Never allow the smallness of others to imprison you.
David Cartledge
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
The School of the Spirit
In the school of the Spirit people learn wisdom through humility, knowledge by forgetting, how to speak by silence, how to live by dying. Johannes Tauler (Mystic 1300-1361)
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Rise up
If you fall seventy times a day, rise seventy times and return to God so that you will not fall too often.
Johannes Tauler (1300–1361)
Johannes Tauler (1300–1361)
Sunday, May 22, 2011
The Key Maker is the Key Man/Woman.
In the Matrix Movies the heroes are young, strong, fast, quick thinking, talented, fighters. But as they battle to save the world, each other and their own lives, they constantly find their movement limited by locked doors, walls and other barriers. They find that they cannot reach their destinies. At times they find themselves imprisoned, trapped, going in circles, and vulnerable as their enemy controls their movement.
Strength, talent, beauty, and speed are not enough.
But then they meet the Key Maker. He is the complete opposite to them. He is old, frail, vulnerable, slow, and at times confused. His life is lived out in a small room. Life seems to have passed him by, somewhat like a person in a nursing home, who is trapped in their small room.
However the Key Maker has a key to every situation, every door, every blocked path. Even when there is no door he creates one. He also locks doors. When the Key Maker is on the move the Young heroes can barely keep up, as they move towards their destinies. The Key Maker is the key man.
Jesus gave His followers keys: He said “ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19 (NIV). This verse should be read with Isaiah 22:22(NLT)in mind. “I will give him the key to the house of David—the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them.”
The person using the keys Jesus gives, has the highest position in the kingdom of God. They open doors so others can reach their destinies.
What are the keys Jesus gives? How do we get them? How do we use them? “Take hold of My words; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.” Proverbs 4:13 (NLT)
Deuteronomy 30:20 “You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” The keys are given and used as one enters a close relationship with God.
I see “Key” People, running, opening doors and forming doors where there is none. I see people following them, reaching their destinies.
Strength, talent, beauty, and speed are not enough.
But then they meet the Key Maker. He is the complete opposite to them. He is old, frail, vulnerable, slow, and at times confused. His life is lived out in a small room. Life seems to have passed him by, somewhat like a person in a nursing home, who is trapped in their small room.
However the Key Maker has a key to every situation, every door, every blocked path. Even when there is no door he creates one. He also locks doors. When the Key Maker is on the move the Young heroes can barely keep up, as they move towards their destinies. The Key Maker is the key man.
Jesus gave His followers keys: He said “ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19 (NIV). This verse should be read with Isaiah 22:22(NLT)in mind. “I will give him the key to the house of David—the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them.”
The person using the keys Jesus gives, has the highest position in the kingdom of God. They open doors so others can reach their destinies.
What are the keys Jesus gives? How do we get them? How do we use them? “Take hold of My words; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.” Proverbs 4:13 (NLT)
Deuteronomy 30:20 “You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” The keys are given and used as one enters a close relationship with God.
I see “Key” People, running, opening doors and forming doors where there is none. I see people following them, reaching their destinies.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Enthusiastic Experience
Today I watched on TV an Australian native animal Conservationist and Park Owner select staff for his Educational Presentations. The applicants came with impressive science qualifications. However when presented with scenarios and real life animals, each one folded under the pressure. They obviously had biological knowledge, but their lack of real experience with animal life showed through as well. The Park Owner was looking for enthusiastic experience, not mere head knowledge.
If we Christians are going to impact others for Jesus Christ we will not do it presenting only head knowledge. Church services must overflow with experiences of God. Wendy Backlund wrote on the “Ignited Hope” blog the following: “To grow into maturity, we must know God the Father more intimately. Our highest call is to not teach about God but to reveal Him. Unless we experience and soak up His presence our relationship becomes cerebral rather than actual. We know about it, but we can't live in it.” (Wendy Backlund http://www.ignitedhope.com/)
If Church for you this Sunday was mere head knowledge, I pray that through intimacy with God this week you will bring the experience of God into the Service next week. People who come to Church have made a step towards meeting God. Even if you are not a worship leader, your experience will change lives.
Bob Lipsys, Australia.
If we Christians are going to impact others for Jesus Christ we will not do it presenting only head knowledge. Church services must overflow with experiences of God. Wendy Backlund wrote on the “Ignited Hope” blog the following: “To grow into maturity, we must know God the Father more intimately. Our highest call is to not teach about God but to reveal Him. Unless we experience and soak up His presence our relationship becomes cerebral rather than actual. We know about it, but we can't live in it.” (Wendy Backlund http://www.ignitedhope.com/)
If Church for you this Sunday was mere head knowledge, I pray that through intimacy with God this week you will bring the experience of God into the Service next week. People who come to Church have made a step towards meeting God. Even if you are not a worship leader, your experience will change lives.
Bob Lipsys, Australia.
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