the Son to be a part of the infinite reward of the travail of His soul; then, my soul, till God Himself shall be unfaithful, till Jesus shall cease to be the truth, thou art safe."

2005-08-21T12:07:00.000-07:00

In the end, God will be All in all, Lord take all of me now!

Pray a dangerous prayer...
Lord, take from my life anything that seperates You and me.
Whatever it may be, whatever keeps me from seeing You, desiring You.
Take my possessions, my addictions, my obsessions, even my convictions.
Let nothing be between Thee and me.

Let the adventure begin!

2005-08-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

Beware of platitudes
they are everywhere.

2005-08-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

Expressing the truth without acknowledging the source of Truth is seeing light that doesn't change you, a fresh breath of air maybe, an experiencing of a joy that is fleeting. A truth may bring relief, it may even shut the mouths of hearers, but it can not set free.

Here is an exercise in truth: (In my mind's ear, I can hear Alan Alda make a profound soliloquy out of it.)

Gratefulness is a large room. When you find yourself tied up in knots, stressed in the mess, seeing stupidity all around you, obeying senseless directives, unable to free yourself from the boredom or internal tyranny, stretch out with gratefulness. The soul is not bound to the circumstance, gratefulness can free you of the smallness of your vision. If all you can think of to be grateful for is the opportunity to be grateful start there. Get personal with this, "I am grateful for lessons I have learned, people I have known, air I have breath, places I have seen.." The cacoon that bound and stressed you begins to fall away you enter the "large room" called gratefulness. As you revel in the lightness, the fresh air, the space beyond circumstance, you can feel the profoundness in the moment. The cessation of the darkness, heaviness and confinement, RELIEF! And you can see you are blessed beyond others.

This exercise works! Because it is a glimspe of light, but it will not bring lasting freedom from darkness. Why?

There is Truth about Him in it - FIND IT! Enjoy the gifts of life and light, but seek the Creator, the only true God, the Giver of Life and seek THE Light. Jhn 17: 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 7. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.

2005-07-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

Trick statement: "I am loveable because God loves me"

The statement "I am loveable because God loves me" ... 'falls short' .. it falls short of the whole truth about God.. God loves me when I am unloveable..

The statement "I am loveable because God loves me" . leaves open .. 'God loves me because I am loveable'.. or 'I have to be loveable to be loved by God'.. and neither of those statements are true

The fact that God loves me does not prove or disapprove my loveableness but when examined closely .. my unlovableness stands out as the truth . .. in that God is most glorified by this and we will forever show the glory of God is the truth ... I am unloveable but God loves me ..

INGEST THIS: you are unloveable but you are Loved,,, facts!

How do we embrace being Loved when we are unloveable.. ?? Being Loved by God does not make me loveable..

Being Loved by God is more a statement of God's character than of my character. All praise and glory and honor be to our Most High God

2005-07-24T10:57:00.000-07:00

Mt 23:23...the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith...

Of judgment, for God is righteous and He is the standard. We have nothing to boast about.Of mercy, for God is merciful and we have nothing to despair about. And the faith of all this, is faith in the person of God Himself.

We are allowed neither to boast nor to despair.

2005-07-24T10:49:00.000-07:00

Comments on **BET... an inquiry into our human BET-headedness - ie doublemindedness

Mar 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.

1 Co 13 is full of cautions concerning BET thoughts:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,though I have the gift of prophecy, (though I) understand all mysteries, (though I understand) all knowledge; though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, though I give my body to be burned...

No one is going to argue that any one of the above things are not GOOD things to pursue and do BUT the CAUTION is foremost in the chapter.. without "agape" .. it profits nothing...

Consider this: God speaking: Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Would it be prudent to keep foremost in our mind that our thoughts even the way we organize our thoughts (based on this linear time/space limitation we are in) are not on the same playing field as His and AT BEST we "know in part"? That as in Pro 16:25 "There is a way that seemeth right (oh so compelling and sound in our own mind) unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" ?

Yet we charge ahead in obedience to (our understanding of) 2Ti 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." To what? Fill our minds with: eschotology, apologetics, depensationalism, systematic theology?

While I have stated before, knowledge is a good thing, we must remember - it is also a BET ... it has the caution of puffed-up-ness. What is the point of this knowledge if is only to, (be honest now...) be approved by other people? or think ourselves 'not to be ashamed' because we know more than other people? This is vanity. 2Ti 2:15, itself, in context of the chapter loudly disclaims this use of this scripture.

All inquiry into any of God's higher thoughts (I take a liberty here to say to inquire into alef "one" - singlemindedness) we must begin and continue in the pursuit of: to "Love God with all my mind, heart, soul, and strength." i.e. TO KNOW HIM ... all else is BET, caution, vanity and double-mindedness.

Fortunately for us we have a wonderful God, who WANTS to be known! And Jam 4:6 ... God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

** Note on the term "BET" Bet is the letter B in the hebrew alphabet, concept of TWO ..

2005-07-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

Salvation is a bloody thing...

Hbr 9:22 ... and without shedding of blood is no remission.

The Exodus/Passover - Exd 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

Explained in the Law - Lev 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Fulfilled by Christ - At the last supper Jesus says: Mat 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

It does require faith as Eph 2:8.9 says but, faith in Rom 3:25 {Jesus Christ} Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood

We see this at the OT Passover as well - Hbr 11:28 - 'By faith Moses,' Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

So it is not just FAITH .. the OBJECT of this faith is very important...it is faith IN the substitutionary blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

2005-07-24T10:41:00.000-07:00

James speaks about 'the perfect law of liberty' Jam 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

He is saying when we see that we can not save ourselves and have come to the faith the blood that can, and LIVE in this faith, we WILL do good works. It is like a fruit tree re-planted into good soil, it will bear good fruit. Good works are the result of salvation, therefore the evidence of it.

Otherwise we are like verses 23&24 Jam 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

2005-07-24T10:35:00.000-07:00

Come Away with Me ... He calls to us...

Sometimes I feel like a frightened child. I understand how much I NEED His peace. Sometimes I feel like a broken woman. I need His peace and love to the depth of my heart and soul! Then I remind myself of my Loving Father and My Beloved! I lean toward Them on the living faith that They are more than enough!

I quiet myself. I lean toward Them. I lay my head on My Beloved's breast. I look up into my Loving Father's eyes! And I see He knows me better than that! I see that I am poor and as wretchedly in need of Him as the day I was saved. He knows that I am a dusty human. This is a familiar, I breath in deeply, my hope is expectant in the God of the hope, who is beyond all I could ever imagine/expect!

I peer into Them, fascinated by the state of relationship as experienced by this (un~human) One. Therein, I see the above-abundant Grace towards me. His peace fills me to my toes. My soul expands in love flowing from Him to me and my heart responds gushing back to Him. With enthused joy, I reach out to Him to see your needs fulfilled in Him, too.

I quiet myself. I lay my head on My Beloved's breast.I look up into our Loving Father's eyes!

Oh my Father, You are more than enough.Oh My Beloved, You are sweeter day by day.

2005-07-24T10:25:00.000-07:00

What is the state of being as experienced by the Trinity?

I think the trinity is difficult to understand because we are seperate from God and each other.

Seperation is the human condition, we understand it. Until we come to the relationship with God, where He is in us and us in Him, ... and then we only have a taste of the 'one with God' (Jhn 17:11) existence the trinity lives in, ... we flounder to understand it, much less explain it.

Jhn 17:11 - And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

What is the state of being as experienced by the Trinity? I have asked this question and meditated on it for some time. I will post in another thread an experience of exploring it I had while in prayer.

I cringe to say such because it is sooo inadequate an explanation, but so far the only way I can share it is: with man it is, 1 + 1 + 1 but with God it is 1 X 1 X 1. They speak the same thing to us in different voices. It is harmonious.

BUT harmony like this is enjoined on christians: 'be of one accord', 'mind the same things', 'be of one mind'. Harmony like this is part of our portion 'in Him'!

Have you ever sat back and listened to the collective droning of the pompousness of people? It is discordant. Lord, show us You and your ways!

Scripture cluster: singleness, like-mindedness

2005-07-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

Psa 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Mat 6:22-23 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

Mat 6:33-34 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Luk 11:33-36 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Rom 15:5-7 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

1Cr 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1Cr 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

2Cr 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Phl 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Phl 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind

Phl 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Phl 4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

Jam 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Jam 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Hbr 4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hbr 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

light ----2) metaph.

a) God is light because light has the extremely delicate, subtle, pure, brilliant quality
b) of truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity associated with it
c) that which is exposed to the view of all, openly, publicly
d) reason, mind
1) the power of understanding esp. moral and spiritual truth

1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

Rom 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Cr 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Phl 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

2005-07-24T09:48:00.000-07:00

brain-twisting choice of being dead with Him

Mat 16:24, Mar 8:34, Luk 9:23 And when he had called the people [unto him] with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

2Ti 2:11-13 [It is] a faithful saying: For if we be dead with [him], we shall also live with [him]: If we suffer, we shall also reign with [him]: if we deny [him], he also will deny us: If we believe not, [yet] he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

The quality of faithfulness (steadfastness) in God is based on who He is. He cannot do otherwise.

Being alive with Him is a brain-twisting choice of being dead with Him and alive by faith in Him.
Suffering is an interesting issue, we 'suffer' whether we have made the choice to deny ourselves or not. Suffering in our flesh profits nothing, death to the dead. Suffering in Him is a daily faith choice, we reign (overcome in this world) by faith in Him.

If we deny Him - if we choice the arm of our human strength instead of His strength, His hands are tied, His strength can not be ours. For us steadfastness is a daily faith choice. We believe in His steadfastness, and are steadfast by faith in Him. Walking in faith in Him is our very life.

2005-07-24T09:42:00.000-07:00

Mediation on Light

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Have you ever looked into a pool as the light plays down in the depths? Refracting off the surfaces? Have you ever been blinded by light reflecting off the surface? Oh my goodness where are my sunglasses!

I think it is a misnomer that we are to be "reflections" of Jesus. Reflected light is not only harsh, it hides the container. Reflected light is softer, and shows out of the depth of the vessel.

I think Mt5:16 is an example of refracted light. People seeing God's work deep in our lives, a showing out of what God has worked in us. Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Although, we are told proclaiming the gospel is offensive, much like bright reflected light, so there is a place for this as well.)

I think.. the presumptousness of people .. is a "reflection" of God's love .. I think the pompousness of people is a "reflection" of God's holiness... but neither .. is a refraction

both reflections are graceless, merciless, judging the spiritual condition of the heart of the other .. neither is an overflowing of the work in their own hearts .. refractions versus reflections...

2005-07-24T09:39:00.000-07:00

Jackie: I think.. the presumptousness of people .. is a "reflection" of God's love .. I think the pompousness of people is a "reflection" of God's holiness... but neither .. is a refraction

Mom: Inside the vesel where the work is done

Jackie: both reflections are graceless, merciless, judging the spiritual condition of the heart of the other .. neither is an overflowing of the work in their own hearts ..

Mom: Put on for show

Jackie: to be consumed on some sort of lust lol

Mom: We want people to think well of us - - no depth..I tend to do this in a group of mixed company
Jackie: the image thing ? being a "good" pastors wife?

Mom: OH YES especially when I am full of hurts

Jackie: knowing that we are in such NEED of Him ..

Mom: And to be helped by others, we really do need one another in soul fellowship

Jackie: I know I need you !

Mom: We need one another

Jackie: many members .. one body .. different gifts.. one spirit ..

Mom: closely held together by cords of love

Jackie: us ... in Him ...

Mom: All we need ALL WE NEED

Dangerous element in presenting the gospel

2005-07-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

Good News:

"Here is a quote from a great man of God and true preacher of the Gospel, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981):
'It is true that where sin abounded grace has much more abounded; well then, 'Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound yet further?' The true preaching of the gospel of salvation by grace alone always leads to the possibility of this charge being brought against it. There is no better test as to whether a man is really preaching the New Testament gospel than this, that some people might misunderstand it and mis-interpret it that it really amounts to this: that because you are saved by grace alone, it does not really matter at all WHAT you do, you can go on sinning all you like because it will redound all the more to the glory of grace. That is a very good test of gospel preaching. If my preaching of the gospel does not expose it to that misunderstanding, then it is not the gospel. Let me show you what I mean. If a man preaches justification by works, no one would ever raise the question. If he says, 'If you want to go to heaven, you must stop committing sins, live a life filled with good works, and keep this up regularly and constantly until the end, then you will be a Christian and go to heaven when you die.' Obviously, no one will accuse a man who preached like this of saying, 'Let us continue in sin that grace may abound.' But every preacher who preached the gospel has been accused of this! They have all been accused of 'antinomianism'. I would say to all preachers: IF YOUR PREACHING OF SALVATION HAS NOT BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD IN THAT WAY, THEN YOU HAD BETTER EXAMINE YOUR SERMONS AGAIN, and you had better make sure that you really ARE preaching the salvation that is proclaimed in the New Testament to the ungodly, the sinner, to those who are dead in trespasses and sins, to those who are the enemies of God. There is a "

2005-07-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

Jackie: human beings do not have clue who they are .. without knowing God ..
I am .. in Him ..

Mom: Sad to see so many humans going around totally clueless

Jackie: I am not sure but many Christians dont seem to have a clue either.. taking cliques for truth.. learning but not coming to an understanding ..

Mom: So many depend on Channel 40 or TBN for all their knowledge of the ETERNAL
I think of TV as fast food religion verses a home cooked meal The home cooked can take a long time learning

Jackie indeed : )

Mom: We can get fat but never really satisfied.. I like to think about the WORD but I like using commentaries , dictionaries, teachers I know and trust - - I am not much into just off the top of my head

Jackie: it is like you said yesterday .. it is the hearing ... understanding it is God's word... not just the physical hearing .. open our ears Lord to hear you!

(pause in worship)

Jackie: there is a thread on one of the forums I go to That is about ... the inerrancy of the scriptures .. it is long and HOT with lots of name calling from both sides ... I want to ask simply... is the ideas about God expressed in the Bible worth discussing? ...

Mom: Only if we SEEK TRUTH

Jackie: I would hope both sides of the inerrancy of the scriptures controversy would agree that YES the ideas about God expressed in the Bible are worth discussing... Then...give each other the grace to be in God ... that we are not using Gods mercy incorrectly ... not flaunting promiscuousness ..., not self-righteous Lording over... THEN .. we could actually sit down and talk about Him ! : )

Mom: And enjoy HIM sharing fellowship with HIM and each other

Jackie: maybe even see Him .. see ourselves in Him .. seeing others in Him .. what a gracious thing is that ?

Mom: Oh for a group of learniers who would sit quietly in HIS presense
Jackie: grant it Lord .. Amen!

Mom: Just me for now on my mountain and HIM

Jackie: as me in my courtyard garden .. in Him ...

Mom: Blessed fellowship

Jackie: fully.. overflowingly sufficient ..a fellowship .. one with another.. one body .. in Christ ...
Mom: So sweet

2005-07-24T09:26:00.000-07:00

I have told you before about the "self filter" I have told you in order to see others you need to get over that .. to be a listener .. to really be able to help others .. you need to observe how often your thoughts revolve around yourself .. It does weary me .. I know it wearies you!

Humor me.. take a piece of paper and draw an outline of your hand this line drawing is .. flatland .. the line drawing is LIKE your hand but your hand is NOT like the drawing .. it is much more... this is an analogy of how we .. in flatland.. are not like God who is beyond created dimension

as Christians we have the privledge of knowing and connecting with that "Other" that is not human .. for me.. contemplating the otherness of God has increased my faith, helped me to see myself and others thru His eyes..

this is an exercise in thinking about how God is not like me... (and hopefully how other humans are not like me either ...for one thing .. you could come and set next to me and we could connect as best as we can .. but God actually occupies the same space as us .. living in us ... closer than any human possibly can... in reality, others are always separate ... different... than us

and .. "u r the one with the wisdom. . .i just putter along in life" this comparative is the inverse of the "similar experience" scenrio .. and also flatland... we have a God bigger than both of us .. and in Him is wisdom for anyone who asks

wisdom comes and stays with,,, humility before the BIG guy ..

oh man ... flatland is a loud place that makes us think this is reality ... the 3D world is only our persception of the real . and it is a snapshot compared to .. moving pictures, holograms, .. no actually something outside of the known and unknown universe... God is bigger than everything created .. He is the Creator..

He has no edges, boundaries.. we have edges. We are "naked" ..

2005-07-24T09:02:00.000-07:00

Take a piece of paper. Place your hand on it and draw a line around it.

The "line" drawing is LIKE your hand, but your hand is not like the drawing.. in fact it is much much different/other than it.

And... we are LIKE God... when in fact He is much much different / Other than us.