tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78474879909623838822024-02-19T03:25:56.506+00:00Mimshach MusingsMimshach Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17671177020249075302noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847487990962383882.post-8320122799130197252013-09-13T01:57:00.001+01:002013-09-13T22:28:42.379+01:00When it's all been said and done...<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 15px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same." (Flavia Weedn)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 15px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Well it's been almost two years since I last posted here. It's been a loooong time. I have kept writing now and again, just not here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></span></div><div>In the intervening period I sadly had to say goodbye to Dad on April 5th 2012, after a long, brave battle against cancer. His final week - in hospital - was one of the hardest I've ever known. There but for the Grace of God go I. General busyness and life 'stuff' also prevented me from writing here. I didn't forget about this space, timing just wasn't right.<br><div><br></div><div>So why now? Necessity I think. Mum and I finally picked up Dad's ashes yesterday morning. The whole experience has been mildly traumatic and surreal. Mainly surreal. I even awoke from nightmares the two mornings beforehand. I'm writing this at gone 2am because part of me is afraid to sleep and have another bad dream*. Psalm 4:8 helps. I've been desperate for closure since the funeral, but with family in Wales in full-time work, it was a logistical nightmare to organise a right time for us all to carry out Dad's wishes and take his ashes to Crete. That time is now fast approaching.</div></div><div><br></div><div>Bereavement is somewhat insidious. I've been more of a wreck in recent weeks than I was before - possibly as the time approaches to finally say 'Adieu'. I need that to happen now, to be able to move on. Suddenly having to have one of my two cats put to sleep a month ago during a hectic work period didn't help. Hearing a friend's bad news was the final straw in my fragile emotional state (n<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">ot that I was a weepy mess, just an unanchored, frustrated and hurting one)</span>.<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "> </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">I swore on Twitter too - I did apologise though... while others freely curse, I did care that I'd resorted to that and at that</span> point I'd had enough - of sorrow, of myself, of 'God'. I decided to take a month off from social media - namely Facebook and Twitter - while I complete the trips lined up... and hopefully get some sense of that closure with regards the rituals of mourning. </div><div><br></div><div>I also feel I need to 'refind' myself. Not in an airy-fairy new agey way, but in a getting-back-under-the-shadow-of-God's-wings way. I need Time Out - to reconnect, to know God's love. I even <span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">had to finally force myself to cry today by listening to sad, nostalgic songs... the only way to release some of the pressure building inside. Don Moen's song 'When it's all been said and done' being one. I've been too busy to process much.</span></div><div><br></div><div>Very few people know about this blog, so it's an ideal place to write more personal stuff at the moment. I'm writing for myself. I may jot down some thoughts over the next month... I'll see what the view is like from within those wings...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLneJc3NWFUoQr88TyVQYtGjSiXaoURZaJxOdSW2Ea2UcPT9N1oW2zBEfxsuYYocH3NPHy4GIQB5WTR4ggPsrxpcCLGKlSDWX2ECQVI3yv_JInmU55PMlWdA2K4O-kP2v3Q94c9QSzrE/s640/blogger-image-716141798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLneJc3NWFUoQr88TyVQYtGjSiXaoURZaJxOdSW2Ea2UcPT9N1oW2zBEfxsuYYocH3NPHy4GIQB5WTR4ggPsrxpcCLGKlSDWX2ECQVI3yv_JInmU55PMlWdA2K4O-kP2v3Q94c9QSzrE/s640/blogger-image-716141798.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>*Incidentally I awoke from a lovely dream involving searching for unusually-textured blue stones and shells to paint... very peaceful!</div><div><br></div>Mimshach Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17671177020249075302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847487990962383882.post-19779880162382595932011-10-18T15:06:00.007+01:002011-10-18T15:08:42.354+01:00Happy Hallowe'en? I don't think so...<div>This is actually something I posted up on Facebook last year, but I came across it again today, and it seems relevant to repost it here:</div><div><br />
"I like bats and pumpkins (they make great pies - well, the pumpkins anyway)...but I will not be celebrating Hallowe'en. Not because I'm a party pooper (far from it - I shall, all being well, be enjoying a friend's 30th celebrations this weekend)...but why celebrate darkness and death when you can have LIGHT and LIFE?<br />
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</div><div></div><div>Hallowe'en has everything to do with FEAR and DEATH - ghosts, witches, skulls, tombstones, graveyards, Druid sacrifices, menacing faces etc. - and nothing to do with the goodness of life. Jesus said, "I come to give you life..." and then He overcame death. The 'Trick or treat' game scares the living daylights out of the vulnerable. Fear is not of God.</div><div></div><div>"For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."</div><div><i>2 Timothy 1:7 </i><br />
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</div><div></div><div>"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."</div><div><i>1 John 4:18 </i><br />
<i><br />
</i></div><div></div><div>Hallowe'en has its roots in witchcraft, the occult and everything related to Satan. As Christians we should shun any involvement in it. We are called to be "holy" ("separate" from the world and from evil), and have no part in such things.<br />
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</div><div></div><div>The Bible (i.e. God) has a few choice words to say about it. These are 'old' words...but they are the Word of God...and their relevance is still for today.<br />
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</div><div></div><div>"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."</div><div><i>Galatians 5:19 </i><br />
<i><br />
</i></div><div></div><div>"Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD..."</div><div><i>Deuteronomy 18:10-12</i><br />
<i><br />
</i></div><div></div><div>Still not convinced? The satanic bible recognises Hallowe'en as a major 'holiday'! You only have to do a Google search on the history of it to realise it's roots in the occult, whatever your beliefs.<br />
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</div><div></div><div>There is nothing 'fun' about being involved in something that celebrates fear and darkness, whatever the marketing people say...and to justify otherwise is to literally be playing with fire.</div><div></div><div>I know which I'd rather choose!"</div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6kIlIY5qiltDKETYBagVuaXqjR-s3QBUF86H65ioJ-gSWcGy9Tl5GkMDvzu25NMQ9pACEaIzSMdHknyT4arGo0Tvwp7ra9HP181v5-NCqhX7OBhvBQkzv98cUygXtCNacsMQTlmHtLw/s1600/67539_1325935127052_1791143037_657990_770995_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6kIlIY5qiltDKETYBagVuaXqjR-s3QBUF86H65ioJ-gSWcGy9Tl5GkMDvzu25NMQ9pACEaIzSMdHknyT4arGo0Tvwp7ra9HP181v5-NCqhX7OBhvBQkzv98cUygXtCNacsMQTlmHtLw/s1600/67539_1325935127052_1791143037_657990_770995_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">With Jesus in your life, you don't have to be scared of anything anymore!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><i>While the history of Hallowe'en is more complex than I've shown, in the research I did before writing the note, it's being rooted in witchcraft is really what it does come down to. It's also been twisted into something different from intended (though its roots are definitely dubious). My point is that, in measuring the festival against the light of Christ, it really is something dark and distasteful and Christians should be wary of 'celebrating' it...if it's about the fun of dressing up, there are plenty of other themes. The devil is subtle in his deception. Sometimes by letting in something we deem 'harmless', we're actually letting in a lot more, spiritually speaking (I'm talking to myself here too).</i></div>Mimshach Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17671177020249075302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847487990962383882.post-15490165077487848122011-08-29T22:52:00.003+01:002011-08-29T23:30:33.139+01:00Catchy-uppy and other stuffIt has been a while since I last posted, mainly beacause of that common distraction known as 'life' :o)<br />
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Here follows some recent observations.<br />
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Sometimes the world we live in seems like a very dark place, and I'm not just referring to the endless days of grey cloud and rain we seem to have had in Britain this summer.<br />
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Over the last few months there seems to have been one catastrophe after another, both personally and in the wider sense. Now, I'm essentially an optimist, albeit with a slight streak of cynicism thrown in for good measure - well, you have to laugh don't you?! However, even the most upbeat person would be forgiven for wondering what on earth is going on.<br />
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I willingly admit that I don't have all the answers. I have a lot of questions (nothing unusual there for anyone who knows me!).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVzEleWKh_YdDk1nbNzeR0bYiQy3RC_811AZF8GA5c7WsE2XyfYIKalLw620bX-xml42-ciJVqClDkLYVBZNB3DQvfhtkVpgS1XSEJ4_R2fg4LaaR06nA4Atab-7LmI-Y96as8T00UXQ/s1600/question-mark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVzEleWKh_YdDk1nbNzeR0bYiQy3RC_811AZF8GA5c7WsE2XyfYIKalLw620bX-xml42-ciJVqClDkLYVBZNB3DQvfhtkVpgS1XSEJ4_R2fg4LaaR06nA4Atab-7LmI-Y96as8T00UXQ/s400/question-mark.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">?</span></td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">To put you in the picture...firstly, on a personal level, I have been dealing with the realisation that my father's terminal kidney cancer (kidney removed, cancer not) is not only getting progressively worse - but he could have weeks or months... and the impact this has had both on him and the family as a whole. I appreciate we've all got to die, and it's normal for our parents to go first, but it makes you question everything. It wakes you up in the night wondering where you're own life is going. There is also the sadness of seeing friends going through hard times. Life has played some blinders recently.<br />
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On a universal level, there seems to have been (and continues to be) a string of high impact events - MPs' expenses scandals, hackgate, high profile people (namely footballers with more money and ego than sense) committing adultery, the London riots, famine, hurricanes, vicious wars and intolerable numbers harmed – mentally, physically and spiritually. Yes, it's always gone on, but there seems to have been a plethora of incidences in recent times.<br />
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What does this show us about human nature at its worst? We have seen greed for money, power and sex, disrespect, corruption, deception, lawlessness, violence, amorality and disregard for human life, to name but a few. </span>From a Christian point of view this seriously points to all that is mentioned in the Bible about the end times, both inside and outside the church:<br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #292929;">"</span>BUT UNDERSTAND this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. </span>For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane. [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good. [They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them]." </span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #292929;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2 Timothy 3:1-5, Amplified Bible (AMP)</span></i></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In <i>Psalm 77:8</i> David asks:</span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?"</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It all 'looks' like bad news...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEvOZBfktvyfuylV3b93n0PvfzSRuNxToSjLoC5eXv39PqI-GIR12qGvoibhyphenhyphenFSzRM2SD72PCF7jq7F5naEjoykIpPOwXp12b_2yImw0H5Gnx4F6OjWc1i2fx_tGBvxVDckA8UDwxJKc/s1600/bad-news.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEvOZBfktvyfuylV3b93n0PvfzSRuNxToSjLoC5eXv39PqI-GIR12qGvoibhyphenhyphenFSzRM2SD72PCF7jq7F5naEjoykIpPOwXp12b_2yImw0H5Gnx4F6OjWc1i2fx_tGBvxVDckA8UDwxJKc/s1600/bad-news.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">It's all too apparent these days</span></td></tr>
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">From what's going on, you'd be forgiven for thinking that maybe God has given up on his creation and taken a sabbatical. But he hasn't. And that, my friends, is the <b>GOOD NEWS</b>!</span></div><div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #02141f;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent."<i> 2 Peter 3:9 New Living Translation (NLT)</i></span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">From these ashes of destruction rises a phoenix of hope: human nature can be seen at its best through adversity; through community, caring, charity, grace, forgiveness etc. Our human nature at it's best is a dimmed reflection of God's image, in which each one of us is made, whether we acknowledge that or not. The Bible promises that all things work (or 'intermingle') for good. Even in such tragedies as we've been witnessing, good can – and does – have final victory.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
Slightly off topic for a moment... this weekend I went to the hairdressers (a once a year-ish event). I was told my hair was 'thirsty' (being curly and naturally dryer and in need of some TLC). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6DAeO9AR5RRbwQDcxZBLOWHgyv7zVrKUa-HZA6Iz7sCgaILAca22ZsaaYvPga7EOFq5_Xp7OaNKAB3ueb9A8T4kTtUSIVpXYC1W7OxTfRYm0tbm-Hzy4oZ-GWL2PpRXUKjbgb5mfg7o/s1600/Desert_mirage_62907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6DAeO9AR5RRbwQDcxZBLOWHgyv7zVrKUa-HZA6Iz7sCgaILAca22ZsaaYvPga7EOFq5_Xp7OaNKAB3ueb9A8T4kTtUSIVpXYC1W7OxTfRYm0tbm-Hzy4oZ-GWL2PpRXUKjbgb5mfg7o/s400/Desert_mirage_62907.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The appearance of water in a dry land</span></td></tr>
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<b>Thirst</b>. This is one of my overriding perceptions towards all this stuff that's going on. The world is thirsty for goodness, and especially for <i>love</i>. In fact it seems the world in general is so parched all that can be seen is a shimmering mirage - a seeming oasis, but nothing like the real thing. Only God offers the real thing, through faith in his son, Jesus.<br />
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God repeatedly calls out to his people to return to him and enjoy life and relationship!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlF9K8QlAf5JM7MbiKLLVMd9PKH12amiFs2ZG6WiqJ9FkxEoHo7fF3TOs_u_2LJacOgWray_qtAWdOCbWZ-HFh1dcDd7E7uIZCYJ9Tm8KOrlBMfdnwUIp_ulaEFyca2MQQOp6FMCSkUrE/s1600/WaterHands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlF9K8QlAf5JM7MbiKLLVMd9PKH12amiFs2ZG6WiqJ9FkxEoHo7fF3TOs_u_2LJacOgWray_qtAWdOCbWZ-HFh1dcDd7E7uIZCYJ9Tm8KOrlBMfdnwUIp_ulaEFyca2MQQOp6FMCSkUrE/s400/WaterHands.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Come and drink! There's enough for everyone!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><blockquote>"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost." <i>Isaiah 55:1 (NIV)</i></blockquote>Jesus said,<br />
<blockquote>"But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." <i>John 4:14</i></blockquote><br />
When I see the horrific images on the news or read up via some social media, I feel a mixture of horror, disappointment, sometimes anger, but mainly <i>compassion</i>. My heart breaks for those in trouble, whether through their own doing or not. It can seem so overwhelming, especially when the 'powers that be' seem to re-act rather than act out of wisdom. The wonders of modern living have brought the dual evils of independence and the rise of ego. This is a boiling pot that's starting to brim over as we rely less and less on God and others, and more on our selves and the technology to hand (I'm not saying technology is a bad thing, just that it has its negative side too).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bw3mq36ob0uX98-g8F4EXTc0Y63XDe_OitFD1v8MmkqRmPpUMFY5NjNE1-Ry5eh6WdVs_OmY7eO5mhvAWi1qjZM6UE9obddNN0Bd06g9jcE9omurC6mpaO2DZhxLHjNkzuQI-XhKAFE/s1600/its-all-about-me.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bw3mq36ob0uX98-g8F4EXTc0Y63XDe_OitFD1v8MmkqRmPpUMFY5NjNE1-Ry5eh6WdVs_OmY7eO5mhvAWi1qjZM6UE9obddNN0Bd06g9jcE9omurC6mpaO2DZhxLHjNkzuQI-XhKAFE/s400/its-all-about-me.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Err...no, it's not.</td></tr>
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I've heard quoted that if every person thought of others before themselves, the world would be a *very* different place! How amazing would that be?!<br />
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Jesus reminds us of our priorities:<br />
<blockquote>“A new command I give you: <b>Love one another</b>. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” <i>John 13:35-35, New International Version (NIV)</i></blockquote>Are you willing to die for somebody, even your enemy? That's what Jesus did! How different a place the world would be if we all carried that attitude!<br />
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However bleak things seem, there is always hope. There is always our Father in heaven who loves us more than we will ever know.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSQYiapA9nw_fMy_je2foBGtKoIK8VnJrAmS1V4AL0Uwh1VKyIoBIzn5FV0RQCJgzQkn4ECmpOPLnOiKesDtBnCXhqQrJu5Jz-s7Cw-NgBakmS9pLlTWMoxMd17yuuCl3QJMP_wJ28cU/s1600/tumblr_lizacd3C5B1qhnh9go1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSQYiapA9nw_fMy_je2foBGtKoIK8VnJrAmS1V4AL0Uwh1VKyIoBIzn5FV0RQCJgzQkn4ECmpOPLnOiKesDtBnCXhqQrJu5Jz-s7Cw-NgBakmS9pLlTWMoxMd17yuuCl3QJMP_wJ28cU/s320/tumblr_lizacd3C5B1qhnh9go1_500.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">This is what God is saying to you now.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Related blog posts of interest by others:</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://blog.farnhamvineyard.org.uk/2011/08/reflections-on-rioting.html">Reflections on Rioting/The Grapevine</a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.nickssanctuary.com/2011/08/disobedience-vs-disorder.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NicksSanctuary+%28Nick%27s+Sanctuary%29">Disobedience vs Disorder/Nick's Sanctuary</a></span><br />
<br />
</div></div>Mimshach Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17671177020249075302noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847487990962383882.post-89116308349250378582011-04-24T17:42:00.002+01:002011-04-24T17:45:55.634+01:00EASTER > WASTER > MASTERHello... and a very happy and blessed Easter to you!<br />
<br />
It has been a busy time since I last posted - <i>too</i> busy, in fact. I hope to remedy that with this post. So grab a cuppa and get comfy!<br />
<br />
Let me start by giving the traditional Paschal Greeting...<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Christ is risen!" "He is risen indeed!""Alleluia!"</span></b><br />
<br />
Today is Easter Day. I am sitting in the garden with my laptop wired to the house via extension lead. It is a beautiful Spring day – warm and sunny – and as I type I'm listening to the ambient sounds of birds singing and a gentle welcome breeze rustling the leaves of nearby shrubs. This seems far removed from what Jesus experienced in His last few days, amid the dusty heat and political and social turmoil of the day.<br />
<br />
An exciting new season of Doctor Who started last night. I've watched it for as far back as I can remember and spent many a time hiding behind a cushion (or two)! However this time I found myself wondering what it would be like to get into the Tardis and travel back to this time, to step out into the dry heat, noise and smells of a busy place on the verge of making history. What would it have been like to be one of the many female followers of Jesus and to have experienced the confusion and wonder of events as they unfolded?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JjJP3FNKSnHxialN_CpMPtQFeDSnPq2gQoZEiFr713aHT7UzRDuiQYU-Ql2xoSjZsylkOiIwzzkMCERtD-NsQJCHP75Bz7fUE_M6c4BUdjFJ-4U4CgbFZzr7i5RVdb3cMkIt-wQytqk/s1600/817176-tardis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JjJP3FNKSnHxialN_CpMPtQFeDSnPq2gQoZEiFr713aHT7UzRDuiQYU-Ql2xoSjZsylkOiIwzzkMCERtD-NsQJCHP75Bz7fUE_M6c4BUdjFJ-4U4CgbFZzr7i5RVdb3cMkIt-wQytqk/s1600/817176-tardis.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What would it be like to travel to Jerusalem at the time of Jesus' death and resurrection?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Just before Easter I finished reading Frank Morison's book 'Who Moved the Stone?' The author set out to disprove Christ's last few days from a scientific standpoint, only to experience a paradigm shift in his faith and thinking as his research got underway. It's not the easiest book to read in terms of style of language, but he gets the message across; what happened to Christ was part of a bigger plan and mystery, but it happened nonetheless. It cannot be disproved though many would try to deceive us into thinking otherwise)!<br />
<br />
Spring is in the air, and I get the feeling change is in the air. Did Jesus disciples and followers have a similar feeling, caught up in events as they were? Spring is a wonderful, positive season and echoes an amazing spiritual truth - from the death that is winter, new life stirs and blossoms in abundance.<br />
<br />
In John 12:24 Jesus sums this up perfectly as He predicts His death:<br />
<blockquote>"Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." </blockquote>Jesus had to die, so that we might have new spiritual – and ultimately, physical – life.<br />
<br />
The Vineyard church I currently belong to is also experiencing a time of transition. Today's vibrant Easter service marked our final time together before we multiply into two services - to create more space for Jesus. I don't think I've ever seen so many people as I did this morning!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiea6eLSobO49Wr-G4Zek4XKlrt3n5TWW9F7802v_huQmJdcBXtpboJGl0Tg5WesE5-TuEY0J5-6zv3fbKp1vvLSa9KT561nTkjdcBkmrMdOwYbtMwxvFzX8m2zAdlFPRmwrfmHl0CdN-U/s1600/_DSC2410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiea6eLSobO49Wr-G4Zek4XKlrt3n5TWW9F7802v_huQmJdcBXtpboJGl0Tg5WesE5-TuEY0J5-6zv3fbKp1vvLSa9KT561nTkjdcBkmrMdOwYbtMwxvFzX8m2zAdlFPRmwrfmHl0CdN-U/s640/_DSC2410.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full house!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
In terms of attendance we have been full to bursting for a while, and we are about to 'pop', hopefully sowing more seeds as a result. We celebrate our 20th anniversary this year - all glory goes to God! Many local churches have already expanded over recent years. If anyone reading this is in any doubt whether people still go to church – they do, or whether it's growing – it is! Jesus is alive today and working among us to reach the hurt, lost and broken in our communities and beyond.<br />
<br />
Last week we held a 24/7 week of prayer. This comprised hourly sessions that folk could sign up to over the seven days…you could stay as long as you wanted. Individuals went and groups went…but it was a rich experience for all. I'm a busy person - the kind whose mind is always on the go with some idea or consideration. It was very hard for me to initially tear myself away from my work schedule. In a sense it felt like praying like this was a 'waste' of time I could be spending working on a deadline. Part of me was a little bit nervous - what would be expected and would it be boring (add a smidgen of guilt here)! It was nothing like I anticipated. The hall had been divided into different zones (e.g., 'international', 'church', 'small groups' and a 'soaking' space in the form of a tent with white lights, for contemplation). Lots of thought had gone into it - lots of creative outlets, paints, paper, pens, pencils, wooden blocks Bibles, a tv, a CD player…<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5tYjhY3s-U9LiRAobTUTbTS4nYyPZPpjgc6hL9sfvUxM7me7DknJtf48y6oSde6BF_yxkAKQDTmF8p-wSFNgCsMZKRZbls1SdfQHzWF8hXewCGYo353D-AdnfvvfvXufhS_M-knQAuI/s1600/218177_1514332556870_1791143037_952209_5627207_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5tYjhY3s-U9LiRAobTUTbTS4nYyPZPpjgc6hL9sfvUxM7me7DknJtf48y6oSde6BF_yxkAKQDTmF8p-wSFNgCsMZKRZbls1SdfQHzWF8hXewCGYo353D-AdnfvvfvXufhS_M-knQAuI/s1600/218177_1514332556870_1791143037_952209_5627207_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Different zones to inspire prayer</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The focus of the week was from Matthew 5:14-16:<br />
<blockquote>"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."</blockquote>Someone had created a beautiful lantern using coloured tissue paper. After praying, you were obliged to make a hole in the paper with a pencil - each one making the light shine out even brighter…a wonderful idea!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl69UdPdrkmDOaabO5ksCQUNjYp203_Wcw5XK1rXVyN52xxggLf0Zbg73H_VVYcjSQyXg2Vo1bLHKXrxBA7ZrCpRQztR5oCHxsMo4jwKPa7ru2980eOftyuS15GAl62m67ErWQBzegz2k/s1600/217723_1514333356890_1791143037_952215_2173568_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl69UdPdrkmDOaabO5ksCQUNjYp203_Wcw5XK1rXVyN52xxggLf0Zbg73H_VVYcjSQyXg2Vo1bLHKXrxBA7ZrCpRQztR5oCHxsMo4jwKPa7ru2980eOftyuS15GAl62m67ErWQBzegz2k/s400/217723_1514333356890_1791143037_952215_2173568_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Let your light shine!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I loved the time I spent there - it flew by so quickly - I could have spent another week there! The presence of God was very tangible, and there was such a peace and sense of spiritual beauty in the place. I particularly loved one session worshipping with two others - it was quality time. One thing God showed me was that I was getting too busy for Him. I've been 'fitting Him in' around my life, rather than seeking the Source of that life so I might live better! In brief, I had started doing things more and more in my own strength, not in His…it's a subtle thing…and I thank God for His Spirit reminding me and convicting me…but without the heavy burden of guilt that the enemy likes to trowel onto us. God promises that when we repent, He forgives our sins.<br />
<blockquote>"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:8-10)</blockquote>That is why Jesus died on the cross. He didn't just 'swoon' into oblivion like they do in some of those fab old black and white films.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgE7mqZ65ZiDb9FAibtqhcogHVw9hZYkVXL6t6OAFYFXPAFm8X7KOh1QLXSsipWpBCsCK5knMwxDuczIDSFoesF1juVATCGYPmK3jT5uz9fLYCWvWY4wu7vbPh5LMzeNh9fKNqaeHDQMc/s1600/Swooning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgE7mqZ65ZiDb9FAibtqhcogHVw9hZYkVXL6t6OAFYFXPAFm8X7KOh1QLXSsipWpBCsCK5knMwxDuczIDSFoesF1juVATCGYPmK3jT5uz9fLYCWvWY4wu7vbPh5LMzeNh9fKNqaeHDQMc/s1600/Swooning.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Woe is me"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcyu30Jlfjh4uXlAmM0pTSuDq5RU5CzDTmSPK3nvakV50KidwvCguuvIm-h1tKbEdwQDBq1trIccjeARuxHnHJ8-_itH_fHtWCNV3l_Brv-hK_cVfgHNfneYA6cfAMZqIv5WRvf0zvPs/s1600/the-passion-of-the-christ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcyu30Jlfjh4uXlAmM0pTSuDq5RU5CzDTmSPK3nvakV50KidwvCguuvIm-h1tKbEdwQDBq1trIccjeARuxHnHJ8-_itH_fHtWCNV3l_Brv-hK_cVfgHNfneYA6cfAMZqIv5WRvf0zvPs/s320/the-passion-of-the-christ.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can we ever imagine what Christ went through? I don't think so.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
He was anxious, exhausted, troubled, sorrowful, in pain, tortured, messy, bleeding, sweating, parched, mocked, rejected, beaten, bruised...and murdered…yet He went through it all because His dying on our place - a perfect sacrifice - was the only way God could restore our (His Creation) relationship to Him. That's what it's about. It's not about 'religious' practices, laws and legalities. It's about love, sacrifice, restoration, relationship…and above all, LOVE. When Jesus died and God resurrected Him (fully restored His human body - He could eat as well as pass through walls)…He claimed victory over death, satan and all evil. That victory is for all who believe and repent. One day, Jesus is coming back, and when He does, we will likewise have new bodies as well as a new name…and we reign with Christ on a new earth. While I'm trying to get the most out of this life, I can't wait for the next. Read the wonderful first few verses of John's writings in Revelation 21 - the language is poetic but the message is clear:<br />
<blockquote>"Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”</blockquote>At one part in the service today, seven people held up letters spelling EASTER. With one switch, the first E turned to become a 'W' (WASTER), and the again for an 'M' (MASTER). The meaning? Easter is a celebration of when the Waster found out who the Master truly is!<br />
<br />
In what, or whom, do you place your trust?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgGs-dnHjBsUkyKZ7LWfxLeZAqvCkzond6tiLKUns-brE1UlkYDRiNup66q_ysR5ZXYZ0dSRZDeX00EQumqL2K8Jr6NfYcwXAemxjTaTOKdxv_FU8j1BpVDLBwb2Ieyu9ucrgg7UvH3I/s1600/_DSC2409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgGs-dnHjBsUkyKZ7LWfxLeZAqvCkzond6tiLKUns-brE1UlkYDRiNup66q_ysR5ZXYZ0dSRZDeX00EQumqL2K8Jr6NfYcwXAemxjTaTOKdxv_FU8j1BpVDLBwb2Ieyu9ucrgg7UvH3I/s640/_DSC2409.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EASTER > WASTER > MASTER!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Please note that I have written an entire Easter blog without once mentioning either bunnies or chocolate…until now :o)<br />
<br />
M<br />
<br />
PS There are three hymns/songs that have had meaning for me over the past week. One is "The Servant King", one is "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" (neither of which we've sung at church for a while) and "Amazing Grace" (of late we've sung Chris Tomlin's updated version). I've highlighted in bold the verses which have meant the most.<br />
<br />
<b>The Servant King | Graham Kendrick</b><br />
<br />
From heav’n You came, helpless Babe,<br />
Entered our world, Your glory veiled;<br />
Not to be served but to serve,<br />
And give Your life that we might live.<br />
<br />
<i>Chorus:</i><br />
This is our God, the Servant King,<br />
He calls us now to follow Him,<br />
To bring our lives as a daily offering<br />
Of worship to the Servant King.<br />
<br />
<b>There in the garden of tears,</b><br />
<b>My heavy load He chose to bear;</b><br />
<b>His heart with sorrow was torn,</b><br />
<b>‘Yet not my will but Yours,’ He said.</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Come see His hands and His feet,</b><br />
<b>The scars that speak of sacrifice;</b><br />
<b>Hands that flung stars into space</b><br />
<b>To cruel nails surrendered.</b><br />
<br />
So let us learn how to serve,<br />
And in our lives enthrone Him;<br />
Each other’s needs to prefer,<br />
For it is Christ we’re serving.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>When I Survey the Wondrous Cross | Isaac Watts</b><br />
<br />
When I survey the wondrous cross<br />
On which the Prince of glory died,<br />
My richest gain I count but loss,<br />
And pour contempt on all my pride.<br />
<br />
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,<br />
Save in the death of Christ my God!<br />
All the vain things that charm me most,<br />
I sacrifice them to His blood.<br />
<br />
<b>See from His head, His hands, His feet,</b><br />
<b>Sorrow and love flow mingled down!</b><br />
<b>Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,</b><br />
<b>Or thorns compose so rich a crown?</b><br />
<br />
Were the whole realm of nature mine,<br />
That were a present far too small;<br />
Love so amazing, so divine,<br />
Demands my soul, my life, my all.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Amazing Grace | John Newton</b><br />
<br />
<b>Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,</b><br />
<b>That saved a wretch like me.</b><br />
<b>I once was lost but now am found,</b><br />
<b>Was blind, but now I see.</b><br />
<br />
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.<br />
And Grace, my fears relieved.<br />
How precious did that Grace appear<br />
The hour I first believed.<br />
<br />
Through many dangers, toils and snares<br />
I have already come;<br />
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far<br />
and Grace will lead me home.<br />
<br />
The Lord has promised good to me.<br />
His word my hope secures.<br />
He will my shield and portion be,<br />
As long as life endures.<br />
<br />
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,<br />
And mortal life shall cease,<br />
I shall possess within the veil,<br />
A life of joy and peace.<br />
<br />
When we've been here ten thousand years<br />
Bright shining as the sun.<br />
We've no less days to sing God's praise<br />
Than when we've first begun.Mimshach Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17671177020249075302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847487990962383882.post-32122433937672426432011-04-02T20:12:00.004+01:002011-04-03T00:02:48.065+01:00God's Awesome Paintbox<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVBUs9otuDPvjm2QTb-dlwRPKh1Ygq21JOBRQW2aCIQoaxlKFGdiFR8t0JEH3TfLFO_3j3eqPWMMqCxp0V8Bml99HEXs8_6d_kP1KFv6ajQvNGJXPEDwtOoF8eqdmCeLMAICf2i1V7v8/s1600/eb851dff53654852b9e5539331123f7a_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVBUs9otuDPvjm2QTb-dlwRPKh1Ygq21JOBRQW2aCIQoaxlKFGdiFR8t0JEH3TfLFO_3j3eqPWMMqCxp0V8Bml99HEXs8_6d_kP1KFv6ajQvNGJXPEDwtOoF8eqdmCeLMAICf2i1V7v8/s1600/eb851dff53654852b9e5539331123f7a_7.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken this evening from my studio window (iPhone using Instagram)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div>Sunsets like this just make my heart and spirit want to sing at the majesty of my Creator! It brought a tear to my eye!</div><div><blockquote>"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised." (Psalm 113:3)</blockquote></div><div>This is the song that came to mind as I watched God paint the sky:</div><div><br />
</div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/N-k57oBHch0?fs=1" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
LYRICS:<br />
<br />
"Looking in the sky, whoever could deny Your glory?<br />
<br />
Gazing into space, how small the human race appears.<br />
Seeing You in all Your majesty, I wonder how it could be<br />
That You delight in me.<br />
<br />
Lord You are an amazing God<br />
Lord You are an amazing God<br />
Lord You are an amazing God<br />
And I love You, I love You.<br />
<br />
Lord of everything, no other god or king is like You.<br />
Powerful and strong, yet tender is Your song to me.<br />
Knowing the extent of all my sin, however could You be pleased<br />
To pour Your love on me?<br />
<br />
You light up the heavens with just one word,<br />
You measure the mountains in Your hand;<br />
Yet You treasure the broken and make them whole,<br />
You crown us with Your love"<br />
<br />
~<br />
<br />
Sometimes, there are no words.Mimshach Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17671177020249075302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847487990962383882.post-29476218984365931042011-04-02T19:10:00.001+01:002011-04-02T19:15:25.243+01:00Keep your eyes on the prize...A while back, my church ran a monthly Sunday evening event called 'More...?'. It was held in the Cellar Bar at the Farnham Maltings and took place over a period of about three years. As well as a regular house band from the church in which I was a privileged participant, we also had guest bands and solo artists – it was a fun time. The evening would consist of a couple of sets and a short talk or testimony in the middle. The aim was to create a space for Christians to bring non-Christians to come and find out more about Jesus while enjoying a relaxing, unimposing, bar/café-style evening.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7UjqK24_HoQ_IP_LXje7wbveh-4sowSjX3koin1ic5LLPt921-SydBbAGOcDSBRUtp6Uq6vWi2xwdmIvb9W0j80anMKOPRtqWI_Uz-9j0U09viItlSjjhTknndFoVDf8rN_Sx4hzRqE/s1600/More...jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7UjqK24_HoQ_IP_LXje7wbveh-4sowSjX3koin1ic5LLPt921-SydBbAGOcDSBRUtp6Uq6vWi2xwdmIvb9W0j80anMKOPRtqWI_Uz-9j0U09viItlSjjhTknndFoVDf8rN_Sx4hzRqE/s640/More...jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the original postcards I designed... </td></tr>
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On the music side, we had the opportunity to try songs away from the standard worship fare on a Sunday morning, songs such as "O Mary Don't You Weep" and this fantastic track "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize", performed below by the legendary Bruce Springsteen (Mavis Staples also does a great version of the latter)... (I've pasted the lyrics below):<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LIgcBBxjgwE?fs=1" width="480"></iframe><br />
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LYRICS:<br />
<br />
"Paul and Silas bound in jail, had no money for to go their bail<br />
Keep your eyes on the prize and hold on<br />
<br />
Paul and Silas thought they was lost, dungeon shook and the chains come off<br />
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on<br />
<br />
Freedom's name is mighty sweet and soon we're gonna meet<br />
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on<br />
<br />
I got my hand on the gospel plow, won't take nothing for my journey now<br />
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on<br />
<br />
Hold on, hold on<br />
Keep your eyes on the prize<br />
Hold on<br />
<br />
Only chain that a man can stand, is that chain o'hand on hand<br />
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on<br />
<br />
I gonna board that big Greyhound, carry the love from town to town<br />
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on<br />
<br />
Hold on, hold on<br />
Keep your eyes on the prize<br />
Hold on<br />
<br />
The only thing I did was wrong was staying' in the wilderness too long<br />
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on<br />
The only thing I did was right was the day we started to fight<br />
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on<br />
<br />
Hold on, hold on<br />
Keep your eyes on the prize<br />
Hold on...<br />
<br />
Ain't been to heaven but I been told, streets up there are paved with gold."<br />
<br />
~<br />
<br />
So why thi<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">s song? Why this post? Well, the song has been in my head for a few days now so I decided to give it some real thought. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span>In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul writes,<br />
<blockquote>"...Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: <i>Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.</i>" [Emphasis, mine]</blockquote>Life can throw all sorts of things our way – good and bad. For some reason it is often the bad that stays with us in our memories – the hurt, the fear, the rejection, the shame, the anger and the resolve not to go there again. All this merely works to colour our future experiences and decisions, unless we can give them over to God for healing and restoration. We also need to seek His forgiveness for trying to do things our way. We think we're taking ownership of the hurt and protecting ourselves, but really we just end up putting pressure the wound so that it never has the chance to fully heal. We need to know when to let go.<br />
<br />
This bad stuff can also paralyse us into not moving forward – and it takes courage to overcome. We really do need Christ first and foremost. I'm reminded of a book I read years ago, that I come back to often – John Ortberg's "If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat." Says what it does on the tin. I highly recommend it to anyone who needs input into moving away from the old into the new.<br />
<blockquote>"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)</blockquote>John Wimber said, "Faith is spelled R.I.S.K." and "If you never <i>do it</i>, you never get to <i>see it</i>." <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">What's the worst that can happen by taking that step forward? By doing nothing and remaining in the same place, we become bored and stagnant and are robbed of God's amazing plans for us! Trust in inevitably based on our experiences but faith is a gift from God and He grows it in us as we experience His goodness and faithfulness.</span><br />
<blockquote>"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”" (Joshua 1:9)</blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">There's also plenty </span>of good stuff in life too and we need to be thankful for our lives because they are gifts to us. They are not for our own sake - but for the sake of loving and reaching the lost for God's Kingdom. As such we are Christ's ambassadors and have a responsibility towards looking after ourselves so we can look after others. We need to keep developing our understanding of what it means *now* to live in the Kingdom of God. Our responsibility to ourselves can really be summed up by needing to be be <i>prepared</i>. For a Christian, this means an ongoing and deepening relationship with God, the understanding and application of His Word, and staying as fit as we are able – spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally etc. Ephesians 6 talks about being prepared by putting on the full armour of God so that we can stand firm (that's another topic in itself which I'll look at another time!) Philippians 4 says:<br />
<blockquote>"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. <i>Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.</i> And the God of peace will be with you." [Emphasis, mine]</blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span>In order to be a serious contender in any kind of race, we need to train. This involves action on our part. Now I am not a runner. At school, I was never the fastest. I'd sometimes start off fast and even lead for a while, but after a quick burst of energy I'd suddenly flag considerably and end up in the bottom half! If I paced myself, I would do much better – and that conserve of energy would do me well for the last couple of laps. I generally found school fitness stuff rather demoralising as I have always been prone to comparing myself to others and coming off worse! I ended up arranging things so that my music lessons happened during my games lessons – result! I didn't get back into enjoying fitness until I went to university! But even with the music, I still had to train...to improve, to go the distance, and get passes in my exams. By training ourselves in whatever way we need, we are not only fitter and have more energy, but we bounce back from the bad stuff more easily...and develop the stamina to go even further. But training is an act of will, often a sacrifice and always a discipline – yet it yields great results. As the following spiritual law testifies, we reap what we sow.<br />
<br />
Three times now I've taken part in one of the local 'Race for Life' events to raise money for Cancer Research. We all have the same goal – to get to the finishing post and raise our respective funds that go towards investigating what is a very serious disease. What I like most about it is that you can complete the course however you like – you can run, walk, jog or a mixture - whatever your preferred pace...you can be young or old, thin or fat, tall or short...in a costume or in jeans, on your own, or with friends and family. The only prerequisite is that you must be female! In spite of the serious theme, the event is about having fun and doing something good. Some training certainly helped. When I first did it with colleagues a while ago, I'd go walking/jogging in my lunch hour or after work. This was new to me – hard work – but it paid off! Coming up to the finishing line was the best bit. I'd been walking for a while but as I got there I started jogging again – I wanted to finish 'properly'. Being cheered on by spectators, the organisers and those who'd already completed the race had a tremendous effect on my tired limbs and lagging spirit – my energy was revived, my mood, jubilant – I'd done it!<br />
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I see a parallel with our Christian journey. The only prerequisite is that we know Jesus Christ as our Saviour. Even if we don't, it may be that we're going in the right direction despite ourselves (praise God for that!) The 'fitter' we are, the better we are at handling the ups and downs of life, but it doesn't mean we won't experience and feel those ups and downs and get a little weary and sore from them at times. The process of living in relationship with God is not 'guaranteed' – every step of obedience takes the risk that God will not do what we want Him to do. This is how He set it up! That's why it's important to study the Word of God and regularly meet with other Christians. By focusing on Jesus and encouraging one another, we find the strength to keep pressing on.<br />
<br />
There are certainly a couple of key (to me) areas in my life at the moment that need some discipline on my part. I've either not really given them the time yet, or I've let them go. Both are applicable. I can pray to God all I like, but if I'm not willing to put the effort in or take that first step, what's the alternative? Settling with the mediocre, giving up? I don't want that. Life is about freewill – I have a choice...<br />
<br />
I've noticed a sequence ...that often God calls (or whispers, usually!), then we have to step out, but then He intervenes with His purpose/blessing...and it's exciting!<br />
<blockquote>"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)</blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Some things are certain – the sin and failure of our past is dealt with, our present is wrapped up in the love and blessing of the Father, our future with Him is a sure promise...so, let's keep </span>our eyes on the prize, and hold on!Mimshach Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17671177020249075302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847487990962383882.post-81914315666717442562011-03-29T20:59:00.006+01:002011-04-03T00:19:23.462+01:00Be still, and know that I am God<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9371eRDdor_CiTYug29S8qZLly85UsTb_WaD1w39XXoT5Uyn4Z2x564h6x2Gxw0AtGmV-OdqyQw4Jwm0wylrdwmbp8Oy0Y4mgO9Vl3_J4HjU0TIvppqCFxhxxXdTiCAauASkydMO24jM/s1600/Alps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9371eRDdor_CiTYug29S8qZLly85UsTb_WaD1w39XXoT5Uyn4Z2x564h6x2Gxw0AtGmV-OdqyQw4Jwm0wylrdwmbp8Oy0Y4mgO9Vl3_J4HjU0TIvppqCFxhxxXdTiCAauASkydMO24jM/s640/Alps.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul." (Psalm 23: 1-3). This is a beautiful babbling brook I came across last June (2010) on my first day in the French Alps...so peaceful and, with the mountains and sunshine, full of the majesty of God's creation. I sat down here for a while and just enjoyed 'being' in the presence of my Father, the Creator of the universe. It was a special time.</td></tr>
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In recent weeks – and months, if I'm honest – I feel God has been prompting me to spend more quality time with Him – not just for me to learn to pray (talk at Him!) better, but also for me to learn to listen better. I've failed at this for a number of reasons...mainly lack of time-management and too much self-interest.<br />
<br />
A couple of weeks' ago I led the topic at home group. It had been a busy week and I hadn't made time to prepare anything until the actual day. I'd expected to find a good verse to delve into - or to spark discussion on a particular life theme. However, as I wondered and sought inspiration, it dawned on me to look into the discipline of having a quiet time and what that might mean, and to share my findings.<br />
<br />
Having a quiet time really is a (spiritual) discipline. We can get so caught up in the day-to-day art of 'doing', that it's easy to forget how to just 'be'. I am a serial 'faffer' - give me some spare time and I will easily fill it doing 'stuff'. Sometimes I find myself with a spare hour or two - perfect time to spend with God. But no, there's usually always something else to do - like watching tv or surfing the interweb or 'painting my nails'. It makes me wonder how I am any good at sustaining any relationship with that attitude?! It's easy to become anaesthetised to such promptings when we choose to constantly ignore them, and yet God never gives up on us. Thank God He doesn't!<br />
<br />
Even Jesus needed time away from people and life in the presence of His Father...so how much more do we?! A quiet time is fellowship with a Holy God. Christianity is not a legal relationship, it is a love relationship. Ten thousand 'don'ts' will never make us one iota more like the Jesus. It is Jesus Himself who makes us like Him. But we need to spend time with Him, as with any relationship of substance.<br />
<br />
A good friend recently reminded me of two questions we should be asking of God:<br />
<blockquote>"<i>What is going to satisfy Your heart?"</i></blockquote>and<br />
<blockquote><i>"What is going to bring You the glory?"</i></blockquote>There are times in my life when I have put God first and made that sacred time and it has been rewarding. How frustrating it is to grow out of that habit. Below is basically (with a few later thoughts) what I shared with my home group – as much for myself as anyone else! (I like to hand out notes on things I do!).<br />
<br />
~<br />
<br />
<b>A guide to doing quiet time</b><br />
<br />
<b></b>Quiet time is one of the most essential aspects of our Christian life, especially in today’s fast-paced busy world. Many Christians take some time reading the bible every day and while it is very useful, just reading the bible will not lead us to a much deeper and fuller walk with Christ. We need to spend time in His words, study them and learn from them every day.<br />
<br />
Without daily regular quiet time, our spiritual life can be seriously under nourished, just as our body can be without proper food and water. How often do we forget or avoid a quiet time due to a busy schedule? Has anybody ever forgotten to eat for a day due to work?!<br />
<br />
<b>Time </b><br />
Our quiet time need only take about 10-15 minutes. Obviously, if we can do more, great! It 'should' be our best time - not our leftovers. Finding time won't happen - we need to <i>make</i> time. We can choose ‘when’ according to our schedule. For some, morning works better; for others, the evening may work well. It is important to try and stick to a set fixed time everyday, as it brings discipline and consistency.<br />
<br />
<b>What do we need?</b><br />
A quiet place to focus (see Matthew 6:6: "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.", a Bible, notebook and pen. Jesus sought out places where He could be alone and we need to do the same. While it is fine to occasionally refer to Bible commentary or a dictionary for difficult passages, try and study the Bible as it is and ask God for His guidance in understanding the passage. It is good practice to take notes in the quiet time – you will be amazed and encouraged when you see them years later!<br />
<blockquote>“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)</blockquote><b>How to do quiet time</b><br />
<i>Start with prayer: be natural and honest with God. Tell Him how you feel. Pray out loud if possible - it helps keep your mind on track and enables you to stay focused.</i><br />
Spend just a few minutes in worship and thanksgiving<br />
Spend some time in asking God for forgiveness for our sins<br />
Ask for His guidance in today’s quiet time<br />
<br />
<i>Passage for quiet time: </i><br />
Select any book of the Bible and stick with it for the duration. It helps us get the whole picture, as well as making our quiet time more enjoyable. As a suggestion, select about 8-10 verses but don’t select a whole chapter as there may not be time to cover it.<br />
<br />
<i>Read the passage 2-3 times</i><br />
There are many suggested guides as to ways of studying and you're welcome to find something that works for you. Below is my suggestion - this bible study method is also called the ASPECT method:<br />
<br />
<i>Ask the following questions:</i><br />
<b>A</b> – <b>About God</b> – what can I learn about God through this passage?<br />
<b>S</b> – <b>Sin</b> – does it talk about any sin?<br />
<b>P</b> – <b>Promise</b> – is there any promise in the Word?<br />
<b>E </b>– <b>Example</b> – is there any example I can follow?<br />
<b>C</b> – <b>Command</b> – are there any commands I need to obey?<br />
<b>T</b> – <b>Teaching</b> – what can I learn and take away from this passage?<br />
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<i>Suggestions for a concluding prayer:</i><br />
<ul><li>Thank God for His guidance in the quiet time</li>
<li>Worship God for His character</li>
<li>Pray for deliverance from any sin</li>
<li>Ask for strength for that or the next day</li>
</ul><div>Our spiritual train is running on two rails; one is <i>revelation</i> and the other is <i>obedience</i>. And if either rail stops, our train stops. We need to learn to obey the Word of God.</div><div><br />
</div><div>God did not make us to be reservoirs; He made us to be conduits! If it seems right, share what God is showing you with others that you trust - it may encourage them!</div><br />
~<br />
<br />
A few years ago I wrote a song, initially inspired by Psalm 62:1-2:<br />
<blockquote>"For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David. My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken."</blockquote>It grew to become about that special time we spend with our Father - and through that, know who we are. Maybe when I've learned that discipline I'll get the song finally finished!<br />
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<b>I am Your child</b><br />
<br />
In You, O Lord, my soul finds its home<br />
You, O Lord, are my strength and salvation<br />
Resting in the shelter of Your wings<br />
Living in the presence of Your love<br />
I am Your child<br />
<br />
In You, O Lord, my soul finds its peace<br />
You, O Lord, are my fountain of faithfulness<br />
Trusting in the One who calls my name<br />
Living in the promise of Your Word<br />
I am Your child<br />
<br />
You’re my Rock, I will not be shaken<br />
You’re my Hope, my Mighty Defender<br />
In this place, where You reign, You are my King<br />
My Everything<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyRhC-reg9NAEhzTKvja4N2s8h9NbjXekCzP8nhwckpU2HQB5EYk-LPSynQ2k8B7wTvktgrKloKu0ICdcqQkvlaLVCKIsV7Lq-Mdn0GbacAusC9xJJunLQnWBnRqOG-9qjTYifUfJPXs/s1600/Mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyRhC-reg9NAEhzTKvja4N2s8h9NbjXekCzP8nhwckpU2HQB5EYk-LPSynQ2k8B7wTvktgrKloKu0ICdcqQkvlaLVCKIsV7Lq-Mdn0GbacAusC9xJJunLQnWBnRqOG-9qjTYifUfJPXs/s640/Mountain.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths..." (Psalm 36:5-7) View of the mountain from the chalet balcony as the sun was setting.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And on a lighter note... :oD</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJYulv2Po4PzbCrYcAzhxLuCb_m5mb3QHjgPma7PTDcsCSmpA9QnSdg7K45gTpuL9VXSCl-uPtl2oJ0vgzNq6zsGQ69YBQ2q35sUujCISR6FlKd8YNQ7ao35ttDejgrKRuETj8bbQeXg/s1600/rmo0204l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJYulv2Po4PzbCrYcAzhxLuCb_m5mb3QHjgPma7PTDcsCSmpA9QnSdg7K45gTpuL9VXSCl-uPtl2oJ0vgzNq6zsGQ69YBQ2q35sUujCISR6FlKd8YNQ7ao35ttDejgrKRuETj8bbQeXg/s400/rmo0204l.jpg" width="395" /></a></div><br />
</div>Mimshach Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17671177020249075302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847487990962383882.post-10372264843232457872011-03-11T17:26:00.028+00:002011-03-28T20:54:49.820+01:00In the face of natural disaster<blockquote><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"All your waves and billows have gone over me." (Ps. 42:7)</div></blockquote>In the verse above, the Psalmist was referring to a spiritual state of abandonment, using terms reflecting a sense of helplessness in the face of events beyond human control... How often do we feel similarly when faced with seemingly scary giants in our lives?<b></b><br />
<br />
<b>Japan and the Pacific area </b><br />
<br />
<b></b>Along with people all over the world, I was saddened to learn this morning of the megaquake (measuring 8.9) in Japan and the resulting aftershocks and tsunamis that have hit the Pacific area as a result.<br />
<blockquote></blockquote>I've experienced two earthquakes in my life - one in Southern California (while sitting on a friend's bed watching TV) and one on the Greek island of Zakynthos (I woke up at 3am dreaming I was in a boat, my bed was rocking so much). On both occasions I wasn't scared - curious and strangely excited. Straight after the quake in Zakynthos there was absolute silence for several minutes, as if nature was paying tribute to the power unleashed. Then all of a sudden a wave of noise broke out - crickets, bull frogs, birds...very odd. I believe both of these quakes were around the 5-6 mark on the Richter Scale...docile in comparison to the one that just hit Japan.<br />
<br />
This massive earthquake - 8,000 times stronger than the one that hit New Zealand last month - sent a catastrophic 33 foot tsunami hurtling across the Pacific Ocean. Several hundred are now feared dead and a cruise ship carrying 100 people has gone missing, swept away by the tsunami. Such events can make us feel so helpless and all many of us can do is pray. Believe it or not, it does make a difference.<br />
<br />
All day horrendous images of scenes of destruction have been flooding in. If I didn't know differently, they look like the set from an apocalyptic movie. Here are just a few of them:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQiD07nPbgG0eF49U484XCDHpvY8Pxa-pUPGJQH66mmQgVnBNJU8C55gI83EokPVUz4LuwaYcftxVbRm52jnCiBBs0JpHxGSSbvabLR60u82uA0vzxDZrAKMcqXyfj2OUKoxv905fn74/s1600/80573.include.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQiD07nPbgG0eF49U484XCDHpvY8Pxa-pUPGJQH66mmQgVnBNJU8C55gI83EokPVUz4LuwaYcftxVbRm52jnCiBBs0JpHxGSSbvabLR60u82uA0vzxDZrAKMcqXyfj2OUKoxv905fn74/s640/80573.include.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A building in flames near Sendai airport, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLvpeLOw1l8GQfEXt54Tfz3XGqeiKidqzthccidQytfwDlAPw9p-IOkK9F75pnjCrXqQ8nVsli56SCMRqQw_CV-Rk5G1gQCUx7W3Wr-EwmAdQER9oEPHlJlorDGSYW25qkThKB6ZFP5g/s1600/japan-inundated_575381b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLvpeLOw1l8GQfEXt54Tfz3XGqeiKidqzthccidQytfwDlAPw9p-IOkK9F75pnjCrXqQ8nVsli56SCMRqQw_CV-Rk5G1gQCUx7W3Wr-EwmAdQER9oEPHlJlorDGSYW25qkThKB6ZFP5g/s640/japan-inundated_575381b.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Houses are swept by water following a tsunami and earthquake in Natori City in north-eastern Japan</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Qd75uC_lELZ1zrNp6E_SSsko0kQTHkI9tDZdOo0NsYpwXIR6N5ZktrTPJi9pAO1nOIyoJCJnRYvI-t6Nx_R51vF53OpcLXfnQ8fw0lnEI3T87mcZQzVje0JZEhxW8FIhJCif59ZulMQ/s1600/japan-refinery-new_575363s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Qd75uC_lELZ1zrNp6E_SSsko0kQTHkI9tDZdOo0NsYpwXIR6N5ZktrTPJi9pAO1nOIyoJCJnRYvI-t6Nx_R51vF53OpcLXfnQ8fw0lnEI3T87mcZQzVje0JZEhxW8FIhJCif59ZulMQ/s640/japan-refinery-new_575363s.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Natural gas storage tanks burn at the Cosmo oil refinery in Ichihara city, Chiba Prefecture</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTV795ryD9Pj1Yi0eQ7YttM3pXBLZbOeKSKo2mp_tI4W-zCutosNxgPJatbruLMbkjHjpxn6pvvt3EIcx_s0yleus2GV-DhJdCAKeT7lUdUh4mHBskjKAGGkNVOWzJMWARf6vug6vHhg/s1600/article-1365229-0D922321000005DC-278_634x692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTV795ryD9Pj1Yi0eQ7YttM3pXBLZbOeKSKo2mp_tI4W-zCutosNxgPJatbruLMbkjHjpxn6pvvt3EIcx_s0yleus2GV-DhJdCAKeT7lUdUh4mHBskjKAGGkNVOWzJMWARf6vug6vHhg/s640/article-1365229-0D922321000005DC-278_634x692.jpg" width="586" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A small fishing vessel is dragged towards the vortex of a whirlpool formed by tsunami waves</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9J6CEQxU1mJhUPVQF9kSaM-vVBCL_sJ6SsOeLu9fw1AuIr9HEa6Scehw9TNXojoL63YS2ivhwdGiFIpbC2c7G59ShXxhgbBqhZLSBOWguo1uuZ0qhNdyEhyphenhyphenrj4JhmiIqSpVYRrP_G8fg/s1600/article-1365229-0D924D9F000005DC-551_634x338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9J6CEQxU1mJhUPVQF9kSaM-vVBCL_sJ6SsOeLu9fw1AuIr9HEa6Scehw9TNXojoL63YS2ivhwdGiFIpbC2c7G59ShXxhgbBqhZLSBOWguo1uuZ0qhNdyEhyphenhyphenrj4JhmiIqSpVYRrP_G8fg/s640/article-1365229-0D924D9F000005DC-551_634x338.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The tsunami engulfs a residential area in Natori, Miyagi</span></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"></span><br />
Such extensive destruction is a reminder that we all live precariously – whether as the result of the choices of other people, on time lent to us for a season, or on an earth that gives us no guarantees as to assured security and continuity.<br />
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<b>Questions, questions...</b><br />
<br />
Many refer to such large scale destruction as an 'Act of God' in order to explain the depth of chaos (and appease tight-fisted insurance companies). Interesting that He gets no credit for years of peaceful weather!<br />
<br />
It is natural in these circumstances to question God's goodness and ask questions such as,<br />
<br />
<ul><li>"Why is the world in such a mess if God is in control?" </li>
<li>"How could a God of love let masses of people die from killer hurricanes, catastrophic earthquakes, tsunamis, terrorist attacks and disease?"</li>
<li>"Is God pouring out his wrath upon sinners?" </li>
</ul><br />
It's fine to ask these things - God gave us all a brain and expects us to use it! The reason such events are so tragic is that they expose our mortality. Death exists in a fallen world, and nothing exposes our mortality more than when death comes suddenly and unexpectedly, cutting short a life that had the potential to be much fuller. The book of Job reminds us that calamities happen without warning.<br />
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Most natural disasters are a result of these laws at work. Hurricanes, typhoons, and tornados are the results of divergent weather patterns colliding. Earthquakes are the result of the earth’s plate structure shifting. A tsunami is caused by an underwater earthquake.<br />
<br />
The Bible proclaims that Jesus Christ holds all of nature together (Colossians 1:16-17). Could God prevent natural disasters? Absolutely! Does God sometimes influence the weather? Yes, as we see in Deuteronomy 11:17 and James 5:17. Numbers 16:30-34 shows us that God sometimes causes natural disasters as a judgment against sin. The book of Revelation describes many events which could definitely be described as natural disasters (Revelation chapters 6, 8, and 16). Is every natural disaster a punishment from God? Absolutely not.<br />
<br />
In much the same way that God allows people to commit evil acts, God allows the earth to reflect the consequences sin has had on creation. Romans 8:19-21 tells us,<br />
<blockquote>“The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”</blockquote>The fall of humanity into sin had effects on everything, including the world we inhabit. Everything in creation is subject to 'frustration' and 'decay'. Sin is the ultimate cause of natural disasters just as it is the cause of death, disease, and suffering.<br />
<br />
We can understand why natural disasters occur. What we do not understand is why God allows them to occur. Why did God allow the tsunami to kill over 225,000 people in Asia? Why did God allow Hurricane Katrina to destroy the homes of thousands of people? For one thing, such events shake our confidence in this life and force us to think about eternity. Churches are usually filled after disasters as people realize how tenuous their lives really are and how life can be taken away in an instant.<br />
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What we do know is this: God is good! Many amazing miracles occurred during the course of natural disasters that prevented even greater loss of life. Natural disasters cause millions of people to reevaluate their priorities in life. Hundreds of millions of pounds in aid is sent to help the people who are suffering. Christian ministries have the opportunity to help, minister, counsel, pray, and lead people to saving faith in Christ! God can, and does, bring great good out of terrible tragedies (Romans 8:28).<br />
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<b>God's relationship with creation...and us</b><br />
<br />
In brief: God created a paradise for mankind to live in perfect relationship with Him and, through the choice of a human being confronted by deception in the form of satan as a snake, sin ruined it. The consequence of this choice was that man's relationship with God was broken. Sin (physical and spiritual death) entered into the equation...and creation was cursed as a result.<br />
<br />
The Bible says the following,<br />
<blockquote>"This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, <i>for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God</i>, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith." (Romans 3:22, 23)</blockquote>Paul also talks about the state of the world:<br />
<blockquote>"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." (Romans 8:22)</blockquote>We see this 'groaning' in the bad stuff around us - from violent earthquakes to disease – but fortunately for us this is <i>not the end of the story</i>. Creation is longing to be restored to the state it was created to be in, based on the promise of God as fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. Paul describes the physical fulfilment of this promise as something creation is in anticipation for. He likens this waiting period to the labour pains of childbirth - the process might be hard and might take a while but once started there is no way to stop it and the end result makes the whole thing worth it:<br />
<blockquote>"Through him [Jesus] God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross." (Colossians 1:20; cf. Ephesians 1:10)</blockquote>God sent His only (perfect) Son, Jesus, to live on earth for thirty-odd years among mankind and to experience all that we experience to the point of a most terrible death. But more than that, through His horrendous execution by crucifixion on that wooden cross, Jesus took on all inherent sin and wiped the slate clean. For anyone who believes in Him, by faith, this is a permanent restoration of our relationship with God...by the grace of God, we become a new creation - and while we have to go through the physical act of death, we are in eternal life with Him. He is coming back (at a time known only to His Father) and then we will be with Him forever...and there will be a new heaven and a new earth. The Creator will create again. As believers (Christians) we can still fall into sinful ways so we need to keep in relationship with God to help us in life, but our salvation is not based on what we do or don't do, but on what Jesus <i>has done</i>! He is alive and with us today!<br />
<br />
Human tragedy on such a massive scale causes us to take stock of our own life, and turn to God in repentance and faith. The forces of nature, and of creation, remind us of our vulnerability and humble us. When tragedies happen, Jesus tells us, we need to face up to our need to get right with God. We do well to acknowledge our mortality and weaknesses by seeking to worship and serve the Lord of creation.<br />
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<b>The real 'Acts of God'</b><br />
<br />
Disasters such as this remind us of our humanity and fragility. However, instead of blaming God when tragedies strike, we need to turn to Him for strength, and let tragedies, of whatever nature, remind us that this world was never intended to be a final home (Hebrews 11:13-16). Our time here is temporary (James 4:14), and with God’s help we are able to overcome whatever comes our way (Romans 8:35-39; Psalm 46:1-3). In the end, the most important question is not, “Why did this happen to me?,” but instead, “How can I understand what has happened, and how am I going to react to it?” and "How can I draw nearer to God?" Often it is in the face of these kind of adverse conditions that the best of human character is revealed - altruism, courage, strength, compassion and love. They remind us of what is important.<br />
<br />
These are the real 'Acts of God' – the positive and good things like healing, compassion, forgiveness, and above all, love. These are the things God teaches us through His Son, Jesus, and through the stories and revelations in the Bible. The truth is that God is good and only gives good gifts - the perfect father. He wants a relationship with those He created - you and me - because He loves what He has made.<br />
<blockquote>"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you." (Isaiah 54:10)</blockquote>If we think that this God is uncaring of human life we need to remember that the same God has come among us in Jesus and took upon himself all our suffering on the cross. He continues to experience our pain and losses, as well as our joys and triumphs. God never promises that life would be easy for those of us who put our faith in Him. On the contrary, we are more likely to experience opposition. However, in Him we have the strength to stand and hope for the future.<br />
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<b>Be God or let God... </b><br />
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The good news is that one day this suffering will be no more. It will have no part in His new creation.<br />
<blockquote>“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev. 21:4)</blockquote>We've all blamed Him for bad stuff that happens, but have we thanked Him for the good stuff? If you knew you had a perfect, loving Dad, regardless of human experience, wouldn't you want to know Him? Then we can respond to the fiery demonstrations of our earth...not with fear...but with awe.<br />
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Who or what do you put your trust in?<br />
<blockquote>My prayer:</blockquote><blockquote>Dear loving Father, I do not have the words to express my own sadness at this latest event and I do not think my words would be enough. You know my heart so help me to pray. Please be with all those affected, especially those who are frightened, worried and confused. I especially ask for you to be with those who have lost loved ones or who wait in uncertainty. I pray that people in Japan and the surrounding areas would know Your comfort and strength at this time. Please help all the emergency services to where they need to be to help so that all necessary rescues can be made and lives saved. Thank You that Japan already had an earthquake/tsunami warning system in place which must surely have lessened the impact of the destruction. In Your power, please reduce any further repercussions as a result of this earthquake and provide the right aid and finances to help those in need. Please surround the people with Your arms of love and protection and restore their hope in the future.</blockquote><blockquote>Amen </blockquote><br />
</div>Mimshach Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17671177020249075302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847487990962383882.post-62061384615055624692011-03-10T15:14:00.023+00:002011-03-10T16:26:19.539+00:00Comic Relief? Not really.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeAzUslPiJ1Q01l9THy97EpH5dnJgrP2b0k1B-dj2stXvD1Y07BRdPBpMOLkwEsy0DFiKUOTm6paSM-3CypJEtqCGxxqo860JTAM0eRoJs3JfnftjVeggohrH4SrLPzU_ptWI0YmpOH8/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-10+at+14.07.54.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeAzUslPiJ1Q01l9THy97EpH5dnJgrP2b0k1B-dj2stXvD1Y07BRdPBpMOLkwEsy0DFiKUOTm6paSM-3CypJEtqCGxxqo860JTAM0eRoJs3JfnftjVeggohrH4SrLPzU_ptWI0YmpOH8/s640/Screen+shot+2011-03-10+at+14.07.54.png" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Advert on home page of </span></span><a href="http://www.comicrelief.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Comic Relief</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> website</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
First of all let me say that firstly, I am in no way a 'bah humbug' type and absolutely believe it is good and right to financially support worthwhile causes. But why is it that so many people are only willing to give money to causes they care little about until they've seen some Z-list 'celebrity' making a fool of themselves? Yes, it can be funny, but that's not what it is about! Comedians are paid to be funny!<br />
<br />
Today twitter has seen the launch of <i>#twitrelief</i>, whereby 'stars' are selling twitter follows on eBay in a effort to raise money for Comic Relief. The highest bidding fans will be 'followed' for 90 days by their chosen star on twitter with some also offering a gift (like there should be that kind of incentive to giving???) As well as following the winners' twitter feed for 90 days, the celebs will also mention winning bidders' names in one tweet, and retweet one of their comments. Sorry, but this kind of outlet for a celebrity love-in makes me feel uneasy. I'm sure intentions are good but it's misguided. I realise there are many celebs who want to try and make a difference, and I can see the good it does in raising awareness. But why do people need such an incentive to give?<br />
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The first year of Comic Relief was interesting, something different. It was set up in 1985, started by comedians who wanted to use comedy and laughter to let people know about poverty in the UK and in Africa. Job well done. But, several years' later, am I alone in being completely jaded by the whole thing? Maybe it's just the kind of celebrities who are associated with it...and the air of 'look at the wonderful thing I'm doing' that surrounds the involvement of some. I don't doubt it's a good cause but it's the same tired old format every year: take one z-list celebrity, fly them to visit a poor developing community, film their appalled reaction to the conditions including crying for the cameras, show them build up some sort of relationship with the locals and then fly them back to their middle class existence back home. Do I sound cynical? I am.<br />
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There are plenty of deserving charities out there and very few of them can afford the kind of airtime that Comic Relief gets. Why not choose a different charity each year?<br />
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I also don't like being told what I should support, any more than I like people on the street thrusting their collecting tins in my face. Raising awareness is one thing, having that awareness shoved down my throat is another entirely. Personally I find it very off-putting and it leaves me resentful towards the whole business. On Comic Relief night I make sure I'm either out or have a good DVD lined up. I'm not avoiding it because I don't value the support the charity gets, I avoid it because I'm sick of what it stands for in our celebrity-obsessed culture.<br />
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With all this celebrity self-indulgence it is very easy to get forget the actual good being done by the charity work that Comic Relief raises. It is also very easy to forget that there are other charities, closer to home, that really need support.<br />
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I think we also need to see much better feedback about where all the money goes. Are the presenters/celebs being paid or waiving their fees for the cause? Do they travel to visit these third world countries in economy class or first class? Do they get expenses? Do they stay in five star hotels or with a local family? How much money actually goes straight into the hands of the people or organisations that need it? Television and radio companies (BBC radio is the worst) charge £1 to send a text, with 70p going to Comic Relief. Where is the other 30p going? I'm pretty good at basic arithmetic (taps away on the calculator) and I reckon that 30% must add up to a substantial amount. Why are we implored to give generously when there are companies out there using these events to make a hefty profit? Surely they can do it at a reduced rate for Comic Relief? Why can't a larger portion or even better *all* of the money go to the people who really need it?<br />
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I don't feel I need to give money to Comic Relief. Not because they don't deserve it but because they have so much support already that I feel I need to give to less well-known charities. I don't need a celebrity to tell me that poverty is rife or where I should put my money. That really is a joke. I give towards causes that my heart is drawn to - and I see nothing wrong with that. Nor do I feel the need to tell the whole world about it.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." (Matthew 6:1-2)</blockquote>Mimshach Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17671177020249075302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847487990962383882.post-86187171408320575812011-03-09T21:17:00.004+00:002011-03-09T21:26:28.769+00:00Resource: Attributes of God - a Scripture Study<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwLA46_QNKa0T2dGZ_xlXEuIGetKIZvGQUbCxoCbX03XkeWN5C6j5fm1gyd4bzCSgeHcrawr5EM4km0eD8-ZBBfq-NISior9it9L5kYouIlRYqShHX6eY2qLWOsHqwehrZKPnFPY6Tyo/s1600/00_gn01_01_01-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwLA46_QNKa0T2dGZ_xlXEuIGetKIZvGQUbCxoCbX03XkeWN5C6j5fm1gyd4bzCSgeHcrawr5EM4km0eD8-ZBBfq-NISior9it9L5kYouIlRYqShHX6eY2qLWOsHqwehrZKPnFPY6Tyo/s1600/00_gn01_01_01-02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from <a href="http://www.thebricktestament.com/">The Brick Testament</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">God is...</span><br />
<br />
<div><div><b>Personal</b></div><div><i>God is a self-conscious Being capable of thought, will, and interaction with others.</i></div><div>OT: Gen 1:1-31; Exod 20:1-17; Job 12:13; Ps 2:4; Prov 3:19f; Isa 55:8f.</div><div>NT: Matt 6:1-15; 2Cor 1:3f; 1Thes 4:3,7.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Creator</b></div><div><i>The whole of creation came into existence through the will and power of God.</i></div><div>OT: Gen 1:1-31; Neh 9:5f; Job 38:1-41; Ps 19:1; 24:1f; 33:6-9; 89:11f; 95:6f; 102:25-27; Isa 44:24; 45:18; Zech 12:1.</div><div>NT: Acts 14:15; Rom 1:20; Heb 11:3; Rev 4:11</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Life Giver</b></div><div><i>All of life was created by and is dependent on God.</i></div><div>OT: Gen 2: 7; Ps 36:9; Job 12:10; 33:3; Dan 5:23.</div><div>NT: Acts 17:25; 1Tim 6:13; Rev 22:1.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Spirit/Invisible</b></div><div><i>God's existence can be immaterial, non-physical, and is distinct from His creation.</i></div><div>OT: Exod 20:4; Dt 4:11; Job 9:11; 23:8f; 35:14.</div><div>NT: John 1:18; 4:24 (cp. Luke 24:39); 6:46; Col 1:15; 1Tim 1:17; 6:16; Heb 11:27; 1John 4:12.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Omnipresent</b></div><div><i>God is present in all places at all times.</i></div><div>OT: 1Sam 2: 3; 1Ki 8:27; Ps 73:23-28; 139: 7f; Jer 23:23f.</div><div>NT: John 4:20-24; Acts 7:48-50; 17:26-28; Eph 4:6; Heb 13:5f.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Omniscient</b></div><div><i>God knows all things.</i></div><div>OT: 1Ki 8:37-39; Job 34:21f; 37:16; 38:1-3; Ps 10:11-15; 33:13-15; 59:5-9; 94:4-11; 139:1-6,11f,15-18; 147:4f; Prov 15:3; Eccl 12:13f; Isa 29:15f; 40:12-14,25-28; Jer 16:17; 32:19; Zech 4:10.</div><div>NT: Matt 6: 7f; 10:30; Acts 15:18; Rom 11:33; Col 2:3; Heb 4:13; 1John 3:20.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Knows the Future</b></div><div><i>God's omniscience includes knowledge of all that will come to pass before it occurs.</i></div><div>OT: Gen 15:13f; Exod 3;19; Deut 31:15-21; 1Ki 13:1f (see 2Ki 23:15f); 1Ki 14:12f,17f; Josh 6:2 (see 1Ki 16:34); Ps 139:4, 16; Isa 40:12-14,27-31; 41:21-24; 44:6-8; 48:3-5; 65:24; Jer 1:5; 32:3-5 (cp. Ezek 12:13; 2Ki 25:5-7); Dan 2:28.</div><div>NT: Matt 2:4-6; Eph 1:3f; Acts 3:18; 15:16-18; 1Cor 15:3f; Rev 13:8; 17:8.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Omnipotent</b></div><div><i>God can do all things capable of being done with an unlimited amount of power.</i></div><div>OT: Gen 17:1; 18:14; Deut 32:39; 2Chr 20:6; Ps 33:6-11; 115:3; 135:6; Isa 14:24-27; 40:28; 43:13; Jer 32:17,27.</div><div>NT: Matt 19:26; Luke 1:37; 18:27; Rom 8:31; Rev 19:6.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Sovereign</b></div><div><i>God is absolute Lord over His creation and all that occurs therein.</i></div><div>OT: 1Sam 2:6-10; Lam 3:37-39; Job 9:12 (cp. 23:1-7); 34:24-30; 36:22f; 37:20; 38:1-4; 40:1-8; 42:1-6; Ps 2:1-12; 33:10f; 37:12f; 103:19; 135:6f; Isa 40:12-17,22f; 45:9f; 64:8: Dan 4:35.</div><div>NT: Matt 10:29; Acts 5:38f; 17:24-26; 18:9f; Rom 9:20; Jam 4:13-15.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Incomprehensible</b></div><div><i>God cannot be fully known.</i></div><div>OT: Job 9:10; 11: 7-9; 36:26; Ps 139:6; 145:3; Isa 40:28; 55:8f.</div><div>NT: Rom 11:33-36; 1Cor 2:11,16; Eph 3:9; Phil 4: 7.</div><div>But God can be known truly: Jer 9:23f; Dan 11:32; John 17:3; 1Cor 13:9-12; Eph 1:9; 1John 5:20.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Eternal</b></div><div><i>God had no beginning and will have no end.</i></div><div>OT: Gen 1:1; 21:33; Exod 3:14; Deut 32:40; 33:27; Job 36:26; Ps 10:16; 41:13; 90:2; 93:2; 102:27; 106:48; 117:1f; Isa 40:28; 43:13; 44:6; 57:15; Hab 1:12.</div><div>NT: Acts 15;18; Rom 1:20; 16:25f; 1Tim 1:17; 6:16; Heb 4:3; 11:3; Rev 1:4; 11:17; 21:6.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Self-Existent</b></div><div><i>God has life within Himself; His existence is not dependent on any other.</i></div><div>OT: Gen 1:1; Exod 3:14.</div><div>NT: John 5:26; Acts 17:24f; 1Tim 1:17; 6:16.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Immutable</b></div><div><i>God cannot change in his nature, character, or dependability.</i></div><div>OT: Gen 8:22; 9:8-13; Numb 23:19; 1Sam 15:29; Lam 3:22f; Ps 33:1; 89:34; 102:24-27; Isa 40:28; Mal 3:6.</div><div>NT: Rom 11:29; 2Tim 2:11-13; Titus 1:1-3; Heb 6:13-20; 10:19-23; Jam 1:17.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Perfect</b></div><div><i>God is flawless and complete; He does not lack anything or have any moral imperfection.</i></div><div>OT: Gen 18:14; Deut 3:3f; 2Sam 22:31-33; Job 21:22; Ps 19: 7.</div><div>NT: Matt 5:48; Rom 12:2; 1John 3:3.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Incomparable</b></div><div><i>God is superior over all in His essence, character, and actions and is worthy of all praise.</i></div><div>OT: Exod 15:11; Deut 33:26; 2Sam 7:22; Ps 35:10; 50:21; 71:19; 86:8-10; 97:9; 113:4-6; Isa 40:25; Jer 10:6-16.</div><div>NT: 1Tim 1:17; 6:15f; Jude 25; Rev 4:8-11.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Good</b></div><div><i>The moral character of God</i></div><div>OT: Exod 34:6; 1Chr 16:34; Ps 25:8; 34:8-10; 135:3; Lam 3:25; Nah 1: 7.</div><div>NT: Matt 7:11; Acts 14:17; Rom 2:4; 2Thes 1:11.</div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div><b>Holy</b></div><div><i>God is separate from all else, especially from all evil.</i></div><div>OT: Exod 3:5; 19:10-21: 20:18-21; 33:18-23; Lev 19:2; Deut 5:23-27; 1Sam 2:2; 6:20; Ps 22:3; Isa 6:1-5; 57:15; Jer 5:22; Hab 2:20.</div><div>NT: Jam 1:13; 1Pet 1:15f; Rev 3: 7; 4:8-10; 15:3f.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Righteous and Just</b></div><div><i>God's nature and actions are always morally right.</i></div><div>OT: Gen 18:25; Exod 9:27; Ps 11: 7; 19:8f; 33:4f; 89:14; 97:2-6; 111:3; 119:142,160,172; 129:4.</div><div>NT: Matt 6:33; Acts 17:30f; Rom 1:16f; 3:21-26; 3:21-26; 7:12; Jam 1:13; 1John 1:5,9; 3: 7; Rev 15:3; 16:4-7; 19:2.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Judge</b></div><div><i>God is the final determiner of what is morally right or wrong; all people are answerable to Him and His standards.</i></div><div>OT: Gen 18:25; Deut 32:34-43; 1Sam 2:3,10; 1Chr 16:33; Ps 7:11; 9: 7f; 10:8-18; 10:8-18; 50:1-6; 58:10f; 82:8; 94:2; 96:13; 98:9; Isa 66:14-17.</div><div>NT: Rom 1:32; 2:2-5; 10:16; Heb 10:30; 12:23; 13:4; Rev 20:11-15.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Wrath</b></div><div><i>God's moral character leads Him to judge and punish all unrighteousness.</i></div><div>OT: Exod 15: 7-10; 22:22-24; Deut 4:24; 7:10; 32:21f; Isa 13:11-13; Jer 10:10.</div><div>NT: Matt 3: 7; Luke 12:2-5; John 3:36; Rom 1:18; 2:5; 5:9; Eph 2:3; Col 3:6; 5:6; 1Thes 1:10; Heb 10:26-31; 12:29; Rev 11:16-19; 15:1,7f; 16:1.</div><div><i>Immediate judgments:</i> Gen 38: 7-10; Lev 10:1-3 (cp. 16:13); Numb 16:1-49; 21:4-9; 2Sam 6:1-13; Ezek 18:4; Luke 13:1-5; Acts 5:1-11; 12:20-23 (cp. Gen 2:16f; 3:1-6; 5:5).</div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div><b>Grace, Mercy and Love</b></div><div><i>God's dealings with His people are based on His goodness, generosity, concern, and compassion; instead of on what we deserve.</i></div><div>OT: Deut 7: 7-9; 10:15-18; 33:12; 1Chr 16:34; Neh 9:17; Ps 63:3; 86:15; 100:5; 103:8; 119:64; 145:8f; Isa 63: 7-9; Jer 31:3; Lam 3:22-26; Dan 9:9; Jonah 3:10-4:2.</div><div>NT: John 3:16; Rom 5:8-11; Eph 1:6f; 2:4-10; Titus 3:3-7; 1John 4:9f; 5:11-13; Rev 21:4.</div></div>Mimshach Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17671177020249075302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847487990962383882.post-60091936388655990222011-03-08T17:25:00.006+00:002011-03-09T18:49:05.634+00:00Holy Communion - a talkHere are some notes from a talk I did at Home Group last year.<br />
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<i>Info and ideas from: “In the Likeness of God” by Philip Yancey and Dr. Paul Brand.</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9F9G4Qu4MFMnLY_gX5o-RgDEGn_2DZkhuFGT1FYBfdCLDRrk5L1B7PgadrOm0QJp0LoCptHBCaUSaNdJovADFycx_gU22_tcobCSDuT4rDWvwPtBC_0bIiNOGlDI2Qn_J3RHLyMYl0pI/s1600/last_supper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9F9G4Qu4MFMnLY_gX5o-RgDEGn_2DZkhuFGT1FYBfdCLDRrk5L1B7PgadrOm0QJp0LoCptHBCaUSaNdJovADFycx_gU22_tcobCSDuT4rDWvwPtBC_0bIiNOGlDI2Qn_J3RHLyMYl0pI/s640/last_supper.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Last Supper (artist unknown)</td></tr>
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No other New Testament image i.e. the ‘shepherd’, the ‘bride’ etc.) expresses the concept of ‘Christ in you’ so well as blood does.<br />
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In the book, the author points out that Christ did not ‘convey himself genetically’…if He had, over the generations there would be only faint evidence of His bloodline. Instead, He chose to convey himself personally and nutritionally, offering each one of us the power of His own resurrected life...through the Spirit.<br />
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The following words that we hear regularly would have scandalised His followers at the time...<br />
(They “began to argue sharply among themselves”. “Grumble about him.” “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” (John 6:60))<br />
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Imagine hearing these words today without understanding Jesus as we do - we'd likely be equally confused!: <br />
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“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father has sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.” (John 6:54-57)<br />
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Jesus is real food and drink.<br />
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What do you associate with the word ‘blood’? When most of us think of blood, we think of death…but blood is what gives us <b>life</b>. The author uses the concept of blood transfusion as a summary image of the Christian symbol. It's the purest example of shared life. Every cell in the body, and Body, is linked, unified and bathed in the life-giving nutrients of a common source…blood. Infusion of blood is also cleansing in that it washes away toxins (and sins).<br />
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Jesus chose this perplexing idea of drinking his blood before blood transfusion was known. <br />
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Christians have struggled with this theology – who can describe the process by which Christ’s body and blood become a part of my own? It is a mystery.<br />
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Whether it's known as 'Communion' or 'The Lord’s Supper' or 'The Eucharist'…it is not some dated religious practice but an image of freshness and life. We can celebrate the sensation of coming to life through the symbol of the Christ’s blood being transfused into us. The author writes, “We receive an infusion of strength and energy by availing ourselves of Christ’s own reserves.”<br />
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The meaning of Communion seems to fit with us better than the actual ceremony. Why have the ritual? As one British Theologian said, “Sex is to marriage, what sacraments are to Christianity – the physical expression of spiritual reality”. Jesus said “Do this in remembrance of me.”<br />
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Oil, water, bread, wine – these are known as the 'sacraments' or 'ordinances'. Augustine of Hippo defined a Christian sacrament as "a visible sign of an invisible reality." The Anglican Book of Common Prayer speaks of them as "an outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible Grace."<br />
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Under the old covenant, worshippers brought the sacrifice…they were the ones who gave. Under the new covenant, we receive – by grace – tokens of the finished work of the risen Christ. “My body, which was broken for you, My blood, which was shed for you”. In those sentences, Jesus cuts across time to the here and now. <br />
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So, the act of Communion sums up all three tenses…the life that was and died for us, the life that is and lives in us…and the life that will be and will come for us….Christ is life itself…not just a mere example of living. It also reminds us that Christ is not dead and removed from us but alive and present in all of us.<br />
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Whatever the past week has held for us, whatever stresses, strains, doubts, aches and pains, as well as joys, we are beckoned by Jesus to his table to celebrate life….through His forgiveness, healing and above all…love.<br />
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:o)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDF76ZiXpeS2PpGHonED-LWrX-rdYB-1hEYjeKOi7_mVXVe16sXFwN_BMQve2GElVvqeQHo5rudoIgR0fIuyv-U8usk1rZ7DnnHxyS8F3Wfeu0XQvjJ9cSdLig9oNikdO-TdV9sNyjCTw/s1600/communion.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDF76ZiXpeS2PpGHonED-LWrX-rdYB-1hEYjeKOi7_mVXVe16sXFwN_BMQve2GElVvqeQHo5rudoIgR0fIuyv-U8usk1rZ7DnnHxyS8F3Wfeu0XQvjJ9cSdLig9oNikdO-TdV9sNyjCTw/s1600/communion.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visit <a href="http://cartoonchurch.com/">cartoonchurch.com</a> for similar amusement</td></tr>
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<iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=D7D4B5&fc1=4A371F&lc1=85745E&t=mimshmusin-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&asins=B0041D8UAE" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>Mimshach Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17671177020249075302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847487990962383882.post-29239716272663840362011-03-07T17:20:00.013+00:002011-03-09T18:50:05.489+00:00Worship song - 'By Our Love' - Christy NockelsThis song was recently introduced to me by my worship leader, along with another great song, 'A Mighty Fortress' which we're going to be learning. Both songs come from the album, 'Life Light Up'.<br />
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I'd heard it a couple of times, but somehow when I listened to it today it was 'different'. Both the words and the music affected my emotions...and I started to cry in response to what I was hearing and feeling in my spirit. It is a beautiful song, very poignant and full of love...but challenging as well.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/u5NPUWCzsU0" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Written by Christy and her husband, Nathan, she writes about the song on her </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.christynockels.com/">website</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">:</span><br />
<div class="spacer5" style="color: #4a371f; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4a371f;"><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"Songwriting is such an amazing process to me... Long before there were lyrics or even a melody for this song, I knew it would be on my record. My husband Nathan and I would talk about songs during the writing process and I'd say, "remember there will be a song called "By Our Love". I had one tiny melodic idea for it, but that was it really... This song really took shape the morning after a very special gathering with our new church family in Atlanta. It was one of those sweet times together in God's presence that I will never forget. Our two oldest children were a part of that gathering, and even though their eyes could barely stay open towards the end of our worship time that night, my prayer was that they'd somehow sense and grasp the presence of God in that place and remember it. </span></blockquote></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4a371f;"><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I realized more than ever that night that I want my children to "get it." I want them to understand that you can't have worship without love and justice. Our songs must have hands and feet, and they must go into the darkest places of the world. The distractions that our children are exposed to in this country and their desensitized minds and hearts became like a heavy brick on my heart. My prayer is that God will allow my children to see with His eyes and love with His hands in their lifetime...that they might "stand firm in the truth and set their hearts above". How can we show them most effectively that it's "by our love" that we are set apart and "by our love" that we show Jesus to the world. </span></blockquote></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4a371f;"><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I can recall some amazing moments from my childhood that my parents faithfully exposed me to worship, and also lived lives of love to those around us. I have vivid memories of my mom, in particular, involving me in random acts of kindess. I have an early memory of her driving me to the home of a little girl from our church, who had no mother, and a father who could barely care for her. She took down the little girl's measurements that day and in the following weeks, made her a beautiful Easter dress. My mom was also the one who sat with me for hours at the piano, teaching me worship songs and how to sing harmonies. My mother understood worship and justice, and because she involved me, I remember and I understand...</span></blockquote><blockquote>I've always been intrigued by Ephesians 5:19, it says, "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs." There is an exhortation that songs can carry with them, and I believe even modern worship songs can have that feel and purpose, as many of the old hymns did. My prayer is that this song might be a song we sing to each other when it's appropriate...a reminder and a "calling forth" of those whom we walk life with, whom we parent and lead...to live lives of deep love for Jesus' sake."</blockquote>The following PDF is available for free download on the artist's website: </span><br />
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/50208173/ByOurLove" style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto; text-decoration: underline;" title="View ByOurLove on Scribd">ByOurLove</a> <object data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" height="600" id="doc_78388" name="doc_78388" style="outline: none;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"><param name="bgcolor" value="#e8e6d0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=50208173&access_key=key-1tlw9dn0wugj1xd13q08&page=1&viewMode=book"><embed id="doc_78388" name="doc_78388" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=50208173&access_key=key-1tlw9dn0wugj1xd13q08&page=1&viewMode=book" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="600" width="100%" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#e8e6d0"></embed> </object><br />
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<iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=D7D4B5&fc1=4A371F&lc1=85745E&t=mimshmusin-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&asins=B0026LYM6E" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>Mimshach Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17671177020249075302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847487990962383882.post-26905633421353851192011-03-06T19:59:00.001+00:002011-03-06T20:06:28.672+00:00Inspiration<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGK5BSVQUDgMd2bRZmyOmvf9BoT_I3Xy44LenyJUcf_IbcZaGeopHgLA3OXqsIdEOW8yeangsvuN0x9t6eVT9v4rUdrXfPXVqIP9BZWtQ0lmNLIdsypDwn1g-hJgacxE6P6x8UKem4QoM/s1600/Creation+of+Man+Michelangelo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGK5BSVQUDgMd2bRZmyOmvf9BoT_I3Xy44LenyJUcf_IbcZaGeopHgLA3OXqsIdEOW8yeangsvuN0x9t6eVT9v4rUdrXfPXVqIP9BZWtQ0lmNLIdsypDwn1g-hJgacxE6P6x8UKem4QoM/s1600/Creation+of+Man+Michelangelo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of Michaelangelo's 'The Creation of Adam' in the Sistine Chapel</td></tr>
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For some reason the word 'inspire' has been on my mind for a few days this week. I felt prompted to investigate it further, particularly with regards to my faith and understanding of Scripture. As a creative person, inspiration is important to me. I hope, also, that I am able to inspire others at times.<br />
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The somewhat <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">onomatopoeic</span></span><b> </b></span>word 'inspire' has a lovely breathy quality about it. All I know about the derivative of the word is that it is something to do with 'breath', based on the Latin. Now, I'm definitely no hardcore intellectual or theological scholar (and total kudos to those who are!) I do, however, have a love of words which extends to the joy of word-play. I also love learning about the original meanings of words (etymology), especially in relation to Bible texts, so I can build up a fuller picture of what is intended. I was fortunate (?!) to have studied Latin until I was 15, before dropping it at the first opportunity for History! While I disliked it intently at the time and couldn't see the point in being taught a 'dead language', it proved to be a useful tool when understanding word definitions in other areas - such as language and musical terms.<br />
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I decided to start with looking at the dictionary definition of 'inspire.'<br />
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Our English word 'inspire' comes from the Latin verb 'inspirare' – from 'spirare' (to breathe) – 'in' (in) and 'spiro' (breathe). Definitions of the verb include:<br />
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<b>inspire</b> [ɪnˈspaɪə]<br />
1. to exert a stimulating or beneficial effect upon (a person); animate or invigorate<br />
2. (tr; foll by with or to; may take an infinitive) to arouse (with a particular emotion or to a particular action); stir<br />
3. (tr) to prompt or instigate; give rise to her beauty inspired his love<br />
4. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) (tr; often passive) to guide or arouse by divine influence or inspiration<br />
5. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Physiology) to take or draw (air, gas, etc.) into the lungs; inhale<br />
6. (tr) Archaic<br />
a. to breathe into or upon<br />
b. to breathe life into<br />
[C14 (in the sense: to breathe upon, blow into): from Latin inspīrāre, from spīrāre to breathe]<br />
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I then decided to also look up the word 'inspire' in the Bible and came across two different contexts.<br />
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A good use of the word as defined above is in the creation of Adam: dust or clay shaped by the Great Potter (yasar) lay as a lifeless body until the Giver of Life “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and he became a living breathing being” (Genesis 2:7). So Adam arrived 'by inspiration of God.' Beautiful.<br />
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L<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">et's have a look at it:</span><br />
<blockquote>"And the Lord God formed a man's body from the dust of the ground and <b>breathed</b> into it the <b>breath</b> of life. And the man became a living person."</blockquote>The Hebrew word for 'breathed' is '<i>naphach</i>' (meaning<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> to breathe, blow or be blown, sniff at, seethe, give up or lose, to cause to breathe out, express a harsher snorting sound</span>). The Hebrew word for 'breath' is '<em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">neshamah<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">' </span></span></em>(meaning, breath of God and man, the Spirit of God imparting life and wisdom to the spirit of man).<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As a slight aside, there is something else I find of interest. Before they were given their new names by God</span>, Sarah and Abraham were Sarai and Abram. At the time Sarai was barren and getting on a bit, and had exhausted her faith and Abram weakened also, causing them to devise their own scheme 'according to the flesh' (Galatians 4:23). In the Bible, name changes correspond to either character change or a major call from God. Abram's name is changed from 'Exalted Father' to Abraham 'Father of a Multitude'. Sarai's name is changed from 'Princess' to Sarah meaning 'The Princess' or 'Queen' linking her in co-rulership with her husband and including her in God's covenant promise. Why am I telling you this? Both names were expanded with the Hebrew letter H or 'Hey'. According to Jewish mystics, 'Hey' represents the breath of God and His creative power. Therefore, it can be said that God gave them new names and breathed life into their circumstances - and Sarah gave birth to Isaac despite her being 90 and Abraham being 101! I'll try and find out more about this.<br />
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'Inspire' is also used in the translation of the following verse (2 Timothy 3:16):<br />
<blockquote>"All scripture is <b>inspired</b> and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."</blockquote>Here, the word 'inspired' comes from the Greek word '<i>theopneustos</i>' that is, 'God-breathed' or 'breathed out by God.' The word is made up of two others - '<i>theo</i>' meaning God, and '<i>pneustos</i>' meaning to breathe or inspire and relates directly to God's Spirit (Gk <i>pneuma</i>) which can also be translated 'breath.' This word is only used once in the Greek New Testament, in the verse seen above and therefore the exact meaning is not known.<br />
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There seems to be some misunderstanding as to the interpreted meaning of the use of 'inspire' in this verse. While 'inspire' can have the meaning as shown in the Latin term that means 'to breathe into', this is not what Paul is talking about here. He is not saying that the Scriptures are human words into which God has 'breathed' something special, something beyond the norm. Neither is he saying that God did something special to the writers of Scripture, though this is a common usage of the term today as well. While the authors were of course 'inspired by God to write' (holy men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Spirit, 2 Pet. 1:21), this is not the meaning of the term here. By using <i>theopneustos</i> in this context, Paul tells us that the very Scriptures themselves are the creation of God, reflecting His very breath, His very speaking.<br />
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So, what have I learned from looking into this? A couple of things really. I've learned more about the contexts of the original words and there meanings, which makes the Scriptures come alive to me. I've been reminded of how awesome our God is - that He chose to create man 'in His image' and breathe life into him...as well as giving us the living Scriptures as a guide to help us draw closer to him while we are on earth.<br />
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Amazing and powerful stuff - just from one word! I truly am inspired!Mimshach Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17671177020249075302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847487990962383882.post-65788457398724011902011-03-01T18:23:00.007+00:002011-03-06T22:06:26.065+00:00Hello and welcome!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59SXUhZU_pQyfI0qaDJ7ohrZvxJHn5F-6AwTdgHE-YRKh1i28_1F8g9ckR0WMgbWGYwIRXmeAJKn45z2D4P2P2Q3nehx5rNeZhdDaxskKxvhgzUhm4ytBjeinEBZoXdnoAnJXlQ0CfAg/s1600/welcome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59SXUhZU_pQyfI0qaDJ7ohrZvxJHn5F-6AwTdgHE-YRKh1i28_1F8g9ckR0WMgbWGYwIRXmeAJKn45z2D4P2P2Q3nehx5rNeZhdDaxskKxvhgzUhm4ytBjeinEBZoXdnoAnJXlQ0CfAg/s1600/welcome.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Hello and welcome to my new blog.<br />
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I have decided to create this space to share thoughts and ideas concerning my Christian faith and walk with God. My aim is to record the ways I am challenged and encouraged, as well as to inspire others. I love how God speaks to each of us in different ways. We are all on different journeys. This is mine.<br />
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This is my starting prayer for my journal, and I echo it here:<br />
<blockquote><i>I dedicate this blog to you for Your glory. Please make it a God-glorifying record of a prayer-hearing, prayer-answering Heavenly Father. Demonstrate, to me and to others, through this blog, the love that took Jesus to the cross and the power that raised Him from the dead. Cause us to delight in you more and more, and thereby glorify you and satisfy your loving heart. Please guide my prayers, so that I pray for what you already intend to do and then record your love and power at work. </i></blockquote><blockquote><i>In Your Name and for Your Glory </i></blockquote><blockquote><i>Amen</i></blockquote>Blessings<br />
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MMimshach Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17671177020249075302noreply@blogger.com0